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We regularly hear stories that the life of an audiophile is exorbitantly expensive, but it doesn’t have to be that way. For $60, you can get a well-made and equipped DAC/Amp in the Fosi Audio DS2 2024 and have plenty of money to spend on a quality pair of headphones or purchasing an IEM.
Fosi Audio DS2: Price and availability
You can purchase the Fosi Audio DS2 2024 directly from Fosiaudio.com or Amazon for $59.99. At that price, you won’t find many portable DACs/Amps with a 3.5mm and 4.4mm port. The closest competition costs around $80.
Fosi Audio DS2: assembly and adjustment
Weighing 3.2 ounces, the DS2 2024 feels effortlessly light. But don’t let that fool you, oh no! It’s CNC machined from solid metal and Fosi claims it’s shock resistant. I’m guessing they’re pretty confident because unlike most DACs I’ve tried recently, this one comes with a two-year warranty, rather than one year.
Externally, you will get a sample rate LED indicator on one side. The 3.5mm and 4.4mm ports are on the bottom, and opposite those on the top is the USB-C port. On the left side, you get 60-step independent volume controls, which provide a satisfying response when pressed.
Dual internal Cirrus Log CS43131 DAC chips power those 3.5mm and 4.4mm outputs.
Fosi Audio DS2: Features
The DS2 2024 isn’t a feature powerhouse, but most of what it does, it does well. It supports decoding up to 32-bit/385kHz DSD256 and PCM, generating 510mw into 32 ohms from the 4.4mm connection and a somewhat anemic 130mw into 32 ohms from the 3.5mm connection.
The top face of the DS2 2024 has an LED next to the Fosi Audio branding that tells you what you are decoding. For PCM, any value less than 48 kHz = red, 48-96 kHz = green, 96-384 kHz = yellow. For DSD, all sample rates receive blue light.
My only quibble is that the 3.5mm port is underpowered. My Campfire Audio Mammoths had to be turned up higher than with any other DAC I have used to date. I usually have to keep the volume slider around 10% of maximum to avoid damaging my hearing with the Mammoths, which are quite sensitive. With the DS2 2024, I really turned up the volume, and that doesn’t bode well for power-hungry IEMs.
Fosi Audio DS2: Sound quality
This $60 DAC/Amp has impressive sound for the price! I would characterize the DS2 2024 as a warm DAC/Amp that doesn’t sacrifice clarity or detail for that boost in bass and mids.
I listened to several different playlists through Sennheiser’s HD660S2 and their sublime IE900 IEMs. I also plugged in Campfire Audio’s Mammoth IEMs and HiFiMan HE-4XX planar magnetic headphones. “Moanin’” by Charles Mingus is an intricately detailed and mixed big band jazz set that sheds light on the details and musicality of DS2. It plays that track with almost analytical precision, allowing you to enjoy the separation of the instruments and how they overlap in the stereo image.
The bass and mids are not spectacular, but they are entertaining. In that same song by Mingus, the double bass is present and assertive without stepping on the trumpets or the hi-hat. Skrillex’s “Mumbai Power” and Big KRIT’s “My Sub” growl and rumble with aplomb.
Listening to Paul Simon’s “Diamonds on the Souls of Her Shoes” and Get Out’s OST track “Shikilinga Kwa XXXX,” you’ll discover the closed-back headphone-like soundstage. To be clear, the vocals are brilliant. In good headphones and with DACs that don’t smooth out the mids and highs, Paul Simon’s voice is just shy of sibilance, as was the case with the DS2. The blaring horns I regularly reference in Art Blakey’s “Moanin’” are expected to be blaring with the DS2.
Overall, this is a great listening experience for $60 and will grow with you thanks to the inclusion of the 4.4mm balanced connection which should have enough power to power all but the most extremely demanding headphones and IEMs.
Fosi Audio DS2: Competition
Competition for $60 is almost non-existent. There is hardware competition from the HiBy FC4, Fiio KA13 and Fiio Ka3. All three share similar features and have balanced and single-ended outputs, but you’ll pay $20 more for them without a significant difference in sound quality.
Then there’s the iFi GO Link, which will cost you the same $60 but won’t give you the same features. You’ll get the 3.5mm single-ended port, but no 4.4mm or 2.5mm balanced output or volume controls on the device.
Fosi Audio DS2: Should you buy it?
You should buy the Fosi Audio DS2 if…
- You have a budget
- You have good headphones/IEMs with 4.4mm cables.
- You’re just joining Apple Lossless
You shouldn’t buy the Fosi Audio DS2 if…
- You have IEMs with 3.5mm cable that consume a lot of power
At this price, you won’t find many options with a 3.5mm and 4.4mm balanced audio jack. For $59.99, the clarity and detail of the Fosi Audio DS2 2024 make it a great option for those just dipping their toe into audiophile territory. It even provides enough bass and sub-bass to satisfy bass lovers.
With solid build quality and a 24-month warranty, the DS2 is a solid investment for enjoying high-resolution audio.
Cheap entry to audiophile country!
For those just starting out with Apple Lossless and Hi-Res Audio, the Fosi Audio DS2 is a great investment without worrying about having “buyer’s remorse.”
