Home Amp/DAC Comparisons Audioquest Dragonfly Black vs. Red [With Video]

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Looking for the Cobalt? AudioQuest DragonFly Red vs. Cobalt vs. Chord Mojo vs. DACport HD

Updates

  • 6/11/19.
  • 9/17/19. Link cleanup.
  • 12/30/19. Article cleanup. Added some images. Added Table of Contents.
  • 1/16/20. The added bit about Asynchronous USB.
  • 1/28/20. Cleaned up Notepad section and replaced the old Dragon Tail recommendation with iFi’s better adapter.
  • 3/3/20. Added Cobalt link.
  • 1/29/21. Article/link cleanup.

2,256-word post, approx 4 min. read

Greetings comrade and Welcome aboard!!

Audioquest DragonFly Red vs. Black

Sunbathing.

Here are the best reasons to get a DragonFly Red over a Black!

  1. More Power. The DragonFly Red provides 2.1V vs. only 1.2 for the Black. The Red version provides plenty for the majority of headphones you may come in contact with. You won’t have to upgrade down the road like you would if you decided to purchase the Black version.
  2. Better Sound. The DragonFly Red’s sound is more refined, more detailed, and more organic. It has a warm tilt to it but is still incredibly detailed and musical. It’s a piece of kit that everyone will enjoy, from the average consumer to the seasoned audiophile. See what others are saying!

Before we get into the official AudioQuest Dragonfly Black vs. Red comparison, grab a snack, sit back and relax because..

You’ve come to the right place!!

What I will bring you in this review

Today I will outline the AudioQuest Dragonfly Black and compare it to the Red version towards the end. 🙂 Also contained in this article will be the various other generations that are part of the line.

Table of Contents

Click to navigate the article!

Introduction
The DragonFly
Video Shootout
Photo Gallery
Who Benefits? & Features
Stu’s Notepad & Conclusion
Similarities & Differences (Red vs. Black)
Similarities & Differences (Black Versions)
Recommendation & Final Word

Now without further ado, let’s get rolling!!

Introduction

For as long as I can remember, the audio coming straight out of a computer or laptop has always sucked. Lol. For whatever reason, PC manufacturers seem to always neglect this very important aspect of a computer: IT’S SOUND.

Yes, a computers primary job as far as sound isn’t to knock your socks off, but it’s still an important component to any device. Think about how often you’re listening to music or playing a game through your PC. It’s a lot! Sadly, this aspect of the experience has been neglected for a long time, and to this day continues to be.

The good news is that companies like Samsung and Apple are making an effort to improve the quality of the internal DAC (Digital to Analog Converter) in most mobile devices, but AudioQuest has taken it a step further. What is a USB DAC?

Enter the Dragonfly.

The Generations

  1. Audioquest DragonFly v1.0 = First Generation. Distinguished by a Black 3.5mm plug.
  2. Audioquest DragonFly v1.2 = Second Generation. Distinguished by a Gray 3.5mm plug.
  3. Audioquest DragonFly Black v1.5 = Third Generation. Gray colored 3.5mm plug.
  4. Audioquest DragonFly Red = Third Generation. Black 3.5mm plug.
  5. Audioquest DragonFly Cobalt = Fourth Generation. I have not gotten a chance to demo this one, but will update the article once I do!

Let’s take a look at the Red version, as it’s the one you’ll probably want to invest in first.

AudioQuest DragonFly Red

Specifications

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  • Type: Digital to Analog Converter + Headphone Amplifier.
  • Input: USB.
  • Output: 3.5mm jack.
  • Maximum Output Voltage: 2.1V
  • Maximum Input Signal: 96kHz/24-bit.
  • Dimensions: 19mm x 12mm x 62mm
  • Asynchronous USB: Yes.

Summary

The Dragonfly Red allows you to bypass the poor onboard sound of your laptop or PC. It also can be used with your phone or mobile device, but you will need some sort of adapter. More on that later!

AudioQuest brilliantly created a device that bridges the gap between the audiophile and your average consumer. It just screams convenience. At about the size of a typical USB thumb drive, you can literally take it anywhere.

Plug it into a USB port on your computer, wait for roughly 20 seconds, and you’re all set. I’ve never had an easier time with driver device software. After it’s ready to go, head on over to Sound, and look for the Dragonfly. Right-click and “Set as Default Device.”

You’re done!

The fun begins when you plug in your headphones, as this baby will render you speechless. I just had to smile knowing how bad my laptop’s internal sound card is. Being able to bypass the headache of buying a bulkier Amp/DAC combo is truly priceless.

I can’t get over the sound of the Dragonfly. It’s crisp, alive, loud, detailed, and leaves me with a warm feeling all over. I used to have to jack the volume up on my laptop just to hear anything. Now I only have to turn it up just a few notches and it’s already plenty loud. How designer Gordon Rankin was able to get something this small to sound so big is beyond me.

Like the CEntrance DACport HD, it also utilizes Asynchronous USB, which basically reduces timing errors (Jitter) during playback. This is ensured by making sure that the DAC is pulling the data from the source (in a much more streamlined manner), rather than the source (your phone for instance) pushing it through.

