🔫AudioQuest DragonFly Red vs. Cobalt vs. Chord Mojo vs. DACport HD - Is The Cobalt Worth $300?

#audioquestdragonflyredvscobalt #chordmojo #dacshootout
That Good Good
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I hope you enjoyed this Audioquest DragonFly Red vs. Cobalt vs. Chord Mojo vs. DACport HD Shootout/Comparison, and came away with some valuable insight. Questions? Comments? Requests? Leave them down below! Also don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe to my growing channel. I could really use your support, feedback, etc.
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⚡DragonFly Red/Cobalt On Amazon: amzn.to/2Tz4wdD
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^Use this if you get the Cobalt and have a phone with Micro USB. The Cobalt comes with the Type-C Dragon Tail.
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[@metal571]

Home Stud Basics

[@HomeStudioBasics]

:D :D Did you see the cat? That was all for you Metal. I even sang to him. Haha actually that was completely unplanned. I had the song stuck in my head from hours of DAC demoing and just unleashed it on the poor unsuspecting fella. He's so cute tho.

[@antoinep9733]

“Can’t hear any difference,” SAID NO AUDIOPHILE EVER! 🙀 Love the honesty.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Thanks bro. Glad you've stuck around. It's AudioFILE. Lol. We are Audio Files. Man I can't wait to make a skit on this. I have some ideas brewing. Hold onto your butts!

[@andreasreza3485]

Except if they are people who claiming themselves an audiophile XDDDD

[@HomeStudioBasics]

@@andreasreza3485 AudioFile* We are Audio FILES. LOL

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Build - 0:26 Phone Adapter Options - 2:09 Features & Usage - 5:34 Color Codes for Red & Cobalt - 6:22 Leatherface w/ da "Leaf Blower" preset XD - 6:36 Ergonomics/Power Output - 10:31 Red vs. Cobalt - 11:30 Mojo vs. Red/Cobalt - 15:18 I Want To Believe - 16:11 The Audiophile Snob/James Scott Farrin Dilemma - 16:55 Final Word - 18:09 Rap - 20:12 Cat - 21:34 Also before you comment: I've tried the DACport with 4 different headphones plus a 3.5mm interconnect. It's not the headphone cables. It's a faulty connection on the DAC. It's really "jacked" up. HAHA! I make pun it's good you like!

[@davitvardanyan399]

Have been waiting for this comparison for a while, you're one of very few credible reviewers for me. I didn't believe only DAC upgrade of Cobalt would effect the sound as dramatically as everyone claims. Thank you for unbiased review!

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Wow thanks man! Kind of disappointing that a bunch of people are claiming that. My pleasure though! Sorry it took so long. I really had a lot of fun with this one.

[@davitvardanyan399]

Home Studio Basics Still, the wait was well worth it. ))

[@HomeStudioBasics]

@@davitvardanyan399 Means a lot Davit! Share if you would as well. Would love to see this one gain some traction. :) Stay in touch! Anything else you'd like to see in the future?

[@davitvardanyan399]

Home Studio Basics Thanks for being in touch with viewers.)) I'd love to see some comparisons with Topping NX4 dsd. It hovers around $160 and deploys ESS chip, would love to hear your opinion on that DAC.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

@@davitvardanyan399 Hey man my pleasure! I did an NX4/Q1 Comparison here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/l5Smi5-qgNKlpbM But also be on the lookout for another with iFi's new hip-dac and comparing it with the NX4, Q1, and DF Red on 2/15. Should be fun!

[@jogey5890]

Much appreciated straight talk. Most reviewers lie to please producers so much that you avoid them in the end despite the fact that they are knowledgable. My experience on Red is just great. Thank you. You deserve many followers.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Haha not me! I have another DragonFly Cobalt video coming soon. Should be a real scream! 😂 I'm pretty much over this audiophile bs and have been for a while. Thanks for the love! The Red is great. People have to understand that even if there is a small difference (which I heard on like 1 or 2 tracks), it's not enough to spend an extra $100, you wouldn't be able to discern it in a blind test, and nobody really gives a crap at the end of the day. If you care that much about such an insignificant sound difference and would go out of your way to attack others over it, you have problems plain and simple. Like.. really deep-seated issues.

[@nonenothing4412]

they designed mojo to get hot so even the deaf will notice the warmth

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Lol. You can use it to alleviate your tummy aches too!!!! Just plug it in and wait for a few hours. XD

[@allansh828]

It's pure class A output

[@HomeStudioBasics]

@@allansh828 Yeah and that's why for me it's not really a big deal and def to be expected given that's how class A operates (energy is basically converted to heat when idle and drawing current). The Ocean is the same way. You can fry an egg on that bad boy XD Also Class A = less distortion so that's also a likely reason why I prefer the Mojo and Ocean above most Amp/DACS I've tried. The Mojo specifically is just pure in every sense of the word. I don't care what any of those haters say! XD

[@jasonweaver3629]

Great work as always, no bs and a bit of cheek, great to see your personality come through.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Lol I'm a cheeky bloke, yeah mate? Lol. Thanks man! Really appreciate the shout :) You gonna get a DF Red?

[@TheEnglishRedneck45]

Many thanks for this review - I was split between the Cobalt and the Mojo. And now I'm reconsidering everything! Exactly what a good, honest review often does! Cheers

[@Capybarainahumansuit]

I ordered the red because I'm going to be using this on the go with my headphones. So seems like I got the best overall of the 3 more mobile ones.

[@chrisbarnhart7944]

Love your reviews dude... exactly how i would imagine reviewing audio. take it serious BUT with a healthy dose of humor and dimensionism.... :)

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Thank you so much man! I try lol. Did you see the Cobalt video I uploaded yesterday? It's a real scream! 😂 kzbin.info/www/bejne/bKSspWWtpbebjsU

[@swenic]

Thanks for your content, I think it's great. :) Listening w. headphones I found the sound effects and when you touch the microphone to be a little louder than expected.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Exactly man. Not saying this is always the case, but people like to wet themselves with delight about it thinking it's a difference when it might not be. For instance, sometimes when you switch back and forth between Cobalt and Red the volume doesn't stay the same. You have to re-adjust it and this can definitely throw off your impressions if you aren't careful/paying attention.

[@chaseroyell7227]

Great video! Thank you for comparing these. I've always wanted to know about the Mojo.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Thanks man! So glad it helped you out! Are you set on purchasing one of these?

[@chaseroyell7227]

@@HomeStudioBasics Yeah, went the cheap route and purchased the Mojo on Ebay this morning. Pairing it with the Hifiman 4xx from drop ($160.00). Im not an audiophile like you, but wanted something that would sound great for the $$$ I had.

[@chaseroyell7227]

@@HomeStudioBasics Yes I went the cheap rout and bought a preowned Mojo on Ebay. I will be pairing it with the Hifiman HE4XX from drop ($160.00). Looking forward to my beginner hifi setup. :)

[@HomeStudioBasics]

@@chaseroyell7227 So what do you think man!?!?!?!?!

[@chaseroyell7227]

@@HomeStudioBasics Still waiting for my headphones to arrive. :( I dont really have a nice pair to evaluate to Mojo. Thanks for asking tho.

[@TiagrajI]

Discovered your channel. Great work. Thank you for your review

[@HomeStudioBasics]

My pleasure man! Thank YOU!

[@halstonrossi]

wow. first time seeing your videos. immediate subscribe. you crack me up, and such solid reviews...start to finish.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Thanks so much man! XD Glad to have you on board. You thinking of going with one of these?

[@xxpandathomasxx]

Sounds about right. Most dac's do not sound different, even when comparing between different brands. ESS, AKM, Burr brown, Wolfson. In my experience what changes the sound is the DSP.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Absolutely man. This DAC sh irritates me to no end, thus all of my outrageous attempts at humor. XD

[@BLAZEPSI]

Damn LoVe your style of review... Raw and honest truth...

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Thanks, Blaze! Much appreciated my friend. :) You gonna go with the Red pill?

[@TheoneDragon51]

Great review! Honest to the point.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Thanks man! Glad you enjoyed :)

[@leafyleafyleaf]

I mean business. LOL. Honest review. Really appreciate it!

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Thanks man! Gonna go with the Red? Lol I just remembered what you are referring too. James Scott Farrin on that a** xD

[@frankwhite2230]

Yooo Stu, love the videos man..you got a new subscriber son!!

[@HomeStudioBasics]

My reaction to the news that Jimmy Conway subscribed to my KZbin channel: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pqKoZ2mIodmIl7M 😂

[@SikhLion]

Great review Stuart!

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Thanks Pardeep! Glad you enjoyed :)

[@brandonburr4900]

Interesting take on the audioquest dacs. This review seems to go against most I have seem regarding differences. They are there. Not huge. I can see where the mojo would win against them. Good luck on the quality with the chord products though. Having seem some units with issues like headphone 3.5 mm that won't work. Appreciate the different perspective!

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Yeah man! To me if there was a diff it was so small that it wouldn't be discernible in a blind test so $100 more for a Cobalt is just, no. Lol. Kind of scammy actually. I've never actually owned a Chord so I can't say but the ones that I demo from the store seem to always hold up and they've been through a lot of hands. Thanks for stopping by! Are you in the market for something?

