Fosi K7 Desktop Gaming DAC / Headphone Amplifier - Not just for gamers!

[@dizzy2020]

I'm 57 - I've played videogames pretty-much since they were invented (or at least made available to the general public!) - I've also written them, modified them, bought and sold them and so on I tell you that because there are SO MANY games which have no competitive aspect - games which reward puzzle solving skills or planning/logistical skills or musical/rhythm skills - games which teach programming or how to play an instrument or a million other things - games which are nothing but tools for creativity or which are nothing but "fidget spinners" to kill time! :) "Videogames" is a term like "music" - it encompasses such an enormous range of things that it's impossible to dismiss it as something you don't do/aren't interested in - no-one "doesn't do music" and soon no-one will "not play games" I suspect. Of course there is the elephant-in-the-room which is "gaming stuff is generally terrible quality junk with a lot of RGB lights in it" - marketting a quality audio-product at gamers is interesting as I think there's a market for quality desktop DAC/headphone amps amongst people who despise 'gaming headsets' (hello ZReviews!) but I have a feeling 'gaming' was included here for no reason than to attract attention on Kickstarter (which has a LOT of games on there!!)???

[@Douglas_Blake]

UAC refers to the USB Audio Class .... UAC1 runs on older windows and most game boxes, it will run up to 96ksps 24 bits in stereo or 48ksps in 5.1 audio. UAC2 is for windows 10 later than version 1702, Windows 11 and most Linux and Mac systems... it will run up to 384ksps and 32bits or 192ksps in multi-channel sound. Many DACs are not fully UAC2 compliant and will shut down the windows onscreen volume controls and the volume controls on multimedia keyboards. This makes them useless for home theatre use where you're running the show from screen with a wireless keyboard. So people are advised to check this out before buying.

[@AudioMasterclass]

There we go, exactly the kind of comment I was hoping for. Gamer comments dive in too.

[@Douglas_Blake]

@@AudioMasterclass Now that you know what it is, maybe you can check it in future reviews. Buyers will thank you 😉

[@shadowside8433]

I got a DAC as a christmas present. It was a Fiio BTR7 - and that has the alternative USB options, Option 1 works with my Switch, Option 2 works with my PC! The BTR7 is very good, I have to say... but I'm not an audiophile!

[@Douglas_Blake]

@@shadowside8433 Okay ... but when you plug it into your PC does the on-screen volume slider still work? (And yes, I am making a list)

[@daellis130]

UAC1 specifically needed for PS5, and limits the available DACs rust can be used with it (frustratingly). Being able to switch is a game changer for anyone with a pc and PS5 in the same location. Only other DAC I've found to work (and proved myself) is IFI Zen Dac2.

[@PoserGalore]

fosi going wild with these releases lately

[@Simon_Hawkshaw]

You look just like a gamer to me as i resemble you in some ways. However thank you for your time and efforts to share this with us ancient gamers that need all the audio assistance we can get. Keep up the good work, and try some gaming again!😂

[@oijans]

XMOS XU208 + Qualcomm QCC3031 + AKM AK4493 + TPA6120 + OPA1612 A perfect teenager gaming dac they can wish for at Xmas.

[@MrSlipstreem]

I love the forced subtitles. Nothing beats a little self-deprecation for helping to keep a person grounded in reality. Signed, a self-confessed plum who actually enjoys being wrong sometimes. 😉

[@AudioMasterclass]

The older I get, the closer reality looms.

[@chickenpie9698]

I wish we had more DACs like this with a mic input although as somebody who actually uses a mic every now and again, I suspect I'm in the minroriy. I have a Modmic which I won in a giveaway around a decade ago now which is still holding up perfectly but I know people who just prefer something a USB mic or maybe an XLR setup instead.

[@burner8959]

I listen through a pair of Beyerdynamic DT770 into a Schiit Hel with a Modmic attached to the side. I also have a couple of other pairs of HiFIman headphones that have the nub-magnet I can switch the mic to. While it doesn't produce the best 3-d image sound-stage, the general audio quality is better than anything else I've tried. I used to run the Schiit Fulla before it died and was almost the same. The best for the 3-d imaging I've experienced was by Steel Series headphones/Dac combinations. Their little usb dongle dac with their software made it so I could tell where shots were coming from to within a foot or so in one mil-sim game I play. I'm sure there's probably some program I can down-load to make me current setup closer to that but it doesn't bother me enough to want to do that. Agreed I'd love to see more things like this for gamers.

[@verdedoodleduck]

Thank you. I've yet to hear music from you that I don't enjoy. I assume they are all yours? Thanks for the great and humorous unboxings. Humorous to me, anyway. If I recall, you expressed some disdain for them in another video a while back. I like the light sarcasm either way. :)

[@AudioMasterclass]

All my musical meanderings. I don’t remember disparaging Fosi in any way but if I did I’d counter that I use their V3 and V3 mono daily.

[@yl9154]

@@AudioMasterclass I think he meant you expressed disdain for unboxings, not for Fosi.

