Everything a Portable, Affordable USB DAC and Headphone Amplifier Should Be: AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt Sounds Fantastic, Decodes MQA, Offers Apple and Android Compatibility So much for having to speak softly and carry a big (USB) stick: The latest entry in AudioQuest’ s see-and-hear-it-to-believe-it DragonFly family, the DragonFly Cobalt USB DAC/headphone amplifier, takes the line’s award-winning
Everything a Portable, Affordable USB DAC and Headphone Amplifier Should Be: AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt Sounds Fantastic, Decodes MQA, Offers Apple and Android Compatibility So much for having to speak softly and carry a big (USB) stick: The latest entry in AudioQuest’ s see-and-hear-it-to-believe-it DragonFly family, the DragonFly Cobalt USB DAC/headphone amplifier, takes the line’s award-winning performance to previously unforeseen heights all the while packing cutting-technology into an even smaller package. Measuring a minuscule 2.26 x 0.73 x 0.47 inches, DragonFly Cobalt achieves everything its sibling, DragonFly Red, does – drives any headphones via a 2.1-volt output, decodes MQA files, offers compatibility with Apple and Android devices, plays with a bit-perfect volume control – and adds a more advanced ESS ES9038Q2M DAC with a minimum-phase slow roll-off filter, an enhanced Microchip PIC32MX274 microprocessor, an elevated power-supply filter, and a form-fitting DragonTail USB-C-to-USB-A adapter. The upshot: Smooth, natural, beguiling sound along with increased processing speed, less Wi-Fi and Bluetooth fuzz, a lower noise floor, and stellar connectivity. Whether you listen at home or on the go, DragonFly Cobalt delivers price- and size-beguiling warmth, dynamics, body, tonality, and color from music. Indeed, tunes on your computer, laptop, smartphone, tablet, powered speakers, or even stereo will benefit from richer presence, extra authority, and revealing realism with DragonFly Cobalt in your system. Designed for stunning flexibility and portability, and requiring even less power than DragonFly Red, this blue stick handles everything from 24-bit/96kHz high-resolution files to MQA. One of the secrets of its ability correlates to the implementation of GordonRankin’s StreamLength asynchronous-transfer USB code and monoClock technology – whereby
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Pick Black, Red is unjustifiably expensive Since there are plenty of reviews addressing various aspects of sound quality, I’ll just try to help those who can’t decide between the Black and Red.I own both Black and Red for a few months now, and I listen to both regularly, about 10 hours a week. I can’t tell the difference despite listening to each through one of the best set of headphones. Black is great, and knowing what I know now, I would only buy another black model. I see no reason whatsoever to pay extra for an imperceptible…
Enjoy great sound + scoff at those who take out 2nd mortgages to pay for their gear I discovered the audiophile world (or rabbit hole, depending on who you ask) several months ago, and have enjoyed trying various headphones + DACs/AMPs + hi-res tracks over that time. My goal is to (1) find combinations I like and stick with them vs endlessly salivating over things I don’t own, (2) find good values that fit my lifestyle and make common sense (e.g. no telling my kids they can’t go to college because I need new headphones, but also not fooling myself into thinking a $20 pair will…
Best Value for money in portable Stereo Highly recommended.I bought the DragonFly to use as a headphone amp/DAC for use with my iPhone / Shure 535’s while on the go. I stream Tidal lossless (CD Quality) and sometimes Spotify. Without the DragonFly, the sound sounds good over iPhone / Shure, but there is graininess across the spectrum – instruments lose their juiciness, the sound is a bit compressed and the music gets tiring after 30-60 minutes. Enter the Dragonfly, and the music sounds clear, emotional, juicy, transparent…