There is no way the AQ is working as a DAC that way round.
PS: using the “USB Audio Pro” app with the dragonfly attached at the phone end, clearly the Dragonfly is working, the indicator light having turned green. That’ll have to do if that’s the only way around. Sounds great, I’ll just have to put up with the app faff. I would still like to compare it with the 5909 DAC, though…
What are they?
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Bowers and Wilkins ear buds
Very pleased
There are too many YT videos on the No. 5909 for me to figure out which one you mean. What is the name of the hifi store?
A USB-C to 3.5mm adapter will just be a generic, low-quality DAC. You already have the much better AQ DragonFly, so there’s no point.
In rereading the 3rd (last) section that I quoted from FAQ, I’m now thinking that you can use an external DAC with the headphones-off/true-passive mode. It says "In this situation, all electronics; Bluetooth, internal amplification, and DSP are turned off and you are in a true passive mode."
If this is accurate, then there can’t be any internal DAC in play as it’s in a pure analog passive mode. However, to do this properly, it requires the proprietary “passive” 3.5mm to USB-C cable from Mark Levinson. No other cable will do.
You would plug your AQ DF DAC’s USB connector into your phone (the right way around). Then the proprietary ML passive cable’s 3.5mm plug into the DF DAC’s output jack. Then plug the other end of the ML passive cable into the No. 5909’s USB-C connector.
I don’t know how much volume you can attain in true-passive mode with the DF. That depends on the efficiency of the 5909 drivers in true-passive mode, and the power output of the Dragonfly DAC’s amplication stage.
Sorry for the slow reply. I bought a pair last year. They are really rather good. Beautifully made and sound fantastic. I tried. Number of iem’s both wired and wireless that whilst okay never felt good. I haven’t looked another iem since. Used them for long flights and in the office. Best iem’s I have ever (or will) own.
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Ditto 
.
ATB, J
Yeah I take your point about using the wired/passive option not involving the 5909 DAC, silly me. 
Anyway, I’ve managed to get the Dragonfly working the right way around with Qobuz. It was all down to having to toggle the “Qobuz Connect” to the phone! 
The 5909’s also have a “Wired/Active” choice so you can still get ANC and phone calls.
It’s still a bit too quiet for my liking, inherent in the 5909’s apparently, so I’ve installed a booster app.
I’m also thinking of replacing the Xiaomi with a Sony Xperia 10 for LDAC. At the moment, LDAC is just glitchy and unusable but apparently, this is a common problem with all Android phones save for the Xperias because LDAC is a Sony development. They’ve also got a jack port, but I daresay my Dragonfly is a superior DAC. Be interesting to hear the difference though.
Hey ho, on we go.
Result!
Yes, it would be interesting to see what LDAC brings to the party.
I’m still interested in that Youtube video. Which hifi store posted it, so I can find it?
“Review: Mark Levinson No. 5909 Noise Cancelling Headphones”.
Posted by Worldwide Stereo.
I’d post a link, but apparently that’s against the rules.
Got it. There’s a good summary of all the connection modes starting around 14m:20s.
(BTW, I didn’t see him connect the DragonFly in reverse anywhere in the video)
Well sold my violectric amp a while ago, it was nice and has been a great companion for many years. But this is on a different level. Plus running through the vivaldi stack its simply utterly brilliant.
The only problem i can see if my h8000s are holding things back and can see a headphone listing session on the cards in the future.
Not a great picture as it doesn’t live there , as i use this in the other room and it hides down the side off the sofa away from the dogs.
But its quality build, sound, drive, etc, is certainly outstanding.
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Yes i have them and use them with my mojo2 when out and about, well mostly when away in the motorhome or on holiday.
I find them great, fit nicely and sound great. They have great bass, and big sound stage.
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Just sold my V281 also. It was a great amp. But i got the chance of a Mcintosh valve amp and couldn’t resist.
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The v281 is great and what i had as well.
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The current setup. I’ll be moving on to a head amp for indoors listening at some point, but for now, it’s Wow Time again. The sharp-eyed will see an upgrade to the Dragonfly Cobalt. Also, this time I’m attaching it the correct way round. 
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cobalt is very good
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At last! Taken 15 days since I told you but congrats nonetheless!
Enjoy your setup.
Oh, did you? I hadn’t noticed.