AudioQuest - DragonFly Black
Portable DAC & AmpGET 18% GST INPUT
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Designed in the
USA
Ideal for Audiophiles
These DAC & Amps are designed for discerning music lovers. If audio quality is important to you, a set of DAC & Amps like these would be ideal.
You can expect these DAC & Amps to present you with a refined listening experience. The audio quality exhibited by these DAC & Amps is a beautiful mix of musicality, technical brilliance and high precision.
These DAC & Amps deliver a spacious & open soundstage that makes you feel you are sitting at a live concert. Experience the magic and delve into pure sonic tranquility!
Best Suited for Portable Use
For those who value them, being able to carry their favourite DAC & Amp equipment when they are on the move is invaluable.
These DAC & Amps offer the ultimate portability experience without sacrificing sound quality. If you’re someone who appreciates cutting-edge engineering, quality sound and portability, then look no further.
Designed to be trusty companions, these DAC & Amps are cleverly engineered with the latest technology to offer the ultimate combination of portability & Hi-Fidelity!
DAC Chip
You may not even realise it, but most of us use a digital-to-analogue converter (commonly known as a DAC) daily. Built into your computers, tablets and smartphones, a DAC is fundamental to unlocking the convenience of digital music. Any device that acts as a digital sound source will need a DAC to convert digital audio to analog. A DAC converts the digital information stored in “0s and 1s” into an analog signal that's passed to speakers or headphones and ultimately our ear. In short, DACs play a large part in making digital music hearable.While this technical process is undoubtedly impressive, the DAC embedded into your smartphones or laptops is nowhere good enough to listen to your favourite music recordings in high quality. So, if you want to listen to music in high quality, an external DAC is essential to allow headphones or speakers to perform at their potential. An external DAC, first and foremost, will improve audio quality dramatically.
1.2 volts
Power Output
Pair with Laptop via USB
A majority of people use a laptop as the primary source device to listen to music or watch movies. Since the laptop is an essential part of the audio chain there are headphones and devices designed to work a laptop or computer system flawlessly. With the availability of USB connectivity, it becomes easier to pair various devices like an Amp, DAC or even headphones without worrying about drivers or any additional piece of software.
Super Lightweight
Design
DESCRIPTION
THE ULTIMATE PORTABLE DAC/AMP
The AudioQuest DragonFly Black has been developed in partnership with Gordon Rankin and Microchip Technologies. It has a better signal to noise ratio and consumes 77% lesser power than the original DragonFly thanks to the Microchip PIC32MX microcontroller. Streamlength™ asynchronous USB code ensures low jitter, low resource load, minimal packet errors, world-class audio playback and reliable connectivity between the Dragonfly Black and any computing device with a USB output.
ESS SABRE DAC CHIP & TEXAS INSTRUMENTS TPA6130 FOR GREAT SOUND
The DragonFly Black comes with a 32-bit 9010 ESS Sabre DAC chip that employs a minimum-phase fast roll-off filter for a naturally detailed, more authentic sound that can process up to 24-bit/96kHz audio. It features a Texas Instruments TPA6130 amp circuit and analogue volume control. You can use the source device's volume controls to adjust the DragonFly Black's volume.
COMPATIBLE WITH A WIDE RANGE OF HEADPHONE AND SOURCE DEVICES
This tiny DAC/AMP is compatible with a wide range of headphones, including power-hungry, low-efficiency models. It's compatible with PCs, without needing any additional drivers. You can also use it with your smartphone and enjoy music from your favourite streaming app like Tidal, Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube and more. The DragonFly Black's software can be upgraded with the free Windows or Mac desktop app.
SUPPORTS MQA FOR MASTER-QUALITY SOUND
The Dragonfly Black supports Master Quality Authenticated (MQA) playback. This is an award-winning audio technology that's meant to deliver the sound of the original master recording. MQA files are tiny and can easily be streamed using Tidal. 
