DAC Comparison
Marantz HD-DAC1 vs AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt
Marantz HD-DAC1 The Marantz HD-DAC1 is a stylish compact DAC and headphone amp that comes with USB and analog 3.5mm in. Though it does not have the best specs when it comes to audio decoding capabilities, it's a great sounding device. $799.00 MSRP | AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt DragonFly Cobalt, our new flagship DAC, takes what music lovers around the world have come to expect from the multi-award-winning DragonFly family—naturally beautiful, seductive sound—and strips away fuzz and fog that weren't even noticeable until Cobalt removed them. $299.95 MSRP | |
|---|---|---|
| Features | ||
Input/Output | ||
| Inputs | 3.5mm Coaxial S/PDIF TOSLINK S/PDIF USB-A USB-B | USB-A |
| Outputs | ¼ inch RCA | 3.5mm |
| Output Voltage | 2.1 volt | |
Audio | ||
| Sample Rate | 24 bit / 192 kHz | 24 bit / 96 kHz |
| DAC Chip | Cirrus Logic CS4398 | ESS ES9038Q2M 32 bit with minimum-phase slow roll-off filter for more natural sound |
| Reviews | What Hi-Fi?Recommended | 4/5 mansr, Audiophile StyleAlthough the DAC chip has been upgraded to a much more expensive one ($25 vs $10 in sample quantities), there is little, if anything, to show for the effort in terms of measured performance. |
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