Digital Processor Reviews

AudioQuest DragonFly USB D/A converter Associated Equipment

Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment

Analog Sources: Garrard 301, Thorens TD 124 turntables; EMT 997, Ortofon TA-210, Schick tonearms; EMT TSD 15 70th Anniversary & OFD 25 & OFD 65, Ortofon SPU pickup heads; Denon DL-103, Miyabi 47 & Mono, Ortofon 2M cartridges.
Digital Sources: Halide DAC HD, Wavelength Proton USB D/A converters; Apple iMac G5 computer running Apple iTunes v.10.2.2, Decibel v.1.0.2; Sony SCD-777ES SACD/CD player.
Preamplification: Auditorium 23 Standard (SPU version), Hommage T2, Silvercore One-to-Ten step-up transformers; Shindo Masseto preamplifier.
Power Amplifiers: Fi 421A; Shindo Corton-Charlemagne & Haut-Brion monoblocks.
Loudspeakers: Audio Note AN-E/SPe HE, DeVore Fidelity O/96, Klipsch Heresy III, Line Magnetic 755I, Quad ESL.
Cables: USB: AudioQuest Diamond, Nordost Blue Heaven. Interconnect: Audio Note AN-Vx, AudioQuest Columbia & Yosemite, Shindo Silver. Speaker: Auditorium 23. AC: Ocellia Reference.
Accessories: Box Furniture Company D3S rack (source & amplification components), Keith Monks record-cleaning machine, Peter W. Belt Cream Electret.—Art Dudley

COMPANY INFO
AudioQuest
2621 White Road
Irvine, CA 92614
(949) 585-0111
www.audioquest.com
ARTICLE CONTENTS

COMMENTS
manniesm's picture
Submitted by manniesm on January 20, 2013 - 3:54am

Dudley reviews a $249 DAC with a $1395 cable.  Makes sense to me!

Boomzilla's picture
Submitted by Boomzilla on July 12, 2013 - 3:54am

Please note that the Dragonfly, being powered solely by the USB port of the computer, is VERY sensitive to the quality of the USB power being supplied.  I used my Dragonfly on a laptop with a completely dead battery.  While in use, the wall AC-charger had to be plugged in or the computer wouldn't even boot.  

The system sounded SO BAD with the Dragonfly, that I replaced speakers (twice) before noticing that the Dragonfly was the problem.  I probably could have solved the problem with an external USB "powered hub," but I sold the Dragonfly before thinking of that.

Bottom line is - For the Dragonfly to perform at its best, the computer MUST supply sufficient voltage and a sufficiently clean DC voltage via its USB port.  If not, then the Dragonfly sounds absolutely atrocious!  If you have ANY doubt about the quality of the power to your computer's USB ports, then buy a good quality powered USB hub and be prepared to be AMAZED at the sound quality difference!

 

Boomzilla

hollowman's picture
Submitted by hollowman on November 14, 2013 - 7:56am

Stoner Acoustics, a bare-bones start-up from Malaysia, has a few very low cost DragonFly-like DACs that seem to use high-quality parts (such as ESS Sabre DAC, etc.). A decent review is on head-fi.org here:

http://www.head-fi.org/t/626632/tiny-dac-big-sound-evolved-impression-of-stoner-acoustics-ud100-ud110

Stoner Acoustics' web site is:

http://stoneracoustics.blogspot.com

Some photos ...

And it seems to be Android friendly:

brightonrock's picture
Submitted by brightonrock on March 4, 2014 - 5:22am

Just had a demo of the Audioquest Dragonfly v1.2 DAC with my favourite headphones, notice this cool looking point of sale featuring the Dragonfly too :-)

GFischer's picture
Submitted by GFischer on May 30, 2014 - 10:02am

I've recently purchased the v1.2 and noted severe clipping/distortion when plugged into my Macbook Pro USB and run directly to my Sony MDR-7506s. (Most apparent with lossless files at mid-hi volume; listening to James Blake was a nightmare). Thought the 7506 would be low enough impedance (63 ohms), but was surprised and disappointed to find out the v1.2 wouldn't drive them. Ran the v1.2 through my old Tandberg TR2045 amp's headphone jack and through my NHT SuperOnes and they sounded fantastic.

Hoping it's something I'm doing wrong and not a shortcoming of the Dragonfly v1.2, but I'm not sure what else it may be.

Laen's picture
Submitted by Laen on March 21, 2015 - 8:24pm

I use a V2 Dragonfly and for $149 it cannot be beat

X