antalistvan1968
Member
Independent review and recommendation of the Fosi Audio DS3 portable DAC/headphone amplifier.
In this article I will review and introduce Fosi's new portable DAC/headphone device, the DS3. I have never used one before. I mostly use, review and recommend home hi-fi components. Of course I also listen to music from my phone, mostly when traveling. But so far I have only connected the headphones to my mobile phone and played music without a DAC or amplifier.
Let's see what arrived, what's in the box? :
DS3 portable dac/headphone amplifier
Usb cable + converter
User manual
Quick Guide
The DS3 is both a DAC and a headphone amplifier, recommended for musis listen and games due to its detailed spatial sounds. I won't be able to check in game the latter because I never play. So I apologize in advance because my presentation will not be complete.
Remains the hi-fi sound test. Specifically, really is the sound better with DS3 with the same headphones and playback software than without DS3?
Let's see what it looks like and what connectors and controls we find on it:
Backside:
Let's start at the beginning. The device is shaped like a small cube. The four corners are slightly rounded. The back is transparent. Under the cover, you can see the electronic components and the color-changing 1pcs LED display. The inscription on it show the manufacturer of the device. Briefly, the technical content and description. The heart of the DS3 is an ESS9039Q2M DAC, which can process up to 32-bit and 768 kHz audio and DSD512 signals. This provides a high qulity, wide dynamic range and precise details, especially for high-resolution music files (dsd flac wav..) and lossless streaming services. The signal processing is carried out by an XMOS USB processor, which ensures fast data transfer and stable operation via the USB-C cable. Whether it is a mobile phone, tablet or even a laptop. According to the manufacturer's description, this is the first portable device to include an XMOS USB processor. In game mode, virtual 7.1 lifelike 360° sound and FPS for precise positioning in games. Very low distortion (0,0003%), high signal-to-noise ratio. Excellent data transfer! You can find more details on the manufacturer's website. Price DS3 now: 125 usd
Factory data in the picture:
It is available in two colors. Obsidian (black) and Galaxy (silver) These match the colors of the iM4 headphones. They are a perfect match. Mine is black. The case is made of aluminum. The back is impact-resistant glass. When examining the top, you immediately notice a button that looks like a big controll button, with arrows pointing in four directions and an orange frame. This suggests that it could be some kind of control joystick. This is a bit strange, because you would be using it all the time, but it doesn’t work
Right next to it, you can see a split cover that looks like there are touch buttons with a nice design (in the CD, LP style) and some kind of hidden functions, as well as the manufacturer’s name.
Front and two outputs:
Well, we can forget about the top panel here, since these are only design elements. The circular frame and the buttons are just for show, they do not serve any function.
The real control buttons are on the side of the small device, these are the volume buttons:
You can switch between them by pressing them simultaneously, by pressing them briefly at the same time you can switch between the gain level (level 1-2) and by pressing them for a long time you can switch between hifi and game mode and filters. You can adjust the volume according to the impedance of the headphones used (16-300 ohms), or switch to level 1 or 2 due to the desired higher volume level. A color-changing LED provides information about each change.
The device has inputs and outputs at both ends. At one end is the USB-C input, where we plug the included USB-C cable. While at the other end there are two outputs. One is a plain 3.5mm jack, I will plug the IM4 headphones into this, the other output is a symmetrical 4.4mm jack. The i5 will connect to this because I don't have another symmetrical cable at home, unfortunately. However, I have a plain 3.5mm and a 4.4mm symmetrical cable for the i5. I will try both of these. The device is plug and play, so no installation or any software or driver is required to use it.
Usb-C input and volume buttons:
As I mentioned, you can switch between the gain levels, the hi-fi music sound and the filters used for games and sound effects separately by pressing the two volume buttons at the same time. By default, when you plug it into your phone or even a laptop with the included USB adapter, the hi-fi mode is activated. I'm lucky because I don't have to go through the settings in detail because in the meantime the manufacturer has made a great video with instructions for use, which is available here and is easy to learn because it may seem difficult to use with only two buttons at first, but the video is a great help and shows that the settings are not complicated. If the link doesn't work, please copy and paste it into your browser.
Video link:
I wrote at the beginning that unfortunately I don't play games, I can only judge and share the music listening experience, not the sound experience I get in the game. I can write about how using it gives you an extra musical experience compared to a simple phone-headphone connection.
