Fosi Audio S3….serious streamer?

[yuting]

Yes, agree, different needs...great that we have so many equipment choices available!

The main value in a streamer for me over bluetooth is, frankly, power savings for my phone when listening to Spotify in rooms other than my main workroom system. I can use the phone as control but the streamer is doing the "work." I still use BT occasionally on my dining room amp (SMSL AO100) and upstairs bedroom (currently with Fosi BT20a MAX). Both of these BT connections are good and the sound quality "good enough" for casual listening. We are in a 1916 home so many rooms, no easy way to do a multi-room single system, so I have a lot of separate setups.

I don't use PEQ, if Fosi does release a 10-band EQ on the S3, I will probably adjust the EQ for the living room a bit, but my rooms don't require a lot of EQ. (Good speaker placement clearing furniture, I don't use subwoofers, floors are carpeted and there are draperies, so not a lot of hard, bouncy surfaces.)

I think you've been using the S3 for a while. How do you feel about its sound quality? Also, could you share your experience regarding its usability?

 

[yuting]

Post in thread 'Fosi Audio S3….serious streamer?' https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/fosi-audio-s3…-serious-streamer.69978/post-2559973

Post in thread 'Fosi Audio S3….serious streamer?' https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/fosi-audio-s3…-serious-streamer.69978/post-2559204


?

For hardware...

line input, no ADC... direct to analog output via the potentiometer?
Approach to level/gain adjustment... ?
how is it done?
What type of potentiometer is it?
Where is it located in the signal path?
Thanks

hi,Just to confirm the signal path: all inputs—RCA, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth—go through an ADC into the streaming module. After processing, digital signals are passed through directly, while analog signals are output via a DAC. Thanks for the discussion.
By the way, I'm curious—what sparked your interest in the specific audio signal flow? It's not a topic many users tend to dig into.

 

[yuting]

Agreed and it has worked flawlessly since I unboxed. All updates have been trouble free and added functionality. No complaints.

you have a S3 ,yes? how about you use it? how about the sound and other ?

 

[yuting]

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!

ok,good idea, I will think add it .

 

[yuting]

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

it will support 10-band EQ

 

[yuting]

Will S3 Lite still have ARC input?

 

[Joe Smith]

I think you've been using the S3 for a while. How do you feel about its sound quality? Also, could you share your experience regarding its usability?

I think the sound quality is very good. I have just a few thoughts about functionality, I hope to write at some length about the device this weekend. But overall, I think it's very good and am looking forward to the further firmware and app improvements coming soon!

 

[morillon]

View attachment 523541

ok,good idea, I will think add it .

Post in thread 'Fosi Audio S3….serious streamer?' https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...audio-s3…-serious-streamer.69978/post-2560757

 

[staticV3]

it will support 10-band EQ

GEQ or PEQ?

 

[morillon]

GEQ or PEQ?

It seems like GEC...
hence my question, which remains unanswered ( along with a few others that seem important for the future)...for now, if a PEC mode is in development...?

which is of a completely different nature.

Subway management is also an important topic... ?
and of course, level management/approach?
;-)

 

[aswillman]

Frankly, Fosi offered me a unit to demo and test out for them...the Mini was working fine, and I will incorporate it into my sunporch system once this spring weather settles down. I do like the WiiM app a lot.

I think the HDMI connection is useful, also the XLR outputs...while I am not using now, may have need of in the future...

The other plus is the AKM dac, I think that and the other chipset of the S3 is better than the Mini overall.

I’ve got my evaluation unit too. Hoping to write something in the next week or so. It’s sitting alongside my WiiM Ultra in my rack.

 

[morillon]

Given the current state of development of the S3, software, etc., unless there's an absolute need for "balanced" sound, would a comparison with Wiim products like the Ultra make sense?

Let's give the FOSI developers time to work extensively on the software, shall we? On the other hand, what would be interesting is to know if there are any hardware limitations regarding signal processing functions, and FOSI's future investment capacity in software.
Wiim originated from this...
FOSl is more focused on audio hardware (even if the S3 is in the "same vein" as the Pro plus Wiim).

Wiim has several years of software progress behind it now, with streaming, DSP, and Roomfit features... even if, like everything, there are still things that can be improved, which is almost to be expected given the abundance of "extra" functions beyond the "streamer" function.

Ultimately, the DAC stage is even quite easy for Wiim, and they'll learn to do "better"... almost standardized, with chip manufacturers offering high-performance support. But what about the complexity of software development for FOSi?


Wait and see
;-)

 

[jareinertson]

you have a S3 ,yes? how about you use it? how about the sound and other ?

No, the comment was regarding a WiiM Mini, but thanks for asking. I am considering evaluating the S3 as an alternative to my WiiM Mini but the WiiM software system is very good IMO.

 

[morillon]

The audio quality can't be compared to the Mini... mini's too basic.
But it could be compared to the Plus or the Ultra.


And the functionality, given the connectivity... with the Ultra... and all the associated software issues...

(Price
Seem
Plus <s3< ultra
not the mini product range

;-)
)

 

[jareinertson]

The audio quality can't be compared to the Mini... mini's too basic.
But it could be compared to the Plus or the Ultra.


And the functionality, given the connectivity... with the Ultra... and all the associated software issues...

(Price
Seem
Plus <s3< ultra
not the mini product range

;-)
)

I am using the Mini with an external DAC, the SMSL RAW MDA1 and am very happy with quality but I would like to use the DAC for another system and will either get another DAC for the Mini or possibly replace it with the S3 which has the XLR outputs I desire.

 

[fredreadrick]

The audio quality can't be compared to the Mini... mini's too basic.
But it could be compared to the Plus or the Ultra.


And the functionality, given the connectivity... with the Ultra... and all the associated software issues...

(Price
Seem
Plus <s3< ultra
not the mini product range

;-)
)

Wiim mini audio quality when using external dac is on par with other streamers I have had owned - eversolo dmpA6g2me, wiim ultra, DIYpc/pi

 

[Guddu]

It seems like GEC...
hence my question, which remains unanswered ( along with a few others that seem important for the future)...for now, if a PEC mode is in development...?

which is of a completely different nature.

Subway management is also an important topic... ?
and of course, level management/approach?
;-)

+1
Current firmware/software has 5 band EQ, not PEQ.
Subwoofer crossover is also still isn’t available.

 

[nongnet]

Streaming functionality aside, S3 is better than ZD3 in what ways ?

 

[yuting]

+1
Current firmware/software has 5 band EQ, not PEQ.
Subwoofer crossover is also still isn’t available.

View attachment 524021

we will add to 10 band EQ this month sure OTA,thanks

 

[Guddu]

we will add to 10 band EQ this month sure OTA,thanks

Definitely looking forward to it.