just a quick question... do you recommend DragonFly as a DAC for producing / mixing music? My case, I need a DAC but the market it's full of soundcards with ADC, something I DON'T MIND TO USE, so DragonFly could work for me?
Hi Erick. An external DAC (digital-to-analog converter ) like the DragonFlys will do two things for music producers/musicians. 1.) As you are mixing your music, DragonFly reveals more details and microdynamics hiding in your mix, which allows you to fix problems no one else would normally hear, and 2.) when you present your music to record labels or A&R-types, DragonFly will ensure they are hearing your music in the best quality, so nothing else distracts their ears from the artist's vision. In fact, the DAC chip inside the Red can be found in recording systems, mixing consoles, and digital audio workstations. We're even noticing an uptick in use by new music artists, record labels, and DJs who share projects and collaborate using DragonFlys. Our full-written comparison covers all three models: audioadvice.io/dfcomparison and if you want to know more about a particular DragonFly, we also have links to individual reviews for each model. We hope this helps and thanks for watching!
Thanks for the review. I’m a proud owner of a Cobalt. I love it and it was one of the best Hi Fi things I’ve bought in the last few years. Very much recommended.
@@AudioAdvice Thank you very much, I will try it with Tidal MQA, on iPhone it is only one way to go and improve audio quality as we have AAC codec only... shame there is no LDAC.
@@joegarcia6276 Black dac was totally fine however with time I have changed mobile to Galaxy s22 ultra and when using LDAC I didn't notice difference between using DAC or Bluetooth with LDAC, therefore I prefer wireless option
They do, yes. With low bitrate files like 128kbps, 192kbps etc there is obviously a ceiling there but even with smaller low quality files quality is raised dramatically. To get the most out of a good DAC I'd probably reccommend at least 320KPBS mp3 listening (Which is CD quality or Spotify's highest quality streaming) but even with less it's still an incredible asset.
I have the black v1.5 and Red. At first used as a hifi pre amp I couldn't really tell much difference. Then the more I listened I realised that it is so much more dynamic and has real musical drama, compared to the black. Really is worth it
@@theprinceofeverything1975 easily go for Red and buy their official jitter cable if you want match Cobalt performance. (Use jitter cable Only when you play live concert and you get nearer Cobalt performance in less price) no one tell you this
Hello. Your video was published 3 years ago but I only discover it now. It is likely I suppose that these DragonFly models were followed by newer models. My question is this: I own a Beyerdynamic DT 900 proX headphone. I use this headset by plugging it into my MacBook Air M2 laptop which has a headphone output that is compatible with high impedance headphones. Anyway, the DT 900 ProX headphones have an impedance of just 48 ohms. I listen almost exclusively to videos of political or cultural interviews on RUclips (often in HD) or old authentic jazz recordings from the 20s, 30s, 40s, and also filmed classical music concerts (also in HD). So, do you think than plug my headphones into a DAC like the AudioQuest DragonFly (rather than directly in my laptop) would really improve the sound of what I listen to (including news reports, documentaries, etc.) ?
I tested the cobalt at my audio store, and I could not believe it, It sounded way better than the original set up meaning headphones to iphone.When it was plugged in between these two, it was really clear and almost twice as loud. It’s a must for any music lover
I'm not sure I'd recommend any dragonfly for value. If you're plugging in to anything except a phone whilst on the move, then I'd tend to think it better to buy a desktop DAC/amp than a key. If you're listening on the go then the Black is a great preamp voltage boost and decent upgrade from your phone (the red and cobalt do sound considerably better but its generally lost when on the go or when listening to headphones that one would wear out in public). Maybe I'm missing something but I don't quite get the concept of a compact inline/USB "audiophile" DAC/Amp. Pay more to get less than a better performing Schiit Magni or Ifi Zen that you're unlikely to appreciate on the move unless rocking something like Focal Stellias 9r Sen 820s or some other really well isolated non-anc sealed Can. I think I came off like an dick up there, but I really do struggle to see why people buy these for home use or plug them in to things like Bose QC35s, Sony WH1000xm3s, or BW PXs. Are these for the in-ear crowd?
