AudioQuest Warns of Counterfeit DragonFly®s

Friday, October 21, Irvine, CA-based high-end audio manufacturer AudioQuest issued a warning about what appears to be low-priced, inferior-sounding counterfeits of its discontinued AudioQuest DragonFly v1.2. The matter was brought to AudioQuest's attention by a consumer who saw a thread on Reddit about a product that resembled the discontinued DragonFly 1.2's proprietary technical features. The real DragonFly is pictured above right with the subject of the Reddit thread on the left.

In AudioQuest's words, "multiple companies are promoting and selling unauthorized copies of Streamlength®-enabled "DragonFly" version 1.2. (Streamlength is a registered trademark of Wavelength Audio, Ltd.) . . . The counterfeits use inferior sounding, lower-quality components, and a sub-standard (possibly unintended) inferior re-layout of AudioQuest's original, proprietary circuit design."

The announcement includes links to images of the genuine DragonFly 1.2's circuit, reproduced above, which is manufactured in Ohio, and the counterfeit (below), which comes from China. It ends thusly: "AudioQuest and its affiliates will protect our highly valuable intellectual property, and the trust our customers have put in us and our products, to the fullest legal means available. In the meantime, please feel free to contact us with any questions regarding these issues, and please continue to enjoy authentic, high quality, AudioQuest products."

If there is anything more that AudioQuest feels free to tell consumers who do contact them is uncertain. A spokesperson for the company said that due to ongoing investigation and pending litigation, the company was unable to share additional information with the press at this time.

COMMENTS
dalethorn's picture

The DragonFlys are much better than most people would expect, and a great value. I have the v1.2 and the Black. I don't know why anyone looking at the aluminum device on the left would confuse it with a DragonFly.

Adrian Johns's picture

I think AudioQuest is pushing its luck in calling this a counterfeit. That term generally refers to goods that look like genuine products but are actually fakes. This Monoprice device doesn't claim to be a Dragonfly, so it's not a counterfeit by the normal definition. It's possible that it infringes IP in some other way, e.g. by copying patented technology, in which case AudioQuest will presumably have a case (morally as well as legally). But otherwise it just looks like this is a cheaper competitor, which may or may not be worth buying but isn't necessarily outrageous,

monetschemist's picture

The first board image shown says "Qinji" on it. There's a big electronics manufacturer in Guangdong of the same name. And oddly the board next to the silver aluminum box says "USB DAC v 1.2" on it.

Not that important, I guess. If I had a DF1.2 I'd think about taking it apart to have a look, though.

tonykaz's picture

maybe even tiny. The new LG V20 phone has a Quad dac that's claimed to do High Res ( whatever that means ).

Just 2 years ago I was listening to a Schiit Yggy Dac the size of a Pioneer Stereo Reciever. ( I didn't buy )

I wonder if Rankin's patent has run-out? Still, it seems that everyone is fully up to speed on making a useful DAC.

Can anyone hope to stop the Chinese grabbing technology?, maybe President Clinton will take a shot at it.

Tony in Michigan

Brown Sound's picture

I love my v1.0 for the laptop. Unfortunately, I got burned with the huge price drop from v1.0 to v1.1/1.2. I paid the full $250 and it's better replacement was $150. Oh well, it still works great for it's purpose.
As far as these cheap knockoffs, I think AudioQuest will be just flushing $$$ down the drain chasing these things. Once the copies have started, they are like cockroaches, you can never get them all.

Solarophile's picture

Agree with Brown Sound. Why bother chasing this down. The 1.2 is an old design and asynchronous USB1 audio is everywhere.

I used to have a Dragonfly 1.2 and was not impressed by the sound. Better options these days in any event.

jim davis's picture

In other news....

Personal computer giant IBM issues warnings to consumers that less significant folks calling themselves either 'Compaq' or 'Hewlett Packard' or (and, really, get this...) 'Apple' (pfffttt!!!) have also introduced personal-computer-like devices. Mainstay computer magazines have been asked to warn consumers.

hollowman's picture

In AudioQuest's words, "multiple companies are promoting and selling unauthorized copies of Streamlength®-enabled "DragonFly" version 1.2. (Streamlength is a registered trademark of Wavelength Audio, Ltd.) . . . The counterfeits use inferior sounding, lower-quality components, and a sub-standard (possibly unintended) inferior re-layout of AudioQuest's original, proprietary circuit design."

REALLY? I haven't found one non-AQ product with the Streamlength use claim.
AQ, pls be more specific in your allegations. Otherwise, your claim sounds like a red herring -- cheap tactic to re-value your Dragonfly product.

One look on places like head-fi will turn up several thumbdrive-form-factor products that perform decently: HIFImeDIY ($42), and Stoner Acoustics UD100.
http://www.head-fi.org/t/626632/tiny-dac-big-sound-evolved-stoner-acoustics-ud100-ud110-ud120

Streamlength is now pretty old technology. More-modern decoders have firmware that can equal or exceed Streamlength.

otaku's picture

Just a play for free publicity. Nothing to see here, please move along.

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