It's a must if you listen music on your laptop or phone. So much improvement in sound. It's like magic. Excellent review. It's short and straight to the point. Well done.
@@PassionforSound Black 1.5 user here, I've tested it against Cobalt on AKG and Sennheiser headphones. Aside from loudness difference, I honestly didn't register any improvement by simple blind tests
I listen to the red daily now for the last two years, the Cobalt to my ears sounds less fun so I had to send that back. Thanks for the great work you do on these products.
@@petercarrick2678 I think you are right on. If you are a very technical listener you may enjoy the Cobalt more, otherwise to most average people, I feel like they would prefer the red listening side by side.
I think the Red comes across a bit more energetic and dynamic than the Cobalt. I'm not surprised that some still prefer the Red as I could easily talk myself into the same conclusion - they're both that great!
Hello Sir, Just to give you a follow up. I am finally listening to my music with a smile. I picked up the Mayflower O2 Amp. It made all the difference in the world. I recieved it the same day as the new Sundara's arrived. However, I decided to try the DF and the new amp with the original Sundara's and OMG!!! The sound is absolutely incredible through Tidal's Master MQA tracks. It's got all the kick, punch and clarity I was looking for, Plus I now have the loudness as well. I would just like to send you another Big Thank You for all of your help and suggestions. Take Care and God Bless Sir, Jim P.
Watching this at a time when Audioquest has a sale on the cobalt.... having never owned a DAC this was super informative. I've pulled the trigger on the cobalt and I'm excited to hear how this transforms my digital music experience! You have a new subscriber here - thank you!
Thank you! Your video made it an easy decision for me to choose the Dragonfly Cobalt over the Red, and over the Meridian Explorer 2 DAC. I definitely like hearing separation of instruments and prefer an openness to the sound stage. I am going to use it for my iPhone XS Max. I used to have an LG mobile that had a decent DAC built in, but the iPhone doesn't have that so these will do the trick! Your video was awesome.
Hi Sz Ki, the G7 definitely did (although with a slightly different implementation I believe). After that, I think the V40 may have, but the V50 seems to have changed so that it depends which region you're in as to which DAC you get. Don't quote me on that as I've moved away from LG due to their software being a bit buggy compared to Samsung so I'm not fully up-to-date on the LG specs and configurations anymore.
Tbh there are so many reviewers out there that are now saying (the hype has passed) the Red is actually equal or even better than the Cobalt that I have a hard time after watching your review not to wonder how much of an advertiser you could be (as opposed to a reviewer). Genuine concern. Whatever this is, it is spectacularly well done.
That's a fair question. If you check out my reviews of products like the Sendy Apollo, Topping EX5 and Cavalli hybrid tube amp (I can't remember which model), you'll see that I give negative reviews and positive reviews on this channel. They're also not influenced by affiliate income (as the Topping EX5 review provides). Coming back around to the Dragonflys, the problem we have is that some reviews have begun to focus entirely on measurements to draw conclusions. These measurements don't tell the whole story of whether something sounds good to our ears and brain (Topping EX5 is a great example). I firmly believe that the Dragonfly Cobalt sounds better than the Red. I chose to sell the Red and keep the Cobalt after this review because it just sounded better to my ears.
Since the day it came out, the Red is my most used piece of hifi equipment. Home, work and on the road it’s always with me. Can’t wait to try the Cobalt.
3.5mm to RCA? Depends what you're trying to attach it to. If you're going from DF Red / Cobalt to an amp then it's a 3.5 to stereo RCA cable you'd need
Passion for Sound /would like to connect a usb dac to a older phone with a 3.5 mm Headphone output jack to a home stereo....basically anything with a 3.5 mm out jack, but I do need USB female on one side to connect this type of Dac. Not sure what type of adapter I would need type A? type C?....Sorry I’m new at this ....I want to thank you before hand
Ah, I see! Android or iPhone? And you might need to check your version on Android (if not an iPhone) to confirm that it will support an external DAC. After that, you'd buy an adapter from the phone USB socket (probably microUSB on an older phone) to female USB-A.
I have only watched a couple of your reviews and I must say very well done and professional. Some other you tubers could learn from your videos. I do like the idea of patreon allowing for your subscribers to pass along and try different gear. Does this apply to all the headphones and gear that come through? And at what cost to join? Thanks on the excellent review!
Hi Brandon, thanks for the compliment. Unfortunately the gear tour idea was scrapped because of logistics issues around postage costs. I've changed it now so that different patron tiers give extra bonus chances to win gear instead of just lending. You can see the options at patreon.com/passionforsound
Actually MQA = Master Quality Authenticated. My understanding is that the "1st unfold" is the main step up in resolution, but the "2nd unfold" is relatively minor
Thanks for the correction on what MQA stands for! In terms of the unfolding, there are 3 layers. Step 1 is handled by the application (e.g. Tidal or Roon) and returns the original file to basic 44.1/16 quality (i.e. like a normal res FLAC file). The 2nd unfold is what they call rendering and is where a device like the DragonFly unpacks further info to achieve the hi-res version of the file. You're correct that this is probably the most significant improvement. The 3rd and final unfold is for decoding devices such as the Meridian Explorer 2 which (based on what I have read) has been measured and tested specifically to allow for music file to be optimised in line with the characteristics of the DAC and in order to get the most possible accuracy in terms of timing and spatial cues, etc. This is what I could understand from reading up on MQA, but I have to say the marketing info around it is quite vague as to what exactly happens at each level of the unfold - particularly at level 3.
The 1st unfold can be done in software, but can go up to 24/96. You can demonstrate this by feeding an non-MQA dac from your computer’s Tidal app (assuming the dac has a bitrate indicator). The 2nd unfold, in the dac is filtering/noise shaping. But I’m not an expert. I would suggest reading Archimago’s blog/posts on this
Thanks again for the info. I've done a bit more digging and have a good explanation of what's really going on now (from here: bobtalks.co.uk/blog/science-mqa/mqa-playback/#). I'll upload a correction video shortly to make up for my incorrect explanation of the sample rates.
@@PassionforSound Not true, the FLAC unfold is not in the MQA discussion. The unfold is different depending on what the root file is. Decoding happens first and does the unfold depending on what the root file is and where it goes when going to the DragonFly. So some files will go to the DragonFly in MQA at 24/88.2 and others will go to 24/96. This again depends on what the root file is and how it was encoded during the MQA process.
Hello Sir, I'm new to the audiophile world and after ton's of research I've decided on the HiFiman Sundara and Drangonfly Cobalt for my desktop. I haven't recieved either of these products yet but was hoping for an experts opinion on the choices I've made. I'd also like to add that I really enjoyed this video on the DF Cobalt and after subscribing I'm looking forward to more reviews in the future. It's also nice to see that you, unlike many other reviewers, answer your followers. Have a Great Day or Night Down Under... Thank You
Hi James and welcome to the channel! I don't know the Sundaras, but a friend I trust has said very good things about them and the DragonFly is great. I think you've made a really good decision for your first foray. The only reason I say "first foray" is that this hobby tends to be a journey and you may discover that you better come to understand your tastes in gear after trying a few combos. Enjoy the journey!
@@PassionforSound Thank You So Much for replying to my question. It's nice to know I made a good choice for the Cans and Dac. I can also see this "first foray" is going to be Exciting but an Expensive hobby down the road. That combo I just laid out for was $700 US Dollars. But I don't mind spending the money if what I'm buying is quality. My only other question if you wouldn't mind is what Hi Res streaming app would you recommend? I already have Spotify and not interested in Amazons HD music app. I listen to mostly 70's/80's and 90's Rock/Pop and Metal. No Hip Hop / Country or Classical. Again, Thank You for your kindness here. I am currently newly retired at 62 and don't have any friends who are audiophiles. So this is a Huge help for me getting started. I will continue following your excellent video's to keep up with my new "first foray"
I personally use Tidal, but it's largely because I don't have a lot of choice. That said, with the DragonFly you have the opportunity to try MQA audio which is an area of strength for Tidal (I've got a separate video discussing MQA if you're not familiar with it). The other service you might want to consider is Qobuz as I believe they've got a good library, but I haven't trialled because they don't service Australia yet. The good news is you can normally get a free trial of these services for long enough to see what you like. Best wishes for your audio journey and feel free to keep asking any questions. 🙂
@@PassionforSound Hello again Sir, I did watch your MQA review and now have a full understanding, Thnak You!!! I did look into Tidal and Qobuz. Both have a Free trial period so I'm going to try both. I am still waiting for my Sundara's and Drangonfly Cobalt to arrive, but in the mean time I'd like to ask another question. In this video you do mention a possible external Amp or Pre-Amp. The two you suggested, The BottleHead and The THX are a little out of my price range. It may come down to not needing one at all, but if I do decide to add one what can you suggest in a 2 to 3 hundred US Dollar price range?
I'd definitely start with just the DragonFly. Get to know it a bit before adding an amp as it will allow you to really understand the benefits of the amp and how it's influencing the sound quality of your headphones. When that time comes, the SMSL SP200 is a very good option. You could also look at amps from Schiit (Jotunheim and Modi) and the JDS Labs Element is good too I believe.
I am watchig this video 4 years after. The reason is because I am watching your videos for the last 1,5 year and time to time I search if you have review some product that interest to me. I had a Chord Mojo, and I finally replaced it by the Dragonfly Cobalt because sonically it sounds good for me and it's much moore convennient and portable. I still use it, and combine with Xduuo XD05 Plus when I want to listen to my AKG K712 Pro. What I dissapoint with the Dragonfly Cobalt is using it with my ThinkPad X230T as USB DAC, because it generates a lot of noise, and theoretically the circuit has some filters for avoid the USB noise. Anyway for using it with my phone or iPad it's great. What do you think about the Cobalt today?
I haven't owned the Cobalt for quite some time now. I think newer dongles with newer technology might surpass, but I couldn't be certain without trying it.
I recently bought cobalt for € 260 but my choice was strongly influenced by my brain's desire to have the maximum possible. actually I would have been equally satisfied with red by spending less than half the price spent on cobalt.
HI! Thanks so much for this great review! Very helpful. I'm not an official "audiophile", but obsessed about audio quality because I'm a DJ of traditional Argentine Tango music, playing music from a diverse range of transfers from the late 1920's to mid '50's. Not exactly modern recording technology. But I've used the Red Dragonfly for many years to great effect, and am considering the Cobalt. I love the Red DF as it gives new life to tracks that otherwise would be too muddy, scratchy, or just too tired sounding to play through a good speaker system for dancing. The DF is amazing....my sound always gets compliments. I play off a Mac Air and Macbook Pro, mostly AIFF format and decent quality 320kbps. I was wondering if you have listened to "less than stellar-resolution tracks" using the Cobalt, and if the result is worth switching from the Red? I'm thinking the MQA feature alone would make it worth while for my non tango music, but I'm hoping that the more advanced Cobalt will even improve upon the Red's great performance. Thanks again, you're a really good teacher!
Hi Ilene, the Cobalt will definitely help to smooth out a little of the harshness from poor recordings without losing any detail or clarity. I do think it would be a worthwhile upgrade based on what you've said. Sounds like you get very good use out of your DragonFly and that others get to enjoy it too - that's great!
Thankyou again! I just ordered it. Very excited. Also, I keep wanting to respond to those who say they can’t tell the difference in sound red vs cobalt. I think many people don’t realize it’s not necessarily what you immediately hear. Sound affects you physically and you may not even realize it. Not knowing that I use a DF, many dancers tell me they love the energy of my music, that although I play the same tracks as other tango DJ’s, the “old” music I play doesn’t make them tired... and sounds just beautiful. Subtle changes you might not actually hear can make a world of difference. There’s one reviewer who swears there’s no difference with the Cobalt, and shows many pages of notes of listening sessions. I suggest people stop thinking and trying to figure out how it sounds better, and just sit back, stop trying to analyze it to death, and just listen with open ears and open mind! Maybe they’ll rediscover how good music can make us feel on every level. Thanks again fir your fine work! All best, stay safe. 🎶
Such a great point! I'm a firm believer in the value of mixing long term listening tests with direct A/B comparisons for exactly this reason. Our ears (and brain) are complex tools that can focus on fine details and differences or can relax into just enjoying or not enjoying. Both are very valid measures of audio quality. On top of that, we can trick our brains if we're not careful to put aside expectations and test our own assumptions. In the end it all comes down to what you (and your audience) enjoy more. Glad they're having fun and that you get to facilitate that for them!
As a long time owner of the dragonfly red, i found that the reduced treble in The Cobalt made the sound decidedly unexciting and less fun than the dragonfly red. So I ended up sending the Cobalt back.
That's interesting. Thanks for sharing. I'm guessing this will have a lot to do with the earphones/headphones you use and your personal taste in sound. It's good for people to know that the Cobalt isn't always better for everyone.
so is it worth to buy this to use with my Audio Technica ATH-MSR7b? i pretty much always listen to FLAC files through my phone. how much better will the sound be? because i am not familiar with this kind of mini DACS. kinda skeptical really. i have used normal DACS and you can adjust everything on those. how does that translate in to this kind of mini DACS? i mean it cost almost 300 euros over here. i do want to know if it is really worth it or not.
Hi MV, you'll definitely get improvement compared to either Bluetooth connection and/or direct output from a phone or computer. Specifically, you'll get better detail retrieval, soundstage and overall tonal balance. If you want to spend a bit less, but still get amazing quality, check out the EarMen Eagle. My review is coming very soon, but it's amazing and only $119 USD.
@@PassionforSound hey thanks for the tip. Yeah I don't like Bluetooth. Sound is way too compressed. My audio Technica is amazing. But I am subscribed so I look forward to it. Can you do maybe a direct comparison to that one and the cobalt? Or even the red one? Because I am kinda interested in that one also. Anyway I will wait for your review. Hope I can buy that one in my country also then
It's already recorded and includes a direct comparison to the DF Red 😉 It releases in early Jan (first week, can't remember if it's a Saturday or Wednesday video)
I've got a Sony z7m2 which I use on PC but the sound isn't great and the volume is low. Can you please recommend a dac/amp I can use for my windows pc that would cost somewhere between $150-250. thanks
I'd go for the DragonFly Red: amzn.to/2U8QNsr Great performance, nice and compact so you can use it portably too. Will totally transform your sound from the PC. The only other options in the price range that are better (based on what I've heard) are things like the Topping D50S, but you'd still need to buy an external amp. The DragonFly is so good because it's all-in-one
Thank you for great review. I have one question. Is cobalt works properly with ipad pro? And can i use that dongle with ipad pro? Is it better than apple’s usb c dongle?
