Fosi Audio DS2 Portable DAC & Amp Review

[LtMandella]

It is my pleasure to recommend the Fosi Audio DS2 portable DAC and headphone amplifier.
------------

I need another headphone amp like I need a hole in my head, but I had to order based on Amir's glowing review and FOSI's excellent work. I will give it to my son. And the discount code worked on FOSI's shopping cart!

 

[renaudrenaud]

Well I think it's a good way to have an excellent DAC at the office with zero question from anyone.

Does this equipment work with Linux?

 

[mc.god]

Well I think it's a good way to have an excellent DAC at the office with zero question from anyone.

Does this equipment work with Linux?

I have 3 CS43131 dongles all perfectly fine in Linux, the closer one to DS2 is Sonata BHD (dual chip + same usb bridge), working like a charm.

 

[alexanderino]

Power consumption statistics of my Fosi DS2 (2024). Some points to note:

• foobar2000 in exclusive mode and SoX resampler is the source
• Sony MDR-EX15AP headphones were connected; however, it made no noticeable difference! (volume set at -5 dB in foobar2000, 20% in Windows, max in Fosi DS2)

No DAC connected (control):

Idle at 44100 fs:

Idle at 384000 fs:

44100 fs:

48000 fs:

88200 fs:

96000 fs:

176400 fs:

192000 fs:

352800 fs:

384000 fs:

 

[Kuma]

I need another headphone amp like I need a hole in my head, but I had to order based on Amir's glowing review and FOSI's excellent work. I will give it to my son. And the discount code worked on FOSI's shopping cart!

Stupid me, I realized there was a discount code after I ordered it. Still looking forward to receiving yet another audio product. Life is short. Have fun.

 

[ShadowBoxer]

What is an all-one-one solution? What else do you want from such a dongle?

PEQ

 

[nightskyyozora]

What is an all-one-one solution? What else do you want from such a dongle?

A functional iOS app, gain switcher (physical). Some dongle doesn't support iOS app, so cannot control gain or filter (if any).

 

[Kimbrough Xu]

I have several headphones but most notably a Sennheiser 600hd and use mostly my phone or laptop with an apple dongle to drive them.
Anyways I have always been curious about a better dac/amp and looks like this might be it?!
I am about to order one unless anyone else has alternative suggestions for a better price, or tells me there is really no need.

Happy to hear any suggestions or reasons why I should not get this (this may be used in defence for when my wife asks why I bought it)

Haha, ask your wife to buy it for your birthday.

 

[Kimbrough Xu]

A functional iOS app, gain switcher (physical). Some dongle doesn't support iOS app, so cannot control gain or filter (if any).

I dont like adding an additional app to my phone, And since I can control the volume via the two buttons, I dont want a gain switcher too.

But as @ShadowBoxer said, PEQ is a good thing, it is difficult to change EQ via a player app.

​

 

[renaudrenaud]

I have 3 CS43131 dongles all perfectly fine in Linux, the closer one to DS2 is Sonata BHD (dual chip + same usb bridge), working like a charm.

I am not sure it depends on the DAC circuit but more on the USB micro controller. It decodes the USB protocol and then send an i2s signal to the DAC chip. Not sure to be right but yes, for the cost, there is no big risk!

 

[GeekyBastard]

This little dongle drives my HD6XX to ear bleeding level easily, doesn't even need to use the balanced output.

Clean, punchy sound, without even a hint of distortion or noise, better RF resistance than Moondrop Dawn Pro and Tanchijim Space, basically unbeatable at this price range.

(The Aitek Ui801 USB isolator I bought works great as well, eliminated my laptop's ground loop problem completely.)

 

[nightskyyozora]

I dont like adding an additional app to my phone, And since I can control the volume via the two buttons, I dont want a gain switcher too.

But as @ShadowBoxer said, PEQ is a good thing, it is difficult to change EQ via a player app.

