Fosi Audio DS2 Portable DAC & Amp Review

[roladyzator]

You could try the ASIO driver that Fosi recommends for DSD playback on Foobar, might work with ASIO in general, worth a shot:

https://support.fosiaudio.com/hc/en-us/articles/32879080134937-How-to-Set-Up-the-New-DS2-on-Foobar2000

I would try that but I do use the EqualizerAPO with streaming so ASIO isn't an option.

Anyway, it does seem that with a "proven" USB cable, I don't get dropouts at all with my personal laptop and it happens significantly less often with my work PC and my phone.
I'm surprised, since the audio bandwidth is so small, I'd think any cable would fare more or less the same, unlike with HDMI where some just can't do higher resolutions and framerates. Maybe it's just random chance that I'm getting less dropouts now.

 

[danadam]

I'm surprised, since the audio bandwidth is so small, I'd think any cable would fare more or less the same,

With the USB-C cable I got with FiiO K3 it seemed like the K3 was getting disconnected whenever I looked at it wrong.

 

[Eddie]

I’d keep the dongle, and return the windows 10 machine

I don't understand your comment.
Do you mean my desktop computer is the problem?
I can reproduce this behavior on two other Windows 10 computers. That's three computers.
Should I return all three?

 

[Eddie]

I've read through reviews on Amazon and one reviewer complained about getting no sound with one device and sound dropouts with other devices.
Those did go away after changing the cable from the bundled one to a phone charger cable.

With a USB-C cable from my Samsung phone charger, I've only got the issue with sound dropping out once with my phone, but didn't get it later.
With my personal laptop (an old Lenovo T460S from 2016) and a USB-A to USB-C cable from an even older Samsung charger, the issue didn't occur to me even once.
And I did have the wireless mouse+keyboard USB transmitter connected.

Without an oscilloscope I can't really say what's the difference in the electrical signal at the DAC input, but that does give me some hope it would work.

Yes, the included USB-C cable and/or included USB-C to USB-A adapter may be an issue.

Yesterday I tried to wake up the DS2 with the help of two other computers. However, the DS2 still wasn't recognized by Windows on all available USB-A ports. Then I disconnected the adapter and connected the included USB-C cable directly to a USB-C port. The LED went from blue to red and Windows recognized the device.

Apart from that, this device fails Windows' basic audio device test on all three computers. And even with ASIO4ALL there is the same fade-in.

I think this may be valuable information for anyone on this thread who wants to use this device on Windows 10 with WASAPI exclusive mode.
Everyone else: be happy with it.

 

[Zek]

I can reproduce this behavior on two other Windows 10 computers. That's three computers.
Should I return all three?

It is not a problem in computers but in Windows.

 

[Eddie]

Unfortunately I don't have a way to do that. The ASIO emulation adds that noise in this class of device and I need to use it to perform sweeps.

@amirm
There is direct ASIO support from the manufacturer:
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/2251/7913/files/DS2_foobar_installation_20240301.zip?v=1716535882
No need for emulation via ASIO4ALL. Can't you use it?

 

[bt3]

Anyone use DS2 with Google Pixel 8? Any issues? Thank you.

 

[Somafunk]

I don't understand your comment.
Do you mean my desktop computer is the problem?
I can reproduce this behavior on two other Windows 10 computers. That's three computers.
Should I return all three?

I was taking the piss out of windows based PC's taking the huff with stuff plugged in, nothing more.

Have you tried turning it off, then on again?

 

[7jm]

Anyone use DS2 with Google Pixel 8? Any issues? Thank you.

I am using it with a pixel 6 and no issues, however when one adjusts the volume buttons on the fosi there is no visual indication on the phone. I use it with hd650 and wavelet and it sounds great with plenty of power even in SE 3.5mm.

 

[Bruno]

Placed an order at a fair price (thank you @Fosi Audio for the ASR dedicated discount code!) and got it today. Works flawlessly on my Linux box. Pleased to report that this tiny piece of gear has oomph enough to make my DT880 250 Ohm singing and that there's still some spare juice left to blow my eardrums. Pairs very well with my Final E4000 and with the Truthear Crinacle Zero Blue, the sound being very pleasant, clean and natural.
Truth to be said I had to return immediately the first Fosi dongle I got, the DS1, as I got a lemon that couldn't output power enough to drive my IEMs, go figure the Beyer. Regrettably it's not surprising to incur sometimes in a sample made on monday.

 

[kled]

Wow! What a device, might need to pick one of these up.

