2. tech-talk
  3. 151529-136960

Would an Audioquest Cobalt feed my integrated amp without clipping?

I just upgraded my speakers and now I think I would like to get a better DAC. I do all my listening using a laptop into an old Audioquest Dragonfly V1.0 from 2012 and that directly feeds my integrated amplifier preamp. It sounds pretty good. I don't know what this Dragonfly's output voltage is (but V1.2 is 1.8V peak). I can spend up to £300 (about $370) on a new DAC and I am thinking about getting an Audioquest Cobalt. That has an output voltage of 2.1V.

Is that going to be suitable for feeding my amp line in or would there be clipping?

The amp is a Marantz PM6004 and the input sensitivity is 200 mV/20 kOhms. The manual doesn't give a peak sensitivity. It sounds like 2.1V input would be too much for it, but I don't know about this stuff.

The Dragonfly is a headphone amp and maybe it is just not right for feeding an integrated amp or pre-amp. Would anyone like to suggest a better DAC for me under my price ceiling? It occurs to me that with a DAC that has a built in amp feeding my preamp, that is inserting an extra amplification stage I don't need. I do use my headphones sometimes. But the old Dragonfly would do for them.
ontodva
almarg's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
almarg
9,670 posts
 
I agree with Miller that clipping will not be an issue.

If you run the software volume control(s) in the laptop at max you **might** find yourself using the Marantz’ volume control at undesirably low settings, though, depending on the efficiency of your speakers and other variables. (The gain of the Marantz can be calculated from its specs to be about 40 db, which is a bit higher than average for an integrated amp). But even if that were to occur (and I suspect it would not occur) you could reduce the output voltage of the Dragonfly as necessary via its internal volume control. From its description at the Audioquest site:

In DragonFly Red and Cobalt, we were able to employ a highly sophisticated 64-step, 64-bit, bit-perfect digital volume control. It works similarly: With DragonFly Red/Cobalt connected to a PC or mobile device, adjusting the host’s system volume control will, through proxy, control the DragonFly’s onboard volume. Here again, we’ve optimized the volume control to ensure maximum resolution and the highest sound quality, regardless of volume setting.

Good luck. Regards,
-- Al
b_limo's avatar
b_limo
2,277 posts
 
You can use the Cobalt!  I use a Red Dragonfly with 2 jitterbugs and it’s pretty dang good.  I think I may look at a used Schiit BiFrost Multibit or ...? for around $500 as an my next upgrade.  I’ll still probably use the Jitterbugs with my next dac.

I read that the cobalt doesn’t work with a jitterbug, which makes me assume that its built in now since you can’t run 2 in series.  You could still use a Jitterbug in your empty usb slot on your laptop with the Cobalt. 
rongold's avatar
rongold
49 posts
 
Ontodva: I run my laptop thru a Jitterbug-Red Dragonfly into an Audible Illusions L3B preamp to my CJ Premier 11a......and it sounds GREAT! No clipping. Go for the Cobalt!
More to discover