AudioQuest - DragonFly Cobalt
Portable DAC & AmpGET 18% GST INPUT
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Browse EMI Plans
Low Cost EMI Options through Credit Cards
ICICI Bank
3
Low Cost EMI
₹ 10,264
₹ 803
₹ 647
6
Low Cost EMI
₹ 5,234
₹ 1,414
₹ 1,144
9
15.99%
₹ 3,558
₹ 2,033
12
15.99%
₹ 2,721
₹ 2,661
18
15.99%
₹ 1,885
₹ 3,939
24
15.99%
₹ 1,468
₹ 5,248
HDFC Bank
3
Low Cost EMI
₹ 10,264
₹ 803
₹ 647
6
Low Cost EMI
₹ 5,234
₹ 1,415
₹ 1,144
9
16%
₹ 3,558
₹ 2,035
12
16%
₹ 2,721
₹ 2,662
18
16%
₹ 1,885
₹ 3,941
24
16%
₹ 1,468
₹ 5,252
SBI Bank
3
Low Cost EMI
₹ 10,273
₹ 828
₹ 666
6
Low Cost EMI
₹ 5,219
₹ 1,326
₹ 1,068
9
15%
₹ 3,544
₹ 1,905
12
15%
₹ 2,707
₹ 2,492
18
16%
₹ 1,885
₹ 3,941
24
16%
₹ 1,468
₹ 5,252
Axis Bank
3
Low Cost EMI
₹ 10,264
₹ 803
₹ 647
6
Low Cost EMI
₹ 5,234
₹ 1,415
₹ 1,144
9
16%
₹ 3,558
₹ 2,035
12
16%
₹ 2,693
₹ 2,323
18
16%
₹ 1,885
₹ 3,941
24
16%
₹ 1,468
₹ 5,252
Other EMI Options through Credit Cards
Citi Bank
3
14%
₹ 10,231
₹ 702
6
14%
₹ 5,204
₹ 1,236
9
16%
₹ 3,558
₹ 2,035
12
16%
₹ 2,721
₹ 2,662
18
16%
₹ 1,885
₹ 3,941
24
16%
₹ 1,468
₹ 5,252
Kotak Mahindra Bank
Tenure
Interest%
Installment
Interest
3
16%
₹ 10,264
₹ 803
6
16%
₹ 5,234
₹ 1,415
9
16%
₹ 3,558
₹ 2,035
12
16%
₹ 2,721
₹ 2,662
18
16%
₹ 1,885
₹ 3,941
24
16%
₹ 1,468
₹ 5,252
RBL Bank
3
13%
₹ 10,214
₹ 652
6
14%
₹ 5,204
₹ 1,236
9
15%
₹ 3,544
₹ 1,905
12
15%
₹ 2,707
₹ 2,492
18
15%
₹ 1,871
₹ 3,687
24
15%
₹ 1,454
₹ 4,909
Standard Chartered Bank
3
13%
₹ 10,214
₹ 652
6
13%
₹ 5,190
₹ 1,147
9
14%
₹ 3,530
₹ 1,776
12
14%
₹ 2,693
₹ 2,323
INDUSIND Bank
3
14%
₹ 10,231
₹ 702
6
14%
₹ 5,204
₹ 1,236
9
15%
₹ 3,544
₹ 1,905
12
15%
₹ 2,707
₹ 2,492
18
15%
₹ 1,871
₹ 3,687
24
15%
₹ 1,454
₹ 4,909
HSBC Bank
3
12.50%
₹ 10,206
₹ 627
6
12.50%
₹ 5,182
₹ 1,103
9
13.50%
₹ 3,522
₹ 1,712
12
13.50%
₹ 2,686
₹ 2,238
18
13.50%
₹ 1,850
₹ 3,307
YES Bank
3
13%
₹ 10,214
₹ 652
6
13%
₹ 5,190
₹ 1,147
9
14%
₹ 3,530
₹ 1,776
12
14%
₹ 2,693
₹ 2,323
18
15%
₹ 1,871
₹ 3,687
24
15%
₹ 1,454
₹ 4,909
Bank of Baroda
3
13%
₹ 10,214
₹ 652
6
14%
₹ 5,204
₹ 1,236
9
14%
₹ 3,530
₹ 1,776
12
15%
₹ 2,707
₹ 2,492
18
15%
₹ 1,871
₹ 3,687
24
16%
₹ 1,468
₹ 5,252
American Express
3
14%
₹ 10,231
₹ 702
6
14%
₹ 5,204
₹ 1,236
9
14%
₹ 3,530
₹ 1,776
12
14%
₹ 2,693
₹ 2,323
18
15%
₹ 1,871
₹ 3,687
24
15%
₹ 1,454
₹ 4,909
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Why AudioQuest is Special
Designed in USA
Established & Reputed
Trust us, our reputation in the audio world speaks for itself!
