WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.910 - Hi, 00:00:02.910 --> 00:00:03.720 - this is Jeff Miller, 00:00:03.720 --> 00:00:05.280 - the headphone writer here at Crutchfield and I'm 00:00:05.280 --> 00:00:06.370 - here with Dave D, 00:00:06.370 --> 00:00:07.910 - part of the Crutchfield demo demo. 00:00:07.910 --> 00:00:08.520 - Dave, 00:00:08.520 --> 00:00:09.140 - it's me, 00:00:09.140 --> 00:00:11.330 - we're here to talk about the audio quest. 00:00:11.330 --> 00:00:13.150 - Dragonfly Cobalt, 00:00:13.150 --> 00:00:16.640 - it's a plug in USB Dac and headphone amplifier. 00:00:16.640 --> 00:00:18.770 - There aren't a lot of easier ways to get better 00:00:18.770 --> 00:00:21.530 - sound quality from your headphone and from the way 00:00:21.530 --> 00:00:22.670 - you normally listen to music, 00:00:22.670 --> 00:00:23.730 - whether it's Spotify, 00:00:23.730 --> 00:00:24.730 - high res files, 00:00:24.730 --> 00:00:25.730 - cd quality. 00:00:25.730 --> 00:00:26.020 - Yeah, 00:00:26.020 --> 00:00:28.320 - you can work with your pc or Mac, 00:00:28.320 --> 00:00:29.730 - you can work with a mobile device, 00:00:29.730 --> 00:00:30.290 - your phone, 00:00:30.290 --> 00:00:31.330 - anything like that. 00:00:31.330 --> 00:00:33.290 - You've been using a Dag whether you know it or not 00:00:33.290 --> 00:00:33.290 - , 00:00:33.290 --> 00:00:34.940 - they just don't spend a lot of money on the decks 00:00:34.940 --> 00:00:36.570 - that they put in phones and computers. 00:00:36.570 --> 00:00:37.570 - Not very good. 00:00:37.570 --> 00:00:40.280 - This is where the dragonfly cobalt is such a great 00:00:40.280 --> 00:00:43.390 - addition because you can basically plug in and bam 00:00:43.390 --> 00:00:45.060 - you've got better sound right away. 00:00:45.060 --> 00:00:45.460 - Yeah, 00:00:45.460 --> 00:00:46.520 - it's really uncomplicated. 00:00:46.520 --> 00:00:48.270 - It's not a lot of like drivers and things. 00:00:48.270 --> 00:00:49.050 - You have to use. 00:00:49.050 --> 00:00:51.920 - The cobalt is the latest in the line up of audio 00:00:51.920 --> 00:00:52.690 - quest ax, 00:00:52.690 --> 00:00:55.450 - which includes the entry level black and then the 00:00:55.450 --> 00:00:56.180 - step up model, 00:00:56.180 --> 00:00:58.950 - which is the red cobalt is basically the best of 00:00:58.950 --> 00:01:01.880 - them yet because it not only incorporates a higher 00:01:01.880 --> 00:01:03.190 - grade ss saber Dac, 00:01:03.190 --> 00:01:05.480 - but they basically include their jitterbug. 00:01:05.480 --> 00:01:06.000 - Audio quest. 00:01:06.000 --> 00:01:08.090 - Jitterbug is included as part of the cobalt. 00:01:08.090 --> 00:01:09.460 - So you've got two devices in one. 00:01:09.460 --> 00:01:09.840 - Yeah, 00:01:09.840 --> 00:01:13.300 - I used the Dragonfly Black to um drive a lot of the 00:01:13.300 --> 00:01:15.930 - headphones that I test and I often used it in 00:01:15.930 --> 00:01:17.790 - concert with the Jitterbug. 00:01:17.790 --> 00:01:18.980 - We talked to audio quest, 00:01:18.980 --> 00:01:21.660 - they said no jitterbug needed this kind of has 00:01:21.660 --> 00:01:23.870 - enough processing in there to take care, 00:01:23.870 --> 00:01:26.120 - take care of some of those digital artifacts and 00:01:26.120 --> 00:01:28.520 - stuff that can creep into your sound. 