[@BillStrathearn]

Thanks bro. You're a real bud

[@thorenjohn]

Excellent presentation and suitable attitude! Thank you.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Welcome, man! Gonna go with one of these?

[@thorenjohn]

@@HomeStudioBasics I plan to go with the red for headphones while travelling. I was tempted by the cobalt, but you settled that :-) Thanks again, and stay safe.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Nice! Yeah can't go wrong with a Red. It's not htat I don't like the Cobalt, I'm just not convinced people should spend an extra $100 for it. Glad you were able to easily gather that from the video :) Keep me posted on the Red for sure!

[@mittbhogaita5235]

Thanks for honesty 🙌🏽

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Always! That's what I'm here for :) You thinking about getting one of these?

[@bennanas5516]

This is a king great review.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Thanks Ben!

[@rodneywarne921]

This review and the debate that follows are amazingly honest - it’s sobering and very refreshing - and very funny. I’ve used a Dragonfly black to go between my iMac and an amp, in the past. Now I have a different issue: I want to go from an iPad Air to my Marantz integrated PM7200 amp. Nobody seems to do this these days - am I completely out of step with the times? Anyway I’m trying to find out if a Dragonfly Red would improve the sound here. Or even if my Black could be used? I’d really appreciate your opinion on this, since nobody else seems to address it.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Hey man thank you so much! So Ipad > DF Red or Black > Marantz? I'm looking at the Marantz here and I don't really see anything on the back that would support such a connection. The only thing I can think of is running a 3.5mm to RCA from the DF Red into the Marantz and use the TAPE ins or CD ins, but I'm not entirely sure if that's feasible. Just an idea. Then you would just plug your headphones into the front of the Marantz. What do you think?

[@matiasfleker4804]

Starting audiophile here. This video justifies my sub. Thanks man

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Thank YOU! You gonna go with the Red?

[@matiasfleker4804]

@@HomeStudioBasics yeah i think so! have you tried the sonata hd pro? how does it stack up to the red?

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Hey man I have not! Let me know about the Red though. Check the article too and consider purchasing there as it helps the site out! :) homestudiobasics.com/audioquest-dragonfly-red-vs-cobalt-vs-chord-mojo/

[@jeffberger5773]

I've had the chord mojo for 2 years and haven't had any problems with it, it does get warm but it's no big deal, it sounds great with my 6xx and focal clears

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Love the Mojo but never owned one. Some people have issues and others don't. Just depends on the unit I guess. I think Chord should come out with a revision and fix whatever problems there are.

[@21cdeguia]

Thank you for the super honest opinion! I have been enjoying Tidal Masters recently and am looking into getting an MQA rendering portable dac sometime soon. I love your cat! I have 4 of my own and would love to see more of your kitty in future vids. More power to you :)

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Aww thanks! Yeah I love Stanley. He's a peach! Seriously the most well behaved, respectful cat ever. What kind of music are you into? And what are your cats' names? 🙂 Also: Do you listen mostly on desktop, with your phone, or both?

[@21cdeguia]

@@HomeStudioBasics mostly desktop with headphones and I also stream music to my non audio file speakers lol. My cats names are Mr. Bojangles, Lady Arwen, Cosmo and Theon Greyjoy.

[@21cdeguia]

@@HomeStudioBasics forgot to mention that I listen to all sorts of music but enjoy Edm and Jazz the most. How about you?

[@HomeStudioBasics]

@@21cdeguia Nice! Yeah I love EDM as well and Jazz. In fact, those a long with Hip-hop, Indie Pop, and Classical are probably my most listened to. What are some artists you like in the Indie Pop/EDM category? Also be on the lookout for this Saturday's video. It will contain a certain furry friend. 🙂

[@21cdeguia]

@@HomeStudioBasics my favorite is Jai Wolf, I have watched him live and he is amazing. But I enjoy a wide variety from deadmau5, Kaskade, Porter Robinson, Seven Lions, Gryffin, Bazzi, 3lau. I can go on and on. Lol. What got me into Jazz as funny as it may sound is the game Fallout. I grew up playing Fallout 1&2 on PC and I've enjoyed it ever since. Billie Holiday is amazing! I look forward to Saturday's video. 😊

[@DominikZalewski85]

I like your content and I'm surprised you got 2.7k subs "only" . Keep it up

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Thanks Dominik! Hope you subscribed! :)

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Are you interested in any of these?

[@ensiferum1992]

Hey Stu, the DragonFly Red, in addition to giving more power and volume to the Senn HD 650, also manages to remove their famous "veil" that is so much talked about? I also read your article about the "veil", but I could not find this information. Since I am in the process of buying the Senn HD 650, I would like to know if the DragonFly Red + HD 650 combo is good (from what I understand the sound of the DFR is brighter, while that of the Senn is darker and "softer. "), if together they sound well and detailed and if the DFR manages to remove the "veil "from the headphones, making them sound as divine as I hope. Thanks for any reply! (PS: I'm sorry for the thousand questions I'm asking you during these days, but I need to be sure about the purchase I'm going to make. On the other hand, I am watching a lot of your videos and I am reading as many articles on your site 🤣)

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Hey man! Yeah it's not going to remove it completely, but the DF Red is certainly a very open, spacious, and crisp sounding DAC. It will certainly help in that regard, yes. It's one of the few instances where you *can* really discern a pretty audible difference between it and other DACS. Highly recommended. I still use one almost daily! You really can't go wrong. I will say that it's just a stick so the lack of on-board features may bother you after awhile. The good news is that you can use the combo line in/out jack to hook up to a separate amp later on if you want. Much appreciated though! Any traffic to my site always helps me out in the long run :) Let me know if you have questions. You could also just get a 6XX and not really have to worry about that veil. Check this out: homestudiobasics.com/the-5-best-audiophile-headphones-for-under-500/

[@GilSharvit]

Great review, thank you. I just didn't catch what's your best combination of sound experience ever with the mojo, could you specify? thanks in advance

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Hey man you're welcome! Def the Dan Clark Aeon Flow Closed + Mojo was just absolutely sublime. For me, a spiritual experience matched by few other moments in time. I will never forget that moment for as long as I live. I was listening to this: open.spotify.com/track/3qlLSRfudjIMj9GyBcv1lV?si=EwbYGENQSjCNclEnIqYOZw Felt like she was singing in front of my face, lol. As if I could give her a lil kiss 🙂 There was another song as well, but it slips my mind at the moment. I will try and think of it.

[@mikehuntington4440]

You are a funny guy. Good review

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Haha thanks man! > kzbin.info/www/bejne/r32co4atp9iAftk

[@naylinhan8734]

Hi! Just wanted to see if you have had any experience with the recent Audirect Beam 2 (or at least the first iteration), especially on how it compares to the Dragonfly Red? I am looking to drive just mid-tier IEMs like the Fiio FH5s, A&K Billie Jean, etc that I normally use on my Android phone/Windows PC. It looks better on paper but I've been trying to find out if it is better on listening/ use. Thanks bro!

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Hey man! Nah unfortunately I don't. I see specs here as 240mW at 32 Ohms, which isn't that powerful (around E10K area), but still perfectly fine for the majority of headphones and especially IEM's. You really don't need as much power for IEM's as the DF Red provides. So if you're set on the Beam I would probably go with that UNLESS you plan to upgrade to some more demanding headphones down the line. What do you think?

[@YC305]

Thanks bro 😂👍

[@JoJo-edge]

First time listening to your video and channel- love your style, I subscribed. Btw, I just became a grandpa 👴,

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Welcome man! So glad to have you! How do you like being a Grandpa?

[@JoJo-edge]

Home Studio Basics There’s nothing like a grandchild to put a smile on your face, a lump in your throat and a warm feeling in your heart ❤️. Just when you think you know all love is @ age 50... along comes a Granddaughter.! 😎✌🏼

[@HomeStudioBasics]

@@JoJo-edge That's awesome man! Congratulations :) Check out the new Grado video too! I wonder if my grandparents thought the same about a Rascal like me :P I know Grandpa probably wanted to strangle me at times. XD To me there was nothing like going up to Smithtown, NY and visiting them. I really miss that.

[@Cespinozas]

Slum village and nujabes , I think I will buy one of these . Thanks for your review

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Love both of those artists, man! Check out some of my polls you may like: kzbin.infocommunity And here are my playlists: open.spotify.com/user/stubearblack?si=jCXyuoqJS_iaNhXxWsKBmg Any new music you've been listening to that you could recommend?

[@Cespinozas]

@@HomeStudioBasics Terrance Martin dinner party , and Kip Hanranhan vertical currency . A lot of nujabes samples from from vertical currency . Much love !

[@Jonziebal]

Great review. No bullshit. Subscribed.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Thanks man! Much appreciated. Get hyped!

[@Jonziebal]

@@HomeStudioBasics Hahaha!

[@MegaFabioRocks]

Nice review! I got the soundblaster play3! For 15 bucks this thing Is Amazing. It got a LOT of power. My dt770 80 ohm was driven loud at 40% volume. It's not a Dragonfly killer, but it sounds very good and it's so cheap that is a good way to start for the broken audiophile😄

[@nonenothing4412]

bought that one as a joke, kept for convenience. not the best sound quality, but it's infinitely convenient with zero delay and mic in.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Hey man thanks so much! Great to hear from you again. It's been awhile, brother! If you're happy with it that's all that matters! And yeah, with the 80 Ohm 770 you're not going to want to go crazy any way.

