Astell & Kern CLARUS Review: Outstanding Tribrid Performance

When you first open the Clarus packaging, you're met with the simple but effective design of an all-aluminum shell. The Clarus doesn't have a lot of color or flashy branding on it, but instead a subtle geometric pattern that nods to the Astell & Kern logo. The earphone has a larger shell and a thicker nozzle for the eartips, especially when compared to some other IEMs in the same class. For those with smaller ears, this IEM may prove to be a tad uncomfortable. However, I was pleasantly surprised that with the right eartip, the Clarus fit very snugly and was stable for my entire listening session. I was using the Strauss & Wagner SoundNest eartips and found them to be a perfect fit for the slightly wider nozzle. It made the fit less compressing and more breathable for longer listening sessions. The shell is very lightweight, and it wasn't bothersome in the ear. 

The cable that you get with the Clarus is from Effect Audio. The Effect Audio Ares S Lite cable is a 2-pin to 4.4mm cable, and you'll find it's a great upgrade cable for a lot of 2-pin IEMs. The Clarus includes this cable as its standard accessory, so you are set to listen at the highest quality. Still, if you find that you prefer a different connection or have your own cables, it is easy to swap out the cable via the Clarus's 2-pin connection point. 

You can use the Clarus with a host of different DACs and amplifiers, especially since it's not very hard to drive. The nine-driver configuration is pretty easy to drive and push power through, so you don't have to worry about needing anything too crazy powerful in order to get the most out of these. A nice portable DAC is a perfect fit for the Clarus, and I found the iFi GR2 or the FiiO BTR17 great matches for the high-end earphones. 

• Driver Configuration: 
  • 1 × Proprietary 9 mm Dynamic Driver
  • 7 × Sonion Balanced Armature Drivers
  • 1 × Silicon MEMS Tweeter
• Cable Details:
  • AK × Effect Audio Cable (custom-spec Ares S Lite)
  • UP-OCC Pure Copper Litz Conductors, 24 AWG 4-Wire
  • 0.78 mm 2-Pin Connector / Termination: TBC
• 6061-T6 Aluminum CNC Chassis, Anodized Silver
• Multi-Faceted Faceplate, CNC-Machined 6061-T6 Aluminum, Anodized Silver
• Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
• Sensitivity: 103.9 dB SPL @ 1 kHz
• Impedance: 9.7 Ω @ 1 kHz

SOUNDSTAGE & IMAGING

What sound do you get with the Clarus? On my first listen, I expected a strong bass response from the dynamic driver and a lot of color from the balanced armatures. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the midrange was pulled the most ot the front and the bass wasn't as prominent as I thought it would be. The balance between the treble and bass was fairly even, and the soundstage expanded far out horizontally. You got decent separation between instruments to allow you to really analyze each element individually. The depth of the soundstage was very noticeable, and while the height didn't create a super tall wall of sound, it did give a third dimension to make listening more engaging. 

The Clarus has a very balanced signature, one that feels V-shaped with the way the midrange comes forward. While the treble is strong and full of detail, it doesn't overpower the whole signature to be super bright and sharp. The midrange brings clarity and color, with the bass laying a nice foundation for everything to build up from. I was a fan of how natural everything sounded, especially vocals and their realistic reproduction. I could see the Clarus being a nice addition to a musician's collection, as the analytical element would be good for engineers and music editors who want to analyze their tracks on the go. 

BASS FREQUENCIES

Though the bass in the Clarus is more recessed, it does produce a powerful sound that doesn't go unnoticed in tracks. The bass is strong and lays a good foundation for other frequencies. It has decent body and sense of depth, so you are met with a substantial low-end response that you can appreciate in any track. While it is further back, you still have a lot of detail in those low-end instruments to make them recognizable by tone and timbre. The sound extends to the sub-bass naturally, so you get a thicker response that feels realistic as opposed to heavily synthetic. I liked that the bass had a decent slam in fast, high-energy tracks, and even when the pace was slowed down, clarity was not lost. Tones were full and rich, and timbres of lower percussion and strings created entertaining texture throughout the tracks. I found the bass especially effective in rock and metal genres, where the crisp detail helps in making those low-end features more palatable. 

MIDRANGE FREQUENCIES

One of my favorite features on the Clarus was the midrange frequencies. The forwardness of the main melodies made them stand out and become more engaging in a host of different genres. Vocals in this range were front and center, with realistic and natural reproduction to make them sound like the singers were right in front of you. The Clarus had an impressive balance of color and balance in the midrange. I found it easy to pick apart the different elements in tracks and appreciate their individual timbres. The detail provided in the Clarus makes this a great IEM for analytical listening, though you can listen for entertaining purposes just as much. I found myself finding new sonic details and hidden gems in tracks I'd heard a thousand times before. You can hear the depth of the soundstage in the way that elements separate and push backwards to create a wider space, which was especially noticeable in orchestral tracks.  

TREBLE FREQUENCIES

At the top of the range, the Clarus has crisp, treble detail that is the strongest range of the signature. If you have sensitive ears, the Clarus may prove to have too strong a treble for you. Still, I find it balances quite well against the rich and colorful bass response. The brightness makes the top of the vertical soundstage open up and become much lighter. The treble is sharp and precise, but it doesn't become shrill. It strikes a good balance of precision, lightness, and clarity so you can appreciate all the minute parts of your tracks. The Clarus allows you to appreciate all those finer details without fatiguing you for long listening sessions. It stays bright and airy so that you're not chasing after space or openness. 

The Clarus retails for a daunting $2,900, but it's not the only IEM with a higher price point. What else would compete with this high-end IEM? Immediately, my first instinct goes to something like the 64 Audio U18t. A balanced, neutral IEM with a flair of dynamic color. The U18t is a highly sought-after IEM that a lot of musicians use for reference sound. At the $3k price point, it is definitely an elevated listening experience. It stands as good competition against the Clarus because of the similar naturalness that the IEMs have. The U18t is more relaxed and subdued, relying more on space rather than the forward that some more engaging IEMs have. The Clarus has a brighter edge to it, which makes it more engaging than just being for analytical detail.  

Another IEM that sticks out is the Noble Audio Onyx. The Noble Onyx is also at a similar price, coming in at $3.2k. It's a little over what you see the Clarus retail for, but the quality is just the same. In the Clarus, there's a bit more neutrality and balance between the treble and bass, despite the treble having the upper hand. The Onyx is more colorful and dynamic, accentuating the bass with its bone conductor driver and making the sub-bass even more powerful. Depending on whether you like a more powerful bass or a sharper treble, you'll find the choice between Clarus and Onyx easier to make.

The Astell & Kern CLARUS is an exceptional IEM in its class. The Clarus's tribrid configuration reproduces sound in a natural yet colorful way, and with the addition of a nice DAC, you'll have high-quality sound wherever you go. The Clarus has an excellent profile for analytical listening, but doesn't sound clinical or sterile after long listening sessions. Instead, you have a profile that is engaging and demonstrates what high-end sound can bring to the table. If you're someone who wants an audiophile IEM that will be a good fit for any genre, the Clarus is definitely something to check out. 

You can get the A&K CLARUS at Audio46.