I connected the output of the DragonFly to my Stax SRM007 TII amp that drove Stax SR007 Omega II headphones. I felt that this offered a significant improvement in sound quality over the direct output Sennheiser HD 600 headphones I had previously listened to.

The sound from the DragonFly was very good in that there was no hardness or brightness. The sound was balanced with decent bass. I was impressed with the midrange and high end detail I was hearing from such an inexpensive DAC. I listened using 88.2/24 and 96/24 files with Decibel. / OSX Lion. It is a very musical sounding DAC.

Besides being a great product for travel purposes, it will make a wonderful DAC to test the waters with computer audio. For those thinking of trying computer audio and not interested in spending a great deal of money, this $250 USB DAC is damn good.

• http://www.audioquest.com/usb_digital_analog_converter/drago

 Analog volume controls bypass music players limitations - Sumflow 12:00:02 08/17/12 (1)
 AudioQuest miss-print - Sumflow 08:17:04 08/20/12 (0)
 Streaming into Dragonfly - Sumflow 00:53:30 08/12/12 (0)

...

Show full thread outline!

 Analog volume controls bypass music players limitations - Sumflow 12:00:02 08/17/12 (1)
 AudioQuest miss-print - Sumflow 08:17:04 08/20/12 (0)
 Streaming into Dragonfly - Sumflow 00:53:30 08/12/12 (0)
 RE: More Comments on the Audioquest DragonFly - Willie The Squid 20:23:09 07/08/12 (0)
 RE: More Comments on the Audioquest DragonFly - ssilberman@audioquest.com 17:03:29 07/06/12 (26)
 RE: More Comments on the Audioquest DragonFly - fmak 23:25:55 07/07/12 (0)
 RE: More Comments on the Audioquest DragonFly - soundchekk 07:07:46 07/07/12 (19)
 RE: More Comments on the Audioquest DragonFly - ssilberman@audioquest.com 15:08:42 07/07/12 (10)
 RE: More Comments on the Audioquest DragonFly - soundchekk 02:54:53 07/08/12 (8)
 RE: More Comments on the Audioquest DragonFly - Mercman 06:54:57 07/08/12 (1)
 RE: More Comments on the Audioquest DragonFly - soundchekk 07:12:38 07/08/12 (0)
 RE: More Comments on the Audioquest DragonFly - Tony Lauck 05:50:49 07/08/12 (5)
 RE: More Comments on the Audioquest DragonFly - soundchekk 07:22:36 07/08/12 (0)
 RE: More Comments on the Audioquest DragonFly - Mercman 06:57:37 07/08/12 (3)
 Bypassing the highly ornate and extravagant audio stack - Sumflow 20:55:46 07/14/12 (0)
 I am consistently amused by all of the proclamations here about why something happened. - bwb 07:18:13 07/08/12 (1)
 RE: I am consistently amused by all of the proclamations here about why something happened. - Mercman 07:25:11 07/08/12 (0)
 Good Comments on the Audioquest DragonFly - Old Listener 17:34:30 07/07/12 (0)
 However, the vast majority of potential customers couldn't care less about your concerns - bwb 08:05:20 07/07/12 (7)
 RE: However, the vast majority of potential customers couldn't care less about your concerns - soundchekk 10:38:40 07/07/12 (5)
 RE: However, the vast majority of potential customers couldn't care less about your concerns - Bob_C 14:26:53 07/07/12 (0)
 interesting, so you think AQ understands very little about marketing? - bwb 13:57:29 07/07/12 (0)
 RE: However, the vast majority of potential customers couldn't care less about your concerns - Old Listener 10:53:26 07/07/12 (2)
 RE: However, the vast majority of potential customers couldn't care less about your concerns - Mike Mc 19:49:00 07/07/12 (1)
 RE: However, the vast majority of potential customers couldn't care less about your concerns - Old Listener 20:13:10 07/07/12 (0)
 the vast majority of potential customers just want ... - Old Listener 09:30:58 07/07/12 (0)
 RE: More Comments on the Audioquest DragonFly - Mercman 19:35:38 07/06/12 (0)
 the company's efforts are appreciated - Joe Murphy Jr 18:28:59 07/06/12 (0)
 RE: More Comments on the Audioquest DragonFly - Old Listener 17:37:52 07/06/12 (1)
 BigBird and AngryBird. Awesome! ROTFLMAO. nt - JoshT 20:37:27 07/06/12 (0)
 RE: More Comments on the Audioquest DragonFly - Dynobot 17:10:03 07/06/12 (0)
 RE: More Comments on the Audioquest DragonFly - soundchekk 05:26:44 07/06/12 (43)
 "At 250$ this is not state of the art" ...?????? - bwb 12:53:17 07/06/12 (0)
