Fosi Audio DS2 Portable DAC & Amp Review

[alexanderino]

You'll need to set up the plugin correctly, maybe change the settings to this and test again?

Aha! This is the first foobar2000 DSP component I've encountered that doesn't have an ellipsis (three dots) beside its name to indicate it is configurable:

Having set it up as per your screenshot, skipping to the next track in a gapless album still adds a bit of silence at the start, breaking continuity. This is true even in non-exclusive modes.

Do I really have to buy a DAC/Amp for a few hundred Euros in order to get the desired behavior?

Have you considered the SMSL C100? No headphone amp, but it works flawlessly with the latest firmware and should be under EUR 150.

 

[GeekyBastard]

Having set it up as per your screenshot, skipping to the next track in a gapless album still adds a bit of silence at the start, breaking continuity. This is true even in non-exclusive modes.

Sadly, I don't think there's anyway for a DSP to detect gapless mode was engaged or not, you'll need a software with better implementation than Foobar2000, like JRiver.

(Disable the add silence after manual track change option might mitigate this annoyance.)

 

[alexanderino]

Sadly, I don't think there's anyway for a DSP to detect gapless mode was engaged or not, you'll need a software with better implementation than Foobar2000, like JRiver.

All the other DACs and soundcards I've used do not exhibit this issue with foobar2000's exclusive mode. I suspect the DS2's firmware somehow senses this setting and enables the fade-in on play/pause/seek (tested and confirmed on three PCs). Also happens when connected to my mobile phone.

(Disable the add silence after manual track change option might mitigate this annoyance.)

Nope, didn't work.

 

[GeekyBastard]

I suspect the DS2's firmware somehow senses this setting and enables the fade-in on play/pause/seek (tested and confirmed on three PCs).

It might not even be a firmware thing, Savitech doesn't even have a flag for this feature in their technical documents, so it might be hard-coded in their chips.

(Just checked my old Tempotec Sonata HD Pro, with Savitech's chip inside, it behaves exactly the same as DS2.)

I usually use JRiver, and there's no problem whatsoever, it came with better bit-perfect stream support as well, so I can't say much about Foobar2000's behavior.

 

[Eddie]

I've already tested it in WASAPI exclusive mode, when combined with PreGap plugin with correct settings, it works flawlessly, no fade-in/out at start, no pop, no click, no skip.

Thanks for this information.
I know this workaround by prepending enough samples with digital silence so the user does not notice the issue.
But prepending 1000ms of silence also means: I hit the play button, and after 1 second the track effectively starts.

At the end of the day, it's really just a workaround that should not be necessary in the first place.

I wonder if professional audio devices from e.g. RME behave correctly in this respect.

 

[Eddie]

All the other DACs and soundcards I've used do not exhibit this issue with foobar2000's exclusive mode.

I had the Tanchjim SPACE which behaved the same way. It did not even pass Windows' internal test. I returned it immediately.
I'm curious: what other DACs did you use that did not have this issue?

 

[Eddie]

It might not even be a firmware thing, Savitech doesn't even have a flag for this feature in their technical documents, so it might be hard-coded in their chips.

(Just checked my old Tempotec Sonata HD Pro, with Savitech's chip inside, it behaves exactly the same as DS2.)

Oh no, now I have to throw up...

 

[Eddie]

Perhaps the only solution to my "very special need" (hearing a just started track right from the beginning without fade-in in WASAPI exclusive mode) is to buy an audio device with an XMOS USB bridge. Sad, but true?

 

[Eddie]

So it's fine with gapless playback?

Just for your information:
With gapless playback, the audio stream is only started once. It is only stopped when the playlist ends or you hit the stop bottom.
So the audio stream is not stopped at the end of the current track and restarted for the next one.
That's why the fade-in/trim only applies to the first track in your playlist.

 

[GeekyBastard]

Perhaps the only solution to my "very special need" (hearing a just started track right from the beginning without fade-in in WASAPI exclusive mode) is to buy an audio device with an XMOS USB bridge. Sad, but true?

From my memory, XMOS bridge doesn't have this kind of behavior, at least for several of my old desktop devices, but one of them got physical relay switch in them, you can even hear the click sound inside the device.

 

[Eddie]

From my memory, XMOS bridge doesn't have this kind of behavior, at least for several of my old desktop devices, but one of them got physical relay switch in them, you can even hear the click sound inside the device.

I'm curious: what devices are these?

 

[GeekyBastard]

I'm curious: what devices are these?

DAC/USB Sound Cards, can't remember their models, but I'm 100% sure they use the XU208 chip since there's still driver installer on my computer.

Oh, and the clicking one being from Topping, it's their budget DAC, might be the old D10.

 

[Labjr]

Has anyone tested or confirmed that this will work as a balanced line out and properly isolate ground loops?

 

[Eddie]

DAC/USB Sound Cards, can't remember their models, but I'm 100% sure they use the XU208 chip since there's still driver installer on my computer.

Oh, and the clicking one being from Topping, it's their budget DAC, might be the old D10.

OK, thanks.

 

[Eddie]

I just learned that the new $250 SMSL RAW-MDA1 DAC reviewed by Amir clicks and pops.
Its USB bridge is XMOS XU-316.

DACs can measure so exceptionally well these days, but at least some of them seem to click, pop, fade-in, fade-out or trim.

 

[jutell]

sorry but the Helm Bolt sounds better to me--more alive with better instrument placement.

 

[GeekyBastard]

sorry but the Helm Bolt sounds better to me--more alive with better instrument placement.

Ew, MQA.

Also, that thing hardly outperforms the already tested Hidizs S3 Pro & Audirect/Hilidac Beam 2SE, which both run the same ESS 9281A chip, both perform quite bad by today's standards, way overpriced.

The company doesn't even dare to list any specs on their website, not even the chip they used, very suspicious move.

Helm Audio Bolt Review (Portable DAC & Amp)

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Helm Audio Bolt portable headphone Amp and DAC "dongle" with MQA decoding. It is on kind loan from a member and costs US $99 on Amazon with Prime shipping. The bold design seems a bit more substantial than some others: Not much else to it...

www.audiosciencereview.com

more alive with better instrument placement.

Don't let your imagination run wild.

 

[alexanderino]

I'm curious: what other DACs did you use that did not have this issue?

I think you should create a separate thread for your needs, as this is a product review thread and we should be mindful not to pollute it with off-topic posts.

 

[Darktalon]

How much louder do the HD650's get over the 4.4mm compared to the 3.5mm?

 

[staticV3]

How much louder do the HD650's get over the 4.4mm compared to the 3.5mm?

+50% max perceived loudness (+6dB).