The AudioQuest DragonFly Copper DAC/Preamp/Headphone Amp Has Landed

Can you believe the first AudioQuest DragonFly DAC—v1.0—arrived, alighted?, some 14 years ago? Where does time fly?

I use a DragonFly Cobalt on my desktop to feed the ADAM A3X powered speakers that have lived there for more than a decade. When I find something that works, I stick with it. Like the DragonFly Cobalt that hit the scene in 2019. But a new and supposedly improved DragonFly? Sign me up for a review.

that dragonfly changes color based on the resolution on the incoming music (file)

There’s a lot that’s new in the new DragonFly Copper—D to A conversion now comes via the 32-bit ESS Sabre ES9218 DAC, there’s 2x greater output power, 25% lower current draw, and a high-conductivity copper-plated case for improved RF-noise drainage.

the DragonTail USB A to USB C Adaptor is included

If you’re new to DragonFlys, they are simple little things when it comes to use—there’s a USB input on one end and 3.5mm out on the other. In between is where the magic happens converting digital audio, supporting up to 24-bit/96kHz data, into a line level analog output to drive headphones or stereos. Easy breezy.

Even in today’s overcrowded field of little dongle DACs, a new Gordon Rankin designed DragonFly is big news in my book and it joins the Black, Red, and Cobalt as the new flagship. I recommend reading the Q&A with Gordon (link below) for some interesting inside info.

The new AudioQuest DragonFly Copper is coming in September, although at least one is playing right now at HIGH END Vienna, from authorized dealers for $250.

Press release:

Meet Your New Best Friend: DragonFly Copper!

Since its introduction in 2012, the award-winning DragonFly DAC-preamp-headphone amp has received enthusiastic recommendations from the New York Times, Rolling Stone, and Men’s Health while earning glowing praise from the world’s leading hi-fi publications.

With more than 300,000 DragonFlys sold worldwide, our little critter has proven capable of disarming even the most rigid audio skeptic.

Like all AudioQuest products, the award-winning DragonFly has benefited from gradual refinements made possible by better parts, better materials, and AudioQuest’s own insatiable desire for better sound.

DragonFly Copper maintains everything that made its predecessors such a success:

Beautiful sound from all audio files: MP3 to Hi-Res
Compatible with Apple® and Windows® PCs, iOS and Android devices
Drives Headphones; Feeds Preamps, Amps, and Powered Speakers
Phone, tablet, or computer controls the output level
Meets all USB Audio Class (UAC) standards; requires no additional drivers

Compared to previous DragonFlys, Copper offers:

New 32-bit ESS Sabre DAC/Headphone Amp delivers 2x greater output power
New Microchip Technology Microprocessor reduces current draw by 25% and significantly improves supply-chain efficiency
High-Conductivity Copper-Plated Case for improved RF-noise drainage

Reduced power consumption. Greater power output. Lower noise and distortion. No parts shortages.

Drawing 25% less current and delivering two times as much output power as any previous DragonFly, Copper is the most powerful and efficient DAC AudioQuest has ever produced.

And its new copper case, informed and inspired by the RF-draining barrels of AudioQuest’s Mythical Creatures interconnects, isn’t merely meant to be gorgeous, but, like every other aspect of the DAC’s design, has been implemented for improved performance — specifically, enhanced RF noise-dissipation.

We believe DragonFly Copper faithfully carries forward the esteemed legacy of the DragonFly family, and we hope it introduces many more listeners to the immersive, emotionally compelling musical experience that hundreds of thousands of DragonFly owners have already enjoyed.