Fosi Audio S3….serious streamer?

[yuting]

@yuting
Can you tell which digital volume controller is used in S3?

hello,is a Incremental Rotary Encoder

 

[yuting]

hello,every one ,s3 lite DVT test product has finish.

 

[Guddu]

View attachment 528215View attachment 528216hello,every one ,s3 lite DVT test product has finish.

USB is great addition, is it only USB output or USB host (to plat media disk as digital player) as well?

 

[SoySalsaPicante]

USB is great addition, is it only USB output or USB host (to plat media disk as digital player) as well?

Specifically says, “USB Out,” not just USB.

 

[Ruediger]

Nice lite version, probably at an interesting price point.

Can't imagine much for a "ultra" version though. Maybe USB out, and a touchscreen.

 

[inzekt]

Nice lite version, probably at an interesting price point.

Can't imagine much for a "ultra" version though. Maybe USB out, and a touchscreen.

I guess it will be focused more on the more premium appearance (metal casing), maybe a display and a more comprehensive pre-amp feature with discreet subwoofer filtering, maybe analog XLR inputs besides the RCA to serve as a more integrated, central hub.

 

[yuting]

USB is great addition, is it only USB output or USB host (to plat media disk as digital player) as well?

thinks ,this USB is only USB output

 

[yuting]

I guess it will be focused more on the more premium appearance (metal casing), maybe a display and a more comprehensive pre-amp feature with discreet subwoofer filtering, maybe analog XLR inputs besides the RCA to serve as a more integrated, central hub.

thanks It’s clear that you’re quite professional in the field of streaming, but I’d like to ask: where do you use your streaming products? Do you prefer streaming products that consolidate all features into a single solution, or would you rather have them tailored to specific scenarios—providing only the functionalities appropriate for each context, such as desktop or living room environments? After all, different scenarios may require different interfaces.

 

[inzekt]

thanks It’s clear that you’re quite professional in the field of streaming, but I’d like to ask: where do you use your streaming products? Do you prefer streaming products that consolidate all features into a single solution, or would you rather have them tailored to specific scenarios—providing only the functionalities appropriate for each context, such as desktop or living room environments? After all, different scenarios may require different interfaces.

When it comes to streaming, I'm currently using the S3 and to be honest it totally covers my needs. Using Tidal for streaming, using my TV for watching movies via HDMI Arc, using the 12V trigger to turn on my ZP3 and ZA3 without the need of a separate remote. It is convenient as it is. Besides some software bugs, my only missing feature is the DSP based subwoofer related high-pass filter for the outputs, so I don't have to use the ZP3 for this.

I also use my phono preamp on the RCA inputs of the S3 also.

I can imagine a scenario when someone would use an integrated, balanced streamer as a central element of their system with analogue RCA and bass-management filtering plus a display for volume level indication, maybe bitrate, etc (like ZD3/ZH3 has) and prefer a black metal casing to fit the aesthetics of other products more. Also lot of people use USB for outputting to external DACs, so it would be a nice feature also. With such a device, it could be an all-in-one product when utilising active speakers or simple poweramp(s) and that's it. Maybe a bypassable tone control section can make sense also like the ZP3 has (but separately from the bass management filtering).

On my desktop setup, I'm using active speakers with a headphone amp/preamp + DAC configuration, but looking at the ZH3, it would be perfect for that simplifying the setup. I would not consider using a streamer in this case, I'm using my Mac to play music.

For my needs -hardware wise- the S3 is quite fitting and the software part will follow hopefully.

 

[Eric Larson]

The WIIM Ultra Amp has a USB A.

I use the Ultra Amp as the only component in a small room second system aside from the speakers. It is amazing how much is in that small box given its price.

I control it from a tablet which actually cost more than the WIIM. The tablet is great for ability to present far more information than one can read on a phone or any streamer screen. Plus I can put the tablet at my seat.

My main system which includes a large TV has a Nvidia Shield for streaming which is another small Swiss Army Knife.

 

[Schlippwhip68]

View attachment 528215View attachment 528216hello,every one ,s3 lite DVT test product has finish.

If this has Airplay and Spotify connect then I am interested at least.

 

[yuting]

The WIIM Ultra Amp has a USB A.

View attachment 528885

I use the Ultra Amp as the only component in a small room second system aside from the speakers. It is amazing how much is in that small box given its price.

I control it from a tablet which actually cost more than the WIIM. The tablet is great for ability to present far more information than one can read on a phone or any streamer screen. Plus I can put the tablet at my seat.

