The Canto Master – Dethonray Clarinet DAC / Headphone AMP
Dethonray Clarinet is a $223 USD Portable USB DAC / Headphone Amplifier with an AK 4493S DAC at the heart, USB, Coaxial and Optical Inputs, Balanced Headphone output and two separate firmwares for a different sound named Serenade and Rhapsody. Today we will review the Clarinet and see broadly how it compares to the current audio market.
Introduction
Dethonray is a specialist company creating mostly DACs and Headphone Amplifiers, although they have created a very popular pair of IEMS too, namely the Tender 1. As a company, Dethonray is mostly sold through the usual Chifi sale channels, including Linsoul, and those channels provide an excellent warranty and support for their products.
As an Amazon Influencer, I earn from qualifying purchases, and using the purchase links in my reviews helps me maintain this website and Youtube Channel. Huge thanks to Dethonray for providing us with the sample for this review.
Product Link
Amazon – https://amzn.to/3G3bqkn
Aliexpress – https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_oBt6i33
Build Quality/Aesthetics
Dethonray Clarinet is a high quality portable, but affordable DAC and Headphone AMP. Starting with the power delivery, Clarinet employs a unique high voltage DPPU Desktop Plus Power Unit, which is basically a unique splitting of the power between the analogue and digital segments of the circuit, with a powerful 8.4V battery that allows it to drive IEMs as sensitive as 10 Ohm / 120 dB and Headphones as hard to drive as 300 OHM / 102 dB.
The DAC at the heart is an AK 4493S, a similar solution to that found in SMSL C100, but different from the one similar found in Shanling UA3 or TempoTec V6 DAP. This DAC has a high performance by itself, but as always, integration is more important than the DAC itself.
Sporting USB, Optical and coaxial inputs, Clarinet is a DAC AMP that can be used with a DAP, smartphone and even desktop PC computer, being rather versatile. It should work just fine with consoles too. There are two Type-C USB inputs, one for charging the Clarinet and one for data, so it can be connected to a phone and a separate power bank independently, and also offering better separation and canceling noise more effectively.
We get a casing that’s fully made of aluminium, which helps eliminate EFI and RFI, and is great for heat dissipation, reducing the internal temperature and prolonging the life of the Clarinet. The volume wheel you’re seeing is a digital controller, removing the shortcomings of an analogue volume wheel, like left / right channel imbalance.
Dethonray also made two different firmwares for the Clarinet, one that is named Serenade and should sound Exquisite and Silky and one that is named Rhapsody that is proposed to be Vigorous and Flamboyant. Actual decoding abilities go as high as DSD256, PEM 32 Bit / 384 kHz, and it works with Windows, iOS, Linux and Android. The weight of the unit is just 162 grams, and it has a 1600 mAh high battery, which can be charged in 3 hours, and should last for about 7 hours of actual usage.
USB DAC / Subjective Usage
This is the first entry-level DAC / Headphone AMP from Dethonray, a company known for an avantgarde design, and usually a uniquely smooth and clean sound, so it is interesting to see sharp corners, yet still the smooth language that Dethonray is known for using.
The firmware is a good mix of multiple elements, you can easily upgrade the firmware, and while it has no USB DAC delay, there is a minor pop sound when you turn it on and off, and when you insert IEMs and Headphones into it.
Even so, Clarinet easily achieves the promised battery life of 7 hours, and it can be used while charging, with no risk of degrading the battery. The unit does not get hot during usage, and the minimum power levels on low gain are great for IEMs, while on high gain it can easily drive fairly hard to drive headphones up to HIFIMAN HE1000 Unveiled, Palma DHS-1, and Audeze MM-100.
Sound Quality
Pairings and Match-up – To test the Dethonray Clarinet, I have paired it with both IEMs and Full-Sized Headphones, and for the IEM list I have used Tin HIFI P1 MAx II, Campfire Moon Rover, Simgot EM10, HarmonicDyne Devil, HeartField Blanc, and Soundz Flame. The headphone list includes Palma DHS-1, Audeze MM-100, Erzetich Mania V2024, Crosszone CZ-8a Enhanced.