​

PEQ through companion app possible right? Gain switch might be useful for those claimed 500mw peak on balanced. CMIIW

 

[GeekyBastard]

Found a newer driver for this Savitech bridge chip, although the zip file's name stated it's older, but it's actually a newer driver bundle than the Fosi Audio provided one.

(Bravo-HD Software Package v3.13.0.43 (HS,ASIO,iAP) vs Bravo-HD Software Package v3.13.0.55 (HS,ASIO,iAP))

And the actual driver files inside [Program Files (x86)/Savitech/BRAVO-HD] folder were newer as well. (2023-05 vs 2023-09)

From what I've tested, ASIO seems to be more stable with the newer driver, more to test.

You'll need to uninstall the current version of driver first to install the newer one, otherwise the installer will refuse to run. (Saying it's an older version, but it's actually not.)

 

[Herbert]

Still not available @amazon Germany. No discount possible @ebay Germany.

 

[Ajax]

I received my Fosi DS2 tonight - paid AUS$99 = US$67 including shipping to my home in Australia. I know this is more than others have paid, however, we are use to paying a premium in AUS due to the distance etc.

Listening to Robert Plant with Alison Krauss via Tidal on a MACBOOK AIR connected with the supplied USB C cable to a pair of Sennheiser PX 100 headphones .... very old and inexpensive headphones.

Set up was very easy and basically plug and play (less than 30 seconds), sounds great with plenty of volume. Happy Chappy.

Highly recommended.

 

[fotoalan]

A big thank you to Amir for the review.

The DS2 is one of our products as we make our entry into the high-performance DAC market. The DAC market is filled with many outstanding companies with which everyone is familiar. We will humbly learn from these companies as we continue to grow, and we hope to follow in their footsteps by bringing Fosi Audio’s unique touch to DACs for audiophiles worldwide. In addition to portable DACs, we’ll soon be introducing a desktop DAC as well.

To show our appreciation for the support from ASR members, we’re offering a special discount code for the DS2. You can use this code to get 20% off your DS2 purchase!
ASRDS220

link:
https://fosiaudio.com/products/fosi-audio-ds2-2024-dac-headphone-amplifier
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CTHN2QB3
https://www.amazon.de/dp/B0BJ66KJ2B
https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0BJ66KJ2B
https://www.ebay.com/itm/296311456320

Thank you for this - as well as for making such an excellent product in the first place!

The amazon.de link is to a product described as "Fosi Audio DS1". Is it actually the same thing, or an older version?

 

[ObjectiveSubjectivist]

The amazon.de link is to a product described as "Fosi Audio DS1". Is it actually the same thing, or an older version?

It's different product.

 

[Kimbrough Xu]

PEQ through companion app possible right? Gain switch might be useful for those claimed 500mw peak on balanced. CMIIW

You mean dont need so much power?

 

[mc.god]

Found a newer driver for this Savitech bridge chip, although the zip file's name stated it's older, but it's actually a newer driver bundle than the Fosi Audio provided one.

(Bravo-HD Software Package v3.13.0.43 (HS,ASIO,iAP) vs Bravo-HD Software Package v3.13.0.55 (HS,ASIO,iAP))

And the actual driver files inside [Program Files (x86)/Savitech/BRAVO-HD] folder were newer as well. (2023-05 vs 2023-09)

From what I've tested, ASIO seems to be more stable with the newer driver, more to test.

You'll need to uninstall the current version of driver first to install the newer one, otherwise the installer will refuse to run. (Saying it's an older version, but it's actually not.)

Yes I found I already had this newer subversion, installed when tryng drivers for the Jcally JM20, working fine also with Sonata BHD.

 

[mc.god]

I am not sure it depends on the DAC circuit but more on the USB micro controller. It decodes the USB protocol and then send an i2s signal to the DAC chip. Not sure to be right but yes, for the cost, there is no big risk!

That's why i mentioned Sonata BHD (also Jcally JM20) that uses the same Savitech usb bridge as DS2, no issues out of the box on Linux.