AudioQuest DragonFly Red (Red) is rated
out of
5 by
238.
AudioQuest DragonFly Red (Red)
USB DAC/Headphone Amp
VIP Club member price
£129
SAVE£20
Non-member price £149
£149
SAVE£20
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Please contact web after sales for more info.
For delivery of in-store only deals, please contact your local store for more details.
Ts&Cs apply - see our delivery page.
For delivery of in-store only deals, please contact your local store for more details.
Ts&Cs apply - see our delivery page.
Disabled assistance
All products that are available to purchase on the Richer Sounds website can be delivered free to blind, partially sighted or those with a disability. Find out more
Please contact web after sales for more info.
For delivery of in-store only deals, please contact your local store for more details.
Ts&Cs apply - see our delivery page.
For delivery of in-store only deals, please contact your local store for more details.
Ts&Cs apply - see our delivery page.
”AudioQuest's most expensive DragonFly DAC is worth every penny.”– ‘What Hi-Fi’ 2018 award winner.
The highest quality DragonFly to date
The DragonFly Red uses the highest quality DAC (Digital to Analogue Convertor) ever used in a DragonFly, giving true audiophile sound quality. The 32-bit ESS 9016 chip is more usually found in high-end hi-fi equipment and boasts an astonishing signal to noise ratio, making it sound more precise and detailed than the DragonFly Black. Rather than using the Black's analogue volume control, it also deploys bit-perfect, digital volume. This reduces distortion still further, delivering an 'inky' black silence when the music demands.
Powers 'tricky' headphones
With a boost in output from 1.2V to 2.1V, the Red is far better at driving difficult headphones than the Black version. If you use larger headphones, with more powerful magnets, such as the Grado range or AudioQuest's own Nighthawks, then the Red model is ideal. The higher output gives effortless dynamics, a powerful bass and ability to make the music 'come to life'.
Lower power consumption - ideal for use with your smartphone or tablet
With lower power consumption than previous DragonFlys, the DragonFly Red is suitable for use with smartphones and tablets without undue battery use. Simply fit a USB adaptor to suit your device and connect up to an Apple or Android smartphone or tablet for a massive improvement in sound quality.
A sound upgrade for your Mac, PC or laptop
Whether you listen to music on your smartphone, tablet, Mac, PC or laptop, the audio quality can easily be improved. Whether you use headphones or have your device connected directly to your hi-fi, the DragonFly Red simply gives a huge improvement in sound quality. It bypasses the device's built-in DAC, instead passing sound through its own, high-end hi-fi quality chip.
Small package, big sound
Although tiny, the DragonFly is every bit as impressive as many full-size DACs. Asynchronous transfer and twin clocks ensure perfectly timed and controlled digital information enters the DAC, for a highly accurate and precise sound quality. Compared to a computer/smartphone/tablet's headphone output you'll notice a more dynamic sound with more detail and openness. In essence, the sound will simply be more life-like.
Supports multiple music file formats
Despite its tiny size, the DragonFly will play a wide variety of music files. Twin clocks ensure perfect playback of 44.1 kHz (CD quality), 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz and 96 kHz. As a final neat touch, the DragonFly logo glows various colours to indicate the file frequency: green for CD (44.1 kHz), blue for 48 kHz, amber for 88.2 kHz and magenta for 96 kHz.
Use pretty much any headphones on almost any device and experience your music to its full potential - the DragonFly Red meets the highest expectations.
Read about the Audioquest DragonFly on the Richer Sounds Blog
The highest quality DragonFly to date
The DragonFly Red uses the highest quality DAC (Digital to Analogue Convertor) ever used in a DragonFly, giving true audiophile sound quality. The 32-bit ESS 9016 chip is more usually found in high-end hi-fi equipment and boasts an astonishing signal to noise ratio, making it sound more precise and detailed than the DragonFly Black. Rather than using the Black's analogue volume control, it also deploys bit-perfect, digital volume. This reduces distortion still further, delivering an 'inky' black silence when the music demands.
Powers 'tricky' headphones
With a boost in output from 1.2V to 2.1V, the Red is far better at driving difficult headphones than the Black version. If you use larger headphones, with more powerful magnets, such as the Grado range or AudioQuest's own Nighthawks, then the Red model is ideal. The higher output gives effortless dynamics, a powerful bass and ability to make the music 'come to life'.
Lower power consumption - ideal for use with your smartphone or tablet
With lower power consumption than previous DragonFlys, the DragonFly Red is suitable for use with smartphones and tablets without undue battery use. Simply fit a USB adaptor to suit your device and connect up to an Apple or Android smartphone or tablet for a massive improvement in sound quality.
