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Fosi Audio SK02 DAC & HP Amp Review

Rate this DAC & HP Amp: (votes are based on data in review and not necessarily personal ownership)

  • 1. Poor (headless panther)

    Votes: 6 2.8%
  • 2. Not terrible (postman panther)

    Votes: 33 15.1%
  • 3. Fine (happy panther)

    Votes: 124 56.9%
  • 4. Great (golfing panther)

    Votes: 55 25.2%

  • Total voters
    218
It just isn't possible.
Like no mini PC has a real amplifier. Maybe you don't like bass at all or even mid range.
So your headphone out and it's complete lack of power makes the headphone sound really bright and you like bright.
This is my best educated guess as to how you came to this conclusion.
 
It just isn't possible.
Like no mini PC has a real amplifier. Maybe you don't like bass at all or even mid range.
So your headphone out and it's complete lack of power makes the headphone sound really bright and you like bright.
This is my best educated guess as to how you came to this conclusion.
I like bass and my built-in sound card reproduces it very well. There is punch and there is even sub-bass. The mids are also very pleasant, neutral and detailed, sounding better than the DX3 Pro+. The high frequencies are very pleasant and decay smoothly.
 
There is a difference between users perception of sound quality and actually sound quality.
 
Personal tastes and preferences aside, what is the approximate level of this device? Simpler than Topping DX3 Pro+?
 
SOME onboard sound, certainly not all and usually more recently, use ESS DACs and pretty good opamps. The headphone out, often thru the front panel out in a full-size PC, is where you'll find the special sauce. Jimster, I'm well aware of the technical details of what you're saying and why, but every once in a while onboard is pretty good, and maybe even better than, say, an older cheap Schiit. You'll usually find this on higher-end motherboards, for sure, like ROG Crosshair and Maximus etc, but it exists, so let's not rule it out as a 100% generalization.

Now, with that said, my Fosi SK02 is sitting right beside an ROG Crosshair VIII that has ESS ES9023P. There's not much audible difference, and I won't go much into specifics here unless asked, but for $80 the desktop convenience of the SK02 is very nice. 1, I like to swap out PC parts frequently. This mobo may not be here next year. 2, due to nibbling pets, I can't leave my headphones out, so frequent plugging is even easier than PC front panel. 3, big ol volume control right there, and it's multi-function as well. 4, I'm using a short Type C-C USB4 cable to connect the Fosi, but a Type A-C USB2 would be fine, as would optical although you'd still have to power it via its USB connector. So, it's versatile.

Now the quick and dirty subjective, although it's quite discernible to me, so I'd love to get another set of ears on it soon. Device EQ's flat, enhancements off, Windows EQ flat, enhancements explicitly disabled - onboard was punchier down low, and Fosi is punchier in the mids-to-upper, mostly mids. In the end here, the power supply for both is the same - the PC's EVGA P2 Platinum. By punchy, I don't mean sound quality, just audible hump.
 
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SOME onboard sound, certainly not all and usually more recently, use ESS DACs and pretty good opamps. The headphone out, often thru the front panel out in a full-size PC, is where you'll find the special sauce. Jimster, I'm well aware of the technical details of what you're saying and why, but every once in a while onboard is pretty good, and maybe even better than, say, an older cheap Schiit. You'll usually find this on higher-end motherboards, for sure, like ROG Crosshair and Maximus etc, but it exists, so let's not rule it out as a 100% generalization.

Now, with that said, my Fosi SK02 is sitting right beside an ROG Crosshair VIII that has ESS ES9023P. There's not much audible difference, and I won't go much into specifics here unless asked, but for $80 the desktop convenience of the SK02 is very nice. 1, I like to swap out PC parts frequently. This mobo may not be here next year. 2, due to nibbling pets, I can't leave my headphones out, so frequent plugging is even easier than PC front panel. 3, big ol volume control right there, and it's multi-function as well. 4, I'm using a short Type C-C USB4 cable to connect the Fosi, but a Type A-C USB2 would be fine, as would optical although you'd still have to power it via its USB connector. So, it's versatile.

Now the quick and dirty subjective, although it's quite discernible to me, so I'd love to get another set of ears on it soon. Device EQ's flat, enhancements off, Windows EQ flat, enhancements explicitly disabled - onboard was punchier down low, and Fosi is punchier in the mids-to-upper, mostly mids. In the end here, the power supply for both is the same - the PC's EVGA P2 Platinum. By punchy, I don't mean sound quality, just audible hump.
Hello, thank you for your feedback. We have now resolved the issue of audible hump. Additionally, our R&D team is still investigating and working on a solution for the ultrasonic attenuation problem.
 
We are deeply grateful to Amir for the comprehensive measurements, as well as for the encouragement towards us. We'll keep responsive to user input and make efforts to bring more nice audio gear to audiophiles. :D

And here is a dedicated 15% discount promo code for all ASR members: FASKASR15
I cannot get that promo code to work. Tried Fosiaudio.com, Amazon (USA). Is it no longer offered to ASR members at a discount? Member user name: txw
 
I cannot get that promo code to work. Tried Fosiaudio.com, Amazon (USA). Is it no longer offered to ASR members at a discount? Member user name: txw
It may be too late to use. Or you can have a private chat with them to give some product suggestions. Maybe they will have the chance to give a separate discount. I have done it before.
 