This headphone or gear comes from a well-respected brand known for its high-quality audio equipment, so you can be confident in your purchase.
If you see a product marked as “🎖️ Established & Reputed”, it means you're getting a top-tier device from a brand that's earned its stripes in the audio industry.
Specialist
A masterpiece from the experts who know audio inside and out!
This headphone or gear is crafted by specialists who know their stuff, ensuring every detail is perfect.
If you see a product marked as “🌟 Specialist”, it means you're choosing a device designed by experts who specialize in creating this specific category of device.
Born in 1980
Why we love this DAC/Amp
Premium Economy
Sensible spending and class above in quality.
This headphone or gear offers top-notch sound and performance without much impact on your pocket, promising a delightful experience that exceeds your expectations at an economical price point.
If you see a product marked as “💎 Premium Economy," it indicates that you're getting a high-quality audio product with exceptional sound clarity and reliable performance, all at a budget-friendly price.
For Enthusiasts on a Budget
We are here to help you find the best bang for your buck.
This headphone or gear is made for all passionate hobbyists who want top-notch gear without breaking the bank.
If you see a product marked as “🪴 For Enthusiasts on a Budget”, get ready to indulge in your music with high-quality, affordable products that keep your wallet happy and your enthusiasm alive!
For Audiophiles On-the-Go
Are you an audiophile looking to carry your music with you wherever you go?
This headphone or gear is portable and is designed to deliver top-notch audio quality on the move, ensuring your favourite tracks sound their best no matter where you are.
If you see a product marked "🛺 For Audiophiles On-the-Go", it means this product is perfectly portable, turning every journey into a musical adventure with studio-quality sound!
Connect With Cable
This device comes with multiple connectivity options. Be sure to check if your source and output support these input and output options.
Why it Sounds Amazing
DAC Chip
Know the secret to your pristine audio.
This headphone or gear reveals the secret sauce behind superior audio quality, highlighting the presence of a high-performance DAC chip for pristine sound reproduction.
If you see products marked as “⚙️ DAC Chip”, expect to experience your music with unparalleled clarity, detail, and fidelity, ensuring that every note and nuance is faithfully reproduced for your listening pleasure.
Power Output
When you need that juice to get the best out of your products.
This headphone or gear packs a punch, revealing the product's impressive power output capabilities, ensuring it can handle even the most demanding products with ease.
If you see products marked as “🚀 Power Output”, you're in for a treat with robust performance for driving high-fidelity products without breaking a sweat.
DESCRIPTION
THE ULTIMATE PORTABLE AMP/DAC
The AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt has been developed in partnership with Gordon Rankin and Microchip Technologies. It has a better signal to noise ratio and a much lower power consumption than the original DragonFly. It consists of Gordon's monoClock® (single ultra-low-jitter clock). Thanks to the new Microchip PIC32MX274 microcontroller, the processing speed increases by 33%. This makes it perfect to play music at all kinds of resolution (including MQA) and from any music streaming app of your choice.
ESS ES9038Q2M DAC CHIP & 9601 AMP FOR POWERFUL SOUND WITH LESSER NOISE
The DragonFly Cobalt has an output of 2.1 volts—enough power to successfully drive all preamplifier input circuits and a wide range of today’s efficient headphones. Its improved power supply filtering specifically reduces the noise of WiFi, Bluetooth and cellular signals. It comes with a 32-bit ESS ES9038Q2M DAC chip that employs minimum-phase slow roll-off filtering for naturally detailed, more authentic sound. The ESS Sabre 9601 headphone amp and bit-perfect digital volume control add that much-needed power. You can use the source device's volume controls to adjust the DragonFly Cobalt's volume.
