-
Welcome to ASR. There are many reviews of audio hardware and expert members to help answer your questions. Click here to have your audio equipment measured for free!
Fosi Audio DS2 Portable DAC & Amp Review
- Thread starter amirm
- Start date
More than enough power, I can happily drive my hd 490 to seriously loud or too loud for myself to comfortably listen levels with only 80mw from the 3.5mm on my Qudelix 5k, using a 2.5mm to 4.4mm balanced adapter then using a 4.4mm balanced cable on the hd 490 gives ear splitting levels with the available 240mw of the Qudelix 5k balanced
I'm just as happy using the Jcally JM-20max 3.5mm dongle dac to power them.
Thanks for the response btw I'm confused dosent the fosi ds2 deliver 510mw @32ohm but on some website it says 170mw @32ohm bal?
- Joined
- Aug 3, 2024
- Messages
- 207
- Likes
- 284
there is an ESS based 2023 model and a CS based 2024 model of the Fosi DS2. you’re likely seeing the different specs of those two versions.
This is what amir posted it says 510mw or amazon is clearly specific 510mw@32ohm
Attachments
D
Deleted member 86885
Guest
I was frustrated by this very same thing! FWIW: their user manual in my DS2-2024 edition which is also publicly available on their website:
https://fosiaudio.com/products/fosi-audio-ds2-2024-dac-headphone-amplifier (search for "User Manual" and click the Shopify CDN link to the PDF) states that it's a specification of 170mw @ 32 ohm output.
I saw multiple reviewers, people on YouTube, and others overstated the 2024 edition as 510mw and it's even on some of their marketing material.
Confusingly, some websites will list the dual cs43131chips in the product name and include pictures showing marketing materials for the ES9018K2M chip like shown here (https://fosiaudio.com/pages/dac-headphone-amplifier-ds2).
The same issue with the TempoTec Sonata. Some websites show Sonata BHD with some sources citing it has output 280mw and others citing 360mw max as well as some sources and images showing 0.0004% THD+N and others showing 0.00012%(@32ohm 1kHz 0dB signal ). Their marketing material has conflicting information between their Amazon listing and their official website. I wonder if they're confusing the BHD regular version with the BHD Pro.
It was weird that this happened for two companies on both these same dual DAC chips. Both overstating and then adjusting their marketing material down (as far as their official websites go). I can't understand why this would happen and if this is malicious, stupidity, or just accidental and circumstantial.
Last edited by a moderator:
Yes I'm confused too on some Chinese manual of the fosi ds 2 2024 has a high gain and low gain switching which isn't included in the manual on the website could that be the case? Or is the ds2(2024)giving 170mW in low gain? And 510mW in high gain @32ohm.This almost feels like a scam.
Attachments
D
Deleted member 86885
Guest
So those buttons pressing simultaneously would trigger swapping between a low gain and high gain mode in the Fosi DS2 (2022 edition).
The revamped Fosi DS2 (2024 edition) does not have those buttons.
Because the shell itself (as far as I can tell -- someone can correct me if I'm wrong), is identical between these two products, this is the only way to tell if you buy this in the used market without the packaging and instructions if you have the old implementation with the dual ES9018K2M or the new one with the dual CS43131.
I for example, have nothing occur when I hold those buttons (and can verify thereby it's the 2024 edition and not the 2022 edition).
The smart thing for their team to have done, regardless of the body/chassis of the DAC/AMP not changing would have been to rename it to a label like "Fosi Audio DS2-A" or something to reflect there was a change or a version two of the DS2. Even calling it the Fosi Audio DS2-24.
They instead kept the product name, deprecated the old version, replaced it with the other one with the same appearance but different internals.
I can assure you though, it works really great and is definitely not a scam but I don't appreciate that they and TempoTec have contradictory marketing materials on the release of their product.
I was looking for a portable dac amp that is affordable, can fully power my hd490 pro as I travel a lot I don't want to go through the hassle of carrying a desktop dac amp I was intrigued by the 510mW @32ohm balanced thinking it could also power the hd600/660s2 well now I know the exact power rating was a bit disappointment that this is such a well performing dongle dac/amp I will email fosi to get this matter solved with their marketing.
Thanks for the response this cleared my doubt well.
I have the Moondrop Echo B, A 4.4mm balanced dongle and it can power my HD490 with no issues to unhealthy listening volumes
My Jcally JM20max in 3.5mm can also easily power my HD490 so don’t feel you need to go balanced
Will it provide sufficient power to drive the hd660s2 though?I have the Moondrop Echo B, A 4.4mm balanced dongle and it can power my HD490 with no issues to unhealthy listening volumes
My Jcally JM20max in 3.5mm can also easily power my HD490 so don’t feel you need to go balanced
At 300ohm and 104dB/v sensitivity, a 2V or 14mw output would drive them to 110db so I’d like to think so, it also comes with the ability to use the moondrop peq app (android/pc/chrome browser) which I’ve not used/tried .
I dunno what the actual thing power output is though., weird how they don’t say?.
Hmm well I think il stick to fosi ds1 seems to give 55mW @300ohm bal. load well ideal would be 100mW well ig I was expecting too much from a little dongle good choice would have been fosi sk02 but the thing is it's some times available or not and is 3 times the retail price for some reason where I live for that I could get a fully powerful desktop amp which is not ideal for travel so I have to stick to something portable.
oleg87
Addicted to Fun and Learning
Why on earth do you need 100mW into 300ohms? You only get one pair of ears in life, don't abuse them with 120dB SPL
I have no idea won't be using them at full power but it should be able to deliver bass impact and dynamics as some reviews say. (Sorry I am not expert in dac amp power).
Viper780
Member
- Joined
- Apr 29, 2024
- Messages
- 49
- Likes
- 24
Don't over think it. The DS2 is one of the most powerfull AMP/ DAC below 100 USD and in portable size.
It drives my Dan Clark Audio Aeon2 Noire at very loud levels. This pair is a very hard to drive Headphone (complex Impedanz, low Sensitive)
Also the above mentioned J20 Max (unbalanced / SE) is cheaper and much smaller. Also more than enough.
If balanced is a must (not better or louder but all my Headphones have balanced cable) also the Moondrop Echo B is a cheap and small alternativ.
Yes I understand now thanks it helped a lot .
First of all, just a quick heads-up to those considering getting the DS2 specifically through Aliexpress: I bought one that was advertised as the DS2 DS512 model, which comes with the ESS9018K2M chip, presumably the older version. What arrived was clearly the newer dual CS43131 configuration. It says so in the included user manual, and I've manually confirmed that pressing both volume buttons at the same time does nothing (no separate low/high gain modes). Now, for me this is not really a drawback; however, those specifically wanting one version over another should take the information listed by third-party vendors with a big grain of salt! As for the power output, it is listed in the included manual as SE 128mW (32Ω) / BAL 170mW (32Ω). (The ESS version I thought I bought was advertised as having a balanced output of 510mW, but who knows if that was ever really the case?)
Finally, I have a question that I hope someone here can answer. If the balanced output merely offers 170mW compared to 128mW SE, how much additional headroom are you realistically getting in terms of volume? I’m another 490 Pro owner, and my EQ settings have a preamp gain of -6.8 dB. Will going balanced make much of a difference?
Finally, I have a question that I hope someone here can answer. If the balanced output merely offers 170mW compared to 128mW SE, how much additional headroom are you realistically getting in terms of volume? I’m another 490 Pro owner, and my EQ settings have a preamp gain of -6.8 dB. Will going balanced make much of a difference?
