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Greetings mate and Welcome aboard. Stuart Charles here, HomeStudioBasics.com helping YOU make sound decisions leading to a beautiful audio experience that will make you fall in love with music (NOT gear) all over again, so…
AudioQuest’s DragonFly Cobalt is still somewhat of a controversial product that’s caused quite a bit of division in the audiophile community (big surprise there).
Originally retailing at around $300 and supporting up to 24-Bit/96kHz resolution, it was marketed as an upgrade over the original DragonFly Black and Red, housing the popular ESS 9038Q2M DAC Chip and representing a supposed “sound” improvement over the original models.
But is it?
Today we’ll review the Cobalt and give a concise rundown of its features, sound, power output, and more; helping you decide if it’s worth a purchase today.
With that, let’s dive in!
All specs, pricing, and box contents towards the end.
It’s no secret that I’ve recommended the DragonFly Red the world over since I first tried one back in 2017.
I’ve owned one since 2018 but no longer recommend it because the current market dictates that it’s now overpriced and a pretty awful value for the money.
Naturally, when the Cobalt came out I was super excited to see what it was all about, but still wary since my friend Luke and I could already smell something fishy from a mile away.
After all, it’s BLUE. And what could be better than taking the blue pill?
Well, taking the red one could be bet… never mind.
Features
In addition to lighting up different colors according to the source, the volume is again controlled by your PC/Laptop/phone.
You may or may not like this feature, but I don’t mind it.
The difference this time around is that the Cobalt’s colors vary a bit from the original Red version:
Red: Standby
Green: 44.1kHz
Blue: 48kHz
Yellow: 88.2kHz
Light Blue: 96kHz
Purple: MQA.
Again, it doesn’t matter much but should be pointed out.
Convenience
The Cobalt is small and portable, and if you can believe it, it’s even smaller than the DragonFly Red with a slightly different shape/curves/contours.
The illuminations are smaller as well. These are interesting tidbits but in the long run, again, don’t matter much.
Another thing I noticed when first comparing the 2 is that the 3.5mm jack protrudes out a bit from the DAC on the newer Cobalt.
You’ll notice this in the picture above. By contrast, the Red’s jack is kind of seated in the unit.
I found this did not affect the sound as neither of them cuts out or gives me any issues.
Again you’re getting a provided leatherette case but the Cobalt also includes an OTG cable which I thought was a nice addition.
As A DAC
The Cobalt, like the Red, can also be used as just a DAC into a separate Amplifier of your choosing.
Just make sure the amp in question has either RCA inputs or a 3.5mm line/auxiliary input.
As A Preamp
In addition to that, you can also use the Cobalt as a preamp for separate active speakers such as the Presonus Eris e3.5, FiiO SP3, etc.
Just purchase an RCA to mini cable and you’re set.
My Video Comparison
Here I compared the Cobalt to a few other DACS.
OTG Cable Options
AudioQuest does supply a DragonTail USB Type-A to Type-C Adapter, but if you have an older Android with a Micro USB connection, you’ll want to snag this UGREEN Micro USB 2.0 OTG Cable.
The burning question is that of value: Is the DragonFly Cobalt worth over $300?
This supposedly provides better sound than the Red’s 9018 chip.
But, does it really?
This is where things may get controversial, so if you’re reading this and don’t share the same opinion as me, don’t freak out about it and start banging away on your keyboard.
It’s just my opinion and not necessarily right or wrong.
I compared these 2 exhaustively for many hours and I can tell you without a doubt they sound just about 99% identical.
I used both Tidal Hi-Fi and Spotify Premium, FLAC, DSD, etc.
In other words, I used high-quality files regardless.
Now, there were a few instances where I felt like the Cobalt was a tad more refined sounding, but that was probably my imagination and/or a placebo.
Those examples were the exception and not the rule.
I used to prefer the sound of ESS chips over others (AKM, Burr Brown, etc.) since I felt like they made a difference in sound, but my stance on DACs has shifted considerably and I no longer believe that.
Here’s why:
I also never felt as though the Cobalt was worth its original asking price of $300, and certainly not $100 more than a DragonFly Red. In other words, the 9038 chip doesn’t “sound” any better than the 9018 one. Never has, never will.
