AudioQuest DragonFly DRAGONFLY User Manual
Product codes
DRAGONFLY
What DragonFly Does
DragonFly’s 3.5mm mini-jack output signal can drive
a variety of devices or systems depending on how it’s
connected and used.
a variety of devices or systems depending on how it’s
connected and used.
•
DragonFly drives headphones or ear buds directly
•
DragonFly can be used in ‘variable’ output mode
with computer-controlled analog volume control
when connected directly to powered speakers or a
power amplifier.
when connected directly to powered speakers or a
power amplifier.
•
Connecting to a traditional preamplifier or AV
receiver, DragonFly can be set to a “fixed” output
mode by turning the volume to maximum, allowing
it to behave like a CD or Blu-ray player
mode by turning the volume to maximum, allowing
it to behave like a CD or Blu-ray player
However you connect and use it, DragonFly simply
and easily makes any computer sound better.
and easily makes any computer sound better.
How DragonFly Does It
At the heart of DragonFly is a 24-bit ESS Sabre™
conversion chip, a high-performance ‘computer’ that’s
usually only found in better CD and Blu-ray Disc™
players. DragonFly plays all music files, from MP3s
all the way up to 24-bit/192kHz high-resolution
music files. 24-bit/176.4kHz and 24-bit/192kHz files
are neatly halved by the source computer and
processed by DragonFly as appropriate at either
24-bits/88.2kHz or 24-bit/96kHz.
conversion chip, a high-performance ‘computer’ that’s
usually only found in better CD and Blu-ray Disc™
players. DragonFly plays all music files, from MP3s
all the way up to 24-bit/192kHz high-resolution
music files. 24-bit/176.4kHz and 24-bit/192kHz files
are neatly halved by the source computer and
processed by DragonFly as appropriate at either
24-bits/88.2kHz or 24-bit/96kHz.
DragonFly uses two discrete onboard ‘clocks’ so
that the particular math algorithms used to convert
the digital audio data to analog is always the one
optimized for the native resolution of the audio file
or stream being played. This ensures that DragonFly
doesn’t rely on imperfect mathematical approximations
in reconstructing the signal, resulting in better
‘tracking’ and better sound. A smart LED indicator
behind the dragonfly icon shows the resolution of the
incoming signal.
that the particular math algorithms used to convert
the digital audio data to analog is always the one
optimized for the native resolution of the audio file
or stream being played. This ensures that DragonFly
doesn’t rely on imperfect mathematical approximations
in reconstructing the signal, resulting in better
‘tracking’ and better sound. A smart LED indicator
behind the dragonfly icon shows the resolution of the
incoming signal.
However, high-quality digital-audio conversion alone
isn’t why DragonFly sounds great. How the audio
data is transferred from the computer to DragonFly
required particular attention from DragonFly’s design
team. Remember that digital audio is stored on
computers and delivered to DragonFly as streams of
1’s and 0’s. Making beautiful music out of 1’s and
isn’t why DragonFly sounds great. How the audio
data is transferred from the computer to DragonFly
required particular attention from DragonFly’s design
team. Remember that digital audio is stored on
computers and delivered to DragonFly as streams of
1’s and 0’s. Making beautiful music out of 1’s and
0’s isn’t a case of simply getting all the music data
from Point A to Point B. Maintaining subtle digital
timing relationships is crucial in order to be able to
reconstruct the analog waveform that we hear as
dialog or music.
from Point A to Point B. Maintaining subtle digital
timing relationships is crucial in order to be able to
reconstruct the analog waveform that we hear as
dialog or music.
Timing errors have long been the plague of digital
audio playback, never more so than in recent years as
computers have been pressed into service as audio
source components. DragonFly uses a very sophisticated
‘asynchronous*’ USB audio data transfer protocol.
Rather than sharing crucial audio ‘data clocking’
functions with the computer, DragonFly alone
commands the timing of the audio data transfer,
dramatically reducing digital timing errors. In addition,
not all audio content is encoded at the same native
resolution or ‘sample rate.’ DragonFly uses two
discrete onboard ‘clocks’ so that the math algorithms
used to convert the digital audio data to analog are
always optimized for the native sample rate of the
audio file or stream being played. This ensures the
least amount of mathematical manipulation to the
native audio data, which results in fewer errors and
better sound. A smart LED indicator on DragonFly
shows the resolution of the incoming signal.
audio playback, never more so than in recent years as
computers have been pressed into service as audio
source components. DragonFly uses a very sophisticated
‘asynchronous*’ USB audio data transfer protocol.
Rather than sharing crucial audio ‘data clocking’
functions with the computer, DragonFly alone
commands the timing of the audio data transfer,
dramatically reducing digital timing errors. In addition,
not all audio content is encoded at the same native
resolution or ‘sample rate.’ DragonFly uses two
discrete onboard ‘clocks’ so that the math algorithms
used to convert the digital audio data to analog are
always optimized for the native sample rate of the
audio file or stream being played. This ensures the
least amount of mathematical manipulation to the
native audio data, which results in fewer errors and
better sound. A smart LED indicator on DragonFly
shows the resolution of the incoming signal.
While the digital domain is where your computer-
based music experience starts, the analog domain
requires attention too. Digital volume controls too
often reduce signal resolution and decrease sound
quality. Even when the iTunes volume slider is used,
DragonFly’s high-resolution analog volume control
carries out the instructions in the analog domain
for the best sound quality. And DragonFly’s analog
circuits are direct-coupled from the ESS converter
chip’s output, avoiding the need for any extraneous,
sonically degrading components in the signal path.
based music experience starts, the analog domain
requires attention too. Digital volume controls too
often reduce signal resolution and decrease sound
quality. Even when the iTunes volume slider is used,
DragonFly’s high-resolution analog volume control
carries out the instructions in the analog domain
for the best sound quality. And DragonFly’s analog
circuits are direct-coupled from the ESS converter
chip’s output, avoiding the need for any extraneous,
sonically degrading components in the signal path.
All of these refinements allow DragonFly to make
music with a natural solidity and clarity that is
dramatically superior to the sound you would hear
from your computer on its own.
music with a natural solidity and clarity that is
dramatically superior to the sound you would hear
from your computer on its own.
For more on DragonFly visit
www.AudioQuest.com/DragonFly
* DragonFly’s Streamlength™ Class 1 asynchronous USB code is licensed from
Gordon Rankin of Wavelength Audio. In addition to being an asynchronous
transfer pioneer, Mr. Rankin has repeatedly contributed to advancing the frontier
of high performance digital audio.
transfer pioneer, Mr. Rankin has repeatedly contributed to advancing the frontier
of high performance digital audio.