Audioquest Dragonfly Cobalt

[fr.jazbec]

To hear Tidal from my MacBook I use Audirvana software and then I go with the Audioquest Dragontail Adapter to an extern Power Supply from Aqvox, following the Audioquest Jitterbug and the Audioquest Dragonfly Cobalt. Then I go with a 3,5 Jack to 2xRCA Mogami Adaptercable into my Preamp.
It sounds very very good and in combination with the Audirvana software ist is able to play MQA exactly.
Greetings Rüdiger

[Mariner]

Hi,
i´m not very firm in modern streaming things, sorry!
At first i ask myself: is there a possibility to transport a digital signal from the Laptop/PC to an extern DAC,
which most of us have in better quality than in any laptop/PC?
Because i don´t know what MQA is i use Google and found this:

https://www.modernhifi.de/mqa-audio-linn/

But as i said above, i´m not a digital nativ (63years old) and use classical audio souces like turntable/CD/DVD-player, because i´m a little sceptical
with feeding very expensive audio equipment with compressed (in any way) material just for the reason to have every kind of music and convenience!
Sometimes less is more !

[fr.jazbec]

Hello,
the music from Tidal is not compressed(normaly FLAC 16/44,1)and MQA is a special type of HighRes music. The sound is Not much better than FLAC, sometimes ist is a little bit softer.
I really enjoy streaming because you can here most albums in the world for 25€/month and the sound is better than CD with my configuration.

[Mariner]

Hi,
i understand that streaming is interesting for developing new music, and getting more information.
To hear that that Flac or Highres will sound better than the original CD seems for me a bit strange.
But if your ears hear it like that, for you it's real !😉
I am "old style" end enjoy operating with the traditional play devices.
But my collection is big and there is always something new to develop, or enjoy the known sounds.
But time move on and maybe I will get a " streamer" too.
Who knows??

[fr.jazbec]

Hi,
the statement streaming sounds better than CD or LP probably only applies to my system. My CD Player is an Rega Planet 1.Gen and about 20 years old. Perhaps that is the reason. I like his sound and the quirky appereance but the Dragonfly is much clearer and cleaner, if you know what I mean.😉

[Mariner]

Hi Rüdiger,
Yes, I think I know what you mean.
My change from McIntosh to Audionet in the "pre-section " shows me more clear- and cleaness.
From time to time,especially by listening to older music, I think I have to be careful, because it's getting more and more "antiseptic ". I hope now you know what I mean!
But as you, I love to hear details and an open soundstage.