Audioquest Dragonfly 1.2 question and observations

[vai-777]

Just got this today and paired it with my AKG Q701 running out of a fairly decent Toshiba laptop. It is definitely an improvement over plugging straight into the headphone jack, no question about it. Better bass extension, little more midrange.... still retains the highs nicely, can't really ask for anything else at that price.
 
Now... the question... I'm running Foobar / WASAPI, BTW. I tried it with my OLD (2001?) Sennheiser HD600 and it seems to do very little for it. The volume is about the same whether straight from the jack or into the Dragonfly, where as the volume increased significantly with the AKG Q701 when plugged into the Dragonfly. I understand the Q701 is 62ohms and the HD600 is 300ohms but shouldn't it stand to reason it would still be a little louder out of the Dragonfly regardless?
 
AND THE KICKER.... I also have a set of Beyerdynamic DT880 600ohms and the volume through the Dragonfly is SIGNIFICANTLY lower than through the headphone jack on my comp. That really shocked me. Is the comp really putting out that much more power through the headphone jack?
 
I simply can't figure out why the Dragonfly would be lower volume with the Senns and Beyers than my headphone jack on a relatively cheap Toshiba (+- $300).
 
Anyone care to shed some light here?

 

[Hawkertempest]

The Dragonfly is a DAC it is not an amplifier, your other two cans are harder for the Toshiba to drive, especially the 600 ohm Beyer's.

 

[382921]

Hello everybody!

I'm looking to buy:
-the dragonfly v1.2
-audioengine D1
-audioengine D3

to listen with my AKG K545 and Shure SE315.
i absolutely hate distortion, and would like something that is very very easy to set up.

Any suggestions in what's best?

 

[Hawkertempest]

Quote:

Hello everybody!

I'm looking to buy:
-the dragonfly v1.2
-audioengine D1
-audioengine D3

to listen with my AKG K545 and Shure SE315.
i absolutely hate distortion, and would like something that is very very easy to set up.

Any suggestions in what's best?

 
Dragonfly V1.2 definitely. D3 is cheap and nasty and D1 only plays 92/24bit in USB. Dragonfly has rave reviews in it's price range. I have one and love it. I can run B&W P3, P5, Sennheiser HD-280pro and Beyerdynamic T1's.

 

[382921]

Quote:

Hello everybody!

I'm looking to buy:
-the dragonfly v1.2
-audioengine D1
-audioengine D3

to listen with my AKG K545 and Shure SE315.
i absolutely hate distortion, and would like something that is very very easy to set up.

Any suggestions in what's best?

 
Dragonfly V1.2 definitely. D3 is cheap and nasty and D1 only plays 92/24bit in USB. Dragonfly has rave reviews in it's price range. I have one and love it. I can run B&W P3, P5, Sennheiser HD-280pro and Beyerdynamic T1's.

They are all about the same price point from where I'm buying, so cost isn't an issue.

What makes the dragonfly v1.2 so good? and the rest so bad?

 

[Hawkertempest]

They are all about the same price point from where I'm buying, so cost isn't an issue.

What makes the dragonfly v1.2 so good? and the rest so bad?

 
Do a google search on the D1 and D3 for What Hi Fi and also the Dragonfly. They rate the dragonfly best USB DAC up to 200 pounds sterling.
So do most other Hi Fi mags.
I would agree the Dragonfly is so versatile, I even run my desktop speakers through mine, including my B&W MM-1's.
The Dragonfly is just a wonderful and versatile little DAC. 

 

[mmarkovich]

  The Dragonfly is a DAC it is not an amplifier, your other two cans are harder for the Toshiba to drive, especially the 600 ohm Beyer's.

 
Care to elaborate, I am not claiming any expertise, but Audioquest says  for DragonFLy v1.2 this: “ USB DAC + Preamp + Headphone Amp, so this is just a Marketing on their part?
 
http://www.audioquest.com/usb_digital_analog_converter/dragonfly-dac
 
I bought one until I get something better, and to be fair ,it does decent job, it definitely play music much louder than PC built in sound, I would say sound stage is now much more define and I can hear things that I could not without it, so is it possible that just DA would give this kind of Gain and increased clarity?.
 
I apologize if I am using technical terms to explain myself  that are not correct - appropriate, I was in Hi-Fi  hobby last time like 30 Years ago and got out, so  I stared using phonese recently more and sort of quietly getting back in this hobby and learning new stuff.
 
Thanks,

 

[mmarkovich]

Hello everybody!

I'm looking to buy:
-the dragonfly v1.2
-audioengine D1
-audioengine D3

to listen with my AKG K545 and Shure SE315.
i absolutely hate distortion, and would like something that is very very easy to set up.

Any suggestions in what's best?

 
What is the best is very subjective,  what I could tell you that my Sennheiser HD-595, Philips Fidelio X2 sounded  much better to me when I played music from my PC through  Apogee Grovee then DragonFly  V1.2, but the Grove cost about twice as much, have I not decided to go for something like Chord Mojo or VorzAMP pure II + I would return DragonFly and kept the Grove.  I have incoming Sennheiser IE800 and I am sorry that I could not play with those on Groove, although from what I read and understand  IEM may not need vey powerful Amp if at all, they could rather benefit from good DAC, but here I am afraid that I am getting in something new to me, so more informed member are free to correct me.
 
