AudioQuest DragonFly Red

AudioQuest DragonFly Red USB Stick DAC

Hard to believe! It’s been almost four years since the original DragonFly (v1.0) changed the world’s concept of what a DAC could and should be. At only £215, but with expensive component-quality performance, DragonFly was hailed around the world as the perfect introduction to the pleasures of high-performance audio. A year and half later, DragonFly rocked the audio world again when we introduced the updated v1.2 for only £129. The sound was simply a little cleaner, a little better controlled, and more relaxed unequivocally better. And, the new price helped bring better-sounding music to even more people. Now, AudioQuest is truly pleased to introduce two dramatic steps forward two new DragonFlys with unprecedented audio quality and even higher performance-to-cost ratios and, drum roll, they work with Apple and Android™ phones!

Please Note: the DragonFly Red has a ‘Bit Perfect Digital Volume Control’ which means that within the DragonFly Red, it has its own internal volume control which by default is set to 50%. To control this volume, AudioQuest have recommended using an app called ‘USB Audio Player Pro’ which has a Software Volume Control built in to increase the DragonFly’s internal volume. There is a free trial for this app which can be downloaded HERE.

From the day that the original DragonFly came out, AudioQuest got requests for a Dragon-Fly-quality DAC to use with smartphones. Finally, thanks to newly available parts, power draw is now well within what any phone will authorize.

AudioQuest have been busy for years making this new generation of DragonFlys possible. AudioQuest worked alongside Microchip Technology to develop a new high-performance, full-speed USB microcontroller (a DAC’s input processor) that delivers improved signal-to-noise ratio and significantly lower power consumption. Drawing 77% less current than the DragonFly v1.2’s microcontroller, the new Microchip MX microcontroller enables true compatibility with Apple and Android smartphones and tablets. For use with Apple iOS devices, Apple’s Lightning-to-USB Camera Adaptor is required; for use with Android devices, a Made for Android (OTG) adaptor, such as there DragonTail USB Adaptor For Android Devices, is required.

They hesitate to brag about specific electronic parts in the DragonFlys because the implementation of those parts is as crucial as their quality. Please don’t make the mistake of thinking that DACs with the same microcontroller or primary processor all sound alike! Depending on the circuit design, control of noise, power supply regulation, quality of the many passive parts, etc., a supposedly “lesser" DAC chip can easily outperform a “better” DAC chip in a different DAC.

Also, as with cameras and their previous race to have more pixels than the other guy, playing the numbers game can distract and deceive. While the DAC chips in both the Black and Red DragonFlys have great capability, they have chosen to limit DragonFly Red and Black processing to 24-bit/96kHz. This makes using the DragonFlys as simple as it’s always been, fully compatible with PCs, etc., without having to download and install new drivers. Though maybe more importantly, faster processing can mean more noise, so while playing 24/192 files with some of the best component DACs does offer sonic advantages, many DACs actually sound better when the computer down-samples a 24/192 file to 24/96 before sending the data to the DAC. Their point is that AudioQuest plays a music-quality game first and foremost. DragonFlys are designed to be the-best-theycan-be Emotional Transportation for your music, whether Spotify, YouTube videos, Tidal, ripped CDs, or state-ofthe-art Hi-Res files.

The new DragonFly models also incorporate improved 32-bit ESS Sabre DAC chips the 9010 in Black and the higher-performance 9016 in Red both of which employ minimum-phase filtering for naturally detailed, more authentic sound. While DragonFly Black uses the same high-quality headphone amp and analog volume control found in the DragonFly 1.2, DragonFly Red includes the latest ESS headphone amp and a bit-perfect digital volume control that resides on the 9016 DAC chip itself a sophisticated implementation that ensures maximum fidelity, dynamic contrast, and signal to-noise ratio.

The earlier DragonFlys and the Black feature an analog volume control because that’s a better-sounding approach than most digital volume controls, which cut off bits in order to reduce the volume. However, when a digital volume control, as in the new DragonFly Red, doesn’t compromise the signal, doesn’t reduce finesse and subtlety and low-level detail, then a bit-perfect digital volume control is superior. Once more, it’s not about a particular part or sample rate or buzz word it’s about honoring the quality of the resulting sound above all else.

DragonFly Black outputs 1.2 volts enough power to capably drive all preamplifier input circuits and all reasonably efficient headphones. Meanwhile, with its higher 2.1-volt output, DragonFly Red is compatible with an even wider range of headphones, including power-hungry, low-efficiency models. For reference, DragonFly 1.0 and 1.2 featured 1.8-volt output.

The difference in maximum output between DF Black and DF Red is essentially irrelevant with their NightHawk headphones, as they can be easily driven by either model, but Red’s higher output is an important advantage with some of the more inefficient headphones on the market. However, the difference in sound quality between the two new models is always meaningful, and is important whether feeding headphones or the Aux input of an audio system. At the same volume, Red has much more “torque,” “grip,” and “muscle” than Black. Red simply sounds cleaner and clearer overall, enabling a larger soundstage with each instrument or voice more nearly in its own space.

The new DragonFlys are software upgradeable through complimentary Windows and OS X desktop applications. As new developments arise in music player applications, streaming protocols, or other associated software, DragonFly users will be able to incorporate those updates into their existing devices.

Specification :

• Play all music files: MP3 to high-res
• Compatible with Apple and Windows PCs, as well as iOS and Android devices (requires Apple Camera Adapter or Made for Android/OTG adaptor)
• Asynchronous Class 1 USB data transfer using the Streamlength™ protocol
• Fixed output feeds preamp or AV receiver
• High output (2.1 volts) drives almost all headphones, including power-hungry models
• 32-bit ESS 9016 DAC with minimum-phase filter
• Bit-perfect digital volume control

About AudioQuest

AudioQuest has been the largest cable supplier to the high-end specialist market for many years. AudioQuest is sold in several hundred outlets in the US and in over sixty countries. Bill Lowe (Founder) is especially pleased that this success has been possible despite his insistence that the foundation of the company, and the foundation of AudioQuest marketing, must be the performance of the product. In the audio world, many professionals have learned that it is not always convenient to listen to the products they sell … they might learn something they don’t want to know! Bill has always understood the challenge of basing the existence of AudioQuest on the performance of the product. However, to Bill, this is the only reasonable way to do business and the only acceptable way to combine his passion for music (and all things high performance), with his need to make a living.