AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt USB Stick DAC
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). 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.
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.
Technical Specifications:-
•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