Fosi Audio V3 Mono Amplifier Review

[burkm]

Isolating the problem device is somtimes hard. If it would be really the Fosi Audio V3 Mono amp, You probably still got warranty for those. New units might sometimes fail early no matter what the price or quality control has been. Thus early failures might happen everywhere with everything. If You think, that the amps are responsible for the stated problems, let Fosi Audio know about it and have them serviced or exchanged the unit right away.

@Freezak
I have not read any reviews, and I read a lot, critizising, that in the voice region "very noticable distortion" was detected. Would You be so kind and provide the URLs for those reviews...
Defects may always happen, but shouldn't "accumulate" or be "ignored"...

 

[Freezak]

Isolating the problem device is somtimes hard. If it would be really the Fosi Audio V3 Mono amp, You probably still got warranty for those. New units might sometimes fail early no matter what the price or quality control has been. Thus early failures might happen everywhere with everything. If You think, that the amps are responsible, let Fosi Audio know about and have them serviced or exchanged right away.

@Freezak
I have not read any reviews, and I read a lot, critizising, that in the voice region "very noticable distortion" was detected. Would You be so kind and provide the URLs for those reviews...
Defects may always happen, but shouldn't "accumulate"...

This one v

Review Wharfedale Diamond 12.2 - Bright like a diamond?

The competition in this field is cut-throat. And that means that a product just has to be right. And this diamond does not...

www.alpha-audio.net

"We can be fairly brief: the Wharfedale Diamond 12.2 doesn’t perform well in our measurements. The frequency response is pretty much okay, but where it goes wrong is distortion. We see a huge peak around 190 Hz (1.8%) and then another one around 560 Hz (3%). These are nasty, because the one at 560 Hz is at 3% and also full in the vocal range. Then another hump between 2000 and 3000 Hz. That one is just above 1%."

 

[Sokel]

This one v

Review Wharfedale Diamond 12.2 - Bright like a diamond?

The competition in this field is cut-throat. And that means that a product just has to be right. And this diamond does not...

www.alpha-audio.net

"We can be fairly brief: the Wharfedale Diamond 12.2 doesn’t perform well in our measurements. The frequency response is pretty much okay, but where it goes wrong is distortion. We see a huge peak around 190 Hz (1.8%) and then another one around 560 Hz (3%). These are nasty, because the one at 560 Hz is at 3% and also full in the vocal range. Then another hump between 2000 and 3000 Hz. That one is just above 1%."

1% is one thing up there,though 8-9% as we see above is totally different.
That's a graph of a deformed voice coil,either from pushing it in or from heat.

Or a x-over issue?
But not normal,at all.

 

[Freezak]

1% is one thing up there,though 8-9% as we see above is totally different.
That's a graph of a deformed voice coil,either from pushing it in or from heat.

Or a x-over issue?
But not normal,at all.

Perhaps there's some QC problem with Diamond 12.2, hard to say, it could as well be the V3 Mono. It would be a good idea to try some other speakers paired with this unit and, perhaps, different V3 Mono too if needed.

 

[ninetylol]

Can anyone explain why 3rd hamonic though What does it mean shouldnt highest be 2nd? Its pretty obvious that its a tweeter or Crossover Problem though. It is audible too.

Perhaps there's some QC problem with Diamond 12.2, hard to say, it could as well be the V3 Mono. It would be a good idea to try some other speakers paired with this unit and, perhaps, different V3 Mono too if needed.

I also tried 12.1 and Lintons with the V3M and while one Linton speaker exhibited the same problem in similar area it was just above 1% THD. My two different pairs of 12.2 both had some distortion spikes at 500-600Hz (~1% THD@75db) too btw. So i think the review is not lieing. I also found another review which shows the same thing about the 12.2

Since i also have Linton measurements with the Wiim Amp and its similar with one speaker, i think the V3Mono are working as intended.

 

[burkm]

This one v

Review Wharfedale Diamond 12.2 - Bright like a diamond?

The competition in this field is cut-throat. And that means that a product just has to be right. And this diamond does not...

www.alpha-audio.net

"We can be fairly brief: the Wharfedale Diamond 12.2 doesn’t perform well in our measurements. The frequency response is pretty much okay, but where it goes wrong is distortion. We see a huge peak around 190 Hz (1.8%) and then another one around 560 Hz (3%). These are nasty, because the one at 560 Hz is at 3% and also full in the vocal range. Then another hump between 2000 and 3000 Hz. That one is just above 1%."

I read the whole review in Your link https://www.alpha-audio.net/review/review-wharfedale-diamond-12-2-bright-like-a-diamond-en/3/ (five pages)
I wondered somewhat about Your reply, because the mentioned Wharfedale Diamond 12.2 speaker in that review had those distortion problems with all mentioned (well known) amps listed (my fault (?) I didn't find the Fosi Audio V3 Mono not even mentioned), because, as concluded in the final section by the reviewer, he diagnosed the problem due the inductance value in that corresponding frequency divider branch of the speaker, which seemed to have a false value ...

 

[ninetylol]

I wonder somewhat about Your reply, because the mentioned Wharfedale speaker in that review had those distortion problems with all connected (well known) amps (I didn't find the Fosi Audio V3 Mono not even mentioned), because, as concluded in the final section by the reviewer, he diagnosed the problem due the inductance value in that corresponding frequency divider branch of the speaker, which seemed to have a false value ...