I have a question: I own a Klipsch ProMedia 2.1computer speaker that I use with my Mac. Would the Dragonfly improve the signal coming from the Mac and help the ProMedia sound better as well? Thanks!
Hi! I would definitely expect the sound to improve with the DragonFly. Without knowing your speakers specifically it's hard to say exactly how much of the benefit you'll hear, but you'll at least be getting close to the maximum sound quality of the speakers I expect. I personally would always use a separate DAC (like DragonFly) whenever listening to music from a computer. Computer DACs can be ok, but never great.
I plug mine straight into my Windows 10 laptop and only get line level volume, like the headphone amp becomes disabled. Otherwise it’s a pretty incredible sound and I agree with your analysis.
@@PassionforSound Windows sometimes locks the volume at 20% on first use, so went into sound settings and moved the volume slider. Now it's working perfectly.
I've had no less than 3 DF DACS - one Black and two Reds - and they all stopped working eventually. Yes these devices might sound great but the build quality is awful. Every one I had rattled and the usb connector was loose. Some reviews have noted this and have said it doesn't seem to matter but it does; you need to be incredibly careful and ideally use a dragon tail or similar because they just get more loose over time and eventually stop working. Looking at other reviews it seems the Cobalt has the same issue. For the asking price I'm just not prepared to risk it.
Hi Darren, sorry to read of your experiences. I think my Red has a slightly loose USB plug and I have also heard about the loose plugs from others, but I've not heard about the failures you've experienced before. Really sorry to hear you've had those issues.
I am no fan of MQA, but some people like how it sounds. Apple lossless seems to have its own issues based on a few videos and articles I've seen - they might be messing with the music in their own way (although not to the degree of MQA). Personally, I'm a big fan of Qobuz, but whatever works, whatever you have access to, and whatever you like should be the deciding factor 🙂
I need help: I have a galaxy s10+ phone and I'm considering to buy the dragonfly cobalt but I never tried it... how much it improves the sound quality compared to my phone? I use the headphones Sony wh 1000xm4 with cable, are they good enough to use with this dac? Of course I have flac 44.1/48/96 khz hi res file on my internal storage. Does it worth the very high price? Please let me know, thanks.
Hi Senza, I haven't tried the XM4 to know exactly what they're capable of, but you'll notice a significant improvement with the Cobalt I expect. It produces a better sense of separation and clarity in the sound that should be quite noticeable.
I'm really surprised you like this. I bought the DragonFly Cobalt (£268), THX Onyx (£170) & 9038d (£97) from Amazon with the intention of using their no-quibble 30-day return policy to return two of them. The THX & 9038d were like The Aussie cricket team Vs The Pommies, it was a bloodbath. The Cobalt didn't have the power; I'm not going to tell you what sound you should think is beautiful, that's a personal choice. In the end, it came down to THX & 9038d. If you need MQA take the THX, I didn't, so I saved myself £70 which I'm putting towards a tube amp at some point...
The 9038 is excellent. I haven't tried the Onyx. One of the challenges with dongles is that they have vastly different power output from one to the next so it depends on whether you're prioritising sound or power and that's before considering personal preferences and synergy with your headphones or IEMs. I ended up selling my Cobalt and sticking with the EarMen Sparrow as my premium dongle.
Very nice review. Clearly explained . Is there a way to connect DAC to a older stereo receiver (doesn't have USB) so I can stream music to my stereo headphones ( wired connected to receiver or Bluetooth). I do have a Tascam CD-A580 connected to my receiver that has a USB built in. Not sure if this matters or helps? Thanks
Very useful information! Just bought the Cobalt and upped my songs quality to high res... a pleasure! Could you tell me if this Dragonfly would be able to power a 120 ohms headphones? I am thinking of the Sennheiser HD 560 S? Continue the great work!
@@PassionforSound Quick update... I received the Sennheiser HD 560S, works great, clear sound, very accurate and works fine with the Cobalt, no problem at all. And 120 ohms Sennheiser headphones even works with my old iPod Nano 7th gen, unfortunately I cannot use the Cobalt for it... Have a nice day, kind regards.
There's some discounts at my local av shop, and I can get the cobalt for around 220 $, or the ifi xdsd for 300 $. How does it compare, sq wise, with thr ifi xdsd? Ignoring extra functions/form factor?
Hard to put a number to, like you said, and I don't have an iPhone, but based on my experience with the Galaxy S10+ which has decent onboard sound, the difference is big. I've got the iBasso DC02 here for review at the moment and it's a modest improvement only. The Cobalt is a leap up in sound quality so I'd maybe say a conservative 40-50%
Hi Ben, I never really checked because I've had no major concerns with either. I'm surprised to hear that you're finding the Eagle power hungry. I use both the Eagle and Sparrow and find both to be reasonable on power usage. I sold my Cobalt so I can't compare directly for you, but haven't noticed any significant difference since swapping to the EarMen DACs. What are you driving with the Eagle?
Is it possible that the Apollo Solo can drive the NDH 20? My 2019 MacBook Pro cannot do it alone. Volume is super low. Not good for mixing or anything else.
any opinion on whether it would be worth it to buy this solely as a dac output from my mac and then into my tube headphone amp (which only has analog inputs)
It will work fine for this purpose, but you'll generally get better performance from a dedicated desktop device like the Topping E30. I'd only buy the DragonFly if portability is important (in which case it's great!)
Is Audioquest Dragonfly Cobalt compatible with Grado Labs SR80e? Just making sure before I make a purchase because other people complain about hearing lots of hiss, pops and clicks.
Hi Kevin, I used the Cobalt with sensitive IEMs so there's no reason for concern with the SR80. I wonder if the people complaining of noise are using Android and not using an app like USB Audio Player Pro to bypass the Android OS audio processing because that will cause noises on any external DAC.
hey, I am looking for a usb DAC in 200-300usd price range to my office. I don't care about portability. My headphones Sennheiser HD 569. Would you recommend cobalt, D50s or some other alternative? Currently, there is a sale in Europe making cobalt 250USD which is probably hard to beat...
The Cobalt is outstanding. The D50S from Topping does outperform it if you don't need portability or onboard amplification, but as an all-in-one solution that also happens to do MQA if you need it, the Cobalt is a winner
I know we are talking about two totally different products, but I'm interested in buying either the cobalt or the fiio m11 pro. I believe the m11 pro would be preferable given it being it's own device, being able to charge while playing, having balanced output and good MQA decoding, but is more expensive.. Does anyone know how the SQ/ amplification of the two devices compare, it is going to be my main deciding factor. Thank you for any answer and for that review which will help making that decision later on !
I know this was from 9 months ago but ill place it here in case someone else is wondering. I have both and love both. Only speaking for the sound (primarily with IEMs) the m11 pro sounds better in almost all areas. The exception being i feel like the bass in the cobalt has a tad bit more presence. However, I wouldn't say the sound of the m11 pro beats the cobalt by a large margin. 20% better maybe whatever that means. Having said that though I feel like the Cobalt is much more musical. I find that while the m11 pro sounds more precise, more accurate, etc the Cobalt has you bopping your head and tapping your feet much more than the m11 pro. It just feels a tad dry. So if you're looking for the most accurate sound possible than def m11 pro is better. But the Cobalt still sounds fantastic and to me is much more musical. I find i just get more into the music with the Cobalt.
I'm new to the audio scene and recently purchased the Tin HiFi 4 headphones. Will buying a DAC improve the sound quality of those or is it only used for certain types of headphones?
Hi Abel and welcome to the world of audio! Yes, a DAC will increase the sound of any headphone or earphone you use (even cheap crappy earbuds that come with smartphones!) You're Tin HiFi 4s should show significant improvement with a dedicated DAC depending on what you're currently using.
Hey, I really like your reviews. Have you compared the cobalt to other dac/amps? And do you think it worth $300 compare with other device? My main setup right now is iPhone x + Hugo2 + ie800s/se846/Stellia, but it's a bit difficult to carry while not using my backpacks. So I'm considering a more portable setup. Let me know your options. Thank you!~
Thanks Perry! I just compared it with the Topping D50s (desktop, not portable) and the D50s is slightly better in my opinion. I also recently listened to a Mojo and was impressed, but didn't have the Cobalt with me to compare. Ultimately, I think form factor should be a big deciding factor when thinking about the DragonFly range. If you go bigger you can get better sound, but nothing I've tried matches the sound quality of the Cobalt with the ease of portability. It's an inline dongle compared to a separate brick.
@@PassionforSound Thanks for getting me back. I was a bit skeptical about Cobalt, because some other objective/measurement reviews(For example: archimago.blogspot.com/2019/08/measurements-dragonflies-audioquest.html). But I guess subjective may be more important in Audio territory, or maybe that guy just got a bad sample. Anyway, you just sold me a Cobalt, I will give it a try and let you know how it compare with the Hugo.
Objective measurements are always interesting. On one hand they provide excellent insights into potential shortcomings such as the apparent clipping on the Cobalt at full volume, but they can rarely tell the whole story. Chord gear tends to measure extremely well so the Cobalt probably won't stack up well objectively, but I find it an enjoyable and engaging listen which is equally as important as the measurements IMO. I'm keen to hear your impressions when you get it. I have a Chord Qutest on the way so we'll be able to compare thoughts on Chord vs AudioQuest DACs.
Hi Bagus, I haven't, but John Darko seems to like it so I think that's a good sign (I'm not sure I've really ever heard him criticise something which is why I'm not 100% sure of the endorsement)
@@PassionforSound I also saw in a couple of videos on youtube that the cobalt have a quality control issue, that the usb connector that is connected to the gut of the device has too big of a tolerance with the body and therefore it wiggles. Is that the case with the unit that you have as well? I am curious. I am considering between the dc02 and the cobalt, i was leaning towards the cobalt as many reviewer seems to have a high regard for the cobalt but then the quality control issue really bothers me. also there are far more review on the cobalt then the dc02, at this point I might just try my luck with the dc02 since its 1/3 of the price of the cobalt
@bagus prasetio I've bought a DC02 from a local store to compare and review. If you haven't bought it yet, I can post a quick comparison for you soon and a full video review early in the new year.
@bagus prasetio, I received the iBasso DC01 & DC02 today. The Dragonfly Cobalt beats them both convincingly. The iBassos are very good and a definite upgrade from smartphone or PC onboard sound, but the Cobalt is definitely worth the extra $$$. The sound from the Cobalt is more open, expansive (i.e. larger stage), has a blacker background and is generally more engaging. If you have the extra cash, go for the DragonFly Cobalt (or even Red). If you don't want to drop the extra cash, the iBassos are still a very good option.
I'm an Android user, but my experiences with Red and Cobalt Dragonflies are that they are very power efficient. This makes me think that the iPhone power management is the problem.
I haven't listened to the S9 Pro in depth yet (but I do have one here to try). Generally though, as dongle DACs improve you get a better sense of soundstage size and instrument separation. Detail retrieval also often improves because everything isn't all crammed together
can cobalt handle 24bit 192khz qobuz hi res song ? because mine cannot, the indicator is green , which is 44khz , when i set up qobuz setting to 24 bit 96khz, the indicator is light blue , which is 96khz .
Hi Dean, I believe the MB Pro may have a very good DAC already so you may not find a drastic upgrade going to something like the DragonFly. You might need to go to something more like a Mojo or iDSD Black to really improve on it. I'm not a Mac user though so you might want to get some other opinions.
Hi, thanks for the review i'll try to get the cobalt, it feels like a fair price but now i wonder: i want to use the DAC to improve the sound quality over my pc's motherboard VIA vynil audio (which is a 192KHz DAC, but still i think ANY of the dragon fly is better), so i want to use my PC as a preamp for so to say, so a desktop DAC would be better, if so in which way?
A desktop DAC will outperform a dongle DAC in almost all cases. I'd recommend a Topping E30 or E50 and supply power from a phone charger (rather than USB) for a major improvement over the onboard sound
@@PassionforSound oh thanks... so even a entry level desktop DAC will be a better option? what you think about the IFI zen DAC V2... seems like a good deal
Great review, and in easy to understand speak for a newbie like me. Ive already and small desktop/portable DaAC/Amp, the audioengine d1, which has an output of 2v rms, would you consider the AQDF Cobalt a superior device to use with my mac mini as the music server and a pair of beyerdynamic DT880 (600ohm) or DT990 (250ohm)? Thanks.
Hi David, I haven't heard the D1 to be able to comment on a direct comparison. The DragonFly is excellent, but it may not be a huge upgrade from the D1 as the D1's larger size may allow for some additional tech inside which may or may not improve its performance relative to the DF. Having said that, the D1 is a more multi-task oriented device (i.e. headphones and RCA outputs) so if you only need to drive headphones and not any speakers then the DF may be a more pure audiophile product. Sorry I can't offer more clarity for you.
Passion for Sound thats great, thanks. I’m going to give them both a try with the DT880(600ohm) and DT990 (250 ohm) from Beyerdynamic- i’ll post again to let you know how it goes - thanks!
I'm not sure - sorry. I haven't specifically heard of counterfeit Dragonflies, but I guess it's possible. Buying from a proper retailer is normally a good option and if it's too cheap that's not a good sign.
I've just woken up, but let me check this for you a little later this morning and I'll let you know. Should be no issue at all because the Clear are pretty sensitive for full size audiophile headphones
Just checked and it's actually a brilliant pairing. I need about 60% volume for my upper end of listening using an Android phone with USB Audio Player Pro, the Cobalt and the Clears
The EarMen Sparrow and Eagle are both excellent comparisons with the Cobalt. The Eagle isn't quite as good. The Sparrow is better, but only via the balanced output
@@PassionforSound i actually just try that one out today it didn't sound as much as the Cobalt. Cobalt sounded more bright which i with more clearity. I use the Sundara
Passion for Sound Thabk you so much for replying!!! And yes that’s exactly what I mean. 300 dollars is a little steep, but I’m looking for a fav I can use for my phone, my computer, as to drive external speakers if I ever need to.
You're welcome! Based on my experiences so far (including iBasso DC01, DC02, DragonFly Red, numerous older portable DAPs/DACs) the Cobalt is worth the investment. Be aware if using with external speakers that it seems you're best keeping the Cobalt at about 80-90% max volume (if your speakers have their own volume control) as there may be some clipping at full volume (line level) on the Cobalt.