[@MegaFabioRocks]

@@HomeStudioBasics Hey! I had the Dragonfly Red for almost 3 years. Very good sound but the headphone jack failed 2 times on my units. I just bought the play3! out of curiosity, but I have to admit it sounds very good. For casual listening play3! + dt770 are very good match. For more serious listening, Beyer 1990 + Lg V30, is a great match. I used to be a Sennheiser fanboy but I am really in love with Beyers nowadays. Keep doing the great reviews!

[@HomeStudioBasics]

@@MegaFabioRocks Man really upset to hear about the jack on the DF Red. Wonder if that has anything to do with the Cobalt's different jack configuration. It kind of sticks out a bit. I hope my Red's jack doesn't go faulty.

[@michelplouffe7934]

Nice review, I like the way you think. I'm looking for the best sounding portable DAC for use with my phone and line out for my amp. For listening to TIDAL MASTER, I nknow that MOJO doesn't do MQA. Do you think it's a big issue compared to the Dragonfly that has it?

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Thanks man! Hmm. If you're running Tidal a lot, I'd probably just go with the Red DragonFly but I wouldn't say it's an "issue" or anything as the Mojo sounds fantastic no matter what it's playing. That said, someone mentioned to me that they were having issues with he battery holding a charge after 3 years. Something to keep in mind. I guess my main point is that the DragonFly is more of a stable investment whereas with the Mojo you may run into issues. Just depends. Let me know your thoughts!!

[@steveisrome1719]

I've watched more KZbin reviews on whatever items than I care to admit, but this was of the highest quality I've seen. Production and all that have their place, but this was such a " to the point", well researched, non boring/spec sheet read video. I truly hope more people have a similar mindset and you get to a big time league of reviewers.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Thanks so much man! I put a lot of time and energy into these so it's really cool when someone noticed the hard work. :) Are you considering any of the dacs in the video?

[@user-fe3qs5gm8m]

Thank you very much for the sharing. I am listening to beyerdynamic T5 3rd, which should be very easily driven headphone as i understand. I directly plug it into Samsung Note 8 3.5mm jack and enjoy. However i am curious if it make big difference if i use Dragonfly RED. This video really help me in making choice between these product. Thank you!

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Hey man thank you and you're welcome! Red may open up the sound a bit more. It's definitely spacious, grand, cool sounding. Like opening your window on a fall day and letting a breeze in!!!

[@davidzevweiner8888]

Awesome video. Sorry for the long question but I’m looking for advice (I’m kind of a newbie with all this): I wanna upgrade my music listening experience from just using my old wired v-moda headphones with Apple Music on my iPhone 8 to the best sounding portable music listening experience. I would primarily listen to music on my iphone while commuting and I would stream hi-res/lossless music from tidal or Deezer. So would it pay to buy the dragonfly red, an iPhone adapter, and some hi-res headphones with wired option such as Shure SE535 wireless? Or would using lightning cable headphones like Audeze’s Sine on ear headphones w/integrated dac/amp be just as good? I’m also considering just getting Sony’s wh-1000xm3 but I’ve read that bluetooth can’t get you quite as good sound even with the built in codecs, tho they do have the option of using it wired. Thoughts?

[@HomeStudioBasics]

If you're new, you're in the right place my friend! Thank you so much for the kind words. I do think the DF Red would be a great option for you. Another Tidal option is iFi's hip-dac which also sounds fantastic. With both of these, you will need an Apple Lightning cable of course. iFi unfortunately doesn't include one in their package and I don't believe AudioQuest does either. As for the Sony's, I've tried a couple variants of that model and didn't really like the sound signature. It's a little bloomy/bloaty sounding for my tastes. Definitely more of a consumer oriented sound. For sound quality, what codec does Apple use? I'm not really an Apple guy. I know for Android it's aptX and aptXHD which is obviously the lossless version. But yeah, sound quality with a BT set up is not going to be as good unless you have aptXHD (or whatever variant your phone uses), but even then, a lot of phones like mine don't even support those higher formats. I would suggest either the DF Red or hip-dac. Now the question becomes what kind of sound do you mostly prefer? The hip-dac is warmer and more musical sounding, while the DF Red is very open and crisp. Not a gigantic huge difference but still noticeable. Check out my in depth hip-dac review/shootout and let me know what you think!! kzbin.info/www/bejne/rWarfaepjcuUY7M About the Sine: One of my favorite headphones all time. I was plugging it into a separate amp at the time of demo so I can't really speak to the integrated aspect of that one. To be honest, I didn't even know they had it! LOL. I demoed one a few years ago though. Super flat and neutral, very revealing, very relaxing headphone. Perfect sound signature really. You could just plug that into a hip or DF Red and that would be sublime for you.

[@davidzevweiner8888]

Ok cool! I guess iPhones don’t have Aptxhd- just AAC for Bluetooth. And yeah I think certain audeze models come with a special CIPHER Lightning cable with integrated DAC/AMP with DSP, so I guess that could replace an external dac/amp for lossless music? Seems like the dragonfly or hip is a great investment though. Thanks for the info and advice!

[@HomeStudioBasics]

My pleasure man! Did you decide on anything?

[@davidzevweiner8888]

Yeah so I got a used Sine w/cipher cable at a steal and it sounds really good to me even without the higher resolution playback, so I’m holding off on a dac until I maybe get different types of headphones like open backs or powerful IEMs.

[@Raymond23rdOBC]

Nice video and review. I agree on the Cobalt. The one thing about it is the Cobalt comes with the USB-C adapter jitter filter. The red did not and that is sold separately. Is it worth it? Depends on what your needs are. I prefer to gravitate towards the red. Also the headphones and or earphones makes a difference in the equation as well. Also the cable composition can make a difference. I really do like the Mojo and was able to get it on sale during the holidays. I have no opinion on the DACport HD because its not available at this time. Switch your camera to manual focus and get a better mic.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Hey thank you! Haven't tried the jitter filter. I'm coming out with another Cobalt skit video it's going to be funny. Mic is fine, it's just a bit too far away from where I'm sitting and it's hard to situate it when I'm on the couch. Manual focus on this particular camera doesn't work too well - I've tried it before. f/7.1 seems to do okay. It's a dated camera body and the autofocus motor is now starting to really wear down. The lens however is amazing. It's really not for video work haha. I use it for photos mostly. I will hopefully be getting all new equipment soon. :) Here's a video with the mic (Yeti) way closer: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iqPGmYmYrbiNf5I

[@jerryj.7905]

I've had both red and cobalt. I sold the cobalt, the red sounds more substantial and has a little more 'punch'. The cobalt has a tiny little bit more resolution in the upper highs, but I found that not really needed at times.

[@arthurcrosby5755]

Nice one Stuart. Entertaining and informative. I didn’t hear you mention the Dragonfly Black so - I have a some rhyme, just to pass the time. Is the Dragonfy Black yesterday’s DAC? Does the Dragonfly Red leave it for dead? Now you says, Cobalt gets no more praise. Three hundred more bucks; that just sucks. The Dacport HD gets the third degree; It’s quite physical, but no more rhythmical. The Chord Mojo with Stu is a go-go. Now to play that track you need a DAC, To give it tones, from nones and ones.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Check one 2, yo Arthur Crosby has spoken/ He's asking about the Black, and he really ain't jokin'/ The Black version is okay, but isn't really worth it/ It's like a good gun in Call of Duty, but AFTER they nerfed it/ The Red version has more power, it's a much better investment/ The Cobalt ain't worth the dough tho, and that's the main lesson/ The Mojo is a bit finicky, runs warm like Grandma's cookies/ The DACport does too, but still deserves a look see/ The jack issue that's apparent? yeah it's a little bit problematic/ But it's definitely just a one off, still doesn't deserve the attic/ At the end of the day yo? I'd be safe and go with the Red/ Why take the Blue Pill, when you can have the truth instead?/ HAHAHA! Man that was kind of good if I do say so myself. I may actually record that. Thank you so much for the inspiration. I will be posting that shortly Lol. Thank you for your continued support man! Still have to get to our other thread. With a 5,200 word post, cutting a 20 min. video, and doing a bunch of other stuff you can imagine I've been quite busy.

[@arthurcrosby5755]

&Home Studio Basics: Hey Stu, Ha Ha Ha, I like it. I thought I would try a little bit of rap, asking questions to cut thru the crap. You’re basically saying they sound the same, ain’t that a pity; sure is a shame. Is this for real or is it just a game? Now that’s sorted we won’t get rorted. The hour is late and I have a date, with little bo peep; I need some sleep! Coz I live in Oz, and the sun ain’t shining; but every cloud has a silver lining. It’s two twelve here in the early morning; my eyes are closing and I can’t stop yawning. So I’ll say good night. You keep up the fight and don’t give way. The truth is right as you say; let’s talk again another day! 😂

[@MrDjillest303]

Thanks man sticking with my red. Saving 300$

[@MrDjillest303]

Update.. Ended up buying the cobalt, I use it with my se846's there is something about it.. Honestly I think I made the right choice

[@jinvid]

I bought the Red based on this review. But then after watching many reviews about the Cobalt, especially John Darko’s review of it, it really sparked my interest and I had to have it at that point. So I impulse bought that shit son! And man am I impressed! The Cobalt combined with my Massdrop HD 6XXs was truly a game changer. The vocals were way clearer and at the forefront and the sounds just boomed at you. It’s probably the only thing I would argue Stu on. I really feel the difference between the two.