A sound upgrade for your Mac, PC or laptop
Whether you listen to music on your smartphone, tablet, Mac, PC or laptop, the audio quality can easily be improved. Whether you use headphones or have your device connected directly to your hi-fi, the DragonFly Red simply gives a huge improvement in sound quality. It bypasses the device's built-in DAC, instead passing sound through its own, high-end hi-fi quality chip.
Small package, big sound
Although tiny, the DragonFly is every bit as impressive as many full-size DACs. Asynchronous transfer and twin clocks ensure perfectly timed and controlled digital information enters the DAC, for a highly accurate and precise sound quality. Compared to a computer/smartphone/tablet's headphone output you'll notice a more dynamic sound with more detail and openness. In essence, the sound will simply be more life-like.
Supports multiple music file formats
Despite its tiny size, the DragonFly will play a wide variety of music files. Twin clocks ensure perfect playback of 44.1 kHz (CD quality), 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz and 96 kHz. As a final neat touch, the DragonFly logo glows various colours to indicate the file frequency: green for CD (44.1 kHz), blue for 48 kHz, amber for 88.2 kHz and magenta for 96 kHz.
Use pretty much any headphones on almost any device and experience your music to its full potential - the DragonFly Red meets the highest expectations.
Read about the Audioquest DragonFly on the Richer Sounds Blog
Connectivity
Headphone Output
3.5mm
USB Input
1 x Type A for PC/MAC Needs adaptor for Smartphone use
General
Manufacturer's Warranty
2 years
Dimensions
Dimensions WxHxD (mm)
12 x 62 x 19
Make the most of your DAC. View our hottest deals on interconnects.
Rated 4 out of
5
by
beach24 from
Real step up in quality of sound
The difference in quality between listening to music without the small Dragonfly Red and with the Dragonfly Red plugged in, is really noticeable. The DAC is small and very portable, and works well with an iPhone (using a camera data adaptor).
Date published: 2023-12-04
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Timbo_1963 from
Superb Hifi sound out of a mobile phone!
I bought a Dragonfly Cobalt just a few days ago on recomendation from a friend, who just bought one for himself a short while ago.
He commutes to and from work and listens to music and podcasts a great deal, where I am now retired and usually have little need to listen to music or such on the move.
However, this preamp/dac can be connected to a PC or laptop which makes this device very interesting!
I doubted that music could sound any good on a mobile phone. I was very wrong and super impressed how good this tiny USB plugable device is.
I have a pair of pretty decent of Austrian Audio Hi-X65 headphones and these phones will pick up on any fault or unwanted noise in the sound. The sound is clear, rich sounding, faultless, lively and dynamic.
The preamp can play at very loud volumes and can drive most if not all headphones with ease. The device does not overly drain power from you phone's battery either.
I have a mobile with a headphone socket still and a comparison test is like comparing the difference between chalk and cheese.
I will certainly consider using my phone as a music player more in future. This device does really enable your mobile phone to sound like a genuine piece of Hifi equipment.
I highly recommend it!
Date published: 2023-11-22
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Anonymous from
Dragonfly Cobalt
This just sounds brilliant and worked right away when plugged in. I had the first Dragonfly DAC. The Black one. This also sounded great but the USB Connector on my one became faulty and crackled, and you have to press it up to one side to make the contacts work. It Still works, but the new one with the dragons tail extender is much better. and is brilliant.
Date published: 2023-11-13
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Theperryman from
Dragonfly
Should be renamed Dragonfire!! such is the power of this little DAC, probably the best investment I've ever made.Laptop, phone and Walkman all sound 100% better and thanks to Richer Sounds for super fast delivery and best price anywhere.
Date published: 2023-11-08
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Petavius from
Excellent product
Very greatly improves sound on Bose headphones from phone/tablet
Date published: 2023-10-23
Rated 5 out of
5
by
BJSnapper from
Worthwhile sound improvement.
Definitely more clarity and "bounce" in the music now. Great with my home PC and iphone.
Worth the money.
Date published: 2023-10-05
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Diane274 from
Great upgrade
I bought this recently after much deliberation as I have the red one. I’ve tried it on my laptop with shure headphones and it sounds impeccable. You can just about hear the artist breathing and you can hear every note. I will also be using it on my phone.
Date published: 2023-08-22
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Chatham from
Well worth it.
Great difference to the sound, and superb stereo separation too. Very pleased I made the purchase.
Date published: 2023-08-09
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