Fosi Audio V3 Mono Amplifier Review

[Russ_L]

Very, very nice speakers.

Russ

 

[jmdesignz2]

I get that. Here's a cool related article.

BiAmp (Bi-Amplification - Not Quite Magic, But Close) - Part 1

ESP - The Audio Pages. How to biamp or triamp your hi-hi speaker system for greatly improved sound, and higher sound levels with less distortion.

sound-au.com

I went full 4-way active (total of 7 amps, 4 of them V3 Monos) but I was starting from scratch.

Sounds great can you share Pics of setup? Details of the setup?

 

[igfarm]

Sorry but I’ve only came onboard a few days ago (up to page 102). I’m planning on biamping my front L and R speakers using four V3 monoblocks. My Emotiva XSP-1 Gen II preamp has a built in “passive” crossover that provides two each low pass and high pass outputs. So the example shown in the old thread, while it refers to receivers, would not apply to my situation.

I know that a “passive” crossover is less than ideal but it’s a starting point. I’m going to research an “active” external crossover later at some point. An external crossover is preferred when the preamp is in HT pass through mode as all four preamp outputs just mirror the processors FULL range outputs.

Russ

Four V3s? You may need one of these then:

 

[Russ_L]

Nice but I’ll be doing something similar but different. I have a Salamander rack, three wide by three high so two of the amps will be all the way to the left side, the other two amps all the way to the right side.

One of our audiophile club members has a very high end 3D printer ($$$$). He’ll be doing the printing. The design of the cooler(s) will be a collaborative effort.

Russ

 

[igfarm]

Nice but I’ll be doing something similar but different. I have a Salamander rack, three wide by three high so two of the amps will be all the way to the left side, the other two amps all the way to the right side.

One of our audiophile club members has a very high end 3D printer ($$$$). He’ll be doing the printing. The design of the cooler(s) will be a collaborative effort.

Russ

Cool! Do post pics when it's done.

 

[ROOSKIE]

Pardon Our Interruption...

eBay with coupone code for 20% off, make sure to apply that at checkout
$95.19+sales taxes w 48v/5a psu
$142.79 w 48v/10a psu
$190.39 for 2 units with one 48v/10a psu and a power spliter

Pretty great prices, grab other FOSI gear as well including the ZD3 for $122.39+taxes

all direct from FOSI

 

[Rick63]

So that I don't have to search this long thread, who here has tried a pair of these with a set of Elac DBR62s and how did you like the results?

Thanks in advance!

 

[staticV3]

So that I don't have to search this long thread, who here has tried a pair of these with a set of Elac DBR62s and how did you like the results?

Thanks in advance!

What you do:


What you get:

Search results for query: 62

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Anatols_Dad]

So that I don't have to search this long thread, who here has tried a pair of these with a set of Elac DBR62s and how did you like the results?

Thanks in advance!

That is part of my current desktop setup. Before the monos I had a TP RA3 integrated amp, which I love, but for me the combo lacks power, and I am generally thinking of adding a sub in the future. So I got dual monos for 230 Euros, as I had a preamp that was not in use (a Fosi ZP3 - which I wouldn't buy again, for three generally known reasons)), and I thought that this might be a great and cheap way to further improve my system.
The monos get somewhat uncomfortably hot tucked under my low shelf / monitor stand, and I read on this forum that fans (e. g. from Fosi) are recommended to avoid a short life, so I ordered the original Fosi fans, too. My system now has more power than before, I notice a punchier bass, the monos run cool, but, alas, I am extremely annoyed by the humming of the fans (even on lowest setting!) when listening at low volume (I do that a lot) and the mediocre looks with the fans added. Lifting the fans up from my massive wooden desk helps, but in that case I would have to add even more clutter by adding decent decoupling feet, and again, that would be a hassle. I just read Amir's new WiiM review, which probably would have been the perfect alternative for me, delivering similar wattage. But of course this would add to the total costs. For me personally, the Fosi are a compromise.

Preamp Fosi ZP3, power amps Fosi V3 Mono, speakers Elac DBR 62, DAC SMSL SU-1, streamer Arsy Ne-2, EQ with REW. Roon + PC output.

