AUDIOQUEST DRAGONFLY COBALT UPGRADE
AUDIOQUEST DRAGONFLY COBALT PORTABLE

While you likely know Monoprice for their value-oriented cables, they also make some solid audio gear including the Monolith 39359 Desktop Amp/Dac. Inputs: Coaxial S/PDIF, Dual-Data Coaxial S/PDIF, TOSLINK S/PDIF, MicroUSB, USB-C

AUDIOQUEST DRAGONFLY COBALT UPGRADE

And while it may be an expensive choice for someone who doesn’t yet own a DAC or an amp, skipping past the entry-level options will leave you with little reason to upgrade for a long, long time. The insanely low signal-to-noise ratio of the DAC chip ensures that this unit delivers a natural and extremely detailed sound at any volume.ĭespite the small overall form factor, the Chord Mojo 2 is hands-down one of the best DAC amp combos in its price range. With this kind of range, it can even be used as a preamp into a nice pair of bookshelf speakers. This unit’s digitals inputs include coaxial, MicroUSB, USB-C and TOSLINK and its outputs are two 3.5 mm headphone jacks.Īs for the Mojo 2’s internal amplifier, it gives the user the flexibility to drive beastly 800-ohm headphones (which would be quite rare today) or a simple pair of low-impedance cans. Input selection is handled automatically. The Mojo 2’s illuminated globe-style buttons change colors to display the current battery life and sample rate (the max of which will depend on which input you use and the source quality). The control scheme is fairly simple but it adds a nice visual touch to this compact design. The low-end and high-end receive plenty of space in the mix too, making this a great option for those who want to hear lossless audio as it originally sounded in the studio. But that is not the case with the Mojo 2.

The mids are a standout feature, as other DACs I have reviewed will deliver a V-shaped frequency response that leaves vocals sounding muddled.

It can convert digital sources audio up to 768kHz 32bit and can even play quad DSD 256 files. The standout feature of gear from Chord is that the company makes its own proprietary microchips to handle digital-to-analog conversion. In other words, this device is almost too nice to leave the house with. And while its built-in battery means that you could take it on the go and use it with your phone, the raw performance power of the Mojo 2 means that it would be best paired with your most high-end headphones and speakers.

AUDIOQUEST DRAGONFLY COBALT PORTABLE

The Chord Mojo 2 is a portable amp/DAC that proves that size isn’t everything.

Audioquest dragonfly cobalt