Hi Albert, I can't say for certain as I don't have the G8, but the Dragonfly Cobalt is noticeably better than the DAC in the V30 & G7 - not massively better, but noticeably
Thanks Mark. I thought MQA was meant to be special because it provided lossless hi-res at smaller file sizes. Do you have a link to the info about compression so I can read up?
@@PassionforSound John Darko has written a nice article about it: darko.audio/2016/06/an-inconvenient-truth-mqa-sounds-better/ To summarize: in technical terms it is lossy compression, but practically it is almost lossless.
Thanks for sharing. That explains what I understood (but may not have clearly explained) which is that the compression itself is still at a lossless level (at least to standard res). It's the adjustment of the original signal that makes the process 'lossy', but if you're only losing errors, is it really a loss? I've been doing some similar testing to John's lately and I'm not necessarily agreeing with what he heard. I don't dislike the MQA sound, but the jury is still out for me as to whether I prefer it over the hi-res source files.
@@PassionforSound Some other reviews have concluded that the MQA files on Tidal are louder than the CD quality. If you level match them, I'm not sure I can tell the difference at all. YMMV.
It's so hard to know. I've been trying some tests lately and I feel like MQA has some advantages (better sense of space and stage size), but loses some perceived clarity (which may be glare in standard PCM files). Haven't noticed volume differences, but this could come from which original files were used for the different versions
Thank you for the review. Just getting into MAQ through Tidal. Totally newbie question but would this help the depth of sound when watching movies through iTunes on my iPad or iPhone with headphones?
Hi Freddie, you're welcome 🙂 The DragonFly will definitely improve the sound for all sources (movies, etc.) The difference won't be quite as big as it is with MQA from Tidal, but it will still do a better job than the inbuilt DAC and headphone amp in your phone or tablet.
If I'm remembering correctly, the Cobalt distorted slightly at full volume and was best just 1-2 clicks back from full. If you search for "DragonFly distortion at full volume" there's probably a good article about it out there.
I've compared the Impacto and DF Red (in the original review) and IIRC I slightly preferred the Red, but it was close. The Cobalt is clearly better than the DF Red so the Cobalt will also be notably better than the Impacto
Hey! I use dt 1990 pros with dragonfly red as dac and beyerdynamic a20 amplifier. Is it good setup? Will i hear any difference in that assembly with dragonfly cobalt? Thanks!
Hi Mak. I definitely think you'd hear a difference. The Cobalt improvements are subtle, but noticeable (i.e. not night and day but definitely a clear upgrade). Having said that, I'd question of that's the best use of your money for your system. What are you looking for specifically with the upgrade? (Smoother sound, better stage size / depth / more detail retrieval, etc?)
Maybe i would like a bit smoother, more liquid type of sound response. Should i sell dragonfly red or keep it for different purposes? Does cobalt drive hd650 well from phone? Because i have these headphones too
@@makpap7999 not sure if cobalt would match with hd650 that way since I don't have hd650 but I think I see some post in head-fi saying that cobalt can drive hd650 from phone.
I would suggest that it won't be 100% ideal with HD650s, but it would still perform well based on past experiences. 300 ohm cans generally require stronger power output to reach their full potential.
I returned the Cobalt after 2 weeks. It did sound cleaner than my FiiO Q1 Mark 2 with my Shure SE846 but not $300 worth. Yes it is a very portable DAC but I just can’t justify spending that much money on the Cobalt when the $99 FiiO sounds pretty damn good and has balanced output.
Thanks for commenting, Roger. It all comes down to people's needs and uses. I agree that it's getting to the point of diminishing returns compared to some of the great, cheaper options out there
@@PassionforSound i am also curious how the Ear Studio 100 compares to the cobalt? i have been using the ES100 for the past year or so and soncially it delivers both as a headphone dac and as a bluetooth receiver for stereo systems. Perhaps you could share your thoughts in a future review?
Hi Alan, I can't specifically comment on the ES100, but I own the Astell & Kern equivalent, the XB10. The limiting factor on these devices is the fact that they use Bluetooth which at this time can't match the sound of a fully wired solution like the DragonFly. It's not to say that they're bad products (I love the XB10), but you have to decide if wireless connectivity is more important than ultimate sound quality. Bluetooth devices like the ES100 / XB10 will generally lack a little bit of fine detail and dynamics compared to a fully wired solution.
I love the wireless connection of the ES100 which keeps me on the couch and provides a much needed break from flipping records. : ) I have been told the ES100 - which now supports LDAC - transmits a very strong signal and loss is minimal. That said when used as a direct DAC in my laptop the tones do sound a touch better. One day i will A/B with a wired device. Thanks for your thoughts.
I just bought one of these to use with my iPhone and AudioTechnica ATH-M50X. I can barely discern any difference between using it and not. Am I doing something wrong?
You should definitely be hearing a difference. As an Android user, I can't say what the exact issue is, but other viewers might be able to help. What playback app are you using?
Passion for Sound Just the native music app on the phone. I can hear a slight improvement in bass on some tracks but overall the volume isn’t even boosted. It almost sounds like a straight pass-through.
Sorry Mak. I can't say. It's been many years since I used any new FiiO gear because I generally don't enjoy their house sound. Hopefully another viewer will chime in with an answer...
Are Amps necessary for IEMs? I'm looking to pick up the CF Polaris 2's and was wondering if something like the Dragonfly cobalt would suffice. Are there even IEM's that require amps like some headphones do?
Hi Devin, most portable DACs like the DragonFly have an amp built in so they are ideal on their own to drive IEMs or headphones. You definitely don't need an additional amp.
Hi Again Sir, I'm hoping you can help me out here. I just wish there was a way I could private message you so I wouldn't have to ask you questions in public. But I do so ever appreciate that you've helped me so far and Thank you for it. I finally recieved both the Sundara and the Dragonfly Cobalt. I don't know if I'm doing something wrong but I expected so much better with this combination. I decided to give the headphones a trail dry run through my PC and it was horrible, Muddy and No volume. Ok, I know they needed the amp to power the planners so I added the Dragonfly and it did improve a bit but I was expecting so much more. I got the amazon Hi-Res and Tidal trial runs and the same. Is it possible I got a bad Dragonfly? ( it has stayed on Blue the whole time ) Every review on both the headphones and DF Dac had nothing but good things to say about both, but I was expecting to blown away and that was not the case. I hope you can help me out here. Again, Thank You for your Generosity and God Bless... Jim P.
Hi Jim, you could get private messaging access via Patreon if you'd like, but I'm ok answering here. I try to respond to all comments. It's highly unlikely you got a bad Dragonfly. The fact it's staying blue makes me wonder if the software you're using isn't directly accessing the DragonFly (i.e. the software is sending the music via the operating system which is not ideal). In the tidal interface, you can click on a little icon in the bottom right corner of the play bar and it will let you choose the output device. Make sure that the DragonFly is selected here and then find and play an MQA album. If everything is working properly you should see a purple light on the DragonFly. Get to that point and see how the headphones sound. If you're still not happy, you might be expecting too much from the DragonFly and you might need to think about a bigger scale setup with a desktop DAC and amp or something like the Chord Mojo if you need portability.
@@PassionforSound Okay, I've gotten down to the heart of the problem. I contacted Amazons tech help and spoke with both manufacturer's and the problem is the headphones and not the DF. After talking with Audioquest I was able to get the DF to work properly on Tidal but the volume was still very low on the Sundara's, Hence HiFiman is going to replace them. As for your suggestions I am going to keep the DF but maybe add a high power amp or amp/dac for my desktop. I would go for the Mojo but do very little traveling. Let me know If you have any recommends for a powerful desk amp so I can get a good punch, kick and high volume when the Sundara replacement arrives. Thank's Again, Jim P.
Glad to hear you have a solution under way, Jim! Depending on your budget, the SMSL SP200 and Drop THX AAA 789 (massdrop.7eer.net/n5MMX) are both very good. There's also a well-reviewed amp currently on Drop. I haven't heard it myself, but people say good things about it. massdrop.7eer.net/EMBBK
@@PassionforSound Yes, I was actually very impressed with the customer service I recieved from Audioquest. I even recieved a follow up call from one of their engineers who was more in tune with desktop audio. As for Hifiman it was a quick "We will replace them" when I mentioned the very low volume. Apparently this has been a common problem judging by their quick response. I think at this point I'm going to hold off on an amp until the new Sundaras arrive. There is always a chance that the DF will be enough power to drive the new Sundaras. Hifiman is allowing me to hold on to the one I have now until the new one arrives. I did however look at a few of your recommendations. I saw nothing but good reviews on all of them. And most fit into my budget of around $300. I was particularly interested in the Xduoo TA-20 tube amp. But being new to all of this I'm not sure if a tube amp is the right way to go, but with your much appreciated help and guidance, I am learning. The new Sundaras are due to arrive on the 24th. and will touch base with you then. Again Much Thanks, Jim P.
I would get a big dac amp but I dont wanna carry around another box or device I think it's nice that it just can hang off your phone like another cable
Agree. That's 100% the appeal of the DragonFly. There's a slight sacrifice compared to separate components, but you can't (easily) take separates with you on a train or for a walk.
@@PassionforSound yea I just want something small I can use for my modded sr60e's I dont want to have to carry another box or worse a dap and a audio source I just wanna use my phone and not take much more of a footprint
How does this compare to the Apple Lightning to 3.5mm headphone jack adapter? The cost is only $9. I am using this adapter with my iPhone and Laptop. Supports up to 24/48. Seems like that is all anybody needs unless they have the golden ears, LOL!
I have something bad to say about it. Been using the Red and I hate how only services like Tidal and Qobuzz can be used with Android and that too only with a custom USB Audio Player Pro App ( which costs $$ and is a mess of an interface)...the majority of the market using say Spotify can't use these products on Android and I hate that!
That's a really good point! Unfortunately this is more of an issue with Android than the Cobalt as it affects other DACs I've tried too. But you're right that it's a shame when the USBAPP app is basically mandatory to enjoy good quality audio from any Android device.
Hi Michael, I don't think they're that different in terms of performance. The Cobalt is probably better and I do prefer it, but I think the Red is more different than worse. The Cobalt has a more spacious, smooth sound compared to the Red's upfront and "detailed" sound (to be clear, it's not more detailed, just a bit brighter sounding). I would choose based on the style of sound you like first and the small performance improvement second
@@PassionforSound I see, it may be easier if places like best buy let me test it before buying, but I don't really have a good frame of reference for the differences. So basically one has a more spatial surround sound area, and the other is flatter with more details into the instruments and voice? Would you say they are better than lgs quad dac?
Yeah, it's hard to know without hearing, but you've described it well. I'd say DFs are very very slightly better than the LG Quad DAC phones, but it's a close call and may depend on the setup used (i.e. phone settings plus earphones/headphones used)
@@PassionforSound Pity. I actually jumped into buying one. I like it for the price - punches way above its league. I love how the bass becomes well defined without obscuring the vocals and instruments. Plus it did not do anything inappropriate with my wallet :)
Thank you! It will drive them, but not optimally. You'd be best to run an external amp for high impedance gear if you want the best possible sound. Sadly, I don't own any 300 ohm cans at the moment so I can't test it for you to give you an exact answer of volume levels, etc.
It will drive a HD 800s with no problem you will just have to turn the volume up a bit higher. I had to turn it up to perhaps 70% to match volume to the Focal clear I was testing it against with the Cobalt I already owned. Funny you should mention the Clear, that's the one I ended up walking away with.
Hi Tony, the LG phones are amazingly good for an all-in-one solution. I have the V30 and G7 and while the Cobalt might offer a tiny improvement in sound, it could also just come down to preference and I certainly wouldn't bother spending the extra money or having to carry the extra component. The LG sound is already about as good as it gets from a truly portable solution.
Hi Janne, it does quite a good job with my HD800S so it should do fine with the 660S. Don't expect the performance of a desktop system, but it's an excellent portable solution.
Ok, I think the E30/L30 is a good place to start. Another option is the Schiit Asgard 3 with the Multibit DAC card. DragonFly is still a good choice if you want mobility but the Topping stack will best it.
Android does only do 16 bit. So the dragonfly will not do MQA on a smartphone without an extra app. Getting the app is a must it will upgrade the dragonfly by a lot. Cant be said in an amount. You can say it gives a bit more energy to the music. (app = USB Audio Pro)
Good point Enola! USB Audio Player Pro is a great app and a must have for anyone with an external DAC (or a high quality internal DAC like an LG phone)
I wouldn't expect it to be better as a DAC, but the headphone outputs from receivers are generally not great so a separate headphone amp might be a better option.
Hi Neehal, the DF Red is comfortably better than the UA1. I did some comparisons in my UA1 review (can't recall which products I compared exactly) so you might want to check that out for more clarity on the UA1's performance level
hiiiii I decide to make a cobalt dac for tin p1. In your opinion it is a good set. Cobalt can drive p1. 2. I do not like the shrill sound and i hate high treble sound and. I like the natural sound... 3. how is the ibasso dx 120 ?... which one have better sound thx
@@PassionforSoundhi again With mp3 320k is the change noticeable? Does the volume go up? Is the bass getting better? My only concern about high treble... how is the treble... THX
The Cobalt will improve MP3 playback just as much as lossless. It should provide better bass and better volume than onboard DACs in phones / computers too. The treble is great. No need to worry about that - it's smooth and refined, but still with detail
Passion for Sound i have a astell kern dap that has a dac inside. If i add a Df to it does that double the power or would one just override the other ?
For me the mids got narrowed and lost a ton of zest or life. Everything sounded untextured in the background except the bass and a small upper range. The lows were outstanding. Female vocals stood out, but slightly overly so. The highs were toned down and mellow. I preferred the iphone dongle dac over the sound of the cobalt. I prefer an unflavored and open sound. I might have gotten a bad one. Who knows? At any rate I returned it promptly.
