AudioQuest DragonFly DAC USB Digital Audio Converter - Cobalt

Product Information

However, this preamp/dac can be connected to a PC or laptop which makes this device very interesting! Finally, to easily accommodate the increasing number of electronic devices that feature USB-C ports, DragonFly Cobalt comes with AudioQuest's USB-A to USB-C adaptor.

IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT, DO NOT INSTALL, COPY OR USE THIS SOFTWARE. BY INSTALLING, COPYING OR USING THE SOFTWARE YOU AGREE TO ALL THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT. The sonic image was like an analog photo: atmospheric, with a good depth of field, never overpixelated or oversharpened.AudioQuest has built a stable of streaming products and accessories around the DragonFly concept; designed by Gordon Rankin, one of most respected high-end audio designers of his generation and leading innovators of USB DAC technology through his own brand, Wavelength Audio.

Improved power-supply filtering that specifically increases immunity to WiFi, Bluetooth, and cellular noise. The people, I gift, are not Audiophiles but won't listen without the Dragonfly plugged in. It significantly improves Sound Quality and always leads to "better" headphones. ( our people are buying and showing new headphones, constantly, it's exciting ) Roon has proven to be super important to organize it all. I know it’s expensive, but I can’t recommend it strongly enough. Listeners tend to consider an external digital-to-analog converter as either completely unnecessary or absolutely essential. If you believe bits is bits, you're probably perfectly happy with the converter inside your smartphone, tablet, or computer. If you don't, you likely have auditioned many a converter component with a seriously gimlet ear. Both tribes, however, can agree that the headphone amps in most smartphones, tablets, laptops, and desktops leave a lot to be desired when it comes to peak output, dynamics, and inherent sonic quality.Cobalt features the same ESS Sabre 9601 headphone amp and bit-perfect volume control that give DragonFly Red its unique combination of power and grip over the music. This solution ensures maximum fidelity, thrilling dynamic contrast, and excellent signal-to-noise ratio. The 2.1-volt output makes Cobalt and Red compatible with a wide range of headphones, including power-hungry, low-efficiency models.

In case you’re not really familiar yet with the DragonFly units, I suggest to read up on the previous models first, and especially the one on the Red. AudioQuest would obviously prefer you to go for the upgraded Cobalt, but we believe that, as good as the Cobalt is, it’s not an automatic choice over the Red. It’s simply a different experience in terms of sound quality. If you already own the Red, there’s probably no need to upgrade. And if you own neither, it largely depends on how you prefer to experience your music. Given that the Cobalt is a third more expensive than the Red, this isn’t as cut-and-dried a decision as you’d expect. Regardless, we think that both the Cobalt and the Red are the best portable headphone amps/DACs available. DragonFly Cobalt, the new flagship DAC, takes what music lovers around the world have come to expect from the multi-award-winning DragonFly family—naturally beautiful, seductive sound—and strips away fuzz and fog that weren't even noticeable until Cobalt removed them. The Cobalt, according to AudioQuest, actually produces the best results with a 44.1 kHz output. If you want to play anything above 96 kHz, you have to do a little math, which is something everybody wants to hear. “Files should be played at a rate mathematically related to their native resolution,” lectures the manual. “For instance, a 192 kHz file should be played at 96 kHz (i.e. 2 x 96,000.0 = 192,000.0).” Which was the point our eyes glazed over. Who knew such a simple plug-and-play device could get this complex? Our take: just play files at 44.1 kHz. Cobalt features the same ESS Sabre 9601 headphone amp and bit-perfect volume control that give DragonFly Red its unique combination of power and grip over the music. This solution ensures maximum fidelity, thrilling dynamic contrast, and excellent signal-to-noise ratio. The 2.1-volt output makes Cobalt and Red compatible with a wide range of headphones, including power-hungry, low-efficiency models. Firmware UpgradeableIn Cobalt, we've taken what we've learned from our recent research and development in noise dissipation to employ power-supply filtering specifically designed to dramatically reduce the increasingly prevalent noise from WiFi, Bluetooth, and cellular signals. Successfully combating this noise is absolutely crucial to the preservation of the lowest-level musical details, particularly when it comes to high-res audio—and especially when applied to a portable-audio device such as DragonFly. Bit-Perfect Volume Control and 2.1-Volt Output If this all sounds like I’m souring on streaming, you would be incorrect. I’m just readjusting how I use it and focusing on more affordable hardware to enjoy the 0000s of albums I’ve already saved. Audioquest Dragonfly Cobalt portable USB DAC connected to iPhone Our Installation Service only includes connecting to existing points and fixings. This does not include installing or moving plumbing, connection points or electrics. Installing new points or moving existing points is the customer’s responsibility we can recommend local tradesmen however this will be at the customer’s expense and we not accept any liability for their work. is not an inexpensive upgrade to any smart device or laptop, but in the world of portable high-end components, the DragonFly Cobalt is remarkably affordable for what it offers. Our only real complaint is nothing to do with the sound, only the quality of the DragonTail adaptor. However, the sonic return is such that those wishing to use the Cobalt with their USB-C smartphone should still get one and fork out for a new adaptor instead.

The DragonFly Cobalt’s native resolution still goes up to to 24-bit / 96kHz and it has the same 2.1V output like the Red. It’s a direct-coupled, high output which supplies enough power to easily drive the widest range of headphones. When used as a line-level device (volume set to 100%), DF Cobalt’s 2.1 volts provide enough power to drive all pre-amplifiers, integrated amplifiers, or receiver inputs. THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. AQ DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED, OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, THAT THE SOFTWARE WILL RUN UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR-FREE OR WARRANTIES ARISING FROM CUSTOM OF TRADE OR COURSE OF USAGE. THE ENTIRE RISK ASSOCIATED WITH THE USE OF THE SOFTWARE IS ASSUMED BY YOU. Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of implied warranties, so the above exclusion may not apply to You. Streaming is a rental. And if you don’t continue to pay for it each month, your entire library vanishes. In Cobalt, we've taken what we've learned from our recent research and development in noise dissipation to employ power-supply filtering specifically designed to dramatically reduce the increasingly prevalent noise from WiFi, Bluetooth, and cellular signals. Successfully combating this noise is absolutely crucial to the preservation of the lowest-level musical details, particularly when it comes to high-res audio—and especially when applied to a portable-audio device such as DragonFly. Please note: TV and larger floorstanding speaker deliveries are not available to Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Isle of Man, Isle of Wight, Scottish Islands, and Channel Islands.Unfortunately, our Installation Service excludes all gas appliances. It is the customer’s responsibility to find a gas safe engineer to connect the appliance. Any work conducted by a third part gas safe engineer will be at the customer’s expense and we will not accept any liability for their work. Portable DAC/headphone amplifiers have gained a lot of traction in recent years with music listeners who use a smart phone as their primary source but care deeply about sound quality. I travel with an iPhone and MacBook Pro almost everywhere and listen to music when I run or work.