I don't hear anything with either my JVC HA-FX750 or Shure SE535LTD-J.
New Dragonfly Black and Red Discussion
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Brahmsian
500+ Head-Fier
Suddenly I'm looking at how I'm going to use my DragonFly Red on a MacBook Pro with only the USB-C connection. I have to plug the DragonFly into an adapter? How's that working out for you DF people?
The Air's looking mighty appealing with that USB-A port and SD slot. And, as long as we're on the subject, what's going on in the world of USB-C headphones and amps? As far as I have Googled it, not much.
The Air's looking mighty appealing with that USB-A port and SD slot. And, as long as we're on the subject, what's going on in the world of USB-C headphones and amps? As far as I have Googled it, not much.
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I hear absolutely no difference whither my DF is plugged in directly to a PC USB 3.0 port or via a usb 3.0 hub.
Brahmsian
500+ Head-Fier
That's good to know but I still rather plug it right into the port. I thought there'd be more of a push from consumers to start moving to USB-C. In fact, I thought Audio Quest would have a USB-C version by now. But the process looks to be moving so slowly that I might as well get the MacBook Air with the old USB port and wait a few years for things to catch up.
Gonzbull
New Head-Fier
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It would be a waste of the capabilities of USB C to have a single device like a Dragonfly connected to it. I'd get a USB hub and make full use of it.
I'm really tempted to get the new 2017 MBP. Still using a 2009 MBP here happily though and it's rock solid.
I'm really tempted to get the new 2017 MBP. Still using a 2009 MBP here happily though and it's rock solid.
Brahmsian
500+ Head-Fier
It seems like using a hub turns the MacBook into something more stationary and also kinda obviates one of the main reasons I bought the DF. I might as well get a desk amp. But maybe in practice I'd feel differently about it.
Liviu Nicolof
New Head-Fier
I have the same feeling, looks mostly like an EQ applied on software on PC.Very disappointed.
Brahmsian
500+ Head-Fier
You're going against one of my assumptions, which is that improving my amp will also improve dynamic range. For example, last night I played https://listen.tidal.com/album/71256100. Here's a thumbnail of the cover art:
The dynamic range of this symphony is huge. In the tutti passages, especially at the end, the music began to clip/distort. At that point, I started wondering whether the problem was a) the microphone they used to record the symphony b) my headphones or 3) my amp (DragonFly Red). I settled on the latter and thought that getting a better amp would let me listen to the these passages without clipping or distortion. Was that assumption wrong? Anybody who knows more about amps than I do is welcome to give their two cents.
By the way, I'm not criticizing the DFR. There is only so much you can expect for $200.
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Really depends on the headphones being used... my comment regarding the DFB being end-game for me was in relation to all of my headphones being 32 ohms or less (apologies for not being very clear on that part). With that said, if you are using your HD650s I still be very surprised that the DragonFly Red amp is clipping on you as it should be driving your HD650s to a 109 peak dB SPL... should be more than enough headroom for Mahler's Resurrection even at very loud listening levels.You're going against one of my assumptions, which is that improving my amp will also improve dynamic range. For example, last night I played https://listen.tidal.com/album/71256100. Here's a thumbnail of the cover art:
The dynamic range of this symphony is huge. In the tutti passages, especially at the end, the music began to clip/distort. At that point, I started wondering whether the problem was a) the microphone they used to record the symphony b) my headphones or 3) my amp (DragonFly Red). I settled on the latter and thought that getting a better amp would let me listen to the these passages without clipping or distortion. Was that assumption wrong? Anybody who knows more about amps than I do is welcome to give their two cents.
By the way, I'm not criticizing the DFR. There is only so much you can expect for $200.
~85 dB listening level with open backs + ~20 dB headroom for challenging dynamic classical pieces = ~105 dB (please note that this would be at an extremely loud listening level)
AQ DragonFly Red (DFR) - Power Output (Vmax) & Impedance: 2.1 Vrms (5.94 Vp-p) @ <1 ohm
SENN HD650 - Impedance & Sensitivity: 300 ohms @ 97.8 db/mW SPL (103 dB/V SPL)
I.) DFR Power Output with HD650: (2.1 Vrms * 2.1 Vrms)/300 ohms = 14.7 mW
II.) SPL from Power for HD650 & DFR: 97.8 dB/mW + 10 * LOG (14.7 mW) = 109.5 peak dB SPL
III.) SPL from Voltage for HD650 & DFR: 103 dB/V + 20 * LOG (2.1 Vrms) = 109.4 peak dB SPL
.SENN HD650 - Impedance & Sensitivity: 300 ohms @ 97.8 db/mW SPL (103 dB/V SPL)
I.) DFR Power Output with HD650: (2.1 Vrms * 2.1 Vrms)/300 ohms = 14.7 mW
II.) SPL from Power for HD650 & DFR: 97.8 dB/mW + 10 * LOG (14.7 mW) = 109.5 peak dB SPL
III.) SPL from Voltage for HD650 & DFR: 103 dB/V + 20 * LOG (2.1 Vrms) = 109.4 peak dB SPL
I too would be interested in hearing any/all ideas/arguments regarding the DFR's (or DFB's) amp power output capabilities.
BTW: I particularly like the 2010 Sir Simon Rattle / BPO version of Mahler's Symphony No. 2 with a fondness of: V. Mit Aufschwung aber nicht eilen
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Brahmsian
500+ Head-Fier
Well now I have another question: What's going on? I went back to the very same recording (the MQA of Gergiev's Mahler's 2 streamed on Tidal via Audirvana using the very same MacBook) and played it using a different pair of headphones (M1060). I encountered no distortion or clipping. So I went back to the HE400i, the headphones I was using when I encountered the clipping/distortion, and tried to reproduce it. I couldn't. Any guesses as to why? These are new headphones and also a new DragonFly Red. It almost sounds like one or the other component had to open up to accommodate the extreme dynamics, like the amp or headphones were breaking in. But that's just a wild surmise. The informed opinion of others might help me solve this minor mystery.
A connection/streaming error, hiccup, and/or delay perhaps?
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Brahmsian
500+ Head-Fier
Could be. It sounded like the headphones weren't getting enough power or something. Sounded electrical. Anybody who has listened to speakers a lot would recognize the type of distortion I heard, like there was too much sonic information so you get some static on top. I kind of blamed the DragonFly but things are sounding fine now.
Happy to hear that the problem has cleared up for you.
coolcrew23
100+ Head-Fier
Hello guys, happy user of both dragonfly red and black. I use them on my macbook, and iphone. My songs all come from Tidal HiFi. Right now I wanna get a good transport for these.
Is the most reliable mobile Tidal player on iOS? If this is the case i plan to get an ipod touch with good storage (maybe 64gb or 128gb). I heard android is glitchy especially on daps.
Is the most reliable mobile Tidal player on iOS? If this is the case i plan to get an ipod touch with good storage (maybe 64gb or 128gb). I heard android is glitchy especially on daps.
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