This is not a review of the AudioQuest Dragonfly Red or comparison to DF 1.2

I just got the Dragonfly Red and it's working very well with my 'old' iPod Touch 5G and the new apple lightning to usb camera adapter. (MD821AM/A)

 

I've been DACing off today. I did some two way comparisons by connecting two DACs to my PC's USB ports, then fed them into a Schiit Sys, and then on to my Vahalla2 + hd650. So it's a little clumsy - to switch DACs I have to switch DACS in the media player (just 2 clicks), and then toggle the input selector button on the SYS. I always play around with the volume a lot after each switch, listening at both low and higher volumes.

Please note: I am _not_ trying to do any sort of blind A/B test here.
I'm simply using the SYS to make it relatively easy to switch back and forth, and thus form subjective, confirmation biased, and hallucinatory impressions.

1st Comparison:

DF Red (in line out mode, bypasses the DF amp), compared to Schiit Modi 2 (Non-Uber, or NU hereafter). I had never tried the DF in line out mode - previous comparisons that I wrote about above were using the DF in normal DAC + internal amp mode.

And I was surprised. The DF Red DAC is definitely better than the Modi 2 (NU). DF Red has: slightly but noticeably better space and imaging, slightly smoother treble despite being slightly brighter than Modi 2 (Modi2 is more hashy up there), and finally, my overall experience is that the music just has more nuance and delicacy. It's really quite pleasant.

I'm starting to second guess a statement I made previously, in which I said that the modi2/vali1 stack is better than DF Red, at least with the HD598. For the HD598, I would say the DF Red is better. I'm less certain with the HD650, as the Vali1 seems to do something good for the HD650s that maybe compensates a little for Modi2.

2nd Comparison:
DF Red (in line out mode, bypasses the DF amp), compared to Schiit Bifrost MB (AKA the beef roaster).

The beef roaster does everything much better. Space and imaging are a notch or so above the DF. Beef roaster sounds more lush. Instruments sound uncannily clear and focused on the BFMB.

But I have to say, my take away is that the DF Red is actually pretty nice sounding.

Finally, I should mention that I have measurable hearing loss. And probably brain damage.

Edit: I should add, the Modi2 had the benefit of a Wyrd in the chain, the DF Red did not (but still sounded better).
Edit #2: I inadvertently said Vali2 above, should be Vali1. (For clarity, Valhalla 2 is correct)

 

P.S. We need to get some established ears on this...

 

Any comparisons between the dragonfly red and black and whether it sounds 'better' than a sony pha-1?

 

My ears certainly aren't established here, but I'll offer what I can.

I have the Red, a GO450, and a Audioengine D1. I use them with the HD650 (silver), HD800, and Fostex TH900. No mods as of yet.

I find the GO450 ethereal sounding in a negative sense, meaning it lacks solidity and realism, though it has gobs of detail for such a small device (EDIT: The decay/reverb is also stellar within the same context). The FRM filter improves this (EDIT: solidity/realism) over the TCM filter. But the Red is like having two additional settings going further in the FRM direction. The sound is more real, more solid, natural, and involving. I'm not sure whether to ascribe resolution to some of those descriptors. Bass is of a higher fidelity, with stronger impact. Perhaps it is more intimate sounding, perhaps the treble is less evident, but I wouldn't go so far as to say it is dark. I've not done enough direct comparison to be confidant of the last two statements. It feels like the opposite of the GO450 in some ways, and keeps me more engaged in the music. The D1 is okay, but sounds a little washed out compared to either of these.

Making these comparisons 3 or 4 months ago was one of the things that confirmed the doubts I was having about the objective viewpoint. The difference is absolutely not simply frequency response. It reminds me a little of the difference between the HD800 and HD650.

DAC Chips:
Geek Out 450 (Time Coherent Mode and Frequency Response Mode) = ESS Sabre 9018K2M (2-Channel)
Dragon Fly Red (minimum-phase filter) = ESS Sabre 9016 (8-Channel)
Audioengine D1 = Asahi-Kasei AK4396 (2-Channel(?))

 

Yeah the convenience factor is through the roof. Getting the GO450 to work is a pain in the butt. You can use an external USB battery with the correct USB adapter. FYI I found the V0 firmware requires a usb hub, but V5 works with a y-cable. Though this was with two different GO450 untis that came with those firmwares.

I tend to listen to music from a portable device, even though I'm home. The HD650s and Red are getting the most play time recently.

 

Yup. Listening to that config now. Red can comfortably drive IEMs to ear-bleed volume. On "Ice Man," Oz Noy's Strat sounds exactly the way a Strat should sound.

 

These need to connect straight into the Lightning connection of my iDevice. Camera connection kit? No thanks. I'm betting stuff like this will be coming though... Apple losing the 3,5mm connection and all.

 

Hm, the DF Red is pretty good. With the UM Martian, it didn't impress much on its own. But its a solid DAC with the pico Power. Great value at $150-ish, I'd say.

Possible that the DF Red might play better with more sensitive IEMs. The Martian isn't too tough to drive, but responds quite favorably to more power.

 

As I recall, the new RHA DACAmp balanced thingy has MFI certification- which means no CCK needed. I can't give detailed notes on the sound as I only listened for about ten minutes, other than to say, for Sabre DACs, it wasn't the instant turnoff that I was expecting. One to watch for sure- would love to see proper measurements/subjective impressions.

(Actually, my subtext there is "come at me bro", I secretly want it to be better than my Mojo, as it would be more convenient in some ways..)

 

After more than a month of regular usage, I can say with confidence that the DF Red is one of the better USB D/S DACs I've used. That may not be saying much, but it's clean, even and consistently pleasant. Good engagement factor, higher than Mojo. The amp is hopelessly weak sauce, though. Unsurprising, really. So it's a poorer value proposition than its copious hype would suggest. Still, it's a very solid buy at the going rate for a used unit. Convenience weighs heavily in its favor.

As it's come up in this discussion and I've owned it previously, the DFR is easily better than the Audioengine D1. No contest.

Oddly, the DFR looks quite a bit better in person than it does in many promo images. Go figure.

 

A DragonFly Black with PortaPro should be a good budget solution based on what I am reading here.

Did any of you also try out the JitterBug?

 

Any DAC with a USB input that requires a de-crapifier to perform well out of the box is, frankly, a failure. While I've not tried the JitterBug, I can tell you that the DF Red sounds fine without it.

For the record, I believe that premium USB cables and de-crapifiers have a place. Use both myself. But it's preposterous to shell out for one at this price point. And certainly not on a USB stick. No excuse for a rotten implementation on a DAC's sole input option.

DF Black with a PortaPro seems like a nifty setup.

 

I was simply curious for the JitterBug. It might work, it might not work.

For headphones below 80 Ohms that are easy to drive the DragonFly Black is one of the best PC-audio solutions right now.

What remains is to figure out how the DragonFly works with speakers from its headphone out. At least for me...

 

I've been leaning towards the DF Black as a solution for iem on the go via laptop and to my Vali2>HD600 (Office) and Vali2>HD650 (Home). I can't really think of anything better while affordable/available(LH Labs)... Does anyone know if there is saber glare on the black? It may influence my choice of iem...