Fosi Audio V3 Amplifier Review

[dr_mick51]

This is actually one of my favorite changes vs. my old Fosi. I'm surprised people don't like it. Previously, it felt like the volume would go from almost silent to too loud in a fraction of an inch. Maybe I'm more sensitive to that because I do pretty regularly play at lower volume levels (when I'm working at my desk during the day and my wife is working in the next room). So having the ability to precisely modulate volume while keeping it low is really useful. I guess if I only cranked it loud, that extra room at the lower-volume end of the curve would seem wasteful..

I agree. But it looks like you cannot please everybody.

 

[mccririck]

While completely accurate (as usual) this is an illustration of how audio, when listening for pleasure, is an individual sound preference. Just like with valve amps, despite the objectively poorer performance on paper, some people just prefer that sound profile. Numbers can be "better" or "worse", tonal preference is just that, a preference.

There's also the possibility that people convince themselves that the more expensive is better.

 

[amirm]

So it seems enthusiasts should look for the Sonic Imagery 990ENH then?

Unless it is tested specifically in the amplifier you are using, you can't infer that. I certainly would not do so in this amplifier.

 

[amirm]

While completely accurate (as usual) this is an illustration of how audio, when listening for pleasure, is an individual sound preference. Just like with valve amps, despite the objectively poorer performance on paper, some people just prefer that sound profile. Numbers can be "better" or "worse", tonal preference is just that, a preference.

Such tests need to be controlled to create reliable data. Otherwise, it is so tempting to hear improvements that are not there. In other words, before worrying whether the new sound is to your liking, you need to be sure there is a difference to begin with!

 

[PiobGuy]

Such tests need to be controlled to create reliable data. Otherwise, it is so tempting to hear improvements that are not there. In other words, before worrying whether the new sound is to your liking, you need to be sure there is a difference to begin with!

AMEN!!!

 

[boz]

I agree. But it looks like you cannot please everybody.

Speaking personally, it might be what you're used to I guess, hence the surprise factor cf. A07

 

[Ultratek]

Hello! First time poster, long time lurker.

First things first, many thanks to the founder of ASR, amirm for providing the highest quality and most trustworthy information about audio gear on the internet. Thanks also to the many knowledgeable experts who participate in the discussions on this site. Reading the content here been a quality learning experience for me.

I've been loosely following the development of class d amplifiers for some time now - as a layman, of course.

Welcome to the Jungle.

 

[Deleted member 48726]

Hello! First time poster, long time lurker.

First things first, many thanks to the founder of ASR, amirm for providing the highest quality and most trustworthy information about audio gear on the internet. Thanks also to the many knowledgeable experts who participate in the discussions on this site. Reading the content here been a quality learning experience for me.

I've been loosely following the development of class d amplifiers for some time now - as a layman, of course. The Fosi V3 is the first one that's really caught my attention. At my age, it makes no sense for me to spend a lot of money on high-priced audio equipment. Even if I had my 16-year-old ears, my listening environment is so full of reflections, resonances, and ambient noise, I doubt I would hear the difference between a 50db SINAD amp and a 100db SINAD amp.

I've gone ahead and ordered a Fosi V3 to replace a pair of Dayton Audio APA150 amps that I bought at a garage sale for 50 bucks apiece some years ago. They are currently driving a cheap pair of Klipsch speakers sitting on my desktop. I doubt I will hear any difference when I switch to the V3. The value the V3 for me will be in the amp's aesthetics - but mostly its efficiency. I live in central Texas and my den gets direct afternoon sun through large clerestory windows. Eliminating sources of heat in the room REALLY matters to me! So $97 for this amp with the 48v power supply seem like a damn good deal. Knowing how well it measures is just icing on the cake.

I must say the discussion of this amp has been unlike any other review I've read here so far. The accusations of "fake" parts based on the thinnest of pretexts, the number of posters who then jumped on the counterfeit bandwagon, the complete lack of contrition among the accusers when the bogus claims were refuted...heck, one poster even gave amirm a homework assignment on the morality of using fake parts.

But the most astonishing thing about this discussion was the manufacturer's level of openness, transparency, and willingness to listen. AFAICT, FOSI is not even in the same league as their competitors. Bravo, Fosi

I feel obliged to point out that I applauded Fosi for investigating the different looking opamps and laying forth the results.

Remember they weren't sure themselves why they looked different!

When they did post documentation for the original TI PO's I applauded them.

I stand my ground when it comes to the morality of saying that the use of fake parts is okay for the benefit of cheaper prize and broader audience. This grind my gears a lot and I was surprised to find our ASR founder has this attitude.

Welcome to ASR. Remember to keep the objective view when reading threads and try to read all posts in a thread to gain full context.

 

[LeeRoy]

That's xactly what i am doin too! Xcept for 32V 10A PSU, also from alco..audiophonics. I thought it should be enough. Is your Fosi getting hot with 48V?
My goal is to get rid of Class A F7 clone during summer, that's why the smaller voltage. Also i will be using the xcellent Topping Preamp90.
Was it hard to deploy the Sparkos?

Sorry, I forgot to address your 2 questions.
-After long sessions (5 hours) of loud music, the Fosi can be a bit hot but not too hot to prevent you touching it. Reasonably I would say, nothing alarming.
-I received the Sparkos well packed and all the pins were perfectly vertical, so it is not hard to plug (you will also need risers that are really cheap). The hardest part was to unplug the pre installed op amps and I damaged them as the pins are larger than the Fosi ones and hardly plugged, perhaps I did not have the good tool.

