Can a $77 DAC beat a $350 one? Audioquest Dragonfly Cobalt vs Fosi Audio DS1 

Fosi Audio DS1 amzn.to/3DKBbSs Audioquest Dragonfly Cobalt howl.me/ci4QpMc94Cd Free DAC/AMP from Audioquest forms.gle/nmN2gBexqPe1cHFW9 (be careful of scammers! winner will be emailed and not chosen from the comments! if you get a message that you've won in the comments it is a scam!) Follow Me on instagram instagram.com/cheapaudioman Follow Audioquest on Instagram instagram.com/_audioquest_/ Support the Channel by Shopping on Amazon amzn.to/3W8vsgK Cheap Audio Man Store Front shop.howl.me/cam Join the best hifi community out there! www.patreon.com/cheapaudioman TRY ROON roonlabs.com/r/RTmYWdCP9kitqouBa5pcIw Tidal Deal bit.ly/3siuqSF Amazon Unlimited Music Trial amzn.to/3DRAVj9 Crutchfield shop-links.co/cguPK8XEGmt Best Buy Deals shop-links.co/cf9yDZeYtUH amzn.to/3GkNaop CAM Store (New Products!) bit.ly/30Lgu4K apos.audio?sca_ref=552340.TY98BPcZ6P massdrop.7eer.net/qnOye5

A Dongle DAC sounds like something from Harry Potter.

Great review, and someone is going to end up with a nice gift thanks to Audioquest.

Love your channel Randy! Your watch game is on point too!!

DUDE! Just found your channel today. Oh man its what ive been looking for!!! Thanks for all you do...im a new subscriber and will be a regular visitor!!!!!

Great review, Randy! Cheers.

I have the Audioquest DragonFly Black, which I bought 3 or 4 years ago, and it’s pretty decent of the basic DragonFly range. I’m currently saving up for a Peachtree Audio Nova 150 integrated amplifier, which has a very good DAC, which is capable of double DSD, and decent headphone amp built into it. So when I finally get that, I’ll most likely use that for headphone listening over the DragonFly Black.

Love this hi-if nerd channel! Cheers Randy. You are the king.

I enjoy my hidizs S9 pro. It came from the factory with a non working otg cable. They offered a replacement but I opted out and ordered one from Ddhifi that works perfectly and has the arrows on the outside for orientation marking. Ddhifi is snug and secure and more flexible. I recommend both together. Thanks for the content!

Another dongle DAC to consider is the iFi GO link DAC/headphone amp for $60. I just got one and it sounds really good - right up there with my Audioquest Dragonfly Black. It's standard USB-C for the "universal" phones, but comes with a USB-A adapter and also an Apple Lightning adapter, so works right out of the box with my iPhone. It also does handle MQA for my Tidal subscription and has lights to show you what resolution you're getting by color. All this and less than the $77 Fosi Audio DS1.

