DragonFly Cobalt vs Arcam rDAC
The rDAC's output voltage is 2.2V RMS against the DragonFly Cobalt's 2.1V RMS and its height 40 mm against 18.5 mm. Both share bit depth (24-bit) and max sample rate (96 kHz).
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Estimated price (community-sourced)
Around — community and catalog average, updates slowly
The AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt is a portable USB digital-to-analog converter (DAC) designed to enhance audio quality from digital sources. It features the ESS ES9038Q2M DAC chip, known for its high-quality audio conversion, and includes a 64-bit digital volume control for precise volume adjustments. The device supports resolutions up to 24-bit/96kHz and is compatible with both Apple and Android devices. It also includes an LED indicator that changes color based on the sample rate: green for 44.1kHz, blue for 48kHz, amber for 88.2kHz, magenta for 96kHz, and purple for MQA. The output voltage is 2.1Vrms, making it suitable for driving headphones directly.
DAC capabilities and digital audio processing
Analog signal output specifications
Input and output connections
Size, weight, and appearance
Specifications are community-contributed and may not be accurate or complete. Verify all details with the manufacturer before making purchasing decisions. Terms & Conditions
Components that show up alongside the DragonFly Cobalt in real systems. A verdict means the pair has been checked for compatibility and headroom — open it to see how the two get along.
The closest alternatives on specs, description and the systems they turn up in, with the specs they share set side by side.
The rDAC's output voltage is 2.2V RMS against the DragonFly Cobalt's 2.1V RMS and its height 40 mm against 18.5 mm. Both share bit depth (24-bit) and max sample rate (96 kHz).
The dac15.2's max sample rate is 192 kHz against the DragonFly Cobalt's 96 kHz and its height 52 mm against 18.5 mm. Both share bit depth (24-bit) and output voltage (2.1V RMS).
The DAC-iTx's max sample rate is 192 kHz against the DragonFly Cobalt's 96 kHz, its output voltage 2.0V RMS against 2.1V RMS, and its height 64 mm against 18.5 mm. Both share bit depth (24-bit).
The Director's max sample rate is 192 kHz against the DragonFly Cobalt's 96 kHz, its output voltage 2.0V RMS against 2.1V RMS, and its height 34 mm against 18.5 mm. Both share bit depth (24-bit).
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