Impedance Linearized Bipole True Ribbon System™️
A New Standard in Ribbon Loudspeaker Control and Coherence
At the core of Clarisys Audio’s loudspeaker architecture lies a proprietary innovation we call the Impedance Linearized Bipole True Ribbon System™️ (ILBTRS) — a carefully engineered signal path and acoustic configuration that ensures unmatched speed, coherence, and amplifier compatibility across our ribbon platforms.
The Challenge
Ribbon loudspeakers are revered for their speed and transparency, but they also come with challenges:
- Very low impedance loads (often < 1 ohm)
- Reactive behavior that interacts poorly with amplifiers
- Sensitivity to DC offset, leading to diaphragm motion or instability
- And in the case of bipole or dipole configurations, mechanical interaction between the drivers
Most designs either avoid these challenges by limiting ribbon use to the tweeter or rely on brute-force amplifier capability.
Clarisys takes a different approach.
The Clarisys Solution: ILBTRS
Our Impedance Linearized Bipole True Ribbon System™️ is an integrated design methodology that addresses all of the above, preserving the clarity of ribbon drivers while eliminating the drawbacks.
It consists of:
1. Impedance Transformer
A custom-wound high-bandwidth transformer is used to match the low impedance of the ribbon (as low as 0.1–0.25 ohms) to a load that is friendly to tube or solid-state amplifiers. With transformer ratios typically around 3:1, the reflected impedance appears as ~2–3 ohms — well within the optimal range for most high-end amplifiers.
2. Series Capacitor
An audiophile-grade film capacitor is placed before the transformer, not after. This blocks DC offset and subsonic energy, which can otherwise saturate the transformer or cause unwanted diaphragm movement. By placing it before the transformer, we preserve both safety and sonic purity.
3. Series Resistor
A carefully selected low-value resistor (typically 0.2–0.33 Ω) further stabilizes the load and suppresses reactive behavior. It also ensures proper damping of the ribbon and helps linearize the system impedance across the frequency band.
4. True Bipole Ribbon Configuration
Unlike simple dipoles or single-sided planar speakers, Clarisys uses pure aluminium ribbon drivers in a true bipole configuration: back-to-back, in-phase mounted ribbons, radiating evenly forward and backward. This offers:
- More natural room integration
- Reduced pressure zones behind the diaphragm
- A larger, more immersive soundstage
- And a balanced energy field starting from as low as 150 Hz (depending on model)
Why It’s Unique
Clarisys is the only manufacturer combining:
- True full-range bipole aluminium ribbon drivers
- With transformer-coupled impedance linearization
- DC protection via pre-transformer capacitor
- And load stabilization via precision resistor
The result is a ribbon speaker that is:
- Inherently stable
- Effortless to drive
- Free of low-frequency diaphragm drift
- And capable of delivering unprecedented spatial realism and dynamic expression
What You Hear
- Speed without strain
- Immediacy without harshness
- Full-range realism without the compromises of traditional box designs
- Compatibility with a wide range of amplifiers — including reference-level tube designs
The Impedance Linearized Bipole True Ribbon System™️ is more than a technical solution — it’s a fundamental rethink of how ribbon loudspeakers interact with amplifiers, rooms, and music itself.
It’s one of the many reasons why Clarisys loudspeakers don’t just sound different.
They sound alive.