Beautiful Music from your Smart Phone, Tablet or Computer
While the original DragonFly defined the market for micro-DACs, its USB power draw made it compatible with computers only. Music lovers have craved a more portable version— one that could be reliably used with Apple and Android smartphones and tablets. 

Behold – the DragonFly Red
Convenience and performance are no longer mutually exclusive. With DragonFly Red any computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone can be used as a true high-fidelity music player, allowing music lovers to enjoy beautiful sound wherever they go, whenever they please.

Features at a glance
> USB Stick-Sized Digital-to-Analog Converter
> Plays all music files: MP3 to high-res
> Compatible with Apple and Windows PCs, as well as iOS and Android mobile devices (requires Apple Camera Adapter or Made for Android/OTG adaptor)
> Drives headphones directly
> Fixed output feeds preamp or AV receiver
> Asynchronous transfer ensures digital timing integrity
> High output (2.1 volts) drives almost all headphones, including power-hungry models
> 32-bit ESS 9016 DAC with minimum-phase filter
> Bit-perfect digital volume control

AudioQuest, Gordon Rankin, and Microchip: A Beautiful Partnership

AudioQuest and DragonFly designer Gordon Rankin worked alongside Microchip Technology to develop a new high-performance, full-speed USB microcontroller solution that delivers improved signal-to-noise ratio and significantly lower power consumption.

Drawing 77% less current than the previous microcontroller, the new Microchip PIC32MX microcontroller enables true compatibility with Apple and Android smartphones and tablets.
Further, we simply cannot overstate the significance of Gordon Rankin’s contributions to AudioQuest. This new DragonFly models embody many of Gordon’s most innovative, creative, and elegant digital-audio solutions to date.

Improved 32-Bit Digital Performance
For greater overall performance, the new DragonFly Red incorporates an improved 32-bit ESS Sabre DAC chip which employs minimum-phase filtering for naturally detailed, more authentic sound. DragonFly Red includes the latest ESS headphone amp and a bit-perfect digital volume control that resides on the 9016 DAC chip itself—a sophisticated implementation that ensures maximum fidelity, dynamic contrast, and signal-to-noise ratio.

DragonFly Red outputs 2.1-volts meaning it’s compatible with a wide range of headphones, including power-hungry, low-efficiency models.

The DAC chip selected is remarkably powerful and sophisticated, this DragonFly Red’s processing capabilities are capped at 24-bit/96kHz resolution. This makes using the DragonFly Red as simple as it’s always been: being fully compatible with PCs without having to download and install new drivers.

Most importantly, DragonFly Red is designed to honor the music you already own and love. Whether you’re listening to Spotify, YouTube, Tidal, ripped CDs, or state-of-the-art high-resolution files, DragonFly will deliver a more emotionally compelling and enjoyable experience.

Free Desktop Application for Software Upgradability 
In addition, the new DragonFlys will be software upgradeable through a complimentary Windows or OS X desktop application. As new developments arise in music player applications, streaming protocols, or other associated software, DragonFly users will be able to incorporate those updates to their existing devices.

This is only the beginning…
Introduced to the media at the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show, DragonFly Red was named “Stars of CES” by What Hi-Fi? Magazine. But this is only the beginning.

The future is going to be all about building stronger, more meaningful connections between music enthusiasts and the artists, albums, songs, and videos. the premises is a simple but important one. AudioQuest’s digital products, will bring more people closer to the original recording of the music they love —wherever they go, whenever they please.

Take your DragonFly even higher with the JitterBug USB Filter! 
The JitterBug USB filter employs dual discrete noise-dissipation circuits to reduce the noise and ringing that plague both the power and data lines of USB ports throughout your audio system. It can be used with USB DACs, hard drives, NAS devices, routers, streamers, computer peripherals, and even with mobile devices into a car stereo! For those who already own DragonFly, JitterBug should be a fun, easy, and affordable upgrade: Simply plug JitterBug into an available USB port, then plug DragonFly into it. For more on the JitterBug click here

Full Specifications  

Identification
Red Automotive Finish With Gold Lettering, Protective End-Cap,  Leatherette Travel Pouch

Native Resolution
Up to 24-bit / 96kHz

Output
2.1volts
Direct-Coupled, High output — With a combination of power, beauty, and finesse, DF Red delivers greater overall impact, momentum, and grip than either DF 1.2 or DF Black, while also
surpassing their excellent senses of touch, texture, and nuance. In addition, Red’s high (2.1v) output means that it can easily drive the widest range of headphones. When used as a line-level device (volume set to 100%), DF Red’s 2.1 volts provide enough power to drive all preamplifier, integrated amplifier, or receiver inputs.

Microcontroller 
The Microchip PIC32MX (USB 2.0 compliant) is a full-speed isochronous USB audio solution. Compared to other controllers, the Microchip microcontroller offers extremely low power consumption (77% lower than the TAS1020b and 95% lower than the most efficient XMOS solution), 32-bit architecture, and the option for software upgradibility (via a desktop application provided by AudioQuest). In addition, the Microchip’s ultra-low-noise power supply minimizes the sound-degrading effect of high-frequency interference on the critical audio signal.

DAC CHIPSET
Like the ESS 9010, the 32-bit ESS 9016 uses a sophisticated minimum-phase digital filter to provide more naturally detailed and dynamic music, but surpasses the 9010 in overall performance.

Volume Control
DragonFly Red employs a 64-bit, bit-perfect digital volume control that resides inside the DAC chip itself—an elegant and  sophisticated implementation that ensures maximum fidelity, dynamic contrast, and signal-to-noise ratio. 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.

Desktop compatiblity
Windows 7 / 8.1 / 10; Apple OS X; Linux (no support provided)

Mobile compatibility
Yes: Apple iOS (5 and newer); Android 4.1 and newer* For Android devices, see owner’s manual

Software upgradable 
Yes (from desktop application): Please download AudioQuest’s Desktop Manager Application and register your product.

USB Protocal 
Streamlength™ asynchronous USB code ensures low jitter, low resource load, minimal packet errors, world-class audio playback, and reliable connectivity between our DAC and any computing device compliant with USB Host Mode (as set forth by the USB Organization). Streamlength requires no additional drivers, making DragonFly Red virtually plug-and-play for Apple, Windows, iOS, and Android users.

Dimensions
12mm (h) x 19mm (w) x 62mm (l)