Sound:
The sound changed immediately and audibly using the DS3. I had an excellent sense of space and presence. The instrument sounds are much more believable than without the DS3. It is so much better that after a short time I simply plugged the headphones back in without the DS3 to test its effect with and without it and I experienced that the life and space of the presence in the music had disappeared. The volume level was the same. I am lucky because my phone still has a 3.5mm jack socket so I was able to switch in an instant. When using the DS3, the dynamics also increased significantly. The better the quality of the music, the more brilliant the small device. But otherwise, of course, every recording sounds better with it than without it. The space also opens up. It is a very good device, I can only recommend it. The performance is not colored, it is airy. This device also has a volume memory, so the next time it is used, it will play at the volume that was last used. When testing with the i5 planars, I felt the symmetrical 4.4mm output was better than the 3.5mm. The volume difference between the two outputs when switching could easily have been a factor. Unfortunately, the larger jack plugs on the i5 cables do not fit in both outputs at the same time, so it took a little more time to change the cable and adjust the volume than a quick switch when I just switched between the DS3's 3.5mm jack output and the phone's 3.5mm jack output. But overall, even including this elapsed time, I feel the symmetrical output is better. One thing is for sure, there is a never-before-heard instrument fidelity and presence felt when listening to my phone using the DS3. I need to get a case for it because from now on I will definitely not leave the DS3 at home anymore. I will definitely take it with me when traveling. I don't have any other similar product with which I can compare it, but it is certainly a significant improvement in hi-fi listening quality when the DS3 is included in the playback chain. Once again, I apologize for the incomplete review.
However, I absolutely recommend it for listening to music!
Update!:
After writing this article, a video was released showing how to install and use the DS3 PEQ web app. It is an equalizer app. The download link is below the video and can be used based on the video.
Video link:
The perfect pair DS3 + IM4:
Complete set:
Pros:
Great hi-fi and lifelike sound. Serious spatial representation, really good instrument sounds, enought power, very good music performance, airiness
small size, good build quality
Easy to use
Up to 32-bit and 768 kHz sound, and DSD512 signal processing
Virtual 7.1 lifelike 360° sound in game mode. Also game sound effects and FPS for precise positioning in games. (unfortunately I couldn't test this because I never play)
Very low distortion, high SNR.
Cons: no
Please read my other reviews as well.
In this article I will review and introduce Fosi's new portable DAC/headphone device, the DS3. I have never used one before. I mostly use, review and recommend home hi-fi components. Of course I also listen to music from my phone, mostly when traveling. But so far I have only connected the headphones to my mobile phone and played music without a DAC or amplifier.
Let's see what arrived, what's in the box? :
DS3 portable dac/headphone amplifier
Usb cable + converter
User manual
Quick Guide
The DS3 is both a DAC and a headphone amplifier, recommended for musis listen and games due to its detailed spatial sounds. I won't be able to check in game the latter because I never play. So I apologize in advance because my presentation will not be complete.
Remains the hi-fi sound test. Specifically, really is the sound better with DS3 with the same headphones and playback software than without DS3?
Let's see what it looks like and what connectors and controls we find on it:
Backside:
Let's start at the beginning. The device is shaped like a small cube. The four corners are slightly rounded. The back is transparent. Under the cover, you can see the electronic components and the color-changing 1pcs LED display. The inscription on it show the manufacturer of the device. Briefly, the technical content and description. The heart of the DS3 is an ESS9039Q2M DAC, which can process up to 32-bit and 768 kHz audio and DSD512 signals. This provides a high qulity, wide dynamic range and precise details, especially for high-resolution music files (dsd flac wav..) and lossless streaming services. The signal processing is carried out by an XMOS USB processor, which ensures fast data transfer and stable operation via the USB-C cable. Whether it is a mobile phone, tablet or even a laptop. According to the manufacturer's description, this is the first portable device to include an XMOS USB processor. In game mode, virtual 7.1 lifelike 360° sound and FPS for precise positioning in games. Very low distortion (0,0003%), high signal-to-noise ratio. Excellent data transfer! You can find more details on the manufacturer's website. Price DS3 now: 125 usd
Factory data in the picture:
It is available in two colors. Obsidian (black) and Galaxy (silver) These match the colors of the iM4 headphones. They are a perfect match. Mine is black. The case is made of aluminum. The back is impact-resistant glass. When examining the top, you immediately notice a button that looks like a big controll button, with arrows pointing in four directions and an orange frame. This suggests that it could be some kind of control joystick. This is a bit strange, because you would be using it all the time, but it doesn’t work
Right next to it, you can see a split cover that looks like there are touch buttons with a nice design (in the CD, LP style) and some kind of hidden functions, as well as the manufacturer’s name.
