The DragonFly Cobalt - Smaller, More Powerful Next Generation Thumb-sized DAC

The DragonFly will always have a special place in my heart in the product category of portable DACs. I still remember the first time I got a DragonFly Black set up and showed it to an audiophile friend, the expression on his face when he realized what kind of sound can be reproduced from a memory stick sized DAC was priceless. DragonFly DACs have been known to make audio enthusiasts ask existential questions about the whole concept of large, bulky DACs.

The DragonFly Cobalt is the next iteration from the previous flagship the DragonFly Red. It features a revamped, even smaller body - as if to rub it in further to competitors in the same category. But how does it sound compared to its predecessor? I dove in to find out.

Smaller, glossy body

When first looking at the Cobalt, what struck me first was its smaller size. The DragonFly Red and Black used to have the same size and shape, but the Cobalt has not only a smaller, but a less boxy profile. There's more curves and a taper along the length of its body, where the signature DragonFly LED indicator is inlaid. It feels like Audioquest is really pushing the envelope to see how small they can make this thing, and it is really impressive how they were able to shrink an already small package into something even smaller.

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Photo from amazon.com

It's probably an unintended tongue-in-cheek move that the DragonFly Cobalt carrying pouch for the unit is identical to the previous generations, which used to fit very tightly around the units. The fact that it now slips in and out very easily is telling of the minuscule new body that this next generation DAC now have.

Familiar DragonFly sound Amplified

Those that have heard it before would know what I mean by the DragonFly sound, and it's hard to describe in words for those who have not heard it before. When I first heard the DragonFly sound out of my laptop, the difference from the on-board output was night-and-day. The sound becomes multi-dimensional in its soundstage with clear separation of the high, mids and lows, and further more the sound becomes more energetic, vibrant, and crunchy - not to mention getting rid of all the noises that's generated by the laptop itself.

Going from the DragonFly Black to the DragonFly Cobalt, it was a deja vu moment. Everything was amplified to another level, where the separation got clearer, more energetic, and each of the frequencies became more distinct. What I noted however is that though the sound was amped up in every aspect, it was not fatiguing. The amplified sound had a natural texture, and did not tire out my hearing even on listening to them for extended periods of time.

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Comes with a Dragon Tail

Being an Android owner, I highly appreciated the inclusion of a DragonTail, which is essentially a high quality OTG USB-C cable. Connected the Cobalt to the DragonTail, being someone who appreciates great industrial design, I was especially impressed with the fact that the DragonTail has a form that is a mirror image of the Cobalt so that when you connect them together, the tapers and curves match up and forms a streamlined package.

I've seen mobile DAC/Amps in form factors that range from Altoids Peppermint boxes to cigar box like the FiiO Q5s, and in contrast the Cobalt sets a new standard in portability and size. Without adding much bulk to the phone, what you get is an amazing sound reproduction. This is a perfect solution for many flagship phones that has lost the headphone jack, but even for mid-ranged phones that does have its own jack, which often gives a mediocre sound output out of the box, it can do with a boost with the Cobalt to give you a sound that would normally need a whole desktop set up.

For me coupling the DragonFly Cobalt with the Asus Zenfone 6 is a match made in heaven; from the 256GB internal storage that can take on most hi-resolution files I can throw at it, to the large 5000mAh battery that can accommodate the additional power draw of the Cobalt, I can do without my desktop set up comfortably.

Who is the DragonFly Cobalt for?

I have some friends who do not believe in how good the DragonFly can sound (even after hearing it) and insists that nothing can beat a large desktop set up. I personally think there is some placebo effect in their verdict. It's commonsense to think having a larger power source, larger circuitry would count for something in terms of the sound quality. In my experience DragonFly Cobalt defies this common conception, and should be celebrated as one of the most versatile and portable DAC/Amplifier that makes your setup sound amazing, both in your workspace and on-the-go.

David is a tech enthusiast/writer who is often on the move and is on a mission to explore ways to make his overhaul flights more enjoyable. This is a contribution to an ongoing IBTimes review series on gadgets for Business Travellers.

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