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AudioQuest Dragonfly Cobalt USB DAC Headphone Amplifier

Original price was: $820.00.Current price is: $389.00. inc GST


AudioQuest Dragonfly Cobalt USB DAC Headphone Amplifier, their 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.

Do you need an expert?

Our customers tell us that they count on our team for more than just knowledge: they’re always friendly & ready to help with all their questions. Contact our team CJ, Bensan or Toki on 092744515 or via [email protected]
 
 

SKU: AQ-cobalt Categories: , , , EAN: 0092592098398 Brand: GTIN / EAN / UPC: 0092592098398
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Filter Reviews:
TJ
11/14/2021
Tony J.
NZ NZ

excellent

Good quality, highly recommend

A Rapallo AV Customer
DD
07/06/2020
Donald D.
NZ NZ

Very nice sound!

This device is extremely nice, and sounds fantastic. It is a marked improvement on the default headphone output on my mac to the point that even people in their 70s can hear the difference clearly. I am very happy with the device itself. Mac users should, however, realize that the MIDI control system overrides all sensible defaults with this device. This is fine when you listen to known sampling rates (like 44.1 kHz), but means the device cannot automatically switch based on the music you are listening to. Also, roon is not a great application on a mac. Fortunately, this device sounds brilliant even with wrong settings :)

Description

AudioQuest Dragonfly Cobalt USB DAC Headphone Amplifier

AudioQuest Dragonfly Cobalt USB DAC Headphone Amplifier, their 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.

How is this possible? Like the critically acclaimed DragonFly Red, Cobalt has the robust 2.1-volt output to drive almost any headphone, uses a bit-perfect digital volume control for outstanding signal-to-noise ratio, enables seamless compatibility with Apple and Android devices, and is an exceptionally competent and affordable MQA Renderer.

 

 

 

View Owners Manual >> View Model Comparision >>

 

Features

  • New, more advanced ESS ES9038Q2M DAC chip with a minimum-phase slow roll-off filter for more natural sound.
  • Microchip’s superb PIC32MX274 microprocessor draws less current and increases processing speed by 33%.
  • Improved power-supply filtering that specifically increases immunity to WiFi, Bluetooth, and cellular noise.
  • Includes a form-fitting DragonTail female USB-A to male USB-C Adaptor.
    All DragonTails use AQ’s Carbon-level USB cable.

 

AUDIOQUEST, GORDON RANKIN: A BEAUTIFUL PARTNERSHIP

Like all previous DragonFly models, Cobalt uses Gordon Rankin’s precedent-setting StreamLength® asynchronous-transfer USB code. Further, in Gordon’s monoClock® technology, a single ultra-low-jitter clock generated from the ESS ES9038Q2M DAC chip runs the ESS chip functions as well as all microcontroller functions. This superior clock enables DragonFly Cobalt to provide greater resolution and clarity than DACs with multiple clocks.

WHY THE “SLOW ROLL…?”

Cobalt employs ESS’s new flagship ES9038Q2M DAC chip. While the chips used in DragonFlys Black and Red are unbeatable for the price, the minimum-phase slow roll-off filter in the 9038 results in naturally expressive sound that is always emotionally engaging and never fatiguing—a beautiful combination of warmth and detail that we find equally exciting and soothing.

KILLING THE NOISE

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.

BIT-PERFECT VOLUME CONTROL AND 2.1-VOLT OUTPUT

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 UPGRADEABLE
DragonFlys Black, Red, and Cobalt are firmware upgradeable via our free Desktop Device Manager. In today’s fast-paced digital world, longevity in a hi-fi component is increasingly rare—at any price.

AudioQuest believes that today’s digital devices should evolve as technology itself evolves, thereby delivering musical pleasure for many years to come. Our Desktop Device Manager will also allow you to identify your DragonFly’s serial number and software version to ensure that the device is up to date. Click here to download the latest Device Manager available for your operating system.

BEAUTIFUL SOUND IN A SMALLER PACKAGE… AND NOW WITH A TAIL

All this goodness is packed into a sleek new case that measures just 2.26″ x 0.73″ x 0.47″ (57.5mm x 18.6mm x 11.9mm), making the latest DragonFly 10% smaller and even a bit more pocket-friendly.

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.

THE REST OF THE DRAGONFLY FLEET: DRAGONFLYS BLACK AND RED

While the original DragonFly created a new category of portable DAC, its USB power draw made it compatible with computers only. Black and Red answered the call of music lovers everywhere for DragonFlys that could be used with Apple iOS mobile devices and Android smartphones and tablets. These DACs proved for once and for all that convenience and performance need no longer be mutually exclusive.

All current-production DragonFly models incorporate 32-bit ESS Sabre DAC chips.

The DAC chips we’ve selected are remarkably powerful and sophisticated, yet we’ve intentionally limited DragonFly’s processing capabilities to 24-bit/96kHz resolution.

This makes using DragonFly as simple as it’s always been: All models are fully compatible with PCs without having to download and install new drivers. Most importantly, DragonFly is designed to honor the music you already own and love. Whether you’re listening to Spotify, YouTube, Tidal, Qobuz, ripped CDs, or state-of-the-art high-resolution files, DragonFly will deliver a more emotionally compelling and enjoyable experience.

STREAM TIDAL MASTERS EVERYWHERE

DragonFlys Black, Red, and Cobalt support Tidal Masters (MQA) playback from iPhones and Android smartphones. MQA’s technology folds high-resolution files into smaller files that can be streamed on the go. As MQA Renderers, DragonFlys Black, Red, and Cobalt complete the unfolding process, allowing music lovers to enjoy a wider selection of high-res music. Click here to learn more about how MQA works.

NATURALLY BEAUTIFUL SOUND IS RIGHT AT YOUR FINGERTIPS

Whatever music turns you on, wherever you are, an AudioQuest DragonFly USB DAC delivers inspiring, dynamic, and beautiful sound to earbuds, headphones, powered speakers, or complete audio systems.

With a DragonFly, music appreciation and exploration are limitless: Plug into an Apple or Windows® computer or connect to an iOS® or Android mobile device.

Play YouTube or Vimeo videos. Go hunting on Bandcamp or SoundCloud. Explore playlists on Spotify or Pandora. Stream high-res audio from Tidal or Qobuz. No matter the choice of musical pleasure, DragonFly delivers beautiful sound, unraveling the emotional expression and nuance that makes music and movies so enjoyable.

Now, more than ever before, naturally beautiful sound is right at your fingertips—however you want it, whenever you want it.

 

Specifications

Metal Solid 1.25% Silver
Noise Dissipation Direction-Controlled Conductors
Terminations Gold-Plated Nickel, 100% Shield Coverage
Signal Type Digital
Cable Length 0.75 m = 2 ft 6 in
Jacket Red on Black Braid
Weight 0.35 lb

Additional information

Weight 2 kg
Dimensions 25 × 25 × 10 cm
Brand

AudioQuest

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