Post by Citroen on Jul 9, 2019 8:33:40 GMT 12
This sounds like it could be a worthwhile upgrade to my Dragonfly Red. US$299. Can't find an NZ price yet but likely NZ$499? www.audioquest.com/dacs/dragonfly/dragonfly-cobalt "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.
"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. Positive Darko review
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Post by Owen Y on Jul 9, 2019 9:37:19 GMT 12
I didn't realise that the Dragonflys were designed by Gordon Rankin - well respected, founder of Wavelength Audio.
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Post by cartridgeguyonline on Jul 9, 2019 17:26:38 GMT 12
That is suprising, although also worrying that more young audio designers are coming to the fore. Whats going to happen after the current generation of baby boomer designers ( Curl, McGowan, Bascomb King etc all fall off the perch ?)
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Post by Owen Y on Jul 9, 2019 18:35:44 GMT 12
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Post by Owen Y on Jul 9, 2019 19:12:00 GMT 12
Gordon Rankin talks to DARKO at RMAF 2018 about Dragonfly (plus all sorts of digital stuff including the digital audio future)..... Audioquest's impact on Rankin's business: " Audioquest's opening order was like, all the DACs that I'd ever worked on before, in the first order! " Manufacture: " The Dragonfly series, it's all done in the United States. "
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Post by Owen Y on Jul 10, 2019 17:15:33 GMT 12
I see that DARKO has followed up with more insight & 10 more thoughts on the AudioQuest DragonFly CobaltAnd comparing with the Chord Mojo at US$599 (twice the price)... " ... the Mojo is more powerful and delivers more detail than the Cobalt but it’s not as graceful with macro dynamics or as relaxed-sounding. " 
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Post by Citroen on Jul 11, 2019 18:05:03 GMT 12
Does anyone have a NZ RRP price yet? deano1974?
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Post by Owen Y on Jul 11, 2019 18:21:32 GMT 12
The Listening Post sez: " No official word as yet on pricing here in New Zealand, but it's expected to be in the $450 ballpark. " deano1974 ?
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Post by michaelw on Jul 11, 2019 18:58:43 GMT 12
ouch ! dragonfly red was only $200-ish ?
is cobalt twice as good ?
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Post by Citroen on Jul 11, 2019 19:22:50 GMT 12
Red RRP $299
Law of diminishing returns, so not likely twice as good but so far sounds like it is a worthy upgrade.
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Pundit
Post by SL1210 on Jul 11, 2019 19:56:11 GMT 12
I have some European travelling to do later. My Bose QC phones are standing by but another $400 + for a DAC that I will use for 40 hours is a bit steep.
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Post by Citroen on Jul 11, 2019 20:26:31 GMT 12
@sl1210 I was very pleasantly surprised at how better certain headphones sounded via the Red out of my phone, and my laptop (HP Spectre x2).
Yes, if only using for one trip not worth the expense. But most people will use it more than once.
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Post by Owen Y on Jul 26, 2019 11:26:26 GMT 12
Steve Guttenberg AUDIOPHILIAC is pretty excited too, about the Dragonfly Cobalt... " This is killer! It as some kind of 'magic'.
You can hear true Hi-Res 96/24 files over your iPhone... wow!
It can drive high-end headphones... no problem. " Compared to the Dragonfly Red: " More 'guts' to the sound. More weight, more solidity. The top end was sweeter. "
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Post by Citroen on Jul 26, 2019 16:47:28 GMT 12
RRP in NZ is $499
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Post by Owen Y on Oct 23, 2019 8:18:51 GMT 12
ANALOG PLANET's Malachi Lui weighs in with a younger audiophile's opinion on the Dragonfly Cobalt: " The Cobalt is the most accurate-sounding DAC/headphone amp I’ve heard thus far; many suffer detail loss from an overly warmed sound but the Cobalt is well-balanced. " " The DragonFly Cobalt’s only shortcoming is that it isn’t quite as dynamic or explosive as other DACs I’ve used, but at least for my listening purposes, its other strengths mostly make up for this... smooth bass, plentiful top end air, and stunning detail "
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Post by Owen Y on Nov 22, 2019 8:55:52 GMT 12
STEREOPHILE's esteemed former Editor, John Atkinson's review: " Overall, the differences between the two AudioQuest DACs were relatively small, but I preferred the Cobalt for long-term listening, the Red's presentation sounding slightly "harder" in the highs. " 
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Post by Citroen on Nov 22, 2019 17:04:41 GMT 12
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Post by Owen Y on Mar 5, 2020 9:04:37 GMT 12
THE ABSOLUTE SOUND's Alan Taffel, adds another voice with more opinion on the AQ Dragonfly Cobalt: " ... a worthy, evolutionary upgrade to the Red version. " " I pitted the Cobalt against Simaudio Moon’s lovely 230HAD headphone amp—a $1500 piece of equipment.... I ended up with a slight preference for the Simaudio.... a tad more extended and therefore open-sounding on top. " " ... quite simply, one of the best headphone amp/DACs money can buy. At $299, the DragonFly Cobalt remains perhaps the greatest bargain in all of audio. "
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