British audio company Rock Jawβs Genus earphones impressed me not only with audio that sounded better than the price would indicate, but the Genus also offered a set of filters for the ultimate customization. However, as Iβve discovered with most earphones that come with filtersβonce you find one you like, thatβs the one you stick with and the unused filters collect dust in a drawer. I understand the reasoning for filters, but I I wouldnβt be surprised if it becomes less common in the future. Which brings us to Rock Jawβs latest offeringβthe Clarito earphones.
Iβm not sure what Clarito means nor do I care. You have to name a product something, and Clarito is much easier to remember than something like SD43G-PA4 or some such silly letter/number combo that doesnβt mean anything.
According to Rock Jaw, the Clarito earphones are inspired by their other earphones but at a lower price. That makes sense, since the Clarito are aluminum as opposed to the Genusβ wood shell and they lack interchangeable filters. The Clarito earphones are about half the price as the Genus and thatβs important if you are rough on earphones or use them for commuting. Face it, leaving your earphones on a train or bus hurts a lot less if they werenβt that expensive to begin withβand the Claritoβs are not expensive.
That does not mean the Claritoβs are not well made. Quite the contraryβthey feel as well made as the more expensive Genus earphones. I donβt miss the Genusβ wood shell. Iβve never been convinced a wood shell sounds better than aluminum or plastic, especially on tiny earphones. But wood does feel better when holding. The Genusβ interchangeable filters allow you to opt for more bass if you wish and thatβs where the Clarito fails in direct comparison.
The Clarito earphones are a dynamic speaker design. This usually means a warmer sound with at least an emphasis on lower frequencies. The Claritoβs are the rare exception. Bass is not the Claritoβs strong point, which may explain the Clarito name. They are more clear than bass-heavy and this may turn off many younger bass fans. I prefer to think the bass is more accurate than accentuatedβa good thing in my book.
However, higher frequencies can border on being too bright if the recording is a bit bright already. I would have preferred a little more push in the middle frequencies (where vocals are found). Again, if that bothers you, thereβs always the Genus earphones with those filters at a higher cost.
Keep in mind that earphones like the Clarito can loosen up after hours of use resulting in a more rounded and smoother sound.
The Clarito earphones come with the usual amount of accessories: soft draw-string carrying pouch, 3 pairs of ear tips, and a shirt clip (that I never use). Note that thereβs no mic for phone calls, which may be a deal-breaker for some. There areΒ stiff stress points where the cord meets the aluminum shell. Time will tell if this becomes an area of weakness, but the connection looks and feels solid. The cord is well made and tangle-resistant. It does suffer from microphonicsβthat thumping sound heard from tapping and moving the cord across clothing. This is common with many earphones, no matter the cost.
When listening to the Clarito earphones, I noticed that they sound better on more modern recordings over classic rock. This could be due to the weaker bass. Older recordings usually need help with bass due to the analog recording restrictions in the days before digital. Modern recordings usually have much more bass and the Clarito earphones benefit from this.
For instance, Talking Heads re-invention of Al Greenβs βTake Me to the Riverβ is a tour-de-force of powerful drumming and bass licks underneath singer David Byrneβs quirky and jerky vocals. While tThe Clarito earphones let you hear the drumming, they donβt give Chris Franzβs bass sound any respect. Itβs a shame because this song kicks butt at loud volume.
Then you listen to a song such as βFire Insideβ from Gemini andβyeah, thereβs the bass! This is not my kind of music, but i can appreciate this songβs appeal from a visceral level. At least the Claritoβs can do bass properly when askedβthey just donβt add bass. So beware bassheads, you may be disappointed.
Itβs Immaterialβs re-released and remastered classic album, βLifeβs Hard and Then You Dieβ is made for the Clarito earphones. This album has been a favorite of mine since the 80s and it sounds as fresh today as it did then. The previously unreleased song, βWeβll Turn Things Upside Downβ has a European anthem-like feel to the upfront vocals and accordion playing laid over an insistent beat. The Claritoβs are good at giving clarity (thereβs that word again) to a song with many aural layers.
Rock Jaw has managed to pass down much of the Genusβ goodness into the Clarito earphones and still cut the price by almost half. If youβre searching for a trouble-free earphone that can be easily replaced without angst and tears if lost or damaged, the Clarito earphones should be considered.
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Rock Jaw Audio. Please visit their site for more information and Amazon to order a pair.
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$49.95 (as of April 17, 2025 10:49 GMT -04:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)Product Information
Price: | $29.95 |
Manufacturer: | Rock Jaw Audio |
Retailer: | Amazon |
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Hi — Are you aware that It’s Immaterial are trying to crowdfund the release of their lost third album, House For Sale? I’ve pledged, but am not confident that they’re going to make their goal, so I’m trying to get the word out…
http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/itsimmaterial?referrer=project_launched&utm_campaign=project14268&utm_medium=email&utm_source=pledgemusic