 

[Elgrosso]

This is further evidence of a discrepancy in the temperatures recorded by some users. It would be necessary to understand the reason and establish which of the two behaviors is the expected one.
I suspect that proper mating of the chip to the aluminum plate and case should generate more external heat dissipation
@Fosi Audio

Funny thing is that the temperature gap was decreasing slowly day after day, and yesterday I had no difference between both!
And they are both on the low side, the « hotter » one reached down to the other one.
Strange as I thought the cooler one was the one not dissipating enough.
I did nothing to them, just opened them to check the alloy block/case contact, it was smooth.
Since temp were low anyway, and are now consistent, I will not mod anything and keep them as is.
So ordered two more in 32v for the highs! (I will report any temp difference between both 32 and 48v)

 

[maudio]

Sorry, I forgot to address your 2 questions.
-After long sessions (5 hours) of loud music, the Fosi can be a bit hot but not too hot to prevent you touching it. Reasonably I would say, nothing alarming.
-I received the Sparkos well packed and all the pins were perfectly vertical, so it is not hard to plug (you will also need risers that are really cheap). The hardest part was to unplug the pre installed op amps and I damaged them as the pins are larger than the Fosi ones and hardly plugged, perhaps I did not have the good tool.

Thnx, my Fosi coming 2day, with the audiophonics 32V SPS already waiting. I also had a Teddy Pardo DC cable lying around which i will use.
Sparkos are on the way and should arrive this week then i will exchange them. Are u sayin i need some sort of adaptor for Sparkos? i hoped i can insert them without it so i did not order it.

 

[dfgoiuj]

I've been using the Topping PA3s with ELAC DBR62 for a while now and it's great. Fosi's amp with Bluetooth didn't appeal to me, but I couldn't resist playing with the V3 at this price and so I've placed an order for the 48v package. I'll be doing some frequency response measurements with each amp to see how much of an effect the load dependancy has at the top end. I doubt I'll be able to hear the difference though - my hearing tops out around 15 to 16KHz. The plan is to then create some filters with DRC and see how they compare after that.

My only concern with the Fosi is that it's turned on using the volume control. It will be used like a power amp with the Topping E30 DAC as a preamp and it would have been nice to have a separate power button so I wouldn't have to worry about matching the output with the sub on the rare occasion I need to turn it off. I do have the sub feeding the amp via RCA though, so I guess I could start using the high level terminals on the sub and have the amp feed that instead.

 

[TonyJZX]

operationally that would be weird as you use the knob to set your desired volume and you leave it like that

but then you cant turn it off and so you might add a smart power board with some way to trigger it on via wifi but then does it THUMP on start that way???

or do you just leave it on 24/7? I would do that given they use so little power anyway

 

[LeeRoy]

Thnx, my Fosi coming 2day, with the audiophonics 32V SPS already waiting. I also had a Teddy Pardo DC cable lying around which i will use.
Sparkos are on the way and should arrive this week then i will exchange them. Are u sayin i need some sort of adaptor for Sparkos? i hoped i can insert them without it so i did not order it.

It is not an adapter but a riser of a few milimeters so that the SS3602 does not touch the other elements around.

 

[Talisman]

It is not an adapter but a riser of a few milimeters so that the SS3602 does not touch the other elements around.
View attachment 295362

Oh my gosh it's beautiful, it's like a tiny opamp cable lifter

 

[carpman]

I asked Fosi Audio if the V3 might be made available in silver. They're considering it. Though I wouldn't be surprised if the orange volume control remains a singular gesture to us superficial, shallow types.

 

[cyclo]

@Fosi Audio is it possible to make the orange knob available on Amazon?

 

[mccririck]

My V3 arrived today with 48V power supply and orange knob. I was surprised how quickly it arrived as I ordered it last week on aliexpress. Very well packaged and the unit feels well made.

I've already given it a quick listen and it seems to have more bass thump than my SMSL DA-9.

 

[Lux_ury]

I'm really looking forward to trying this amp it's on its way, on a plane I think? I'm digging out a pair of B&Ws CDM2 special editions I found in the attic. I remember it having a really awfully bright top end and hoping a dac and amp can bring it out to another level for regular listening without fatigue.
I must remember more that Hifi is for fun and listening to good music.
Like I have been saying Fosi and others have opened a market for a newer generation to enjoy music.
I wish it was this affordable when I was a kid.
I forgot I ordered the 48v unit

 

[Talisman]

I'm the one who suggested those opamps might be fake because they don't look nothing alike the ones I have bought directly from TI in Dallas, TX (manufactured in Mexico). I think that based on that I had reasonable reasons to believe they are fake (specially for a product coming from China. I'm sorry but that's the truth). And I'm also the one who said no matter if they are original or fake it is better to replace them with a NE5532AP (or low/guaranteed noise version) or better. I even said the amp sounded quiet good with the stock opamps, but better with the OPA1656.

So basically you've made a number of statements ranging from

- Unfounded accusations about alleged fake parts used by a company, aggravated by the attempt to justify yourself (you know they are Chinese....)

- Nothing based claims about opamps that should be replaced in your opinion (despite evidence of very good performance of the measured sample with n originals)

-Totally subjective and therefore essentially absolutely useless statements about what you think sounds better.

Uhm uhm.... Lots of interesting stuff indeed