SPECS
| STATUS/SAMPLE RATES SUPPORTED (LED INDICATOR COLOR CODE) | Standby (Red), 44.1 kHz (Green), 48kHz (Blue), 88.2kHz (Amber), 96kHz (Magenta), MQA (Purple) |
| VOLUME CONTROL | Analog Volume Control |
| OUTPUT VOLTAGE | 1.2 |
| HEADPHONE AMP | Texas Instruments TPA6130 |
| DAC CHIP | 32-bit ESS 9010 with minimum-phase fast roll-off filter |
| MICROCONTROLLER | Microchip PIC32MX |
| DIMENSIONS | 12 mm H x 19 mm W x 62 mm L |
| SUPPORTED INPUTS | 3.5 mm Stereo Jack |
| HEADPHONE IMPEDANCE | 10 Ohms & Higher |
| WEIGHT | 22g |
| BOX CONTENTS |
1. AudioQuest DragonFly Black USB DAC
|
| 2. Travel Pouch | |
| 3. Flight Manual |
| GENERIC NAME | Headphone Amplifier |
| COUNTRY OF ORIGIN | China |
| IMPORTER DETAILS | Importers Name: Audio One Private Ltd. Address: Lalani Aura, 5th Floor, 34th Road, Khar (W), Mumbai - 400052 Contact No: 022-66716544 |
| NET QUANTITY | 1 |
FAQs
What are the main differences between DragonFlys Black, Red, and Cobalt?
All DragonFlys are designed to preserve the body, warmth, and natural beauty in music. We like to think of the progression like this: Black is beautiful, Red is more beautiful, and Cobalt is most beautiful. For a complete Model Comparison Chart, Click here.
Will DragonFly make my internal computer speakers sound better?
No. DragonFly does not use the internal speakers in your computer.
DragonFly is specifically designed to connect to external audio devices, such as headphones, powered desktop speakers, complete audio/video systems, and iOS and Android mobile devices.
Note: DragonFly v1.0 and DragonFly v1.2 are designed to work with computers and laptops only; they are not designed for use with iOS and Android mobile devices. However, all current-production DragonFly modelsóîBlack, Red, and Cobalt---re compatible with iOS and Android devices.
What headphones can I use with the DragonFly?
DragonFly is versatile enough to drive virtually any headphone on the market today, from impedances of 10ohm and higher.
While all DragonFly models offer enough output to drive most headphones, DragonFly Black (1.2-volt output) comfortably drives most medium- to moderate-efficiency models and DragonFlys Red and Cobalt (2.1-volt output) easily drive even the lowest-efficiency models.
What is an MQA Renderer?
and also matches and compensates the DAC characteristics to the hierarchical target, matching the analog sound heard in the studio.
All current-production AudioQuest DragonFlys (Black, Red, and Cobalt) feature an MQA renderer that enables playback of MQA audio files and streams, delivering the sound of the original master recording. When connected to an MQA Core signal (within TIDAL Masters or Audirvana, for example), DragonFly's purple display indicates the unit is rendering an MQA stream or file.
How do I play MQA files from Tidal on my Apple device?
As a fully functional MQA renderer, your DragonFly is ready to unfold and play MQA files through the Tidal music-streaming service. If you have a Tidal Master account and want to enjoy the full benefits of Tidal Master (MQA) files through DragonFly, simply adjust your Tidal playback settings:
macOS
iOS, iPhone, iPad, iPad Pro
How do I play MQA files from Tidal on my Windows computer?
To play MQA files from Tidal on a Windows computer, follow these steps in the Tidal app:
Can I use DragonFly with Windows operating systems?
Yes. DragonFly is compatible with Windows 7 and later. If you're running the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, please be sure to install the Cumulative Update for Windows 10 Version 1607 (August 9, 2016), to maintain optimal USB audio performance.
Are there known USB-Audio issues with Windows 8 and Windows RT?
Early versions of Windows 8 had compatibility issues with their device drivers and many USB DACs (including DragonFly). If you are running Windows 8, we suggest that you do the following:
There are no reported audio issues with Windows 8.1.
Can I use DragonFly with Apple iOS devices?
Yes. DragonFly Black and Red can be used with Apple iOS devices.
Yes. DragonFly Black, Red, and Cobalt can be used with Apple iOS devices. An Apple Camera Adapter is required to connect DragonFly to an Apple Lightning device.