I use the DF Cobalt with my iPhone, and I have compared it with the Apple dongle DAC. To me, there is no comparison. The quality of sound from the Cobalt is so much better, in all ways. Of course, it is also highly dependent on your source material, as well as the headphones you are using. I have the 7Hz Timeless IEMs, which do an outstanding job of sound reproduction, and I listen to lossless and hi res lossless tracks on Apple Music. I'm amazed at the things I now hear in some music tracks that I never heard in the past. One tip about using any dongle DAC (other than the Apple dongle DAC) with an iPhone: Apple makes two different Lightning to USB-A adapters. There is the cheaper one, that looks very much like the Dragon Tail that comes with the DF Cobalt (although it's white, of course!) and the more expensive Lightning to USB-A adapter is larger, but also has a Lightning Port on it, to plug in a charger. I own both of these adapters, and what I found is that the larger adapter, with a charger plugged into the Lightning port, does a better job with the DF Cobalt because the charger provides more power to run the DAC. When using the smaller/cheaper Lightning adapter, the iPhone needs to power the DAC, and I think it's close to the limit of an external device that the iPhone can power and run. As proof, when I use the small Lightning to USB-A adapter with a USB flash drive, my iPhone will alert that the flash drive requires too much power. However, if I do the same thing with the larger Lightning to USB-A adapter, having a charger also plugged into it, the iPhone will mount the flash drive and read it.
@@RbNetEngr yeah, I had the smaller Apple camera adapter and who knows it may have been faulty. I’ve since tried a cheaper Fosi DAC that just used a lightning to usb c adapter. I didn’t like that one either. The Cobalt was way better than the Fosi though. I had Amazon Unlimited and it has ultra HD. The Fosi seemed to lose a massive amount of low end detail and was tuned way too hot in the highs. It’s a bit frustrating so I think I’m just going to stay with the Apple dac. I hear the Chord Mojo is the boss but I can’t justify the expense (yet).
@@AK-xu5sj The big advantage of using an external (non-Apple) DAC with the iPhone is that the Apple DAC can only support music quality up to Apple Lossless music, but not any of the higher rate Apple High Res Lossless music. The highest rate that the Apple DAC supports is 16 bit 44.1Khz. But if you are listening to higher resolution music on Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal, or even Amazon Music (Ultra HD), then even though the source music is coded at higher rates (say, 24 bit and up to 192KHz) the Apple DAC doesn't support that, so it will essentially "down rate' it to 16 bit 44.1KHz. Apple Music provides all of their music for the same subscription price, but other music sources charge extra for access to higher resolution music tracks. So if you're paying extra for them, and then listening to them via the Apple DAC, you're essentially wasting your money.
Hi Joe, technically the DragonFly is a DAC and amp that will comfortably drive almost any headphone. Is there a particular setup you have in mind where you're wondering if the DragonFly can do the job?
@@PassionforSound Oh, okay, my mistake. I thought it was just a DAC. Have you compared the Cobalt to an Apogee Groove? I am looking for this kind of small, flash-drive size DAC/Amp to pair with my iPod.
I haven't compared it to the Apogee because the Apogee has mediocre reviews from other people whereas the Cobalt has stellar reviews everywhere I look. I don't think the Groove will stack up (but this IS an assumption on my part)
Great video, thanks. Just a question: I live in a place with 230v and possibly moving to Japan, which is 100v. I'd like to get a desktop amp, but given the voltage differences do you think a Dragonfly might be my best solution (for the next year, until I move)? Or can you suggest any other solution? Cheers. PS I have a pair of Grados and I've just signed up for a Tidal trial.
Many of the current amps and DACs have multi-voltage power supplies so you could go ahead and buy whatever you like and just use an adapter to suit the different power sockets when you move. Just double-check before you buy to confirm it will work across a wide voltage range. Alternatively, if you want to keep things simple the Dragonflies are excellent, but the Cobalt is the pick of them. At a lower price, the EarMen Eagle is better than the Red or Black DragonFly. Also consider the Chord Mojo and EarMen TR-Amp which are both outstanding and battery powered so you can charge them from a USB socket or phone charger. I've reviewed the EarMen Eagle already and the EarMen TR-Amp review is coming out this weekend.
@@PassionforSound Thanks for that. Yes, I thought that might be the case, but then I emailed Schiit and asked them and they replied their HP amps only were sold to 115-230, so it got me thinking. Much appreciated!
I have had the black for a few years now with the Cobalt I find it to be more transparent but I still can't get past the fact that it is fatiguing I'm not sure I can get used to that.
Wow. Are you finding the Cobalt fatiguing and the Black not fatiguing? I haven't heard the Black. Only the Red and Cobalt, but the Cobalt is smoother than the Red so that's interesting.
@@PassionforSound yes I was talking about the cobalt. For sure it sounds better with 1500$ iems than with say 300$ ones but from time to time I find it hard to use for too long especially at high volume. It seems kinda bright and harsh
It's probably a sign that the volume is too loud for safe, extended listening. The Cobalt is one of the warmest and smoothest dongle devices I've used. Sometimes, better (smoother) devices actually trick us into listening louder than we realise so that might be what's going on.
The ‘Cobalt’ has the same 2 Vrms output as the ‘Red’. Not worth the extra cost! For this price, IFI audio makes some extremely powerful and capable dac/amps. The IFI Hip Dac crushes both the red and the cobalt in power output.
The Hip DAC is also a lot larger and has its own battery that needs charging. Not really like-for-like. Also, power output doesn't define sound quality so there's more to it than the "on paper" specs.
@@PassionforSound Brent Butterworth one of the most knowledgeable and honest audio writers wrote in the ‘Wire-cutter’ that the cobalt wasn’t worth the extra cost, and that it sounded the same as the red. Brent is both a musician and an audio engineer so his opinion matters a lot. I’m a formally trained musician, and I found both the hip-dac and earmen eagle to reproduce instruments and voices naturally with no distortion. I love your videos and presentation style. Very matter of fact! Keep up the great work!
It's always a challenge when looking at any reviews because it's all subjective in this hobby. I've owned both the Red and Cobalt and chose to buy the Cobalt because it definitely sounded different and better than the Red to my ears. I think that's why it's good to check multiple reviews before making purchases because it can vary from one reviewer to the next, but hopefully a group of trusted reviewers will provide some degree of consensus. I'm also a trained musician (violin, viola and piano) and agree that the Eagle sounds great (can't comment on the Hip DAC). There are very few dongles on the market now that don't sound natural, but they all have slight characters to their sound and/or varying levels of detail retrieval/resolution so that's generally the separation between models in my mind.
@@PassionforSound Wow 🤩 You’re a trained musician! Classical? Then as a classical music buff myself I would love to see you incorporate Wagner, Brahms, Schubert, Mozart, Chopin, and of course the Lords Beethoven & Mahler in your videos. My respect for you just increased ‘Googol’ fold!!!!
Haha. Yes, classical training on violin and viola. More jazz on piano, but only a short time (3 years) of formal learning on piano and largely self-taught before and after that. I'm actually not a big classical listener which is why I don't always discuss classical music in my reviews, but I'm starting to consciously include some classical in many of my newer reviews so I can discuss anything specific that might be relevant for classical listeners (the ZMF Atrium review is a good example)
You'll get more out of it with better headphones, but the 1000s will do fine with it when using them wired. (They can be used wired, can't they? I have a pair, buy haven't checked that function)
@@PassionforSound Yeah, they can be used wired. I was surprised to find that the sound quality was significantly inferior when wired directly into my iPhone compared to an AAC bluetooth connection. The bluetooth connection was louder, the soundstage was more spacious, and there was greater clarity in the overall sound. I initially thought of the possibility that the XM3's EQ settings were disabled when wired, but I don't think that would explain the discrepancy in loudness. On another note, do you have any recommendations for headphones under 500 dollars?
The loudness and better sound you heard was likely the result of the Sony's internal amplifiers being better than the phone. Most wireless headphones disengage any onboard processing/amplification when used wired. As for headphone recommendations, are you looking for open or closed and what type of sound do you like? (Warm and engaging or leaner and more analytical?)
@@PassionforSound I'm more interested in open headphones, as I have never actually worn a pair and would like to see what they bring to the table. I would prefer a recommendation for each sound signature, as I suspect certain genres are best suited for one or the other.
@@tyroneslothdrop9155 That's true to a degree about the sound signatures, but a great headphone should really sound good with everything. For less than $500 (USD?), I think I'd look at something like the Sennheiser, HD6xx, Shure SRH1840, or as good starting points beyerdynamic Amiron.
Big problem with the cobalt it that to use it with the iphone you need the Apple adapter which is a very poorly constructed thing with no longevity at all. I've been using the Cobalt to feed a 3.5mm aux in on a Tivoli Model two so I can listen to Audio books at night as well as music through iem at work. I'm now on fourth variation of adapter now in under a year. Currently have two lots of additional shrink tubing on the Apple adapter to beef it up. Audioquest need to supply it with high quality lightning adapter or sell one.
Hi Giorgi, yes it can (up to 24/192) either from a computer or from a smartphone. If using Android, you'll need USB Audio Player Pro (UAPP) to bypass the Android sound system and send the signal straight to the DragonFly.
It's a must if you listen music on your laptop or phone. So much improvement in sound. It's like magic. Excellent review. It's short and straight to the point. Well done.
Thanks Steve!
I just went from the Black to the Cobalt and the latter is definitely a significant upgrade. Well worth it.
Thanks for sharing as I haven't tried a current Black.
@@PassionforSound Black 1.5 user here, I've tested it against Cobalt on AKG and Sennheiser headphones. Aside from loudness difference, I honestly didn't register any improvement by simple blind tests
Thanks for the nice comments on Cobalt and Red!
They're great products, Gordon!
I listen to the red daily now for the last two years, the Cobalt to my ears sounds less fun so I had to send that back. Thanks for the great work you do on these products.
@@RamisDad yes when I listened in hi-fi shop that's what I thought the cobalt is slightly more spacious but takes away somehow mabie it's not just me
@@petercarrick2678 I think you are right on. If you are a very technical listener you may enjoy the Cobalt more, otherwise to most average people, I feel like they would prefer the red listening side by side.
I think the Red comes across a bit more energetic and dynamic than the Cobalt. I'm not surprised that some still prefer the Red as I could easily talk myself into the same conclusion - they're both that great!
Hello Sir, Just to give you a follow up. I am finally listening to my music with a smile. I picked up the Mayflower O2 Amp. It made all the difference in the world. I recieved it the same day as the new Sundara's arrived. However, I decided to try the DF and the new amp with the original Sundara's and OMG!!! The sound is absolutely incredible through Tidal's Master MQA tracks. It's got all the kick, punch and clarity I was looking for, Plus I now have the loudness as well.
I would just like to send you another Big Thank You for all of your help and suggestions. Take Care and God Bless Sir, Jim P.
That's brilliant news! I'm so glad to hear that, Jim. Enjoy your tunes!! 🎧
good lad
@@Drothen- Thank You
Watching this at a time when Audioquest has a sale on the cobalt.... having never owned a DAC this was super informative. I've pulled the trigger on the cobalt and I'm excited to hear how this transforms my digital music experience! You have a new subscriber here - thank you!
Great choice! I think you'll be thrilled. So glad I could help. 🙂🙂
@@PassionforSound - follow up...got my cobalt today...I've been covered in non stop goosebumps all day. This thing is frickin amazing....
Yay! I always love hearing impressions like this. So glad you're enjoying it!!
Thank you! Your video made it an easy decision for me to choose the Dragonfly Cobalt over the Red, and over the Meridian Explorer 2 DAC. I definitely like hearing separation of instruments and prefer an openness to the sound stage. I am going to use it for my iPhone XS Max. I used to have an LG mobile that had a decent DAC built in, but the iPhone doesn't have that so these will do the trick! Your video was awesome.
Thanks Jerel! Enjoy your new DAC. It will sound a lot like your LG (if you had one of the recent ones like V30) only perhaps slightly better.
Hi Sz Ki, the G7 definitely did (although with a slightly different implementation I believe). After that, I think the V40 may have, but the V50 seems to have changed so that it depends which region you're in as to which DAC you get. Don't quote me on that as I've moved away from LG due to their software being a bit buggy compared to Samsung so I'm not fully up-to-date on the LG specs and configurations anymore.
JEREL JOSEPH BEDUYA Did it work for you?
RIP LG
💯
My wife got this for our anniversary. Bless her
Got it for you or you got it for her? 🙂
Tbh there are so many reviewers out there that are now saying (the hype has passed) the Red is actually equal or even better than the Cobalt that I have a hard time after watching your review not to wonder how much of an advertiser you could be (as opposed to a reviewer).
Genuine concern. Whatever this is, it is spectacularly well done.
That's a fair question. If you check out my reviews of products like the Sendy Apollo, Topping EX5 and Cavalli hybrid tube amp (I can't remember which model), you'll see that I give negative reviews and positive reviews on this channel. They're also not influenced by affiliate income (as the Topping EX5 review provides).
Coming back around to the Dragonflys, the problem we have is that some reviews have begun to focus entirely on measurements to draw conclusions. These measurements don't tell the whole story of whether something sounds good to our ears and brain (Topping EX5 is a great example). I firmly believe that the Dragonfly Cobalt sounds better than the Red. I chose to sell the Red and keep the Cobalt after this review because it just sounded better to my ears.
Finally I can explain my wife why I need this!
Haha. Good luck!
LMFAO
Me to! 😅
😊
Since the day it came out, the Red is my most used piece of hifi equipment. Home, work and on the road it’s always with me. Can’t wait to try the Cobalt.
It's a nice upgrade. The Red is still great, but the Cobalt is even better
@@PassionforSound 3.5 output, what adapter do I need?
3.5mm to RCA? Depends what you're trying to attach it to. If you're going from DF Red / Cobalt to an amp then it's a 3.5 to stereo RCA cable you'd need
Passion for Sound /would like to connect a usb dac to a older phone with a 3.5 mm Headphone output jack to a home stereo....basically anything with a 3.5 mm out jack, but I do need USB female on one side to connect this type of Dac. Not sure what type of adapter I would need type A? type C?....Sorry I’m new at this
....I want to thank you before hand
Ah, I see! Android or iPhone? And you might need to check your version on Android (if not an iPhone) to confirm that it will support an external DAC. After that, you'd buy an adapter from the phone USB socket (probably microUSB on an older phone) to female USB-A.
Good explanation. No unpacking just good presentation.
Thanks Paul!
A really nice and clear review, tahnk you! :) Subscribed now.
Thanks Patsesson!
I have only watched a couple of your reviews and I must say very well done and professional. Some other you tubers could learn from your videos. I do like the idea of patreon allowing for your subscribers to pass along and try different gear. Does this apply to all the headphones and gear that come through? And at what cost to join? Thanks on the excellent review!