WORKS BEST WITH ANY DEVICE OF YOUR CHOICE
The DragonFly Cobalt's software can be easily upgraded thanks to the Desktop Device Manager. It includes a form-fitting DragonTail USB-A to USB-C Adaptor. All DragonTails use AQ's Carbon-level USB cable. Streamlength™ asynchronous USB code ensures low jitter, low resource load, minimal packet errors, world-class audio playback, and reliable connectivity between the DAC and any computing device with a USB input. It requires no additional drivers, making the DragonFly Cobalt virtually plug-and-play for Apple, Windows, iOS and Android users.
SUPPORTS MQA FOR MASTER-QUALITY SOUND
The Dragonfly Cobalt supports Master Quality Authenticated (MQA) playback. This is an award-winning audio technology that's meant to deliver the sound of the original master recording. MQA files are tiny and can easily be streamed using Tidal and Qobuz. Explore playlists and podcasts on Spotify, Pandora, Deezer, Bandcamp or SoundCloud. It features LED that changes color to indicate playback status or sample rate.
Note: A red lens indicates that the device is in standby mode; purple indicates MQA playback. 
SPECS
| STATUS/SAMPLE RATES SUPPORTED (LED INDICATOR COLOR CODE) | Standby (Red), 44.1 kHz (Green), 48kHz (Blue), 88.2kHz (Yellow), 96kHz (Light Blue), MQA (Purple) |
| VOLUME CONTROL | 64-position, 64-bit, bit-perfect |
| OUTPUT VOLTAGE | 2.1 |
| HEADPHONE AMP | ESS Sabre 9601 |
| HEADPHONE OUTPUT | 3.5 mm Stereo Jack |
| 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 | 12 mm H x 19 mm W by 57 mm L |
| WEIGHT | 22g |
| BOX CONTENTS |
1. AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt USB DAC
|
|
2. DragonTail USB-A to USB-C Adaptor
|
|
| 3. Travel Pouch | |
| 4. Flight Manual |
OTHER DETAILS
| GENERIC NAME | DAC & Amp |
| COUNTRY OF ORIGIN | China |
| IMPORTER DETAILS | Importers Name: Audio One Private Ltd. Address: Lalani Aura, 5th Floor, 34th Road, Khar (W), Mumbai - 400052 Contact No: 022-66716544 |
| NET QUANTITY | 1 |
| MANUFACTURER DETAILS | Name: Audioquest Address: Lrvine CA 92614 |
| PACKAGE CONTENTS | AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt USB DAC DragonTail USB-A To USB-C Adaptor Travel Pouch Flight Manual |
User Manual | DragonFly Cobalt
Portable DAC & Amp
|
FAQs
What are the main differences between DragonFlys Black, Red, and Cobalt?
All DragonFlys are designed to preserve the body, warmth, and natural beauty in music. We like to think of the progression like this: Black is beautiful, Red is more beautiful, and Cobalt is most beautiful. For a complete Model Comparison Chart, Click here.
Will DragonFly make my internal computer speakers sound better?
No. DragonFly does not use the internal speakers in your computer.
DragonFly is specifically designed to connect to external audio devices, such as headphones, powered desktop speakers, complete audio/video systems, and iOS and Android mobile devices.
Note: DragonFly v1.0 and DragonFly v1.2 are designed to work with computers and laptops only; they are not designed for use with iOS and Android mobile devices. However, all current-production DragonFly modelsóîBlack, Red, and Cobalt---re compatible with iOS and Android devices.
What headphones can I use with the DragonFly?
DragonFly is versatile enough to drive virtually any headphone on the market today, from impedances of 10ohm and higher.
While all DragonFly models offer enough output to drive most headphones, DragonFly Black (1.2-volt output) comfortably drives most medium- to moderate-efficiency models and DragonFlys Red and Cobalt (2.1-volt output) easily drive even the lowest-efficiency models.
What is an MQA Renderer?
and also matches and compensates the DAC characteristics to the hierarchical target, matching the analog sound heard in the studio.