Brian- you make some good points. The IEM market is pretty big and the bigger ones are perfect for people using them on the go. And some people just want one DAC that covers both the portable aspect and home use. The Black is one heck of a value as you say. Thanks for watching and commenting.
@@AudioAdvice Great observation on buying one item to suit both situations. That's the piece I missed (not a need I have but it makes sense)! I suppose a red or cobalt would also be a great option for someone who wants to bring portable HiFi to a hotel or something while travelling.
If you are using a set of headphones for gaming and have a way to connect it, yes, but we are not sure how you would connect it to a gaming console. These are more for computer audio
I bought a pair of Sennheiser HD 599 and today my Dragonfly Black is coming from Amazon. My purpose is reach mqa quality Tidal from pc.and hope I made the best combination :)
@@AudioAdvice can I plug it into my aftermarket head unit usb then use the aux going back to the phone. Or it has to be plugged into the phone with the aux going back to the head unit? Hoping that question makes sense
Red is far better than than black but Cobalt is isn’t better for everyone than Red (if you hear more live concert then go for Cobalt). Note: I consider use DF Red with their official jitter cable and you will get performance nearer as Cobalt in less price. So you can also enjoy live concert on red as Cobalt. No one should tell you this So better to go for Red or credit card size Chord Mojo DAC. I’m mentioning mojo here because it has battery and dual 3.5mm outputs and 3 different inputs compared to one input in DF series.
Great choice. We love the DroganFlys. The Cobalt would be a great companion with Apple Music's lossless audio: www.audioadvice.com/audioquest-dragonfly-cobalt Thanks for watching!
Dragonfly red is a Horribly dangerous product. I damaged my hearing within 2 seconds from poor volume controls. I switched from iPad amp input to my iPhone Headphones then played tidal, it defaulted to 100% volume. Worst purchase of my life and I'm filled with regret. I don't understand why they could not have implemented some volume safety protocols when connected to a new device.I beg you not to make this mistake...
Audio Quest priced me right out of buying one of these . . . . . . . I'll wait until the Koreans come out with something. They'll flood the market with these and the price will come down like everything else that asks for a high price. Great video though ! !
Can you provide an example of where this has happened? I love my Audioquest products, but if I can get the same quality for less money, I am very interested.
this review would be best if you just didn't copy paste from the previous, I'm watching it and it's a bit comical even...so much effort trying to look professional - I'd recommend working a bit more on the script for staters.
![Felix "Unfair" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Oswujxm2Ag0/mqdefault.jpg)
just a quick question... do you recommend DragonFly as a DAC for producing / mixing music? My case, I need a DAC but the market it's full of soundcards with ADC, something I DON'T MIND TO USE, so DragonFly could work for me?
Hi Erick. An external DAC (digital-to-analog converter ) like the DragonFlys will do two things for music producers/musicians. 1.) As you are mixing your music, DragonFly reveals more details and microdynamics hiding in your mix, which allows you to fix problems no one else would normally hear, and 2.) when you present your music to record labels or A&R-types, DragonFly will ensure they are hearing your music in the best quality, so nothing else distracts their ears from the artist's vision. In fact, the DAC chip inside the Red can be found in recording systems, mixing consoles, and digital audio workstations. We're even noticing an uptick in use by new music artists, record labels, and DJs who share projects and collaborate using DragonFlys. Our full-written comparison covers all three models: audioadvice.io/dfcomparison and if you want to know more about a particular DragonFly, we also have links to individual reviews for each model. We hope this helps and thanks for watching!
Thanks for the review. I’m a proud owner of a Cobalt. I love it and it was one of the best Hi Fi things I’ve bought in the last few years. Very much recommended.
Are the dragonflys just plug and play? Or is there software we need to install?
They are plug and play. Thanks for watching
which of those will be good for Sony XM4 headphones ? Is black enough to drive them ?
Yes, the Black will be great for those. Thanks for watching
@@AudioAdvice Thank you very much, I will try it with Tidal MQA, on iPhone it is only one way to go and improve audio quality as we have AAC codec only... shame there is no LDAC.