 RE: More Comments on the Audioquest DragonFly - Mercman 06:40:36 07/06/12 (6)
 RE: More Comments on the Audioquest DragonFly - soundchekk 11:27:12 07/06/12 (5)
 RE: More Comments on the Audioquest DragonFly - Mercman 11:51:21 07/06/12 (3)
 Value for the Money - soundchekk 00:39:40 07/07/12 (2)
 RE: Value for the Money - Bob_C 14:40:56 07/07/12 (0)
 RE: Value for the Money - Mercman 04:02:15 07/07/12 (0)
 RE: More Comments on the Audioquest DragonFly - Mercman 11:33:03 07/06/12 (0)
 Forget about?? - Dynobot 05:43:20 07/06/12 (34)
 RE: Forget about?? - soundchekk 08:26:48 07/06/12 (12)
 Dude! - Gordon Rankin 11:57:34 07/08/12 (1)
 Leave us alone - soundchekk 01:47:57 07/09/12 (0)
 RE: Forget about?? - Dynobot 11:03:24 07/06/12 (1)
 Power - Sumflow 03:22:14 07/10/12 (0)
 RE: Forget about?? - Mercman 10:53:46 07/06/12 (7)
 RE: Forget about?? - Tony Lauck 13:23:23 07/06/12 (1)
 A low priced unit doesn't leave a lot of money in the business plan for customer support. - Dynobot 13:47:23 07/06/12 (0)
 RE: Forget about?? - soundchekk 11:10:21 07/06/12 (1)
 RE: Forget about?? - Mercman 11:26:09 07/06/12 (0)
 RE: Forget about?? - Dynobot 10:59:52 07/06/12 (2)
 RE: Forget about?? - Mercman 11:02:19 07/06/12 (1)
 RE: Forget about?? - Dynobot 11:06:11 07/06/12 (0)
 details please - Joe Murphy Jr 08:23:34 07/06/12 (20)
 RE: details please - Dynobot 10:56:32 07/06/12 (18)
 forgot about the power draw - Joe Murphy Jr 13:49:45 07/06/12 (17)
 RE: forgot about the power draw - Dynobot 14:12:18 07/06/12 (16)
 RE: forgot about the power draw - Tony Lauck 14:28:54 07/06/12 (4)
 RE: forgot about the power draw - bwb 14:40:02 07/06/12 (3)
 RE: forgot about the power draw - Tony Lauck 14:55:32 07/06/12 (2)
 RE: forgot about the power draw - Dynobot 15:32:21 07/06/12 (1)
 RE: forgot about the power draw - bwb 16:18:48 07/06/12 (0)
 I know I'm probably going to regret asking, but why the relentless Apple bashing? - bwb 14:27:28 07/06/12 (10)
 To me, it's perfectly understandable that people get annoyed with... - andy_c 22:42:46 07/06/12 (0)
 RE: I know I'm probably going to regret asking, but why the relentless Apple bashing? - Tony Lauck 14:46:04 07/06/12 (8)
 Apple bashing? - fmak 09:27:18 07/08/12 (0)
 RE: I know I'm probably going to regret asking, but why the relentless Apple bashing? - bwb 15:27:07 07/06/12 (6)
 RE: "I'm keeping my iPad though" - rick_m 08:07:08 07/07/12 (5)
 RE: "I'm keeping my iPad though" - fmak 10:00:11 07/09/12 (4)
 "sent from my iXXX" - Tony Lauck 15:31:15 07/09/12 (0)
 RE: "I don't know what you do with it" - rick_m 13:12:03 07/09/12 (0)
 iPAD messaging. - Dynobot 12:44:28 07/09/12 (0)
 People have been compulsively messaging for years with all types of portable devices. - bwb 12:13:48 07/09/12 (0)
 RE: details please - Mercman 10:51:27 07/06/12 (0)
 Audioquest DragonFly - Sumflow 22:52:56 07/05/12 (0)
 The Audioquest DragonFly has been previously discussed in this and other forums. - Dynobot 14:16:24 07/04/12 (5)
 RE: The Audioquest DragonFly has been previously discussed in this and other forums. - Mercman 14:18:01 07/04/12 (4)
 Thanks for you posts on this: Was the adapter a standard - Sordidman 10:12:41 07/05/12 (1)
 RE: Thanks for you posts on this: Was the adapter a standard - Mercman 11:22:00 07/05/12 (0)
 RE: The Audioquest DragonFly has been previously discussed in this and other forums. - Old Listener 17:26:43 07/04/12 (1)
 RE: The Audioquest DragonFly has been previously discussed in this and other forums. - Rig_Vader 00:28:17 01/18/13 (0)

• http://www.audioasylum.com/forums/pcaudio/messages/11/110771

Thanks for your summery on the Dragonfly.
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• More here

You are one impressive guy Klaus. I have listened to several Sabre based DACs and they did sound quite different to me. But I guess the essential point is if they've done a good job.

• http://www.slashgear.com/nexus-7-production-costs-estimated-

We're "at the mercy" of all manufacturers if you want to use that type of hyperbole.

Yes, you get the apps from them but there are currently over 200,000 available for the iPad so it's not like they are choking off the supply.

Windows users are at the mercy of Microsoft.

