AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt

AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt USB Stick DAC

Please Note: a specially designed form-fitting DragonTail USB C Adapter is included in the box with the DragonFly Cobalt.

DragonFly Cobalt is a portable, plug-and-play USB DAC (digital-to-analog converter), preamp, and headphone amp that delivers far cleaner, clearer, more naturally beautiful sound to headphones, powered speakers, or complete audio systems. With an attractive enclosure whose overall size (2.26” x 0.73” x 0.47”) and shape match that of a USB thumb drive, DragonFly easily connects to laptops, tablets, and smartphones, either directly or with an appropriate USB cable, such as AudioQuest’s high-performance USB-C DragonTail (included with the DragonFly Cobalt). Plays all file formats/soundtracks: MP3, MQA, high-res, etc. 2.1-volt output easily drives most headphones. Compatible with Mac and Window computers, Android and iOS devices.

Please Note: the DragonFly Cobalt has a ‘Bit Perfect Digital Volume Control’ which means that within the DragonFly Cobalt, 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.

Features

• New, more advanced ESS ES9038Q2M DAC chip with a minimum-phase slow roll-off filter for more natural sound
• Microchip’s superb PIC32MX274 microprocessor draws less current and increases processing speed by 33%
• Improved power-supply filtering that specifically increases immunity to WiFi, Bluetooth, and cellular noise
• Includes a form-fitting DragonTail female USB-A to male USB-C Adaptor (All DragonTails use AQ’s Carbon-level USB cable)

DragonFly Cobalt, AudioQuest's new flagship DAC, takes what music lovers around the world have come to expect from the multi-award-winning DragonFly family— naturally beautiful, seductive sound— and strips away fuzz and fog that weren’t even noticeable until Cobalt removed them.

How is this possible? Like the critically acclaimed DragonFly Red, Cobalt has the robust 2.1-volt output to drive almost any headphone, uses a bit-perfect digital volume control for outstanding signal-to-noise ratio, enables seamless compatibility with Apple and Android devices, and is an exceptionally competent and affordable MQA Renderer.

Of course, Cobalt uses Gordon Rankin’s precedent-setting StreamLength®asynchronous-transfer USB code. Further, in Gordon’s monoClock® technology, a single ultra-low-jitter clock generated from the ESS ES9038Q2M DAC chip runs the ESS chip functions as well as all microcontroller functions. This superior clock enables DragonFly Cobalt to provide greater resolution and clarity than DACs with multiple clocks.

Why the "Slow Roll...?"

Cobalt employs ESS's new flagship ES9038Q2M DAC chip. While the chips used in DragonFlys Black and Red are unbeatable for the price, the minimum-phase slow roll-off filter in the 9038 results in a naturally expressive sound that is always emotionally engaging and never fatiguing— a beautiful combination of warmth and detail that we find equally exciting and soothing.

Killing the Noise

In Cobalt, AudioQuest has taken what they learned from their recent research and development in noise dissipation to employ power-supply filtering specifically designed to dramatically reduce the increasingly prevalent noise from WiFi, Bluetooth, and cellular signals. Successfully combating this noise is absolutely crucial to the preservation of the lowest-level musical details, particularly when it comes to high-res audio— and especially when applied to a portable-audio device such as DragonFly.

Bit-Perfect Volume Control and 2.1-Volt Output

Cobalt features the same ESS Sabre 9601 headphone amp and bit-perfect volume control that give DragonFly Red its unique combination of power and grip over the music. This solution ensures maximum fidelity, thrilling dynamic contrast, and excellent signal-to-noise ratio. The 2.1-volt output makes Cobalt and Red compatible with a wide range of headphones, including power-hungry, low-efficiency models.

Firmware Upgradeable

DragonFlys Black, Red, and Cobalt are firmware upgradeable via AudioQuest's free Desktop Device Manager. In today's fast-paced digital world, longevity in a hi-fi component is increasingly rare— at any price. AudioQuest believes that today's digital devices should evolve as the technology itself evolves, thereby delivering musical pleasure for many years to come. Their Desktop Device Manager will also allow you to identify your DragonFly's serial number and software version to ensure that the device is up to date.

Stream Tidal Masters Everywhere

DragonFlys Black, Red, and Cobalt support Tidal Masters (MQA) playback from iPhones and Android smartphones. MQA's technology folds high-resolution files into smaller files that can be streamed on the go. As for MQA Renderers, DragonFlys Black, Red, and Cobalt complete the unfolding process, allowing music lovers to enjoy a wider selection of high-res music.

All this goodness is packed into a sleek new case that measures just 57.5mm x 18.6mm x 11.9mm, making the latest DragonFly 10% smaller and even a bit more pocket-friendly. Finally, to easily accommodate the increasing number of electronic devices that feature USB-C ports, DragonFly Cobalt comes with AudioQuest's USB-A to USB-C adaptor.

Whatever music turns you on, wherever you are, an AudioQuest DragonFly USB DAC delivers inspiring, dynamic, and beautiful sound to earbuds, headphones, powered speakers, or complete audio systems.

With a DragonFly, music appreciation and exploration are limitless: Plug into an Apple or Windows® computer or connect to an iOS® or Android mobile device. Play YouTube or Vimeo videos. Go hunting on Bandcamp or SoundCloud. Explore playlists on Spotify or Pandora. Stream high-res audio from Tidal or Qobuz. No matter the choice of musical pleasure, DragonFly delivers beautiful sound, unravelling the emotional expression and nuance that makes music and movies so enjoyable.

Specification :

• Sample rates supported (LED indicator color code): 44.1kHz (Green), 48kHz (Blue), 88.2kHz (Amber), 96kHz (White), MQA (Purple)
• Please Note, the sample rate LED indicators differ from the supplied handbook. 96kHz is now a white coloured light that appears as a light shade of blue.
• Volume Control: 64-position, 64-bit, bit-perfect
• Output voltage: 2.1
• Headphone Amp: ESS Sabre 9601
• DAC Chip: ESS ES9038Q2M with minimum-phase slow roll-off filter for more natural sound
• Microcontroller: Microchip PIC32MX274 reduces current draw and increases processing speed by 33% over DragonFlys Black and Red
• Dimensions: 12mm H x 19mm W by 57mm L
• Dragontail USB C Adapter included

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.