Fosi Audio DS2 Portable DAC & Amp Review

[multiformous]

How important is knowing output impedance? (This was tested for the Meizu Pro but subsequently I don't usually see this testes anymore).

I think it's important if you have an IEM/headphone with a non-flat impedance curve. But it's probably safe to assume many of these dongles will have low Z-out -- I'd be more worried about audio interfaces and PC motherboard outputs.

 

[tccalvin]

How important is knowing output impedance? (This was tested for the Meizu Pro but subsequently I don't usually see this test anymore).

Some headphones (not all) change their frequency response when the output impedance of an amp is too high.

The first thing you can do is check online to see if your headphones are sensitive to impedance changes. If they aren’t, then you don’t need to worry about checking an amp's impedance measurements.

If an amp's output impedance numbers aren’t available, you can look for the amp’s impedance sweep measurement. This is usually labeled "THD+N Ratio (dB) vs Measured Level (Vrms)" or something similar.

If the descending lines (representing load impedances) overlap, it means the output impedance is comfortably low. If they are far apart, it means the output impedance is high.

 

[gabo4au]

Just received my DS2, used the discount code from here, thanks very much for that!

I have a Motorola Android phone that has a headphone jack, yes one of the few remaining! But this thing sounds way better than the built in jack!! Very impressed and pleased.

Thanks to ASR for the great review and recommendation, I would have never purchased this without finding it here!!

 

[stefanovesa]

Hello,
just received my DS2.

Tested with MacOS Sequoia and JRiver player. Exclusive Mode/Integer Mode both enabled in software settings Player volume disabled. Using H650 with pentaconn connector/balanced cable.
All ok from 24 bit 44.1 to 352 kHz PCM.
DSD 64 DoP OK. DSD 256 DoP KO. Not tested with DSD 128 (I have no tracks to test). With DSD 256 the player says that the format is not supported. Firmware bug?

Stefano

 

[mc.god]

Hello,
just received my DS2.

Tested with MacOS Sequoia and JRiver player. Exclusive Mode/Integer Mode both enabled in software settings Player volume disabled. Using H650 with pentaconn connector/balanced cable.
All ok from 24 bit 44.1 to 352 kHz PCM.
DSD 64 DoP OK. DSD 256 DoP KO. Not tested with DSD 128 (I have no tracks to test). With DSD 256 the player says that the format is not supported. Firmware bug?

Stefano

No, all is correct, DSD256 is supported only in NATIVE mode. In DoP mode DSD is encapsulated into a PCM stream doubling the data rate needed, so:
DSD64 Native 88 KHz -> DSD64 DoP 176 KHz
DSD128 Native 176 KHz -> DSD128 DoP 352 KHz
DSD256 Native 352 KHz -> DSD256 DoP 705 KHz

Since CS43131 and Savitech usb bridge support max 384 KHz PCM, max DoP accepted stream is DSD128.

 

[stefanovesa]

No, all is correct, DSD256 is supported only in NATIVE mode. In DoP mode DSD is encapsulated into a PCM stream doubling the data rate needed, so:
DSD64 Native 88 KHz -> DSD64 DoP 176 KHz
DSD128 Native 176 KHz -> DSD128 DoP 352 KHz
DSD256 Native 352 KHz -> DSD256 DoP 705 KHz

Since CS43131 and Savitech usb bridge support max 384 KHz PCM, max DoP accepted stream is DSD128.

Understood. Thanks

 

[dlovesmusic]

Hello everyone, I just ordered the DS2 today. Silly question, it has both 3.5mm and 4.4mm outputs, can both be used at the same time to drive 2 pairs of IEMs?

Cheers

 

[Somafunk]

Hello everyone, I just ordered the DS2 today. Silly question, it has both 3.5mm and 4.4mm outputs, can both be used at the same time to drive 2 pairs of IEMs?

Cheers

No

 

[melowman]

I can recommend this one: https://www.meenova.com/products/us...t-lt1-qudelix-5k-hiby-fc3-5-fd3-hidizs-s9-pro

I received one first cable and it had problems while moving the cable (the sound was cut). They sent me another one and this one seems to work fine this time.

FWIW, the cable is rather stiff, I would have preferred a more supple one, but it does the job. And it’s supposed to be durable (?? we’ll see)

 

[DSJR]

Fosi dropped the ball and should simply state the device is not compatible with Windows, because it isn't. It does not exhibit any traits of Windows compatibility in its current form. A friend of mine bought one on my recommendation and his is unusable because he only uses Windows. I've offered to buy it from him to offset his loss - we live in a country where customer support is poor to non-existent, and the manufacturer has stopped replying here, one of their prime target markets. It is much worse for us but it's a lesson learnt, never trust these small manufacturers. I made the same mistake with the DX3 Pro, which was also a lemon and a half. Had much better luck with Gustard, and I'm beginning to think they're the exception.