Freezak was speaking about the Wharfedale 12.2 in particular (sorry for hijacking this thread)

 

[Freezak]

Can anyone explain why 3rd hamonic though What does it mean shouldnt highest be 2nd? Its pretty obvious that its a tweeter or Crossover Problem though. It is audible too.


I also tried 12.1 and Lintons with the V3M and while one Linton speaker exhibited the same problem in similar area it was just above 1% THD. My two different pairs of 12.2 both had some distortion spikes at 500-600Hz (~1% THD@75db) too btw. So i think the review is not lieing. I also found another review which shows the same thing about the 12.2

Since i also have Linton measurements with the Wiim Amp and its similar with one speaker, i think the V3Mono are working as intended.

Yeah this sounds like a speaker problem then, bummer it was never reviewed by @amirm, but perhaps it's old enough right now that we might as well forget about it, it doesn't appear to be a good choice, unfortunately.

 

[galego100]

My situation with @Fosi Audio support is getting worst . After all this time, i receive a package today . But i ordered and pay/pledge two monos and they only send one!! This is unbelivable!!!! So with one mono i can´t do anything!!!!!!

 

[vuittion]

You can always listen in mono.

 

[galego100]

You don't have to agree to my position and opinion

My opinion: It's not Fosi Audio's fault but that of the Spanish Customs. Thus I don't know what You are complaining about because Fosi Audio is going to sent another set to Your address. Fosi can't probably sent Your V3 monos because they don't have any available currently, thus Your official address and the trackin ID is placed on the waiting list. Nobody is going to conjure up because of this, You just have to wait, don't You, although patience doesn't seem to be Your primary motion ?

Sorry, neither I can't help You nor - at least it seems to me - Fosi Audio right away...»

Update , today i receive one mono only . @Fosi Audio doesn´t send two as i backed up on the kickstarter. So this is still good support for you? Worst experience i have ever had.

 

[yo!]

Hi there!

I have the V3 Fosi on my shortlist, stereo or mono type will all be OK for my usage.
The main reason is the auto on off function.

to make it short: Is the auto on off working reliable or are there pitfalls with this function? (Otherwise I go with another topping)

Greets!
yo

 

[vuittion]

There are no pitfalls that im aware of.

 

[Deleted member 72219]

Hi there!

I have the V3 Fosi on my shortlist, stereo or mono type will all be OK for my usage.
The main reason is the auto on off function.

to make it short: Is the auto on off working reliable or are there pitfalls with this function? (Otherwise I go with another topping)

Greets!
yo

Some of us (like myself) have had flawless performance from the auto-on/off feature, but I’ve also seen a number of people having noise on the mains cause the amps to turn/stay on (primarily people with light dimmers and/or LED bulbs, for some strange reason).

-Ed

 

[yo!]

Thanks for your feedback!
Oh ... this makes things not easier
Around 120 LEDs and a bunch of dimmed power supplies are installed here ... but this really sounds strange, maybe switching peaks in the power rails? IEM Filters ... ?

 

[Rafaille]

Thanks for your feedback!
Oh ... this makes things not easier
Around 120 LEDs and a bunch of dimmed power supplies are installed here ... but this really sounds strange, maybe switching peaks in the power rails? IEM Filters ... ?

If using balanced inputs you will most likely be fine. Only one person here has an issue with a floor standing lamp (on same socket electrical circuit as amps) but if I recall well, his preamp was picking up the noise that the LED was making, not the amp itself. As far as I can tell, all others that had issue with auto on/off were using unbalanced comnections.

 

[ninetylol]

I had strange pops while playing music with auto standy mode on. Wouldnt recommend counting on it working flawless.

 

[SMen]

Hi there!

I have the V3 Fosi on my shortlist, stereo or mono type will all be OK for my usage.
The main reason is the auto on off function.

to make it short: Is the auto on off working reliable or are there pitfalls with this function? (Otherwise I go with another topping)

Greets!
yo

I am using balanced inputs but I've got a couple of subwoofers connected to the pre-amp ... so switching on lights (since attaching these) can make the amps switch on.
But personally I don't mind the occasional 'click on' for whatever reason.

It is not as though I'm forever turning lights on and off.

More importantly, I think the mono's sound great. Most revealing 3255 amp I have had. First ever dual mono. I don't have experience of Toppings for comparison - I'll let those who do chip in on this (important) consideration (just a little edit if anyone noticed)

 

[Deleted member 72219]

I am using balanced inputs but I've got a couple of subwoofers connected to the pre-amp ... so switching on lights (since attaching these) can make the amps switch on.
But personally I don't mind the occasional 'click on' for whatever reason.

It is not as though I'm forever turning lights on and off.

More importantly, I think the mono's sound great. Most revealing 3255 amp I have had. First ever dual mono. I don't have experience of Toppings for comparison - I'll let those who do chip in on this (important) consideration (just a little edit if anyone noticed)

Re: Topping amps: different price class

-Ed

 

[yo!]

Nice, OK
I don't worry about sound quality this much. I still use a stack of not this good tested TP60 toppings, the system is DSP corrected and the sound is already pretty good for my listening levels that use to need 1-2 W, so I don't expect quantum leaps in quality (nor do I believe in it when I look at compression in audio sources even in 'high end' formats).
I really like to have a auto on/off cause it's too much trouble to switch'em on/off all the time. They too often run 24/7 behind closed rack doors.

Hm, balanced input is possible here, I guess I will give the fosi a try.