DAC USB Audioquest Dragonfly - Black

After the success of its DragonFly, AudioQuest presents a more advanced version: the DragonFly Black USB DAC!

AUDIOQUEST DRAGONFLY BLACK: USAGE

The AudioQuest DragonFly USB DAC comes in the form of a black USB stick covered in rubber. A small carrying pouch is included.

It features a headphone output in 3.5mm Jack format. An indicator light shows when the DAC is powered on, with colors indicating the sampling rate: red (standby), green (44.1 kHz), blue (48 kHz), amber (88.2 kHz), and magenta (96 kHz).

AUDIOQUEST DRAGONFLY BLACK: FEATURES

This device allows you to listen to music from your digital device through one of its USB outputs. This replaces the often subpar internal digital-to-analog converter with the much more efficient DragonFly Black. It is equipped with a formidable "Sabre" DAC, the renowned ESS9010/32-bit, which is found in high-end electronics costing up to ten times the price of this preamplifier!

The DragonFly Black is compatible with Windows, Apple, and Android (see technical sheet). This DAC can sample digital files from the most basic up to 96 kHz at 24-bit. The DragonFly Black has an output level of up to 1.2 volts, allowing it to power most audiophile headphones on the market.

Extensive research to reduce the energy consumption of this DAC has lowered it by 77% compared to the previous version.

The USB protocol used is asynchronous, which limits jitter, reduces modulation error rates, and makes the DAC compatible with almost all digital devices on the market.

AUDIOQUEST DRAGONFLY BLACK: TESTING AND LISTENING

It doesn't take long to notice and appreciate the undeniable contribution of the DragonFly Black when paired with a Grado SR325e Hi-Fi headset!

The soundstage is transformed, with enhanced openness and added micro-details. The quality of the tones is incredible! Even with compressed files, there is no aggressiveness.

We tested it on a Windows PC and a Mac, and it only took a few moments to be completely convinced of the sound improvement.

It is also worth noting that you can enjoy the listening comfort of this DAC on a portable device. You can therefore listen to your music from your phone while on the go. All you need is the AudioQuest adapter for Lightning or Micro-USB.

We were clearly won over by the AudioQuest DragonFly Black USB DAC! Its value for money allows you to enjoy your digital music, even on the move, at a very affordable price... A real plus for digital music enthusiasts!

Highly recommended +++

PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS:
- Compact format
- ESS Sabre 9010 32-bit asynchronous DAC
- Compatibility with Windows 7, 8.1, and 10, Apple iOS X
- 3.5mm Jack headphone output
- Maximum jitter reduction
- AudioQuest application for PC

AWARDS:
- What Hi-Fi - 2016