In our tests, Apple's Lightning-to-USB 3 Camera Adapter (with charging port) sounds better and is more reliable than Apple's less expensive Lightning-to-USB Camera Adapter, while also providing the ability to charge during playback. Your mileage may vary. Some users prefer the size of the smaller adapter, while others prefer the performance of the larger adapter. We encourage experimentation.
When DragonFly (Black, Red, Cobalt) is connected to an iOS device using Apple's older Lightning to USB Camera Connection Kit, I can hear clicks and pops in the background of the music. What should I do? In some rare instances, the combination of an iOS device in conjunction with the standard CCK and DragonFly Black, Red, or Cobalt causes a clicking in the background of the music.
Neither we nor Apple have been able to determine why this is, but, in circumstances where this occurs, we've found that using Apple's Lightning-to-USB 3 Camera Adapter resolves the problem. In addition, this connector offers improved audio performance over the smaller unit and provides the ability to charge the attached iOS device while listening to music.
Can I use DragonFly with Android devices?
Yes. DragonFly Black, Red, and Cobalt will work with most Android devices running on Lollipop OS (and some Android devices running on KitKat), provided that the device manufacturer has adhered to the USB specification and implementation, and supports audio over USB.
To verify that your Android device complies with isochronous USB audio, download and run USB Host Check.
In our early pre-production testing, we found that some Android devices (4.1 OS and newer) do not provide native support for audio over USB. If you find that your Android device (4.1 or newer) does not support audio over USB, we ask that you please contact the manufacturer of your device. To determine whether your device supports audio over USB, consult the user manual or visit the manufacturer's website.
Despite Android's support of USB audio output, there are still hardware manufacturers that do not completely adhere to the USB audio class specification. If you experience this, we recommend the USB Audio Player Pro application.
UAPP includes its own USB audio device driver that is compliant with the USB Organization's USB Audio Host Mode Class specification. Further, it is compatible with various audio formats and will manage music on both the Android's internal memory and inserted SD cards. With the phone connected to the Wi-Fi network, this application can also find and connect to DLNA servers/libraries. USB Audio Player PRO Version 5 now supports audio from Google Music, Tidal (including Tidal Masters), Qobuz, and Shoutcast, and includes an MQA Core Decoder, which will unfold MQA streams from 44.1/48kHz to 88.2/96 kHz and can be combined with DragonFly for further unfolding of even higher sample rates.
How do I set volume level when using DragonFly?
When using DragonFly with headphones, powered speakers, or a power amplifier, start at a low (or zero) volume level, then slowly raise the volume until the desired level is achieved.
When using DragonFly with headphones, powered speakers, or a power amplifier, it functions in variable output mode, and we recommend the following steps:
DragonFly Black is equipped with a 64-step analog volume control. With DragonFly Black connected to a PC or mobile device, adjusting the host's system volume control will, through proxy, control the DragonFly Black's onboard volume. This ensures maximum resolution and the highest sound quality, regardless of volume setting.
In DragonFly Red and Cobalt, we were able to employ a highly sophisticated 64-step, 64-bit, bit-perfect digital volume control. It works similarly: With DragonFly Red/Cobalt connected to a PC or mobile device, adjusting the host's system volume control will, through proxy, control the DragonFly's onboard volume. Here again, we've optimized the volume control to ensure maximum resolution and the highest sound quality, regardless of volume setting.
You can also use DragonFly as a traditional fixed-output source component (such as a CD player, DVD player, or Blu-ray player), connected to a standard input on a receiver or preamplifier. When used in this manner, DragonFly functions in fixed output mode, which
THE ULTIMATE PORTABLE DAC/AMP
The AudioQuest DragonFly Black has been developed in partnership with Gordon Rankin and Microchip Technologies. It has a better signal to noise ratio and consumes 77% lesser power than the original DragonFly thanks to the Microchip PIC32MX microcontroller. Streamlength™ asynchronous USB code ensures low jitter, low resource load, minimal packet errors, world-class audio playback and reliable connectivity between the Dragonfly Black and any computing device with a USB output.
