AudioQuest DragonFly DAC USB Digital Audio Converter - Black

Product Information

Removing the “robotic” traces in the higher ranges result in much smoother Vocals, saxophone and cello performance, allowing my Grado RS2e to shine through as the ultimate Norah Jones headphones. That's fine with me because music with higher rates barely exists on the market and even when we find it it's usually just over-sampled BS.

Audioquest have worked alongside Microchip Technology to develop a new high performance, full speed USB micro controller (a DAC’s input processor) that delivers improved signal to noise ratio and significantly lower power consumption. While the first instance of the Dragonfly set new standards and definitions for the micro-DAC market, its USB power draw meant that it was only compatible with computers. The process is very simple, both for Windows and Mac; download the updater, run it, plug your Dragonfly in, and hit “Update”. It requires the Apple Camera Connection Kit to work, but its small size keeps it within a reasonable range of portability.While you can get decent absolute volume levels (over 100 dB), once you start pushing past about 85 dB, drive/authority becomes audibly lacking, bass articulation and control starts to fall apart and the rest of the rendering becomes distinctly “shouty” and “uncouth” in character – especially with vocals.

The Black’s housing is made of metal, with a soft-touch rubbery paint applied to the exterior that looks great but, unfortunately, chips easily. Most DAC/amps have enough power that matching/synergy with various headphones tends to come down more to tonal preferences, and other technicalities. This yields an asynchronous USB interface that keeps the sample word-clock where it belongs … under control of the DAC. That's not to say it's always necessarily better than the equivalent non-MQA version of a track, assuming you can find otherwise identical MQA/non-MQA sources to compare. Qobuz is a subscription-based streaming service that offers an outstanding selection of hi-resolution content.They say it's an excellent device that has added life back into their Tablet/Phone music, works a treat, and brings them closer to the performance. We are proud to have brought together one of the finest selections of audio equipment available, regardless of budget, and we encourage you to book a demonstration and have a listen for yourself. To use it with newer laptops featuring USB-C connectors, you’ll need an adapter - and again I’d recommend one of the short cable-style adapters vs. Drawing 77% less current than the previous microcontroller, the new Microchip PIC32MX microcontroller enables true compatibility with Apple and Android smartphones and tablets.

Simply fit a USB adaptor to suit your device and connect up to an Apple or Android smartphone or tablet for a massive improvement in sound quality.Whether you listen to music on your smartphone, tablet, Mac, PC or laptop, the audio quality can easily be improved. Stage is, interestingly, rendered a little wider than I’m used to with the AKGs, though not to a degree that resulted in a lack of body or a sense of things being diffuse. It bypasses the device's built-in DAC, instead passing sound through its own, high-end hi-fi quality chip.