Hi Brandon, thanks for the compliment. Unfortunately the gear tour idea was scrapped because of logistics issues around postage costs. I've changed it now so that different patron tiers give extra bonus chances to win gear instead of just lending. You can see the options at patreon.com/passionforsound
Actually MQA = Master Quality Authenticated. My understanding is that the "1st unfold" is the main step up in resolution, but the "2nd unfold" is relatively minor
Thanks for the correction on what MQA stands for! In terms of the unfolding, there are 3 layers. Step 1 is handled by the application (e.g. Tidal or Roon) and returns the original file to basic 44.1/16 quality (i.e. like a normal res FLAC file).
The 2nd unfold is what they call rendering and is where a device like the DragonFly unpacks further info to achieve the hi-res version of the file. You're correct that this is probably the most significant improvement.
The 3rd and final unfold is for decoding devices such as the Meridian Explorer 2 which (based on what I have read) has been measured and tested specifically to allow for music file to be optimised in line with the characteristics of the DAC and in order to get the most possible accuracy in terms of timing and spatial cues, etc.
This is what I could understand from reading up on MQA, but I have to say the marketing info around it is quite vague as to what exactly happens at each level of the unfold - particularly at level 3.
The 1st unfold can be done in software, but can go up to 24/96. You can demonstrate this by feeding an non-MQA dac from your computer’s Tidal app (assuming the dac has a bitrate indicator). The 2nd unfold, in the dac is filtering/noise shaping. But I’m not an expert. I would suggest reading Archimago’s blog/posts on this
Thanks for the tip. Like I said, the info on the MQA website is really vague and unclear! :)
Thanks again for the info. I've done a bit more digging and have a good explanation of what's really going on now (from here: bobtalks.co.uk/blog/science-mqa/mqa-playback/#). I'll upload a correction video shortly to make up for my incorrect explanation of the sample rates.
@@PassionforSound Not true, the FLAC unfold is not in the MQA discussion. The unfold is different depending on what the root file is. Decoding happens first and does the unfold depending on what the root file is and where it goes when going to the DragonFly. So some files will go to the DragonFly in MQA at 24/88.2 and others will go to 24/96. This again depends on what the root file is and how it was encoded during the MQA process.
Hello Sir, I'm new to the audiophile world and after ton's of research I've decided on the HiFiman Sundara and Drangonfly Cobalt for my desktop. I haven't recieved either of these products yet but was hoping for an experts opinion on the choices I've made.
I'd also like to add that I really enjoyed this video on the DF Cobalt and after subscribing I'm looking forward to more reviews in the future. It's also nice to see that you, unlike many other reviewers, answer your followers. Have a Great Day or Night Down Under... Thank You
Hi James and welcome to the channel!
I don't know the Sundaras, but a friend I trust has said very good things about them and the DragonFly is great. I think you've made a really good decision for your first foray. The only reason I say "first foray" is that this hobby tends to be a journey and you may discover that you better come to understand your tastes in gear after trying a few combos. Enjoy the journey!
@@PassionforSound Thank You So Much for replying to my question. It's nice to know I made a good choice for the Cans and Dac. I can also see this "first foray" is going to be Exciting but an Expensive hobby down the road. That combo I just laid out for was $700 US Dollars. But I don't mind spending the money if what I'm buying is quality.
My only other question if you wouldn't mind is what Hi Res streaming app would you recommend? I already have Spotify and not interested in Amazons HD music app. I listen to mostly 70's/80's and 90's Rock/Pop and Metal. No Hip Hop / Country or Classical.
Again, Thank You for your kindness here. I am currently newly retired at 62 and don't have any friends who are audiophiles. So this is a Huge help for me getting started. I will continue following your excellent video's to keep up with my new "first foray"
I personally use Tidal, but it's largely because I don't have a lot of choice. That said, with the DragonFly you have the opportunity to try MQA audio which is an area of strength for Tidal (I've got a separate video discussing MQA if you're not familiar with it). The other service you might want to consider is Qobuz as I believe they've got a good library, but I haven't trialled because they don't service Australia yet. The good news is you can normally get a free trial of these services for long enough to see what you like.
Best wishes for your audio journey and feel free to keep asking any questions. 🙂
@@PassionforSound Hello again Sir, I did watch your MQA review and now have a full understanding, Thnak You!!! I did look into Tidal and Qobuz. Both have a Free trial period so I'm going to try both. I am still waiting for my Sundara's and Drangonfly Cobalt to arrive, but in the mean time I'd like to ask another question. In this video you do mention a possible external Amp or Pre-Amp. The two you suggested, The BottleHead and The THX are a little out of my price range. It may come down to not needing one at all, but if I do decide to add one what can you suggest in a 2 to 3 hundred US Dollar price range?
I'd definitely start with just the DragonFly. Get to know it a bit before adding an amp as it will allow you to really understand the benefits of the amp and how it's influencing the sound quality of your headphones. When that time comes, the SMSL SP200 is a very good option. You could also look at amps from Schiit (Jotunheim and Modi) and the JDS Labs Element is good too I believe.
I am watchig this video 4 years after.
The reason is because I am watching your videos for the last 1,5 year and time to time I search if you have review some product that interest to me.
I had a Chord Mojo, and I finally replaced it by the Dragonfly Cobalt because sonically it sounds good for me and it's much moore convennient and portable.
I still use it, and combine with Xduuo XD05 Plus when I want to listen to my AKG K712 Pro.
What I dissapoint with the Dragonfly Cobalt is using it with my ThinkPad X230T as USB DAC, because it generates a lot of noise, and theoretically the circuit has some filters for avoid the USB noise.
Anyway for using it with my phone or iPad it's great.
What do you think about the Cobalt today?
I haven't owned the Cobalt for quite some time now. I think newer dongles with newer technology might surpass, but I couldn't be certain without trying it.
Really helpful and insightful video. Thank you
You're welcome! 😁
I recently bought cobalt for € 260 but my choice was strongly influenced by my brain's desire to have the maximum possible. actually I would have been equally satisfied with red by spending less than half the price spent on cobalt.
It's funny how that works. Be comforted by the fact that the Cobalt is the better sounding device 😉
HI! Thanks so much for this great review! Very helpful. I'm not an official "audiophile", but obsessed about audio quality because I'm a DJ of traditional Argentine Tango music, playing music from a diverse range of transfers from the late 1920's to mid '50's. Not exactly modern recording technology. But I've used the Red Dragonfly for many years to great effect, and am considering the Cobalt. I love the Red DF as it gives new life to tracks that otherwise would be too muddy, scratchy, or just too tired sounding to play through a good speaker system for dancing. The DF is amazing....my sound always gets compliments. I play off a Mac Air and Macbook Pro, mostly AIFF format and decent quality 320kbps.
I was wondering if you have listened to "less than stellar-resolution tracks" using the Cobalt, and if the result
is worth switching from the Red? I'm thinking the MQA feature alone would make it worth while for my non tango music, but I'm hoping that the more advanced Cobalt will even improve upon the Red's great performance. Thanks again, you're a really good teacher!
Hi Ilene, the Cobalt will definitely help to smooth out a little of the harshness from poor recordings without losing any detail or clarity. I do think it would be a worthwhile upgrade based on what you've said.
Sounds like you get very good use out of your DragonFly and that others get to enjoy it too - that's great!
Thankyou again! I just ordered it. Very excited. Also, I keep wanting to respond to those who say they can’t tell the difference in sound red vs cobalt. I think many people don’t realize it’s not necessarily what you immediately hear. Sound affects you physically and you may not even realize it. Not knowing that I use a DF, many dancers tell me they love the energy of my music, that although I play the same tracks as other tango DJ’s, the “old” music I play doesn’t make them tired... and sounds just beautiful. Subtle changes you might not actually hear can make a world of difference. There’s one reviewer who swears there’s no difference with the Cobalt, and shows many pages of notes of listening sessions. I suggest people stop thinking and trying to figure out how it sounds better, and just sit back, stop trying to analyze it to death, and just listen with open ears and open mind! Maybe they’ll rediscover how good music can make us feel on every level. Thanks again fir your fine work! All best, stay safe. 🎶
Such a great point! I'm a firm believer in the value of mixing long term listening tests with direct A/B comparisons for exactly this reason. Our ears (and brain) are complex tools that can focus on fine details and differences or can relax into just enjoying or not enjoying. Both are very valid measures of audio quality. On top of that, we can trick our brains if we're not careful to put aside expectations and test our own assumptions.
In the end it all comes down to what you (and your audience) enjoy more. Glad they're having fun and that you get to facilitate that for them!
@@PassionforSound ❤️🎶
@Dan Car i use only music files I have downloaded onto my Mac Air. I Never stream will DJing.
As a long time owner of the dragonfly red, i found that the reduced treble in The Cobalt made the sound decidedly unexciting and less fun than the dragonfly red. So I ended up sending the Cobalt back.
That's interesting. Thanks for sharing. I'm guessing this will have a lot to do with the earphones/headphones you use and your personal taste in sound. It's good for people to know that the Cobalt isn't always better for everyone.
so is it worth to buy this to use with my Audio Technica ATH-MSR7b? i pretty much always listen to FLAC files through my phone. how much better will the sound be? because i am not familiar with this kind of mini DACS. kinda skeptical really. i have used normal DACS and you can adjust everything on those. how does that translate in to this kind of mini DACS? i mean it cost almost 300 euros over here. i do want to know if it is really worth it or not.
Hi MV, you'll definitely get improvement compared to either Bluetooth connection and/or direct output from a phone or computer. Specifically, you'll get better detail retrieval, soundstage and overall tonal balance. If you want to spend a bit less, but still get amazing quality, check out the EarMen Eagle. My review is coming very soon, but it's amazing and only $119 USD.
@@PassionforSound hey thanks for the tip. Yeah I don't like Bluetooth. Sound is way too compressed. My audio Technica is amazing. But I am subscribed so I look forward to it. Can you do maybe a direct comparison to that one and the cobalt? Or even the red one? Because I am kinda interested in that one also. Anyway I will wait for your review. Hope I can buy that one in my country also then
It's already recorded and includes a direct comparison to the DF Red 😉
It releases in early Jan (first week, can't remember if it's a Saturday or Wednesday video)
@@PassionforSound np I see the notifications.
The Cobalt is better than an apogee groove? The groove is maybe not as portable. Have you tried the groove?
I haven't tried the Groove - sorry!
Amazing review!!
Wha's your take on the DF Cobalt vs the Lotoo PAW S1?? which one do you suggest between these two
Hi HiFiGo, I haven't had a chance to try any Lotoo players yet so I can't say - sorry
I've got a Sony z7m2 which I use on PC but the sound isn't great and the volume is low. Can you please recommend a dac/amp I can use for my windows pc that would cost somewhere between $150-250. thanks
I'd go for the DragonFly Red: amzn.to/2U8QNsr
Great performance, nice and compact so you can use it portably too. Will totally transform your sound from the PC. The only other options in the price range that are better (based on what I've heard) are things like the Topping D50S, but you'd still need to buy an external amp. The DragonFly is so good because it's all-in-one
Thank you for great review. I have one question. Is cobalt works properly with ipad pro? And can i use that dongle with ipad pro? Is it better than apple’s usb c dongle?
Hi Syavash, unfortunately I haven't tried an iPad pro so I can't comment. Hopefully another viewer can help out.
I have a question: I own a Klipsch ProMedia 2.1computer speaker that I use with my Mac. Would the Dragonfly improve the signal coming from the Mac and help the ProMedia sound better as well?
Thanks!
Hi! I would definitely expect the sound to improve with the DragonFly. Without knowing your speakers specifically it's hard to say exactly how much of the benefit you'll hear, but you'll at least be getting close to the maximum sound quality of the speakers I expect.
I personally would always use a separate DAC (like DragonFly) whenever listening to music from a computer. Computer DACs can be ok, but never great.
@@PassionforSound Thanks a lot. Keep up the great work. Subscribing right now!
I plug mine straight into my Windows 10 laptop and only get line level volume, like the headphone amp becomes disabled. Otherwise it’s a pretty incredible sound and I agree with your analysis.
Glad you like the sound. What do you mean about the line level volume? Is it not giving you enough output for your headphones/earphones?
@@PassionforSound Windows sometimes locks the volume at 20% on first use, so went into sound settings and moved the volume slider. Now it's working perfectly.
Great news!!
Thanks for asking mate, and great channel 👍🏾
I've had no less than 3 DF DACS - one Black and two Reds - and they all stopped working eventually. Yes these devices might sound great but the build quality is awful. Every one I had rattled and the usb connector was loose. Some reviews have noted this and have said it doesn't seem to matter but it does; you need to be incredibly careful and ideally use a dragon tail or similar because they just get more loose over time and eventually stop working. Looking at other reviews it seems the Cobalt has the same issue. For the asking price I'm just not prepared to risk it.
Hi Darren, sorry to read of your experiences. I think my Red has a slightly loose USB plug and I have also heard about the loose plugs from others, but I've not heard about the failures you've experienced before. Really sorry to hear you've had those issues.
Hi, will the Cobalt work well with the Audeze LCD-2 Fazers? Thanks
I haven't ever tried that combo (I sold my LCD-2s before owning the Cobalt), but I expect it should be fine for normal/safe listening levels
Thanks. It does 2 out of 3. MQA. Got it
Well put, Jet!
I am no fan of MQA, but some people like how it sounds. Apple lossless seems to have its own issues based on a few videos and articles I've seen - they might be messing with the music in their own way (although not to the degree of MQA). Personally, I'm a big fan of Qobuz, but whatever works, whatever you have access to, and whatever you like should be the deciding factor 🙂
I need help: I have a galaxy s10+ phone and I'm considering to buy the dragonfly cobalt but I never tried it... how much it improves the sound quality compared to my phone? I use the headphones Sony wh 1000xm4 with cable, are they good enough to use with this dac? Of course I have flac 44.1/48/96 khz hi res file on my internal storage. Does it worth the very high price? Please let me know, thanks.
Hi Senza, I haven't tried the XM4 to know exactly what they're capable of, but you'll notice a significant improvement with the Cobalt I expect. It produces a better sense of separation and clarity in the sound that should be quite noticeable.
I'm really surprised you like this. I bought the DragonFly Cobalt (£268), THX Onyx (£170) & 9038d (£97) from Amazon with the intention of using their no-quibble 30-day return policy to return two of them. The THX & 9038d were like The Aussie cricket team Vs The Pommies, it was a bloodbath. The Cobalt didn't have the power; I'm not going to tell you what sound you should think is beautiful, that's a personal choice. In the end, it came down to THX & 9038d. If you need MQA take the THX, I didn't, so I saved myself £70 which I'm putting towards a tube amp at some point...