If you believe the 9038 provides a better sound, more power to you (no pun intended). I do not.
Speaking of power, the DragonFly Cobalt provides 2.1V and plenty for 99% of headphones. That’s certainly a positive, but let’s be honest: all DACs manufactured nowadays prioritize power output because they know whiny audiophiles love to have way more headroom than is necessary.
Just know that the Cobalt provides a neutral, clean digital-to-analog conversion and works just fine with all headphones.
As seen in the video above, as long as SINAD (Signal to noise and distortion) exceeds 90dB, there are no audible differences in DACs at identical signal levels. This is a very important distinction because unless you have a dedicated measuring rig like John Seaber did (in the video), your perceptions (i.e. any “differences” you hear) will be skewed by volume discrepancies.
If I had to guess, I’d say the folks over at AudioQuest gathered around their marketing round table and said something to the effect of this:
“Wow, fellas. I don’t think anyone expected the DragonFly Red to be so popular. Who’d of thought that an Amp/DAC roughly the size of a flash drive could make people soil themselves with delight? I think we really have something special on our hands. I think it’s time to make another one, only this time it’ll be blue and smaller (as it’s much easier to swallow a small blue pill), but we’ll also change out the chip. Then we’ll charge $100 more for it. I guarantee you the audiophile community will lap it up.”
And lap it up they did, friends.
Most reviewers out there recommended this thing without a second thought, but time has taught us that it wasn’t worth it.
In fact, they’ve lowered the price by around $100 (now $200, Subject to change at any time), which goes to show that no, it wasn’t worth its initial asking price – not then, and certainly not now.
The DragonFly Red has also come down to around $170 (from its longtime price of $200), but in reality should be way less than that when you can get a FiiO BTR Series DAC and have a much more versatile, valuable product in the portable sphere.
I was telling people in 2020 how overpriced this thing was and sure enough it’s finally come down.
Even if it does go back up, it will never, ever be worth $300. Not even close.
Final Verdict
AudioQuest’s DragonFly Cobalt is a clean, neutral, but overpriced DAC that lacks the versatility and features of other more relevant products in today’s overcrowded market. While it provides plenty of power and can act as a preamp, the sound isn’t any better than a DragonFly Red and ultimately, it’s a colossal waste of money.
If you’re interested in the 9038Q2M chip but don’t want to pay exorbitant prices for it, check out the Hidizs S9 Pro.
Well, that’s about it for today my friend! I hope you’ve enjoyed this discussion/review on the DragonFly Cobalt and are now better equipped to make a purchasing decision!
Is the Cobalt worth the money? I would love to hear your thoughts.
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Stu is determined to help you make sound decisions, and strives to deliver the best and most in depth content on the internet! In his spare time, he likes to fish, paint, play guitar, pray, rap, make beats, take photos, record videos, graphic design, and more. His sense of humour, coupled with a knack for excellence and strict attention to detail are what allow him to stand out in an crowded industry.
Awesome review Stu, it was totally wicked potatoes! I think you were pretty well spot on with your comments. I have both the Red and the Cobalt, and here’s my take. All depends on the headphone. My LCD2C needs the little bit of brightness the Red provides, as the Audeze needs that slight kick in the pants to bring some treble and excitement to the table, HOWEVER…..my HEKSE needs no more brightness or pizazz or excitement than it already is able to portray, so I find the Cobalt, being a little smoother and more liquid than the Red, tames the SE out nicely, whereas using the Red can sound a little bit shrill. I use them both, one for each headphone, and that turns out great for me. Love the site Stu, it looks just great!! Hope you have been keeping well, keep up the fantastic work!!
Wicked potatoes makes their return. xD I’m actually learning how to grow them in buckets! Also would make a funny handle on Modern Warfare. What do you think? Wicked_Potatoes_5000 LOL. But thanks for the love my friend! Always great to hear from you.
Nice impressions. I’d like to actually A/B them again and see if my impressions are still the same.
