Fosi Audio DA2120A Bluetooth 5.0 DAC Hi-Fi Stereo Receiver Audio Amplifier Support aptX 2.1 CH Integrated Class D Digital Power Amp for Passive Speakers Active Subwoofer with Remote Control

I've been a heavyweight audiophile (snake sized cables, expensive power conditioners, etc.) for many years but a few years ago matured to a lightweight version (no-name cables just as good as overpriced ones, moderately priced yet great sounding components, etc). I'm preparing to move so I packed my main system (valued ~ $3K), and purchased the Fosi as a compact, lightweight emergency amp/dac to get me by until my move is complete. Given it's price, I wasn't expecting much. I was wrong. This amp is shockingly good! I'm using USB in from an Intel NUC, and the detail and transparency of this amp is amazing. I'm listening to Patricia Barber's Cafe Blue as I type this grinning from ear to ear. The speakers are Klipsch Quartet V mini-monitors (largely unknown and underrated) combined with a Dayton Audio Sub-1000 10 inch sub. Excluding the NUC source it's about $350 of kit). This does not sound like a $350 system. It sounds more like a $1K, entry level audiophile rig. The remote, though not fancy feels good in the hand and has useful direct access controls such as bass/treble and loudness. A few caveats: 1-Do play with the EQ settings as they have a major impact on sound quality. I personally like the "Rock" mode best for all music genres. A feature I wish this unit had is a variable high-pass filter for the speakers, as it would decrease the load on the relatively low power amp section. On a related note, for best results try to use speakers with sensitivity of 90 Db or higher in a small to moderate sized room (this little gem is perfect for this-My Quintets are rated at 91 Db). Finally, know that this is not a warm and fuzzy sounding amp. Rather, it leans more toward ruthlessly revealing which is not necessarily a bad thing from an audiophile perspective. The amp will let you know quickly if your playback source is high quality or not.Give the Fosi a try. I hope you'll be as pleasantly surprised as I was!PS: The Rocky Mountain Audio Fest audiophile show is coming to Colorado in early October. I'll be attending and would love to deploy my $400 rig (USB streaming source included) in one of the smaller rooms with good, simple acoustic treatment ($100 of common household items: ie heavy drapes). I'd hide the components and ask the attendees to guess the price of the system. I'll guess no one would come in under $1K with an average estimate about twice that :-).Peace For All!

Here's what I tested this alongside:Aiyima A07 (with Fosi Q4 Dac, Fosi P1 tube preamp with 5654 tubes)Douk Audio ST-01 with upgraded 5454 tubes (Aiyima T9, same thing)SMSL A300 with the same DAC and preamp as the A07Those aren't really fair comparisons when we throw a preamp into the mix on those other amps and not this one. But that was my setup. Having said that, the DA2120A holds its own although I would rank it last of the group. However, don't dismiss it yet. This amp has some tricks up its sleeve with its tone settings. It has some EQ presets that may or may not be useful, and it has bass and treble tone controls. BUT it also has a DSP setting in the form of a loudness button. Two levels of loudness, 1 and 2. It basically boosts the low and hight end at lower volumes like most DSP. This gives the amp a greater sense of dynamics compared to say the St-01/T9. Deeper, fuller bass. But at the expense of tonal refinement found in the ST-01, especially with upgraded 5654 tubes. Sound stage and music separation is probably also a hair behind the others, and especially behind the A300 which outperforms all of them.The DA2120A doesn't get the same attention from the budget HiFi community (it seems) and there's a new value packed Chinese amp/dac every five minutes to compete against. But this is still a good integrated amp and a great value. Keep in mind this competed against all the others with no external DAC, preamp or Tube upgrades. If we were just comparing this to perhaps its main rival the ST-01/ T9 with its stock tubes, I'd almost certainly take the DA2120a over it. Easy to use, clean and simple look. All around no fuss and good performing amp.

Hooked up to a pair of Micca MB42's and a Polk PSW10 sub. Before this I was driving them with the Lepy 2020a (15W 2-channel) so the biggest difference was going from an analog input to DSP via SPDIF USB. Also, Asus/Reaktek drivers are TERRIBLE for managing a 2.1 system out of the 3.5mm jacks on the motherboard, which was the primary driver for my purchase of this Fosi DA2120a.The increase in clarity and dymanic range is the biggest improvement for me. I can still make out clear details at lower volumes, like identifying pickup types or wood density of string instruments in a 4-piece band, down at volumes that would get too muddy with the Lepy. The Fosi will also preserve great detail at higher volumes, so the crispness of a pick against bass strings can still be heard through blasting metal.It can drive these speakers (4ohm) to VERY VERY low volumes, and it's actually usable down as low volumes as I would have them - the Lepy simply could not drive these down at very low volumes (below the 40dBa region if I had to guess). Maximum volume for me is PLENTY for a desktop setup, especially with the speakers pointed 160 degrees from each other directly at my ears. I might ask for more if this were a TV setup, but only if I wanted to drive larger speakers than these. Overall I'm just really impressed with the Fosi and how much more there was in the MB42's than I'd heard from them through the Lepy.On the negative side with regards to sound quality is that it's pretty noisy when on but not pushing sound. Admittedly that could be my setup (proximity to a power supply, or that I run a speaker next to a few power chords), but the Lepy was certainly quieter when powered but not in use. It's not a deal breaker for me.As for usability, the remote is pretty cheap but I'm thankful it's not as cheap as it could have been. I love that the display can be turned off. I wish it would turn back off automatically after changing the volume or settings, but I intend to set it and forget it, using my PC to control volume. It has EQ modes but I don't care for them - I simply prefer flat in all use cases.The hardware is quality. The anodized shell will expose bare metal if scratched hard. Nothing inside rattles - it's very solid. The volume knob has a nice detent when rotating and pressing (as a button). It has maybe 5 degrees of play rotating a little less axially. Not perfect, but good for the price. I wish it came with a few more mounting or standing options. I relocated the rubber feet so it stands on its side. It's fine as-is, but would fall over easily if I used the knob often this way. The included USB cable is quality, if a bit gaudy in appearance. I'll be looking for a shorter cable anyways.Overall I'd jump to recommend it as a 2.1 amp. This plus the MB42's will blow away any off-the-shelf 2.1 setup under $600 for far less money. The Lepy was excellent value at <$30 but I wish I'd jumped to the DA-2120a from the start.