Dethonray Clarinet - Portable DAC/Amp Discussion + Impression thread

[-rowan-]

The timbre of DTR1+and Clarinet is still different. The vocal of DTR1+ is thicker, slightly forward, and the low frequencies are more powerful. Clarinet's sound leans slightly towards high frequencies, making it more vivid. But I have been using the default firmware and have not tried any other firmware yet. If optical input is used, the sound stage will be significantly improved, and the transparency will also increase, making it more versatile.

Which means that with optical it should be quite a bit better than DTR1+. I though that it is more warmer and analog kind of sounding, guess from optical or coaxial that could be, looking for a warmer source.

I have both as well and this aligns with what I hear as well. Coax widens the gap and gives Clarinet an unassailable lead imo. More transparency, cleaner separation and layering. Sweeter, more resolving, more extended treble. More power, authority and dynamism.

Using updated default firmware (Rhapsody). I have not tried optical yet but the little I’ve heard using the coax workaround makes me keep thinking of it, and thinking of the day I get a proper durable coax solution for my Clarinet.

But I no longer have anxiety about the COAX cable because I received a Clarinet accessory. This $50 gear already has COAX/Optical cable inside, which can be easily replaced and used.

Anson mentioned this when I emailed him some time back but I hadn’t expected it to be on sale already, wrongly assuming it would be listed after the break.

So I hit buy as soon as I saw this.

Hours later, I got a notification saying it’s shipped. It’s Sunday.

I’m almost certain it’s Anson himself or at least someone very close to the brand pulling extra hours to get this out.

No idea how far it’s going to move or how fast, but considering that I have half a dozen other AE orders languishing with sellers that have evidently already shut for the hols, the effort alone speaks volumes of Dethonray and Anson.

 

[Evldice]

I have both as well and this aligns with what I hear as well. Coax widens the gap and gives Clarinet an unassailable lead imo. More transparency, cleaner separation and layering. Sweeter, more resolving, more extended treble. More power, authority and dynamism.

Using updated default firmware (Rhapsody). I have not tried optical yet but the little I’ve heard using the coax workaround makes me keep thinking of it, and thinking of the day I get a proper durable coax solution for my Clarinet.



Anson mentioned this when I emailed him some time back but I hadn’t expected it to be on sale already, wrongly assuming it would be listed after the break.

So I hit buy as soon as I saw this.

Hours later, I got a notification saying it’s shipped. It’s Sunday.

I’m almost certain it’s Anson himself or at least someone very close to the brand pulling extra hours to get this out.

No idea how far it’s going to move or how fast, but considering that I have half a dozen other AE orders languishing with sellers that have evidently already shut for the hols, the effort alone speaks volumes of Dethonray and Anson.

I missed that boat - I already PTT on the PO100 and several cables. Toslink is a notable improvement over USB, so at the end of the day, it's all good.

 

[BS5711]

I missed that boat - I already PTT on the PO100 and several cables. Toslink is a notable improvement over USB, so at the end of the day, it's all good.

I just got a PO100 and it is doing a great job via coaxial or optical.

I searched up an ASR review and the PO100 was basically a perfectly measuring conversion from USB to coaxial and optical.

You can't get better than that so I don't think you missed the boat on that other one, it is very likely very much the same thing.

EDITED TO ADD - with the PO100 it is quick to swap back and forth between coaxial and optical. While both seems to do something a little different to USB I can't differentiate between coaxial and optical.

 

[F700]

Enjoying the Clarinet tonight via USB-C directly connected to the smartphone. At that price tag, there is no content to complain about.

Some burn-in is required with the Clarinet, but this goes w/o saying.

 

[F700]

…still, impossible to ignore the step-up in SQ with an USB interface and via the coax output.

 

[noplsestar]

…still, impossible to ignore the step-up in SQ with an USB interface and via the coax output.

Looks nice!

I have some questions:

What source do you use? I am asking because I experienced that when listening with my DAC (Calyx K) the sound is much better (clearer, more dynamism, more extension etc.) when listening with a Samsung phone. Out of the iPhone (or even the Mac Book pro) the sound is inferior, so more smeared and mellow sounding.

My second question would be: what USB-C cable are you using? I am listening with the ddHifi TC09s which is great and audibly better than generic USB-C cables. But I see you already have an upgrade cable, but I can’t see the company, that’s why I am asking

Third question: Do you listen to the Clarinet as a standalone DAC/amp or have you also tried it in combination with the BX-2 pro?

And my fourth and last question (sorry!)
How is the Clarinet doing with the AA Composer of yours? Maybe too much highs?

Cheers my friend and happy listening!

 

[pradiptacr7]

My second question would be: what USB-C cable are you using? I am listening with the ddHifi TC09s which is great and audibly better than generic USB-C cables. But I see you already have an upgrade cable, but I can’t see the company, that’s why I am asking

This is the stock USB-C cable given with the Clarinet in @F700 's photo

 

[bithalver]

Guys, anyone has a Shanling Onix XI1 to compare to the Clarinet ?
Honestly I am mostly interested using usb-c input only, but ...

