Fosi Audio S3….serious streamer?

[Schlippwhip68]

Sory for question but would like to know before buying; does Spotify connect support Lossless playing on Fosi S3?
Thank you!

According to Fosi the S3 supports Spotify Lossless. They recently contacted and ASR member, namely Joe Smith and confirmed Spotify Lossless.

 

[Schlippwhip68]

I feel like Fosi tried a little too hard to be everything to everyone with the S3, and seem to have ended up with a product that doesn't really have a USP. If someone wants an all-in-one streamer at this price point, then surely they're going to buy the WiiM Pro? Similarly, someone can get a Fosi ZD3 and a WiiM mini at the same price point, which gives a great DAC (with USB input) and all the benefits of WiiM streaming. For even less, someone can get the ZH3 and a WiiM mini and have a great little headphone amp as well.

In typical Fosi style they have made the S3 in a different shape, different colour and different set of dimensions to everything else they offer, so even "I'll buy it to match my other Fosi gear" is out of the window as a reason to buy. Still, can't fault Fosi for trying, I have a lot of their stuff and most of it is very good, and it makes other manufactures have to compete on the quality and pricing front.

For anyone interested, here are some of Fosi's popular and recent products, using their distinctive "Tetris Design Language":

Model	Width (mm)	Depth (mm)	Height (mm)
ZA3 Stereo Amp	155	184	51
BT20A Max Stereo Amp	140	148	45
V3 Mono Amp	102	142	35
ZD3 DAC	155	160	48
ZH3 Headphone Amp / DAC	155	162	50
ZP3 Preamp	239	164	54
P4 Preamp	114	162	43
X5 Phono Preamp	104	165	36
S3 Streamer	173	173	47

While I understand some people desire for uniformity it is not always the best direction. If you look at nature itself you will rarely find it but if you look at Einstein's wardrobe you will. Unlike God, Einstein could be easily be distracted.

Just saying.

Personally I like the individuality of the design which also is working to one goal with the rest of the equipment.

 

[yuting]

Sory for question but would like to know before buying; does Spotify connect support Lossless playing on Fosi S3?
Thank you!

yes ,support

 

[gwing]

While I understand some people desire for uniformity it is not always the best direction. If you look at nature itself you will rarely find it but if you look at Einstein's wardrobe you will. Unlike God, Einstein could be easily be distracted.

Just saying.

Personally I like the individuality of the design which also is working to one goal with the rest of the equipment.

There is both uniformity and variance around a mean in nature yet when you look at a collection of trees in a forest or plants in a field or pebbles on a beach etc. there tends to be an attractive harmony to them not found in a bunch of manufactured boxes of different sizes and shape that haven't been designed with the intention of them matching or at least harmonising together.

 

[amarsicola]

thank you !
we have S3 Lite Release Plan
View attachment 521752

Core Features:

• Pure Digital Transport (No DAC): Dedicated digital turntable functionality without built-in DAC.
  
  
• Connectivity: USB output + Coaxial output + Optical output.
  
  
• Target Price: $150–$200 USD.
  
  
• Design: Black finish, unified design language consistent with the ZA3 and ZD3 models.

Industrial Design Renderings:

Estimated Time to Market: End of August 2026

Thank you for sharing, will S3 Lite support parametric equalizer?

 

[fredreadrick]

thank you !
we have S3 Lite Release Plan
View attachment 521752

Core Features:

• Pure Digital Transport (No DAC): Dedicated digital turntable functionality without built-in DAC.
  
  
• Connectivity: USB output + Coaxial output + Optical output.
  
  
• Target Price: $150–$200 USD.
  
  
• Design: Black finish, unified design language consistent with the ZA3 and ZD3 models.

Industrial Design Renderings:

Estimated Time to Market: End of August 2026

Wish it will have also a usb input where it can read an external HDD.

 

[SoySalsaPicante]

thank you !
we have S3 Lite Release Plan
View attachment 521752

Core Features:

• Pure Digital Transport (No DAC): Dedicated digital turntable functionality without built-in DAC.
  
  
• Connectivity: USB output + Coaxial output + Optical output.
  
  
• Target Price: $150–$200 USD.
  
  
• Design: Black finish, unified design language consistent with the ZA3 and ZD3 models.

Industrial Design Renderings:

Estimated Time to Market: End of August 2026

Will S3 Lite still have ARC input?

 

[morillon]

Wish it will have also a usb input where it can read an external HDD.

Sufficiently powered...


(But we can also understand that for manufacturers, making a streamer here, having access to """97%""" of "music" of what exists... the idea of external mass storage might seem a little surprising... it adds a complication and a small cost... or even a need... for space...)

It seems to me that the bulk of the work ahead is on the software side... the hardware is relative...

 

[Zetti]

Will S3 Lite still have ARC input?

From their forum: "It is a streaming transport designed solely for receiving audio streams; it does not include a built-in DAC"

They have a rendered photo of the back. All digital outputs: coaxial, toslink, USB, along with LAN, trigger and power.

 

[SoySalsaPicante]

From their forum: "It is a streaming transport designed solely for receiving audio streams; it does not include a built-in DAC"

They have a rendered photo of the back. All digital outputs: coaxial, toslink, USB, along with LAN, trigger and power.

Streaming transports can still pass through digital inputs. A WiiM Ultra doesn’t utilize its internal DAC when sending ARC input through to one of its digital outputs.