00:01:28.520 --> 00:01:31.100 - It's not about just the better quality of sound, 00:01:31.100 --> 00:01:33.730 - it's quieting down the noise going on within the 00:01:33.730 --> 00:01:35.030 - device you're using it with as well. 00:01:35.030 --> 00:01:36.960 - I don't know if we mentioned, 00:01:36.960 --> 00:01:39.070 - but all three of these have a headphone amp built 00:01:39.070 --> 00:01:39.570 - into them. 00:01:39.570 --> 00:01:42.210 - So they will drive some of the most power hungry 00:01:42.210 --> 00:01:43.100 - headphones out there. 00:01:43.100 --> 00:01:46.590 - We actually tested some pretty heavy duty 00:01:46.590 --> 00:01:49.540 - headphones and and got some good sound out of them 00:01:49.540 --> 00:01:49.540 - . 00:01:49.540 --> 00:01:53.950 - It's really easy to just pick up and grab and go 00:01:53.950 --> 00:01:54.870 - wherever you want to go. 00:01:54.870 --> 00:01:57.840 - And also very versatile along with headphones, 00:01:57.840 --> 00:02:00.100 - you can get better audio and other places too sure 00:02:00.100 --> 00:02:00.100 - . 00:02:00.100 --> 00:02:00.390 - It's, 00:02:00.390 --> 00:02:02.500 - it's a great and I'm piece for a couple of reasons 00:02:02.500 --> 00:02:03.120 - as well. 00:02:03.120 --> 00:02:04.650 - One is a size obviously, 00:02:04.650 --> 00:02:06.390 - but the next thing is you don't have to plug it in 00:02:06.390 --> 00:02:06.390 - , 00:02:06.390 --> 00:02:07.660 - you don't have to recharge it, 00:02:07.660 --> 00:02:08.780 - It draws power off, 00:02:08.780 --> 00:02:10.980 - the device is connected to and that's how it works 00:02:10.980 --> 00:02:10.980 - . 00:02:10.980 --> 00:02:14.060 - It's really easy to plug in and then it'll start 00:02:14.060 --> 00:02:16.130 - loading itself on most devices so you don't have to 00:02:16.130 --> 00:02:18.040 - go into a lot of menus and set it up that way, 00:02:18.040 --> 00:02:18.530 - Yep. 00:02:18.530 --> 00:02:21.950 - There's also a new microprocessor chip which can 00:02:21.950 --> 00:02:25.470 - help with that with that battery draws draws 33% 00:02:25.470 --> 00:02:27.470 - less power than before. 00:02:27.470 --> 00:02:30.240 - So huge for phones you don't have extra batteries 00:02:30.240 --> 00:02:31.020 - two spare really. 00:02:31.020 --> 00:02:33.260 - So it's good that it doesn't take up a lot to get 00:02:33.260 --> 00:02:34.220 - to add that extra. 00:02:34.220 --> 00:02:35.660 - Very true to the sound. 00:02:35.660 --> 00:02:38.400 - So we've done a lot of testing on this thing and it 00:02:38.400 --> 00:02:39.190 - sounds great. 00:02:39.190 --> 00:02:43.750 - I mean we've all been very happy with it right away 00:02:43.750 --> 00:02:43.750 - . 00:02:43.750 --> 00:02:46.870 - Their differences have a new training class here of 00:02:46.870 --> 00:02:48.240 - about four advisors. 00:02:48.240 --> 00:02:50.580 - So I took them into our training room here and 00:02:50.580 --> 00:02:51.690 - plugged in first, 00:02:51.690 --> 00:02:52.380 - uh, 00:02:52.380 --> 00:02:55.090 - a stereo mini cable directly from a line output on 00:02:55.090 --> 00:02:55.670 - the computer. 