[@apoorvasharma7]

Will you grab the Mojo 2 when it comes out post 22nd Jan 2022? The Chord website countdown has created quite a stir

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Yeah that will be quite interesting actually. Hopefully they've fixed the issues.

[@intoitreviews]

Killing it Stu! Great video! The mojo isn't my personal favorite (because of the warmth you mentioned), but at its price it should do something more than the other ones, right? I love the Hugo 2 from Chord though. Sorry the DACport HD is cutting out on you. I have not experienced that. Between that and pads, I didn't mean to send you so many bum products, I swear, oof.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Thanks bro! Really do love the Mojo. Thought the Hugo2 was good but in no way worth $2700 when you can just get a Mojo for a fraction of that. Hugo is more sterile and neutral sounding, but kind of too clinical at times for me anyway. I really want to do a video of those 2 as well. Maybe shatter some more myths. Lol. Anywho, no worries! I was really worried you'd be mad at me because of the DACport. It wasn't giving me any issues until recently. I'm not sure what happened. I tried out 4 different headphones plus the 3.5mm interconnect and the same thing was happening. At first it liked the 600's jack and there were no problems but then the 4XX's started having issues, then the 702's, and then the 600's later. Tried the 9500 yesterday and same thing. Maybe it's something that could be fixed by opening the DAC up. I'll leave that up to you. The pad issue was also technically my fault. If you can get it on quickly there's no worry. But as soon as you start messing with it too much and it takes longer, that's when the trouble starts. That's why I love the Dekoni's so much. They are a breeze to get on and off and you've got the peace of mind of knowing they were built much better with a smarter design.

[@intoitreviews]

@@HomeStudioBasics No worries man, stuff happens, shit goes wrong. That's life. I have had to tighten down the screws on that thing before... I think maybe a wire could be loose or maybe when I tightened the screws it broke something inside O.O I'll cross my fingers its something simple. I'll pop the cover off and investigate. Feel free to do so yourself if you want. Its really no big deal. Michael over at Centrance is a really cool guy, I'm sure if I care, I can just ship it back to him and they'll fix it. I just hope it doesn't cast ill light on the product, cause I'm really a fan of the Centrance sound in general, as you know. Anyhow, keep up the good work! Oh, and be super careful with the E-MU's haha that plastic headband is fra-GIL-eeeehhh. ;)

[@HomeStudioBasics]

@@intoitreviews Lol have you ever seen Rugrats? There's a funny scene where a new kid moves in and one of the movers looks at one of the boxes that says "Fragile." And he yells to his friend: "Hey Ed! What's Fra-GIL-Ay mean?" XD About the CEntrance: It's probably a small issue and in no way indicative of the product. There's always risk when buying these types of things and sh happens as you say. I'll see if I have a small enough Phillips head for that and get back to you. Thanks for the love and continued support man!

[@robovirtuoso1354]

Only "audiophiles" are capable of "imagining" minute differences to justify the price gaps. But put them in an A-B Test, and I assure you they won't be able to consistently tell between stuff like the Red vs. Cobalt. But it doesn't take an audiofool to notice the warmth on the Mojo... just touch it and you'll know. (you may want to ask them which USB cable "sounds" best with the Mojo, though)

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Heheh. Exactly right my friend. You can clearly tell a difference from the Mojo, and to my ears it sounds better than some lower priced stuff. The difference was pretty significant I think. The Cobalt vs. Red? You're also spot on in that I know 99% I wouldn't be able to tell if I didn't know one from the other. Even if you gave me them now and I didn't know which was which, I wouldn't be able to tell. I presume you were joking about that last sentence lol.

[@avocadosfrommexico2001]

Not entirely sure if I should get a DAC though. I am currently listening to MP3 and FLAC files with V-Moda crossfade wireless headphones plugged in to an S8+ and with altered EQ settings to reduce excessive frequencies and make the sound as flat as possible. There is an apparent hiss when playing silent music. Would the overall listening experience improve? Would I be able to hear more difference between lossy and lossless files?

[@avocadosfrommexico2001]

P.S. I can't really hear any difference between lossy and lossless files, at least with my current setup. Maybe I might need new cans.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Hey man! Yeah I think it's a matter of cans. Haven't heard the Crossfade Wireless but I think you're craving something like a 6xx from what you said. In that case, an Amp/DAC would pair wonderfully. Check this article out and let me know what you think! Should really help you: homestudiobasics.com/the-5-best-audiophile-headphones-for-under-500/ Let me know! I think something like a 6XX with a DF Red would be fantastic for you considering it's very flat and revealing. Pretty much a perfect headphone in all regards. There are also some great options in the article as well that I love.

[@avocadosfrommexico2001]

@@HomeStudioBasics Big thanks for the great advice! The crossfade wireless are like the m100s but with a boost on the bass and treble frequencies. Seems like the 6xx is an incredible place to start with. I'm really convinced with those cans and looking forward to. Hopefully in the near or far future, I could get the DF red to begin with, as my budget is pretty tight. I will update if I possibly end up getting the 6xx headphones and give my impression on them. Stay safe during these times.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Thanks man! Keep me posted. DF Red would be a great DAC to pair with the 6XX! If you do happen to purchase through the link in that article I sent (Top 5 Under $500) I will get a small kick back depending on where you are. It really helps the blog and channel moving forward, so your support is much appreciated! Stay in touch.

[@rishik7665]

Quality content right here.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Much appreciated my friend!

[@Rockem1234]

What is the weight of the DragonFly Red? Will I feel it if being used on the go and let it hang as a part of the headphones cable?

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Hey man my scale reads 21g. Pretty light. You'll feel it but it won't be too much of a big deal.

[@Matpermad]

Hey, i would love you to test the mojo against the ifi idsd nano black label, and the ifi idsd micro black label. The nano is called the chord killer bcz it costs much less and (people say) it sounds as detailed. Also, loved your honest opinion about the sound!. Question: i only have a pair of sennheiser momentum's 2 (or hd1's, same headphone) and wanted to get into open back, preferrably for gaming and music listening, and really get the "imaging and soundstage" feeling of open backs, with a different sound than sennheisers, and came down to the conclusion that the dt 990 premium 600ohm edition would be great. What do you think? Also, would you say the mojo is worth it for those headphones, or would you go with something more affordable?

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Hey man! Thank you so much! I probably wouldn't buy a Mojo right off the bat for a 990. You could go cheaper with something like a SoundBlasterX G6 or K5 Pro. Do you game on console? I think the 990 is a good choice for those specific uses actually! What's your price range? Do you enjoy heavy bass and a bright treble? Because that's what you'll be getting with a 990. It is very open and comfy, but you may take exception with it's pronounced peaks and dips.

[@Matpermad]

@@HomeStudioBasics i mainly enjoy detail in music. And just wanted something different from the "sennheiser sound" that the hd1 have, so options like audio technica msr7, or another sennheiser product with similar sound (and i mean in the response, bcz obviusly any open back would sound different) was discarded, like the hd599. So my main choices were beyerdinamic or Grado headphones, just to get a taste of new brands with a signature sound. The problem with the grado ones on my price range is that they are not as well built and require, at least, a pad change. I wanted to spend like 200 uss or less and maybe 250 if the option was crazy price/performance. I also want them to be extremely durable. So if possible, metal, and detachable cable. And to have a signature sound truly different from sennheisers "not so risky" aproach

[@Matpermad]

@@HomeStudioBasics also i asked about the mojo bcz as a dac/amp it pretty much future proofs any setup. So i would have a portable dac/amp that i would never have to change for a very long time. Although my main choice there for both mobile use and desktop use rn is the idsd black label nano, wich looks great for 200 dollars... But maybe there are better ones...

[@sainaveenbali]

Fiio q1 mark ii vs dragonfly red for my android phone. Please suggest me. I have Billie Jean iem and also got balanced cable from astern and Kern. Basically all set for both 3.5 mm and 2.5 mm jack Please suggest I will purchase based on ur opinion

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Hey man it really depends on if you prefer a warmer more laid back signature (Q1) vs. a cooler, more neutral and open type of signature (DF Red). Q1 is geared more towards apple users but I was able to use one with my android and a 3.5mm interconnect. Very simple and sounds great. Also do you prefer on-board controls? If so you'll want the Q1. DF Red is very bare bones. Let me know!

