Digital Drive

Posted by E-Stat (A) on April 27, 2025 at 12:18:00

Replaced my iPhone12 recently with a 16. Quicker response, improved network sensitivity, better camera, more storage and longer battery life. Required transition to USB-C connectivity already in progress with wifey's hand me down iPad Air Pro. Blue tooth Air Pod Pros worked as before but not conventional Shure se535s that required an old school 3.5mm jack.

Buy another Apple DAC/adapter or go better?

There was a similar thread earlier this month about the iFi Go Link that got me thinking. Positive results but one comment kinda turned me off - that it was somewhat bright sounding which is not my cup of tea. That perception and good experience with a Fosi MC351 in the garage led me to the Fosi DS1.

Dumfounded.

iFi says "Take your music listening to the next level...". While the Shure se535 with custom sleeves using the stock Apple dongle were superior sounding than a pair of convenient Air Pod PROs, this unit elevates them to a different level altogether. Especially with 96/24 content.

Improved transparency is found but without artificial brightness. More focus in the midrange and inner detail especially at pp shadings. You better appreciate Annie Haslam's vocal precision with A Trip to the Fair. Along with conveying a much larger apparent space. The most significant difference to me, however, is what a mentor of mine used to call "authority". It now possesses a sense of foundational weight up through the lower midrange simply not found before. The SLAM! with the opening bars of He's Here For Us on the soundtrack from "Rogue One" has the power to startle you! The many tasty textures of Oxygene Part 4 resolve nicely.

Good thing it has a solid zinc alloy housing as it gets warm pulling more current from the phone than before as evidenced by battery usage. For $80 (less than the cost of the sleeves), call me a happy camper! Less than stellar pic via old pad:

Edits: 04/27/25   04/27/25