👍Good video Randy, thanks for the info! 🥂

Hey Randy! I've only ever used PC for audio and hifi. My experience on volume control is that it largely depends, speaking of DACS and Windows, they are a bit funny! No other way to put it, some DACs have an issue with maxing volume. My personal policy is to try and keep the PC volume at 40-85% not too low or not too high until I have sufficiently concluded which volumes can be maxed without negs. I try and dial the Douk ST-01 in so that I am around that range at normal or higher volume. And then there's per application, and then software EQing. Tidal on Windows, when the volume is maxed, starts to distort regardless of Windows sound device volume. I don't know why, but once I noticed it, and fixed it, I was very surprised. The highs got scratchy. Distortion! So I keep Tidal's volume slider at around 75% and that seems to resolve that. When I learned that about Tidal, I began to keep Spotify, RU-vid, and others at around 70-80% just in case. My point being, it's a bit finnicky, I would say 50% of the time maxing all sliders on PC doesn't cause an issue. But the other half of the time, it does matter substantially. And in fact there are situations where you don't want it to be higher than 50%. For instance some PCI-E sound cards actually calibrate the max undistorted output at 50%, and higher is just bonus amplification which begins to totally fall apart as you raise it above 60, 70 percent. In fact The volume dial on the software shows green up until 50% then goes yellow and red, letting you know that you can increase the output at a cost. But if you are just using Windows Audio your only option is to just notice that you can't max the volume slider without turning the signal into an unstable mess that distorts and fluctuates in volume. This is very useful, some headphones just aren't loud enough and if you aren't critical listening you can get a lot of extra volume. So the scenarios are endless but in my lengthy PC experience, about 50% of the time it does matter how high your audio device is set to in Windows. Half the time, it can be set too high. And a small percent of the time, it can be set too low. I have seen before that the amp isn't getting everything if you are under 10 or 20% volume on the sound device. So listening closely and playing with the volume sliders on sound device, per application, and being mindful when using any sort of DSP either built into Windows or third-party. Like Loudness Normalization, etc, needs to be payed attention to if you want optimal sound quality. I'm not a pro I've just used Windows exclusively for all of my media for 30 years and I can tell you it's finnicky. You have I am sure a ton more experience with Pre-amps, amps, 3, 4 different components and having to dial in the volume, level, gains of each. Well when using Windows, the same exact applies to all other volume levels. Sometimes they can just be maxed, other times they have to be dialed in the same as other hardware levels. I leave it to someone with more expertise on the back end to comment and explain why this is, but in my experience volumes being too high or low in the audio device or even per app, often does matter, although probably not nearly as often in 2023 as in the 2000's or so lol.

Dude, you're seriously reviewing products now right as I'm getting curious about them, a few times in a row 😆

Great perspective!! Cheers.

I have the Dragonfly Red that was given to my by a friend, when he picked up the cobalt... I thought the Red was great, and then I got the Hidizs S9Pro, and I loved those better.... and then I got the Moondrop Moon River2, and that's the one I use the most now... but mostly because that one came with the 4.4mm balanced output, and that's what I have on my Noble Audio Tux5 IEMs. When I listen to my Noble Audio M3 IEMs, I use the S9Pro with the 3.5mm single ended output, and I also use my Meze 99 Noir headphones with a 2.5mm balance cable.

Just noticed your coffee mug! I worked at Parker Hannifin (CSO) in Irvine back in the early 90’s!!

Randy! Fosi Audio and audio quest, as well as all the other non-sith audio companies and sponsors! You’ve come so far from the wobbly table and 500 subs since I’ve been stalking, I mean following, you. Good stuff as usual and thanks again for another great vid!

If you want to get decent audio quality from an Audioquest Dragonfly then take it outside, place on the ground and drop a brick on it then go buy something much better sounding for £100, they are very poor sounding and measure pretty poorly for snr and output.

I have owned all the AQ dongles and currently own the Hidizs. IMO, the Hidizs absolutely smokes all of the AQ offerings.

Great Review Randy!👍 Good luck to all who entered the giveaway.

This is the kind of comparison that you do best.

Will you please do a review on the qudelix 5k dongle dac. I'm curious to hear your thoughts and reactions on this product thank you so much keep up the great work love what you doing

Stumbled across your review on this... clicked the link for the Fosi and found it to be 40% off!! Done deal!!!

I have the Astell & Kern AK HC3 dongle DAC and it sounds sublime. Worth reviewing.

I really enjoy my Dragonfly Cobalt. It's got a lot of nuance for such a little guy. But I honestly think it's not worth what I paid lol

when you showed your cap and said about coffee, I've just finished my cap, and felt sad)))

I have the dragonfly red and the blue they are both equally great and completely different sound profiles great for different types of music. Well worth the money for either one or both

Thanks so much for this info, as usual. I am considering an R2R dongle DAC to get an idea of R2R technology before getting an $800 + DAC.

I have a Fosi class AB Amp that’s excellent. I’ve heard the Dragonfly Red and the Cobalt. I’d like to have one of each but if I’m winning one I would prefer to win a Cobalt.