ESS SABRE DAC CHIP & TEXAS INSTRUMENTS TPA6130 FOR GREAT SOUND
The DragonFly Black comes with a 32-bit 9010 ESS Sabre DAC chip that employs a minimum-phase fast roll-off filter for a naturally detailed, more authentic sound that can process up to 24-bit/96kHz audio. It features a Texas Instruments TPA6130 amp circuit and analogue volume control. You can use the source device's volume controls to adjust the DragonFly Black's volume.
COMPATIBLE WITH A WIDE RANGE OF HEADPHONE AND SOURCE DEVICES
This tiny DAC/AMP is compatible with a wide range of headphones, including power-hungry, low-efficiency models. It's compatible with PCs, without needing any additional drivers. You can also use it with your smartphone and enjoy music from your favourite streaming app like Tidal, Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube and more. The DragonFly Black's software can be upgraded with the free Windows or Mac desktop app.
SUPPORTS MQA FOR MASTER-QUALITY SOUND
The Dragonfly Black supports Master Quality Authenticated (MQA) playback. This is an award-winning audio technology that's meant to deliver the sound of the original master recording. MQA files are tiny and can easily be streamed using Tidal.
| STATUS/SAMPLE RATES SUPPORTED (LED INDICATOR COLOR CODE) | Standby (Red), 44.1 kHz (Green), 48kHz (Blue), 88.2kHz (Amber), 96kHz (Magenta), MQA (Purple) |
| VOLUME CONTROL | Analog Volume Control |
| OUTPUT VOLTAGE | 1.2 |
| HEADPHONE AMP | Texas Instruments TPA6130 |
| DAC CHIP | 32-bit ESS 9010 with minimum-phase fast roll-off filter |
| MICROCONTROLLER | Microchip PIC32MX |
| DIMENSIONS | 12 mm H x 19 mm W x 62 mm L |
| SUPPORTED INPUTS | 3.5 mm Stereo Jack |
| HEADPHONE IMPEDANCE | 10 Ohms & Higher |
| WEIGHT | 22g |
| BOX CONTENTS |
1. AudioQuest DragonFly Black USB DAC
|
| 2. Travel Pouch | |
| 3. Flight Manual |
| GENERIC NAME | Headphone Amplifier |
| COUNTRY OF ORIGIN | China |
| IMPORTER DETAILS | Importers Name: Audio One Private Ltd. Address: Lalani Aura, 5th Floor, 34th Road, Khar (W), Mumbai - 400052 Contact No: 022-66716544 |
| NET QUANTITY | 1 |
What are the main differences between DragonFlys Black, Red, and Cobalt?
All DragonFlys are designed to preserve the body, warmth, and natural beauty in music. We like to think of the progression like this: Black is beautiful, Red is more beautiful, and Cobalt is most beautiful. For a complete Model Comparison Chart, Click here.
Will DragonFly make my internal computer speakers sound better?
No. DragonFly does not use the internal speakers in your computer.
DragonFly is specifically designed to connect to external audio devices, such as headphones, powered desktop speakers, complete audio/video systems, and iOS and Android mobile devices.
Note: DragonFly v1.0 and DragonFly v1.2 are designed to work with computers and laptops only; they are not designed for use with iOS and Android mobile devices. However, all current-production DragonFly modelsóîBlack, Red, and Cobalt---re compatible with iOS and Android devices.
What headphones can I use with the DragonFly?
DragonFly is versatile enough to drive virtually any headphone on the market today, from impedances of 10ohm and higher.
While all DragonFly models offer enough output to drive most headphones, DragonFly Black (1.2-volt output) comfortably drives most medium- to moderate-efficiency models and DragonFlys Red and Cobalt (2.1-volt output) easily drive even the lowest-efficiency models.
What is an MQA Renderer?
and also matches and compensates the DAC characteristics to the hierarchical target, matching the analog sound heard in the studio.
All current-production AudioQuest DragonFlys (Black, Red, and Cobalt) feature an MQA renderer that enables playback of MQA audio files and streams, delivering the sound of the original master recording. When connected to an MQA Core signal (within TIDAL Masters or Audirvana, for example), DragonFly's purple display indicates the unit is rendering an MQA stream or file.