All current-production AudioQuest DragonFlys (Black, Red, and Cobalt) feature an MQA renderer that enables playback of MQA audio files and streams, delivering the sound of the original master recording. When connected to an MQA Core signal (within TIDAL Masters or Audirvana, for example), DragonFly's purple display indicates the unit is rendering an MQA stream or file.
How do I play MQA files from Tidal on my Apple device?
As a fully functional MQA renderer, your DragonFly is ready to unfold and play MQA files through the Tidal music-streaming service. If you have a Tidal Master account and want to enjoy the full benefits of Tidal Master (MQA) files through DragonFly, simply adjust your Tidal playback settings:
macOS
iOS, iPhone, iPad, iPad Pro
How do I play MQA files from Tidal on my Windows computer?
To play MQA files from Tidal on a Windows computer, follow these steps in the Tidal app:
Can I use DragonFly with Windows operating systems?
Yes. DragonFly is compatible with Windows 7 and later. If you're running the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, please be sure to install the Cumulative Update for Windows 10 Version 1607 (August 9, 2016), to maintain optimal USB audio performance.
Are there known USB-Audio issues with Windows 8 and Windows RT?
Early versions of Windows 8 had compatibility issues with their device drivers and many USB DACs (including DragonFly). If you are running Windows 8, we suggest that you do the following:
There are no reported audio issues with Windows 8.1.
Can I use DragonFly with Apple iOS devices?
Yes. DragonFly Black and Red can be used with Apple iOS devices.
Yes. DragonFly Black, Red, and Cobalt can be used with Apple iOS devices. An Apple Camera Adapter is required to connect DragonFly to an Apple Lightning device.
In our tests, Apple's Lightning-to-USB 3 Camera Adapter (with charging port) sounds better and is more reliable than Apple's less expensive Lightning-to-USB Camera Adapter, while also providing the ability to charge during playback. Your mileage may vary. Some users prefer the size of the smaller adapter, while others prefer the performance of the larger adapter. We encourage experimentation.
When DragonFly (Black, Red, Cobalt) is connected to an iOS device using Apple's older Lightning to USB Camera Connection Kit, I can hear clicks and pops in the background of the music. What should I do? In some rare instances, the combination of an iOS device in conjunction with the standard CCK and DragonFly Black, Red, or Cobalt causes a clicking in the background of the music.
Neither we nor Apple have been able to determine why this is, but, in circumstances where this occurs, we've found that using Apple's Lightning-to-USB 3 Camera Adapter resolves the problem. In addition, this connector offers improved audio performance over the smaller unit and provides the ability to charge the attached iOS device while listening to music.
Can I use DragonFly with Android devices?
Yes. DragonFly Black, Red, and Cobalt will work with most Android devices running on Lollipop OS (and some Android devices running on KitKat), provided that the device manufacturer has adhered to the USB specification and implementation, and supports audio over USB.
To verify that your Android device complies with isochronous USB audio, download and run USB Host Check.
In our early pre-production testing, we found that some Android devices (4.1 OS and newer) do not provide native support for audio over USB. If you find that your Android device (4.1 or newer) does not support audio over USB, we ask that you please contact the manufacturer of your device. To determine whether your device supports audio over USB, consult the user manual or visit the manufacturer's website.
Despite Android's support of USB audio output, there are still hardware manufacturers that do not completely adhere to the USB audio class specification. If you experience this, we recommend the USB Audio Player Pro application.
UAPP includes its own USB audio device driver that is compliant with the USB Organization's USB Audio Host Mode Class specification. Further, it is compatible with various audio formats and will manage music on both the Android's internal memory and inserted SD cards. With the phone connected to the Wi-Fi network, this application can also find and connect to DLNA servers/libraries. USB Audio Player PRO Version 5 now supports audio from Google Music, Tidal (including Tidal Masters), Qobuz, and Shoutcast, and includes an MQA Core Decoder, which will unfold MQA streams from 44.1/48kHz to 88.2/96 kHz and can be combined with DragonFly for further unfolding of even higher sample rates.
How do I set volume level when using DragonFly?
When using DragonFly with headphones, powered speakers, or a power amplifier, start at a low (or zero) volume level, then slowly raise the volume until the desired level is achieved.