No offense and no argument, we ultimately care about sound quality. there is no standard in itself, and no company has achieved full compatibility. Even some companies have multi-functional Coax/LO, and each upgrade is different. From the perspective of signal or design, simplicity and consistency are the best choices. Signal is signal, ground is ground, and 3.5 TRS is the simplest definition. Selecting any signal as output and keeping ground will simplify all products. This is a design philosophy issue, not related to the brand.

But I no longer have anxiety about the COAX cable because I received a Clarinet accessory. This $50 gear already has COAX/Optical cable inside, which can be easily replaced and used.

... I like to have a link to that usbc -> optical/coax converter (I searched aliex and could not found it, sorry).

Thank you !

 

[-rowan-]

... I like to have a link to that usbc -> optical/coax converter (I searched aliex and could not found it, sorry).

Thank you !

Here you go - listed in the Dethonray store:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005008406151332.html

 

[bithalver]

Here you go - listed in the Dethonray store:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005008406151332.html

Thank you, but "Sorry, this item's currently unavailable in your location."

 

[-rowan-]

Thank you, but "Sorry, this item's currently unavailable in your location."

That’s odd, but it would explain why you weren’t able to find it. Are you able to see the other items, including the Clarinet, in the Dethonray AE store? Or perhaps you could email Anson at Dethonray dot com for help. I’m sure he would be able to find a solution.

 

[F700]

Looks nice!

I have some questions:

What source do you use? I am asking because I experienced that when listening with my DAC (Calyx K) the sound is much better (clearer, more dynamism, more extension etc.) when listening with a Samsung phone. Out of the iPhone (or even the Mac Book pro) the sound is inferior, so more smeared and mellow sounding.

My second question would be: what USB-C cable are you using? I am listening with the ddHifi TC09s which is great and audibly better than generic USB-C cables. But I see you already have an upgrade cable, but I can’t see the company, that’s why I am asking

Third question: Do you listen to the Clarinet as a standalone DAC/amp or have you also tried it in combination with the BX-2 pro?

And my fourth and last question (sorry!)
How is the Clarinet doing with the AA Composer of yours? Maybe too much highs?

Cheers my friend and happy listening!

You can use the Clarinet via USB (I also own a ddhifi cables/adapters armada), but the displayed setup lift two layers of veil and massively improves definition. Note weight and low-end are also much better than with a USB connection. My smartphone becomes then an upper-mid class DAP. Spent 5 hours in a row yesterday listening to this combo. Impressive.

I am using a premium Lifatec optical/coax cable. The stock USB-C cable of the Clarinet is very good, it did not feel the need to switch for another one so far.

I use the Clarinet as a lightweight portable solution. Did not try it with BX2Pro and PSU, which actually are AA Composer’s sole amplification solution that suit my needs.

 

[bithalver]

That’s odd, but it would explain why you weren’t able to find it. Are you able to see the other items, including the Clarinet, in the Dethonray AE store? Or perhaps you could email Anson at Dethonray dot com for help. I’m sure he would be able to find a solution.

Yeah I see many items.

I am just in the thinking phase: will I hear a difference from Shanling Onix XI1 ? Will I hear a difference between usb-c and coax input ?

Thank you for your help !

 

[-rowan-]

Yeah I see many items.

I am just in the thinking phase: will I hear a difference from Shanling Onix XI1 ? Will I hear a difference between usb-c and coax input ?

Thank you for your help !

Sorry I’ve never heard the Onix, but I do hear a difference between usb-c and coax, using Cayin N7 as the source. It’s basically as I described above, with usb-c being warmer and less transparent, dynamic and refined as coax.

 

[BS5711]

Thank you, but "Sorry, this item's currently unavailable in your location."

An SMSL PO100 does the same job and does it technically flawlessly.

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...ak-measurements-digital-interfaces-dac.40483/

Additionally, based on my PO100 and AiExpress images of the other unit the SMSL is at better built if that matters. The other looks pretty rough but I sure it does a good job.

---

Edit to add:

It is certainly worth a little additional work to get a coaxial or optical source into the Clarinet. An SMSL PO100 is pretty cheap and does an excellent job of providing both outputs from a USB-C input. It is easily powered by a phone or a DAP for a nice compact set up or from a computer with an appropriate driver of course.

Either coaxial or optical give the sound an open, airy almost ethereal feeling which makes the USB input seem flat and lifeless. Of course USB is OK but feels sonically like a bit of an afterthought versus coaxial and optical.

I don’t usually hear obvious differences between devices like this but the difference versus USB is more apparent to me than just about anything I have noticed by way of differences between other devices. I spent the last hour back and forth because I frankly didn’t trust what I thought I was hearing but I don’t think there is any mistaking here.