The Dragonfly Red is another amazing USB DAC made by the famous AudioQuest and has garnered plenty of accolades over the years. It is no doubt one of the very best portable D/A converters that money can buy and deserves to be partnered with some of the top matching headphones. Please continue to read on if you are currently in search of a pair of headphones.
There are a high number of headphones to choose from and we need to find the ones that could complement each other. Your own requirements will play a big part too and so let us start learning more about the AudioQuest Dragonfly Red as well as working on what you require from a headphone.
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Sound Characteristics of AudioQuest Dragonfly Red
This is a very compact-sized USB DAC and you can easily keep it after use. The compactness of the Dragonfly Red also makes it very suitable for outdoor use as you could carry it around with ease. For instance, you can carry the AudioQuest USB DAC around within your pocket and you certainly will have enough space inside your bag to slot the Dragonfly Red in. The USB DAC design also makes it look neater when used, and it frees up your desktop space for other HiFi audio components or personal stuff. If you are sharing with others, you can easily pass the Dragonfly Red around.
Other than having a DAC chip that supports up to 24-bit/96kHz resolution, it also has a headphone amp and could drive headphones with up to 300 Ohms impedance. The AudioQuest Dragonfly Red has a modest price tag and is certainly worth every penny invested. The overall sound reproduction of the Dragonfly Red DAC is full-bodied and could dig deep into the bass extension. All this added weight helps to solidify and provide us with a three-dimensional music presentation. Dragonfly Red’s musical performance has ample depth and a wide dynamic range as well.
More Information at Amazon – AudioQuest DragonFly Red USB DAC
You can easily enjoy listening to your favorite tunes using the AudioQuest Dragonfly Red as your USB D/A converter. Is a pity it doesn’t support higher resolution though. Still, the sound quality and performance are more than enough to justify the price. It is agile and fast enough to keep pace with most music genres. The Dragonfly Red is highly accurate and could dish out plenty of music details. It has enough enthusiasm to give us quite an exciting music presentation without sounding out of control or muddled. The AudioQuest Dragonfly Red DAC has a neutral sonic characteristic and leans towards warmth.
Your Headphone Requirements
You can start with the pricing requirement by working on your budget first and based on it, you can filter out the headphones which doesn’t fit the bill. Another requirement that could further reduce the headphone choices will be the impedance ratings. As mentioned earlier, the AudioQuest Dragonfly Red is able to drive headphones with up to 300 Ohms impedance and so we should leave out those power-demanding models or have higher impedance ratings. The comfort level you need as you may be wearing them for long hours can be a requirement too. If you will be moving around a lot, you might want a headphone with tighter clamping force.
The weight of the headphones is important especially if you will be wearing them outdoors while walking and traveling. If the headphone is too heavy for you, it may cause discomfort quite easily. Various headphone models have unique sonic traits and you might want to list out the type of sound signatures you are looking for in a headphone. This probably may be the least important requirement and that will be color matching with the Dragonfly Red D/A converter. These are just some of the usual headphone requirements to consider. If you are sharing the headphone usage with others, you should seek their opinions and list out more requirements on your own.
Best Headphones to match with AudioQuest Dragonfly Red
The Sennheiser HD600 is one of the best headphones to match with the Dragonfly Red. It is a neutral-sounding open-back headphone and the Dragonfly Red is powerful enough to drive the HD600. The highly accurate and detailed midrange reproduction of the Sennheiser HD600 will complement the AudioQuest Dragonfly Red really well without sounding unnatural. The full-bodied music presentation of the DAC is able to add a bit more weight and warmth to the overall sound reproduction.
More Details at Amazon – Sennheiser HD 600 Open-Back Headphone
AudioQuest Nighthawk Carbon is probably the best headphone choice to go with your Dragonfly Red as firstly they are made by the same company. This also means they both should share similar sound signatures, allowing them to produce a seamless musical performance. The AudioQuest Nighthawk Carbon has a very low impedance rating and the Dragonfly Red has no problem driving it. Nighthawk Carbon has a warm and easy on the ears music presentation, the smoothness makes it easier to listen to them for hours on end.
More Information at Amazon – AudioQuest Nighthawk Carbon Semi-Open Headphones
HiFiMan HE400S is an exceptional planar headphone that has a modest price tag and can easily be driven by the AudioQuest Dragonfly Red. The HiFiMan HE400S matches really well with the Dragonfly Red, the music presentation has amazing stereo imaging and separation, allowing us to pinpoint each musician. The high-definition music delivery is coupled with subtle details and nuances which provided us with an intimate music listening experience. Dragonfly Red also helps to add a bit more punch to the overall bass performance.
More Details at Amazon – HIFIMAN HE400S Over Ear Planar Magnetic Headphone
Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro is an amazing studio headphone and will be an ideal choice for the Dragonfly Red DAC. This is a neutral-sounding headphone with a closed-back design, able to provide a taut bass delivery with ample weight. More importantly, the bass frequencies of the DT 770 Pro don’t overshadow the upper registers, allowing the higher frequencies to shine through. The tight clamping force will be great for listeners who listed this as a requirement. The midrange prowess of the Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro will suit nicely with the AudioQuest Dragonfly Red.
More Details at Amazon – Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO 250 Ohm Over-Ear Studio Headphones in Black
The Sennheiser HD 650 is one of the most highly rated headphones, it is specially made for audiophiles and critical listeners. For headphone enthusiasts who want a bit more bass than the HD 600s without compromising the accuracy, you should definitely check out the HD 650s. The midrange performance would be this Sennheiser headphone’s greatest strength, it is highly accurate and authentic. Like the AudioQuest Dragonfly Red, the Sennheiser HD 650 stereo imaging is well-focused and the separation is amazingly defined.
More Details at Amazon – Sennheiser HD 650 – Audiophile Headphone
The HiFiMan Sundara is another excellent planar magnetic headphone to go for without the need to break the bank. This headphone is easy to drive and the AudioQuest Dragonfly Red would have no problem driving it. HiFiMan Sundara is capable of projecting a wide soundstage which will improve your listening experience. The tighter bass control of the headphones further tightens the low-end performance of the Dragonfly Red, giving us a more articulate performance with a deeper reach. HiFiMan Sundara has impeccable stereo imaging as well.
More Details at Amazon – HiFiMan Sundara Over-Ear Planar Magnetic Headphones (Black)
To Sum It Up
These are some of the best headphones on the market to partner up with your Dragonfly Red DAC and they are certainly worth your time to have a listen. Pick the ones which fit your requirements the most and have an audition with them. Use your favorite music and your own AudioQuest Dragonfly Red to see if a particular headphone matches your sonic taste and preference.
