AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt Portable USB DAC Sweepstakes

Register to win an AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt Portable USB DAC (Total value $299.95) we are giving away.

According to the company:

In 2012, the original AudioQuest DragonFly thoroughly disrupted the DAC market. For so many casual enthusiasts who had never previously considered the possibility of improving their digital-audio experience, DragonFly was nothing short of a revelation. Meanwhile, even the most experienced audiophiles were compelled to reexamine long-held notions of what a DAC could and should be. Stereophile's Art Dudley enthusiastically summarized, “DragonFly is fun: It's a thumb in the eye of those tea-pinky tyrants who would tell the rest of us what is and is not high end. I can think of no more recommendable product in digital audio.”

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In the early months of 2015, AudioQuest surpassed its previous achievements with DragonFlys Black and Red—two sensational models that offered improved performance-to-cost ratios with unprecedented sound quality, free firmware updates, and, of course, the biggest news of all, compatibility with Apple® and Android® smartphones.

And now comes DragonFly Cobalt—AudioQuest's new flagship DAC. Cobalt takes what music lovers around the world have come to expect from the multi-award-winning DragonFly family—naturally beautiful, seductive sound—and strips away fuzz and fog that weren't even noticeable until Cobalt removed them.

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How is this possible? Like the critically acclaimed DragonFly Red, Cobalt has the robust 2.1-volt output to drive almost any headphone, uses a bit-perfect digital volume control for outstanding signal-to-noise ratio, enables seamless compatibility with Apple and Android devices, and is an exceptionally competent and affordable MQA renderer.

Cobalt's precedent-setting performance is made possible by multiple significant upgrades:

  • New, more advanced ESS ES9038Q2M DAC chip with a minimum-phase slow roll-off filter for more natural sound.
  • Microchip's superb PIC32MX274 microprocessor draws less current and increases processing speed by 33%.
  • Improved power-supply filtering that specifically increases immunity to WiFi, Bluetooth, and cellular noise.
  • Includes AudioQuest's new DragonTail USB-A (female) to USB-C (male) adaptor to easily accommodate the increasing number of electronic devices that feature USB-C ports.
  • Contoured enclosure measures just 2.26” x 0.73” x 0.47” (57.5mm x 18.6mm x 11.9mm), making the latest DragonFly 10% smaller than its predecessors.

Like previous models, Cobalt uses Gordon Rankin's precedent-setting StreamLength® asynchronous-transfer USB code. Further, in Gordon's monoClock® technology, a single ultra-low-jitter clock generated from the ESS ES9038Q2M DAC chip runs the ESS chip functions as well as all microcontroller functions. This superior clock enables DragonFly Cobalt to provide greater resolution and clarity than DACs with multiple clocks.

With AudioQuest's DragonFly USB DAC, music appreciation and exploration are limitless: Plug into an Apple or Windows computer or connect to an iOS or Android mobile device. Play YouTube or Vimeo videos. Go hunting on Bandcamp or SoundCloud. Explore playlists on Spotify or Pandora. Stream high-res audio from Tidal or Qobuz. No matter the choice of musical pleasure, DragonFly delivers beautiful sound to earbuds, headphones, desktop speakers, or complete audio systems, unraveling the emotional expression and nuance that makes music and movies so enjoyable. Now, more than ever before, naturally beautiful sound is right at your fingertips—however you want it, whenever you want it.

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The first 10,000 units of DragonFly Cobalt will come packaged with vouchers for trial subscriptions to the outstanding Tidal and Qobuz music-streaming services. Cobalt customers can begin their musical journeys with two new AudioQuest playlists—On an AudioQuest and Making Connections—available on Tidal and Qobuz, respectively.

Click here for more info.


To enter the sweepstakes, all you need is an account on this website. If you don't already have one, click on the link labeled "register" at the bottom of this announcement or "LOG IN/JOIN" in the nav bar at the right. Then, enter a username and a valid e-mail address, and click on the "Create new account" button. A message will be automatically sent to the e-mail address you specified, which will include a link to activate the account.

The final step (and only step for those who already have an account) is to log in and leave a comment right here on this announcement—any comment will do, as long as it's not profane or spam. Then, when the sweepstakes closes, a lucky commenter will be chosen at random to receive the prize. So post a comment, and good luck!

For complete sweepstakes rules, click here.

[This Sweepstakes is now closed]

COMMENTS
Mike Rubin's picture

An Audioquest Dragonfly was the first DAC I ever owned.

smthkat789's picture

I'd like to try the dragonfly.

