AUDIOQUEST DRAGONFLY COBALT USB DAC 24-bit/96kHz

About this deal

The AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt is a compact USB DAC, preamplifier, and headphone amplifier that bypasses the built-in audio circuitry in laptops, computers, and smartphones to deliver cleaner, more natural sound. It supports up to 24-bit/96kHz audio natively and uses monoClock technology for greater resolution and clarity than DACs with multiple clocks. Compatible with Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android, it drives headphones via its 3.5mm jack and can also connect to powered speakers, amplifiers, and receivers. Key upgrades over earlier DragonFly models include the ESS ES9038Q2M DAC chip with a minimum-phase slow roll-off filter, a Microchip PIC32MX274 microprocessor that increases processing speed by 33% while drawing less current, and improved power-supply filtering to reduce interference from Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and cellular signals. Like the DragonFly Red, the Cobalt delivers a robust 2.1-volt output capable of driving almost any headphone, and uses bit-perfect digital volume control for an outstanding signal-to-noise ratio, with MQA rendering also supported. An LED on the device changes colour to indicate the sample rate being played back. This is a used example, so buyers should check condition carefully before purchasing.