The 9038 is excellent. I haven't tried the Onyx.
One of the challenges with dongles is that they have vastly different power output from one to the next so it depends on whether you're prioritising sound or power and that's before considering personal preferences and synergy with your headphones or IEMs. I ended up selling my Cobalt and sticking with the EarMen Sparrow as my premium dongle.
Very nice review. Clearly explained . Is there a way to connect DAC to a older stereo receiver (doesn't have USB) so I can stream music to my stereo headphones ( wired connected to receiver or Bluetooth). I do have a Tascam CD-A580 connected to my receiver that has a USB built in. Not sure if this matters or helps? Thanks
Hi CKJ, I don't believe that's possible with this unit. You'd be better off buying a decent budget HP amp like a Schiit Magni.
Very useful information! Just bought the Cobalt and upped my songs quality to high res... a pleasure!
Could you tell me if this Dragonfly would be able to power a 120 ohms headphones? I am thinking of the Sennheiser HD 560 S?
Continue the great work!
Hi Romain, it should do just fine with the HD560S. Glad you're enjoying it!
@@PassionforSound thank you so much for your answer!
My pleasure
@@PassionforSound Quick update... I received the Sennheiser HD 560S, works great, clear sound, very accurate and works fine with the Cobalt, no problem at all.
And 120 ohms Sennheiser headphones even works with my old iPod Nano 7th gen, unfortunately I cannot use the Cobalt for it...
Have a nice day, kind regards.
Great news. They're a really nice headphone - enjoy!
There's some discounts at my local av shop, and I can get the cobalt for around 220 $, or the ifi xdsd for 300 $. How does it compare, sq wise, with thr ifi xdsd? Ignoring extra functions/form factor?
Hi Vadim, I haven't tried the xdsd - sorry.
I know it's subjective, but about how much better would this sound than the audio from an iPhone 6s? 10%? 20%?
Hard to put a number to, like you said, and I don't have an iPhone, but based on my experience with the Galaxy S10+ which has decent onboard sound, the difference is big. I've got the iBasso DC02 here for review at the moment and it's a modest improvement only. The Cobalt is a leap up in sound quality so I'd maybe say a conservative 40-50%
I bought the earmen eagle, but noticed that it chews through power on phone, just wonder Lachlan, what's the power use out of the cobalt?
Hi Ben, I never really checked because I've had no major concerns with either. I'm surprised to hear that you're finding the Eagle power hungry. I use both the Eagle and Sparrow and find both to be reasonable on power usage. I sold my Cobalt so I can't compare directly for you, but haven't noticed any significant difference since swapping to the EarMen DACs.
What are you driving with the Eagle?
Is it possible that the Apollo Solo can drive the NDH 20? My 2019 MacBook Pro cannot do it alone. Volume is super low. Not good for mixing or anything else.
Sorry, I don't know the Apollo Solo to comment
any opinion on whether it would be worth it to buy this solely as a dac output from my mac and then into my tube headphone amp (which only has analog inputs)
It will work fine for this purpose, but you'll generally get better performance from a dedicated desktop device like the Topping E30. I'd only buy the DragonFly if portability is important (in which case it's great!)
Is Audioquest Dragonfly Cobalt compatible with Grado Labs SR80e? Just making sure before I make a purchase because other people complain about hearing lots of hiss, pops and clicks.
Hi Kevin, I used the Cobalt with sensitive IEMs so there's no reason for concern with the SR80. I wonder if the people complaining of noise are using Android and not using an app like USB Audio Player Pro to bypass the Android OS audio processing because that will cause noises on any external DAC.
@@PassionforSound This actually makes sense. Thanks!
Great! Hope I've helped
hey, I am looking for a usb DAC in 200-300usd price range to my office. I don't care about portability. My headphones Sennheiser HD 569. Would you recommend cobalt, D50s or some other alternative? Currently, there is a sale in Europe making cobalt 250USD which is probably hard to beat...
The Cobalt is outstanding. The D50S from Topping does outperform it if you don't need portability or onboard amplification, but as an all-in-one solution that also happens to do MQA if you need it, the Cobalt is a winner
@@PassionforSound thank you for help and sharing your knowledge! Have a great day!
I know we are talking about two totally different products, but I'm interested in buying either the cobalt or the fiio m11 pro. I believe the m11 pro would be preferable given it being it's own device, being able to charge while playing, having balanced output and good MQA decoding, but is more expensive.. Does anyone know how the SQ/ amplification of the two devices compare, it is going to be my main deciding factor. Thank you for any answer and for that review which will help making that decision later on !
I know this was from 9 months ago but ill place it here in case someone else is wondering. I have both and love both. Only speaking for the sound (primarily with IEMs) the m11 pro sounds better in almost all areas. The exception being i feel like the bass in the cobalt has a tad bit more presence. However, I wouldn't say the sound of the m11 pro beats the cobalt by a large margin. 20% better maybe whatever that means. Having said that though I feel like the Cobalt is much more musical. I find that while the m11 pro sounds more precise, more accurate, etc the Cobalt has you bopping your head and tapping your feet much more than the m11 pro. It just feels a tad dry. So if you're looking for the most accurate sound possible than def m11 pro is better. But the Cobalt still sounds fantastic and to me is much more musical. I find i just get more into the music with the Cobalt.
Thanks for taking the time to share, JL!
So, you're saying that the Cobalt will be less "trebley" than the Red? thx
Definitely. It might technically have the same extension and detail, but delivers the sound more smoothly
Which albums did you listen to when doing A-B testing between the Red and Cobalt?
It's so long ago now that I don't remember - sorry!
@@PassionforSound not a problem, I can understand considering all the gear you go through.
I'm new to the audio scene and recently purchased the Tin HiFi 4 headphones. Will buying a DAC improve the sound quality of those or is it only used for certain types of headphones?
Hi Abel and welcome to the world of audio! Yes, a DAC will increase the sound of any headphone or earphone you use (even cheap crappy earbuds that come with smartphones!) You're Tin HiFi 4s should show significant improvement with a dedicated DAC depending on what you're currently using.
@@PassionforSound Thank you so much for answering the question!
Hey, I really like your reviews. Have you compared the cobalt to other dac/amps? And do you think it worth $300 compare with other device? My main setup right now is iPhone x + Hugo2 + ie800s/se846/Stellia, but it's a bit difficult to carry while not using my backpacks. So I'm considering a more portable setup. Let me know your options. Thank you!~
Thanks Perry! I just compared it with the Topping D50s (desktop, not portable) and the D50s is slightly better in my opinion. I also recently listened to a Mojo and was impressed, but didn't have the Cobalt with me to compare. Ultimately, I think form factor should be a big deciding factor when thinking about the DragonFly range. If you go bigger you can get better sound, but nothing I've tried matches the sound quality of the Cobalt with the ease of portability. It's an inline dongle compared to a separate brick.
In other words, if you're looking for better portability and don't mind a small reduction in quality compared to your Hugo, the Cobalt is a no-brainer
@@PassionforSound Thanks for getting me back. I was a bit skeptical about Cobalt, because some other objective/measurement reviews(For example: archimago.blogspot.com/2019/08/measurements-dragonflies-audioquest.html). But I guess subjective may be more important in Audio territory, or maybe that guy just got a bad sample. Anyway, you just sold me a Cobalt, I will give it a try and let you know how it compare with the Hugo.
Objective measurements are always interesting. On one hand they provide excellent insights into potential shortcomings such as the apparent clipping on the Cobalt at full volume, but they can rarely tell the whole story.
Chord gear tends to measure extremely well so the Cobalt probably won't stack up well objectively, but I find it an enjoyable and engaging listen which is equally as important as the measurements IMO. I'm keen to hear your impressions when you get it. I have a Chord Qutest on the way so we'll be able to compare thoughts on Chord vs AudioQuest DACs.
Will these work for headphones with a low impendence of 10ohms? I use a hidizs DH80s and it’s ok but could be better. Thank you
Yes, they will, but they might not be better than the DH80S. What is the issue you're having?
hi. have you tried ibasso dc02? if you have, how does it compare to the cobalt? is it worth the extra money?
Hi Bagus, I haven't, but John Darko seems to like it so I think that's a good sign (I'm not sure I've really ever heard him criticise something which is why I'm not 100% sure of the endorsement)
@@PassionforSound I also saw in a couple of videos on youtube that the cobalt have a quality control issue, that the usb connector that is connected to the gut of the device has too big of a tolerance with the body and therefore it wiggles. Is that the case with the unit that you have as well? I am curious. I am considering between the dc02 and the cobalt, i was leaning towards the cobalt as many reviewer seems to have a high regard for the cobalt but then the quality control issue really bothers me. also there are far more review on the cobalt then the dc02, at this point I might just try my luck with the dc02 since its 1/3 of the price of the cobalt
I hadn't heard about that issue. Mine certainly has no issues.
@bagus prasetio I've bought a DC02 from a local store to compare and review. If you haven't bought it yet, I can post a quick comparison for you soon and a full video review early in the new year.
@bagus prasetio, I received the iBasso DC01 & DC02 today. The Dragonfly Cobalt beats them both convincingly. The iBassos are very good and a definite upgrade from smartphone or PC onboard sound, but the Cobalt is definitely worth the extra $$$. The sound from the Cobalt is more open, expansive (i.e. larger stage), has a blacker background and is generally more engaging. If you have the extra cash, go for the DragonFly Cobalt (or even Red). If you don't want to drop the extra cash, the iBassos are still a very good option.
When using the Cobalt with an iPhone 6s (with new battery) and FiiO fa7 the battery drains very fast. What are your experiences ?
I'm an Android user, but my experiences with Red and Cobalt Dragonflies are that they are very power efficient. This makes me think that the iPhone power management is the problem.
Hi, what do you feel makes the cobalt better than say the Hidizs S9 Pro?
I haven't listened to the S9 Pro in depth yet (but I do have one here to try). Generally though, as dongle DACs improve you get a better sense of soundstage size and instrument separation. Detail retrieval also often improves because everything isn't all crammed together
can cobalt handle 24bit 192khz qobuz hi res song ? because mine cannot, the indicator is green , which is 44khz , when i set up qobuz setting to 24 bit 96khz, the indicator is light blue , which is 96khz .
I believe it can, but I'm not 100% sure and don't have the Cobalt anymore to test - sorry!
@@PassionforSound ok thank you for your comment then
Do you think Cobalt would improve MacBook Pro sound a lot? Years ago I got a Meridian Explorer 2, couldn't tell a difference from MBP dac.
Btw I use Grado phones.
Hi Dean, I believe the MB Pro may have a very good DAC already so you may not find a drastic upgrade going to something like the DragonFly. You might need to go to something more like a Mojo or iDSD Black to really improve on it. I'm not a Mac user though so you might want to get some other opinions.
@@PassionforSound Thanks for quick reply, you helped me save money :)
Hi, thanks for the review i'll try to get the cobalt, it feels like a fair price but now i wonder:
i want to use the DAC to improve the sound quality over my pc's motherboard VIA vynil audio (which is a 192KHz DAC, but still i think ANY of the dragon fly is better), so i want to use my PC as a preamp for so to say, so a desktop DAC would be better, if so in which way?
A desktop DAC will outperform a dongle DAC in almost all cases. I'd recommend a Topping E30 or E50 and supply power from a phone charger (rather than USB) for a major improvement over the onboard sound
@@PassionforSound oh thanks... so even a entry level desktop DAC will be a better option? what you think about the IFI zen DAC V2... seems like a good deal
I haven't tried the Zen, but I would expect it to still beat most or all dongles.
You should try the Apogee Groove and if possible, the 30th anniversary edition.
I have a Groove. How does the Cobalt compare?
I haven't yet heard the Groove - sorry!
Great review, and in easy to understand speak for a newbie like me. Ive already and small desktop/portable DaAC/Amp, the audioengine d1, which has an output of 2v rms, would you consider the AQDF Cobalt a superior device to use with my mac mini as the music server and a pair of beyerdynamic DT880 (600ohm) or DT990 (250ohm)? Thanks.
Hi David, I haven't heard the D1 to be able to comment on a direct comparison. The DragonFly is excellent, but it may not be a huge upgrade from the D1 as the D1's larger size may allow for some additional tech inside which may or may not improve its performance relative to the DF. Having said that, the D1 is a more multi-task oriented device (i.e. headphones and RCA outputs) so if you only need to drive headphones and not any speakers then the DF may be a more pure audiophile product. Sorry I can't offer more clarity for you.
Passion for Sound thats great, thanks. I’m going to give them both a try with the DT880(600ohm) and DT990 (250 ohm) from Beyerdynamic- i’ll post again to let you know how it goes - thanks!
That would be great! I've actually got a pair of DT880 250s on the way soon
Hi, men how do you compare the cobalt against LG V30-35 or a DAP like Cowon D2 Plenue??? THANKS!!!
Hi! I haven't heard the Plenue D2, but the Cobalt is a noticeable upgrade over the LG V30. It's not a massive, leap but definitely noticeable.
How do I know if the dragon fly cobalt I buy is original or counterfeit?
I'm not sure - sorry. I haven't specifically heard of counterfeit Dragonflies, but I guess it's possible. Buying from a proper retailer is normally a good option and if it's too cheap that's not a good sign.
Hello, very informative video. Thanks.
Do you think the cobalt will drive Focal Clear headphones well? I’m going to use them with my IPhone. Thanks
I've just woken up, but let me check this for you a little later this morning and I'll let you know. Should be no issue at all because the Clear are pretty sensitive for full size audiophile headphones
Just checked and it's actually a brilliant pairing. I need about 60% volume for my upper end of listening using an Android phone with USB Audio Player Pro, the Cobalt and the Clears
Passion for Sound thank you very much! Have a great week and congrats for the great channel!
No sweat. You're welcome!
How does the dragonfly cobalt match with the shure se 846?
Beautifully!
what would you compare the cobalt with or have a good soundstage and spacy! like cobalt
The EarMen Sparrow and Eagle are both excellent comparisons with the Cobalt. The Eagle isn't quite as good. The Sparrow is better, but only via the balanced output
@@PassionforSound i actually just try that one out today it didn't sound as much as the Cobalt. Cobalt sounded more bright which i with more clearity. I use the Sundara
They're a bit different so there could be some benefits with certain headphones. Ultimately you should always go with the one you enjoy most
Do you know if this will be a notable improvement over no DAC is if use it with a pair of wired Sennheiser HD1 momentums?