When using DragonFly with headphones, powered speakers, or a power amplifier, it functions in variable output mode, and we recommend the following steps:
DragonFly Black is equipped with a 64-step analog volume control. With DragonFly Black connected to a PC or mobile device, adjusting the host's system volume control will, through proxy, control the DragonFly Black's onboard volume. This ensures maximum resolution and the highest sound quality, regardless of volume setting.
In DragonFly Red and Cobalt, we were able to employ a highly sophisticated 64-step, 64-bit, bit-perfect digital volume control. 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. Here again, we've optimized the volume control to ensure maximum resolution and the highest sound quality, regardless of volume setting.
You can also use DragonFly as a traditional fixed-output source component (such as a CD player, DVD player, or Blu-ray player), connected to a standard input on a receiver or preamplifier. When used in this manner, DragonFly functions in fixed output mode, which
THE ULTIMATE PORTABLE AMP/DAC
The AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt has been developed in partnership with Gordon Rankin and Microchip Technologies. It has a better signal to noise ratio and a much lower power consumption than the original DragonFly. It consists of Gordon's monoClock® (single ultra-low-jitter clock). Thanks to the new Microchip PIC32MX274 microcontroller, the processing speed increases by 33%. This makes it perfect to play music at all kinds of resolution (including MQA) and from any music streaming app of your choice.
ESS ES9038Q2M DAC CHIP & 9601 AMP FOR POWERFUL SOUND WITH LESSER NOISE
The DragonFly Cobalt has an output of 2.1 volts—enough power to successfully drive all preamplifier input circuits and a wide range of today’s efficient headphones. Its improved power supply filtering specifically reduces the noise of WiFi, Bluetooth and cellular signals. It comes with a 32-bit ESS ES9038Q2M DAC chip that employs minimum-phase slow roll-off filtering for naturally detailed, more authentic sound. The ESS Sabre 9601 headphone amp and bit-perfect digital volume control add that much-needed power. You can use the source device's volume controls to adjust the DragonFly Cobalt's volume.
WORKS BEST WITH ANY DEVICE OF YOUR CHOICE
The DragonFly Cobalt's software can be easily upgraded thanks to the Desktop Device Manager. It includes a form-fitting DragonTail USB-A to USB-C Adaptor. All DragonTails use AQ's Carbon-level USB cable. Streamlength™ asynchronous USB code ensures low jitter, low resource load, minimal packet errors, world-class audio playback, and reliable connectivity between the DAC and any computing device with a USB input. It requires no additional drivers, making the DragonFly Cobalt virtually plug-and-play for Apple, Windows, iOS and Android users.
SUPPORTS MQA FOR MASTER-QUALITY SOUND
The Dragonfly Cobalt supports Master Quality Authenticated (MQA) playback. This is an award-winning audio technology that's meant to deliver the sound of the original master recording. MQA files are tiny and can easily be streamed using Tidal and Qobuz. Explore playlists and podcasts on Spotify, Pandora, Deezer, Bandcamp or SoundCloud. It features LED that changes color to indicate playback status or sample rate.
Note: A red lens indicates that the device is in standby mode; purple indicates MQA playback.
| STATUS/SAMPLE RATES SUPPORTED (LED INDICATOR COLOR CODE) | Standby (Red), 44.1 kHz (Green), 48kHz (Blue), 88.2kHz (Yellow), 96kHz (Light Blue), MQA (Purple) |
| VOLUME CONTROL | 64-position, 64-bit, bit-perfect |
| OUTPUT VOLTAGE | 2.1 |
| HEADPHONE AMP | ESS Sabre 9601 |
| HEADPHONE OUTPUT | 3.5 mm Stereo Jack |
| 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 | 12 mm H x 19 mm W by 57 mm L |
| WEIGHT | 22g |
| BOX CONTENTS |
1. AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt USB DAC
|
|
2. DragonTail USB-A to USB-C Adaptor
|
|
| 3. Travel Pouch | |
| 4. Flight Manual |
OTHER DETAILS
| GENERIC NAME | DAC & Amp |
| COUNTRY OF ORIGIN | China |
| IMPORTER DETAILS | Importers Name: Audio One Private Ltd. Address: Lalani Aura, 5th Floor, 34th Road, Khar (W), Mumbai - 400052 Contact No: 022-66716544 |
| NET QUANTITY | 1 |
| MANUFACTURER DETAILS | Name: Audioquest Address: Lrvine CA 92614 |
| PACKAGE CONTENTS | AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt USB DAC DragonTail USB-A To USB-C Adaptor Travel Pouch Flight Manual |
|
User Manual | DragonFly Cobalt
Portable DAC & Amp
|
What are the main differences between DragonFlys Black, Red, and Cobalt?