I appreciate you saying "you try" not to be influenced by support. Can't happen no matter how great you think you are. Can't subscribe because there is too much info and knowledge to absorb without delusion.

You recommended the low cost Schiit Modi 3 DAC and I loved it so much, I bought another one! Great value.

3:30 - I always max the volume, then go back one notch/click/tap. For some reason, sounds just that little bit better half the time, especially in the car

Don't forget that all Dragonfly dacs are Made in the USA

I use a different adapter with my iPhone and AQ Cobalt. It’s the one with lightning to USB as well as a port to charge the iPhone while in use.

I'd been using two if the Audioquest Dragonfly Black v1.2, one for home and one on my laptop at work. After years of use they both lost one channel. I replaced on of the older units with the updated v 1.5 Black and use it in my TV system through the Fosi TB10D (newer one) and Andrew Jones designed Pioneer tower speakers. It does a decent job, certainly better than the PC's normal output. I had tested the Topping Dx3 Plus, which was a hair better in some aspects.

I have the Fosi D2 dongal it is great for what I want it to do. I can use all my IEMs on it and most headphones on it. Simple easy to use plug and play for sure. Did you try to use the High and Low gain on the D1....Hold the volume button down to switch between the two (positive, negitive).

I don't have the exact same headphones as Randy does, but I have the Sennheiser HD 600 and Hi-Fi Man Sundara. I find the HD 600 works better for vocally focused music like Adele as well as classical and jazz while the Sundara works better for Rock with better slam. Seeing how Randy prefers Rock I'm not surprised that he likes the Edition XS better.

E1DA is only one ...is Transparent and technical. No other can be so technical and transparent.

Good subject man.

300 quid for that ugly usb key, only ‘cause is “audioquest”, it’s a scam.

Audioquest DACs a overpriced outdated devices. Nowadays there are many options better in quality and connectivity. The Hidizs is certainly one of them, but can think also of the THX Onyx and Earmen Sparrow

Randy, give the two Emotiva large dongle DACs - the Little Ego+ and the Big Ego+ - a try. The former is only $49.10 and the latter is $79.10.

Thanks. Good comparison. I miss MQA. Sounded the best to me. Now tidal is flac only trying to find an EQ that sounds similar...think it is ear fatigue on low end

the Cobalt is on sale now for $199. So I just ordered one. I guess they are getting ready to come out with a new one.

Hi, I am thinking about hooking up a external DAC for my DeskTop Computer and I don't know where to start? Can you recommend a DAC with HDMI in and type B USB out? Thanks Randy, really appreciate the help in choosing the right DAC.

Might I suggest you do a vid on line level passive and active crossovers for bi-amping speakers

Sound signature depends on DAC output stage right? I really wish companies put in both types of them so we can just flip a switch and go from fun to analytical instead of buying two units :'/ I would buy it just for convenience sake

I have my Hidiz S9 pro connected to my Emotiva PT-100. I think it sounds great, but I’ve been wondering how much better a

This is a good one.

Cheap vs expensive... I've got one. The Cayin RU6 dongle DAC, seemingly trounced my Ares II... Simply better, and only $250! And yes, I hooked it up to my two channel rig. Sad to say, at least in the first round of listening, it was the better DAC.

Regarding the Hidizs, it’s the cable not the dac. Just change it and it fits snug :))

Did you listen to the Fosi DS1's 4.4mm output through a balanced cable with the Editon XS?

In a battle between Expensive DAC/Amp + Budget Speakers, and Budget DAC/Amp + Expensive Speakers, I'd go for the latter every time. What do you guys think?

Thanks for the opportunity! Just too bad they are all SE and not BAL as well for the price. But would still be happy to win one of them 😁 P.S Blue is my favorite color.

The Audioquest Cobalt also has the Jitterbug noise filter built into it which is a $60-$70 accessory.

