AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt, Instructions Manual

DragonFly Black

ENCLOSURE AND ACCESSORIES

DragonFly Red

DragonFly Cobalt

Black soft-touch finish with gold lettering  |  Protective endcap  |

Leatherette travel pouch

Red automotive finish with gold lettering  |  Protective endcap  |

Leatherette travel pouch

Cobalt blue automotive finish with silver lettering | 

Protective endcap | Contoured enclosure | Leatherette travel pouch | 

DragonTail USB-C adaptor

Direct-coupled, medium output: More than enough power to 

successfully drive a wide range of today’s efficient headphones. 

When used as a line-level device (volume set to 100%), DF 

Black’s 1.2 volts provide enough power to drive all preamplifier, 

integrated amplifier, or receiver inputs.

Direct-coupled, high output: Enough power to easily drive the 

widest range of headphones. When used as a line-level device 

(volume set to 100%), DF Red’s 2.1 volts provide enough power to 

drive all preamplifier, integrated amplifier, or receiver inputs.

Direct-coupled, high output: Enough power to easily drive the widest 

range of headphones. When used as a line-level device (volume set 

to 100%), DF Cobalt’s 2.1 volts provide enough power to drive all 

preamplifier, integrated amplifier, or receiver inputs.

NATIVE RESOLUTION

Up to 24-bit / 96kHz

Up to 24-bit / 96kHz

Up to 24-bit / 96kHz

HEADPHONE AMP

ESS Sabre 9601

ESS Sabre 9601

Texas Instruments TPA6130

DESKTOP/PC COMPATIBILITY –

Apple OS 10.6.8 and later  |  Microsoft Windows 7 and later  |  Linux (no technical support provided)

MOBILE COMPATIBILITY –

Apple iOS 5 and later (requires Apple Camera Adapter; Lightning to USB 3 recommended)  |  Android 5.0 and later (requires micro-USB DragonTail, USB-C DragonTail, or 

other USB adaptor for Android devices)

DIMENSIONS

12mm (h) x 19mm (w) x 62mm (l) 

12mm (h) x 19mm (w) x 57mm (l) 

12mm (h) x 19mm (w) x 62mm (l) 

MONOCLOCK TECHNOLOGY –

OUTPUT

2.1 volts

2.1 volts

1.2 volts

Extremely low power consumption with 32-bit architecture and 

the option for software upgradability (via AudioQuest’s free 

Desktop Device Manager).  

Extremely low power consumption with 32-bit architecture and the 

option for software upgradability (via AudioQuest’s free Desktop 

Device Manager).

Same features as Red and Black, but reduces current draw and 

increases processing speed by 33%.

MICROCONTROLLER

Microchip PIC32MX270

Microchip PIC32MX274

Microchip PIC32MX270

with minimum-phase fast roll-off filter.

with minimum-phase fast roll-off filter.

with minimum-phase slow roll-off filter for more natural sound.

DAC CHIP

ESS ES9016 

ESS ES9038Q2M 

ESS ES9010 

In Gordon Rankin’s monoClock

®

 technology, a single ultra-low-jitter clock generated from the ESS DAC chip runs the headphone amplifier, as well as all microcontroller 

functionalities, enabling DragonFly to produce greater resolution and clarity than DACs that employ multiple clocks.

VOLUME CONTROL

64-Bit Bit-Perfect Digital Volume Control

64-Bit Bit-Perfect Digital Volume Control

Analog Volume Control

MQA RENDERING

YES

YES

YES

YES

YES

YES

YES

YES

YES

YES

YES

YES

UPGRADABLE FIRMWARE

YES

YES

YES

DragonFly Model Comparison