What other headphones do you have at the moment, anything? I’ve been gaming a lot on Multiplayer and going to do a shootout with the headphones I have here determining which is best for directional cues/footsteps etc. I have the Arya, 400se, DEVA, 9500, K702, and I may even throw the 612 in there although it’s actually up for sale on eBay.
Stu!!
ALL modern warfare should be waged with potatoes, what an incredible idea lol!!!!! Instead of shooting someone you could just bean him in the head with a potato!!!! You’re on to something there Stu!!!
I don’t have too many headphones, I probably need more!! I have HFM HEKSE, original HE400s, Audeze LCD2C, and some Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless buds. The HEKSE has a sensitivity of 96db, which is pretty good for a full size planar so that’s why I can wander around the house with it, powered by the Cobalt.
The Arya must be pretty darn awesome for gaming eh?? Sounds like you have a good gaming headphone situation going on there!!!
Stu, how hilarious you’re growing some bucket potatoes, that is truly impressive!!!
I should partner with Wicked Headphones and they can design little brown earbuds that look like potatoes and call them “Wicked Potatoes” lol !!
I don’t know how you write about and test so much gear Stu, that’s pretty incredible in itself, but it’s all a great read and always a pleasure talking with you too, take care my friend!!!
Lol you could do that in Fallout 3. Remember that gun? I shot Teddy Bears out of it xD I can’t remember what it was called. Just looked it up. The Rock-It Launcher! Lmao https://fallout.fandom.com/wiki/Rock-It_Launcher
Hey man, that’s actually a really good idea. I will have to jot it down 🙂
Well, the Arya is pretty good for gaming but I need more time with it because I’m not completely sold yet. 400se wasn’t that great for FPS. DEVA is good but I need more time to really analyze it. The 9500 and K702 so far are the best for directional cues. The other day I had the 9500 on and just sat and waited for a guy. Knew exactly where he was coming from. I also run Ninja on my classes so that helps too. I despise hearing my own footsteps because it makes me paranoid.
Liked your review. I happened to have found the Cobalt brand new for $250 on Amazon (don’t think that they’re offering that price anymore though). It also included the Dragontail Carbon adapter and the case. That said, I do think it was worth the extra $20 (the Dragontail Carbon adapter is $30). I’ve also heard that the Red worked best with the Jitterbug JMS and the Cobalt has the Jitterbug JMS technology built into it. First, heard them used with Parasound & Orchard Audio amps at a show last month and was really impressed. I use it in my audio system, not headphones, and it sounds fantastic as it gives plenty of detail, clarity, and soundstage with MQA content (which is what I use it for exclusively). I also put it up against the DAC in my AudioLab 8300CDQ using MQA content and can’t distinguish any real difference. So if Amazon puts it out again at $250 (maybe during their Amazon Days October 11-12) I’d highly recommend people take advantage of it if they’re vassillating on purchasing one.
Glad to hear your experiences went so well! Also want to thank you for pointing out that trying to distinguish differences between these types of things is a largely futile endeavor.
Yeah, that’s a pretty good deal though the cap isn’t an extra. Pouch maybe. The thing about it is that this DAC should never have been $300 to start. There’s nothing about it that’s any better than a DAC in the $100 range and that’s what my point has always been. Anyone paying that price is getting ripped off badly.
I mean, it’s a good deal in the context of what we discussed, but no, I’d probably still save $100+ and get an S9 Pro which I’m actually using now. It has the same 9038Q2M chip for around $100 and sounds great.
12 comments
Awesome review Stu, it was totally wicked potatoes! I think you were pretty well spot on with your comments. I have both the Red and the Cobalt, and here’s my take. All depends on the headphone. My LCD2C needs the little bit of brightness the Red provides, as the Audeze needs that slight kick in the pants to bring some treble and excitement to the table, HOWEVER…..my HEKSE needs no more brightness or pizazz or excitement than it already is able to portray, so I find the Cobalt, being a little smoother and more liquid than the Red, tames the SE out nicely, whereas using the Red can sound a little bit shrill. I use them both, one for each headphone, and that turns out great for me. Love the site Stu, it looks just great!! Hope you have been keeping well, keep up the fantastic work!!
Haha Hey Neil!