I'm still ususing the LGV30,as my go to DAC,yeah it's OLDER,but it's quad DAC,and when your a single dad,your kids come first,one day I will pick one up.

@cheapaudioman I'm in the market for a stereo component DAC and want to bypass a preamp. Source into DAC, into amp. I'm under the impression not all DACs can be used without a signal boosting preamp even if they have variable output. Is that true? Do you have any experience with which DACs can be used this way? Thanks for any help you can provide.

The name of the Fosi dc1 amplifier indicates DSD512, and the description states that its dac supports DSD only up to 5.6 MHz. But DSD512 is 22 MHz. How to understand this? Does the amplifier support 22 MHz or not?

Fosi Audio has a DS2 now for cheaper, confused as if this is the better dac if it is cheaper than the DS1??

How can a DAC alter frequency response....either it works or it doesn't?

Hidizs S3 PRO Ultra Portable Hi-Res DAC Dongle Hi, do you ever review anything like the above item? I’ve had things like this in the past but cheaper I just would be interested in your thoughts I’m not affiliated to this product I just would be interested in your opinion on such things many thanks Glen

The answer is yes, any of the modern dongle DACs are good enough

I'm confused, is detail just another term for treble in the audiophile world? I've sometimes seen treble equated to detail in other reviews too. Because I would think there is detail a dac might leave out on something like the strike of a mallet on a large orchestral bass head.

I'm assuming you didn't run the 6xx from the 4.4mm balanced output on the fosi randy? Xx

I have brougt an Onten and put my lan cable behind it and into an ipad air 2 it sounds really great with my black Dragonfly, but for noise i have olso brougt a AUDIOQUEST JITTERBUG FMJ and to test difference olso brought the Blue Cobalt Dragonfly not recieved it yet.

Argh, watched the review and bought it, only to discover that it doesn't play on my new Samsung Galaxy Tab! I get a prompt asking if Tidal is allowed to use the DS1, select YES, then silence. Works fine on my old Samsung S8 phone.

What is it that you don't like about the HD 6XX for music, Randy?

Can thie fosi audio ds1 dac compete the typical 1.000 k laptop built in dac? Can we then connect our kind of good external pc speakers to it? If yes what do we do with the volume control at the dac?

Can someone please recommend a DAC that can work with Metal music and other types of music. Yes i do jazz music and other soft music but NOT A SINGLE PERSON talks about how these thing will play out when listening to metal, rock etc

I kind of feel sorry for you sir. You have so much greatness upon you. Makes me feel like your the beggar searching for the drink upon the water. Thank you for those of us who know that the struggle is real.

Late to the game on this post, but…. Dragonfly Cobalt on sale at $199 vs Fosi DS1 at $75? Any thoughts on better bang for the buck ??

Aiyima T8 is $108 on Walmart right now.

Fiio , Creative are good for less than half that price...

Mo money means mo problem.

I have both the DS1 and the S9 Pro. The S9 Pro sounds way better to me for very little extra money.

Instead of buying a big DAC and streamer. Can I do this: hook up my iPhone that has Tidal. Take the 3.5 jack into RCA and plug into the AUX of my integrated amplifier Rega Elex-R and be on my way?

I would have $500, $1000 and +$1000 DAC's. The $1000+ range has more of a resolving, spacious and wider sound that the Sub $1000 does not do.

Why use Apple CCK adapter when an OTG cable works with iPhone?

How can you be sponsored by any company and still be an honest reviewer? Of course I take everything you review with a grain of salt.

This was one long advertisement for Fosi audio which could have been shorter.

That hidizs s9 pro is a turd… I mean it works but kills your phone battery and the iPhone cable goes to sh*t in about a dozen uses. Replaced it the cable twice… over it. Does the Fosi get hot and kill your battery?

I prefer the iPnone adapter that has a charging port because you often need to charge at the same time. Much more useful than the single no charge one shown here.

Us made vs China made? Easy choice for me.

