![]() The little DragonFly light turns purple when you’re listening to and MQA file, and it sounds terrific. The DragonFly Cobalt can happily handle it. It promises high-res sound in a manageable streaming package, but the downside is that it requires special hardware to actually listen to. MQA, if you didn’t know, is a file type used on Tidal, which you can read more about here. ![]() One thing we really like about the DragonFly Cobalt is that it has an internal MQA renderer. Who knew such a simple plug-and-play device could get this complex? Our take: just play files at 44.1 kHz. “For instance, a 192 kHz file should be played at 96 kHz (i.e. “Files should be played at a rate mathematically related to their native resolution,” lectures the manual. If you want to play anything above 96 kHz, you have to do a little math, which is something everybody wants to hear. The Cobalt, according to AudioQuest, actually produces the best results with a 44.1 kHz output. The challenge is to identify and implement the hardware that maintains all of DragonFly’s functionality and outstanding performance, while still drawing less than the 100ma limit of mobile devices.) This is not something that can be revised via a firmware upgrade, but would require a revision in hardware. ( Update: AudioQuest's Stephen Mejias told us, "All models are inherently and intentionally limited to resolutions of 24-bit/96kHz. While we do wish it could take sample rates of a higher magnitude, the upside is that the ceiling makes it compatible with any system, without the need for additional drivers. The sweet little DragonFly logo on the top of the Cobalt lights up a different color depending on what file type you’re playing - and AudioQuest have designed it to take just about anything up to 96 kHz. ![]() We have to get into some numbers now, which we apologize for. As portable DACs go, it’s not just one of the best out there, it’s one of the best ever made. For a simple USB stick, with no controls whatsoever, it’s astounding just how many options you get. We are also surprised by how much functionality it offers and how subtle the audio can be. Nothing else this small sounds this good. AudioQuest have polished the Cobalt to a mirror shine, and in terms of pure sound quality, they retain their crown. We keep coming back to the word clean, and with good reason. The Cobalt’s sound felt significantly cleaner and more realistic than both, and in the case of the headphone output, that goes double. We tested the DragonFly Cobalt both against our laptop’s headphone output and a Bluetooth-based DAC, the Bluewave GET ( full review here). You’d have to perform specific tests to measure the noise levels - not something we have the budget or expertise for - but we believe we could hear the difference. AudioQuest claim they’ve tweaked the internal circuitry to reduce interference from things like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, as well as electrical noise. Part of this precision is due to noise reduction. With genres that demand precision, like heavy metal, it works like a charm. The sound of the Cobalt is neutral without being demanding, and clean without being boring. It reminded us of the audio quality we got from the significantly more expensive iFi Audio xDSD ( full review here). No matter what file type we put through the Cobalt, it rendered it in exquisite detail. If there’s one thing we can say about it, it’s that the resulting sound is ridiculously precise. The Cobalt boasts a new Digital-to-Analog Converter chip (an ESS ES9038Q2M, for those of you who are taking notes at home). If you’re looking for clarity and neutrality in your music, with pinpoint-precise timing and regimented dynamics, then the Cobalt is an excellent choice. And this is doubly true if you’re interested in hearing as much detail as possible. If you can afford the substantial price tag ($299), it’s a worthy investment. It’s a single USB stick solution that will make a dramatic difference to your audio. The AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt is arguably one of the best ways to boost the sound quality of your phone, tablet, or laptop. To see how it stacks up, check out our list of the best DACs. But for $100 more, does it still manage to stand above the models before it? In this review, we break down the DragonFly Cobalt’s sound, design, packaging and accessories, specs and more. The DragonFly Cobalt is the latest version, which is an upgrade on the previous Red model. The technology remains revolutionary: a tiny USB stick that matches the quality of much larger headphone amp/DAC combinations. It’s impossible to overstate the impact of AudioQuest’s DragonFly range on the audio world.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |