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I love music, and while it would be nice to exclusively listen to my favorite songs through a nice stereo, most of my music listening happens at my desk at work.
If you're in the same situation, investing in a good pair of headphones should be your priority, but beyond that I recommend getting a DAC (Digital Analog Converter.)
I reviewed AudioQuest's Dragonfly Black last August, and it hasn't left my computer since.
Every digital audio device has a DAC inside; it's what turns files on your phone or computer into sounds you can hear. The reason I recommend and continue to use a dedicated DAC is straightforward: It makes my music sound better.
There are lots of dubious audiophile tips and tricks to improving audio quality, and some people will never be satisfied, but using AudioQuest's Dragonfly Black has made a difference to my ears.
It's not a "night and day" difference like the one you'd notice when stepping up to a great pair of headphones, but it's there. Instead, the DragonFly Black has helped me discover nuances in some of my favorite songs that I'd never heard before. As I said in my original review, I only appreciated the difference after getting used to the way music sounded through the DragonFly Black and then going back to my MacBook Air's headphone jack.
Most audio gear is big, bulky, and expensive, which is why I tend not to recommend it to most people. I've had great experiences using Apogee's Duet II and Nu-Force's headphone amps in the past, but they require a serious monetary investment.
The DragonFly Black looks like a flash drive. You plug your headphones into its one port, and that's it.
There's something to be said about simple, subtle audio gear, and hopefully other companies will begin to offer similar products. You can even use this DAC with your iPhone or Android phone with the right adapters, which is great news for audiophiles who travel often.
As it stands now, I've spent almost a year using AudioQuest's DragonFly Black and I don't plan on stopping. Anyone who enjoys music and wants to make the most out of listening to it at their desk should seriously consider trying one for themselves.
AudioQuest DragonFly Black USB DAC, $98.75, available at Amazon
Brandt Ranj Brandt is a tech reporter for Business Insider. He previously worked as an associate editor for ReadRetro.com. He graduated with a degree in journalism from Le Moyne College in 2013. Read more Read lessYou can purchase logo and accolade licensing to this story here.
Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at reviews@businessinsider.com.
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