My question is whether using a dragonfly cobalt stick for output to AV amp analog inputs might improve the sound quality significantly over airplay and /or hdmi inputs I currently use.
On one system I currently have rock setup on an intel NUC. Currently the hdmi out from the Rock NUC goes to an hdmi input on my Yamaha RX-A3070. So it’s currently using the Dac(s) in the Yamaha to decode I assume. So question here is cobalt vs hdmi for sound quality?
On the other system I currently have another intel NUC but I don’t currently use it as a roon endpoint. Currently roon goes via airplay to a Denon AVR X4500H. So it’s currently using the Dac(s) in the Denon to decode I assume. So here the question is input via Denon airplay vs hdmi vs cobalt to analog
I use tidal and Qobuz currently for the source. Speakers are Monitor Audio Silver 500 floorstanders. All networking is hardwired gigabit lan.
I’d really appreciate any thoughts before laying out money on one or even two cobalt sticks.
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Hard to say without having a listen to your setups. It’s probably not a big leap forward using the Dragonfly Cobalt since both the Yamaha and Denon AVRs have new DAC chips and probably a good implementation.
I had a big leap up using the original Chord HUGO instead of the DAC in an Anthem AVR 310. So much so that I used it as demo for naysaying friends that didn’t believe DACs mattered back in the days. So it really can make a big difference.
I would maybe buy one if I also though that the Dragonfly in other ways as well, or if I was able to return it no questions asked if it didn’t give me what I was looking for.
And for high resolution files the DragonFly would be better than the Airplay. Your Yamaha AVR should be able to play highres though.
I would suggest you google around for some tech reviews on that Colbalt DAC/Preamp/Headphone Amp… Many are not so swift…
I would imagine your AVRs have better DACs and analogue output stages than the Cobalt… Is your Yamaha and Denon AVRs Roon Ready Endpoints… Why not use Ethernet or even WiFi then…
After quick review of the specs of your AVRs, they look like much better implementations of DAC/pre/amps… The Yamaha with ESS Pro, the Denon with SHARC/AKM AK4458VN…
The cobalt regardless of what some reviewers sell to think is a good DAC, happy with mine but I use it for headphones not line out. It might be an improvement I found using an external DAC to my Arcam AV when it was my primary amp was much better than the internal DAC as it eould bypass all the digital side processing as it had direct option for music. Your likely better getting a desktop DAC though if you want a significant uplift. Some are very good and reasonably priced. Try one, if you dont think it improvses things send it back.
Thanks everyone for the thoughts and suggestions and for taking the trouble to examine specs that I probably wouldn’t understand so much. I’ve switched from airplay to hdmi on the denon and it’s made a clear difference. I think I’ll hold off the dragonfly and maybe save up over the next decade for a Hugo!!
Your Denon AVR X4500H is Roon tested… Try it over your LAN via Ethernet or WiFi and toss the HDMI cable…
When I go to the roon audio settings it finds the denon but only as airplay so (as I understand it) only 16bit/44.1kHz max. Whereas when I send over hdmi it reports
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That means airplay on Denon and Marantz not Roon Readt RAAT, HDMI is better than airplay as its bit perfect and can handle hires,
