The Fosi DS2 DAC and headphone amp works with smartphones and computers to deliver high-quality digital audio to wired headphones and earphones.
FOSI AUDIO
Audio brand Fosi has launched the DS2 DAC for smartphones with a headphone amplifier and circuitry to convert digital signals into analog waveforms that can drive a conventional pair of wired headphones.
Like many people, I miss having a headphone jack on my smartphone. Manufacturers began to leave out headphone jacks some years back, ostensibly to make phones waterproof. Some people hinted that the real reason was to sell more wireless earbuds, but that’s a very cynical view, isn’t it?
Wired For Sound
Most people can no longer plug a pair of wired headphones or earphones into their smartphone to listen to music. Instead, you must use a pair of Bluetooth earbuds, which doesn’t please everyone, especially audiophiles who want to listen to music that’s not been compressed so the signal can be squeezed into the relatively narrow bandwidth used by many Bluetooth audio codecs, especially iPhones which only support AAC.
The Fosi DS2 DAC can output to 3.5mm and 4.4mm headpnones as well as line-out.
FOSI
The best solution for listening with wired headphones on a modern smartphone is to buy a DAC like the Fosi DS2. Digital-to-Analog Converters take a digital signal from a phone’s USB or Lightning port and convert it into analog waveforms which are then amplified and fed to the headphones through a cable.
A good DAC can offer high-quality audio and won’t take up much space or use a lot of a phone’s battery charge. The Fosi DS2 is just such a DAC and comes with a choice of 3.5mm single-ended jack or a 4.4mm balanced output for higher-end headphones.
A traditional 3.5mm single-ended headphone output is the most common and compatible connection for a pair of headphones. A 4.4mm balanced headphone output offers a more detailed and nuanced audio experience.
At one end of the DS2 there is a USB-C input port and at the other end there is a choice of 3.5mm or 4.4mm balanced outputs for headphones to plug into.
FOSI AUDIO
The Fosi Audio DS2 is designed to provide high-quality sound to a pair of headphones from its compact housing. The DS2 offers plenty of power and a high signal-to-noise ratio, low distortion and almost no noise. The DS2’s low noise floor design of the DS2 ensures the music is heard clearly, without interference from other devices in the home environment.
The DS2 is a plug-and-play. Simply connect the supplied USB-C cable to the port on your Android or iOS device and it will be recognized as an audio output, routing audio through the DAC and onwards to the earphones or headphones plugged into the DAC. There are a couple of volume buttons for controlling the sound output of the DS2 or you can also do that from the source app, such as TIDAL, Spotify or Qobuz, whichever you use to stream your favorite music.
At the heart of this device, which is smaller than a cigarette lighter, are two ESS ES9018K2M QUAD DAC chips. These take the digital signal from the smartphone and convert it into a signal headphones can use. The DS2 can handle all PCM digital formats up to 32-bit/768kHz. It can even handle DSD files up to 512. That’s about every type of digital audio file you are ever likely to encounter.
The Fosi Audio DS2 is smaller than a cigarette lighter and uses the phone’s battery for power to convert digital signals into analog waveforms that headphones can turn into music.
FOSI AUDIO
As well as working with smartphones, the DS2 can also be plugged into a laptop or desktop computer and provide you with high-quality audio while you work. It’s ideal for use at home or in the office as the DS2 doesn’t require the installation of any drivers, something most corporate IT departments simply won’t allow.
One question a lot of people as about using a DAC with a smartphone is: “What happens if you get a phone call?” No problem. A DAC like the DS2 will ignore the phone call and route it through the phone’s speaker and microphone so you can pick up the phone and take the call just like you normally do.
Pricing and Availability:
The Fosi DS2 DAC and Headphone Amp dongle is available now from fosiaudio.com and is priced at $63.99 from Amazon and other suppliers.
Tech Specs:DAC: Dual ESS ES9018K2M QUAD DAC chips.Output: 120mw(32Ω) Balanced: 250mw(32Ω). Outputs: 3.5 mm headphone jack/line-out, RCA. S/N: 108dB.Frequency response: 20Hz – 20kHz +/-0.5dB.PCM: Up to 32-bit/768kHz.DSD: DSD64/128/256/512.Dynamic range: 108dB.Headphone impedance: 16~300Ω(SE); 16~300Ω(BAL). Headphone outputs: 3.5mm single-ended, 4.4mm balanced output. Supported devices: Mac / Windows / iOS / Android. Weight: 15g.