The Dethonray Clarinet Pro is a portable DAC/AMP that punches well above its weight. This review delves into the device's design, features, and most importantly, its exceptional sound quality. With a minimalist yet refined aesthetic, the Clarinet Pro boasts a build quality that reflects its premium sound. Its compact size belies its powerful performance, making it ideal for on-the-go listening without sacrificing audio fidelity. We'll examine its included accessories, user-friendly controls, and connectivity options, exploring the practicality of its design for various listening scenarios.This in-depth review will assess the Clarinet Pro's sonic signature, comparing its performance to competing models like the Fuse Q15 and even the more expensive M17. We'll analyze its bass response, midrange clarity, and treble extension, detailing its strengths and weaknesses across different musical genres and headphone pairings. Ultimately, we determine whether the Clarinet Pro's unique sound characteristics and impressive price-to-performance ratio make it a worthwhile addition to your audio setup, even considering its limited output options.
Pros And Cons
- Improved amplifier section with more power and better sound
- Approximately 7 hours of battery life
- Good price-to-quality ratio
- Minimalist but neat design
- High-quality build with attention to detail
- Well-balanced sound with engaging and musical representation
- Excellent bass depth, control, and texture
- Natural mid-frequencies highlighting emotions without exaggeration
- Above-average imaginary stage with good width, depth, and instrument positioning
- Scales well with high-quality recordings
- Good treble with proper attacks, decays, and energy; good extension and layering
- Quiet operation, even with IEMs
- Suitable for full-size and hard-to-drive headphones
- Better sound quality than Fuse Q15
- No single-ended output
- May not be ideal for sensitive IEMs due to high output power
- Slightly less natural than some other options, though still high-quality
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Unboxing and Design
The Dethonray Clarinet Pro arrives in a minimalist package, a reusable design Dethonray employs across its products. The model name is simply a sticker on the box. The device itself boasts a design reminiscent of a Japanese café – understated yet refined.
The aesthetic is clean and precise, featuring sharp angles and high-quality metal construction. The logo and branding are tastefully done, reflecting attention to detail even in small elements. The orientation of the device's labeling is deliberate, designed for optimal viewing when attached to a smartphone.
Features and Accessories
The Clarinet Pro includes a small selection of accessories: an optical adapter, a coaxial adapter, and a high-quality angled USB Type-C cable. The cable is soft, nicely braided, and convenient for daily use with various devices.
A separately sold leather case is available as an optional purchase. The device itself features a volume knob that doubles as a power switch, a balanced output, coaxial and optical inputs, a gain toggle, a charging port, and a data connection port.
The data port is useful when using the device with a smartphone, preventing battery drain. For desktop use, a separate charging cable is needed.
Sound Quality and Performance
The Clarinet Pro maintains Dethonray's signature engaging and musical sound reproduction, while delivering a significant amount of technicality. It emphasizes macrodynamics but avoids harshness or unnatural clarity, making it suitable for various genres.
Bass extends to impressive depths, remaining well-controlled thanks to the sophisticated power supply design. Mids are organic and emotive, perfectly conveying the emotional depth of vocals and instrumental music. Treble is accurate, with the appropriate energy and extension, and good layering, even with full-size headphones.
Comparisons and Conclusion
The Dethonray Clarinet Pro is compared favorably to the Fuse Q15, offering superior sound quality—more natural and technical. However, the Q15 offers more features. The Clarinet Pro's strengths lie in its excellent price-to-sound quality ratio, especially when used with full-size headphones or those that are difficult to drive.
While it lacks a single-ended output and may not be ideal for sensitive in-ear monitors, the Clarinet Pro’s outstanding sound quality for its price point makes it a compelling option for discerning audiophiles seeking a portable solution. It's performance on certain tracks even rivals that of the M17, making it a true contender in the portable DAC/AMP market.
In summary, the Dethonray Clarinet Pro offers a unique blend of portability, power, and audio fidelity for a relatively affordable price. If you're willing to overlook the limited output options, this device is a strong recommendation.