[@isakstorm7373]

Hahaha. Great stuff. Bought the cobalt because of the otg cable. The differance where I live is then "only" 50 bucks. But i still got snubbed (or maybe audiophile snobbed) for 50 bucks. Rear ended is always gonna be rear ended, even if it's done gently:) Came from the black dragonfly originally. There's a notable upgrade but if it's worth a 100 or 200. Most likely not. The amp feature can help the dragonflys to drive hard-to-drive headphones of a phone. But that's not really a big point of great help anyway. However The mojo is worth it the 400 i paid for it, but not only because it's a bit better than all if them. An maybe mainly because I can use it with my gaming console as well. The cobalt will be returned, if for nothing else, because I don't wanna be a deuce-ophile. I'll stick to my mostly streamed audio files. Thanks Stu.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

No worries, mate! Great to hear from you. Hey if you like the Cobalt keep it bro! It's not that it's bad, it just sounded the same as the Red and I guess not worth the extra $100. Perhaps with the OTG cable it was worth a bit more, but outside of that nah. If you paid $250 that's a little better, but the Red is starting to go on sale more and I'd much rather people just cop that and be done with it. Great products though and I still own a Red because I do like it a lot. Def agree about the Mojo at it's current price of about $100 off like you said. It's more versatile like you mentioned and it does sound better to me. Some people may not like that gooey warmth but I absolutely did.

[@jerrybandy3827]

I used consider myself an audiophile back in the day of "wow and flutter". But this is all new to me now. Looking for cheap entry into something better than my phones 3.5mm jack (yes, all my phones have one). Really interested in finding out how much better it will sound.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Hey man! Glad to have you here on board. Which one were you thinking of getting?

[@jerrybandy3827]

@@HomeStudioBasics The best headphones I currently own are the Bose AE2, which I understand are 32ohms so I'm not sure that I want to invest too much. Also trying to research what DACs are in my phones.

[@jerrybandy3827]

Found the this Redmi Note 9S comes with the Qualcomm WCD9375 codec and supposedly was tuned by "Golden Ears". I think the amp is a little weak though. Maybe I should just look for a portable amp?

[@HomeStudioBasics]

@@jerrybandy3827 Yeah man! What about the Topping NX4?

[@CAL1MBO]

Nice review mate. Have you ever had any QC problems with any of your Audioquest products? I noticed you were wiggling the cobalt jack around with your finger.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Hey man thanks for the love!! Nah actually they are some of the best built products that I've personally tried. Never had any issues. The thing I was noticing with the Cobalt jack was that it did wiggle and I thought that was odd considering the DF Red's did not. Wasn't sure what that was all about but it didn't have any negative effect on sound or cause it to cut out or anything like that. Are you considering a Cobalt?

[@CAL1MBO]

@@HomeStudioBasics Hey I'm a Uni student so on a fairly strict budget for a newbie audiophile setup, I currently use the M20x and a Dragonfly Black. I was looking at closed headphones and I was split between the DT770 and M50x as those are right in my price range. After some research I'm currently feeling like the M50s are more suited as I'll mostly be using them for listening to bass and electronic music, where I've heard the M50s have deeper bass and better treble. Although the DT770s are supposed to have a more natural & balanced sound with superior soundstage, I'm not looking to mix or produce with the setup. As I play from my laptop I figured I'd get a USB DAC, I was originally considering a DF Red as I love my DF Black, but the Cobalt is a bit too pricey. After watching quite a few of your videos :) I'm now starting to consider FiiO DACs you've covered, specifically the K3. As I don't actually require the DF USB portability, and the K3 is much cheaper, + hopefully sounds better? I would love to get your opinion on the DAC and/or headphones as I'm quite the newbie. Thanks!

[@CAL1MBO]

@@HomeStudioBasics *audioFILE

[@HomeStudioBasics]

@@CAL1MBO XD

[@HomeStudioBasics]

@@CAL1MBO Hey man! As for the Black sounding *better* than a K3? Probably not. K3 is a great option though for sure if you plan on running DSD or balanced. It can also handle files above 48kHz so that's an option if you run Tidal like I do :) Just make sure Tidal is set to exclusive mode in settings. The only problem with the K3 is that it's a bit under-powered but for the 770 and M50x that won't matter as those headphones don't really require much to get pumping. If you were to go the 770 route + K3, I'd probably get the 32 Ohm version to be on the safe side. I can technically run an HD600 out of a K3 and it sounds great, but there isn't much headroom and I'm on high gain. What do you think?

[@alx7318]

I have a pair of byrodynamic 990DT 600hm and I am looking to buy the Mojo, found it at £260 ... Do you have a better option? Thank you!

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Hey man! I've talked with some folks recently about QC issues with the Mojo; namely that it doesn't really want to hold a charge. Your mileage may vary though. It's such a perfect sounding DAC. You can always return it, but yeah - it's my favorite sounding for sure. You may try a Black Label as well. Love that thing.

[@robertaksland1471]

Thank you for this comparision. I use the Dragonfly Red and the Sennheiser HD6XX and am very happy with this combo. Just wanted to say that the Red is very power hungry and will only be happy when connected to a high power USB output. When connected to a phone or other low power USB port it will not deliver its maximun potential. And the Red will get hot when driving 300 ohm headphones at high levels.

[@brennenparker4781]

Off topic off topic but does the mojo pair well with the hd650? I’ve heard no online but I like the features of the mojo. I wish I had a place around here to test stuff before buying

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Yeah man perfect pairing actually. I have demoed a 650 with the Mojo on a few occasions and loved it. I'm going to try and do a Hugo 2 vs. Mojo video soon. I think that would be a lot of fun. Love the Mojo for Gaming/movies as well! If you have a lady friend it's even better. Watch movies together or game. What more could you want? Lol.

[@brennenparker4781]

Home Studio Basics yeah true! What’s a good site to buy one from? Amazon here in Canada seems a little sketchy

[@HomeStudioBasics]

@@brennenparker4781 Why so? Curious to know. It does help me out and I get a kick back if you purchase through an amazon link on my site as it will re-direct you to Canada. Not sure if any of the links in my videos do. Let me know for sure.

[@brennenparker4781]

Home Studio Basics well for the mojo specifically on amazon there’s only 2 3rd party sellers and like 5 reviews if that. One said their unit broke and another said it’s not compatible with iPhones

[@HomeStudioBasics]

@@brennenparker4781 Ah. Some guy mentioned his Mojo of 3 years will only hold a charge for about an hour so that's a little bothersome. I'm not an actual owner of one which is something that people should also keep in mind. The one I demo at Audio Advice has always been in top shape though. There's always an inherent risk with any of these, but the Mojo has come down in price a bit since I first started listening to it. I believe the iPhone issue is a myth but I'd have to research it again. I kind of remember hearing something in passing about it, but I'll give it another look see and let you know. Edit: I just found this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nZ2wYpSAqNVkqa8

[@bricedoan6695]

I use my Mojo stacked to an android phone and cabled with Moon Audio Silver Dragon form fit USB cable. Can't think of a better combo for Qobuz streaming on the go.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Hey man! Are you having any issues with the Mojo? More and more people are telling me about the battery losing life, etc.

[@bricedoan6695]

@@HomeStudioBasics I've had my Mojo since 2017 and so far no issues, i also own Hugo TT2.

[@user-eb5ri3nf9d]

How does the dragonfly cobalt match with the shure se 846?

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Hey man haven't paired those.

[@richardgirard8218]

BTW dac for console gaming... Sound blasterx g6 is the way to go. Deals with microphone as well. Drives my hifiman hd4xx to unbearably loud, for my ears at least, levels as well.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Yeah dude! I think it was you who might've requested that one. I'm supposed to have one coming soon. I reached out to Creative and they agreed to send one. Will keep you posted!!

[@L0nkero]

@@HomeStudioBasics Youre going to review G6? Cool! It would be nice to finally hear some unbiased honest opionions about how Creative-products compare "real" audiophile stuff. People are crapping on their stuff way too much without a good reason. I wish you would have a desktop pc so that you could review AE-5... Maybe one day.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

@@L0nkero Haha yeah I would like to build a PC someday when I have the funds. Now it's not really feasible but it is something I've thought about especially with regards to gaming. I agree about Creative. I'm really looking forward to it. Hopefully it will hurry up and get here. I guess checking my mail more than once a month would help lol. Since its' pretty small it might've been able to fit in the tiny mailbox at my apt. I will check today.

[@L0nkero]

@@HomeStudioBasics Lol, you dont want to jump into pc-gaming or computers in general, its just another upgrade hell after headphones, dac/amps etc. I do own a desktop-pc but I havent really played with pc-gear or been an hardcore gamer for a long while, nowadays I mostly use it for music, general things and some casual gaming. Admiting that youre using Creative-soundcard as a dac/amp is pretty much a guaranteed way to get spit-on in audio community at some point but I think their reputation have been cleared a little bit with their more recent releases like AE-5, G6 etc. As you probably saw from Audiosciencereviews review they are comparable to "real" dac/amps at least from a technical standpoint and as far as I can tell with my own ears in practice as well. But unfortunately streed cred and growing virtual penis are more important to some people...

[@HomeStudioBasics]

@@L0nkero Lol virtual penises. That and maximum bro fist I need to write down. I've missed out on so many opportunities for Max Bro Fist but it will make an appearance soon you're darned tootin' it will!!

[@theHerathrig]

My pc speakers are picking up a lot of electrical buzzing noise, will this DAC make the buzzing go away?

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Hey man! How do you have them connected? What model are they?

[@theHerathrig]

@@HomeStudioBasics Its a psb alpha ps1 desk speaker connect using an audio quest 3.5 mm cable.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Ah. I assume you're using unbalanced cables then. That can happen. I mean it could be worth a shot! Your PC also may be causing the issue; it's hard to say for sure. But yeah - generally I don't rely on my Laptop's 3.5mm jack for anything, and I have a Lenovo X1 Extreme! I find that PC jacks have always been kind of meh.

