Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Nearfield playback system with dipole planar-magnetic satellites, subwoofer, amplifier with DSP loudspeaker controller, and headphone amp/streamer with DSP room correction (Dirac Live). Also supplied: calibration microphone and cabling. Frequency response: 30Hz–50kHz. THD: 1% at 100dB.
Price (system): $10,000. Approximate number of dealers: not disclosed; also sold direct. Warranty: 3 years.
Manufacturer: Dragonfire Acoustics, Orange County, CA. Tel: (657) 667-6187. Web: www.dragonfireacoustics.com. Mini Dragon Satellite Loudspeaker
Description: Dipole desktop loudspeaker with 5" by 10" planar-magnetic driver in an aluminum frame. Magnets: Neodymium. Diaphragm: Ultrathin polymer. Sensitivity: 100dB/W/m. Maximum SPL: >120dB/1m, upper midrange. Satellite frequency range: 200Hz–50kHz. THD: 0.5% at 100dB. Impedance: 20 ohms purely resistive as standard; 2 ohms to 50 ohms or higher available by special order.
Dimensions: 12" (305mm) by 6" (152mm) (H by W). Weight: 7lb (3.2kg).
Finishes: Titanium anodized; other colors available on custom order.
Serial number of units reviewed: DFA0510MD0205-001 and -002.
Price: $4998/pair. DFA SB-8P Subwoofer
Description: Self-powered floorstanding subwoofer. Drivers: 8" custom high-excursion woofer, 8" high-excursion passive radiator tuned for 30Hz bass extension. Integral amplifier power: 180W. Frequency range: 30–300Hz. Inputs: line level, speaker output from MD-4 amplifier. Controls: Volume, phase, auto on/off power, Sub/LFE.
Dimensions: 11.4" (290mm) W by 10.5" (267mm) H by 10.4" (264mm) D. Weight: 15.9lb (7.2kg).
Finish: Piano black gloss.
Serial number of unit reviewed: 0030.
Price: $498.
MD-4 Amplifier
Description: 4-channel class-D amplifier with DSP. Inputs: 1 USB Type B for streaming input, 1 S/PDIF, 1 AES/EBU (optional), 2 Stereo Balanced XLR analog, 1 USB Type B for Firmware Update and Snowbird Audioweaver DSP Programming. Outputs: 2 2-channel 4-pole Speakon, 1 S/PDIF (optional). Power: 245Wpc into 8 ohms (23.9dBW) at 1% THD. Gain: 26dB. Signal/Noise: >119dB (A-weighted, 20Hz–200kHz, 8 ohm load). THD+noise (typical): 0.05% (20Hz–20kHz, 8 ohm load, 3dB below weighted power).
Dimensions: 10.1" (256mm) W by 3.54" (90mm) H by 10.1" (257mm) D. Weight: 3lb (1.4kg).
Finish: Anodized aluminum. Serial number of unit reviewed 482-1005.
Price: $3498. SHD Headphone Amp/Streamer
Description: All-in-one streamer/processor/headphone amp. DSP processor: 32-bit/450MHz. Internal sample rate: 96kHz. Network audio streamer: Quad-core ARM processor with Volumio music player installed. Digital inputs: 1 AES/EBU (XLR); 1 S/PDIF (RCA); 1 optical (TOSLINK); USB type B port for audio streaming, real-time control, and firmware upgrade. Digital outputs: 2 S/PDIF (RCA); 2 AES/EBU (XLR). Headphone amplifier: 1 6.35mm jack. Headphone amp signal/noise: 112dB (A-weighted, 1kHz, 32 ohm load).
Dimensions: 8.44" (214.5mm) by 1.63" (41.5mm) by " (206mm) (W by H by D).
Finish: Black.
Serial number of unit reviewed: DFA-AMP-MD4-001.
Price: $998.
Price (system): $10,000. Approximate number of dealers: not disclosed; also sold direct. Warranty: 3 years.
Manufacturer: Dragonfire Acoustics, Orange County, CA. Tel: (657) 667-6187. Web: www.dragonfireacoustics.com. Mini Dragon Satellite Loudspeaker
Description: Dipole desktop loudspeaker with 5" by 10" planar-magnetic driver in an aluminum frame. Magnets: Neodymium. Diaphragm: Ultrathin polymer. Sensitivity: 100dB/W/m. Maximum SPL: >120dB/1m, upper midrange. Satellite frequency range: 200Hz–50kHz. THD: 0.5% at 100dB. Impedance: 20 ohms purely resistive as standard; 2 ohms to 50 ohms or higher available by special order.
Dimensions: 12" (305mm) by 6" (152mm) (H by W). Weight: 7lb (3.2kg).
Finishes: Titanium anodized; other colors available on custom order.
Serial number of units reviewed: DFA0510MD0205-001 and -002.
Price: $4998/pair. DFA SB-8P Subwoofer
Description: Self-powered floorstanding subwoofer. Drivers: 8" custom high-excursion woofer, 8" high-excursion passive radiator tuned for 30Hz bass extension. Integral amplifier power: 180W. Frequency range: 30–300Hz. Inputs: line level, speaker output from MD-4 amplifier. Controls: Volume, phase, auto on/off power, Sub/LFE.
Dimensions: 11.4" (290mm) W by 10.5" (267mm) H by 10.4" (264mm) D. Weight: 15.9lb (7.2kg).
Finish: Piano black gloss.
Serial number of unit reviewed: 0030.
Price: $498.
Description: 4-channel class-D amplifier with DSP. Inputs: 1 USB Type B for streaming input, 1 S/PDIF, 1 AES/EBU (optional), 2 Stereo Balanced XLR analog, 1 USB Type B for Firmware Update and Snowbird Audioweaver DSP Programming. Outputs: 2 2-channel 4-pole Speakon, 1 S/PDIF (optional). Power: 245Wpc into 8 ohms (23.9dBW) at 1% THD. Gain: 26dB. Signal/Noise: >119dB (A-weighted, 20Hz–200kHz, 8 ohm load). THD+noise (typical): 0.05% (20Hz–20kHz, 8 ohm load, 3dB below weighted power).
Dimensions: 10.1" (256mm) W by 3.54" (90mm) H by 10.1" (257mm) D. Weight: 3lb (1.4kg).
Finish: Anodized aluminum. Serial number of unit reviewed 482-1005.
Price: $3498. SHD Headphone Amp/Streamer
Description: All-in-one streamer/processor/headphone amp. DSP processor: 32-bit/450MHz. Internal sample rate: 96kHz. Network audio streamer: Quad-core ARM processor with Volumio music player installed. Digital inputs: 1 AES/EBU (XLR); 1 S/PDIF (RCA); 1 optical (TOSLINK); USB type B port for audio streaming, real-time control, and firmware upgrade. Digital outputs: 2 S/PDIF (RCA); 2 AES/EBU (XLR). Headphone amplifier: 1 6.35mm jack. Headphone amp signal/noise: 112dB (A-weighted, 1kHz, 32 ohm load).
Dimensions: 8.44" (214.5mm) by 1.63" (41.5mm) by " (206mm) (W by H by D).
Finish: Black.
Serial number of unit reviewed: DFA-AMP-MD4-001.
Price: $998.
