12/31/2023 0 Comments Audioquest dragonfly cobalt best price![]() Here again, we’ve optimized the volume control to ensure maximum resolution and the highest sound quality, regardless of volume setting. What do you get for the extra coin All three DragonFlys feature Gordon Rankin's StreamLength asynchronous USB code, which allows the DAC chip to control the conversion timing of the samples fed via the USB bus, reducing word-clock jitter. It works similarly: With DragonFly Red/Cobalt connected to a PC or mobile device, adjusting the host’s system volume control will, through proxy, control the DragonFly’s onboard volume. costs 299.95 compared with 199.95 for the DragonFly Red and 99.95 for the Black. ![]() In DragonFly Red and Cobalt, we were able to employ a highly sophisticated 64-step, 64-bit, bit-perfect digital volume control. From its description at the Audioquest site: But even if that were to occur (and I suspect it would not occur) you could reduce the output voltage of the Dragonfly as necessary via its internal volume control. (The gain of the Marantz can be calculated from its specs to be about 40 db, which is a bit higher than average for an integrated amp). Plus the maximum sample rate supported is a relatively low 24-bit/96kHz, although native MQA decoding is supported. And it must be said, it is a bit of a head scratcher at first as there appears to be no difference between it and the Black, which is 180 cheaper. If you run the software volume control(s) in the laptop at max you **might** find yourself using the Marantz’ volume control at undesirably low settings, though, depending on the efficiency of your speakers and other variables. The Cobalt is designed to augment the existing Black and Red (HFC 414) members of AudioQuest’s DragonFly family of DACs. I agree with Miller that clipping will not be an issue. Would anyone like to suggest a better DAC for me under my price ceiling? It occurs to me that with a DAC that has a built in amp feeding my preamp, that is inserting an extra amplification stage I don't need. The Dragonfly is a headphone amp and maybe it is just not right for feeding an integrated amp or pre-amp. It sounds like 2.1V input would be too much for it, but I don't know about this stuff. The manual doesn't give a peak sensitivity. ![]() The amp is a Marantz PM6004 and the input sensitivity is 200 mV/20 kOhms. Is that going to be suitable for feeding my amp line in or would there be clipping? Price has always been an attractive feature of AudioQuest’s DragonFly DACs, but the flagship Cobalt justifies its heftier tag. I can spend up to £300 (about $370) on a new DAC and I am thinking about getting an Audioquest Cobalt. I don't know what this Dragonfly's output voltage is (but V1.2 is 1.8V peak). The real breakthrough came with the introduction in 2016 of the DragonFly Black (99) and DragonFly Red (199). I do all my listening using a laptop into an old Audioquest Dragonfly V1.0 from 2012 and that directly feeds my integrated amplifier preamp. I just upgraded my speakers and now I think I would like to get a better DAC. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |