Fosi Audio K7 DAC Headphone Amp, Desktop USB C Digital to Analog Audio Converter for Workspace and Gaming PC PS5, Optical/Coaxial/Bluetooth aptX HD LL/Microphone Input, 3.5/4.4mm Balanced/RCA Output

A no-nonsense gaming and HiFi DAC/amp that delivers
This review is based on approx. one week of use, and will be changed should any early issues present themselves.I purchased the K7 as a replacement to a Creative Labs X5, which I will discuss later in this review however for those short on time, the K7 is a competent, compact, and easy to use DAC/amp targeted at both the gamer and audiophile markets. It has a acceptable range of input and output options for the price, provides excellent audio quality and I would strongly recommend it over ‘gamer’ audio products from other manufacturers.For those looking for more detail, the K7 directly competes with the only other HiFi/gamer DAC/amp I am aware of, the earlier-mentioned X5. Differentiating themselves from other products in the demographic, the K7 and X5 sport a 4.4mm balanced output for headphones or IEMs and 3.5mm microphone input in a single package, making them enticing options for users wanting to either throw on some super hi-res 24-bit/192kHz audio tracks or settle in and play the game of their choice over voice chat without having to mess around plugging and unplugging or splitting input and output across multiple devices.I’ll save repeating the information you’ve already scrolled past to get to this review in regards to specs and just say that the K7 provides all the connections I could reasonably see the average user needing for having one of these hooked up to a PC, however for higher-end audio or home theatre fans it is notably missing optical out or RCA line-in, personally I’m only using the RCA out for a set of desktop speakers combined with the front panel output for my headphones.In regard to software, this is where the K7, in my option, deviates in the best possible manner from most gamer-focused products and that there is no need to install a frustrating, resource-sapping and privacy-invading application. It is a true plug and play device, lacking even the need to install any particular drivers. This specifically presents a huge advantage over the X5, which requires installation of both Creative’s app and a suite of drivers to activate its full range of functions and crucially can cause compatibility issues when either the software or Windows updates, which led me to returning the X5 due to a currently unfixable static-inducing bug.Reasonably, this also means that the on-board functions of the K7 are relatively limited and it does not provide any virtual surround or other audio gimmicks but does come with the ability to increase or decrease bass and treble within a certain range, allowing for small tweaks to your thump or clarity without messing up any other EQ you may have applied on your PC. This is where the X5 is a clear winner, while similarly being stereo-only it sports the full range of Creative’s audio tweaking and EQ software with the exception of Super X-Fi.Bluetooth blows the X5 out of the water, with the K7 supporting aptX HD to the X5’s SBC. I have seen some disappointment that there is no support for newer, higher resolution codecs however I’d consider 24-bit/48kHz more than sufficient for casting to the K7.The K7 also has two USB working modes, UAC (USB Audio Class) 1.0 and UAC 2.0, togglable with a button press, which lead to what I would consider one of it’s few downsides. As clearly stated by Fosi, use of the microphone is specifically limited to UAC 1.0, only when using either the 3.5mm or 4.4mm headphone out. Reasonably I could not see a reason you’d be using both the speaker out and microphone at the same time in a desktop environment so this isn’t a massive issue, however in UAC 1.0 the audio output quality is locked to 16-bit/44kHz, compared to the X5 which allows for any selection of audio and microphone quality independently and while using any combination of outputs. This may be as deal-breaker to some, but I’d consider the only time I’d be using the mic would be gaming, where I’d have my headphones on and not be too picky about if my game audio isn’t true high definition since I’d have voice chat overlapping it. The UAC 1.0 mode also allows for easy compatibility for consoles.Finally, the physical interface of the K7 is nicely laid out with two large dials and a rank of buttons making it easy to control volume and mic input, the OLED screen is crisp and informative, showing your input, output and audio quality, although it would be nice if it had a sleep or dimmer function to prevent burn-in! The all-metal casing is pleasantly weighty but does get a little hot at higher audio quality (particularly at the top-end 32-bit/384kHz setting) so make sure it has some ventilation room. Compared to the plastic construction and LED segmented display of the X5, the K7 feels more ‘premium’ despite its cheaper price.In conclusion, Fosi have made an extremely strong effort to snatch Creative’s crown as ‘the’ HiFi gaming audio hardware brand. Provided the K7’s build quality is sufficient to hold up for daily use over a long period of time, as one would hope, I’d have absolutely no reservations in recommending this over any other gaming audio interface currently on the market.

Overall an excellent product!Easy to use, requires no prior setup (just plug into a compatible USB port and you are good to go) and feels very intuitive to use. Build quality is excellent, and the item looks more aesthetically pleasing then one would think from the pictures. Ive grown really fond of it sitting on my desktop over the past weeks.Im using it for both my studio monitors and headphones (MMX 330 Pro), and the differences in the latter when compared to the built in soundcard in the PC is noticeable, despite the MMX 330 Pro not being very difficult to run. This further extends to microphone quality, which is also improved despite already being great.

bon dac et encore meilleur en amplificateur casque il lui manque juste une télécommande, je ne l’ai pas essayé en gamine pour la musique il est meilleur que un nuprime dac-9h pour les connaisseurs

Amazing product easy to use fantastic sound.