All DragonFlys are designed to preserve the body, warmth, and natural beauty in music. We like to think of the progression like this: Black is beautiful, Red is more beautiful, and Cobalt is most beautiful. For a complete Model Comparison Chart, Click here.
Will DragonFly make my internal computer speakers sound better?
No. DragonFly does not use the internal speakers in your computer.
DragonFly is specifically designed to connect to external audio devices, such as headphones, powered desktop speakers, complete audio/video systems, and iOS and Android mobile devices.
Note: DragonFly v1.0 and DragonFly v1.2 are designed to work with computers and laptops only; they are not designed for use with iOS and Android mobile devices. However, all current-production DragonFly modelsóîBlack, Red, and Cobalt---re compatible with iOS and Android devices.
What headphones can I use with the DragonFly?
DragonFly is versatile enough to drive virtually any headphone on the market today, from impedances of 10ohm and higher.
While all DragonFly models offer enough output to drive most headphones, DragonFly Black (1.2-volt output) comfortably drives most medium- to moderate-efficiency models and DragonFlys Red and Cobalt (2.1-volt output) easily drive even the lowest-efficiency models.
What is an MQA Renderer?
and also matches and compensates the DAC characteristics to the hierarchical target, matching the analog sound heard in the studio.
All current-production AudioQuest DragonFlys (Black, Red, and Cobalt) feature an MQA renderer that enables playback of MQA audio files and streams, delivering the sound of the original master recording. When connected to an MQA Core signal (within TIDAL Masters or Audirvana, for example), DragonFly's purple display indicates the unit is rendering an MQA stream or file.
How do I play MQA files from Tidal on my Apple device?
As a fully functional MQA renderer, your DragonFly is ready to unfold and play MQA files through the Tidal music-streaming service. If you have a Tidal Master account and want to enjoy the full benefits of Tidal Master (MQA) files through DragonFly, simply adjust your Tidal playback settings:
macOS
iOS, iPhone, iPad, iPad Pro
How do I play MQA files from Tidal on my Windows computer?
To play MQA files from Tidal on a Windows computer, follow these steps in the Tidal app:
Can I use DragonFly with Windows operating systems?
Yes. DragonFly is compatible with Windows 7 and later. If you're running the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, please be sure to install the Cumulative Update for Windows 10 Version 1607 (August 9, 2016), to maintain optimal USB audio performance.
Are there known USB-Audio issues with Windows 8 and Windows RT?
Early versions of Windows 8 had compatibility issues with their device drivers and many USB DACs (including DragonFly). If you are running Windows 8, we suggest that you do the following:
There are no reported audio issues with Windows 8.1.
Can I use DragonFly with Apple iOS devices?
Yes. DragonFly Black and Red can be used with Apple iOS devices.
Yes. DragonFly Black, Red, and Cobalt can be used with Apple iOS devices. An Apple Camera Adapter is required to connect DragonFly to an Apple Lightning device.
In our tests, Apple's Lightning-to-USB 3 Camera Adapter (with charging port) sounds better and is more reliable than Apple's less expensive Lightning-to-USB Camera Adapter, while also providing the ability to charge during playback. Your mileage may vary. Some users prefer the size of the smaller adapter, while others prefer the performance of the larger adapter. We encourage experimentation.
When DragonFly (Black, Red, Cobalt) is connected to an iOS device using Apple's older Lightning to USB Camera Connection Kit, I can hear clicks and pops in the background of the music. What should I do? In some rare instances, the combination of an iOS device in conjunction with the standard CCK and DragonFly Black, Red, or Cobalt causes a clicking in the background of the music.
Neither we nor Apple have been able to determine why this is, but, in circumstances where this occurs, we've found that using Apple's Lightning-to-USB 3 Camera Adapter resolves the problem. In addition, this connector offers improved audio performance over the smaller unit and provides the ability to charge the attached iOS device while listening to music.
