Fosi Audio DS2 Portable DAC & Amp Review

[AdrianusG]

Absolutely! We’re all on board with the idea that VR and AI are fast-tracking us toward that wild future. At Fosi Audio, we’re doing our best to keep up, bringing some innovations to the audio world—of course, staying true to our high-value roots. Just recently, we launched a four-channel amp HT4S, and some of our users have already hooked up two of the channels to bass shakers for haptic tactile. Sure, it’s not exactly cutting-edge sci-fi, but hey, we’re doing what we can to make that immersive experience a little more... 'shaking'!

Hi, im interested,

how to apply this discount code?

 

[atothek]

Just ordered via amazon.de - code worked!
Thanks a lot.

 

[AdrianusG]

Just ordered via amazon.de - code worked!
Thanks a lot.

Hi ,

how to input/apply this code with the order?

 

[atothek]

Push "Eine Geschenkkarte, ... einen Aktionscode verwenden" > in the next step you can enter the code. This worked.

 

[SaltyCDogg]

Is it safe to connect this from source -> fosi audio DS2 -> fosi V3 stereo?

Can this dongle work as a desktop DAC, i.e. can it be connected to a speaker amplifier or active speakers and what would the result be?

Yes, it's just the same as when we used to have headphone jacks on phones, only less distortion and more voltage.

 

[HD800Fan]

Now make one with a glass window to see the pretty electronics and I'll buy it

 

[Vict0r]

Now make one with a glass window to see the pretty electronics and I'll buy it

Don't forget RGB and racing stripes.

 

[AdrianusG]

View attachment 393016

Push "Eine Geschenkkarte, ... einen Aktionscode verwenden" > in the next step you can enter the code. This worked.

Danke schon order placed, and code worked.

 

[Kimbrough Xu]

How would that work with 27 Ohm,40 year old orthodynamics for desktop use?
Low noise is my only demand,distortion not so much.

(or with LCD-X,but that's rare,they are in another room)

Also,how it would do with 1.5 kOhm?

Thanks Amir!

1500Ohm? Which headphone?

 

[Kimbrough Xu]

Can this dongle work as a desktop DAC, i.e. can it be connected to a speaker amplifier or active speakers and what would the result be?

Why not? You may only need a 3.5mm to RCA cable.

 

[Matias]

While it's a great 4.4mm dual CS43131 dongle, it is yet another dongle similar to what we have already seen from Tanchjim Space and Moondrop Dawn Pro, plus dozens of others on the market. So I don't know what is so exciting about this Fosi one.

The CS43131 chip is already a DAC + integrated HP amp so there is not much more to differentiate between them performance wise.

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[AudioSceptic]

This is a review, detailed measurements and listening tests of Fosi Audio DS2 portable DAC and balanced headphone amplifier. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $55.
View attachment 392931
Well, it looks like a dongle. The LED seems to indicate the sample rates. What I like is inclusion of 4.4mm balanced drive and hard button volume controls:

View attachment 392932

Let's measure it and see where it stands.

Fosi Audio DS2 Measurements
Let's start with the balanced output:
View attachment 392933
Wow! I did not expect this level of performance! We are talking good desktop class DAC output here with SINAD that tops the chart of all portable devices I have ever tested:

View attachment 392934

Unbalanced output is naturally limited to 2 volts:
View attachment 392935
Even this performance is great with highest level distortion at -120 dB (below threshold of hearing).

Good news doesn't stop there. Check out the dynamic range:
View attachment 392936

Once again it competes with some of the best desktop headphone amps:
View attachment 392937

The quietness manifests itself even in the filter test:

View attachment 392938

Low distortion shows up well in multitone test:
View attachment 392939

Jitter is in the same class:
View attachment 392940

Above tests were static so I could drive the unit properly. For sweeps, my analyzer output gets distorted through the driver translation layer so please ignore the noise level in these power tests:
View attachment 392941

View attachment 392942

View attachment 392943
View attachment 392944

As we see, power output is excellent as well.

I noted on the first graph the idle power consumption being around 0.4 watts (at 5 volts). When playing music, it shoots up to 1.7 watts or so.

Fosi Audio DS2 Listening Tests
I started with the Sennheiser HD650 high impedance headphone. The DS2 drove it with no difficultly, producing excellent fidelity and bass impact. Higher power desktop amps push it a notch higher but what was there was plenty enough with some headroom left to play with. I then plugged in my difficult to drive Dan Clark E3 headphone and was very surprised when the DS2 drove it with no hint of distortion. It was perfectly usable on the DS2 -- something I rarely say for a portable product.

Conclusions
The Fosi DS2 blows away the objective barriers for a portable DAC and headphone amplifier, producing desktop class noise and distortion. Hard to imagine this little device doing that but it clearly is, and doing it at such a reasonable cost! It really redefines the category. Usability is excellent with hard button volume controls. Really, don't know what else to say other than be mindful of power consumption which shoots up to 1.7 watts when playing loud.

If you are short of space, the DS2 can easily play the role of a desktop DAC.

It is my pleasure to recommend the Fosi Audio DS2 portable DAC and headphone amplifier.
------------
As always, questions, comments, recommendations, etc. are welcome.

Any donations are much appreciated using: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-support-audio-science-review.8150/

Almost perfect! (Filter should reach max attenuation at 22k, not 24.)

 

[Sokel]

1500Ohm? Which headphone?

No,no headphone,just a classical interface line-in.I want to test it as a mini generator.

 

[Corvuscorone]

I have this. When I'm using my phone with a dongle DAC, this keeps the phone battery from running down.

View attachment 392960

I use this dongle.

 

[alexanderino]

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

Sadly not working on amazon.com.au:

 

[F1308]

So I plug this tiny marvel to the USB C port of
my 3.5mmless smartphone and then any of my Zeros (have them all, but of course) to it...?

Yupiiii.

 

[Ken Tajalli]

Wow!
At $55? Tanchjim better watch out!
I am waiting for delivery of of an E1DA 9039s, otherwise I would have surely ordered one of these.
Still, it is going to be very hard to beat the 9039s's 700mW at 16ohm, per channel.
Dongle wars are upon us!
Thanx Amir, Thanx Fido. Fosi.

 

[johny_2000]

Are you aware that there is PEQ in the FiiO JA11 dongle which costs ~$10-15 USD? (Doesn't sound like it).

It's currently $48 on AliExpress with free shipping, but the customer service is certainly lower.

 

[johny_2000]

While it's a great 4.4mm dual CS43131 dongle, it is yet another dongle similar to what we have already seen from Tanchjim Space and Moondrop Dawn Pro, plus dozens of others on the market. So I don't know what is so exciting about this Fosi one

That's exactly what I think. They all basically use the same (reference/OEM?) design, have the same specs/dimensions, and are priced similarly.

 

[ShadowBoxer]

also the PEQ also works in windows but it runs thru a website..

Not exclusively. I use the app, not the web page.

Nowhere did I say that the JA11 was equal in all aspects. Just rebutting the fact that the low price should not make the inclusion of that feature impossible.