Disclaimer:
Good morning, readers! Today, we are going to test the new Fosi DS2. The dongle has undergone a hardware review and now has a certain interest, especially in the entry-level range. As usual, I thank Hifigo for the review unit.
The Fosi DS2 features two CS43131 chips. The market is now full of dongles that use this chip and the choice is increasingly complex. However, the new DS2 has price and power as its strong points.
The review, as always, will be completely unbiased and uninfluenced.
I would like to remind you that I am just a person who enjoys trying out new items and listening to a lot of music; I am not an expert.
My opinions are obviously subjective.
Tech Specs:
- Dual CS43131
- Sampling Rate: 32-bit, 384khz / DSD256
- THD+N: 0.0001%,
- Noise: <1.6UV.
- Frequency response: 20Hz-20kHz (±0.5dB)
- S/N: ≥130 dB
- Power : SE: 130mw /32Ω, BAL: 510mw /32Ω
- Hi-Res certification
- Independent volume
Packaging:
The packaging is very simple, I would even say a little oversized, half the box was enough.
Fortunately, inside, we find the following accessories:
- Type C to Type C cable
- USB A adapter (always much appreciated)
- Manual
In terms of first equipment, I think it’s more than fair. The Type C cable reminds me of some cables I’ve already seen, very flexible.
Build quality/First impressions:
I’ll start by saying that I didn’t own the old DS2 but judging from what I’ve seen, the shell is identical. They have kept the same design with an aluminum shell, which is very light but resistant. Personally, I really like the gunmetal-like color; aesthetically, it is very minimal. On the front, we find the LED and the “Fosi Audio DS2” labeling, and on the back, we simply find the Hi-Res sticker.
On one side, we have the volume buttons and nothing else. Personally, I would have liked to find something written on the shell so as to immediately identify that it was the new model. The gain switch is missing; honestly, I would have put it there. It’s not essential but let’s say that if you have particularly sensitive IEMs, in some cases you might need it. But fortunately, it still has independent volume and allows precise volume adjustment.
Power:
The Fosi DS2 has decidedly generous outputs; the declared values are both at 32 ohms, so for headphones with lower ohms, you will have considerable power available.
To give you an idea of the DS2 power, with the 28-ohm Kefine Delci and the volume set to maximum, my iMac only requires three volume bars out of sixteen. Getting to half the volume is extremely difficult. You won’t have any kind of problem with any IEM that comes out with SE cable.
While the 4.4mm side provides even more power, switching to the Hidizs MP145 requires only 5 volume bars out of 16.
The thing that surprises me is that despite the decidedly low price, it is one of the most powerful CS43131 dongles currently on the market. By now, the entry-level products have reached decidedly very high quality. With a product like this, you can easily use planar headphones without problems.
The lack of a gain switch is made up for by an independent volume that combines with the volume of the device to which it is connected, giving you many more adjustment possibilities.
During the test with my iMac, I discovered a strange peculiarity: when I stop and restart a song, the volume gradually increases (which I think is a fantastic feature); however, I have noticed that the volume sometimes comes from one channel rather than the other. The operation is bizarre, and I am not sure if it is a firmware bug or not, but it seemed appropriate to inform you. There were no issues while changing tracks.
Sound Signature:
The Fosi DS2 is slightly atypical for a Cirrus Logic dongle. In terms of sound signature, it is more similar to the new CS43198, although in terms of definition and refinement of the sound, we are more on par with the newest CS43131 on the market. The bass is slightly smoother; it follows the bright line, giving it the right balance with some aspects of the Fosi SK02. It has a decidedly brighter sound than other Cirrus Logics, with a good soundstage and amount of detail. It has some resemblance to the iBasso DC04Pro; both are practically colorless and very flat, although in my opinion the DC04Pro has a very slight difference (in its favour) more in terms of soundstage and refinement of details.
The New Fosi DS2 costs practically 60 USD and has a very high output power that you can’t complain about and the differences in terms of details can only be noticed by those who have many other products to compare. An entry-level user who picks up such a dongle can only smile from the first listen to the last. Basically, it is a very natural-sounding dongle, and I feel it has a very flat sound compared to many others. You might like it for this feature. There aren’t many DACs without coloration.
Fast Comparison:
If you want other comparisons just ask and I will answer you.
vs EPZ TP20 Pro
The EPZ TP20 Pro is an excellent dongle; it sounds extremely good, they have improved the shell, it has the gain switch but otherwise it has no other features. We can say that it is very similar to many others in terms of configuration. It sounds great but it comes at a higher price than the others.
vs Hidizs S9 PRO Plus
With Hidizs S9 Pro Plus, if you like warmer and slightly more present instruments and voices, the Hidizs sound signature doesn’t miss a beat. It has currently dropped in price so its purchase is very close to the price of the Cirrus Logic dongles, which, as we know, are the cheapest. Personally, I like it a lot but if you have some planar to experiment with it, the Fosi DS2 has more power in reserve.
The Dawn Pro was the CS dongle that dominated the others. Very low price, working app with some settings, compact shell but with some defects. But for 50 USD, it’s honestly one of the best entry-level ones yet. They are slightly different; the Moondrop has a slightly warmer sound coloration and a slightly nicer design (personal) but sometimes the QC strikes. Honestly, I would currently opt for the Fosi DS2, which is slightly more powerful and therefore should be enough for several IEMs and headphones. The app isn’t that essential.
vs FiiO KA11
It may seem crazy to you, but with a small dongle like this, many of us will be completely satisfied. With its unique outputs, it has few competitors in terms of SE output. Most of us use headphones with the classic 3.5mm jack, so the FiiO KA11 is all you need. The app works reasonably well, and there are firmware updates available. With its features and, above all, thanks to its slightly warmer sound, it has become one of my favorite dongles for everyday use. Especially when I’m traveling, it’s the most compact solution possible.
Who do I recommend this DAC to?
The Fosi DS2 competes with the other dongles mentioned above. I think for the price, this one slightly beats the Moondrop Dawn Pro in terms of build quality and versatility. Moondrop has an app and you have the ability to manage some dongle stuff but at the same time, the quality of the dongle is slightly lower than the Fosi DS2.
In direct comparison, the choice depends on your preferences; they both sound very good for entry level and personally, I would choose the new Fosi DS2 as the versatility is greater. As regards possible distortions, in my opinion, they wanted to keep a very high gain to have a greater volume, even on devices with software and hardware limitations. This means that the volume setting on the dongle should be kept lower. I doubt that any of you will reach such high volume levels.
Regarding the soundstage, I was influenced by the last month, in which I only used the FiiO KA17. Initially, I wasn’t particularly surprised, as I was on higher-performing models but after carrying out a comparison with the others, I noticed that it was almost on the same level. The Fosi DS2 performs very well, especially for its price. Consider that the similarity with the DC04Pro is truly remarkable, unlike the fact that iBasso has the app to manage some features of its dongle.
9.2/10
Pros:
- Build Quality
- Metal body
- Great outputs
- Doesn’t need external power
- Uncolored sound
- no pop noise when disconnected
- Good soundstage & details
- Independent volume
- Type-C cable and USB adapter
Cons:
- No app
- No EQ
- No gain switch
- LED doesn’t flash when you reach the maximum volume