USB-A CABLE DONGLE · ESS ES9038Q2M
AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt
A USB-A cable dongle with an ESS ES9038Q2M DAC chip, a 3.5 mm output.
Numbers are the manufacturer's stated figures unless marked as measured; sources linked below.
Outputs and power
Not stated: gain, supply voltage, SNR, distortion, crosstalk.
Where to buy
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The device
From AudioQuest's manual unless markedDevices with the same DAC chip
ES9038Q2M · 6 devices use itCompared with
Manufacturers' stated figures; the price is today's lowestAudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt vs iBasso DC07 PRO
iBasso DC07 PRO is among the dongles in the catalog closest to AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt in price: the lowest prices are $199.95 and $199, $0.95 apart.
| AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt | iBasso DC07 PRO | |
|---|---|---|
| Power at 32 Ω | Not stated | 430 mW4.4 mm balanced, THD+N <0.1% |
| Power at 16 Ω | Not stated | 510 mW4.4 mm balanced, THD+N <0.1% |
| Price today | $199.95AudioQuest store, 20 Oct | $199HiFiGo, 16 Oct |
| DAC chip | ESS ES9038Q2M | Cirrus Logic CS43131 × 4 |
| Inputs | USB-A | USB-C |
| Outputs | 3.5 mm | 4.4 mm balanced · 3.5 mm |
| Size | height: 12; width: 19; length: 57 mm | 59 × 23.5 × 12.5 mm |
| Weight | Not stated | 23 g |
AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt vs FiiO QX13
FiiO QX13 is among the dongles in the catalog closest to AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt in price: the lowest prices are $199.95 and $219.99, $20.04 apart.
| AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt | FiiO QX13 | |
|---|---|---|
| Power at 32 Ω | Not stated | ≥900 mW4.4 mm balanced, high gain, desktop, supply: DC 5V >=1A listed for device; test supply not separately specified |
| Power at 16 Ω | Not stated | ≥480 mW4.4 mm balanced, high gain, desktop, supply: DC 5V >=1A listed for device; test supply not separately specified |
| Power at 300 Ω | Not stated | ≥125 mW4.4 mm balanced, high gain, desktop, supply: DC 5V >=1A listed for device; test supply not separately specified |
| Price today | $199.95AudioQuest store, 20 Oct | $219.99HiFiGo, 16 Oct |
| DAC chip | ESS ES9038Q2M | ES9027SPRO |
| Inputs | USB-A | USB-C |
| Outputs | 3.5 mm | 3.5 mm · 4.4 mm balanced |
| Size | height: 12; width: 19; length: 57 mm | About 64.2 × 30.7 × 13 mm |
| Weight | Not stated | About 39.2 g |
AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt vs MOONDROP MOONRIVER 2 TI
MOONDROP MOONRIVER 2 TI is among the dongles in the catalog closest to AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt in price: the lowest prices are $199.95 and $219.99, $20.04 apart.
| AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt | MOONDROP MOONRIVER 2 TI | |
|---|---|---|
| Power at 32 Ω | Not stated | 280 mW4.4 mm balanced |
| Power at 300 Ω | Not stated | 53 mW4.4 mm balanced |
| Price today | $199.95AudioQuest store, 20 Oct | $219.99Apos Audio, 31 Oct |
| DAC chip | ESS ES9038Q2M | CS43198 × 2 |
| Inputs | USB-A | USB-C |
| Outputs | 3.5 mm | 3.5 mm · 4.4 mm balanced |
| Size | height: 12; width: 19; length: 57 mm | 57 × 19.6 × 13.4 mm |
| Weight | Not stated | 30 g |