[LAmitchell]

Okay,
 
I know these two devices have been out for a while, but that's why I thought it would be worth it to open up a new thread on them. 
 
I found the DRAGONFLY to be amazing in a "hey-check-it-out wow" kind of way.... clear, detailed, fast, etc...
but the reason I eventually got an EXPLORER was because the dragonfly was (as someone else described it kind of "prickly" and didn't let me relax as much as I would have liked to with music over a long period of time.
 
 
Just got the EXPLORER today, so I know it's too early to really make an honest statement about its sound (gotta spend at least a week or so with it I suppose before I can do that).  The packaging does look nice (ie. "classy, ala Mercedes Benz of audio)... but I didn't think the packaging an Dragonfly was bad at all.
 
Post more soon!
 
 

 

[LAmitchell]

After having that Dragonfly for a year and listening to it almost every day, I have a firm grasp on its sound. 
 
I can easily say that the Explorer is definitely the better DAC of the two. I also see why reviewers have their work cut out for them when trying to describe DAC sound, but I will take a stab at it after a couple more weeks.
 
I'm so in love with the sound of this that I'm very much tempted to send it back and get the DIRECTOR.
 
Talk to ya soon,
 
La Mitchell

 

[c3dw]

It would be interesting if you could compare it with the new Dragonfly 1.2 which has upgraded components.

 

[Gradius]

You can hardly compare, is HALF of price.
 
So for the price I guess Dragonfly v1.2 is still good enough.

 

[LAmitchell]

Yeah, I guess you're right. It's just that when I bought the Dragonfly a year ago, it was $250, and it was on the front page of all the audio-mgas, everyone was giving it an A+, blah, blah. 
 
But I am wishing I would have bought an Explorer at that point instead.  That little dragonfly sticking out of the edge of my laptop was such a pain. And so edgy to listen to.
 
 
Then again, maybe I wouldn't have appreciated the Explorer the way I do now if I hadn't gone through the Dragonfly for that year?

 

[HPiper]

  Yeah, I guess you're right. It's just that when I bought the Dragonfly a year ago, it was $250, and it was on the front page of all the audio-mgas, everyone was giving it an A+, blah, blah. 
 
But I am wishing I would have bought an Explorer at that point instead.  That little dragonfly sticking out of the edge of my laptop was such a pain. And so edgy to listen to.
 
 
Then again, maybe I wouldn't have appreciated the Explorer the way I do now if I hadn't gone through the Dragonfly for that year?

That is probably true, you need a reference and having that Dragonfly established yours. I thought my headphone amp sounded great until I got a LD tube amp, it was like somebody just turned on the lights.

 

[stainless824]

Light harmonic geek out. Heard it at CES. Hands down demolished anything in the same category. Made the flight worth it.

 

[JakeJack_2008]

  Light harmonic geek out. Heard it at CES. Hands down demolished anything in the same category. Made the flight worth it.

Which one are you talking about: the Explorer?

 

[bigbeard]

How good are the amps on these things? what would the consequences be if i hooked up my mobile audio systems into one of these DAC/Amps and then connect it to a dedicated portable amp to drive high impedance headphones?