Pros

  • Convenient. Just plug and play.
  • Good build and materials. Doesn’t feel cheap.
  • Big sound.
  • Attractive, sleek, sexy.
  • Portable. Take it anywhere.

Cons

None!

My Video Comparison & Shootout

Here I did an in-depth A/B comparison of the Black & Red version, as well as a Shootout between the FiiO E10K, DragonFly Red, and HA-2! Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to my growing channel. Any support is much appreciated! 🙂

Photos..

Photo Gallery

Click to see the DragonFly Red! Didn’t get a chance to take pictures with the black yet. It’s the same thing except for less power. 🙂

FiiO Q1 vs. E10K vs. DragonFly RedFiiO Q1 vs. E10K vs. DragonFly RedFiiO Q1 vs. E10K vs. DragonFly RedFiiO Q1 vs. E10K vs. DragonFly RedFiiO Q1 vs. E10K vs. DragonFly RedFiiO Q1 vs. E10K vs. DragonFly RedFiiO Q1 vs. E10K vs. DragonFly RedFiiO Q1 vs. E10K vs. DragonFly Red

Shoot 2

DragonFly Red goes to the beach

Audioquest DragonFly Red
DF Red goes to the Beach.
AudioQuest DragonFly Red
DF Red goes to the beach.
Audioquest DragonFly Red
Fun in the Sun.

So who benefits?

Who this DAC benefits?

Everyone. If you have a pair of headphones that don’t sound good out of your laptop, you may go with the Black version. My recommendation for you would be to just save for the Red because you won’t have to upgrade down the road should you level up your headphones. The Red version also uses that upgraded 9016 ESS DAC Chip. Be mindful that the black version won’t do as well with higher impedance cans like the HD600/800, etc. More on that in the Similarities and Differences section. 🙂

Dragonfly Features

The cool thing about the Dragonfly is its ability to light up in different colors according to file size playback. This is done via 1mm LED inside the device that illuminates the logo on the outside.

  • Green = 44.1 kHz
  • Blue = 48 kHz
  • Amber = 88.2 kHz
  • Magenta = 96 kHz

Thoughts…

Stu’s Notepad

If you plan to use any of the Dragonfly models with a phone, you’ll need an adapter.

If you’re on a MAC, the USB ports on the back may fare better as far as sound quality goes. The ports on the side are said to be not as good and may result in a slight degradation.

Consensus/Conclusion

An amazing portable DAC solution that stands up to many out of its price range. Rugged, reliable, and convenient. Just plug this bad boy in and be swept away!

Similarities & Differences

(Between the Black 1.5 model and the Red model)

Similarities

  • Both Dragonflies are 24 bit/96kHz. Learn more about what a Digital to Analog Converter is: Bit depth vs. Sample rate.
  • Both the Black (v1.5), and Red employ the 4 light sample rate code.
  • Both have the LED feature.
  • Both have 24bit/96kHz resolution, which bypasses the need for separate drivers. The only issue here is that a lot of people (myself included) have music files that far surpass these limitations. It doesn’t take away from the overall sound, however.

Differences

  • The Dragonfly Red has a 32 bit ESS 9016 chip while the Black version has the 32 bit ESS 9010 chip. This basically provides a more realistic sound for each, but the Red is improved over the Black. Both have minimum-phase digital filtering.
  • The Dragonfly Black has a 1.2V output while the Dragonfly Red has a 2.1V output. The difference is that the Red version will work for more expensive audiophile type headphones (with a lower sensitivity) like my beloved Sennheiser HD600, while the Black version will work for most headphones, but not the pricier models. See: Sennheiser HD600 Review. Also: What is Sensitivity in Headphones?
  • The Black version sounds more enjoyable and has a “bigger” sound, while the Red has a more audiophile type of sound: it’s more elegant and there’s less clutter/artifacts in the mix. There are more nuance and detail with the Red version. It’s able to provide a clearer, smoother, more accurate overall image of the soundscape.
  • The casing on the Red has a glossier, more elegant finish than the Black.
Audioquest DragonFly Red

Fun in the Sun.

Check out what Robert Harley at Absolute Sound had to say about the differences.

But as good as the DragonFly Black is, I think that most TAS readers looking in this category will opt for the Red. Yes, it’s that much better and worth double the price. This is particularly true if you have difficult-to-drive headphones; the Red’s more robust output amplifier (2.1V vs. the Black’s 1.2V) has greater dynamic swings and more solid bass. The Red drove the Audeze LCD-4 headphones adequately, although at the maximum output level the volume was slightly lower than I would like for some music. The Red also improves on the Black with significantly greater smoothness, ease, and warmth. In my desktop system and through headphones, the Red upped the ante in every sonic criterion. On the wonderful Gerry Mulligan album Lonesome Boulevard, the Red conveyed the warmth and body of Mulligan’s baritone sax. The terrific piano playing (by a young Bill Charlap) was also better served by the Red, with cleaner attacks, more realistic timbre, and a greater sense of air around the instrument. The Red is also more dynamic, with greater impact on drums and a more lively and upbeat rendering. Robert Harley, Absolute Sound

These are exactly my thoughts regarding the Red version. It just has an incredible sense of instrument timbre, realistic presentation of the music, and an overall warm smoothness (but still with an incredible amount of raw detail). It’s truly an upgrade in every sense of the word. What is Timbre? Paired with a Sennheiser HD 650? Forget about it. One of the best pairings you can make.

