AudioQuest DragonFly 24/96 Asynchronous USB DAC / Headphone Amp

[Dj]

I used Amazon. I returned it to Amazon and got a refund. I ordered a new one again through Amazon.

 

Thanks for the info. I think I have to send it to AQ since mine is more than a month old.

[HiFiInsider]

I got to see the DragonTail in person today. I am surprised that the fit between the DF and DT is not completely together. You can see the metal from the USB connector. It makes the two look like it doesn't go together or an after thought. Am I being too picky on a $30 1/2ft. USB cable? Please tell me if I am out of line.

[junker]

I don't think so when you can buy a gold-plated 6" USB extension for $5 shipped from Amazon:

 

6" USB Extender

[HiFiInsider]

I don't think so when you can buy a gold-plated 6" USB extension for $5 shipped from Amazon:

 

6" USB Extender

 

The DragonTail looks like that but with Audioquest logo on the ends. The cable itself doesn't have any fancy jacket on it like other AQ products.

 

Does that extension cable you linked fit the DF securely? Does the metal on the USB connector show at the joint? The cheapo I got from eBay is a tight fit and covers the entire metal part of the DF. The only issue is it's white and it's 3ft. long.

[HiFiInsider]

My mistake, the DragonTail sells for $16.95 on Amazon.

[junker]

Yeah, I used it when I had a DF and it worked great. Fits tight and keeps you from having any extra socket-unsocket cycles on the silver plating of the DF. I almost think of the extender as being sacrificial. The cable itself is only 4" long - shorter is better IMO. Takes the stress of of your computer's USB socket and helps with wire routing. You'll still have a small portion of the DF exposed since their design left so much of the metal ground connector exposed. Mostly cosmetic. And at least it's not white! For $5 you can't go wrong. MediaBridge products are legit and reviewed well.

[HiFiInsider]

Thanks for your help Junker. I'm gonna order it now. I may still order the DT from Amazon to compare the two. I'll return the one I don't want.

[junker]

That would be cool if you want to write a short review. I'd be interested since the DragonTail wasn't out when I had the DragonFly.

[rbf1138]

Between the Dragonly and the Dacport LX w/ Headstage Arrow amp, what would you guys suggest?

[labjr]

Between the Dragonly and the Dacport LX w/ Headstage Arrow amp, what would you guys suggest?

 

What about Meridian Explorer? It does 192 Khz

[rbf1138]

What about Meridian Explorer? It does 192 Khz

 

It's another $50 over either of these other two and I don't listen to much at that quality anyway. I actually have both the DF and the DACport LX right now, and I'm having a tough time choosing. I get the sense that the DACport is just a higher quality piece of kit. The DF has that great portability aspect, but combined with my Headstage Arrow the DACport seems to be better.

[The Computer Audiophile]

It's another $50 over either of these other two and I don't listen to much at that quality anyway. I actually have both the DF and the DACport LX right now, and I'm having a tough time choosing. I get the sense that the DACport is just a higher quality piece of kit. The DF has that great portability aspect, but combined with my Headstage Arrow the DACport seems to be better.

 

I wouldn't think about the Meridian Explorer as a DAC to purchase only if you have higher resolution material. That would be like buying a car based on it's top speed and your need to drive at a certain speed. This would exclude all the other factors.

 

 

Sure the Explorer is capable of 192, but that's not what makes it so great.

[The Computer Audiophile]

Between the Dragonly and the Dacport LX w/ Headstage Arrow amp, what would you guys suggest?

 

With what headphones?

[rbf1138]

With what headphones?

 

Primarily Audio Technica CK10 IEMs on the go, but at home I have Beyer DT880s.

[rbf1138]

I just ordered the HRT Microstreamer, also, as it sounds like that might be a serious contender.

[PhilW]

Just a heads up that AudioQuest are about to release a leather pouch for the Dragonfly.

 

[Dr Tone]

Mine came with a leather pouch when I bought it many months ago.

[PhilW]

Mine came with a leather pouch when I bought it many months ago.

 

 

The UK got this!

[leres]

BOO-YA! After more than a little mucking about, I'm listening to Alison Krauss with mpd running on FreeBSD through the Dragonfly.

 

The sound is worth it.

I got a Dragonfly today but although it sounds great, there's a POP ever 5 seconds. It's the same for 44.1 and 48 KHz source material.

 

Here's my setup:

 

The audio player is xmms 1.2.11.

 

The DACs I have been using are Realtek ALC883 and ALC888's on the motherboard of my the motherboards on my systems. /dev/sndstat says:

 

ice 327 % cat /dev/sndstat
FreeBSD Audio Driver (newpcm: 64bit 2009061500/amd64)
Installed devices:
pcm0: <ATI R6xx (HDMI)> on hdaa0  (1p:1v/0r:0v)
pcm1: <Realtek ALC883 (Analog 7.1+HP/2.0)> on hdaa1  (1p:2v/2r:1v)
default
pcm2: <USB audio> at ?  (1p:1v/0r:0v) 

The Dragonfly is pcm2.

 

I just finished installing musicpd/mpc and getting that working and I still hear pops when playing mp3s.

 

Another problem I see is that xmms, musicpd and ossplay don't seem to be setting the Dragonfly to the right sample rate; it's always Magenta (96K) and if I use -R with ossplay to inhibit conversions I see:

% ossplay -R -d /dev/audio2 song.wav
Warning: Playback using 96000 Hz (file 48000 Hz) 

And the playback is twice normal speed (and has pops every 5 seconds).

 

Could you please share your setup (e.g. version of FreeBSD and the ports and port options you're using)? Does the Dragonfly color indicate the sample rate of your input source?

[Snowmonkey]

Dunno about the pops, but using JRiver, my Dragonfly shows the correct colour for the sample rate with uncompressed files, but always shows magenta when playing mp3 or .aac.

[wgscott]

Now available from SkyMall

[leres]

Dunno about the pops, but using JRiver, my Dragonfly shows the correct colour for the sample rate with uncompressed files, but always shows magenta when playing mp3 or .aac.

(Sure, it works correctly for me too under Windows 7; my questions are specific to issues under FreeBSD.)

[akila219]

to Sasaki: where did you acquire the USB right angle adapter?

[wrat]

I just picked one of these (DF) up at B_st B_y for $99,,,,running it with xp ,mediamonkey bit perfect output (tested with hdcd rips and my trusty AA dde 1.2) sounds about the same as the cambridge dacmagic 100 for a third of the price ..I am using it as a dac rather than a headphone amp...for $99 and made in the US its a keeper, the Chinese made cambridge is going away

[billjensen]

I just picked one of these (DF) up at B_st B_y for $99,,,,running it with xp ,mediamonkey bit perfect output (tested with hdcd rips and my trusty AA dde 1.2) sounds about the same as the cambridge dacmagic 100 for a third of the price ..I am using it as a dac rather than a headphone amp...for $99 and made in the US its a keeper, the Chinese made cambridge is going away

 

I did the same yesterday, using some of the reward certificates, and then getting a $15 card for the purchase over $100. It will give a poor man's intro to a decent little DAC, even with the 1.2 version being introduced. My grade SR80i's will give it a work out shortly