Audioquest Dragonfly Cobalt USB DAC

Although I didn’t know the name yet, I did know a new, more upmarket Dragonfly was on it’s way for some time. It finally arrived, is named DragonFly Cobalt and was worth waiting for. ERRATUM:
AudioQuest pointed out that the naming of the 'black' models was incorrect. This is how it should have been: "You accidentally refer to the first MQA-rendering DragonFly model as Version 1.2. Actually, “DragonFly v1.2” was simply that, and it was “black” with a lowercase “b” - that is, it was black in color only, not in name. The first “Black” model, as in model name “DragonFly Black,” capable of rendering MQA, is actually Version 1.5."
Manufacturer: www.audioquest.com/dacs/drago...
Related videos:
MQA playlist: tinyurl.com/qqvyru9
Review: Audioquest Dragonfly Black 1 5 and Red: • Review: Audioquest Dra...
AudioQuest Dragonfly's Red and Black 1.5 now do MQA (revised review): • AudioQuest Dragonfly's...
Unfolding MQA: how to play MQA: • Unfolding MQA: how to ...
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[@gordonrankin3995]

Hans, thanks for a nice review of my DragonFly Cobalt. Glad you liked it, we spent a lot of time between Red and Cobalt to get all the features we could in the package.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Thanks, Gordon, for building such a nice device.

[@Z900nl]

I tried one this day on my PC, it gives me terrible digital noise on the output (with no music played)......I'm flabbergasted.....

[@ukspawn666]

@@Z900nl use rear usb directly on motherboard not frontal usb port

[@Z900nl]

@@ukspawn666 mmm, could be helpfull indeed, but now I use a raspberry with hifiberry DAC+ Pro and its sooooo quiet (no noise at all) ! But your suggestion could solve my problem indeed maybe....

[@ukspawn666]

@@Z900nl i used my USB headset in the front USB ports and the noise and distortion was horrible. i tried it in the rear port and it was all fixed. Front USB ports are conencted via extended small cables that pass through the computer case and this is subject to horrible interferance from all the computer internal components and the poor quality of the wires themselves. It may or may not solve the problem but its maybe worth trying before returning the DAC if you feel it may be faulty.

[@TomReinerDE]

Hans, THIS review was the last necessary step for my buying decision. Have not regretted it. Thank you as always.

[@huubme]

Hi Hans, bedankt weer voor je heldere review!!!

[@dj_paultuk7052]

Ive had a Dragonfly Black for 2yrs now. They are amazing value given the quality you get. I think the Black is under £100 now in the UK.

[@birgerolofsson2347]

Now we will see & hear what you review today!

[@carmenfranceschino]

Just came across your review. Many thanks Hans!

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

👍🏻

[@eagleroth]

Thanks for a balanced review. I've had the Cobalt for a month now. Driving my Meze 99 Classic on iPhone and laptop when traveling. To the best of my knowledge there is no competition at the moment when it comes to Cobalts price/performance/portability.

[@ymefokkema]

Hans thanks for the review of the Audioquest Dragonfly red, I bought it last week and installed it on Sunday. I have a smile on my face from the first song to the last. my experience was the same, when I switched from van den Hul the first to van Hul silver cable.

[@krzysztofs3t532]

I had DragonFly Black - great device! I'v sold it, now I have Red - it is autstanding! And propably in the future I will upgrade to Cobalt :)

[@carlosleao1460]

Thank you Sir!

[@toffe2ventil]

You are very knowledgeable Hans, always enjoying your videos. Great job...

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Many thanks

[@sirglaivius3460]

Hallo Hans thank you for another great review. I showed my girlfriend your video ;) I orderd my cobalt today ! Hans Beekhuyzen you are a wise men lol THNX

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Fantastic!

[@GP-qb9hi]

Upgraded from Black to Cobalt, didn't regret it...

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

👍🏼

[@derzulya]

I really would like to use them with Tidal because of MQA, however couldn't find any information, if they support MQA directly from the Tidal app on Android. I've ifi Nano BL and love the sound, however MQA is only via USB Audio Player Pro (UAPP) available and it's really thick and bulky to carry in the pocket. Because of the licensing Tidal on UAPP can't be used offline, so it doesn't mean anything on the go in my case. If Dragonfly can play MQA directly from the Tidal app I would get one just for that purpose.

[@MichaelGreco]

Hello Hans! Would you favor this over the ifi idsd black label? Thanks for great work!

[@danielgnfr]

I was wondering the same thing because I really don't know which one to buy.

[@mostresticator5]

Can you review Sabaj D5?

[@roquesoprano913]

👍👍👍👍👍

[@davetherave303]

A great review as always Hans, but, i must correct you so you & your viewers to know the correct model numbering, there are 3 black models, the 1.0, the 1.2 and the newer 1.5 which came out alongside the red, this detail was confused when you mentioned and showed the black 1.5 near the red saying 1.2.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Think you for correcting me.

[@Hineyhejmadi]

i love your videos . very informative and honest. what is your thoughts on audirvana as a media player vs roon

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

That's impossible to answer. They both deliver a clean bit perfect digital stream but they differ completely in all the rest: user interface, metadata handling, RAAT vs DLNA for network bridges, price, and so on.

[@Hineyhejmadi]

@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel thank you for the reply .

[@IVAT69]

Great review, Hans, thanks for sharing. I just bought one, mainly to use with my Mac. However, could the Dragonfly also be used as a headphone amplifier for let's say a NAD M10?