00:02:55.670 --> 00:02:58.150 - So I wanted to put that up against the cobalt. 00:02:58.150 --> 00:03:00.370 - It's fun watching the reactions on their faces. 00:03:00.370 --> 00:03:02.630 - That's when you usually find out if something's 00:03:02.630 --> 00:03:04.520 - going to make a difference and you could see it on 00:03:04.520 --> 00:03:05.100 - their faces. 00:03:05.100 --> 00:03:09.890 - Remember 24 96 Elton john song and uh, 00:03:09.890 --> 00:03:11.390 - one person goes, 00:03:11.390 --> 00:03:12.160 - oh, 00:03:12.160 --> 00:03:14.940 - they just pulled the blanket off of this And then 00:03:14.940 --> 00:03:17.010 - our head trainer JR says, 00:03:17.010 --> 00:03:17.550 - wait a minute, 00:03:17.550 --> 00:03:19.470 - is he playing extra notes with his left hand that 00:03:19.470 --> 00:03:21.590 - he didn't play the first time we thought it was a 00:03:21.590 --> 00:03:22.790 - completely different track. 00:03:22.790 --> 00:03:23.530 - Same track. 00:03:23.530 --> 00:03:27.330 - It was 24 96 just changed over the cobalt and it 00:03:27.330 --> 00:03:28.430 - was a whole new experience for him. 00:03:28.430 --> 00:03:30.530 - So we really did want to see some of the 00:03:30.530 --> 00:03:32.970 - differences between the three models because it can 00:03:32.970 --> 00:03:33.750 - be subtle. 00:03:33.750 --> 00:03:34.390 - Like I said, 00:03:34.390 --> 00:03:36.360 - I started with the black and jumped to the, 00:03:36.360 --> 00:03:39.550 - to the cobalt didn't really wasn't subtle. 00:03:39.550 --> 00:03:39.940 - I was, 00:03:39.940 --> 00:03:41.030 - I was streaming kobus, 00:03:41.030 --> 00:03:44.590 - which is a high res streaming service and I just 00:03:44.590 --> 00:03:46.540 - kind of went through some of the new remasters that 00:03:46.540 --> 00:03:47.620 - they had on the service. 00:03:47.620 --> 00:03:48.510 - So listen to James, 00:03:48.510 --> 00:03:53.290 - taylor firing ranges in 24 96 through the black, 00:03:53.290 --> 00:03:55.250 - it just sound a little bit more condensed. 00:03:55.250 --> 00:03:56.450 - It didn't have, 00:03:56.450 --> 00:03:59.880 - when I switched over to the cobalt and adjusted for 00:03:59.880 --> 00:04:00.450 - volume, 00:04:00.450 --> 00:04:03.360 - things were more spacious. 00:04:03.360 --> 00:04:04.290 - I wrote down, 00:04:04.290 --> 00:04:06.370 - it took advantage of it. 00:04:06.370 --> 00:04:08.630 - It worked with the room that it had, 00:04:08.630 --> 00:04:09.670 - took more advantage of. 00:04:09.670 --> 00:04:13.160 - There was a little bit more high end detail, 00:04:13.160 --> 00:04:16.420 - but the imaging that you had the vocals sitting in 00:04:16.420 --> 00:04:18.110 - front of you and you had the, 00:04:18.110 --> 00:04:20.770 - you had all the instruments properly separated. 00:04:20.770 --> 00:04:21.930 - But so yeah, 00:04:21.930 --> 00:04:22.390 - so then, 00:04:22.390 --> 00:04:22.930 - um, 00:04:22.930 --> 00:04:25.580 - switched over to Ella Fitzgerald sings the Irving 00:04:25.580 --> 00:04:27.160 - Berlin Songbook. 00:04:27.160 --> 00:04:27.560 - Um, 00:04:27.560 --> 00:04:29.290 - it's a really good, 00:04:29.290 --> 00:04:31.800 - they just remastered in 24 1 92. 