[@AudioMasterclass]

Ah yes, but I became converted.

[@davids4610]

David, as much as I try I don't get headphones. Last year I bought Sony's top of the line and they're fine, but as I find with most headphones, there's no soundstage. Every headphone I've tried always has the audio seemingly coming from the top of my head. Is it me? Am I missing something? N.B. both of my ears are fine.

[@l00d3r]

Same with me. I experience sound as if coming from the top of my head, though at an angle that lets me discern left, right, front, back. It is why I listen with speakers now whenever possible.

[@Douglas_Blake]

Headphones are an unnatural listening experience. If your hearing is perfectly balanced (kinda rare) the lead singer will sound like she's right inside your head. It's not how we experience the world and it certainly isn't how we experience a concert or speech. Stereo gets pretty close. The speaker positions mimic the stage side sound reinforcement, room noises and echos mimic audience noises, and the sense of direction is supplied by the mix in the recording courtesy of pan pots. So don't worry, you aren't the only one.... I hate the things.

[@Hitsujiomeguruboken]

I love the demonstration of the tone controls from 9:17 min on! This has really a worth. Your videos are so refreshingly different from the usual KZbin Bla Bla Bla Reviews……

[@shadowside8433]

I'm only competitive when I become half decent at something.... If I know I'm rubbish then I can live with the losess, until I cross the line where I think, "I'm getting better at this". Then It's competitive!

[@AudioMasterclass]

I’ve heard this before and it is definitely a thing. My hypothesis is that win-win activities are good. Zero-sum not so much.

[@shadowside8433]

@@AudioMasterclass My example is when I started playing pool at my local pub. I was terrible - walking over me was a doddle, and I accepted it, but I knew I was getting better. So, after 3/4 months I got the hang of it and started beating the resident pool 'jock', and boy was he annoyed. Six months later, I would be a grimly determined bastard on a pool table! Oh, I play chess to a decent level, thats the ultimate competitive activity.

[@jegermajster]

The bass is quite pronunced, since the K7 is designed primarily as gamer's DAC, and boomy bass is what makes all the explosions etc. sound more powerful, which elevates player's enjoyment when playing a video game.

[@MichaelSaamone]

I'm mad that it doesn't have RGB lighting and software that breaks my computer LOL

[@lucasfoo]

How does this compares to the Sound Blaster G8?

[@LittlePlant888]

Unboxing music lyrics: Don't Don't Don't-Don't Don't Don't Don't-Don't Don't Don't-Don't Yip, yip, yip, yip, yip-yip-yip-yip-yip-yip-yip Yip, yip, yip, yip, yip-yip-yip-yip-yip-yip-yip Yip, yip, yip, yip, yip-yip-yip-yip-yip-yip-yip Yip, yip, yip, yip, yip-yip-yip-yip-yip-yip-yip Don't Don't Don't-don't Don't Don't Don't-don't Don't Don''t-don't Yip, yip, yip, yip, yip-yip-yip-yip-yip-yip-yip Yip, yip, yip, yip, yip-yip-yip-yip-yip-yip-yip Yip, yip, yip, yip, yip-yip-yip-yip-yip-yip-yip Yip, yip, yip, yip, yip-yip-yip-yip-yip-yip-yip Don't Don't Don't-don't Don't Don't Don't-don't Don't Don't-don't Yip, yip, yip, yip, yip-yip-yip-yip-yip-yip-yip Yip, yip, yip, yip, yip-yip-yip-yip-yip-yip-yip Yip, yip, yip, yip, yip-yip-yip-yip-yip-yip-yip Yip, yip, yip, yip

[@AudioMasterclass]

Oi! Don’t abuse my copyright.

[@cunawarit]

Next time send it to me, I'm a gamer, I'm happy to become your dedicated gaming reviewer 😉 It would be totally fine for Zoom. In fact, this sort of DAC is ideal for any PC user who uses their mic, it doesn't just have to be gaming.

[@justintonature519]

Yes just one thing there are so many games that are not competitive. Really good Story games just put them on easy but i think your really missing out on some good stuff out there. I`m talking about let`s say Last of Us 1 till today one of the best Storys, If you like stuff like the Mad Max movies or The Road or TWD. The first Fallout games are Story driven Round based RPG`s almost as old as you, just kidding, so you don`t need aiming skill or such stuff. And there is much more as Dizzy2020 mentioned in his comment. There is so much more to gaming than just the CS, SC2, or LOL kids. There is one old folk i met in WoW someday 15 Years or so ago. And we met few times in Real life and he is I think somewhere around 70 now still playing and enjoying WoW and he was really never Competitive in any gaming means.

[@mathumphreys]

Your annoying unboxing music is becoming less annoying (the one with the claps a few weeks ago was SUPER annoying).

[@AudioMasterclass]

Here's a link you might like then - davidmellor.bandcamp.com/album/irritating-unboxing-music

[@andymouse]

Please don't say "Power" like that anymore, it scared me.