Can I use DragonFly with Android devices?
Yes. DragonFly Black, Red, and Cobalt will work with most Android devices running on Lollipop OS (and some Android devices running on KitKat), provided that the device manufacturer has adhered to the USB specification and implementation, and supports audio over USB.
To verify that your Android device complies with isochronous USB audio, download and run USB Host Check.
In our early pre-production testing, we found that some Android devices (4.1 OS and newer) do not provide native support for audio over USB. If you find that your Android device (4.1 or newer) does not support audio over USB, we ask that you please contact the manufacturer of your device. To determine whether your device supports audio over USB, consult the user manual or visit the manufacturer's website.
Despite Android's support of USB audio output, there are still hardware manufacturers that do not completely adhere to the USB audio class specification. If you experience this, we recommend the USB Audio Player Pro application.
UAPP includes its own USB audio device driver that is compliant with the USB Organization's USB Audio Host Mode Class specification. Further, it is compatible with various audio formats and will manage music on both the Android's internal memory and inserted SD cards. With the phone connected to the Wi-Fi network, this application can also find and connect to DLNA servers/libraries. USB Audio Player PRO Version 5 now supports audio from Google Music, Tidal (including Tidal Masters), Qobuz, and Shoutcast, and includes an MQA Core Decoder, which will unfold MQA streams from 44.1/48kHz to 88.2/96 kHz and can be combined with DragonFly for further unfolding of even higher sample rates.
How do I set volume level when using DragonFly?
When using DragonFly with headphones, powered speakers, or a power amplifier, start at a low (or zero) volume level, then slowly raise the volume until the desired level is achieved.
When using DragonFly with headphones, powered speakers, or a power amplifier, it functions in variable output mode, and we recommend the following steps:
DragonFly Black is equipped with a 64-step analog volume control. With DragonFly Black connected to a PC or mobile device, adjusting the host's system volume control will, through proxy, control the DragonFly Black's onboard volume. This ensures maximum resolution and the highest sound quality, regardless of volume setting.
In DragonFly Red and Cobalt, we were able to employ a highly sophisticated 64-step, 64-bit, bit-perfect digital volume control. 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. Here again, we've optimized the volume control to ensure maximum resolution and the highest sound quality, regardless of volume setting.
You can also use DragonFly as a traditional fixed-output source component (such as a CD player, DVD player, or Blu-ray player), connected to a standard input on a receiver or preamplifier. When used in this manner, DragonFly functions in fixed output mode, which
Don't sweat it, this
AudioQuest - DragonFly Cobalt comes with a 1 Year warranty
from AudioQuest that covers manufacturing defects.
All products featured on Headphone Zone are backed by an original manufacturer's warranty.
Read more about AudioQuest's warranty in India.
PRODUCT DESIGN WINNER
The Absolute Sound
Mar, 2020
RECOMMENDED COMPONENTS
Stereophile
Mar, 2019
PRODUCT DESIGN WINNER
The Absolute Sound
Mar, 2018
EDITOR'S CHOICE AWARD
Sound & Vision
Dec, 2016
“If you loved the DragonFly Red as much as we did, and are looking to make the next step up without compromising on size or form, the Cobalt is a no-brainer.”
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"The AudioQuest - DragonFly Cobalt for sure is the best DragonFly AudioQuest has released up to now. It’s small, pretty, sounds great, is affordable and does full MQA."
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"If you've already invested in decent wired headphones or IEMs and don't want to go wireless, the AudioQuest - DragonFly Cobalt is well worth considering!"
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“Overall, the differences between the two AudioQuest DACs were relatively small, but I preferred the Cobalt for long-term listening.”
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"Also new to the Cobalt table is “improved power supply filtering” that specifically targets WiFi, Bluetooth and cellular noise. That’s electrical noise (not acoustic)."
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" Its sound was obviously more open, quiet, devoid of any slightly grainy or "fizzy" tinge, and effortlessly dynamic. And the bass was just all-around better: deeper, tighter, more everything."