How do I play MQA files from Tidal on my Apple device?
As a fully functional MQA renderer, your DragonFly is ready to unfold and play MQA files through the Tidal music-streaming service. If you have a Tidal Master account and want to enjoy the full benefits of Tidal Master (MQA) files through DragonFly, simply adjust your Tidal playback settings:
macOS
iOS, iPhone, iPad, iPad Pro
How do I play MQA files from Tidal on my Windows computer?
To play MQA files from Tidal on a Windows computer, follow these steps in the Tidal app:
Can I use DragonFly with Windows operating systems?
Yes. DragonFly is compatible with Windows 7 and later. If you're running the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, please be sure to install the Cumulative Update for Windows 10 Version 1607 (August 9, 2016), to maintain optimal USB audio performance.
Are there known USB-Audio issues with Windows 8 and Windows RT?
Early versions of Windows 8 had compatibility issues with their device drivers and many USB DACs (including DragonFly). If you are running Windows 8, we suggest that you do the following:
There are no reported audio issues with Windows 8.1.
Can I use DragonFly with Apple iOS devices?
Yes. DragonFly Black and Red can be used with Apple iOS devices.
Yes. DragonFly Black, Red, and Cobalt can be used with Apple iOS devices. An Apple Camera Adapter is required to connect DragonFly to an Apple Lightning device.
In our tests, Apple's Lightning-to-USB 3 Camera Adapter (with charging port) sounds better and is more reliable than Apple's less expensive Lightning-to-USB Camera Adapter, while also providing the ability to charge during playback. Your mileage may vary. Some users prefer the size of the smaller adapter, while others prefer the performance of the larger adapter. We encourage experimentation.
When DragonFly (Black, Red, Cobalt) is connected to an iOS device using Apple's older Lightning to USB Camera Connection Kit, I can hear clicks and pops in the background of the music. What should I do? In some rare instances, the combination of an iOS device in conjunction with the standard CCK and DragonFly Black, Red, or Cobalt causes a clicking in the background of the music.
Neither we nor Apple have been able to determine why this is, but, in circumstances where this occurs, we've found that using Apple's Lightning-to-USB 3 Camera Adapter resolves the problem. In addition, this connector offers improved audio performance over the smaller unit and provides the ability to charge the attached iOS device while listening to music.
Can I use DragonFly with Android devices?
Yes. DragonFly Black, Red, and Cobalt will work with most Android devices running on Lollipop OS (and some Android devices running on KitKat), provided that the device manufacturer has adhered to the USB specification and implementation, and supports audio over USB.
To verify that your Android device complies with isochronous USB audio, download and run USB Host Check.
In our early pre-production testing, we found that some Android devices (4.1 OS and newer) do not provide native support for audio over USB. If you find that your Android device (4.1 or newer) does not support audio over USB, we ask that you please contact the manufacturer of your device. To determine whether your device supports audio over USB, consult the user manual or visit the manufacturer's website.
Despite Android's support of USB audio output, there are still hardware manufacturers that do not completely adhere to the USB audio class specification. If you experience this, we recommend the USB Audio Player Pro application.
UAPP includes its own USB audio device driver that is compliant with the USB Organization's USB Audio Host Mode Class specification. Further, it is compatible with various audio formats and will manage music on both the Android's internal memory and inserted SD cards. With the phone connected to the Wi-Fi network, this application can also find and connect to DLNA servers/libraries. USB Audio Player PRO Version 5 now supports audio from Google Music, Tidal (including Tidal Masters), Qobuz, and Shoutcast, and includes an MQA Core Decoder, which will unfold MQA streams from 44.1/48kHz to 88.2/96 kHz and can be combined with DragonFly for further unfolding of even higher sample rates.
How do I set volume level when using DragonFly?
When using DragonFly with headphones, powered speakers, or a power amplifier, start at a low (or zero) volume level, then slowly raise the volume until the desired level is achieved.
