AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt
The AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt Portable USB DAC takes the already excellent performance of the DragonFly Red and moves it to the next level. If you listen to your music from any digital source and want the best sound from your computer, laptop or portable device, then the DragonFly Cobalt is the new standard.
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.
Cobalt's Precedent-Setting Performance Is Made Possible By Multiple Significant Upgrades:
- 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.
AudioQuest, Gordon Rankin: A Beautiful Partnership: Like all previous DragonFly models, 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 naturally expressive sound that is always emotionally engaging and never fatiguing—a beautiful combination of warmth and detail that is equally exciting and soothing.
Killing The Noise: In Cobalt, AudioQuest has taken what they've learnt from their recent research and development in noise dissipation to employ power-supply filtering specifically designed to dramatically reduce the increasingly prevalent noise from Wi-Fi, 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 & 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 AudioQuests'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 technology itself evolves, thereby delivering musical pleasure for many years to come. The 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. Click here to download the latest Device Manager available for your operating system.
Beautiful Sound In A Smaller Package ... Now With A Tail: 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.
The Rest Of The DragonFly Fleet: DragonFlys Black And Red: While the original DragonFly created a new category of portable DAC, its USB power draw made it compatible with computers only. Black and Red answered the call of music lovers everywhere for DragonFlys that could be used with Apple iOS mobile devices and Android smartphones and tablets. These DACs proved for once and for all that convenience and performance need no longer be mutually exclusive.
All current-production DragonFly models incorporate 32-bit ESS Sabre DAC chips. These DAC chips are remarkably powerful and sophisticated, yet AudioQuest has intentionally limited DragonFly's processing capabilities to 24-bit/96kHz resolution. This makes using DragonFly as simple as it's always been: All models are fully compatible with PCs without having to download and install new drivers. Most importantly, DragonFly is designed to honour the music you already own and love. Whether you're listening to Spotify, YouTube, Tidal, ripped CDs, or state-of-the-art high-resolution files, DragonFly will deliver a more emotionally compelling and enjoyable experience.
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 MQA Renderers, DragonFlys Black, Red, and Cobalt complete the unfolding process, allowing music lovers to enjoy a wider selection of high-res music. Click here to learn more about how MQA works.
AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt Reviews
All of which convinced me that the DragonFly Cobalt succeeds in not one but two ways. First, it represents a worthy, evolutionary upgrade to the Red version. And second, it's also, quite simply, one of the best headphone amp/DACs money can buy. At the price, the DragonFly Cobalt remains perhaps the greatest bargain in all of audio. Let's hope AudioQuest never runs out of colors. The Absolute Sound
"AudioQuest's thumb-drivesized DragonFly series has been wildly successful - and for good reason. Inside this diminutive, plug-and-play package resides both a hi-res DAC (up to 96/24) and a surprisingly good headphone amp. Now the Black and Red models, which remain in the line, are joined by a new flagship, the Cobalt, and it's the best DragonFly yet. Cobalt sports upgraded DAC, processor, and USB receiver chips, as well as new jitter-reduction technology. AudioQuest also revised the digital filter. While preserving what made the previous DragonFlies such winners - plug-and-play installation, analog volume control, full MQA decoding, and, most importantly, a thoroughly enjoyable listening experience - Cobalt improves upon their sonics in subtle but meaningful ways." The Absolute Sound Editors' Choice Awards 2023
What Hi-Fi? gave the AudioQuest Dragonfly Cobalt its Best Budget Portable Headphone Amplifier Award 2024 and had to say this about the Dragonfly Cobalt.
"Audioquest's top-range DragonFly USB DAC/headphone amplifier is an excellent performer for phones and laptops.
The multi-Award-winning Cobalt improves on the company's already talented and more affordable DragonFly Red by offering even better clarity and sonic precision. Its excellent transparency means that the Cobalt reveals shortcomings in the source and recordings that others in the family don't, so you might have to watch those lower-quality recordings. But give it a good signal and it's capable enough to give Chord's mighty Mojo a hard time – and that's something not many headphone amps can claim.
It shares many of the same features as the DragonFly Red, including the 2.1v headphone output, bit-perfect digital volume control and MQA renderer. But there are also numerous upgrades, like the more advanced DAC chip, delivering a clearer, more natural sound, and a new microprocessor which increases processing speed by 33 per cent. Plus improved power supply filtering (increasing immunity to wi-fi, Bluetooth and cellular noise), a 10 per cent smaller enclosure, and included DragonTail USB-A (female) to USB-C (male) adaptor for use with the growing number of electronics with connectivity for the latter.
Want a more affordable portable/desktop USB option? We simply recommend looking further down the DragonFly line to the cheaper Red or cheaper still Black model – both are excellent for the money." What Hi-Fi?
Our Take
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 Deezer and stream high-res audio from Tidal. No matter the choice of musical pleasure, DragonFly delivers beautiful sound, unravelling the emotional expression and nuance that makes music and movies so enjoyable.
Please Note: In our experience none of the Dragonfly DACs sound at their best straight out of the box. They normally need a minimum of 20 hours use to start revealing their potential and up to 200 hours before they sound their best.
Main Features & Specifications
- USB Stick-Sized Digital-to-Analogue Converter & Headphone Amplifier (Includes a form-fitting DragonTail female USB-A to male USB-C Adaptor)
- Plays all music files: MP3 to high-res
- Compatible with Apple and Windows PCs, as well as iOS and Android mobile devices (requires Apple Camera Adapter or Made for Android/OTG adaptor)
- Variable output drives Headphones directly
- Fixed output feeds Preamp or AV Receiver
- Asynchronous transfer ensures digital timing integrity
- High output (2.1 volts) drives almost all headphones, including power hungry models
- ESS Sabre 9601 Headphone Amplifier
- ESS ES9038Q2M DAC with minimum-phase slow roll-off filter for more natural sound
- Microchip PIC32MX274 Microcontroller reduces current draw and increases processing speed by 33% over DragonFlys Black and Red
- 64-position, 64-bit, bit-perfect digital volume control
- Dimensions (WxHxL): 19 x 12 x 57mm
- Manufacturer's Warranty: 1 Year
Note: Features & Specifications Subject To Change Without Notice. E&OE.