My main system which includes a large TV has a Nvidia Shield for streaming which is another small Swiss Army Knife.

thanks ,Why do you say the iPad provides more information than streaming devices? Besides controlling your music system, what else do you use the iPad for in this setup? Additionally, you mentioned having a large TV in your music system—what role does this large TV play in your music system? Thank you.

 

[yuting]

If this has Airplay and Spotify connect then I am interested at least.

of course have ，software the same with S3

 

[Eric Larson]

thanks ,Why do you say the iPad provides more information than streaming devices? Besides controlling your music system, what else do you use the iPad for in this setup? Additionally, you mentioned having a large TV in your music system—what role does this large TV play in your music system? Thank you.

It's not an IPad, its a Samsung tablet that has Google software.

It proves more information simply through the much larger dispay screen which allows more space for Spotify display.

I use the tablet with browser software to access a wide variety of music sources on the internet.

The TV presents a variety of videos that often include musical content. Plays, documentaries, film etc.

 

[yuting]

hello，everyone，According to S3’s publicly announced optimization plan, the following features were completed in April: Qobuz Connect integration, addition of a 10-band equalizer, and support for Chinese and Japanese languages. Internal and external testing has been completed, and the new version (v0.0.243.0xc4876da) has been released and deployed over-the-air (OTA). If no manual update is performed, devices powered on will automatically update to the latest version tomorrow. Thank you！

 

[Schlippwhip68]

of course have ，software the same with S3

Ok, thanks. So basically just the S3 without the dac and with all other components equal to the current S3?

 

[Joe Smith]

My S3 did complete the update, will be trying out the improved EQ later today. For those updating, be advised that progress is slow at first re % completion, but it gets there eventually - overnight, in my case.

 

[Schlippwhip68]

In all honesty l pretty much given up on airplay these days...the waif bitrate of Airplay 2 is just not worth providing any hardware for imo. At least with Airplay 1 we would have over double the resolution of what AP2 offers. Even Ldac Bluetooth has more appeal. The performance of AP2 on the WiiM Pro and Pro plus has been glitchy on both of the models I owned and returned. I’m in the process of returning a WiiM pro due a very distorted handshake from the iPad when switching to airplay with intermittent crackle thereafter. I could not find the reason for this. It has something to do with Wiim software imo. Spotify connect, which is better quality anyway, has no issues on the same unit.

I have to admit this has made me suspicious of this range from WiiM. They dropped Airplay support after the WiiM Pro plus on their products. The popping over coaxial has been dampened via the fade in fade out feature in the software which imo is not good enough at all.

The Fiio SR 11 never gave me any issues and supports the far superior Airplay 1 but how long is going to support AP1 is another story. So while alot of people harp on about these days are the best time to be an audiophile, let me tell you, it really is not…people can only see what’s on stage and that is like the blind leading the blind.

I refuse to buy anything else from WiiM entry level gear and with their field medical approach to the software as it proves you can only put so many plasters on a wound. The Ultra of which does not have Airplay is still a solid option though but again I did not find the software lived up to the hype. I found getting to Spotify a labour for example.

Just connecting my iPad to my only dac gave far better resolution and a notable cleaner sound than the WiiM Pro too when connected over coaxial.

The only advantage any streamer might give me personally is not sound quality but ease. Using the iPad while sat in the armchair is a convenience that my aging carcass can easily welcome and afford. Controlling the S3 this way is my only use case advantage as the iPad is bit perfect when hardwired to the dac and sounds excellent.

 

[BenF]

Internal and external testing has been completed, and the new version (v0.0.243.0xc4876da) has been released and deployed over-the-air (OTA). If no manual update is performed, devices powered on will automatically update to the latest version tomorrow. Thank you！

Hi @yuting, I received the S3 today and I'm really enjoying it so far. My device still has firmware version 0.0.200.0x7146fe2 and does not find any new version. Any clues why that's the case? TIA

 

[BenF]

Just connecting my iPad to my only dac gave far better resolution and a notable cleaner sound than the WiiM Pro too when connected over coaxial.

The only advantage any streamer might give me personally is not sound quality but ease. Using the iPad while sat in the armchair is a convenience that my aging carcass can easily welcome and afford. Controlling the S3 this way is my only use case advantage as the iPad is bit perfect when hardwired to the dac and sounds excellent.

Spotify Lossless not good enough for you?