Hello, thank you for your feedback. We have now resolved the issue of audible hump. Additionally, our R&D team is still investigating and working on a solution for the ultrasonic attenuation problem.
@Fosi Audio

Can you post meaurements showing lessening of the ESS hump and better ultrasonic filter performance?

Can existing owners get the improvements?

Thanks
 
Sad not to get the info on how the fix is done. Would have loved to take advantage of the Prime Day offer.
 
If you have Windows 10, 11, please take a screenshot of the device manager. In theory, if the driver for the device is not installed, there should be an unrecognized device in the device manager. I would also be grateful if you install the driver and show me what the device manager looks like after installing the driver. And also, I would like to look at the driver settings window. Thank you in advance.
 
This type of device occasionally encounters errors. Windows 10 generally does not require additional driver installation and can be used directly. If an error occurs, you need to select "Audio Input and Output" in the "Device Manager", find "SK02" and delete it, then unplug SK02 and restart it.
WIN11 seems to require the installation of drivers for better usability.
 
This type of device occasionally encounters errors. Windows 10 generally does not require additional driver installation and can be used directly. If an error occurs, you need to select "Audio Input and Output" in the "Device Manager", find "SK02" and delete it, then unplug SK02 and restart it.
WIN11 seems to require the installation of drivers for better usability.
I would like to see screenshots of the real owners.
 
We are deeply grateful to Amir for the comprehensive measurements, as well as for the encouragement towards us. We'll keep responsive to user input and make efforts to bring more nice audio gear to audiophiles. :D

And here is a dedicated 15% discount promo code for all ASR members: FASKASR15
Hi! I just bought the SK02 on Amazon, and didn't even think about looking at ASR for it because of actually blind trust on the brand and liking the specs. I've been using a V3 amplifier in the studio with Auratones for my second set of monitors and I can tell performance is basically flawless, so when I see new products that I could need with your brand on, I check the specs and I trust them. Amir seems to corroborate this on his review.

The SK02 will be paired with an RME-Babyface Pro FS for out of studio duties, and Sundara headphones. This is my setup, which will get pitted against the studio headphone monitoring running through Fireface Ucx-2+Adi 2-FS and Audeze LCD-2 Classic, everything adjusted to Harman. Of course it is a subjective different in itself, but I will instantly know if linearity, power and stability are good, and I am betting, it will be.

The only really interesting tidbit will be driver stability if I choose to connect the DAC through USB and not ADAT, that would be a direct comparison against the RME, but I am not inclined to do so for needing the inbuilt equalizer in TotalMix to get the Sundara's sounding right before working. Congrats on building great products and such a reputation for honestly well-built gear in such a (perceivd) short time.
 
Just an update, I've tested my SK02 a bit, both through USB-c and SPDIF, and wow! Connected directly it was already sounding good powered by my Macbook Pro, but when I ran my preset in TotalMix for Sundaras and let the Babyface Pro FS clock it through optical SPDIF, it opened up a touch again.

Using a balanced cable, this is the best I've ever heard the Sundara sound. I still obviously get a more "physical" sound out of the LCD-2c into the ADI-2 FS, with better transients, sense of space, and a more defined low-end, which is to be expected from a setup costing 3-4 times. But now I can ballpark and reference crosscheck audio with a very, very capable mobile setup.

For about 400-450€ (it's going to be cheaper now since Sundaras sell for less than when I bought them), I'm not sure you can get a better portable desktop monitoring solution. Quiet, clean, not coloring anything, and with balanced cables more than enough power for the Sundaras (which are much harder to drive and get to sound right than it may seem). Let's see how the SK02 fares in the long run, but so far it seems excellent.
 
Hello, thank you for your feedback. We have now resolved the issue of audible hump. Additionally, our R&D team is still investigating and working on a solution for the ultrasonic attenuation problem.
I'm considering buying the SK02. Can we have an update on the status of this? Was the fix ever released as a firmware update? I haven't been able to find any.

Was the fix added to recent production?

Would love some clarification from @Fosi Audio
 
Sad not to get the info on how the fix is done. Would have loved to take advantage of the Prime Day offer.
I would STILL love more information on this fix. I don't believe it actually exists - I think it was just sales and marketing hot air fluff. I still find my SK02 useful, but as one of the intial buyers, a little disappointed with mentions of fixes and no fixes. If you get their emails, it's clear that they have moved on to the next great product launch, and the next great product launch, and the...
 
I would like to see screenshots of the real owners.
I do not experience issues like those listed above. I will say that a premium USB-C or even Thunderbolt cable might be worth a try IF you're having ID or disconnect-type issues. Win11 Pro screenshot - Ryzen 7 5800X system. Also works fine with M2 Mac mini and M2 Macbook Air. Also works through USB hubs and Thunderbolt docks. Actually the SK02 probably thumps the hardest when connected through the Mac mini's powered OWC thunderbolt hub (MiniStack STX).
 

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