First, younger, more mobile-oriented audiophiles with smartphones and portable computers, who might find the xDSD to be the perfect “step-up” audio device to improve sound from all sources. Steven Stone saw two quite different “types” of audiophiles as the primary customers for the xDSD portable/desktop DAC/headphone amplifier. However, if you want a simple and simply great just-the-facts DAC, Modius fills the bill. It delivers great sound from PCM files and has enough digital input options for most systems, but it does not support MQA or DSD files and has no user-alterable digital filter settings. The Modius balanced-output DAC is one of the latest of the new-generation DACs that challenge that old assumption. In the bad old days, between 19, decent-sounding digital devices were almost universally expensive, to the point that it was generally assumed and often stated by audio experts that inexpensive digital products were garbage unless heavily modified. The former will use all of the Zen DAC’s features, while a majority of the latter will set it on fixed output and use it as a basic DAC. Ideal users for the Zen DAC fall into two groups: younger, newly minted audiophiles looking for good sound on a budget for nearfield listening and older ones looking for an inexpensive way to add MQA DAC capabilities and a decent headphone amplifier to their room-based reference systems. When it is mated with other high-performance components, SS found the results reference or near-reference level, though the Zen does require careful system-matching and quality cables that will likely cost far more than the DAC itself. The Zen DAC offers a lot of features and high sound quality at an entry-level price. While preserving what made the previous DragonFlies such winners-plug-and-play installation, analog volume control, full MQA decoding, and, most importantly, a thoroughly enjoyable listening experience-Cobalt improves upon their sonics in subtle but meaningful ways. AudioQuest also revised the digital filter. Cobalt sports upgraded DAC, processor, and USB receiver chips, as well as new jitter-reduction technology. Now the Black and Red models, which remain in the line, are joined by a new flagship, the Cobalt, and it’s the best DragonFly yet. Inside this diminutive, plug-and-play package resides both a hi-res DAC (up to 96/24) and a surprisingly good headphone amp. AudioQuest’s thumb-drive-sized DragonFly series has been wildly successful-and for good reason.
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