Wicked potatoes makes their return. xD I’m actually learning how to grow them in buckets! Also would make a funny handle on Modern Warfare. What do you think? Wicked_Potatoes_5000 LOL. But thanks for the love my friend! Always great to hear from you.
Nice impressions. I’d like to actually A/B them again and see if my impressions are still the same.
What other headphones do you have at the moment, anything? I’ve been gaming a lot on Multiplayer and going to do a shootout with the headphones I have here determining which is best for directional cues/footsteps etc. I have the Arya, 400se, DEVA, 9500, K702, and I may even throw the 612 in there although it’s actually up for sale on eBay.
Hope to chat soon!
-Stu
Stu!!
ALL modern warfare should be waged with potatoes, what an incredible idea lol!!!!! Instead of shooting someone you could just bean him in the head with a potato!!!! You’re on to something there Stu!!!
I don’t have too many headphones, I probably need more!! I have HFM HEKSE, original HE400s, Audeze LCD2C, and some Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless buds. The HEKSE has a sensitivity of 96db, which is pretty good for a full size planar so that’s why I can wander around the house with it, powered by the Cobalt.
The Arya must be pretty darn awesome for gaming eh?? Sounds like you have a good gaming headphone situation going on there!!!
Stu, how hilarious you’re growing some bucket potatoes, that is truly impressive!!!
I should partner with Wicked Headphones and they can design little brown earbuds that look like potatoes and call them “Wicked Potatoes” lol !!
I don’t know how you write about and test so much gear Stu, that’s pretty incredible in itself, but it’s all a great read and always a pleasure talking with you too, take care my friend!!!
Lol you could do that in Fallout 3. Remember that gun? I shot Teddy Bears out of it xD I can’t remember what it was called. Just looked it up. The Rock-It Launcher! Lmao https://fallout.fandom.com/wiki/Rock-It_Launcher
Hey man, that’s actually a really good idea. I will have to jot it down 🙂
Well, the Arya is pretty good for gaming but I need more time with it because I’m not completely sold yet. 400se wasn’t that great for FPS. DEVA is good but I need more time to really analyze it. The 9500 and K702 so far are the best for directional cues. The other day I had the 9500 on and just sat and waited for a guy. Knew exactly where he was coming from. I also run Ninja on my classes so that helps too. I despise hearing my own footsteps because it makes me paranoid.
Talk soon!
Liked your review. I happened to have found the Cobalt brand new for $250 on Amazon (don’t think that they’re offering that price anymore though). It also included the Dragontail Carbon adapter and the case. That said, I do think it was worth the extra $20 (the Dragontail Carbon adapter is $30). I’ve also heard that the Red worked best with the Jitterbug JMS and the Cobalt has the Jitterbug JMS technology built into it. First, heard them used with Parasound & Orchard Audio amps at a show last month and was really impressed. I use it in my audio system, not headphones, and it sounds fantastic as it gives plenty of detail, clarity, and soundstage with MQA content (which is what I use it for exclusively). I also put it up against the DAC in my AudioLab 8300CDQ using MQA content and can’t distinguish any real difference. So if Amazon puts it out again at $250 (maybe during their Amazon Days October 11-12) I’d highly recommend people take advantage of it if they’re vassillating on purchasing one.
Glad to hear your experiences went so well! Also want to thank you for pointing out that trying to distinguish differences between these types of things is a largely futile endeavor.
In 2022 in Romania you can buy the complete package with the guarantee of a new product for 217 USD; I think this price is a really fair price.
Hey man,
What’s in the complete package?
The complete package means: DragonTail USB Type-A to Type-C Adapter, Leatherette Travel Pouch, Protective End Cap and 2 free months for ROON.
Yeah, that’s a pretty good deal though the cap isn’t an extra. Pouch maybe. The thing about it is that this DAC should never have been $300 to start. There’s nothing about it that’s any better than a DAC in the $100 range and that’s what my point has always been. Anyone paying that price is getting ripped off badly.
So what do you think, is $217 a price worth paying for a Cobalt?
I mean, it’s a good deal in the context of what we discussed, but no, I’d probably still save $100+ and get an S9 Pro which I’m actually using now. It has the same 9038Q2M chip for around $100 and sounds great.