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

I don’t think the usb carries audio. So no, I don’t think that will work.

[@dante19890]

Best sound for the size too. Im abit worried that it might not be too good with sensitive iems tho.

[@mm-rw3hi]

You can always use an ifi iematch to improve the impedece had that running for my dragonfly red worked fine with cra andromedas

[@KirkLazurus]

works great with sensitive iems.

[@joseauger1353]

Hi, Hans. Hope you are recovering well. One question: I am using thr Cobalt with both, my iPhone 12Pro, and my MacBook Pro. In addition, I use the Sennheiser HD 660S headphones. With the MacBook Pro I am getting noise in certain recordings when they reach a peak in sound, no matter if I lower the volume to almost inaudible. It sounds as if there is distortion. That does not happen with th iPhone no matter ehat volune I ser. I use Audirvana in the MacBook Pro. In the iPhone I use either ROON (as an endpoint), and the Qobuz and Tidal apps. What could be causing the noise when used with the MacBook Pro?

[@ruudstet3186]

Hans, a full thumbs up again. As an owner of both Mojo and dragonfly red, it's nodding in agreement all the way during your video. Including the remark you didn't make. Including mqa.

[@iuloeneas1605]

short question. Is it worth to have this DragonflyCobalt DAC attached to a nominal computer but playing only 320kbps mp3 files?

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Yes

[@bernios3446]

Will a used Chord Hugo 1 allow higher audio quality than this one? I never use headphones, only my normal stereo chain. My main listening source are high quality mp3 and Tidal lossless...

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

absolutely. But I would switch to lossless audio if you can.

[@Cristian-rj6zw]

Excelente review, Thanks! Suscribe!

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Welcome!

[@guillaumesandmayer7053]

Just my two cents since I did work in the headphone audiophile space for the best part of eight years. The Dragonfly range sold in huge numbers...but here's my point - The Cobalt was almost always without doubt a Dragonfly Red owner looking to upgrade. Rarely, if ever, did John Doe step into the store and buy Big blue' off the bat. There you go. The end..

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Thanks for sharing

[@minerva6]

Hi, will the AQ Dragonfly Cobalt work well with the 70ohm Audeze LCD-2 Fazers? Thanks

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

I know nothing about headphones. I'm claustrophonic.

[@matthewdavies2057]

What Android software should I use to play music with the Cobalt? Will PowerAmp do?

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

I honestly don't know. I am an iPhone user. Any one here?

[@josephwood499]

You can try VLC, I have used it for years on my PC and linux laptops and my android phone. Give it a try and let us know.

[@Gez492]

Thank you Hans I got into the Dragon fly at Black v1.2 then got a red and soon I will get the cobalt. I am analogue based in my home system which I'd consider as high end but I do like to plug in my laptop via the red to my home system. The difference using a Red and jitter bug is as they say 'Chalk and Cheese' it can sound very good indeed even with 320 Kb/s Mp3 files. Its nice to get a better understanding of the digital music world, I'm learning rapidly and now looking to add a streaming based system in 2020 looking at Hugo TT 2. If I may ask, what is your take on this and a suitable streamer and could I ask about the MScaler how and why should I consider this alongside the Hugo would I be better off purchasing a lesser DAC or am I missing the point. I thought the world of turntables, valve amps and cartridges was complex but digital audio is becoming an expensive mine field. Thanks again for your great channel.

[@CronTheCob]

Is it weird that I find the audioquest jitterbug actually introduces more 'noise.' By adding an extra link in the audio chain, I find I get more static and have a worse audio experience than without it.

[@clivestevens3547]

Me too the jitterbug was a total waist of money.

[@terrysadler6115]

After a long time trying to understand why my system had no sound, I found the Jitterbug prevented my SOTM SMS200 from working.

[@ChrisMag100]

Terence Sadler same with my Audioengine D1. I returned it.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Whether the Jitterbug works positively. depends on if and what is there to repair/filter. You should not repair something that isn't broken and if it is broken, you should use the right tool to repair it. The Jitterbug is only one tool and limited in price and capabilities. So do try it but always make sure you can return it if it's not what you need.

[@jakeliujakeliu]

Is new version coming out soon? Now since Apple Music 24bit 192khz , maybe next color can render that high kHz.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

I don’t know

[@jakeliujakeliu]

Thank you

[@staffanjonzon]

Hi Hans! I am thinking of using the Audioquest Dragonfly Cobalt from my computer and connect it to my active desktop-speakers. Do I also need the AUDIOQUEST JITTERBUG to cancel out noise or is that built into the Dragonfly? Do you think this is a god solution?

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Just use the Cobalt

[@kevchavez]

Is Audioquest Dragonfly Cobalt compatible with Grado Labs SR80e? Just making sure before I make a purchase because other people complain about hearing lots of hiss, pops and clicks.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

I have not reviewed the Grado so I can’t say

[@kevchavez]

@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel Fair enough. Thanks!

[@MarkJT1000]

So why does a tiny DAC come in such a big box?

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

If you mean the packaging, that might be anti theft.

[@Campbell1.]

Excuse me please Hans, forget about MQA ok, it only has a 22% acceptance rate in the audio industry and 165 in the home user application. Personally I think its a lot of hoo hum. I'd rather hear about 24/96 files. thanks

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Let's agree to disagree. Ever seen figures on the use of 24/192 files?....