Fosi Audio DS2 Portable DAC & Amp Review

[johny_2000]

Apart from output power and some other things, it would be interesting to have a blind test to compare this type of high-performance dongle with, for example, an Apple dongle to see if the difference in sound quality can really be perceived. The disadvantage of these dongles is that they drain the battery too much when used with mobile phones.

Chances are, no one will be able to tell the difference at the same volume level and test gears. Human ears and headphones are far inferior to modern DACs and audio analyzers. But we are tech geeks here, so we like digital results more than real ones.

 

[ShadowBoxer]

It's currently $48 on AliExpress

I paid $20 for two at the release on AliExpress. YMMV

 

[johny_2000]

I paid $20 for two. YMMV

How?

 

[johny_2000]

I will measure it next week with my AP to see how much of that purported THD+N loss quoted in a former post is actually present. I suspect nearly none, based on Amir's measurements. Fosi might use an additional driver to keep the DAC chips more clean at lower impedances...

Please Matthias, publish the results somewhere so that some of the claims are verified and I don't have to do it myself.

 

[Ken Tajalli]

Sadly not working on amazon.com.au:
View attachment 393048

Doesn't work on Amazon UK either.

 

[Esprit]

How do I enter the promotional code on Amazon?
What is the difference between the DS2 and the DS1?
The DS1 on Amazon Italy has a €10 discount coupon.

P.S. On Amazon Italy the discount code for DS2 is not valid.

P.P.S. DS2 69,99€ vs. DS1 79,99€

 

[Narrator]

I knew that something with this performance would come up soon within this price range, and I’m glad to see it did. Have ordered it with the code, thanks.

I hope that it works without any issues.

 

[mc.god]

At start i was shocked by the Impressive sinad measurements, remembering this dongle using an old ESS9018, then discovered this new 2024 revision and all make sense now.
I already own a Sonata BHD that should be very close on every aspect plus its handy manual gain switch and costing less than €40 on aliexpress, and two other single ended CS4313 dongles, so it's a pass for me even with the nice promo discount.
Anyway I'd like to ask to @Fosi Audio what usb bridge chip they used and if this is a "vanilla" CS implementation or there are additional output op-amps (i suppose not).
Thank you @amirm for the review and @Fosi Audio for the promo code.

 

[Mulder]

Chances are, no one will be able to tell the difference at the same volume level and test gears. Human ears and headphones are far inferior to modern DACs and audio analyzers. But we are tech geeks here, so we like digital results more than real ones.

Sure, but it would be interesting if someone dared to design a practical dongle with a mobile phone in mind. Sure, this type of dongle can work well with a laptop, and if you travel a lot they might be good to have, but at home I'd rather choose a desktop DAC. So, are these dongles mostly made for tech geeks, with no real practical or sonic benefits in mind?

 

[ShadowBoxer]

Sure, but it would be interesting if someone dared to design a practical dongle with a mobile phone in mind

Um, they have. The Qudelix 5K has it's own battery. It works great for me in the car (via BT) where it's always plugged into a power source. The PEQ is icing on the cake.

 

[Ken Tajalli]

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

View attachment 392960

Of course there is another way (easier??).
If your phone has wireless charging ability, you could place it on a wireless charger. I have been doing so, for many years with my 5 year old Huawei phone & a wireless powerbank on flights.

 

[Power Pop 23]

As long as the Fosi Audio DS2 has the output power one needs, it appears this dongle could a candidate for connecting (with a USB-A to USB-C adapter) to the USB-A output of a WiiM Amp to provide a jack for wired headphones.

 

[F1308]

59,49 € Amazon.es

15% discount included, offered automatically.

 

[RichT]

Howdy $47.99 with free shipping on Aliexpress, fantastic

 

[Robbo99999]

That is really astounding performance for a device of only $55, and even more so given that it's a portable device! It's almost like you don't need a desktop DAC & amp combo if you've already got this great little $55 device. The only people that would need a proper desktop DAC / amp would be for driving really really difficult to drive headphones, gonna be hardly any falling into that category. Ok, so it doesn't have parametric EQ but you don't always have to have that done in the hardware of the device, you can get that done through software in most situations. It's almost like we don't need to review desktop DACS & amps anymore now this one's been reviewed, lol!

 

[dtaylo1066]

Mind-blowing performance for $55. Clearly some desk top products 10X the price don't meet these measurements.

 

[Ajax]

Chances are, no one will be able to tell the difference at the same volume level and test gears. Human ears and headphones are far inferior to modern DACs and audio analyzers. But we are tech geeks here, so we like digital results more than real ones.

Whose "WE"?

I've been a member here for over 4 years and my experience has been quite the opposite, in that most here are simply interested in getting the best sound possible at the best possible price. The difference between this site and others is that Amir measures the gear so that we can be certain that it performs as per the manufacture's specification i.e. so we have a clear understanding of what we are buying.

My goal as a member is to ensure that the gear I'm interested in buying does not colour the sound (i.e. audibly transparent) and thereby presents music to me as intended by the artist and the mastering engineer, and that it is also good value.

As an engineer and music lover I see that as simple common sense, nothing to do with being a geek.

 

[Robbo99999]

A big thank you to Amir for the review.

The DS2 is one of our products as we make our entry into the high-performance DAC market. The DAC market is filled with many outstanding companies with which everyone is familiar. We will humbly learn from these companies as we continue to grow, and we hope to follow in their footsteps by bringing Fosi Audio’s unique touch to DACs for audiophiles worldwide. In addition to portable DACs, we’ll soon be introducing a desktop DAC as well.

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

link:
https://fosiaudio.com/products/fosi-audio-ds2-2024-dac-headphone-amplifier
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CTHN2QB3
https://www.amazon.de/dp/B0BJ66KJ2B
https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0BJ66KJ2B
https://www.ebay.com/itm/296311456320

Congrats on this product, fantastic value & performance! Not to mention the 20% off! I'm in the UK, I tried buying it on the German Amazon, but they've sold out. I then went to the US Amazon and they still have it, and it let me apply your 20% off promotion, but it does mean paying for postage and import duty, which they estimated a total of £52 to buy the product & have it delivered & including the import duty - that's still good value for such a product, but it's an impulse buy as I don't really need it - I would have bought it for sure at £36 which was the price if I lived in the same country with the promotion applied. I've got a simple Apple Dongle which is good enough for mobile use, but for £36 I would have just bought it. But come on, £52 is totally reasonable for people in the UK if they want to import from Amazon USA, if you need a powerful mobile headphone DAC/amp! (I don't need the power though). Excellent product, well done!

 

[anphex]

How is this achieved? Basically a by-the-letter ideal implementation of the IC? The rolloff filter is insane.

 

[staticV3]

The rolloff filter is insane.

It's the regular fast roll-off filter built into every cs43131 chip: