A huge thanks to @fosi_audio for providing me with the SK02 DAC for review purposes. However, my opinions remain unbiased and my own.
Testing Duration
What‘s In The Box？
Unboxing
Design, Build Quality & Input/Outputs
The SK02 has a really nice and honestly unique design for a desktop DAC, offering a super compact form that frees up space on your desk without compromising quality. The body, faceplate, and knob are made with a full aluminum construction, featuring a semi-matte black finish that feels incredibly premium in hand. The knob offers a consistent, smooth scroll, while the buttons provide a satisfying tactile bump.
On the faceplate, there’s a row of LED indicators on the left— the first set shows whether you’re in high or low gain mode. The next row indicates your PCM frequency, and on the top right, you'll see the input mode. Below that, another row lights up to indicate if DSD mode is enabled and what sample rate you're using.
Moving to the front, you’ll find two outputs: a 3.5mm and a 4.4mm. On the back, there's the power/USB-C input, optical input, and a 3.5mm input. The bottom has a nice set of rubberized feet that ensure the unit stays firmly in place on your desk.
Overall, I really appreciate the premium and sleek design that the SK02 offers. Combined with excellent build quality, I honestly can't find a single flaw—it feels incredibly well-built throughout.
Summaries
Knob
The knob has a smooth semi-matte finish, just like the rest of the body. While some knurling would have been a nice touch, there’s really nothing to complain about here. The knob has a smooth scroll with slightly defined notches, and honestly, it feels really good to use. Clicking the knob once works as a play/pause button, and holding it down acts as the power button for the SK02. Overall, I really like the premium feel of the knob, with the added functionality being a great bonus.
Summaries
Sound
When it comes to sound signature, the SK02 offers a fairly neutral tuning that leans slightly toward the warmer side. There’s no overly harsh emphasis on the treble or bass, allowing you to experience the true sound signature of the IEMs or headphones you connect to it. Personally, I don’t use headphones, so I can’t vouch for how well the SK02 performs with them. However, when it comes to IEMs, the SK02 offers more than enough power, leaving nothing to be desired.
Honestly, I’ve never heard my EM6L sound this good. Even when hooking up more affordable pairs like the GATE, they still sound way better—almost like they’re more expensive. This is thanks to the SK02’s ability to provide clean, clear sound without altering the tuning of the devices you connect, while offering plenty of power to drive any IEM out there.
Summaries
Gaming
When it comes to gaming, I highly recommend the SK02. Thanks to its neutral tuning, there’s no emphasis on overly harsh sounds, allowing the tuning of your device to shine through. I found that the SK02 provides a really good and open soundstage in games, handling busy audio environments exceptionally well. You can clearly distinguish where a grenade is going off or where footsteps are coming from, even during chaotic gunfights with shots flying everywhere. There’s no muddiness in the sound, and overall it delivers a really clean and detailed audio experience, whether you’re playing esports titles or enjoying casual gaming.
Summaries
Conclusion
In conclusion, I can wholeheartedly recommend the SK02 to anyone looking for a budget DAC, especially IEM users. I don’t see you needing anything more to drive your IEMs. It’s packed with features, offers outstanding build quality, and comes in a really compact size with a premium aesthetic that fits any setup. In actual use, the SK02 delivers amazing, clean audio in every situation and really stood out to me during gaming, providing crystal-clear audio cues. For the price—and even beyond—I can’t think of anything I’d recommend over the SK02. It’s simply an amazing device without a single flaw that I’ve found during my time with it, and it’s definitely going to be a staple on my desk moving forward.
Summaries
Testing Duration
- 15 Days
- Simgot EM6L
- Simgot EW200
- HIDIZS MS-1
- TruthEar GATE
What‘s In The Box？
- Fosi Audio SK2 x 1
- USB Type-C cable x 1
- Optical cable x 1
- User’s Manual x 1
Unboxing
Design, Build Quality & Input/Outputs
The SK02 has a really nice and honestly unique design for a desktop DAC, offering a super compact form that frees up space on your desk without compromising quality. The body, faceplate, and knob are made with a full aluminum construction, featuring a semi-matte black finish that feels incredibly premium in hand. The knob offers a consistent, smooth scroll, while the buttons provide a satisfying tactile bump.