Overall Signature – Dethonray made the Clarinet in multiple sonic modes, thanks to a firmware upgrade process that allows you to install different sonic profiles onto it. While this is really nice, they all sound fairly similar, with the biggest differences being in how forward and engaging the sound is. The default Dethonray experience can be found in the Serenade firmware, as it emulates what Listening M1 and DTR1+ sounds like, while the others sound more energetic, less laid back and more punchy / colorful.
Bass – Starting from the bass, the warmest, punchiest sound can be found with the Serenade firmware, which sounds laid back, relaxed, full, a bit dark and smooth. Bass always reaches 20 Hz, but with the Serenade has far more strength, presence, in the detriment of the treble which is laid back, relaxed, and so is the midrange.
Midrange – Clarinet has a clear, crisp midrange that’s pushed forward on the Rhapsody, but laid back and relaxed on the Serenade firmware. We see a rich, musically organic midrange with an exceptionally colorful and vivid presentation of guitar solos in rock and metal music. The Sereade sound is excellent for jazz and room music, while Rhapsody is perfect for rock and metal.
Treble – Dethonray generally shies away from a bright and crisp treble, but Clarinet has that traditional Dethonray signature if you’re using the Serenade firmware, but can also sound quite sharp, defined and detailed if you’re using the Rhapsody or rock firmwares. The treble that Clarinet is capable of is endless, can extend up to 20 kHz, it has a generally smooth texture in the highs with strong details up to the top.
Dynamics / PRaT / Textures – Clarinet has multiple texture levels as well as dynamic levels depending on the firmware you’re running. It generally has a relaxed, laid back and smooth texture and a more relaxed, expanded dynamic range regardless of the firmware installed, but things get tighter, more precise and more crisp with the Rhapsody and smoother, leaner and laid back, relaxed with the Serenade firmware.
Loudness Saturation Gradient – Clarinet generally sounds loud, it is hard to control very sensitive IEMS with it, and it is better suited for hard to drive headphones, as it has both that loud pop when changing songs, when inserting IEMs, and it also has a rather high volume quickly with IEMs, but it has tons of driving power, perfect for planar magnetic and hard to drive headphones.
Soundstage – Dethonray usually has a darker signature, with an expanded soundstage, but as Clarinet comes with multiple tuning options you will be happy to hear that all of them have a wide, holographic soundstage, and if your IEMs and Headphones are capable of producing soundstage, Clarinet will enhance that and expand it.
Value and Conclusion
As the first affordable product from Dethonray, Clarinet has an exceptional price / performance ratio, you can hear the ability of the company, refinement and multiple tuning options for the price you usually pay for bluetooth headphone DAC/AMPs, and ultra portable dongle DACs. Naturally, each approach has its advantages, but the clarinet is quite a bit stronger than most of the competition, it delivers multiple fine tuning options, and Dethonray will continue to develop the firmware which adds to the value of the Clarinet.
At the end of the day, if you’re looking for one of the most powerful, widest and most refined sounding portable USB DAC / Headphone Amplifiers, Dethonray Clarinet is an exceptionally capable unit with a beautiful shell, golden heart, Dethonray Clarinet is one of the best you can purchase right now.
PROs
- Superb, Luxurious design
- No USB DAC Delay
- High Driving Power at Max, enough even for planar magnetic headphones
- Very Low Price
- Multiple firmwares with multiple sound signatures
- Volume wheel
- Long battery life
- Separate charge and data ports
- Great package
Cons
- You may notice some hissing with very sensitive IEMs
- Pop sound when inserting headphones and IEMs, also when changing songs
- Each sound starts at a low volume then increases for a second before it reaches max volume
Product Link
Amazon – https://amzn.to/3G3bqkn
Aliexpress – https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_oBt6i33
--- Please remember to stay safe, and always have fun while listening to music!---
- If you have a dime to spare, please donate, and help us! It would make the day brighter for me and my wife-
Full Playlist used for this review
We listened to more songs than those named in this playlist, but those are excellent for identifying a sonic signature. I recommend trying most of the songs from this playlist, especially if you’re searching for new music! The playlists are different for Spotify, Tidal and Youtube, and based on the songs I enjoy and are available on each!
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_cjBXGmwSHSdGcwuc_bKbBDGHL4QvYBu
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5J3oloz8Riy9LxEGenOjQ0?si=979ba4f082414be7
https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/330fd544-8e5b-4839-bd35-676b2edbb3d5
--- Contact Us ---
