Clarett 2Pre USB Audio Interface

Discussion in 'Digital: DACs, USB converters, decrapifiers' started by Vtory, Mar 4, 2021.

  1. Vtory

    Vtory Audiophile™

    Pyrate MZR
    Joined:
    Sep 12, 2016
    Likes Received:
    10,831
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    East Coast
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Official Home Page: https://focusrite.com/en/usb-c-audio-interface/clarett-usb/clarett-2pre-usb

    @Armaegis is such a nice guy to loan me his Clarett for a while. I had a little experience of Focusrite interfaces before (including Scarlett 2i2), but never experienced their mid-high products. I appreciate his kindness again.

    Instead of a single long review, I am planning to drop a series of short reports as I explore the clarett -- which I found better suit my recent life schedules. But before that, in this opening post, I'd like to define the evaluation plan first.

    Current to-do list below. Note that the list means neither I necessarily do all (will try but can't fully promise) nor I perform them sequentially. But very likely I will post my thoughts in that order.

    • Installation experience (driver, basic configuration, asio playback, etc)
    • Loopback measurements
    • Cross-interface measurements #1: Clarett (output) --> Motu M4 (input)
    • Cross-interface measurements #2: M4 (output) --> Clarett (input)
    • DUT measurements #1 : Topping DX3
    • DUT measurements #2 : Soekris DAC 2541
    • Subjective listening: via lineout
    • Subjective listening: via headphones out
    • Wrap-up / Closing thoughts
    My go-to measurement test set includes the following: (1) 1kHz FFT, (2) IMD (SMPTE, CCIF), (3) Multi-tone (half-octave interval), and (4) J-Test. Measurements will taken with two different computers and respective REW instances on each machine.

    As you may easily guess, my use cases heavily focus on audio measurements and (subjective) playback performance. Definitely not the best person to evaluate mic-recording stuffs.

    Also a usual disclaimer applies. DA converter measurements is something I am still learning. Take all my objective assertions with a grain of salt.

    A short listen seemed very promising. Looking forward to discovering interesting aspects during my evaluation.

    Lastly, picture or didn't happen.

    [​IMG]

    PS. FYI @ultrabike posted his finding and thoughts already. I didn't read yet (blinding myself as much as possible before evaluation completed on my end), but if you want more reliable information, I believe you should check out that thread first.
     
  2. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

    Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    7,464
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Winnipeg
    Awesome possum, glad it arrived safe and sound! I don't mind opening up the Clarett for a loaner tour for whoever wants to try it.
     
  3. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

    Staff Member Pyrate MZR
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    12,285
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Colorado
    Home Page:
    I was eyeballing this recently and would be curious to try it if you setup a tour.
     
  4. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

    Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    7,464
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Winnipeg
    It's kinda on indefinite loan to SBAF, so just coordinate with chacha and Vtory when he's done with it. I suppose I could start up a loaner thread if people really wanted.
     
  5. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

    Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    7,464
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Winnipeg
    @Hands did you still want to try this? I believe @Vtory still has it
     
  6. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

    Staff Member Pyrate MZR
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    12,285
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Colorado
    Home Page:
    Sure, I'm still interested. Absolutely no rush, though.
     
  7. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

    Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    7,464
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Winnipeg
    Vtory said he'd reach out and send it your way. It's a hassle to get this thing back up across the border to Canada, so it's open for whoever wants to give it a whirl.
     
  8. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

    Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    7,464
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Winnipeg
    @k4rstar has expressed interest

    Does @Vtory still have it or has it made its way to @Hands by now?

    It would make sense to finish making the rounds in the US before coming back up to Canada
     
  9. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

    Staff Member Pyrate MZR
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    12,285
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Colorado
    Home Page:
    @Vtory hit me up to get my address this week.
     
  10. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

    Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    7,464
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Winnipeg
    @Hands has the Clarett arrived safely?
     
  11. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

    Staff Member Pyrate MZR
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    12,285
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Colorado
    Home Page:
    Yep!
     
  12. batriq

    batriq Probably has made you smarter

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 31, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,041
    Trophy Points:
    93
    I've been considering the Clarett+ 2Pre. This is the updated version of the Clarett with Cirrus chips. They don't list which chip but judging from the 8 input version, it has the CS‑5381 AD and CS‑43198 DA. I would go for the Motu but the Ultralite MK5 is backordered until September (and I was told more likely November). Any thoughts on the Clarrett+ or other recommendations in a similar price range to the Clarette+ and Motu?
     
  13. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

    Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    7,464
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Winnipeg
    If you're in the US do you want to borrow the Clarett? I imagine @Hands has had enough time playing around with it by now.
     
  14. batriq

    batriq Probably has made you smarter

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 31, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,041
    Trophy Points:
    93
    wow, that would be awesome! Thank you! I’m on the east coast
     
  15. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

    Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    7,464
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Winnipeg
    Hey sorry I missed this.

    @Hands would you be able to send this out to Batriq?
     
  16. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

    Staff Member Pyrate MZR
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    12,285
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Colorado
    Home Page:
    Yeah, I can. Been crazy busy over here lately. Haven't really had a chance to use the thing but don't want to hold anyone up. Might be a week or so before I can ship it out, but don't hesitate to bug me about it.

    By the way, was this supposed to include a power adapter?
     
  17. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

    Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    7,464
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Winnipeg
    Yes, I believe it did... @Vtory or @ultrabike did you guys remember that?
     
  18. Vtory

    Vtory Audiophile™

    Pyrate MZR
    Joined:
    Sep 12, 2016
    Likes Received:
    10,831
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    East Coast
    @Armaegis I can't remember well. But I think I found it just now.. (the same 12V 1.5A spec one) It's very possible I forgot including. My bad!

    I can send it out to either @Hands or @batriq
    Will follow whichever works better.
     
  19. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

    Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    7,464
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Winnipeg
    Might as well send it over to @Hands first, so he can send a complete package over to @batriq after.
     
  20. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

    Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    7,464
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Winnipeg
    Followup to @Vtory and @Hands , has the power supply been sent out?
     

Share This Page