![]() If you’re looking to make the next step up in desktop, or even mobile, sound and the asking price is within reach, the Cobalt represents something of a no-brainer. In terms of fundamental functionality, we’re pleased to report little has changed since then. However, the sonic return is such that those wishing to use the Cobalt with their USB-C smartphone should still get one and fork out for a new adaptor instead. The Cobalt is the first DragonFly to spread its wings since 2015, when AudioQuest introduced its Black and Redmodels and with them Android and iOS smartphone compatibility. Our only real complaint is nothing to do with the sound, only the quality of the DragonTail adaptor. That doesn’t counteract any of the sonic improvements you’re getting for your premium outlay, but some may favour the Red’s more relaxed temperament. It improves on almost every aspect of its older sibling’s five-star presentation, but with that added insight and maturity comes a slight loss of the fluidity that made the Red sound so human. The only reason some people might be put off is that the DragonFly Cobalt is a serious performer. The Cobalt’s hard work is also heard as it belts out grand dynamic shifts before donning its reading glasses to contour those more diminutive quivers. With all current-production models of AudioQuest’s DragonFly USB DAC (Black, Red, Cobalt), music appreciation and exploration are limitless: Plug into an Apple or Windows computer or connect to an iOS or Android mobile device. With AudioQuests DragonFly USB DAC, music appreciation and exploration are limitless: Plug into an Apple. From MP3 to MQA and Hi-Res, DragonFly adds life, meaning, and color to all of your music. Timing is greatly improved, with beats locking in like puzzle pieces, so much so that it can sometimes leave the DragonFly Red feeling a tad lazy. High-Performance Portable USB DAC: DragonFly Cobalt. In both senses, there is measurable progress. You could spend your time analysing the music if you like, the Cobalt makes that easy with its wide-open soundstage and impressive clarity, but AudioQuest has not lost itself entirely in the detail, offering still a keen sense of rhythm and expressive dynamic range. ![]() ![]() The Cobalt isn’t necessarily concerned with polishing your music, only the lens through which it can be seen: bedroom recordings can still sound intimately lo-fi, purposefully screeching treble remains uncensored and grisly riffs still drag their knuckles along the floor. Lines are indelibly drawn round the edges of each instrument, with granular detail on offer to complement the cleanliness and military precision.
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