• Welcome to ASR. There are many reviews of audio hardware and expert members to help answer your questions. Click here to have your audio equipment measured for free!

Fosi Audio V3 Amplifier Review

Rate this amplifier:

  • 1. Poor (headless panther)

    Votes: 11 2.0%

  • 2. Not terrible (postman panther)

    Votes: 44 7.9%

  • 3. Fine (happy panther)

    Votes: 260 46.6%

  • 4. Great (golfing panther)

    Votes: 243 43.5%
  • Total voters
    558
wineaholic said:
Just got it. The build quality is impressive. The miserable English in the advertisements still makes it look like a cheap product.

Is 24V 3A enough for Yamaha NX-E800 speakers?

Technical data:
System: 2-way bass reflex, compact speaker
Magnetic shielding
Chassis: 2
Tweeter: 2.5 cm dome tweeter
Woofer: 13 cm cone
Power handling (nominal/music wattage): 60 W / 110 W
Efficiency: 87 dB
Frequency response: 55-28,000 Hz
80 kHz (-30 dB)
Impedance: 6 Ohm
Click to expand...
Hi, I have the same speakers as you, and I am planning to buy the fosi v3. Is the combination good ?
 
motorstereo said:
Would the dual power supplies be an improvement at sane-normal listening levels? If so would it be enough to swap out the very convenient single ps with the filter or is it just a barely noticeable change?
Click to expand...
Depends what your normal listening level is. If you already have a working system and a multimeter, check the ac voltage from speaker terminals while listening at the volume you think you will need and you might get an indication. I think most of us will hardly ever use more than one watt rms, as that usually means atleast 80-85db at listening position. Most tower speakers are stupid loud at just one watt.
 
TonyJZX said:
i dont doubt this amp will have issues with difficult to drive speakers but surely most of the common mass market speakers you expect to use on a $120 unit should pose no problem to this?

i'm not saying this amp will not have problems with a variety of speakers but i'm guessing the target audience is never going to encounter that?

show me a common speaker than the average V3 owner will come across that will show these bad results?
Click to expand...
Just unpacked the second V3. I'm going to connect them to, for example, BC DCX464 or 18" woofers. The speakers seem quite common. Maybe the audience is not the target. Or the owner are not averaged properly. How to live on now?..
 
Any advice on replacement potmeter for V3 stereo? The unequal levels at low volume listening drives me crazy. I know about setting the level on preamp/music source, but want a fully working potmeter on amplifier. ;)
 
Last edited:
There are a few approaches:
  1. Buy several, test low level channel matching, and use the best one.
  2. Use a stepped attenuator - expensive if you need a lot of steps, but channel match is always good.
  3. Try to find a coaxial potentiometer so you can adjust channels independently when needed.
  4. Use inline attenuators so you don't need to set the pot at the low end of its range.
 
vrobec said:
Any advice on replacement potmeter for V3 stereo? The unequal levels at low volume listening drives me crazy. I know about setting the level on preamp/music source, but want a fully working potmeter on amplifier. ;)
Click to expand...
Finding an audio tapered volume pot with more than 20 dB of linearity is like searching for a unicorn. I just run mine 100% and adjust the volume upstream digitally (with a MiniDSP).
 
Amazon shows a high return rate for the V3 Mono. Curious if there is any insight to this indicator for the V3 Mono?
 
TurtlePaul said:
Finding an audio tapered volume pot with more than 20 dB of linearity is like searching for a unicorn. I just run mine 100% and adjust the volume upstream digitally (with a MiniDSP).
Click to expand...
This is one aspect where the new Schiit Saga 2 preamp really shines, because of the stepped relay attenuators. Perfect channel matching all of the way down to zero. That said, my V3 seems good in this respect, I’m not aware of low volume imbalance.
 
Joe Smith said:
Maybe people who were trying out but could not hear much/any improvement…? The stereo V3 is perfectly good for many users…
Click to expand...
I agree. I really like the V3 mono's, but I'm also using the V3 stereo with the 48v/10a PSU that came with the mono's and it sounds fantastic.
 
One of the reasons I avoided buying these is because I knew I'd be tempted to change the op-amps/power supplies and I would have to get more stuff and didn't want to go down that rabbit hole, because of the cost and time involved. I got the SMSL PA200 instead.
 
I got one of these a few days ago. There is a perceptible hum with nothing connected to the inputs, and very much audible. I got the 48V power supply that came with the amp, this is not the GaN one.

When i put my palm on the body the hum/noise disappears. Grounding issue obviously.

The AC socket and power cable is 2-way Type C without any earth 3rd pin/socket.

I have asked Amazon for a replacement, let's see if the unit that arrives on Monday has the same issue.
 
How bad is the on/off pop sound ?
 
gasolin75 said:
How bad is the on/off pop sound ?
Click to expand...
i did not find it bad with the Acoustic Energy AE100 (~25 year old bookshelfs)... But first i need to check the new replacement unit coming in today, first hope it is quiet and not like the one i got earlier with a bad hum... I will report back...
 
soundtrane said:
I got one of these a few days ago. There is a perceptible hum with nothing connected to the inputs, and very much audible. I got the 48V power supply that came with the amp, this is not the GaN one.

When i put my palm on the body the hum/noise disappears. Grounding issue obviously.

The AC socket and power cable is 2-way Type C without any earth 3rd pin/socket.

I have asked Amazon for a replacement, let's see if the unit that arrives on Monday has the same issue.
Click to expand...
After a long string of asinine questions and suggestions from the FOSI support guy and upon my insistence that a real tech guy address the problem, here's what i got:

Thank you for reaching out.

The FOSI engineer replied:
1. Please confirm that the grounding terminal in your home is correctly connected to the earth ground. [2-pin AC connector on their power supply - to be noted]
2. Please wrap two turns of copper wire around the output plug of the 48V/5A power adapter, insert it into the DC power jack of the V3, and connect the other end of the copper wire to the earth ground.
3. Please purchase a replacement power adapter of the same specifications with a grounding terminal.


I dont know if FOSI people lurk around here on ASR... If they do, please take a good look at what your 'Engineer' has suggested as a solution.

Even my 75 year old Mom knows the difference between a 2-pin AC connector and socket and a 3-pin one. And she's not a PhD in Electronics, but hey, she's an amazing woman. She loves music ranging from Duran Duran to Judas Priest, she hits the gym every morning for an hour and she cried inconsolably upon hearing of Ozzy. She's a rockstar in the kitchen and home and i have learned a lot from her ability to organise and make things efficient. Love you Mom. :)
 
Hey, what do you think of the v3 compared to the Wiim amp ultra ? (Amp section)
I'm hesitating with an amp based on hypex ncore NC252MP too.

My speakers are focal profile 918 and the v3 is ok for listening at low volume but lack or details when i push it. I think i need more power.

I have now v3 stereo with dac aiyima t8.

Thanks for your thoughts
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

amirm
  • Poll Poll
Douk G7 Amplifier Review
7 8 9
Replies
175
Views
23K
EJ3
E
N
Small desk amp advice
Replies
5
Views
1K
Joe Smith
J
O
Replace MRX1120 with x3800h + Fosi audio V3 mono?
Replies
13
Views
2K
peng
P
amirm
  • Poll Poll
Ampapa D1 Stereo Amplifier Review
10 11 12
Replies
238
Views
34K
john61ct
J
amirm
  • Poll Poll
Apollon 1ET6525SA ST Amplifier Review
13 14 15
Replies
299
Views
48K
Apollon Audio
Apollon Audio
Back
Top Bottom