BobE's picture

I love my Dragonfly Red and never leave home without it! Unfortunately I lost it on a recent trip to Italy, but to my surprise the hotel we stayed at in San Giovanni,Lake Como found it in our room and returned it to me. Quite a surprise.

HiRez1394's picture

This contest gives me the upgrade bug for a DragonFly Cobalt!

bhathaway@twc.com's picture

Want one for my iPhone

northwestguy's picture

Trying old Jedi mind trick on winner selection process.

hot99pas's picture

Can’t wait to audition one.

dcd0205's picture

Audioquest products are awesome! Hope i’m lucky... will pair nicely with my Shure e4c buds!

ti13ger22's picture

Hope i win.

ShaunRit's picture

Any device that makes music sound better is as good as GOLD when i am listening from my phone while riding tractor cutting grass or when i am on my laptop working.

jlafount's picture

Always wanted to try one out. Never got around to buying one of the Audioquest devices

curtis farrar's picture

I would enjoy winning a dragonfly DAC. Woohoo!

curtis farrar's picture

I would enjoy winning a dragonfly DAC. Woohoo!

curtis farrar's picture

I would enjoy winning a dragonfly DAC. Woohoo!

curtis farrar's picture

I would enjoy winning a dragonfly DAC. Woohoo!

douglas.bottoms@gmail.com's picture

I'm in it to win it!

zlaucis's picture

I can't wait to try this little DAC!

BubbaGump2284's picture

I need one, don't have any dacs that can decode MQA :(

jsettoon's picture

Count me in!

uavDJRobNM's picture

Red with my HE560se but now maybe Cobalt?

bozbeck's picture

I would love to have a new Dragonfly Cobalt. Blue has always been my favorite color and this small feature-rich DAC is so very pretty.
Thanks in advance for pulling my name out of the hat as the winner of this contest.
Boz

ChrisOttum's picture

Wow, winning this DAC would be fantastic! I've always wanted one, but couldn't afford it.

jmedarts's picture

Yes Please! looks awesome

rlochte's picture

Very interested in experiencing DragonFly!

beaver326's picture

Would love to own one of these!

F1Turbo's picture

Lots of comments

jamesd30's picture

Love my dragonfly, would love to get another.

Underboss2515's picture

First time on reading this and it is great to hear great sound. Good luck to the winner.

Zenith1217's picture

Almost bought the RED over the holiday, so glad I research every purchase to death.

Thinker's picture

I need this!

strypa's picture

Looking forward to it.

DDDYKI's picture

Had a brief time to sample the Cobalt. Honestly, the only impression I was able to have is that it finally fits flush in the DragonTail's USB-A! No more gap! Oh, and it powered my HD650 with ease.

wts11233's picture

please

richardt's picture

always been curious about this. Winning it would do it.

Lee33556's picture

Would like to try a DragonFly

jn10352@gmail.com's picture

I would really like to win this.

dalethorn's picture

Listening to the DF Cobalt compared to the DF Red, the cleaner sound of the Cobalt justifies the price, and the included AQ DragonTail adapter for USB-C (for my iPad Pro) is a nice perk.

dksinha55@gmail.com's picture

Excited to hear about the Cobalt! I have the Red but this looks even better. Looking forward to owning one!

robnaush@hotmail.com's picture

Pick me!!!

Sbell1274's picture

I have been wanting to try one of these out.

jim92128's picture

If I do not win the Cobalt, I will be very, very blue.

willdao's picture

I have the Black, currently. It's phenomenal with a pair of 1MORE Triple Driver IEMs. I'd love to have the Cobalt!

HiFiKevlar's picture

An upgrade from dragonfly black to cobalt. Thanks

eduran's picture

Looks like something I've got to have!

jasonhedgepeth's picture

Great review. Looking forward to such an awesome piece of tech. Hopefully I win!
Jason

Brown Sound's picture

I need an upgrade for my DragonFly 1.0, please!

jjbechto's picture

Would be an awesome addition to my desktop system!

KatanaPilot's picture

A DragonFly DAC is definitely on my wish list!

absolutepitch's picture

Definitely would like one!

rlrangel's picture

Please ship soon.

dg77's picture

I have the Dragonfly Black because it's what I can afford. Would LOVE to have a Cobalt!

Rgschwar's picture

Had the original dragonfly and absolutely loved it, would love to find out how this new one compares.

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