SCHIIT DRIVER BITPERFECT MANUAL
SCHIIT DRIVER BITPERFECT PORTABLE

The highest of which is the DragonFly Red’s sample rate ceiling of 96kHz. Anyway, red is for standby and then Green, Blue, Amber and Magenta represent sample rate levels.

SCHIIT DRIVER BITPERFECT MANUAL

It illuminates in different colours to indicate status or sample rate (whilst this minimalist approach is cute, I do find myself having to make frequent trips to the instruction manual to remember what each colour means… not a big deal, but y’know…). The only indication that something is happening is from the dragonfly shaped LED. There are no physical buttons or dials on the DragonFly. Nevertheless, there is no shortage of help on the ‘net to help out. How they have managed to squeeze such awesome sound from such a small package is beyond me. AudioQuest’s engineers are modern day miracle workers. Connectivity might be limited but sound quality is not. The DragonFly has a single USB-A input and a single 3.5mm headphone jack output. Luckily size is not our single concern…Ī USB stick form factor means limited connectivity. It’s about the size of a single packet of chewing gum, whereas the Schiit combo is more like 40 or so packets of gum. The DragonFly trumps the Schiit combo hands down when it comes to form factor. If portability is your main aim then we can probably stop proceedings here. Today we’ll be looking at two names that I think represent the best answer to that question right now: the AudioQuest DragonFly Red and the Schiit Modi/Magni combo.

SCHIIT DRIVER BITPERFECT PORTABLE

So my search became a quest to answer the question: What desktop or portable headphone DAC/Amp(s) are to be found at that tipping point? I like to find that tipping point in audio gear where for every dollar increase in price beyond that point there is not a commensurate increase in sound quality or reproduction. I’m always looking to achieve the best for the least spend. It also, for me, means equipment that has been designed with a footprint ideal for desk or bookshelf placement. They fit the bill quite nicely for what I consider to be “desktop audio” – which is to say audio equipment designed with near field or headphone listening in mind. My quest for “desktop audio” utopia started over a decade ago with a pair of AudioEngine A2 powered speakers. Not really a hardship considering the quality of headphones and music reproduction gadgetry available to today’s music lovers. Nowadays, with the advent of co-working and open plan office space, headphone listening has become a necessary adjustment. Of course, that was back in the day when I enjoyed the plush confines of an office and the indulgence of audible music at work was a thing. Headphones seemed to be a bit isolating for me. I used to much prefer listening to music at my desk through speakers. Actually, I love to listen to music any time.

Schiit driver bitperfect