On the faceplate, there’s a row of LED indicators on the left— the first set shows whether you’re in high or low gain mode. The next row indicates your PCM frequency, and on the top right, you'll see the input mode. Below that, another row lights up to indicate if DSD mode is enabled and what sample rate you're using.
Moving to the front, you’ll find two outputs: a 3.5mm and a 4.4mm. On the back, there's the power/USB-C input, optical input, and a 3.5mm input. The bottom has a nice set of rubberized feet that ensure the unit stays firmly in place on your desk.
Overall, I really appreciate the premium and sleek design that the SK02 offers. Combined with excellent build quality, I honestly can't find a single flaw—it feels incredibly well-built throughout.
Summaries
- Compact, premium aluminum design with smooth knob and tactile buttons.
- LED indicators for gain, PCM frequency, input mode, and DSD status.
- Multiple outputs and inputs with stable rubberized feet.
Knob
The knob has a smooth semi-matte finish, just like the rest of the body. While some knurling would have been a nice touch, there’s really nothing to complain about here. The knob has a smooth scroll with slightly defined notches, and honestly, it feels really good to use. Clicking the knob once works as a play/pause button, and holding it down acts as the power button for the SK02. Overall, I really like the premium feel of the knob, with the added functionality being a great bonus.
Summaries
- Smooth scroll with defined notches, doubles as play/pause and power button.
- Feels premium and adds great functionality.
Sound
When it comes to sound signature, the SK02 offers a fairly neutral tuning that leans slightly toward the warmer side. There’s no overly harsh emphasis on the treble or bass, allowing you to experience the true sound signature of the IEMs or headphones you connect to it. Personally, I don’t use headphones, so I can’t vouch for how well the SK02 performs with them. However, when it comes to IEMs, the SK02 offers more than enough power, leaving nothing to be desired.
Honestly, I’ve never heard my EM6L sound this good. Even when hooking up more affordable pairs like the GATE, they still sound way better—almost like they’re more expensive. This is thanks to the SK02’s ability to provide clean, clear sound without altering the tuning of the devices you connect, while offering plenty of power to drive any IEM out there.
Summaries
- Neutral, slightly warm tuning with clean sound.
- Drives IEMs well, making even budget models sound great.
Gaming
When it comes to gaming, I highly recommend the SK02. Thanks to its neutral tuning, there’s no emphasis on overly harsh sounds, allowing the tuning of your device to shine through. I found that the SK02 provides a really good and open soundstage in games, handling busy audio environments exceptionally well. You can clearly distinguish where a grenade is going off or where footsteps are coming from, even during chaotic gunfights with shots flying everywhere. There’s no muddiness in the sound, and overall it delivers a really clean and detailed audio experience, whether you’re playing esports titles or enjoying casual gaming.
Summaries
- Clear, open soundstage; handles busy audio perfectly.
- No muddiness, great for distinguishing in-game sounds.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I can wholeheartedly recommend the SK02 to anyone looking for a budget DAC, especially IEM users. I don’t see you needing anything more to drive your IEMs. It’s packed with features, offers outstanding build quality, and comes in a really compact size with a premium aesthetic that fits any setup. In actual use, the SK02 delivers amazing, clean audio in every situation and really stood out to me during gaming, providing crystal-clear audio cues. For the price—and even beyond—I can’t think of anything I’d recommend over the SK02. It’s simply an amazing device without a single flaw that I’ve found during my time with it, and it’s definitely going to be a staple on my desk moving forward.
Summaries
- Great budget DAC, especially for IEMs.
- Compact, feature-packed, and delivers clean, impressive audio.
- Great build quality
- Amazing looks
- 3.5mm and 4.4mm output options
- Quality feel on the knob and buttons
- Various input options
- Great power output
- Compact form factor
- Excellent price-to-performance
- Could have better-looking packaging, but that’s the only thing I can think of.
