[Jed]

www.clearwaveloudspeaker.com

After many years of testing various drivers, resonance control materials, cabinet construction, diffraction effects, and different crossover topologies, Clearwave Loudspeaker Design has developed a new reference speaker.  After pursuing the quest to find the most transparent loudspeaker using cutting edge design techniques, research, experimentation, and countless hours of listening, we firmly believe the Duet10R will bring you closest to the music.  All that is required is source equipment of the highest quality linked to the Duet10R, and you're on your way to bringing the musicians into your listening room.

Design Goals:

*Develop a 3-way speaker that brings reference levels of
transparency. 
* Utilize state-of-the-art drivers yet still represent a solid
value.
* Maintain the philosophy that an increase in price should
represent an increase in performance.

Performance:

Some of the highlights of this speaker include a crossover that targets Linkwtiz Riley 2nd and 4th order slopes, drivers that have absolutely the lowest harmonic distortion profiles in their respective passbands, and a very linear frequency response that is true to the source.  The phase alignment is virtually flawless and the summing of the drivers result in a flat frequency response on and off axis. The ported enclosure will allow the bass to extend below 30hz in room.   This should satisfy most listeners.  The sound is detailed, smooth, extended, and should create a holographic soundstage in your listening room.  Honestly, it doesn't get much better than this, based on our experiences. But don't let us tell you about the sound, since we have an obvious bias.  Here's what a client recently posted on our forum after taking delivery of his Duet10SE speakers: http://clearwave.forumotion.net/general-cld-discussion-f1/new-duet10se-getting-built-with-raal-oem-for-a-client-t95.htm

The Duet10R uses extremely high end drivers but reflects a solid value at the same time.  Some might smile at this comment, since not many feel $614 (each) midranges represent a good value on the subjective price to performance scale.  However, to get the last 5% of ultimate performance, we were not willing to lessen the quality of this speaker, especially in the ever-so-important midrange. Since we believe the Accuton C173-6-090 is the highest performing midrange regardless of price, we chose it for this design.  The same can be said about the selected tweeter and woofer.  The tweeter is the amazing RAAL OEM only ribbon.  This is the flattest frequency response and lowest harmonic distortion ribbon that we've ever tested.  This ribbon allows an amazingly low crossover point that matches perfectly with the Accuton C173-6-090 midrange.  The Seas W26FX02 Excel Nextel woofer was selected for its excellent sensitivity, fast bass response, and low coloration of the signal. When evaluating the perceived value of this speaker, one must take into consideration the sum of the parts, and its place in the marketplace.

The cabinet features extremely thick cabinet walls, horizontal and vertical matrix bracing, and multi-density dampening materials.  The result is a very dead cabinet.  The crossover contains Clarity Cap MR capacitors in series for the tweeter circuit, Clarity Cap ESA range in the midrange circuit, and PX range everywhere else.  The crossovers parts alone cost more than many mid priced bookshelf speakers themselves ($1500 just for the parts).  Even though there are areas in the crossover that require several hundred uF of capacitance, no electrolytics are used anywhere in the circuit.  For example, in the midrange circuit the series capacitor has five Clarity Cap ESA in parallel to make the correct value!

Since this speaker is custom built, there are many options for veneer. The standard finish is a very time consuming process that involves multiple coats of lacquer.  This is then hand buffed with cloth to a semi-gloss finish.  The result is a finish that will stand the test of time and offer beauty for many years to come. 

Frequency Response:  30hz-20k +/- 1.5db
Sensitivity:  87db (NOTE: most vastly overestimate this figure)
Impedance: 6 ohm nominal


Email for a quote for any veneer of your dreams.

[Russell Dawkins]

These look to be a very solid value, given the parts cost. Kudos for that. 

I am curious as to the approximate range covered by the Accuton C173-6-090 midrange drivers.

Russell.

[Jed]

These look to be a very solid value, given the parts cost. Kudos for that. 

I am curious as to the approximate range covered by the Accuton C173-6-090 midrange drivers.

Russell.

Thanks Russell,

The Accuton is used from approximately 300-2000hz.  The bandpass is LR2 on the low end and LR4 at the top end (the ribbon requires LR4 slopes to sum correctly and play without strain).

Jed

[poseidonsvoice]

Jed,

That's a ton of value indeed. Accuton and RAAL drivers are NOT cheap.

Anand.

[Jed]

Jed,

That's a ton of value indeed. Accuton and RAAL drivers are NOT cheap.

Anand.

