Fosi Audio Box X5 Phono Preamp Review

[GXAlan]

It's not like it'll show up at my door, money due.

Hopefully. Definitely keep us posted. I started this thread since I bet it’s going to get confusing going forward.

https://audiosciencereview.com/foru...es-tariffs-for-the-usa-the-basics-2025.60598/

 

[early rejecter]

It's not like it'll show up at my door, money due.

This guy might disagree.

 

[JP]

UPS and FedEx have been collecting duties on behalf of for years. Usually I just get a bill.

 

[EJ3]

Current ETA from the eBay Fosi factory store is 30 days for the X5 & V3 (stereo or mono versions).
The $81.99 price mentioned in post #440 hasn't changed despite the tariff changes... which seems odd.

Because they do not want to lose us as a market over a 10% fee that their government will compensate them for.
(Having 2 condos over there (1 since 2005 and one that is supposed to be finished by the end of March), I think that I have some idea of how this is going to work on this small tariff.
When it goes up, I have no clue as to what will happen, then.

 

[EJ3]

It's not like it'll show up at my door, money due.

I would not put money on that.
I had a $4000 TT from Germany come in (2017) that customs called me, sent me a bill for the tariff & released it when I paid the tariff on it
I had them hold my Lexus that I bought in Guam (and drove there from 2012 to 2018 until I could get a letter from Lexus stating that it was, indeed, a USA spec car (which took about 45 days [which I had to pay 35 in storage fees]).
These folks do not play on this stuff.
I suspect that they have not slacked off on this issue.

 

[StevenSGT98]

Current ETA from the eBay Fosi factory store is 30 days for the X5 & V3 (stereo or mono versions).
The $81.99 price mentioned in post #440 hasn't changed despite the tariff changes... which seems odd.

I did receive mine. As advertised.

 

[GXAlan]

I did receive mine. As advertised.

The question is definitely the post Feb 4 orders.

Using something simple, Vaonis is a French company that makes smart telescopes. For their first three products, you just ordered and it came. For their fourth product, people were surprised that there were fees that you had to pay UPS to get it delivered.

Vaonis said that they previously subsidized the fees and paid them, but going forward it would be something customers were responsible for.

So Fosi/Mamoritai could subsidize it and take the hit. Or they could choose not to subsidize it since there is a certain profit margin they need…

 

[guy48065]

I'll let yas all know.
This is all playing out while I'm away from home on vacation and is "supposed" to arrive early next week when I'm back.
I'm not inconvenienced by the longer wait direct from China--and well worth the $30 savings.

 

[antcollinet]

The $81.99 price mentioned in post #440 hasn't changed despite the tariff changes... which seems odd.

Not really.

The tariff is paid on arrival in US by the importer. (You if you are ordering from China)

 

[SIY]

UPS and FedEx have been collecting duties on behalf of for years. Usually I just get a bill.

Don't know the current situation, but in the past they would slap an extra $50 fee on for customs clearance.

 

[JP]

Don't know the current situation, but in the past they would slap an extra $50 fee on for customs clearance.

The ones I’ve gotten have been a percentage of declared value with a minimum. Last one was somewhere between 1-2 years ago. I generally buy small things these days so I use carriers that hand off to USPS. They’ve never charged me anything.

I can’t remember if it was UPS or FedEx, but one would rather regularly miss-classify goods, and then charge me an administrative fee for correcting the error. Some weeks later an invoice would arrive ‘just because’.

 

[StevenSGT98]

The ones I’ve gotten have been a percentage of declared value with a minimum. Last one was somewhere between 1-2 years ago. I generally buy small things these days so I use carriers that hand off to USPS. They’ve never charged me anything.

I can’t remember if it was UPS or FedEx, but one would rather regularly miss-classify goods, and then charge me an administrative fee for correcting the error. Some weeks later an invoice would arrive ‘just because’.

Trump delays key piece of China tariff plan amid threats to other countries — Guardian US

President halts plan to put tariffs on low-value packages but says he will impose duties on more countries next week

apple.news

Small value package duties from China are on pause for now. Who knows for how long.

 

[owls gone]

just garbage. worked for a couple hours and then the right channel went silent.

had a very promising sound for two hours. but not worth it. look elsewhere.

 

[EJ3]

just garbage. worked for a couple hours and then the right channel went silent.

had a very promising sound for two hours. but not worth it. look elsewhere.

From what my Chinese wife (who is currently in Chongqing [and sent me mine]) says, it's a bit of a cr%pshoot.
Our son (over there) has been through a couple, the 3rd one, so far, so good.
I'll be hooking the one she sent me up, at my mother's in a few days.
We'll see.
Most of what we have from there are things like curtains, bed spreads, small pieces of bathroom item storage, etc.
This A5 is my first personal experience with their electronics.
So, fingers crossed...

 

[renaudrenaud]

Mine is working since (near) one month. The Cambridge Audio is unplugged now.

 

[guy48065]

Trump delays key piece of China tariff plan amid threats to other countries — Guardian US

President halts plan to put tariffs on low-value packages but says he will impose duties on more countries next week

apple.news

Small value package duties from China are on pause for now. Who knows for how long.

Did you link the wrong article? That one says the opposite.

 

[guy48065]

I look forward to the day when someone reverse-engineers this box and evaluates the circuit.
It appears to be pretty simple and the teardown video I watched the build quality was excellent.
I don't see anything to be concerned about re quality & longevity. Fosi even avoided putting a cheap SMPS inside--instead choosing an oversized traditional transformer (external/replaceable).

 

[StevenSGT98]

Did you link the wrong article? That one says the opposite.

It says he halts plan to put tariffs on low-value packages.

 

[EJ3]

Did you link the wrong article? That one says the opposite.

It's all about blustering threats (that will happen) until the other party concede enough that the threats don't happen. Simple negotiating tactic that works.
Just like negotiating at a car dealership, you spend some time going back & forth & then, if you said that you would walk out if you did not get the deal you wanted, then do so.
Come back in 3 days & see if they decide that they can get closer to what you want, Maybe it's close enough & you buy the car.
Or maybe not & you walk out with no further negotiating. Come back in another 3 days, if the offer is the same as before, you can accept or walk away. If you walk away, don't bother coming back because you won't get the deal that you are looking for there.
Unless you can prove that you have a better deal form someplace else. Then MAYBE they will match it. Or maybe they will tell you to take a hike.
It's the Art of the Deal.

 

[renaudrenaud]

It's all about blustering threats (that will happen) until the other party concede enough that the threats don't happen. Simple negotiating tactic that works.
Just like negotiating at a car dealership, you spend some time going back & forth & then, if you said that you would walk out if you did not get the deal you wanted, then do so.
Come back in 3 days & see if they decide that they can get closer to what you want, Maybe it's close enough & you buy the car.
Or maybe not & you walk out with no further negotiating. Come back in another 3 days, if the offer is the same as before, you can accept or walk away. If you walk away, don't bother coming back because you won't get the deal that you are looking for there.
Unless you can prove that you have a better deal form someplace else. Then MAYBE they will match it. Or maybe they will tell you to take a hike.
It's the Art of the Deal.

This is why I don't have any car. Life is simpler and I don't waste my time this way.

Do you think it's doable more posts about the X5 and less posts about the art of commercial war.