Fosi Audio DS2 Portable DAC & Amp Review

[Bleib]

At least on the Moondrop Dawn Pro you can turn off the LED completely through an app.

 

[capslock]

Wasn't there something with the CS43131 doing some gain switching on its own and hence "cheating" on the DR test? Isn't there anything in Amir's test suite that would pick this up?

 

[ObjectiveSubjectivist]

At least on the Moondrop Dawn Pro you can turn off the LED completely through an app.

That's true I have both.

With Fosi the led is not a problem, it's much duller than one in moondrop, even at night it's mild.

 

[Bleib]

That's true I have both.

Wirh Fosi the led is not a problem, it's much duller than one in moondrop, even at night it's mild.

Ah that's good. I think they offer very similar performance so people should look into both if they're interested.

 

[ObjectiveSubjectivist]

Ah that's good. I think they offer very similar performance so people should look into both if they're interested.

I'll write some impressions in a day or two comparing Dawn Pro with Fosi

 

[staticV3]

I think they offer very similar performance so people should look into both if they're interested.

And Tanchjim Space and Sonata BHD and Truthear Shio and Blon V1 and Dunu DTC480 and iBasso DC04 Pro and...

Well, you get the gist: Everyone and their mother is making a cs43131 3.5+4.4mm dongle DAC

 

[johny_2000]

Everyone and their mother is making a cs43131 3.5+4.4mm dongle DAC

Probably with the same reference (OEM) design.

 

[Bleib]

And Tanchjim Space and Sonata BHD and Truthear Shio and Blon V1 and Dunu DTC480 and iBasso DC04 Pro and...

Well, you get the gist: Everyone and their mother is making a cs43131 3.5+4.4mm dongle DAC

And that's a good thing, it's incredible value. I even bought the Moondrop (which is the cheapest @ shenzhenaudio?) although I haven't even used it yet

 

[doc2c]

Anyone know if this has mic pass through ?

 

[GeekyBastard]

Reserved for @AdamG to kindly post the specs.

Manufacturer Specifications:

View attachment 393004

Hmmm... Strange, Fosi Audio said it can output 510mW using balanced output under 32Ω load, but that's seems to be impossible from the test above, possible misleading specs?
@Fosi Audio Any clarification? Or did I read the test results wrong lol

 

[GeekyBastard]

Anyone know if this has mic pass through ?

No, it doesn't support mic nor in-line button control.

 

[staticV3]

Hmmm... Strange, Fosi Audio said it can output 510mW using balanced output under 32Ω load, but that's seems to be impossible from the test above, possible misleading specs?
@Fosi Audio Any clarification? Or did I read the test results wrong lol
View attachment 393448View attachment 393449View attachment 393450

510mW combined (L+R) seems at least plausible

 

[carsknivesbeer]

It “could” work if you use an apple certified OTG audio pass through cable or use the apple camera adapter dongle due to how apple deal with audio through the lightning port, but as your battery discharges or you increase the volume it may reach a level that can not output enough current to supply the DS2 with a suitable signal which will lead to audible artefacts then eventually no signal to iem’s/headphones. If this happens you can unplug the device and plug back in, this “usually” works fine.

DDhifi Apple certified OTG cable here but its pricey, you may be better off buying something such as as this with lightning connector for 3.5mm jacks or this one if you have 4.4mm balanced jacks , there are cheaper options available on the ddhifi page

Or check out Audio Masterclass page below as he goes through it as well.

Thank you for the video. It's does not seem like it is an all-one-one solution I was looking for. Still looks like a good product and Fosi has Lightning to C adapter that might be supported in the future.

 

[GeekyBastard]

510mW combined (L+R) seems at least plausible

Yes, I've considered that, but that's still quite far from what the company promised, 255mW*2 vs 170-ish mW*2, although the test used 33Ω load instead of 32Ω, I don't think the result would be changed that far from the specs.

 

[staticV3]

Yes, I've considered that, but that's still quite far from what the company promised, 255mW*2 vs 170-ish mW*2

Keep in mind that Amir specs output power "at the knee", whereas the rest of the industry typically specify power at 1% THD.

255mW per channel at 32Ω, 1% THD is plausible for the DS2.

 

[capt.s]

Volume control observation - I just received it and at first I thought the volume control wasn't working (it mentions in the manual in some cases it doesn't) so I was using the phone volume control. Then I noticed if you repeatedly press the down vol button (press and hold doesn't work) the volume does go down. It must default to max. So, I turned the phone up to max and had full volume control from the dongle. Question: With digital volume, I am correct in thinking you should have the source at max and control the volume downstream to realize the max headroom? I wonder if @amirm measured it at max?

 

[mc.god]

Hmmm... Strange, Fosi Audio said it can output 510mW using balanced output under 32Ω load, but that's seems to be impossible from the test above, possible misleading specs?
@Fosi Audio Any clarification? Or did I read the test results wrong lol
View attachment 393448View attachment 393449View attachment 393450

There's no way a vanilla dual 43131 implementation can output that numbers at 32ohm load, it would be possible only with additional output op-amps.
From Amir measurements it seems not the case, power graphs appear on par with other vanilla dongles (just a bit better to be honest), and it doesn't go over 300 mW even at -20 db sinad, so manufacturer specs seems more likely to be aggregate L+R (even though they specify 2x).

 

[GeekyBastard]

Keep in mind that Amir specs output power "at the knee", whereas the rest of the industry typically specify power at 1% THD.

255mW per channel at 32Ω, 1% THD is plausible for the DS2.

That might be it, but from the test result it seems that the number doesn't go much over 172mW, still baffles me hmmm

 

[Dennis_FL]

Only $41 + tax on Aliexpress with free shipping.

 

[staticV3]

That might be it, but from the test result it seems that the number doesn't go much over 172mW, still baffles me hmmm

Looks like ~220mW at 1% with a suboptimal measurement setup:


I can totally see 255mW being possible with properly setup ASIO drivers.