[@some_developer]

Do you think there is any benefit in adding a $100-200 desktop amp to one of those portable dacs (not mojo) and 6xx?

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Hey man! These 4 have plenty of power for the 6XX. That said, I used the DF Red into an ATOM and really liked it. Also used a K3 with an ATOM, DF Red + Bravo Ocean, E10K plus any amp, Cobalt + any amp, etc. The possibilities are endless with 3.5mm. I would say though that pairing them wasn't really necessary in terms of dynamics, clarity, etc. And although the Ocean as a tube hybrid will give you somewhat of a warmer, lusher sound, do keep in mind that it mostly still sounds like a solid state. For me it came down to wanting a volume knob to turn. As much as I love the Red, I prefer being able to control the vol. from the Amp rather than from my PC. Do you already have one of these? Let me know of your current situation.

[@some_developer]

​@@HomeStudioBasics I've already got 6xx with Dacport HD, but that combo sounds a bit veiled to me (though I generally prefer warmer sound), so I'm thinking if a desktop amp or dac/amp could improve the clarity, or just switch to another headphones. Looks like Chord could improve that, but on other hand some say, that Zen Dac is even better, but others say meh, Zen Dac is no good for hard-to-drive headphones. Go figure.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Hmm. Zen is mostly fine I would say. Have you thought about the JDS Objective 2??

[@some_developer]

@@HomeStudioBasics Yep, Zen and Objective 2 are actually my two top options for now. What would be the least veiled setup in your opinion: Zen, Dacport + Obj2, or probably even Zen + Obj2?

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Hmm.. I may go Zen into Objective 2. That would be a great setup as you've got plenty of power with the Objective 2, but you can also use the Zen on it's own if you're in the mood for a bit more of a musical sound as opposed to a cleaner, more sterile sound that the Objective 2 provides. Did you see my shootout? I know the ATOM Is in there but the differences between it and the O2 are fairly minimal. homestudiobasics.com/ifi-zen-vs-fiio-k5-pro-vs-jds-atom-vs-bravo-ocean/ Let me know what you think! Talk soon :)

[@amanieux]

Great review, feels honest unlike these youtubers with colored lights in the backgroud :)

[@HomeStudioBasics]

LOL. I do like me some lights but I try to keep it reasonable xD Thank you for the love!

[@gramblor1]

I thought this would be the case. I'm skeptical that even the Mojo makes a perceptible difference in sound quality. Have you used the THX 789? That's the one headphone amp I'm interested in, and I don't think it will sound any different from my Topping A30/D30 stack (modified with Burson op-amps no less).

[@L0nkero]

I have to also admit that Mojo sounds almost too good to be true... The way some people describe its sound sounds like it just has some intentional sound coloring/DSP going on and many people who have heard it have suspected it too. If I have to guess it just messes with the frequency response somehow and makes some artificial alterations to the sound via digital processing or something like that, I cant really think what else it could be. Just speculating here, Im not judging or criticizing Mojo or anyone who likes its sound but sound coloring (or whatever you want to call it) is just sound coloring and makes the sound just different, not "better" objectively speaking.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Hey man! Yeah a lot of folks have been asking me about that one and the portable version as well. Mojo is a difference and you can definitely hear it. It's warmer and does perform better across the board. Still, it does have some issues. For instance a guy just commented on my blog and said his battery after 3 years will only hold a charge for about an hour. I'd like to say that sort of just happens in general (my phone being an example), but yeah. The Mojo has come down in price but with all of this stuff, it's still a risk I guess is the main takeaway. Might make a video on this concept actually.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

@Boboiboy@93 Hey man! What did you mean by "Sound like nothing to me."

[@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.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Yeah man cobalt is good but it's not going to tame the 80e lol. I may just get something warm-ish to offset the harsh nature of the 80e. Maybe Zen or K5 Pro would be better: homestudiobasics.com/fiio-k5-pro-amp-dac-review/

[@kevchavez]

@@HomeStudioBasics Awesome man. Thanks!

[@iKaGe01]

I dropped my Dragonfly Red DAC ONCE onto concrete from about 3 foot and it dented the unit slightly which bothered me BUT it also made it so the headphone jack became loose. Brilliant. Can't really do anything about it either but I have to pretty much hold the socket to the left/right to listen to music now. USB C doesn't work all that well though on phones for music listening. Disconnects far too easily Also, not sure if it is exclusive to the Dragonfly but my Android cannot play it at the correct bit rate natively and have to use a player which only supports Tidal and a few others (with a horrible interface) and no Spotify which I prefer. Otherwise, you get a very annoying hiss/interference at low music volumes so that is pretty much unavoidable

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Hey man! So sorry to hear that. What do you mean disconnects? Music just stops playing? I will admit I mostly listen with the Fly on my PC so I don't really have those sorts of issues. So if you don't use the player then you get the hiss? Seems weird to me like that shouldn't happen. Perhaps I will get a USB-C to micro adapter and try it out with my phone. I have a phone with micro but only a Type-C OTG. I've demoed the Fly with a phone but it's really not my preferred way of listening to music unless I'm running BT and my receiver. What headphones are you using?

[@iKaGe01]

@@HomeStudioBasics Hi and thanks for the reply. Using at the moment Tin Hifi T4s. Actually changed over my entire library over to hifi Tidal so I'm giving it a proper go. I 'think' I can hear a difference the more I listen? Tested mainly last night with Tesseract - Juno, listening mainly to the cymbal hits (which are everywhere). Will have to do an A/B to know for sure. Yeah, the audio just cuts off because the cable appears to be too loose. I've cleaned the connection too to no avail. Yeah without the audio player active taking over the USB audio driver it hisses a lot with interference. To do with how Android handles USB audio. The Dragonfly upscales the signal when it should be playing as is. USB Audio Player Pro takes it over and hiss disappears. It's only a few quid but the interface as it runs its own interface could be tonnes better. In your experience, is the Dragonfly/Chord Mojo capable of taking advantage of higher end gear or would I be better off getting higher end DACs first? My thoughts tell me no as your video suggests. The headphones/ear phones are where most of the differences come from

[@HomeStudioBasics]

@@iKaGe01 Hey man! You'll be just fine with either and higher end stuff, but: what specifically did you have in mind as far as headphones?? And yes you're exactly right, the bulk of your perceived differences will come from A) source file, and B) the headphones second. Everything else is superfluous for the most part. Just did a video on this! kzbin.info/www/bejne/oYukhZ1urZeBarM Let me know how everything's going as well!

[@buzzmachinemedia]

Can I use either of the dragonflies with my NAD integrated for listening with speakers? I don’t want to clutter my office with a desktop DAC, so want to use a Dragonfly DAC in the back of my MAC, and feed it to the AUX RCA inputs of my NAD integrated amp. Will that work?

[@HomeStudioBasics]

yeah the DF Red's headphone output can also be used as a line out. They all can IIRC. I own the Red only.

[@russferrence5608]

I tried the dragonfly red with my Google pixel phone, it did not work with my phone, not enough power from my phone. Does the dragonfly dac/amp work best with certain phones? My main dacs are the Oppo ha2, and ifi nano. Also, I think I like dac/ amp that has it's own power supply. Thank you Russ

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Hey Russ! What do you mean it "didn't work."? Did it play music when plugged in? Or are you just saying it didn't get loud enough? And I love the HA-2!!! Wish I still had that one.

[@russferrence5608]

It did not play when plugged in. I tried it at Audio Advice in Raleigh. Larry said the Pixel does not have enough power to run the dragonfly. Would you buy the mojo if you already have the ha-2, thanks

[@HomeStudioBasics]

@@russferrence5608 Oh snap you're in Raleigh?! ME TOO!! Haha small world. I haven't been in Audio Advice in quite awhile. Anywho, yeah there is a marked sound difference between the HA-2 and the Mojo in my opinion. The Mojo is def still the best sounding amp/dac I've personally heard along with the Bryston BHA-1 amp that Audio Advice used to have on display. Check out my review of the Mojo. I think you will be convinced: homestudiobasics.com/chord-mojo-dac-review/ Let me know if you have questions and keep me posted!

[@russferrence5608]

Thanks, are available by phone, since we are neighbors, would love to chat Thanks Russ

[@PoulPetersen]

Install the USB audio player and you have lots of power

[@withche07]

I am rock and jazz listener on tidal hifi with sony whch700n (max 45 ohm as far as Sony says) should I buy dragonfly black or red? black is lot cheaper so I wondered difference

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Hey man! You'd be just fine with the Black I would say. Do you plan on upgrading headphones down the road?

[@withche07]

Yes in long term I plan to buy sennheiser hd600 or something on its level. But in 2 years probably. I don't have finance to do it now. Thanks if you think black is enough.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

@@withche07 Yeah for sure man. Just go with Black and save some dough. Let me know how it goes! :)

[@maurycyzych3129]

I had them both and the diffrence between red and cobalt is obvious to me.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Cool man! You're certainly entitled to your opinion :)

[@michaelgonzalez2824]

No todos escuchan igual :v

[@JM-sn5eb]

A have motherboard with realtek alc1200 chip. Will dragonfly red be better than my motherboard?