I saw the renderings of S3 Lite in Fosi’s forums; it’s months away, it can’t hurt to ask for something extra this far ahead of final production.

 

[yuting]

Will S3 Lite still have ARC input?

I am sorry,The product is positioned as a streaming receiver box; therefore, it does not feature an HDMI interface.

 

[snickers]

Thank you for your interest in Fosi Audio’s streaming products.
Our goal with this product was to provide Hi‑Fi enthusiasts with a streaming DAC that delivers exceptional sound quality. That’s why we spent so much time tuning the audio performance and included professional-grade audio interfaces.
Regarding your suggestion about adding a volume gain feature—could you share why you’d like to have this function?

Thank you for your answer. What I meant with: "Only thing I'm missing for myself is a additional loudness function" is the addition a parametric loudness equalization. I'm using it permanently on my RME Adi-2 DAC, and is also the reason why I chose the RME over other products. I'm living in an apartment and can't turn the volume up as much as I would like most of the time and on low volumes my system sounds a bit flat and boring. With the loudness it's like bringing back the live. That's why I asked, as I'm not buying anymore a DAC/Preamp without it. Hope it can be realized in the future!

 

[SoySalsaPicante]

I am sorry,The product is positioned as a streaming receiver box; therefore, it does not feature an HDMI interface.

Does the standard S3 pass through ARC to coax or optical output? I had only tested with analog output before returning it.

 

[xanalog]

Below is the EQ interface we’re currently optimizing—we’re also expanding the EQ from 5 bands to 10 bands.
These updates are expected to be released in May.

Kudos! +1

So that I (we) don't have to have multiple hardware, to route processed-analog audio from products like a DAP, a PC, or any other digital audio source.

I had intentionally excluded references to the S3's EQ functionality; as the need for USB-C I/O would make it pleasure to apply a preset EQ to external DACs/etc.

I would not use Bluetooth and do not see the limited codec support as a disadvantage.

I must have at least 6 devices with BlueTooth. Yet, I have no desires to use any one of these devices in their BT-mode.

 

[yuting]

I feel like Fosi tried a little too hard to be everything to everyone with the S3, and seem to have ended up with a product that doesn't really have a USP. If someone wants an all-in-one streamer at this price point, then surely they're going to buy the WiiM Pro? Similarly, someone can get a Fosi ZD3 and a WiiM mini at the same price point, which gives a great DAC (with USB input) and all the benefits of WiiM streaming. For even less, someone can get the ZH3 and a WiiM mini and have a great little headphone amp as well.

In typical Fosi style they have made the S3 in a different shape, different colour and different set of dimensions to everything else they offer, so even "I'll buy it to match my other Fosi gear" is out of the window as a reason to buy. Still, can't fault Fosi for trying, I have a lot of their stuff and most of it is very good, and it makes other manufactures have to compete on the quality and pricing front.

For anyone interested, here are some of Fosi's popular and recent products, using their distinctive "Tetris Design Language":

Model	Width (mm)	Depth (mm)	Height (mm)
ZA3 Stereo Amp	155	184	51
BT20A Max Stereo Amp	140	148	45
V3 Mono Amp	102	142	35
ZD3 DAC	155	160	48
ZH3 Headphone Amp / DAC	155	162	50
ZP3 Preamp	239	164	54
P4 Preamp	114	162	43
X5 Phono Preamp	104	165	36
S3 Streamer	173	173	47

Thank you for your interest in our Fosi streaming products. We are currently developing a black finish, and the render is shown below. The estimated time to market is Q3.

 

[Joe Smith]

Thank you for your interest in our Fosi streaming products. We are currently developing a black finish, and the render is shown below. The estimated time to market is Q3.
View attachment 521998

The legends are a bit easier to see in this rendering than the current silver-wash version, but are still very tiny. I had a similar issue with the Merak legend silkscreening. You might think about increasing the font size and density of the graphics so that they are easier to read in less than full light. (I have been using my flashlight a lot the past two days learning my way around the S3.)

 

[yuting]

Does the standard S3 pass through ARC to coax or optical output? I had only tested with analog output before returning it.

yes ,it have XLR and optical out ,and have good sound ,you can test

 

[morillon]

yes ,it have XLR and optical out ,and have good sound ,you can test

Explanations on how the subwoofer is processed? 2+1 filtering management? settings available?

There's a bit of confusion... the line input is without ADC but classic analog, then routed to the analog outputs via potentially level control?


Thank you

 

[yuting]

The legends are a bit easier to see in this rendering than the current silver-wash version, but are still very tiny. I had a similar issue with the Merak legend silkscreening. You might think about increasing the font size and density of the graphics so that they are easier to read in less than full light. (I have been using my flashlight a lot the past two days learning my way around the S3.)

Thank you for supporting Fosi's streaming products! We highly recommend experiencing the sound via the XLR connection—it truly shines there. We dedicated significant effort to acoustic tuning, and the unit also boasts impressive audio specifications.

 

[morillon]

Thank you for supporting Fosi's streaming products! We highly recommend experiencing the sound via the XLR connection—it truly shines there. We dedicated significant effort to acoustic tuning, and the unit also boasts impressive audio specifications.

Not that many people actually use them...so I hope the asymmetric output is just as interesting...
;-)