@@DamianNocun how did u like it
@@joegarcia6276 Black dac was totally fine however with time I have changed mobile to Galaxy s22 ultra and when using LDAC I didn't notice difference between using DAC or Bluetooth with LDAC, therefore I prefer wireless option
@@DamianNocun red is better
Informative summary ... thanks. Do all of these also improve the quality of what you hear with the typical MP3 files?
They do, yes. With low bitrate files like 128kbps, 192kbps etc there is obviously a ceiling there but even with smaller low quality files quality is raised dramatically. To get the most out of a good DAC I'd probably reccommend at least 320KPBS mp3 listening (Which is CD quality or Spotify's highest quality streaming) but even with less it's still an incredible asset.
@@lucafallon2789 320 kbps isn't CD quality. MP3 is lossy therefore not original quality. CD uses WAV 1411 kbps lossless file!
I have the black v1.5 and Red. At first used as a hifi pre amp I couldn't really tell much difference. Then the more I listened I realised that it is so much more dynamic and has real musical drama, compared to the black. Really is worth it
So I should get the red instead of the black?
@@theprinceofeverything1975 easily go for Red and buy their official jitter cable if you want match Cobalt performance. (Use jitter cable Only when you play live concert and you get nearer Cobalt performance in less price) no one tell you this
Hello. Your video was published 3 years ago but I only discover it now. It is likely I suppose that these DragonFly models were followed by newer models.
My question is this: I own a Beyerdynamic DT 900 proX headphone. I use this headset by plugging it into my MacBook Air M2 laptop which has a headphone output that is compatible with high impedance headphones. Anyway, the DT 900 ProX headphones have an impedance of just 48 ohms.
I listen almost exclusively to videos of political or cultural interviews on RUclips (often in HD) or old authentic jazz recordings from the 20s, 30s, 40s, and also filmed classical music concerts (also in HD).
So, do you think than plug my headphones into a DAC like the AudioQuest DragonFly (rather than directly in my laptop) would really improve the sound of what I listen to (including news reports, documentaries, etc.) ?
Yes, it will greatly improve the sound! If you have more questions, reach out to our experts at audioadvice.com!
I tested the cobalt at my audio store, and I could not believe it, It sounded way better than the original set up meaning headphones to iphone.When it was plugged in between these two, it was really clear and almost twice as loud.
It’s a must for any music lover
Totally agree! Thanks for sharing
I'm not sure I'd recommend any dragonfly for value. If you're plugging in to anything except a phone whilst on the move, then I'd tend to think it better to buy a desktop DAC/amp than a key. If you're listening on the go then the Black is a great preamp voltage boost and decent upgrade from your phone (the red and cobalt do sound considerably better but its generally lost when on the go or when listening to headphones that one would wear out in public). Maybe I'm missing something but I don't quite get the concept of a compact inline/USB "audiophile" DAC/Amp. Pay more to get less than a better performing Schiit Magni or Ifi Zen that you're unlikely to appreciate on the move unless rocking something like Focal Stellias 9r Sen 820s or some other really well isolated non-anc sealed Can.
I think I came off like an dick up there, but I really do struggle to see why people buy these for home use or plug them in to things like Bose QC35s, Sony WH1000xm3s, or BW PXs. Are these for the in-ear crowd?
Brian- you make some good points. The IEM market is pretty big and the bigger ones are perfect for people using them on the go. And some people just want one DAC that covers both the portable aspect and home use. The Black is one heck of a value as you say. Thanks for watching and commenting.
@@AudioAdvice Great observation on buying one item to suit both situations. That's the piece I missed (not a need I have but it makes sense)! I suppose a red or cobalt would also be a great option for someone who wants to bring portable HiFi to a hotel or something while travelling.
@@briang530 Exactly, that appears to be the main use case along with the HiFi travel option, but it appears to us the dual purpose is the most common
Which one will work the best on airpods max
You would need a headphone with an analog input, we do not believe the Airpods Max have one?
would you say theses are good for gaming ?