Front and two outputs:
Well, we can forget about the top panel here, since these are only design elements. The circular frame and the buttons are just for show, they do not serve any function.
The real control buttons are on the side of the small device, these are the volume buttons:
You can switch between them by pressing them simultaneously, by pressing them briefly at the same time you can switch between the gain level (level 1-2) and by pressing them for a long time you can switch between hifi and game mode and filters. You can adjust the volume according to the impedance of the headphones used (16-300 ohms), or switch to level 1 or 2 due to the desired higher volume level. A color-changing LED provides information about each change.
The device has inputs and outputs at both ends. At one end is the USB-C input, where we plug the included USB-C cable. While at the other end there are two outputs. One is a plain 3.5mm jack, I will plug the IM4 headphones into this, the other output is a symmetrical 4.4mm jack. The i5 will connect to this because I don't have another symmetrical cable at home, unfortunately. However, I have a plain 3.5mm and a 4.4mm symmetrical cable for the i5. I will try both of these. The device is plug and play, so no installation or any software or driver is required to use it.
Usb-C input and volume buttons:
As I mentioned, you can switch between the gain levels, the hi-fi music sound and the filters used for games and sound effects separately by pressing the two volume buttons at the same time. By default, when you plug it into your phone or even a laptop with the included USB adapter, the hi-fi mode is activated. I'm lucky because I don't have to go through the settings in detail because in the meantime the manufacturer has made a great video with instructions for use, which is available here and is easy to learn because it may seem difficult to use with only two buttons at first, but the video is a great help and shows that the settings are not complicated. If the link doesn't work, please copy and paste it into your browser.
Video link:
I wrote at the beginning that unfortunately I don't play games, I can only judge and share the music listening experience, not the sound experience I get in the game. I can write about how using it gives you an extra musical experience compared to a simple phone-headphone connection.
Sound:
The sound changed immediately and audibly using the DS3. I had an excellent sense of space and presence. The instrument sounds are much more believable than without the DS3. It is so much better that after a short time I simply plugged the headphones back in without the DS3 to test its effect with and without it and I experienced that the life and space of the presence in the music had disappeared. The volume level was the same. I am lucky because my phone still has a 3.5mm jack socket so I was able to switch in an instant. When using the DS3, the dynamics also increased significantly. The better the quality of the music, the more brilliant the small device. But otherwise, of course, every recording sounds better with it than without it. The space also opens up. It is a very good device, I can only recommend it. The performance is not colored, it is airy. This device also has a volume memory, so the next time it is used, it will play at the volume that was last used. When testing with the i5 planars, I felt the symmetrical 4.4mm output was better than the 3.5mm. The volume difference between the two outputs when switching could easily have been a factor. Unfortunately, the larger jack plugs on the i5 cables do not fit in both outputs at the same time, so it took a little more time to change the cable and adjust the volume than a quick switch when I just switched between the DS3's 3.5mm jack output and the phone's 3.5mm jack output. But overall, even including this elapsed time, I feel the symmetrical output is better. One thing is for sure, there is a never-before-heard instrument fidelity and presence felt when listening to my phone using the DS3. I need to get a case for it because from now on I will definitely not leave the DS3 at home anymore. I will definitely take it with me when traveling. I don't have any other similar product with which I can compare it, but it is certainly a significant improvement in hi-fi listening quality when the DS3 is included in the playback chain. Once again, I apologize for the incomplete review.
However, I absolutely recommend it for listening to music!
Update!:
After writing this article, a video was released showing how to install and use the DS3 PEQ web app. It is an equalizer app. The download link is below the video and can be used based on the video.
Video link:
The perfect pair DS3 + IM4:
Complete set:
Pros:
Great hi-fi and lifelike sound. Serious spatial representation, really good instrument sounds, enought power, very good music performance, airiness
small size, good build quality
Easy to use
Up to 32-bit and 768 kHz sound, and DSD512 signal processing
Virtual 7.1 lifelike 360° sound in game mode. Also game sound effects and FPS for precise positioning in games. (unfortunately I couldn't test this because I never play)
Very low distortion, high SNR.
Cons: no
Please read my other reviews as well.
