Z Review - DragonFly Red & Meridian Explorer²

Of all the items you’ve recommended on your channel, the dragonfly red has improved my life the most. I run it on my phone with IMR R1 with blue nozzle. I’m always on the go and I need to do score study with my phone. Nothing beats the clarity you get out of this. And it’s so small! Thanks! I wouldn’t have given it much thought if it weren’t for this review.

DragonFly is one of those that implement volume control in DAC correctly - rather windows reduce bit rate and pass lower bits. (From docs: With DragonFly Red connected to a PC or mobile device, adjusting the host’s system volume control will, through proxy, control the DragonFly Red’s onboard volume.)<a href="https://www.audioquest.com/content/aq/pdf/dragonfly-spec-sheet-darktheme.pdf" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.audioquest.com/content/aq/pdf/dragonfly-spec-sheet-darktheme.pdf</a>

Wow complete opposite. This is why reviews are all BS.

ZeosPantera

I never joke about good food.

Sean Driscoll

I emailed them.

ZeosPantera

58x are easy yes. T50...... Will play. But you really want WATTS behind them.\

ZeosPantera

Not sure if joke. Just want meatballs now

ZeosPantera

DISCLAIMER: I'm a newbie and these are just my opinions. I have both the Meridian Explorer 2 and AQ DF Red, I find the Meridian to be more crisp in sound and sharper. On the other hand the AQ DF Red sounds more bassy and warmer than the Explorer 2. The power from the Red destroys IEM's I use a ifi iEMatch to be able to have more control over the device. I use Shure SE535 for portable, I was tempted to buy the Fiio FH5 but I'm holding off. And use HD600 on my desktop computer in conjunction with Explorer 2 and AQ jitterbug. And mainly use AQ DF on my MacBook Air running Audirvana and Tidal using IEM's and it sounds pretty damn good! Definitely recommend if you want something small in profile and just to plug and play

Try this guy (well reviewed, smaller, and cheaper - plus buttons and USB-C. Waiting on mine): <a href="https://www.massdrop.com/buy/zorloo-zuperdac-s?mode=guest_open&utm_campaign=Transactional%3A%20Shipping%20Notification&utm_source=SparkPost&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Transactional%3A%20Shipping%20Notification&utm_content=1539909154359.642246418581719266837525&referer=XH53JE&utm_content=1539909154359.642246418581719266837525" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.massdrop.com/buy/zorloo-zuperdac-s?mode=guest_open&utm_campaign=Transactional%3A%20Shipping%20Notification&utm_source=SparkPost&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Transactional%3A%20Shipping%20Notification&utm_content=1539909154359.642246418581719266837525&referer=XH53JE&utm_content=1539909154359.642246418581719266837525</a>

CCK Velcro’d to the back of my phone with the DFR is WAY more convenient than carrying an2nd device. You might as well have a DAP and your phone.

I've had my DFB for two years. I velcro the DFB and cable to the back of my phone. You have to make sure to put velcro on the cable and DFB so that it takes the strain off the DFB. I use the USB audio pro app. You can go bit perfect and use a slider in the app. Less convenient, but sounds better. The dfr has more bass and detail. Both can be used as a DAC in front of an amp. Great with my he4xx.

I love the little dragonfly red. I use it portably all the time. Phone goes in pocket upside down with the dragonfly draped next to it also in the pocket. It’s the best and easiest to use portable solution I have come across. I have a ha2 and a mojo that I don’t even touch now. I’ve put more miles on it than anything I’ve ever bought. It’s powerful enough to push an hd650, has no noticeable extra power draw on my phone, and sounds amazing. And yes I know the 650 sounds better on a huge tube amp... someone will flame me there, but honestly they sound impressive through the red. And to top it all off there’s no battery to charge over and over like a portable dac amp. It’s a little miracle and the best 200 bucks I’ve ever spent on headphone stuff.

BTW Zeos, I got that EarStudio Es100 balanced blutooth dac/amp thingamajigger. You need this. NEED it.

Jacob Ward

Is it possible to run Sennheiser HD 58X or even Fostex T50rp off the Dragonfly?

Zeos, may I suggest you test out the next portable Dongle-DAC by going over to Villa Di-Roma on 9th for meatballs. Get meatballs. Review the meatballs. (No I am not associated with the restaurant)

Sean Driscoll

I think what annoys me more is Android's shitty USB driver, so I can't use like Spotify because I'll get some really random distortion from the DragonFly. I do use the USB Audio Player PRO app but I mean not all of my music is in files when I'm on the go so it's kind of unfortunate.