My DS2 works perfectly from a 3m USB 3 - USB C cable, using a several years old mobo running Windows 10 Pro 64 bit. Plugged it in, Windows recognised it and off I went. Had the DS2 a few months now and no issues at all so far. I use it as a small dac for the second rig, via a half metre 3.5 - RCA cable and I'm delighted with it. It doesn't get over room temperature as used this way and being hidden 'down the back,' the red led doesn't bother me at all.

 

[nscrivener]

Indistinguishable as long as it was loud enough for you.

My Fosi DS2 arrived today, less than two weeks from China to New Zealand. I am very impressed, it drives my HD600s with authority even on the non balanced output. Works fine on Ropieee (running on Pi Zero 2W) and my iPhone. I have noticed the fade in issue others have described a couple of times but this is extremely minor in my view.

 

[Sound86]

Received my DS2 from Ali as well today. Despite the reported issues, the price was just too good to resist.
Sound quality seems stellar, but I have regular cutouts in UAPP. Might be a configuration issue, will have to do further testing.

 

[Labjr]

Received my DS2 from Ali as well today. Despite the reported issues, the price was just too good to resist.
Sound quality seems stellar, but I have regular cutouts in UAPP. Might be a configuration issue, will have to do further testing.

I briefly tried DS2 on an old Samsung phone with Android 6 and FiiO Music App which is free. It seemed to work well.

 

[JimmyBuckets]

maybe it has been mentioned, but at least for me, I was able to get Qobuz and the DS2 to work well and change the LED on the DS2 to corresponding color of Qobuz's sample rate using the BRAVO HD driver on Fosi's site. Had to dig for it but seems to be working currently with Windows.

 

[Noricha]

This seems to match what I'm looking for. (with an HD599)
Is it easily recognized by Equalizer APO? (I already had some problems with an old Asus Xonar ST)

 

[staticV3]

This seems to match what I'm looking for. (with an HD599)
Is it easily recognized by Equalizer APO? (I already had some problems with an old Asus Xonar ST)

IME, EQApo is rock solid when used with USB devices of any kind.

 

[Drew456]

so, if you only use this dac with an android phone, along with UAPP or Poweramp (PCM only), you are unlikely to have the Windows issues discussed here? Just checking -)

 

[roladyzator]

so, if you only use this dac with an android phone, along with UAPP or Poweramp (PCM only), you are unlikely to have the Windows issues discussed here? Just checking -)

Sadly not.
Actually, you'll have less issues in regular audio players on Android, unless you disable UAPP's USB driver in the UAPP.
Every time you manually change tracks or even skip to a different part of the current song, you get the volume ramp-up again, because UAPP seems to be re-starting playback each time.

This is something you will always get with Fosi DS2, at least unless they somehow fix it via firmware update.

In addition to that, I have the "sound-drops-then-fades-back-up" issue randomly on my Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Lite (a 2019 phone). I didn't try with another phone.

Using it in DirectSound or WASAPI shared more on Windows also gives me random results.
I have no issues with my personal 2016 Lenovo Thinkpad T460S notebook.
I have the dropouts on my work-issued 2022 Lenovo Thinkpad L14 Gen 2, more often than on the phone.

I don't know why this happens. On my phone, it doesn't seem to be related to what I'm doing. I'm trying things like powersaving mode, disabling Bluetooth, playing with USB tweaks in UAPP, keeping screen on or off - doesn't seem to matter.

On my work laptop it seems to happen more often when opening various username / password dialogs, maybe the always-on kernel-mode Cynet security suite does something then. But, it also happen when I'm doing nothing on the PC. Windows Event Viewer doesn't show anything remotely related to audio when this happens.

Of course, there is never a moment when your PC / phone does nothing in the background.

EDIT: With other devices like Samsung USB-C dongle and Creative GC7 USB soundcard, there are no issues like this on any of my devices.

 

[JimmyBuckets]

so, if you only use this dac with an android phone, along with UAPP or Poweramp (PCM only), you are unlikely to have the Windows issues discussed here? Just checking -)

I have no issues running USB Audio Pro Player app using my Android phone.

 

[Bernard23]

Damn, I missed this review entirely! Wondering if buying the Fiio KA17 was the right decision...(though it does have a PEQ, and works flawlessly with UAPP / Android)