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Hey man! Not familiar with that chip unfortunately. It's worth a try. If there's no difference you can always return it. DragonFly Red is still one of my top recommendations because the Sabre chip generally does sound a bit better than most i.e. it gives you a more open, spacious feel and sounds crisper and a bit more vibrant.

[@ranggasyailendra6492]

I honestly trying to get a dac but now I'm not sure if I will. Maybe it's much better to get a dap instead or upgrade my can

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Hey man! What cans do you have?

[@ranggasyailendra6492]

@@HomeStudioBasics hi atm my only can is tfz t2. Planning to get my love or ibasso it01. Or maybe get sennheiser hd400 because they're all in same price range

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Yeah man you won't need much with the t2 as their super efficient. Do you mostly listen on PC or with a phone?

[@ranggasyailendra6492]

@@HomeStudioBasics I honestly listen to both as much. Thanks for the reply man

[@HomeStudioBasics]

My pleasure man! Have you thought about the Q1?

[@TheKogly]

I have two DACs and can't tell any difference. Some headphones I have sound different but all sound good.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Hey man! There are subtle differences in dacs but a lot of them (even the ones with different chips) sound very similar actually.

[@TranTek]

Try AudioQuest Jitter bug and Golden Gate cable i could tell the different

[@uliseshacky662]

Having a hard time thinking if the Dragonfly Red worth the investment, my upgrade it's gonna be that for maybe a long time and I wanna know if with the red i'm going to get a good result. I mean, now i've only used my headphones directly from my Huawei P Smart and a Lenovo Laptop I got and I think my cellphone actually does pretty well, it's not a very expensive phone but neither is a cheap one (usd $250), just want to be sure if the red at usd $200 is going to make a good difference.

[@uliseshacky662]

For reference, between my P Smart and the laptop, I find the smartphone not just more powerful but clearer and very full sounding, I have a small and cheap ($50 bucks) Alcatel too and yes, my untrained and non-pro/audiophile ears can tell the big difference and how bad the Alcatel is. But again, my P Smart sounds very good for me (not marvelous though ) and that worries me a bit because, either the Red won't be a good upgrade or my ears aren't made for this hobby (since I've heard some people say they Huawei Mate ## aren't good or at best just average. Btw, pretty good job Stu, night :)

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Hey man! The DragonFly Red is a safe bet because it's a simple and reliable workhorse DAC that sounds great too. No driver installs, no headache, no fuss no muss. I plug one in and I'm listening to music within seconds. Every time. You can also use it as just a DAC into a separate amp if you decide to upgrade down the road. As far as a difference between my Lenovo X1 Extreme's 3.5mm jack and the DragonFly? I wouldn't be able to say definitively because the Fly provides much more power and maxing out the volume on my laptop results in just a listenable level. It may be loudness I'm perceiving but the Fly seems fuller and more lifelike. Again, this could be simple a volume discrepancy, as the X1's sound is smooth and clear but perhaps a tad dull. I think for some people an upgrade isn't worth it because a lot of PC's and laptops have better Soundcards nowadays. Mac's especially are known for this. For me, it's def worth it to have a Fly if not for more power to drive my HD600's. What kind of Lenovo do you have? With my old T510 a DAC was also a must. If you're happy with what you've got, I don't see a reason to get a Red but it also depends on the headphones you have as well I think. What are you rocking? Have you already told me? If so I apologize.

[@uliseshacky662]

@@HomeStudioBasicsDo not worry hahah, I have an old Lenovo "ThinkPad", forgot the exact model but as I said, for me the smartphone sounds better. And yes, I have a pair of Porta Pro's, Fidelio X2 and Sennheiser HD 599, I know they're not super headphones but yet very nice. My actual gear is good for me, It's just that I wan't to know if all this audiophile thing is for me or not, maybe the Red is a good reference point, since it has been reviewed and tried for many people, and for almost the same price than my phone into a sound-dedicated product, I would expect at leats a bit better sound.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

@@uliseshacky662 Yeah man, I think you'll find a noticeable difference. Don't get me wrong. It's a fantastic product and highly recommended for a reason. If you don't like it you can always return it! I definitely think it's worth a shot. Have you always been a Lenovo guy? I absolutely love their laptops and would never dream of switching. I've had like 3 or 4, with the X1 being the best I've owned. It's a dream. Have you told me where you're located btw?

[@uliseshacky662]

@@HomeStudioBasics That's sure due to my bad english writing hah, I'm from México and no, I have owned some HP Laptops before, but that's it, never really cared much about the sound quality, but used to lean more towards sub-bass impact in very high volume with lots of Dubstep and other electronic sub-genres. Discovered a yt channel named "Audio 46 en español" where a employee called Pablo used to talk and "review" about a lot of AUDIOPHILE headphones. I already loved to listen my music in headphones but him talking about how all the Beats, Skullcandy, Bose, etc stuff was just too bad, made me inmers myself into this crazy thing and, well, add to all that shit that I really liked headphones before and gonna keep collecting them, but now with just "legends" while trying to upgrading hahaha, that's why I bought some Porta Pro and HD599 even after buying the really nice (for me) Fidelio X2.

[@richardgirard8218]

Your going to make the audiophile reviewers all butt hurt with talk like that. Oddly the mojo in Canada is far more expensive than the red. I like the gain switch but would be concerned with the 3.5mm jack issues without local support. Dragon fly red it is!

[@HomeStudioBasics]

getyarn.io/yarn-clip/86099e9a-232d-4026-b0a8-46a600f1fbd0 Lol. No but seriously. I hate that I was having that issue with the DACport as I do think it was a one off isolated case if you will. A lemon. Whatever you want to call it. Spoke with inToiT and he said he wasn't having any issues before he sent it over. In fact, I wasn't having any issues with it until recently. Strange.

[@slyspy9819]

You're funny dude and I enjoyed the review , thinking of buying Cobalt and you just blew it up !

[@HomeStudioBasics]

LOL. Just buy the Red and save some money holmes. And funny how? kzbin.info/www/bejne/r32co4atp9iAftk 😂 Nah lol. thanks man!

[@andreaaaaaaa574]

The Mojo beat the DF Red in every aspect of sound? Or maybe the Red have something that in the Mojo miss?

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Hey man yeah I really enjoyed the Mojo more. To me it is a clear sound upgrade from a lot of the cheaper stuff. :) homestudiobasics.com/chord-mojo-dac-review/ That may help you pull the trigger. Someone I know from Instagram just got one and he loves it.

[@adrianmorrish8494]

Didn’t hear where said the mw output of the dragonfly, you said already covered?

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Hey man! 2.1V which is plenty. I believe that comes out to around 400mW if I'm not mistaken.

[@adrianmorrish8494]

@@HomeStudioBasics Ah OK I thought the voltage rms was seperateto the mw/w power output as voktage increases on most amps as impedence does but mw/w decreases. I think I have misunderstood something fundamental here

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Maybe I have. I'd have to look into that a bit more. Thank you!

[@adrianmorrish8494]

@@HomeStudioBasics so I notice amps put out move voltage at higher impedance and I believe that means the amperage ie number of amps increase, as this is the force of the outage an what powers the drivers thus voltage and amps is important rather than watts output only for low sensitivity headphones. It’s no good I am going to have to go learn basic electrical power theory. I only wanted to listen to music when I started this😳🥵 audio lark 😂

[@quicogil4565]

I got the Cobalt on sale for 199€, it’s arriving today or tomorrow

[@jeofthevirtuoussand]

Can the Dragonfly red power the hifiman sundara ?

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Hey there! Yeah! You'll be just fine. DF Red can power most anything. 2.1V is plenty :) Consider snagging one from the blog. The article is pretty funny too, or so I'm told XD homestudiobasics.com/audioquest-dragonfly-red-vs-cobalt-vs-chord-mojo/

[@nonenothing4412]

a drop of sanity in a sea of bullshit where everyone screams that his dacc is the biggest I hope you keep growing

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Same man. Growing in a way where I won't lose my integrity. You can def help by sharing and all that as well. :)

[@nonenothing4412]

@@HomeStudioBasics my dude, what's funny is that this exact comment is shedoubahnned. i see it only when checking your reply. free thinkers like you aren't beneficial to da seestam, thus there's no need for them to make you big. i told all my audio friends about your work and they are subbed since then. all you can rely on is people running their mouth about you.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

@@nonenothing4412 You're wise beyond your years friend. Thanks for spreading the word my man. This year I'm going to really go all in on this stuff (my blog/channel, etc.)

[@nonenothing4412]

@@HomeStudioBasics i wrote a reply to HSB page on Facebook.

[@nishantranabliss]

Completely agree on red and cobalt, have both of them, not sure what the difference, may be we need to try very hard to find the difference, but then we are here to listen to song enjoy it. infact built is better in Red, Cobalt is more shaky and the cover on side also came out which I had to glue back, worth upgrade ? No.. Buy RED without thinking twice, and when compared to black Red is definitely better.