Related: Best Headphone Amp for the Sennheiser HD 600 & 650.

Differences between v1.0, 1.2, and 1.5

(All black models)

  • The microchip micro-controller present in the AudioQuest Dragonfly Black 1.5 doesn’t draw as much current as the chip from v1.2 (Texas Instruments chip). So it’s easier on your phone, as it won’t suck the battery life nearly as fast (AudioQuest says 77% less current).
  • The v1.2 has better dynamics, detail, and clarity than the original v1.0.
  • The v1.5 (Black) is more balanced sounding than the v1.2.
  • The v1.5 (Black) has better mid-range clarity than the v1.2.
  • The v1.5 (Black) has a better Soundstage than the v1.2, with a clearer image of the artists, instrumentalists, and singers in question. What is Soundstage?
  • The v1.5 (Black) is livelier sounding than the v1.2.
  • The v1.5 (Black) has a tighter bass than the v1.2, which is more bloated and flabby sounding by comparison.
  • The v1.2’s bass sounds leaner than the original v1.0, which came across as a bit fuller but also looser.
  • The v1.2 overall sounds cleaner, with more clarity than the original v1.0.

So what’s the final word?

Recommendation & Final Word

The DragonFly Red is the perfect solution that bridges the gap between audiophile and consumer. I’ve demoed one on many occasions and now own one. It seemingly sounds better and better the more I listen to it. It also sounds great with everything I paired it with: From the 63 Ohm Sony MDR V6, to the Audio Technica ATH M40x, to the 300 Ohm HD600, to my AKG K702, a HIFIMAN HEXX, the list goes on. It’s the most powerful DAC in this series and is like having a mini headphone amp in the palm of your hand. You just can’t go wrong with it. It transformed all of my music and will do the same for you.

 

 


Well, that’s about it for today my friend! I hope you’ve gotten some valuable information out of this AudioQuest Dragonfly Black vs. Red comparison.

Are you convinced that the Red version is the way to go? Heard anything about the Cobalt? Be sure to let me know!!

If you have any other questions or feel I’ve missed the mark on something, leave a comment down below or contact me!

I very much look forward to speaking with you..

All the best and God bless,

 

 

-Stu

[Xtr@Ba$eHitZ]

Can’t decide which headphones to purchase? Interested in a complete buyers guide outlining over 40 of the best options on the market? Click on over to the best audiophile headphones to learn more!!

Be sure to also check out my Reviews and Resources page for more helpful and informative articles!

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8 comments

Carl March 19, 2018 - 9:06 am

Great read, thanks for making the eval process easier!
However I don’t understand if there are also different HW revisions of the Red. I bought one yesterday and it says AudioQuest DragonFly Red v1.0 in Windows Device Manager.
Any advise on this would be appreciated!

Reply
Stuart Charles Black March 19, 2018 - 7:24 pm

Hey Carl!

You’re welcome! 🙂 The one you have is the most recent version, so no worries.

Reply
Julia Kossowska September 1, 2018 - 11:33 am

Hi Stu,

Wow I didn’t even realise these existed!

It’s amazing to see that such a little device can make such a huge difference to the quality of the sound you’re listening to.

I didn’t understand everything in your article, well actually quite a lot was a bit beyond me, but it does seem from what you say, that for less than £90 you can just plug in this device and it improves the sound from your laptop. That is amazing!

Thank you for doing all that background work!

All the best,

Julia

Reply
Stuart Charles Black September 1, 2018 - 1:26 pm

Thanks Julia! Let me know If I can help out with anything down the road.

-Stu

Reply
Paul February 17, 2019 - 10:57 pm

Hi Stu!

I just purchased the Massdrop 58x jubilee. You may remember recommending I try the HD650 on another page. From what I read, the 58x was very similar and at half the price.

I haven’t received them yet, but I’m thinking they may need an amp. The impedance is 150 ohm and the sensitivity is 88.25 dB/mW. Which dragonfly would you recommend for these headphones? The red or the black? I will listening to music via my iPhone 6s Plus. Thanks!

Reply
Stuart Charles Black February 25, 2019 - 5:07 pm

Hey Paul!

The Dragonfly Red version provides plenty of power and drives my HD600’s just fine at 300 Ohm and 97dB. Should be more than enough for those HD58X’s. Let me know how it goes!

Reply
Aditya Saxena July 25, 2020 - 4:45 am

Hey Stu. I love your detailed reviews. Plus I love a good humour ?
I was wondering if you can compare Dragonfly red to Ear-Men TR-Amp?

Reply
Stuart Charles Black July 27, 2020 - 12:33 pm

Hey thank you so much! I can’t currently, as I don’t have the disposable funds and to be honest I’m kind of sick of DACS at the moment lol. What headphones do you have?

Reply

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