If you are using a set of headphones for gaming and have a way to connect it, yes, but we are not sure how you would connect it to a gaming console. These are more for computer audio
I have a pc also I am looking at getting the iem xenns mangrid tops do I need a dac
Should I get the smsl c200 or if I auido Zen dac or the dragon fly or the fiio k3
noob question here: can I use my dragonfly black from my laptop to my logitech z5500 speakers...?
Yes, you can
How do I know if the dragon fly cobalt I buy is original or counterfeit?
We have been an AQ dealer since 1985. If you purchase it from www.audioadvice.com, it will be genuine. Thanks for watching
If I use this in my car to bypass my head unit DAC and just send analog through my head unit, would that black be okay?
Black would be good. Red will be better, and Cobalt will be best. Thanks for watching.
I bought a pair of Sennheiser HD 599 and today my Dragonfly Black is coming from Amazon. My purpose is reach mqa quality Tidal from pc.and hope I made the best combination :)
can you compare dragonfly cobat with the new ibasso DC04 ?
Can I use this with gaming headset with built in mic?
Do all of them do the decoding and rendering which infolds mqa 3 times or does it only do decoding 2 folds ??
review the ifi hip dac!
What type of connection is the USB on the male connector of the Cobalt? 3.0?
Can this used for car audio? do i need the red or colbalt voltage if my system is already powerful enough?
Technically yes as it has an audio out. You buy the Red or Cobalt for better sound, they have better DACs. Thanks for watching
@@AudioAdvice do I need the the extra voltage the red has even tho I already have a car audio system with plenty of juice?
@@Carlossteezyblunts It would not hurt, although we do not deal in car audio
@@AudioAdvice can I plug it into my aftermarket head unit usb then use the aux going back to the phone. Or it has to be plugged into the phone with the aux going back to the head unit? Hoping that question makes sense
@@Carlossteezyblunts it needs to be connected to a usb audio output. Then the analog out feeds your system.
¿Is it better than the Tempotec Sonata HD Pro? I used to listen music with my Sennheiser HD 599
Thinking of using it with HD 650
Is Sonata hd pro good for hd 599?
You look a little like Andrea Pirlo
Brumotti
Hi, I wonder how big is the difference?
Red is far better than than black but Cobalt is isn’t better for everyone than Red (if you hear more live concert then go for Cobalt).
Note: I consider use DF Red with their official jitter cable and you will get performance nearer as Cobalt in less price. So you can also enjoy live concert on red as Cobalt. No one should tell you this
So better to go for Red or credit card size Chord Mojo DAC. I’m mentioning mojo here because it has battery and dual 3.5mm outputs and 3 different inputs compared to one input in DF series.
Getting this bad boy just in time for Apple Music rolling out lossless audio
Great choice. We love the DroganFlys. The Cobalt would be a great companion with Apple Music's lossless audio: www.audioadvice.com/audioquest-dragonfly-cobalt Thanks for watching!
amazing hair
very professional video, thank you
Thank you!
We need an USB-C dragonfly 😎
And if one comes out, we will certainly review it! Thanks for watching.
Dragonfly red is a Horribly dangerous product. I damaged my hearing within 2 seconds from poor volume controls. I switched from iPad amp input to my iPhone Headphones then played tidal, it defaulted to 100% volume. Worst purchase of my life and I'm filled with regret. I don't understand why they could not have implemented some volume safety protocols when connected to a new device.I beg you not to make this mistake...
Audio Quest priced me right out of buying one of these . . . . . . . I'll wait until the Koreans come out with something. They'll flood the market with these and the price will come down like everything else that asks for a high price. Great video though ! !
Can you provide an example of where this has happened? I love my Audioquest products, but if I can get the same quality for less money, I am very interested.
Jesus, just get on with it. So much fill.
Save your money, don't say that I didn't tell you.
Andrew Schepps recommends the DragonFly, so... I'll take his word over yours :)
@@RayAndre how is the dragon fly
this review would be best if you just didn't copy paste from the previous, I'm watching it and it's a bit comical even...so much effort trying to look professional - I'd recommend working a bit more on the script for staters.
It was informative for a first time watcher