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ESS ES9038Q2M
ESS Sabre 9010
ESS Sabre 9016
3.5mm (Single-Ended)
3.5mm (Single-Ended)
3.5mm (Single-Ended)
🪴 Budding Enthusiasts
🪴 Budding Enthusiasts
🪴 Budding Enthusiasts
2.1 Volts
1.2 Volts
2.1 Volts
USB-A
USB-A
USB-A
Standby (Red), 44.1 kHz (Green), 48kHz (Blue), 88.2kHz (Yellow), 96kHz (Light Blue), MQA (Purple)
Standby (Red), 44.1 kHz (Green), 48kHz (Blue), 88.2kHz (Amber), 96kHz (Magenta), MQA (Purple)
Standby (Red), 44.1 KHz (Green), 48kHz (Blue), 88.2kHz (Amber), 96kHz (Magenta), MQA (Purple)
USB-A
USB-A
USB-A
1. AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt USB DAC
2. DragonTail USB-A to USB-C Adaptor
3. Travel Pouch
4. Flight Manual
1. AudioQuest DragonFly Black USB DAC
2. Travel Pouch
3. Flight Manual
1. AudioQuest DragonFly Red USB DAC
2. Travel Pouch
3. Flight Manual
This product is rated 4.3 of 5.0 stars.
It has received 14 reviews.
Customer Reviews
In the world of DACs there are so many hundreds of products aiming to please and become famous... How is it that audioquest does it so effortlessly!!! All their three DACs Black, red, Cobalt are terrific hits....
So portable....
I dont spend my life in a studio...Mixing etc...I am just a music aficionado.... and I don't like bulky equipment requiring power to limit my movement...
So I always preferred Portable yet powerful DACs....
And Audio quest has always delivered at different price points.... If you have the red, then you are covered....You don't need to buy cobalt....Except if you have unforgiving IEMs like CF Andromeda etc... The noise floor on Cobalt is almost zero....
Cobalt comes with a form-fitting OTG Cable for android USB C devices.... For iphone you need to have Apple's CCK cable...
Here's my quick summary:
+ Brilliant sound quality
+ Almost zero noise level....Built in Jitter bug
+ Can drive almost all headphones...
+ Except for Windows use, doesn't require Drivers
+ Very Compact yet powerful
+ Doesn't need to be charged.... So Convenient
+ Colour indication of sound quality
+ Upto 96KHz / 24 bit sound
+ Very capable and fast MQA unfolder
+ Comes in the box with OTG Dragon Tail cable....
- Be careful with the Cap...Easily lost
- Look elsewhere for beyond 96 KHz
- Sometimes I get the feeling that RED was built better....Looks fragile
Thanks a ton for sharing your review with us.
I don't have a second opinion about its performance. But unfortunately i received a slightly defective piece which connects and performs well but the USB male connector is loose and is shaking and i afraid that after a particular number of time of usage , it may be worn out and go useless as the connector is shaking like a dry coconut in its shell. I made a retun and replacement request for which i have not received any response and i am worrying as i have invested a high amount of ₹ 30000/-. I hope that i will get a replacement.
Hi Guru,
Your unit was in fact defective, the brand is sending you a new replacement. We hope it reaches you soon:)
Would love to hear back from you once you receive it.
Hi this is Karan
Thanks to headphone zone to reach me earlier
Cobalt it's
1. compact in size which accomdates a small pouch it very big plus for today's life style
2. Connectivity supports almost all devices
"Superb" Hassel free connection with my android, iOS, lap
3. Sound quality always 3things required to fulfill listeners attraction
(i.details of each and every instruments)
(Ii.sound stage is vry much important to realise the details it creates)
(Iii.sweet musical combination which created by the artist)
First point is + for cobalt
Second point is some what ok stage is not that much spacier
Third is not good for who loves to listen music only for musical combination
My conclusion is to go for chord mojo who loves to listen music only for musical combination
Thier in chord mojo I missed some details but my listening experience another level on mojo becoz to of big stage and combination
Thanks a ton for sharing your review with us.
I bought this somewhere in 2021 and now one of the earphone is not working just after a year. The Headphone Zone also not getting me the timely services. I bought Campfire Audio IO also and got defected and it took all most 3 months to get it replaced. Such a premium product needs premium and priority service too. I am not recommending Headphone Zone. I am sorry to promote them when I purchased it.
Bought on 15 Nov 2020
want to sell whats up on 810100550 .