When using DragonFly with headphones, powered speakers, or a power amplifier, it functions in variable output mode, and we recommend the following steps:
DragonFly Black is equipped with a 64-step analog volume control. With DragonFly Black connected to a PC or mobile device, adjusting the host's system volume control will, through proxy, control the DragonFly Black's onboard volume. This ensures maximum resolution and the highest sound quality, regardless of volume setting.
In DragonFly Red and Cobalt, we were able to employ a highly sophisticated 64-step, 64-bit, bit-perfect digital volume control. It works similarly: With DragonFly Red/Cobalt connected to a PC or mobile device, adjusting the host's system volume control will, through proxy, control the DragonFly's onboard volume. Here again, we've optimized the volume control to ensure maximum resolution and the highest sound quality, regardless of volume setting.
You can also use DragonFly as a traditional fixed-output source component (such as a CD player, DVD player, or Blu-ray player), connected to a standard input on a receiver or preamplifier. When used in this manner, DragonFly functions in fixed output mode, which
Don't sweat it, this
AudioQuest - DragonFly Black comes with a 1 Year warranty
from AudioQuest that covers manufacturing defects.
All products featured on Headphone Zone are backed by an original manufacturer's warranty.
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PRODUCT DESIGN WINNER
The Absolute Sound
Mar, 2020
RECOMMENDED COMPONENTS
Stereophile
Mar, 2019
PRODUCT DESIGN WINNER
The Absolute Sound
Mar, 2018
EDITOR'S CHOICE AWARD
Sound & Vision
Dec, 2016
“The DragonFly Black continues this commitment to better sound quality on a budget, but in an even more impressive package. The look may be same, but this is easily the best DragonFly yet.”
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"I've spent almost a year using DragonFly Black and I don't plan on stopping. Anyone who enjoys music and wants to make the most out of listening to it at their desk should seriously consider this."
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"I find the Black to be the most neutral sounding one of the new DragonFly units and it’s also the most energetic one. It’s more that it’s fast sounding with good attack and prat."
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“Through headphones, the DragonFly Black was superior to the original DragonFly in every way. The soundstage was considerably larger.”
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"The DragonFly Black is quite possibly the sharpest high street audio bargain available right now. It’s the quintessential everyman hifi product."
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"Now add to that low power consumption, size and fuss free operation without drivers and I think DF is still great choice in certain usage scenarios."
Read MoreThis product is rated 4.8 of 5.0 stars.
It has received 20 reviews.
Customer Reviews
Used with : iPhone 7 plus, Macbook Pro
Headphones Used: Audeze Sine, RHA t20i, Meze 99 Classics, Crossfade M-100
The Dragonfly Black just lights up the music and makes it more enjoyable. The bass is more pronounced and has more weight to it. The soundstage is better, vocals are more prominent and everything is crisper. And it can get really loud.
The only downside is the inability to fine tune the volume. This was not a problem when used with my iPhone but with the MacBook, increasing the volume by one notch resulted in considerable increase in volume.
In order to use the dragonfly with an Android/iPhone, an adapter would be required. For the iPhone, the lightning to USB camera adapter from Apple works best, though it is quite difficult to find one. I purchased mine through Flipkart. I have not yet used the dragonfly on an android device.
Took my AT M50x to a whole new level.Couldnt tell much when compared to my M2Tech Evo DAC. Such a tiny thing can do such wonder, it's truly amazing.
Great service by Headphone zone guys.Periodic update of the courier. Prompt call from team if you drop in a message.
Can anybody suggest a usbc to USB A female cable?
I have been very impressed with the DragonFly Black. It is perfect for less demanding headphones like my AT M50’s or a set of IEM’s. When driving my HiFiMAN Sundara’s I do notice a bit of a drop off in overall punch and heft of the sound, it seems to be at it’s limit and I have to set the source vol. to about 80-90%. The only gripe I would have is I wish AudioQuest would have updated it to a USB C connector instead of the USB A. That being said it is perfect for driving a set of good IEMs off my iPad. I would even recommend it for a beginner setup as long as you choose you headphones carefully.
Hey Hormazd, thanks for sharing your honest and amazing feedback, we really appreciate it!