Audioquest DragonFly Copper USB DAC - iOS, Android & Windows
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Audioquest DragonFly Copper USB DAC - iOS, Android & Windows
Overview
Built-in audio hardware on a laptop, phone, or tablet is designed to be small and cheap, not to sound good — a big part of why music streamed straight from a headphone jack or a phone's USB port can sound flat, thin, or edgy compared with what a proper DAC and amplifier can pull out of the same file.
The AudioQuest DragonFly Copper is a USB DAC and headphone amplifier built around a 32-bit ESS Sabre DAC chip, sized to plug into a laptop or tablet and stay there. It takes over the digital-to-analog conversion and headphone amplification your device would otherwise handle poorly, decoding files up to 24-bit/96kHz and driving headphones with up to twice the output power of any earlier DragonFly model.
Volume is handled by a 64-step, 64-bit bit-perfect digital volume control built into the DAC chip itself, rather than a noisier analog volume stage, and a small LED on the housing changes colour to show the sample rate of whatever's playing. It works across Windows, Mac, Android (with USB Host Mode support), and iOS, with no drivers to install.
Simcoe Audio Video Insight
DragonFly Copper connects over USB-A, with a DragonTail USB-A to USB-C adaptor included in the box for newer laptops and phones — if you're running it from an iPhone or iPad, you'll also need Apple's own Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter, which isn't included and is worth picking up at the same time so the DAC doesn't sit unused waiting on a cable.
More Info
Why the AudioQuest DragonFly Copper Stands Out
32-Bit ESS Sabre DAC and Headphone Amp
A 32-bit ESS Sabre chip handles both digital-to-analog conversion and headphone amplification in one small housing, decoding files up to 24-bit/96kHz.
2x the Output Power of Any Previous DragonFly
AudioQuest rates Copper's output power at twice that of any earlier DragonFly, while drawing 25% less current from the host device.
64-Step Bit-Perfect Digital Volume Control
Volume is adjusted digitally, in 64 steps, directly on the DAC chip, rather than through a noisier analog stage.
Copper-Plated Housing for RF Noise Draining
A high-conductivity copper-plated case is built to drain radio-frequency noise away from the circuitry inside.
Sample-Rate Indicator LED
A single LED changes colour — red, green, blue, yellow, or light blue — to show the sample rate of the file currently playing.
Plug-and-Play Across Windows, Mac, iOS and Android
No drivers to install: DragonFly Copper works with Windows and Mac computers, Android devices with USB Host Mode support, and iOS devices with Apple's own camera adapter.
Buyer's Guide
Who It's For
- The Laptop or Phone Listener: wants noticeably better sound from files and streaming services than a built-in headphone jack can deliver, without a full desktop DAC and amp setup.
- The Multi-Device User: moves between a laptop, phone, and tablet throughout the day and wants one small DAC/amp that works across all of them.
- The Cable-Light Traveller: wants a plug-and-play DAC and amp small enough to leave in a laptop bag, with no battery to charge and no drivers to install.
How It Compares
The DragonFly Copper sits above the entry-level DragonFly Black in AudioQuest's current lineup. Per AudioQuest's own comparison, Copper draws less current, outputs more power, and adds a copper-plated case for better RF noise draining than Black. Unlike Black and AudioQuest's Red, Copper's LED playback indicator has no MQA (purple) state, so it's built around standard PCM playback up to 24-bit/96kHz rather than MQA decoding.
Audioquest DragonFly Copper USB DAC - iOS, Android & Windows Specifications
| General Information | |
|---|---|
| Model | AudioQuest DragonFly Copper |
| Type | USB DAC, headphone amplifier, and preamp |
| Audio | |
| DAC Chip | 32-bit ESS Sabre |
| Max Resolution | 24-bit/96kHz native decoding |
| Digital Volume Control | 64-step, 64-bit, bit-perfect (on-chip) |
| Output Power | 2x any previous DragonFly model (per AudioQuest) |
| Current Draw | 25% lower than previous DragonFly models (per AudioQuest) |
| MQA Decoding | Not supported |
| Connectivity | |
| Connector | USB-A (revealed when DragonTail adaptor is removed) |
| Included Adaptor | DragonTail USB-A to USB-C |
| iOS Connection | Requires Apple Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter (sold separately) |
| Output | 3.5mm headphone/line output |
| Compatible Systems | Windows, macOS, Android (USB Host Mode), iOS (with camera adapter) |
| Playback Indicator | |
| LED Colours | Red (standby), Green (44.1kHz), Blue (48kHz), Yellow (88.2kHz), Light Blue (96kHz) |
| Physical Specifications | |
| Dimensions | 57mm L x 19mm W x 12mm H |
| Housing | Copper-plated case for RF noise draining |
| Colour Available | Copper |
| In the Box | |
| Included Accessories | DragonFly Copper unit, DragonTail USB-A to USB-C adaptor |