For desktop use, is there a reason not to go with dongles over the bigger "desktop" boxes? As long as my amp or keyboard has volume controls? I've never understood the difference - is some level of quality being sacrificed for size?

350$ for a dac??? for less than 150$ I have a big powerfull receiver, a great pair of speakers, a vintage highend cd player, and a bluetooth audio receiver with analog and digital outputs... (and if I was into vinil, I can get a vintage one for arround 100$... total price well under the price of a single dac) this is beeing cheap and spending money where it matters more...

weren't you in breaking bad?

Audioquest dacs usually test poorly for the money. They are in the same realm as Ifi in terms of massively overrated products. Not surprising at all Audioquest gets spanked by much cheaper products. The Tempotec Sonata HD Pro will wipe the floor with it.

I have noticed more Fosi featured on your channel recently. Maybe just noticing it. That said, even though they sponsor you, you seem to be staying pretty real with it all and giving pretty good reviews. I know how hard it is when you have a sponsor to remain unbiased as they pay you, but I feel you have achieved a good balance between keeping a sponsor happy and giving a good review.

Dragonfly Cobalt is the best £200 I ever spent. The portable ESS ES9038Q2M is performing on all fronts with excellent timing, weight and dynamics. No need for an expensive DAP when paired with the rather luxury iPhone via OTG cable.

cheap dac, class a amp

i went down this wormhole with the ifi hip-dac because i wanted to beef up my headphone listening experience with tidal masters. it was a disaster! like the dragonfly, you need a lightning to camera iphone dongle. the problem is that this adapter is made for cameras, so it’s made to lay flat on a surface while connecting the two devices. Because i live in nyc and am often walking, i wanted a solution while i was out and about. when connecting the iphone to the dac and stacking them on one another, the dongle is in a U shape and this was the disaster. these dongles are absolute trash unless you lay them straight. i went through probably 6-7 different dongles, from the apple store, random ones on amazon, etc. within a week or two, the bending of the dongle would damage it and cause the dac to no longer be able to transfer sound. i was super bummed because the sound was great when i was sitting still, but when using headphones i’m always on the move so this unfortunately cannot be a solution for me. anyone else experience the same issue? any other solutions?

When I had more money than I had sense, I bought the Cobalt because, well...because three hundred dollars, I mean it had to be the best out there, right. Now, my GR1s are really easy to drive, so I had no problems with it at all, but it seemed on a lot of bass heavy tracks, it would muddy up the mids, and it got to the point of distraction. Not too long ago, I got turned on to buddies iBasso DC04 and it was like magic. The resolution and clarity was magnificent. The high end sparkled, whereas the Cobalt was sort of meh, and the bass punched me in the face without any distortion at all. Again, this might come down to the headphones I was using. I put the cobalt up on Ebay, and it sold in a day. I'm gonna hang onto the DC04, though. It really, really opened up my classic rock collection.

Would be cool if you could get an affiliate link for aliexpress, if that's possible. I'm going to buy one, but it's cheaper from China and easier to get here in Korea. Just a thought.

Just looked on Amazon and Fosi Audio has a DS2 model as well. It's cheaper too.

Best option is a decent quality home cinema amp. Superior in every way to decent hi fi amp's. I have a beast of a Denon and an Onkyo and both of them push out oodles of high quality hi fi sounds.

I have an ADI-2 DAC, some HD820 headphones, and I am still not happy with the sound, lol. Some days I want to quit music altogether, but... I can't...

Given the audible distortion, the weird ringing in transients and the muddled presentation I’ve always been baffled by the praise for any of the Dragonflys, they’re all awful, no matter what the consensus is. And that’s before looking at the measurements. Granted, poor measurements are rarely audible, but with these, they align.

For goodness sake! Review the Fosi Audio K4! You’re the Fosi Audio Man, come on. Don’t do the Q4. Do the K4. It’s the best…

How we lookin?

Better than those is the JCally AP10 for less than $50. AudioQuest dongle dacs are garbage.