AudioQuest DragonFly 24/96 Asynchronous USB DAC / Headphone Amp

[wgscott]

Beats me.

 

Doesn't really matter what I think. The only thing that really matters is whether there are measurable differences.

 

This has the potential for a more direct signal path. Depends how good the analogue volume control is.

[steve lonner]

Any hunch on how this will compete with the DacIt, Schiit, Dac Magic type Dacs for listening through an amp? (ie not as a headphone amp). This seems like a really cool product. (I do have some high rez stuff, such as the b&w SOS) but will mostly play cd quality music).

[wgscott]

It arrived. It was here when I came home to take care of the puppies.

 

I may have to get another one. The biggest single advantage over everything else is that it is portable. It is extremely small and unobtrusive. It is the size of a conventional USB "thumb drive." I am currently listening from my MacBook Air, via AudirvanaPlus, this thing, and my Bower and Wilkins P5 headphones. The is the first time I have actually enjoyed using these headphones at home (usually I just use them on airplanes).

 

The fit and finish is quite nice. I may have to stop making fun of AudioQuest.

 

I didn't have to read any instructions. I just plugged it in and it worked.

 

Volume control:

 

There is no knob or any physical moving part. I have to take their word for it that it is analogue volume control. It sounds fine. When I am adjusting it I can hear a very faint "pip pip pip" but it is fine one I am done.

 

I am using Audirvana's "DAC Only" volume control setting, to avoid the software dithering anything (I assume).

 

One irritation: The keyboard mute and volume down buttons work properly with Audirvana Plus, but the volume up button does not. I need to check this on another computer before I conclude it is a bug.

 

Sound quality is quite good.

[wgscott]

The volume up problem with Audirvana occurs when it is the non-system-default output, and does not occur when using the build-in interface, so it seems specific to the Dragonfly.

[HiFiInsider]

The half step volume adjustment on Mac by Option & Shift should be nice with this DAC.

[wgscott]

Now listening on 10.7 with integer mode on AudirvanaPlus-beta. Sounds great.

 

Kernel panic the first time I tried. Lost keyboard volume control.

[steve lonner]

I have some Audioquest Copperhead cables that I used to connect a CD player to an amp. They are not in use as I migrate away from a CD player to a computer. Is there any reason why a converter that lets you go from a mini headphone plug to rca together with the copperheads would be inferior to a cable that had the mini plug built into it (for sake of argument of comparable price as the Copperheads, which if I recall are around $100)?

 

Perhaps this question is too specialized and should be broken out to its own thread, but it certainly applies to the Dragonfly.

 

Second question if you can do well this way, I found a $10 converter from A.Q. does it need something more expensive and if so any suggestions are welcome. I'd love to avoid buying new cables.

[wgscott]

No, but then I don't see any reason why Copperhead cables would be any better than something from BlueJeansCable or and of the other quality no-voodoo manufacturers.

[AudioDoctor]

I guess I will need to get one of these and use it when I am traveling. Anyone plug a pair of Grados into it yet? It should drive them sufficiently well, but it would be nice to know for sure.

[wgscott]

It will. I started with the volume on full and it took an hour to get my ears to stop bleeding.

[AudioDoctor]

It will. I started with the volume on full and it took an hour to get my ears to stop bleeding.

 

Sorry to hear that Bill. I hope there was no permanent damage.

[wgscott]

I think the headphones will be fine, thank gawd.

[wgscott]

Sorry to hear that Bill. I hope there was no permanent damage.

 

What?

[HiFiInsider]

Why would the volume be on full by default? Could someone post a screen shot of the settings for Mac?

[wgscott]

Why would the volume be on full by default?

 

Because I turned it up.

 

Could someone post a screen shot of the settings for Mac?

 

[AudioDoctor]

What?

 

Ha!

[Paul R]

Sorry to hear that Bill - hopefully you are exaggerating just a tad there. If not, do go get them checked, and take a break from any noisy activities for a day or two. That's what grad students are for anyway, isn't it?

-Paul

[wgscott]

As Edward Abbey would say, "he had a tendency to over-exaggerate."

[Wavelength]

Gang,

 

Sorry, but for some reason I was not getting this thread?

 

~~~~

 

Volume control...

 

Many dacs do digital volume control for those work like this:

 

Interface (SPDIF, USB Firewire) --->DAC===> output

 

Here the Interface usually by means of what is called I2C or SPI controls variables in the dac chip to alter the output volume.

 

In the DragonFly like the Proton this is done in the analog domain as follows:

 

Interface--->DAC===>Output Driver + Volume===>

 

Here the Interface uses I2C to talk to the output driver + volume control to change the volume in the analog domain.

 

Above --- is I2S digital audio stream and === is analog voltage.

 

USB allows volume conditioning directly which is used here. This means the volume control is part of the system wide volume control located on the system tool bar and NOT in the application. While some direct interfaces do allow these two to be linked.

 

~~~~~~~~

 

Halide HD and DragonFly

 

Companies who work with me to deliver USB dacs can have me design the unit totally or do everything except the interface themselves. Halide designs their own dac circuitry and output designs. I only work on the USB interface section with them. For the DargonFly I did all the design except for the enclosure. Acceptance was done as a team the way all AudioQuest products are designed.

 

There will be a "Dragon Tail" at some point which has the same look feel as the DragonFly it self and will look as an extension.

 

~~~~~~~

 

Yes this will work with Linux...

 

30 PIN IOS is limited to 32/192 at this point but you would need special hardware and app to do that.

 

I think I answered everyone's questions.

 

Thanks

Gordon

[jhwalker]

Gordon, thank you so much for your contribution! Obviously, a lot of interest in this device - I'm loving mine. Congratulations on a very useful and high-quality device

[Matias]

Gordon why was the Dragonfly chosen to output with 3.5mm TRS headphone jack? That for me is a real let down. It looks limited to be used with small headphones (in ear, earbuds, small supra-aurals), because using bigger circumaurals demand more power, and also there is hardly any manufacturer of hi-fi cables that make them with 3.5mm TRS plug.

 

Why not as RCA jacks which is the standard for home theaters/hifi?

[wgscott]

also there is hardly any manufacturer of hi-fi cables that make them with 3.5mm TRS plug.

 

you mean other than AudioQuest?

[The Computer Audiophile]

Matias - The size of the TRS jack has nothing to do with output power. You can always use an adapter (Belkin Stereo Adapter Plug F8V211 B&H Photo Video).

 

I think it's obvious why the 3.5 jack was used. Small size. RCA jacks on this would be a bit funny.

[HiFiInsider]

Gordon, was headphones performance high on the priority list in the design? What's the impedence range one can use?

[AudioDoctor]

As Edward Abbey would say, "he had a tendency to over-exaggerate."

 

I figured you were, so I thought I would respond accordingly...