Shouldn't the Tanchjim Space be the previous #1 at 115 and now replaced by this Fosi DS2 Dongle at 117? I don't see it on these charts

 

[roladyzator]

Regarding the sound dropping out for a moment and fading in again on my phone, I've noticed that allowing the UAPP to resample to 384 kHz "kind-of" resolves the issue.
The drop-outs no longer occur, but every now and then there is a "click". That's not perfect, but much less noticeable than the entire cycle of the unit going silent and gradually restoring the volume.
And this also applies to using the bundled USB-C cable (previously I've noted a reduction in the drop-out behavior when playing at 44.1 kHz with a "proven" USB-C cable).

Clearly the USB receiver implementation is not as good as I would hope for.
I had a similar issues with sound dropping out with a Shanling M0, but there was a software update to it which increased the default buffer size and it resolved the problem for me.

Perhaps the clicks are because the phone can't keep up with resampling to 384 kHz and it would be less of a problem at 192 kHz.
I'll see.

 

[phoenixsong]

Hi @amirm , do you have the sweeps for this driving different impedance loads like what you did for the Tanchjim Space? Also, were the headphones tested with balanced or unbalanced cables for your listening tests here?

 

[bt3]

DS2 arrived yesterday. To say it's compact is an understatement.
I’m playing with Musicolet and Wavelet (autoEQ) on my phone with the DS2.
The included cable has that porous black wrap that tends to bunch-up
(especially where it enters/connects to the connectors).
Cables covered tight with vinyl-type casing, like many OEM audio
manufacturers supply with their gear, tends to last longer. IME.
Quips aside, thanks Fosi for including the cable.

 

[Bongó]

Hello
It's a pleasure to be here for the first time. I'm starting my journey through the world of audio with headphones.
Excuse my English, I'm using the translator. And excuse my ignorance, I'm learning.
I'd like to tell you that I'm using the fosi audio ds2 2024 dac for the first time and it's wonderful. And also today the hifiman he400se headphones arrived. And they make an excellent combination. The fosi amplifies them very well in my opinion both in the single-ended output and in the balanced output.
I'm very happy and it's enough for me for now.
I have a question for fosi audio ds2 users with android using Tidal: The fosi audio ds2 on my windows pc using tidal perfectly identifies the sample rate size, the colors change as the case may be, red, green or yellow. But on my android phone using Tidal the indicator always appears in red even if the sample rate size changes.
The truth is that it sounds very good, it amplifies the 400se perfectly and with excellent quality. But it doesn't change the color. Does the same thing happen to Android users? Am I doing something wrong so maybe it's not working properly?
I hope someone can answer my question.
Best regards from Mexico.

 

[Turambar]

Android is resampling Tidal content, usually to 48 kHz, so you always see the red color in your Fosi.

You can install USB Audio Player Pro, for instance (it's about 10$ or so), and you will see the original rates and the color scheme.

 

[AndiGee]

Unfortunately I have a very shaky connection with the 4.4 mm input of the Fosi. If I insert the plug all the way in, I get no sound. If I pull the plug out again a little, I get the R-channel, the then L-channel - then at some point both. This could indicate that the stop of the socket is not correct.

Can anyone confirm this? It doesn't have to be a fault with the 4.4 socket of the Fosi, it could of course also be due to my XLR adapter. This may be what you get when the plug/adapter is larger than the device to which it is connected to.

Unfortunately, I don't have another device on which I could test my adapter.

 

[Turambar]

Unfortunately I have a very shaky connection with the 4.4 mm input of the Fosi. If I insert the plug all the way in, I get no sound. If I pull the plug out again a little, I get the R-channel, the then L-channel - then at some point both. This could indicate that the stop of the socket is not correct.

Can anyone confirm this? It doesn't have to be a fault with the 4.4 socket of the Fosi, it could of course also be due to my XLR adapter. This may be what you get when the plug/adapter is larger than the device to which it is connected to.

Unfortunately, I don't have another device on which I could test my adapter.

View attachment 396517

In the user manual of the Fosi DS2 it reads:

Q6. What should I pay attention to when using the 4.4 interface balanced mode?
Please do not use any 3.5mm to 4.4mm adapters as this may result in no sound, stuttering etc. during use.
It is recommended to use 4.4mm headphones directly.

Maybe this also apply to your XLR to 4.4mm adapter.

 

[AndiGee]

Please do not use any 3.5mm to 4.4mm adapters as this may result in no sound, stuttering etc. during use.
It is recommended to use 4.4mm headphones directly.

Hi Turambar, thanks for your quick reply. Just name it: RTFM.

Even if it is not entirely clear to me why an adapter should cause such problems, this is probably an incorrect method of use.

 

[BDWoody]

Excuse my English, I'm using the translator. And excuse my ignorance, I'm learning.

Welcome!

Please don't worry about any of that. We are all learning!