Info on Grovee
http://www.apogeedigital.com/products/groove
 
Hope this helped a little,
 
Thanks,

 

[mmarkovich]

  The Dragonfly is a DAC it is not an amplifier, your other two cans are harder for the Toshiba to drive, especially the 600 ohm Beyer's.

 
Care to elaborate, I am not claiming any expertise, but Audioquest says  for DragonFLy v1.2 this: “ USB DAC + Preamp + Headphone Amp," so is this just a Marketing on their part?
 
I bought one until I get something better, and to be fair, it does decent job, it definitely play music much louder than PC built in sound, I would say sound stage is now much more define and I can hear things that I could not without it, so is it possible that just DAC would give this kind of Gain and increased clarity?
 
I apologize if I am using technical terms to explain myself  that are not correct - appropriate, I was in Hi-Fi  hobby last time like 30 Years ago and got out, so  I started using phonese recently more and sort of quietly getting back in this hobby and learning new stuff.
 
Thanks,
Misha

 

[mmarkovich]

   
Dragonfly V1.2 definitely. D3 is cheap and nasty and D1 only plays 92/24bit in USB. Dragonfly has rave reviews in it's price range. I have one and love it. I can run B&W P3, P5, Sennheiser HD-280pro and Beyerdynamic T1's.

 
What is the best is very subjective, but  what I could tell you is that my Sennheiser HD-595, Philips Fidelio X2 sounded much better to me when I played music from my PC through Apogee Grovee then DragonFly  V1.2, but Grove does cost about twice as much.
 
Have I not decided to go for something like Chord Mojo or VorzAMP pure II + I would return DragonFly and kept the Grove.
 
I have incoming Sennheiser IE800 and I am sorry that I could not play with those on Groove, although from what I read and understand IEM may not need very powerful Amp if at all, they could rather benefit from good DAC, but here I am afraid that I am getting into something new for me, so more informed member are free to correct me.
 
Hope this helped a little,
 
Thanks,

 

[canali]

Hello everybody!

I'm looking to buy:
-the dragonfly v1.2
-audioengine D1
-audioengine D3

to listen with my AKG K545 and Shure SE315.
i absolutely hate distortion, and would like something that is very very easy to set up.

Any suggestions in what's best?

 
I'd hold off from buying if I were you for a few months, upon pending new releases.
 
audioquest is coming out 3 new new portable dac/amps over the next few months:
2 new Dragonflys and a bluetooth Beetle.
...all allegedly better than current dragonfly dac/amp 1.2v
--the black replacement is said to be both better and cheaper than the current 1.2v, at only $100.
--and there is even a red turbo version for more demanding cans/has better dac.
only $200.
 
all with upgradeable firmware....all now useable with a host of ios and android devices.
should be one of THE great products this yr for portable audio: small, light etc...if it's great
sounding then what is not to love
 
the link below (done by john darko) has a good Vimeo too...done at the recent Jan CES show.
talks about its developement, the sources they went to for chip/software develoment etc
http://www.digitalaudioreview.net/2016/01/ces-2016-audioquest-mobilise-dragonfly-black-red/
 

the
 
 
an alternative:
also be sure to check out the standalone dac/amp module made by Bang and Olufsen for 
upcoming LG G5 phone; more info/video below from recent phone show
http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/lg-g5-hi-fi-plus-modular-hi-res-dac/
http://liliputing.com/2016/02/lg-launches-g5-smartphones-and-friends-modular-accessories.html
also can be used as a standalone unit, like the Dragonfly...more info on it when it's released
over the next month...comparing it alongside the new Dragonflys will prove most interesting.
 

 


 

 

[Mr Makarov]

Hi everyone!
4 months ago I bought DF v1.2 and was enjoying it very much (especially because of the clarity and soundstage).
It pairs well with all my hedpohones, I hear a noticeably improvement with SE846.
Very good and very portable DAC!
BUT..yesterday I accidentally dropped it from the table where my laptop was..and IT DIED! I mean its like 1 m table. The DF is tiny and feels so well built so what the hell?!?!? I just can´t believe it. Once my HifiMan EF2A DAC/AMP fell from more than 1m into the hard ground and it only has a scratch and is still 100% functional, and that one is a big brick. But this little USB-sized thing was unable to survive!?!? There´s no "extremely fragile" warning on the box as far as I know. This is just ridiculous and very frustrating (where I live it costs 288 dollars) and the DF RED goes for $445.
However I think I need a new DAC - cant stand laptop soundcard and EF2A is not as good as DF 1.2
My options are VERY limited (and almost all overpriced):
DF BLACK: which for some reason (another seller) costs $215 (will it be also made of glass?)
SCHIIT MODI 2: $222
SONY PHA-A1: $222
APOGEE GROOVE: $250
 
What should I do?

 

[waynes world]

What should I do?

Have you contacted audioquest? If not, I'd try that before getting too excited. Maybe they'll be able to help yoj out somehow.