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AudioQuest DragonFly Red

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The size and shape of a USB thumb-drive, DragonFly Red is a digital-to-analog converter with a USB plug at one end and a 3.5mm mini-jack at the opposite end. Compatible with Apple OS X and Windows (7, 8.1, 10) PCs, DragonFly Red can be plugged into a USB port to bypass the host computer's compromised audio circuitry and deliver cleaner, clearer, more naturally beautiful sound to headphones, powered speakers, or complete audio systems. Thanks to its low-noise, high-efficiency Microchip microcontroller, DragonFly Red draws extremely low power from the host, enabling seamless compatibility with Apple iOS and Android mobile devices. DragonFly Red requires no additional drivers and plays all digital files-from MP3 to high-res (with native resolutions up to 24 bits and 96kHz). It features StreamlengthTM asynchronous USB code, which ensures low jitter, low resource load, minimal packet errors, world-class audio playback, and reliable connectivity between DragonFly and any computing device compliant with USB Host Mode. DragonFly Red's 32-bit ESS 9016 DAC chip uses a sophisticated minimum-phase digital filter to provide more naturally detailed and dynamic music, while the bit-perfect digital volume control enables maximum resolution regardless of volume setting: With DragonFly Red connected to a PC or mobile device, adjusting the host's volume control will adjust DF Red's onboard volume. With an output of 2.1 volts, DragonFly Red delivers enough power to successfully drive all preamplifier, integrated amplifier, or receiver inputs, as well as a wide range of today's headphones, including power-hungry models. AudioQuest's free Desktop Device Manager application allows for software upgrades to meet future technological advancements. With DragonFly Red, music lovers can enjoy an emotionally compelling listening experience, at home or on the go, with the computer or mobile device of their choice.
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Latest reviews

A

angelmf2704

New Head-Fier
Great performer but it is not a good value
Pros: Perfect tunning (to my taste)
Controled and precise sound
Reveals a lot of detail
Great build quality
Software updates
Cons: Limited format support
Price
LED might annoy some
Size and adapters
I believe Audioquest was one of the first companies releasing a product like this, a simple and "cheap" on the go HIFI solution for enthusiasts. In 2016, this was probably the best you can get if you wanted a portable solution for headphones and IEMS. Now, we have a ton of USB DAC that are a lot smaller and have more features. I'm not discarding this product, but it feel a bit out of place in 2023.


There is not a lot to complain about the sound here. To my ears, it offers a very elegant and enyojable presentation. Bass is well defined even with hungry headphones, midrange is very musical and treble is present but never bright or harsch. It offers a lot of power, 1 Volt RMS for low impedance headphones and 2 Volts RMS for line out and high impedance headphones. This is more than enough for must users. I truly recommending using third party software such as audirvana, Roon or usb audio player pro since it enables the BIT-PERFECT Volume control and it's way better than Android or Windows volume steps.

As a I said before, 200 dollars can buy another options such as entry level stacks that will provide more features and power. Even in the portable category, there are cheaper options such as Zorloo's Ztella and other chinese options.If you can find it for 100 dollars, it's a good option but DON'T PAY MSRP :)
unknownuser

unknownuser

Head-Fier
Pros: - could be a solution to tame overly bright headphones
- small, plugs directly to USB port so if you want to avoid cable mess then it's a pro
- good value
Cons: - no big deal but you can't turn off the LED or I missed it
M50x sounded harsh, overly bright depending on the recording so instead getting rid of the M50x which is otherwise okay all arounder from games to music I thought that maybe getting rid of the E10k will solve the issue. And it did,DragonFly Red tamed the treble quite well and mostly removed the harshness from cymbals, piano. Now it's not fatiguing as it was with the E10k however the E10k had more bass but I rather give up a little bit bass than listen the too metallic cymbals, also instrument separation is better with the DragonFly Red and the overall sound is more balanced and now just bright not ear piercing bright. I don't think that the M50x can sound any better than this, more or less that's it. So I think that the DragonFly Red+M50x combo is good enough setup. However it has too much power for the M50x, it's not that quiet with the Windows System volume at just 1, 3 is comfortable listening volume and 4 is loudish and anything above volume 5 and it's very loud. You can look at this positively, probably it can drive most headphones.
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hgpardo
hgpardo
Same here with Audio Technica MSR7. DF Red tames the highs and improves bass and mids. Same for hybrid IEMs like FLC 8n or Jays q-jays or iBasso IT01.
Basshead Paul

Basshead Paul

Head-Fier
This little DAC produces better sound quality than products costing two to three times as much. Its almost like having a desktop audio system shrunk down to a tiny Gizmo that fits in your pocket.

The best part of this product is the DAC, not the amp, so it sounds even better if you pair it with a good dedicated headphone amp... Especially if your headphones are hard to drive. The Dragonfly Red is capable of driving up to 300 ohm headphones, but not necessarily as well as a dedicated headphone amp would.
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