Hi Sayyed, this will absolutely improve any wired connection compared to no DAC. (I'm assuming you mean from a PC, Mac or phone output)
Passion for Sound Thabk you so much for replying!!! And yes that’s exactly what I mean. 300 dollars is a little steep, but I’m looking for a fav I can use for my phone, my computer, as to drive external speakers if I ever need to.
You're welcome! Based on my experiences so far (including iBasso DC01, DC02, DragonFly Red, numerous older portable DAPs/DACs) the Cobalt is worth the investment. Be aware if using with external speakers that it seems you're best keeping the Cobalt at about 80-90% max volume (if your speakers have their own volume control) as there may be some clipping at full volume (line level) on the Cobalt.
Passion for Sound Got it, thank you for the advice!
How would the dragonfly compare to the lg g8 dac ?
Hi Albert, I can't say for certain as I don't have the G8, but the Dragonfly Cobalt is noticeably better than the DAC in the V30 & G7 - not massively better, but noticeably
Great review!
Little correction: MQA actually uses lossy compression instead of lossless. Small difference, but still worth noting ;)
Thanks Mark. I thought MQA was meant to be special because it provided lossless hi-res at smaller file sizes. Do you have a link to the info about compression so I can read up?
@@PassionforSound John Darko has written a nice article about it: darko.audio/2016/06/an-inconvenient-truth-mqa-sounds-better/
To summarize: in technical terms it is lossy compression, but practically it is almost lossless.
Thanks for sharing. That explains what I understood (but may not have clearly explained) which is that the compression itself is still at a lossless level (at least to standard res). It's the adjustment of the original signal that makes the process 'lossy', but if you're only losing errors, is it really a loss?
I've been doing some similar testing to John's lately and I'm not necessarily agreeing with what he heard. I don't dislike the MQA sound, but the jury is still out for me as to whether I prefer it over the hi-res source files.
@@PassionforSound Some other reviews have concluded that the MQA files on Tidal are louder than the CD quality. If you level match them, I'm not sure I can tell the difference at all. YMMV.
It's so hard to know. I've been trying some tests lately and I feel like MQA has some advantages (better sense of space and stage size), but loses some perceived clarity (which may be glare in standard PCM files). Haven't noticed volume differences, but this could come from which original files were used for the different versions
Thank you for the review. Just getting into MAQ through Tidal. Totally newbie question but would this help the depth of sound when watching movies through iTunes on my iPad or iPhone with headphones?
Hi Freddie, you're welcome 🙂
The DragonFly will definitely improve the sound for all sources (movies, etc.) The difference won't be quite as big as it is with MQA from Tidal, but it will still do a better job than the inbuilt DAC and headphone amp in your phone or tablet.
Can I use the Cobalt for a stereo system, to connect it to a laptop that is connected to an integrated amplifier?
Absolutely! Just grab a 3.5mm to stereo RCA cable and set the volume on the laptop to just below maximum (about 90%)
@@PassionforSound Please explain to me why at 90%, because otherwise I use 100% volume on the laptop. Thank you
If I'm remembering correctly, the Cobalt distorted slightly at full volume and was best just 1-2 clicks back from full. If you search for "DragonFly distortion at full volume" there's probably a good article about it out there.
How would you compare the Cobalt to the Beyerdynamic impacto if you have tried it?
I've compared the Impacto and DF Red (in the original review) and IIRC I slightly preferred the Red, but it was close. The Cobalt is clearly better than the DF Red so the Cobalt will also be notably better than the Impacto
@@PassionforSound Thanks for the speedy reply. Luckily I own the Cobalt so don't need to consider the impacto. I use the T5P gen 2
No worries. Definitely stick to the Cobalt! 🙂
Hey! I use dt 1990 pros with dragonfly red as dac and beyerdynamic a20 amplifier. Is it good setup? Will i hear any difference in that assembly with dragonfly cobalt? Thanks!
Hi Mak. I definitely think you'd hear a difference. The Cobalt improvements are subtle, but noticeable (i.e. not night and day but definitely a clear upgrade). Having said that, I'd question of that's the best use of your money for your system. What are you looking for specifically with the upgrade? (Smoother sound, better stage size / depth / more detail retrieval, etc?)
I’ve owned both red and cobalt. It really is a big upgrade. I’m sure you could notice it. Most notable for me is bigger soundstage and punchier bass.
Maybe i would like a bit smoother, more liquid type of sound response. Should i sell dragonfly red or keep it for different purposes? Does cobalt drive hd650 well from phone? Because i have these headphones too
@@makpap7999 not sure if cobalt would match with hd650 that way since I don't have hd650 but I think I see some post in head-fi saying that cobalt can drive hd650 from phone.
I would suggest that it won't be 100% ideal with HD650s, but it would still perform well based on past experiences. 300 ohm cans generally require stronger power output to reach their full potential.
apparently MQA it not lossless?
That does seem to be the case. This is an old review now back from when MQA was still very new and not properly understood
I returned the Cobalt after 2 weeks. It did sound cleaner than my FiiO Q1 Mark 2 with my Shure SE846 but not $300 worth. Yes it is a very portable DAC but I just can’t justify spending that much money on the Cobalt when the $99 FiiO sounds pretty damn good and has balanced output.
Thanks for commenting, Roger. It all comes down to people's needs and uses. I agree that it's getting to the point of diminishing returns compared to some of the great, cheaper options out there
@@PassionforSound i am also curious how the Ear Studio 100 compares to the cobalt? i have been using the ES100 for the past year or so and soncially it delivers both as a headphone dac and as a bluetooth receiver for stereo systems. Perhaps you could share your thoughts in a future review?
Hi Alan, I can't specifically comment on the ES100, but I own the Astell & Kern equivalent, the XB10. The limiting factor on these devices is the fact that they use Bluetooth which at this time can't match the sound of a fully wired solution like the DragonFly. It's not to say that they're bad products (I love the XB10), but you have to decide if wireless connectivity is more important than ultimate sound quality. Bluetooth devices like the ES100 / XB10 will generally lack a little bit of fine detail and dynamics compared to a fully wired solution.
I love the wireless connection of the ES100 which keeps me on the couch and provides a much needed break from flipping records. : ) I have been told the ES100 - which now supports LDAC - transmits a very strong signal and loss is minimal. That said when used as a direct DAC in my laptop the tones do sound a touch better. One day i will A/B with a wired device. Thanks for your thoughts.
I just bought one of these to use with my iPhone and AudioTechnica ATH-M50X. I can barely discern any difference between using it and not. Am I doing something wrong?
You should definitely be hearing a difference. As an Android user, I can't say what the exact issue is, but other viewers might be able to help. What playback app are you using?
Passion for Sound Just the native music app on the phone. I can hear a slight improvement in bass on some tracks but overall the volume isn’t even boosted. It almost sounds like a straight pass-through.
I instantly felt a difference when switching from my headphone jack on my phone to the cobalt
Sam Ho Then maybe mine was defective. That’s what all the reviews say.
I also use fiio q5 with balanced output and also am5 module. Can the cobalt surpass it?
Sorry Mak. I can't say. It's been many years since I used any new FiiO gear because I generally don't enjoy their house sound. Hopefully another viewer will chime in with an answer...
Are Amps necessary for IEMs? I'm looking to pick up the CF Polaris 2's and was wondering if something like the Dragonfly cobalt would suffice. Are there even IEM's that require amps like some headphones do?
Hi Devin, most portable DACs like the DragonFly have an amp built in so they are ideal on their own to drive IEMs or headphones. You definitely don't need an additional amp.
@@PassionforSound thank you sir
Hi Again Sir, I'm hoping you can help me out here. I just wish there was a way I could private message you so I wouldn't have to ask you questions in public. But I do so ever appreciate that you've helped me so far and Thank you for it.
I finally recieved both the Sundara and the Dragonfly Cobalt. I don't know if I'm doing something wrong but I expected so much better with this combination. I decided to give the headphones a trail dry run through my PC and it was horrible, Muddy and No volume. Ok, I know they needed the amp to power the planners so I added the Dragonfly and it did improve a bit but I was expecting so much more. I got the amazon Hi-Res and Tidal trial runs and the same. Is it possible I got a bad Dragonfly? ( it has stayed on Blue the whole time )
Every review on both the headphones and DF Dac had nothing but good things to say about both, but I was expecting to blown away and that was not the case. I hope you can help me out here.
Again, Thank You for your Generosity and God Bless... Jim P.
Hi Jim, you could get private messaging access via Patreon if you'd like, but I'm ok answering here. I try to respond to all comments.
It's highly unlikely you got a bad Dragonfly. The fact it's staying blue makes me wonder if the software you're using isn't directly accessing the DragonFly (i.e. the software is sending the music via the operating system which is not ideal).
In the tidal interface, you can click on a little icon in the bottom right corner of the play bar and it will let you choose the output device. Make sure that the DragonFly is selected here and then find and play an MQA album. If everything is working properly you should see a purple light on the DragonFly. Get to that point and see how the headphones sound. If you're still not happy, you might be expecting too much from the DragonFly and you might need to think about a bigger scale setup with a desktop DAC and amp or something like the Chord Mojo if you need portability.
@@PassionforSound Okay, I've gotten down to the heart of the problem. I contacted Amazons tech help and spoke with both manufacturer's and the problem is the headphones and not the DF. After talking with Audioquest I was able to get the DF to work properly on Tidal but the volume was still very low on the Sundara's, Hence HiFiman is going to replace them.
As for your suggestions I am going to keep the DF but maybe add a high power amp or amp/dac for my desktop. I would go for the Mojo but do very little traveling. Let me know If you have any recommends for a powerful desk amp so I can get a good punch, kick and high volume when the Sundara replacement arrives.
Thank's Again, Jim P.
Glad to hear you have a solution under way, Jim! Depending on your budget, the SMSL SP200 and Drop THX AAA 789 (massdrop.7eer.net/n5MMX) are both very good. There's also a well-reviewed amp currently on Drop. I haven't heard it myself, but people say good things about it. massdrop.7eer.net/EMBBK
@@PassionforSound Yes, I was actually very impressed with the customer service I recieved from Audioquest. I even recieved a follow up call from one of their engineers who was more in tune with desktop audio. As for Hifiman it was a quick "We will replace them" when I mentioned the very low volume. Apparently this has been a common problem judging by their quick response.
I think at this point I'm going to hold off on an amp until the new Sundaras arrive. There is always a chance that the DF will be enough power to drive the new Sundaras. Hifiman is allowing me to hold on to the one I have now until the new one arrives. I did however look at a few of your recommendations. I saw nothing but good reviews on all of them. And most fit into my budget of around $300. I was particularly interested in the Xduoo TA-20 tube amp. But being new to all of this I'm not sure if a tube amp is the right way to go, but with your much appreciated help and guidance, I am learning.
The new Sundaras are due to arrive on the 24th. and will touch base with you then. Again Much Thanks, Jim P.
I would get a big dac amp but I dont wanna carry around another box or device I think it's nice that it just can hang off your phone like another cable
Agree. That's 100% the appeal of the DragonFly. There's a slight sacrifice compared to separate components, but you can't (easily) take separates with you on a train or for a walk.
@@PassionforSound yea I just want something small I can use for my modded sr60e's I dont want to have to carry another box or worse a dap and a audio source I just wanna use my phone and not take much more of a footprint
How does this compare to the Apple Lightning to 3.5mm headphone jack adapter? The cost is only $9. I am using this adapter with my iPhone and Laptop. Supports up to 24/48. Seems like that is all anybody needs unless they have the golden ears, LOL!
I haven't tried the Apple dongle yet, but I keep getting asked so maybe I should...
I have something bad to say about it. Been using the Red and I hate how only services like Tidal and Qobuzz can be used with Android and that too only with a custom USB Audio Player Pro App ( which costs $$ and is a mess of an interface)...the majority of the market using say Spotify can't use these products on Android and I hate that!
That's a really good point! Unfortunately this is more of an issue with Android than the Cobalt as it affects other DACs I've tried too. But you're right that it's a shame when the USBAPP app is basically mandatory to enjoy good quality audio from any Android device.
What desktop or portable DAC AMP provides the best hard hitting bass? I’m currently using the Chord MOJO but don’t feel the bass is satisfying.
Hi Zac, I haven't spent long with the Mojo, but it should be one of the very best options around. What headphones/earphones are you using?
Where did you find the song in the beginning
Hi Josh, I get my music from Epidemic Sounds
Would you recommend the red or the cobalt? Is the cobalt much better than red at a price per performance ratio
Hi Michael, I don't think they're that different in terms of performance. The Cobalt is probably better and I do prefer it, but I think the Red is more different than worse. The Cobalt has a more spacious, smooth sound compared to the Red's upfront and "detailed" sound (to be clear, it's not more detailed, just a bit brighter sounding). I would choose based on the style of sound you like first and the small performance improvement second
@@PassionforSound I see, it may be easier if places like best buy let me test it before buying, but I don't really have a good frame of reference for the differences. So basically one has a more spatial surround sound area, and the other is flatter with more details into the instruments and voice? Would you say they are better than lgs quad dac?
Yeah, it's hard to know without hearing, but you've described it well. I'd say DFs are very very slightly better than the LG Quad DAC phones, but it's a close call and may depend on the setup used (i.e. phone settings plus earphones/headphones used)
@@PassionforSound so both the red and cobalt are better?
Yes, I think so, but only by a small margin.
Great review. I have the dragonfly cobalt and the red. These little things are beasts. Any review of the IFI Zen Dac?
Hi Ray, I was hoping to arrange that with iFi, but the local iFi distributor decided they didn't have any loan units to spare. ☹️
@@PassionforSound Pity. I actually jumped into buying one. I like it for the price - punches way above its league. I love how the bass becomes well defined without obscuring the vocals and instruments. Plus it did not do anything inappropriate with my wallet :)
I think I might buy one, should I get the cobalt?
The Cobalt is still the best device of its kind that I have tried
@@JohnConnor636 If you can get the red, go for that instead. You have the same performance for the price.
Great review! :) Do you think Cobalt can drive 300 ohm headphone?
Thank you! It will drive them, but not optimally. You'd be best to run an external amp for high impedance gear if you want the best possible sound. Sadly, I don't own any 300 ohm cans at the moment so I can't test it for you to give you an exact answer of volume levels, etc.