Thanks Anand.  Pricing will be going up at some point as I make the decision to go with distributors or a factory direct model.  I'm working on a new product line as well with speakers for just about everyone from $950 to a cost no object design.  As you can imagine, there's not much profit built into the Duet10R at this price point, but I want the word to get out there that a speaker doesn't have to cost $50k, $25K, or even $10K  , if using the state of the art drivers and crossover components (Clarity Cap MRs aren't cheap!).  I currently have a couple Duet10 customers that have compared the speaker to designs costing 5X the cost advertised here.  I treat that statement more as a metaphor, since I realize the final cost is often not indicative of the sound quality.  I assure you all that these speakers are the real deal as the flat frequency response and listening impressions imply.  The link in the first post will take you guys to the build of these speakers... although now we use mitered joints etc.  So a few things have changed for the better with the construction. I use one of the finest cabinet builders out there for the cabinets as well.  The lacquer finish we're using is very nice.

Jed

[rollo]

 Good luck. Nice choice for drivers. Looks great.


charles

[Jed]

Good luck. Nice choice for drivers. Looks great.


charles

Thanks!  Things have been going incredibly well this last year, and I'm excited to work on the new line.  I'll have more info in a couple months on the new products but for now here's the current offerings.

www.clearwaveloudspeaker.com

[Jed]

The Review of Duet10R:

It's been a week since the Duet10R's arrived.  It's probably about time that I post some impressions for people following the thread.  Before I get to the sound, I do want to express my gratitude to Jed for totally exceeding my expectations.  This guy loves listening to music and building speakers.  I recently went to the California Audio Show and got to hear some truly fantastic systems and the Duet's deliver the same performance as speakers costing 5x as much. If you are considering building or purchasing new speakers, make sure Clearwave is on the top of your shopping list.
 
My first impression when the speakers arrived was "OMG these things are HUGE!"  Just to unpack and set them up took almost an hour and a half.  They're 40" tall, 11.5" wide and almost 20" deep made from 1.5" MDF.  Final weight is almost 150lbs each.  Build quality is fantastic – much better than I had expected.  The driver cutouts are ridiculously tight - about a few thousandths of an inch.  The curly maple veneer is coated with a beautiful semi-gloss laquer finish.  I'd seen the pictures on the forum and some others that Jed had sent but they really don't do justice to how beautiful they look in person.

So, how do they sound?  It's pretty hard to put into words how something sounds but I'll give it my best try.   The RAAL tweeter and Accuton mid are simply effortless and superbly realistic, especially with good acoustic recordings.  The sound stage is huge and deep.  They clearly reproduce the tiny little details that give you a sense that you're in the room with the performers.  They have a unique ability to just make the music seem to float in mid air.    A friend of mine brought over his SACD player and played a few recordings and it was just plain spooky how much detail the Duets could reveal.  Where some speakers play the first impact of a drum or guitar note, the Duet lets you hear the instrument body reverberate as the energy fades out.  I think it's probably sufficient to say there's something magical about these drivers and the way they blend together. 

I had gone into this build knowing I wanted the RAAL tweeter and the Accuton mid but I was unsure about what woofer.  Jed talked me into the 10" Seas Nextel W26 FX-002 and I'm glad he did.   My old speakers, a pair of Jed's RBR kit, used a 6" midwoofer with bass response in the low 30's.  The Seas only goes a few hz lower but WOW do they have more impact.   No matter what you throw at them, these woofers deliver tight and powerful bass.  Listening to the acoustic bass and low piano notes gets as close as I've ever heard to properly reproducing the body and reverb of those instruments.

Overall I'm very pleased.  Kudos to Jed on a job well done!   

Brian

Just a little update ...  I got the precision clock and discrete op-amps (OPA-Earth) from Audio-GD installed today.  The inductors for the CLC power supply in the amp are on their way. Installing the op-amps was a piece of cake but I *almost* ruined my soundcard doing the clock.  I ripped off one of the solder pads while trying to detach the original clock.  Fortunately, there's two pads attaching the crystal and you only need to connect the new clock to one (either one) so it all turned out okay.   There was some tiny, tiny, tiny parts to solder to though.  It was pretty challenging even for someone with a fair amount of soldering experience.  Once I was done, I fired it up and tested to make sure everything was working before plugging into my amp.  All systerms were a go so I plugged it into the amp and all I can say is WOOOOOOW.  The Duets really do play whatever you give them.. and apparently all this time I've been feeding them with crap.  The sound I'm getting now is just amazing.   These speakers are just amazingly transparent and will portray every little detail that a recording has in it.  It's really something to be able to close your eyes and be in the room with the performers.

Thank you, Jed! 

[Jed]

I've got some smaller versions of the Duet10 in the works that you guys might be interested in as well.  Stay tuned.  For now I'm getting the itch to build more Duet10s.