[@gazzabazzazza]

I talk to my cats too (far too much to be healthy). Not sure whether i serenade them though

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Hahah! I actually think it's extremely healthy to talk to your cat as much as possible, given that I'm way happier with him around. I think he understands me. He talks to me a lot too. We have actual conversations. He's always been really chill and laid back, but just recently he's really opened his heart to me more. He's been coming around for almost 2 years. At first he was nice, but perhaps a little distant. He'd let me pick him up, but would start to squirm a little bit after maybe 10 seconds. As if to say: "You can pick me up and it's cool, but don't hold me for too long. Just a couple of pets and then put me back down. Thank you." Now when I pick him up, he loves it. He doesn't give me those signals anymore and let's me hold him for as long as I want. I still give him the respect of putting him back down because I don't want to over stay my welcome. So he purrs and looks at me while I pet him. He's the best! Also he gave me the slow eye blink recently in the other How to measure your DAC video, right at the beginning. Did you notice that? I had that Petty song stuck in my head from all the hours of demoing the DACs and just unleashed it on him. That was totally unplanned. Lol. Did you see my other response on that thing we were talking about (politics).

[@gazzabazzazza]

@@HomeStudioBasics well you will no longer be .ape but cat daddy No i missed the politics one

[@HomeStudioBasics]

@@gazzabazzazza I want to get my own cat so when Stan comes over he'll have a friend to play with.

[@gazzabazzazza]

@@HomeStudioBasics awesome. Cats are good 🐈🐈🐈

[@HomeStudioBasics]

@@gazzabazzazza Cats are life. Many meow. Such cat.

[@bigttoe101]

Thanks again great vid! You saved me a bill was going to get the cobalt but I went with the red your the man! 🤣

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Yes! Yes! That's what we're all about here at HomeStudioBasics. Not shilling products. Telling the truth. LOL. 😂 Saving people money, one overhyped product at a time. Lmao.

[@shovon64]

Does the Red hiss with sensitive IEM?

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Hey man I'm not too sure about that as I don't use IEM's much at all. I believe I did use the HIFIMAN RE600 and 400 with it and it was fine, but that was awhile ago. Have you been reading about that specific issue?

[@shovon64]

@@HomeStudioBasics My IEM is a bit sensitive, that's why I'm asking. But I haven't read about this issue on the internet.

[@humorss]

you can tell dragonfly do some sort of boot up, it takes over 5 seconds for the thing to be ready up on plug in.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Mine is ready immediately!

[@christianklauder7925]

How are the grandkids?

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Haha hey man! They are doing fine, thanks for asking! It was a nice day today so we went to the pool and hung out. :)

[@svmrapper9959]

release that track which was in the end tho

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Yeah man for sure! Maybe I will put some tracks out on Friday's or something.

[@tyroneslothdrop9155]

The Amazon reviews for the Chord Mojo seem to suggest poor reliability.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Hey man! Yes I have heard about some issues with the Mojo, namely the battery doesn't hold a charge after about a year or so. What else have you heard? I have never owned one of these, only demoed on many occasions and it's always worked fine for me.

[@tyroneslothdrop9155]

@@HomeStudioBasics The top-rated review on Amazon states that warranties are not valid unless you live in the U.K., which is a deal breaker for something that costs $500 dollars.

[@DJR5280]

Tyrone Slothdrop That’s not true. There’s Chord authorized repair centers here. I used one for my Mojo. I’m in Denver and the service center I used was in Los Angeles, yes this was for warranty work.

[@tyroneslothdrop9155]

@@DJR5280 Good to know. Does your unit get uncomfortably hot? That is one of the major complaints I have heard.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Yeah the Mojo does get hot but when I spoke to a rep at Audio Advice they said it was designed that way. It personally didn't bother me too much as I can use the Mojo for when I get a tummy ache. :)

[@SneakySteevy]

Why he didnt tested blinded? Its the ultimate test ! He is honnest, good and credible but the fact that he is all that doesnt mean he is right.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

I'm not always right, but I'm never wrong. 😂

[@GK-vj9dz]

terrapin station as your reference album? that was your first mistake. :) just kidding. i've never auditioned the mojo, but it still seems to be the gold standard in portable dacs. i'm good with the red, for computer to iem (tin audio t2) listening. just enjoy the tunes.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Hey man! Yeah! I demoed a lot of tracks with both. Terrapin Station and Estimated Prophet are both songs I've heard a thousand times so it made it easier to determine that there were little to no differences in the way each portrayed the music :) Yeah the Mojo is still in the top 2 for me (Bryston BHA-1 being the other).

[@BigChungusthe3rd]

By this logic, I'm gonna buy the dragonfly black bro thanks for saving me munnies

[@HomeStudioBasics]

WOOP WOOP!! THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT!! Thank you my friend! Consider purchasing from my blog as I do get a small kick back! homestudiobasics.com/audioquest-dragonfly-red-vs-cobalt-vs-chord-mojo/ Keep me posted! Maximum Bro Fist 👊

[@BigChungusthe3rd]

@@HomeStudioBasics lol definitely will do, serious question though do you think there's a big difference between the red and black?

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Sure! The Black had the ESS Sabre 9010 vs. the 9016 for the Red. *Big* difference? Not really. The DF Red has more power which tends to throw people off because they don't have the volume calibrated correctly. Is there *some* sort of difference? Yeah. But it's not enough for me to get my panties in a twist over, similar to the Cobalt vs. Red. There was a minuscule difference between those as well, almost negligible. That said, I still mostly recommend the Red to people because it has more power and more power is always better LOL. If you don't need that power, go with the Black! Nothing wrong with it. I didn't ask you what you were trying to drive though? Shame on me haha. Check the joint: homestudiobasics.com/audioquest-dragonfly-black-vs-red-great-sound-on-the-fly/

[@BigChungusthe3rd]

@@HomeStudioBasics thanks for the link to your review! It seems like there's a lot of chifi dongles that seem to be able to match at least the Reds so I'll be looking into those for now. Want to drive all my dynamic headphones basically 😂. Don't own any planars yet

[@paul87buick]

watch video below

[@gullibleskeptic3237]

The mojo is indeed like you describe allthough for me it was also a little bit too claustrofobic and warm especialy with my hd600 which allready has a small soundstage. Switching to the red or cobalt was a breath of fresh air in a sense. The sound itself was amazing on the mojo though. Very nice liquid and full bodied vocals.

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Yeah! I always recommend the Red for exactly those reasons! What's funny is that some people would tell you it's too bright and harsh haha. I can kind of see the bright part I guess, but for me it's a breath of fresh air like you said. I think having both would be cool. I just found the Mojo to present the music so realistic it was almost overwhelming for me. I personally didn't get the claustrophobic vibe but I will have to demo one again. It would be really interesting to revisit that thing.

[@vpconcepts9838]

Although I enjoyed the production & humor in this video immensely, I certainly don't agree that the red sounds the same as the cobalt. I had the opportunity to A/B/C the black, red, & cobalt before buying them and the blue had much better highs and more scale than the other 2. This certainly wasn't my mind talking me into it, because I wanted to save $100 and I love the color red. It's also ok that you didn't hear a difference....just don't tell the rest of us we don't. 👌🎼✨

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Hey man! Thank you for your kind words on the video! My questions: What do you mean by "better highs"? Could you extrapolate on that, and: Perhaps that had less to do with the dac and more with the source file/recording/genre, etc.?? DACS themselves have very little bearing on how the song is going to sound in reality. It's a basic sound engineering principle. The quality of a track (i.e. your perception of how good or bad it is) depends largely on how it was A) Recorded, B) How it was mixed down and C) How it was mastered. As a musician and producer for many years, I know that concept very well. This is in large part why modern music sounds much better than albums of the past. The DAC is very low down on the list of priorities in terms of how it's going to portray something that's already largely set in stone. My other question is what do you mean by, "It has more scale."? Perhaps you could elaborate on that as well. Thanks for stopping by!

[@vpconcepts9838]

@@HomeStudioBasics Same song, same device, same headphones, same cable . A/B/C one after the other back to back with black, red, cobalt. I could spit out adjectives all day of what I perceived and the nay sayers would yell "snake oil!" But I'm not here to approve or disapprove of someone's results for themselves. My personal findings were... The black had digital glare. The red sounded less digital and more dynamic, but the instrumental textures still sounded like a reproduction. The cobalt sounded more open and had more scale and presentation that reached out past the headphones. The highs were much more extended and smoother sounding up top. The pluck of the upright base on each string had better bass tones and you could hear textures & timber of the instrument which gave them a much more analog presentation. I was a musician growing up & have an ear for live music, so maybe this helps in my assessing electronics, I don't know. What I do know is I bit my lip & shed a tear as I shelled out another $100 for the better sounding device. You are correct in that a DAC alone does not change the sound, it has everything to do with the electronics build around it and how it's implemented. The new cobalt for sure has a new chipset and noise canceling features the other 2 don't have. This could be the reason why I hear the difference. Best of luck to your channel! 👌🎼✨

[@tedlovejesus]

I owned a Dacport lite, its quite similar to dacport HD, for the bad part, build seems not robust, But the sound.... oh my god, if you pair everything right, BOOM Need the right power, and USB cable and setup, i am not kidding, iPad (usb to a powered hub to dacport) > oneplus android phone (otg to hub to dacport) > computer Aukey usb cable similar to oneplus cable >>>>>>> cheap USB cables Class A amp just sounds incredible

[@HomeStudioBasics]

Thanks for the suggestion man!