00:04:31.800 --> 00:04:32.760 - This one was like, 00:04:32.760 --> 00:04:35.660 - you're just like her voice, 00:04:35.660 --> 00:04:36.090 - you know, 00:04:36.090 --> 00:04:38.640 - you're sitting in the jazz club letting it wash 00:04:38.640 --> 00:04:42.190 - over you way spread out on the stage, 00:04:42.190 --> 00:04:43.410 - even though it's probably a cramp stage. 00:04:43.410 --> 00:04:44.780 - But it feels, 00:04:44.780 --> 00:04:45.680 - yeah, 00:04:45.680 --> 00:04:46.880 - it feels like it's like, 00:04:46.880 --> 00:04:47.230 - you know, 00:04:47.230 --> 00:04:49.410 - spread out in front of you and um, 00:04:49.410 --> 00:04:51.730 - when you're testing headphones and audio gear, 00:04:51.730 --> 00:04:54.410 - you kind of dream for those moments when you can 00:04:54.410 --> 00:04:56.790 - get taken out of the analytical stage and more into 00:04:56.790 --> 00:04:56.890 - the, 00:04:56.890 --> 00:04:59.920 - like this is cool kind of stage and that's where we 00:04:59.920 --> 00:05:00.230 - were, 00:05:00.230 --> 00:05:00.640 - that's, 00:05:00.640 --> 00:05:01.200 - that's the key. 00:05:01.200 --> 00:05:02.650 - And yeah, 00:05:02.650 --> 00:05:04.350 - when I did part of the demo, 00:05:04.350 --> 00:05:08.760 - I think I made a statement that I think it was the 00:05:08.760 --> 00:05:12.400 - Ben Morrison track where the instrumentation had 00:05:12.400 --> 00:05:15.370 - just totally been relocated in a way. 00:05:15.370 --> 00:05:16.220 - Yeah, 00:05:16.220 --> 00:05:16.660 - instruments. 00:05:16.660 --> 00:05:18.260 - You didn't even know where there were there in 00:05:18.260 --> 00:05:18.650 - force. 00:05:18.650 --> 00:05:19.060 - Yeah, 00:05:19.060 --> 00:05:19.550 - like I said, 00:05:19.550 --> 00:05:22.880 - plug any of these devices into your laptop or phone 00:05:22.880 --> 00:05:23.880 - and you're gonna get better. 00:05:23.880 --> 00:05:26.310 - Sound differences between the two can be pretty 00:05:26.310 --> 00:05:27.900 - drastic or pretty incremental. 00:05:27.900 --> 00:05:29.070 - But overall, 00:05:29.070 --> 00:05:31.980 - I think all of us heard more spaciousness with the 00:05:31.980 --> 00:05:32.690 - cobalt, 00:05:32.690 --> 00:05:34.220 - a little bit more detail, 00:05:34.220 --> 00:05:35.810 - a little bit more detail and not, 00:05:35.810 --> 00:05:37.250 - not overblown detail. 00:05:37.250 --> 00:05:39.260 - It was subtle and nice and natural. 00:05:39.260 --> 00:05:41.750 - It's like more of a sense of place rather than like 00:05:41.750 --> 00:05:41.750 - , 00:05:41.750 --> 00:05:42.670 - you know, 00:05:42.670 --> 00:05:46.250 - extra stuff. 00:05:46.250 --> 00:05:47.610 - Um so anyways, 00:05:47.610 --> 00:05:47.840 - yeah, 00:05:47.840 --> 00:05:50.420 - I mean that's the audio dragonfly Cobalt, 00:05:50.420 --> 00:05:51.920 - that's what we're all excited about here at 00:05:51.920 --> 00:05:52.780 - Crutchfield. 00:05:52.780 --> 00:05:53.890 - If you have any questions, 00:05:53.890 --> 00:05:57.360 - give us a call or his upon email or chat and we'll 00:05:57.360 --> 00:05:59.450 - answer any questions you have about them