Kindle users are at the mercy of Barnes and Noble.

Sick people are at the mercy of the drug companies.

And before you accuse me of being an Apple promoter I have several computers and devices running a variety of operating systems so I'm not in the cult. I don't think they have a monopoly in anything they sell and have a small fraction of most markets so you have choices just like you do with almost anything you buy. Why do you feel the need to attack this one company?

.

Thats right, of course we might not be able to drive Apple from the market place but people can and should patronize companies that are sensitive to consumers.

Customer service means everything. Apple seems to be of the mindset that they can and will do what ever they want. Hence no Flac support, no Flash support and from what ChannelD 'PureMusic' says that "Apple removed the ability to send audio in nonmixable integer stream mode in OS X 10.7."

Apples iTunes is horrible and only serves to market its products.

Dynobots Audio
Music is the Bridge between Heaven and Earth - 音楽は天国と地球のかけ橋

But to be honest, I really loved the glow of the DragonFly's sample rate indicator.

I know you got plenty of pocket money to play with. However.

At 199$ you can get e.g. a Sumoh Full Digital Amp (instead if seperate DAC and AMP with associated seperation issues) Add to it a 140$ Hiface II or a 170$ Audio GD DI II with reclocker.

That's what I call value for the money.

Of course you can run your Dragonfly into a chinese 100$ Class-D Amp. Which might turn out to be a nice sounding setup too.

Since I'm a DIY minded person and an engineer by profession, I'm a bit more flexible when it comes to heating up the soldering iron.
I got my DIY Full Digital amp for 50$ and currently run a Audio-GD interface. This setup replaces pretty my well tweaked Sabre/AMP combos.

To me the recent past, the present and future is full digital.

Enjoy.

P.S: But let see. I perhaps order a Dragonfly for testing just to get an idea how it sounds. But even if it sounds as good as you suggest, I wouldn't buy it because of beforementioned lack of features.

"Vast majority" needs to be defined first.

Vast majority is a whatever market share of a certain market segment.

Such a product tries to address those people which do care
about a good quality sound from a PC, actually from a portable PC.

If I'd be marketing manager at AQ it would have been too risky for me to go after this particular segment. It is flooded with devices. And the AQ differentiators are almost neglectable.

As we learned today there will be another product launchned "next year" which addresses iOS and comes with battery supply.
It is obviously known to those guys at AQ that the Dragonfly is not the final answer to the adresssable market and demands out there. It's their first shot.

I mean. It's so obvious to anybody who understands a little bit about marketing.

I btw do consider it a wrong move by AQ to come up with a seperate iOS product next year. I'm pretty sure that the market wants "a one size fits all" product.
Next year they'll tell the Dragonfly customers to buy that new iOS audio interface, which comes with certain features that I mentioned were lacking today.

I could imagine that some people might feel a little fooled about this. They suddenly need to buy and carry two AQ devices. But. Who cares about another 250$. 250$ - it's pocket money. Not worth discussing.

Enjoy.

I see lots of companies bringing out products like the DragonFly. I visited Amazon this morning and got the suggestions shown in the image.

HRT, Centrance and other companies have already brought out variants for laptops and iDevices. You may feel the market is over-crowded but those companies don't.

Audioengine and Peachtree are other companies targeting a wider set of customers than the audiophiles that post here. They seem to be having success.

Bill

my blog: http://carsmusicandnature.blogspot.com/

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-QNWI3XcHo&feature=plcp

If anything, their future looks bright as more people are moving over to computer audio. Concerning Wavelength Audio products:

The Cosecant and Crimson are modular designs. Future upgrades are easily performed in-field. As was the case when I moved from a Phillips TDA 1543A to a Wolfson dac chip to an ESS Sabre.

Damien has released Beta 1.3.9.4 Audirvana Plus with improved stability for Direct Mode/Integer for OSX Lion. The results of bypassing Core Audio processing are stunning. Best of all, all of this works with the standard OSX USB driver.

Todays high Price devices highest cost factors go into enclosure, marketing, and dealer margin.
All that can be marketed because the old generation still believes in "audiophile" brands and got plenty of money to play with.

Compared to above the cost associated to the technology itself becomes neglectable.

>they allowed it to be externally powered.<

If it were externally powered how could we use it on a plane?
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Mercman:> Audirvana Plus with improved stability for Direct Mode/Integer for OSX Lion.

Doesn't Direct Mode/Integer work on Audirvana Free also?
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• New Dragonfly review

How do you configure a iMac with Mt Lion to have streaming data like pandora, hulu, and mog go through the dragonfly instead of using the Apple Dac?
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• deckeda :> Quit the music player and the computer reverts

Pure Music says:> It’s true: word length (resolution) is reduced with a digital volume control!

Funny thing Audioquest is still telling people to use the digital volume control even though the Dragonfly has an analog volume control designed to by-pass the digital, to preserve full 24-bit resolution and reproduce maximum sound quality.
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• We recommend turning down the music player’s volume