Check head-fi and some are using it with sennhieser hd6xx
It will drive a HD 800s with no problem you will just have to turn the volume up a bit higher. I had to turn it up to perhaps 70% to match volume to the Focal clear I was testing it against with the Cobalt I already owned. Funny you should mention the Clear, that's the one I ended up walking away with.
Thanks for confirming, Cliff! The Clears are brilliant.
Hello, I have the lg v40 with beyerdynamic xelento, so you believe I will any difference with the cobalt?
Hi Tony, the LG phones are amazingly good for an all-in-one solution. I have the V30 and G7 and while the Cobalt might offer a tiny improvement in sound, it could also just come down to preference and I certainly wouldn't bother spending the extra money or having to carry the extra component. The LG sound is already about as good as it gets from a truly portable solution.
Thank you for this straightforward answer! As an LG V30 owner I was wondering this very question. Still very happy with the V30 sound quality.
@@davidfairchild1640 me too! let's hope the lg will keep the jack.
Thanks for a great review.
Will the Cobalt drive my Sennheiser HD660S without any issues?
Hi Janne, it does quite a good job with my HD800S so it should do fine with the 660S. Don't expect the performance of a desktop system, but it's an excellent portable solution.
That’s great thanks. What desktop system would you recommend for the HD660S?
All depends on your budget, Janne. Something like the Topping E30/L30 stack would be a nice starting point.
My budget is around $300
Ok, I think the E30/L30 is a good place to start. Another option is the Schiit Asgard 3 with the Multibit DAC card. DragonFly is still a good choice if you want mobility but the Topping stack will best it.
Android does only do 16 bit. So the dragonfly will not do MQA on a smartphone without an extra app. Getting the app is a must it will upgrade the dragonfly by a lot. Cant be said in an amount. You can say it gives a bit more energy to the music. (app = USB Audio Pro)
Good point Enola! USB Audio Player Pro is a great app and a must have for anyone with an external DAC (or a high quality internal DAC like an LG phone)
Does iOS (iphone) do 24 bit natively? And if so, up to how many kHz?
Would this be a better DAC than what is in my Onkyo and Denon receivers?
Onkyo RZ820
Denon AVR-X4500H
I wouldn't expect it to be better as a DAC, but the headphone outputs from receivers are generally not great so a separate headphone amp might be a better option.
@@PassionforSound Thank You for the reply
is it just plugged into the usb on a pc?
Yep. Either that or you can use adapters to plug it into a smartphone
How does it compare to Shan Ling UA1?
Hi Neehal, the DF Red is comfortably better than the UA1. I did some comparisons in my UA1 review (can't recall which products I compared exactly) so you might want to check that out for more clarity on the UA1's performance level
How about a comparison review on dragon fly Cobalt vs ibasso DC02
It's on the way, Rajesh. The DC02 arrived just before Christmas.
hiiiii
I decide to make a cobalt dac for tin p1. In your opinion it is a good set. Cobalt can drive p1.
2. I do not like the shrill sound and i hate high treble sound and. I like the natural sound...
3. how is the ibasso dx 120 ?...
which one have better sound
thx
Hi Hadi, I haven't heard the DX120, but the Cobalt will be a great match for your tastes
@@PassionforSound thank you good man.i am very glad to meet you
@@PassionforSoundhi again
With mp3 320k is the change noticeable? Does the volume go up? Is the bass getting better?
My only concern about high treble...
how is the treble...
THX
The Cobalt will improve MP3 playback just as much as lossless. It should provide better bass and better volume than onboard DACs in phones / computers too.
The treble is great. No need to worry about that - it's smooth and refined, but still with detail
@@PassionforSound thank you for answer
✋✋❤
Can you use the headphone jack to plug in the DF ? By using a headphone to usb adapter instead of using the lighting cable ?
Interesting idea. I'm not sure. Perhaps an Apple user can respond.
Passion for Sound i have a astell kern dap that has a dac inside. If i add a Df to it does that double the power or would one just override the other ?
One just overrides the other and the A&K DAPs will generally outperform the DragonFly
For me the mids got narrowed and lost a ton of zest or life. Everything sounded untextured in the background except the bass and a small upper range.
The lows were outstanding. Female vocals stood out, but slightly overly so. The highs were toned down and mellow. I preferred the iphone dongle dac over the sound of the cobalt. I prefer an unflavored and open sound. I might have gotten a bad one. Who knows? At any rate I returned it promptly.
Sorry to hear you didn't enjoy it. The Apple Dongle is surprisingly good though 🙂
I use the DF Cobalt with my iPhone, and I have compared it with the Apple dongle DAC. To me, there is no comparison. The quality of sound from the Cobalt is so much better, in all ways. Of course, it is also highly dependent on your source material, as well as the headphones you are using. I have the 7Hz Timeless IEMs, which do an outstanding job of sound reproduction, and I listen to lossless and hi res lossless tracks on Apple Music. I'm amazed at the things I now hear in some music tracks that I never heard in the past.
One tip about using any dongle DAC (other than the Apple dongle DAC) with an iPhone: Apple makes two different Lightning to USB-A adapters. There is the cheaper one, that looks very much like the Dragon Tail that comes with the DF Cobalt (although it's white, of course!) and the more expensive Lightning to USB-A adapter is larger, but also has a Lightning Port on it, to plug in a charger. I own both of these adapters, and what I found is that the larger adapter, with a charger plugged into the Lightning port, does a better job with the DF Cobalt because the charger provides more power to run the DAC. When using the smaller/cheaper Lightning adapter, the iPhone needs to power the DAC, and I think it's close to the limit of an external device that the iPhone can power and run. As proof, when I use the small Lightning to USB-A adapter with a USB flash drive, my iPhone will alert that the flash drive requires too much power. However, if I do the same thing with the larger Lightning to USB-A adapter, having a charger also plugged into it, the iPhone will mount the flash drive and read it.
@@RbNetEngr yeah, I had the smaller Apple camera adapter and who knows it may have been faulty. I’ve since tried a cheaper Fosi DAC that just used a lightning to usb c adapter. I didn’t like that one either. The Cobalt was way better than the Fosi though. I had Amazon Unlimited and it has ultra HD. The Fosi seemed to lose a massive amount of low end detail and was tuned way too hot in the highs. It’s a bit frustrating so I think I’m just going to stay with the Apple dac. I hear the Chord Mojo is the boss but I can’t justify the expense (yet).
Great info RbNetEngr - thank you!
@@AK-xu5sj The big advantage of using an external (non-Apple) DAC with the iPhone is that the Apple DAC can only support music quality up to Apple Lossless music, but not any of the higher rate Apple High Res Lossless music. The highest rate that the Apple DAC supports is 16 bit 44.1Khz. But if you are listening to higher resolution music on Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal, or even Amazon Music (Ultra HD), then even though the source music is coded at higher rates (say, 24 bit and up to 192KHz) the Apple DAC doesn't support that, so it will essentially "down rate' it to 16 bit 44.1KHz. Apple Music provides all of their music for the same subscription price, but other music sources charge extra for access to higher resolution music tracks. So if you're paying extra for them, and then listening to them via the Apple DAC, you're essentially wasting your money.
Can you recommend a similar product that has an amp as well?
Hi Joe, technically the DragonFly is a DAC and amp that will comfortably drive almost any headphone. Is there a particular setup you have in mind where you're wondering if the DragonFly can do the job?
@@PassionforSound Oh, okay, my mistake. I thought it was just a DAC. Have you compared the Cobalt to an Apogee Groove? I am looking for this kind of small, flash-drive size DAC/Amp to pair with my iPod.
I haven't compared it to the Apogee because the Apogee has mediocre reviews from other people whereas the Cobalt has stellar reviews everywhere I look. I don't think the Groove will stack up (but this IS an assumption on my part)
Does anyone know how dragonfly Cobalt Stacks up against Ifi hip dac?
I don't yet. Sorry
Great video, thanks. Just a question: I live in a place with 230v and possibly moving to Japan, which is 100v. I'd like to get a desktop amp, but given the voltage differences do you think a Dragonfly might be my best solution (for the next year, until I move)? Or can you suggest any other solution? Cheers.
PS I have a pair of Grados and I've just signed up for a Tidal trial.
Many of the current amps and DACs have multi-voltage power supplies so you could go ahead and buy whatever you like and just use an adapter to suit the different power sockets when you move. Just double-check before you buy to confirm it will work across a wide voltage range.
Alternatively, if you want to keep things simple the Dragonflies are excellent, but the Cobalt is the pick of them. At a lower price, the EarMen Eagle is better than the Red or Black DragonFly. Also consider the Chord Mojo and EarMen TR-Amp which are both outstanding and battery powered so you can charge them from a USB socket or phone charger.
I've reviewed the EarMen Eagle already and the EarMen TR-Amp review is coming out this weekend.
@@PassionforSound Thanks for that. Yes, I thought that might be the case, but then I emailed Schiit and asked them and they replied their HP amps only were sold to 115-230, so it got me thinking. Much appreciated!
Glad I could help
I have had the black for a few years now with the Cobalt I find it to be more transparent but I still can't get past the fact that it is fatiguing I'm not sure I can get used to that.
Wow. Are you finding the Cobalt fatiguing and the Black not fatiguing? I haven't heard the Black. Only the Red and Cobalt, but the Cobalt is smoother than the Red so that's interesting.
I sometimes find it a little too bright or harsh. Even with campfire audio iems
Hi Ryan, are you talking about the Cobalt?
@@PassionforSound yes I was talking about the cobalt. For sure it sounds better with 1500$ iems than with say 300$ ones but from time to time I find it hard to use for too long especially at high volume. It seems kinda bright and harsh
It's probably a sign that the volume is too loud for safe, extended listening. The Cobalt is one of the warmest and smoothest dongle devices I've used. Sometimes, better (smoother) devices actually trick us into listening louder than we realise so that might be what's going on.
The ‘Cobalt’ has the same 2 Vrms output as the ‘Red’. Not worth the extra cost! For this price, IFI audio makes some extremely powerful and capable dac/amps. The IFI Hip Dac crushes both the red and the cobalt in power output.
The Hip DAC is also a lot larger and has its own battery that needs charging. Not really like-for-like. Also, power output doesn't define sound quality so there's more to it than the "on paper" specs.
@@PassionforSound Brent Butterworth one of the most knowledgeable and honest audio writers wrote in the ‘Wire-cutter’ that the cobalt wasn’t worth the extra cost, and that it sounded the same as the red. Brent is both a musician and an audio engineer so his opinion matters a lot. I’m a formally trained musician, and I found both the hip-dac and earmen eagle to reproduce instruments and voices naturally with no distortion.
I love your videos and presentation style. Very matter of fact! Keep up the great work!
It's always a challenge when looking at any reviews because it's all subjective in this hobby. I've owned both the Red and Cobalt and chose to buy the Cobalt because it definitely sounded different and better than the Red to my ears. I think that's why it's good to check multiple reviews before making purchases because it can vary from one reviewer to the next, but hopefully a group of trusted reviewers will provide some degree of consensus.
I'm also a trained musician (violin, viola and piano) and agree that the Eagle sounds great (can't comment on the Hip DAC). There are very few dongles on the market now that don't sound natural, but they all have slight characters to their sound and/or varying levels of detail retrieval/resolution so that's generally the separation between models in my mind.
@@PassionforSound Wow 🤩 You’re a trained musician! Classical? Then as a classical music buff myself I would love to see you incorporate Wagner, Brahms, Schubert, Mozart, Chopin, and of course the Lords Beethoven & Mahler in your videos. My respect for you just increased ‘Googol’ fold!!!!
Haha. Yes, classical training on violin and viola. More jazz on piano, but only a short time (3 years) of formal learning on piano and largely self-taught before and after that.
I'm actually not a big classical listener which is why I don't always discuss classical music in my reviews, but I'm starting to consciously include some classical in many of my newer reviews so I can discuss anything specific that might be relevant for classical listeners (the ZMF Atrium review is a good example)
Are the Sony WH-1000XM3 headphones good enough for this DAC?
You'll get more out of it with better headphones, but the 1000s will do fine with it when using them wired. (They can be used wired, can't they? I have a pair, buy haven't checked that function)
@@PassionforSound
Yeah, they can be used wired. I was surprised to find that the sound quality was significantly inferior when wired directly into my iPhone compared to an AAC bluetooth connection. The bluetooth connection was louder, the soundstage was more spacious, and there was greater clarity in the overall sound. I initially thought of the possibility that the XM3's EQ settings were disabled when wired, but I don't think that would explain the discrepancy in loudness.
On another note, do you have any recommendations for headphones under 500 dollars?
The loudness and better sound you heard was likely the result of the Sony's internal amplifiers being better than the phone. Most wireless headphones disengage any onboard processing/amplification when used wired.
As for headphone recommendations, are you looking for open or closed and what type of sound do you like? (Warm and engaging or leaner and more analytical?)
@@PassionforSound
I'm more interested in open headphones, as I have never actually worn a pair and would like to see what they bring to the table.
I would prefer a recommendation for each sound signature, as I suspect certain genres are best suited for one or the other.
@@tyroneslothdrop9155 That's true to a degree about the sound signatures, but a great headphone should really sound good with everything. For less than $500 (USD?), I think I'd look at something like the Sennheiser, HD6xx, Shure SRH1840, or as good starting points beyerdynamic Amiron.
how does the red compares to helm bolt dac?
I haven't yet tried the Helm device - sorry
Big problem with the cobalt it that to use it with the iphone you need the Apple adapter which is a very poorly constructed thing with no longevity at all. I've been using the Cobalt to feed a 3.5mm aux in on a Tivoli Model two so I can listen to Audio books at night as well as music through iem at work. I'm now on fourth variation of adapter now in under a year. Currently have two lots of additional shrink tubing on the Apple adapter to beef it up. Audioquest need to supply it with high quality lightning adapter or sell one.
Yeah, that's a bummer. I've only been an Android user since the iPhone 3G days so hadn't experienced this.
Hello, can this thing stream hifi audio, when i use Tidal?
Hi Giorgi, yes it can (up to 24/192) either from a computer or from a smartphone. If using Android, you'll need USB Audio Player Pro (UAPP) to bypass the Android sound system and send the signal straight to the DragonFly.
Passion for Sound thanks, and what about iphone?
I'm not 100% sure if it will stream directly. I believe it will, but best to double check
@@PassionforSound Isn't it rather up to 96kHz?
You might be right! Thanks for the correction!