Clarifier RS501

  (out of stock)

Following on from the huge popularity of our Edifier R401 amplifier, the search was on for a big brother version to satisfy keyboard players who needed a wider frequency range, even greater clarity of sound and perhaps some extra power for the occasional gig outside the house.

A number of systems were available that looked as if they may be suitable for use on a keyboard, the specifications looked fine, but the “acid” test is of course testing on a keyboard - after all, that’s how we will all use them.

Samples duly arrived but the results were nothing short of disappointing, even the best didn’t sound anywhere near as good as the Edifier R401and they were much more expensive! Then a couple more samples arrived all the way from China. This promised to be good with it’s “High Plus waveguide technology” and oh boy was it good - not that we knew what “High Wave Technology” is, but if it can make a sound like this, we’ll have some more please.

At a recent exhibition we let some music dealers, distributors and keyboard makers hear the Clarifier RS501 and like us, they too were nothing less than astonished at the performance. The room was about the size of a large living room and we will admit to cheating a bit by using the Ketron SD1 with it’s ultra realistic sounds, but nobody could deny the clarity of sound, and when turned up to high level, the amazing volume that could be achieved before distortion was eventually reached (to be honest, I was glad to finally get distortion as my ears were beginning to hurt). So much good clean power from such a relatively small speaker seems to break the laws of physics - at least as we understand them!

We know that high power is probably not so important to most home keyboard players - but good clear sound is. This is where the Clarifier really scores. The extended frequency range claims 35Hz up to 18K Hz which we think is being very modest as they sound every bit as good as studio monitor speakers that claim a range of 20 Hz to 20K Hz. We wonder if stating this lower than true range is political, after all, the Clarifier RS501’s makers would not be able to sell their more expensive speakers if the lower priced models had the same specification!

Another neat trick the Clarifier RS501 has “up it’s sleeve” is the 3D effect. This is designed to create a spacial effect similar to reverb, when turned full on, but as most keyboards already have reverb, this appeared to be an un-required function, however we discovered that by just turning the 3D control on and leaving at the minimum position, the sound instantly became much clearer and crisper - much like the effect of an “Aural Exciter”. Once you have heard this effect, you will never want to turn it off.

With all this extra capability, it’s not surprising that you will be hearing your keyboard, perhaps for the first time, released from the sound constraints placed on it by the internal amplifier and speaker system. Now you can hear what your keyboard can really sound like.

Each Clarifier RS401 is packaged with a cable pack for really easy installation on all popular makes and models of keyboard, digital piano, organs and computers. The cable contents are: 2 x Phono plugs to 2 x Phono plugs. 2 x standard 6.35mm mono Jack plugs to 2 x Phono plugs. 1 x 3.5mm mini stereo Jack plug to 2 x Phono plugs. 1 x adaptor to convert the 3.5mm mini stereo Jack plug to a 6.35mm stereo standard jack plug. Plus full installation instructions.

Specifications:

• Power output: 60 Watts RMS (Combined)
• Sub-Woofer: 30 Watts RMS
• Satellites: 2 x 15 Watts RMS
• Frequency Range: 35Hz - 18K Hz
• Impedance: 4 Ohms.
• Distortion: < 0.5%
• Sub-Woofer driver: 6.5”
• Satellites: 2 x 3” and 2 x 1.5”
• Sub-Woofer cabinet: (W) 180 x (H) 355 x (D) 400mm
• Satellite cabinets: (W) 135 x (H) 255 x (D)175mm
• Nett Weight: 11.75 Kg
• Voltage: 230 Volt AC

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Clarifier keyboard amplifiers