 

[Owis]

just read Amir's new WiiM review, which probably would have been the perfect alternative for me, delivering similar wattage.

Which model Wiim is that?

 

[JeremyFife]

Which model Wiim is that?

WiiM Amp Ultra

 

[almandude]

Happy with my v3 monos and very happy with fosi customer service. I purchased the pack on amazon (1 psu 48v/10A with filter) and I could hear a buzzing noise in a speaker when I turned on one block. I've contacted fosi on their website. They asked me to run some tests and they send me another filter. Since, no problem at all.
They were quick to answer and friendly.

For info, I bought the fan from fosi audio and placed it between the 2 blocks. The fan runs in silence and the 2 blocks are still cold after hours of using.

Could you please clarify how your amps and fan were situated. Which items facing which way?

Is it better to blow air directly AT the bottom of the unit, or pull hot air AWAY from the unit? It comes up with pc building as well and I'm curious what most have done for these here and I have a few now coming in

 

[Freezak]

Could you please clarify how your amps and fan were situated. Which items facing which way?

Is it better to blow air directly AT the bottom of the unit, or pull hot air AWAY from the unit? It comes up with pc building as well and I'm curious what most have done for these here and I have a few now coming in

I have them under my v3 monos and they keep them very cool at all times. It's also better for aesthetics, you can build an mdf-based case for them, with your dac in the middle, v3 monos on the left and right and just make two holes for the fans to blow right at your amps. I'm about to make something like this, will upload photos at some point.

 

[keiron99]

Can anyone please help me understand why, even at max volume, my pair of V3 monos are not very loud?

I am using the 48v 5 amp power supply.

I am using with a Wiim Ultra streamer/DAC (I have checked they it's set to the 2 volt output) and a pair of Neat Petite Classic speakers (nominal impedance of 6 ohms, sensitivity of 87 dB.

On the 25dB gain setting, even with the volume at 100%, it's loud but far from ear splitting. It's better on the 31dB obviously, but I don't understand why it is I have to crank the volume up so far even for moderate listening levels.

 

[Freezak]

Can anyone please help me understand why, even at max volume, my pair of V3 monos are not very loud?

I am using the 48v 5 amp power supply.

I am using with a Wiim Ultra streamer/DAC (I have checked they it's set to the 2 volt output) and a pair of Neat Petite Classic speakers (nominal impedance of 6 ohms, sensitivity of 87 dB.

On the 25dB gain setting, even with the volume at 100%, it's loud but far from ear splitting. It's better on the 31dB obviously, but I don't understand why it is I have to crank the volume up so far even for moderate listening levels.

They are plenty loud for me with SMSL D6s + XLR. How big is your room?

 

[SoySalsaPicante]

Can anyone please help me understand why, even at max volume, my pair of V3 monos are not very loud?

I am using the 48v 5 amp power supply.

I am using with a Wiim Ultra streamer/DAC (I have checked they it's set to the 2 volt output) and a pair of Neat Petite Classic speakers (nominal impedance of 6 ohms, sensitivity of 87 dB.

On the 25dB gain setting, even with the volume at 100%, it's loud but far from ear splitting. It's better on the 31dB obviously, but I don't understand why it is I have to crank the volume up so far even for moderate listening levels.

Are you applying boosts via WiiM RoomFit and/or PEQ? Negative pregain may be applied to prevent digital clipping, eating up gain.

 

[keiron99]

They are plenty loud for me with SMSL D6s + XLR. How big is your room?

It's only about 14 feet by 13 feet.

I previously had a pair of LS3/5a speakers (boo!) before these, and it was the same with them. So I guess the "issue" must be with the Wiim or Fosis.

 

[keiron99]

Are you applying boosts via WiiM RoomFit and/or PEQ? Negative pregain may be applied to prevent digital clipping, eating up gain.

It doesn't make a whole lot of difference whether it's on or off to be honest.

 

[staticV3]

Can anyone please help me understand why, even at max volume, my pair of V3 monos are not very loud?

I am using the 48v 5 amp power supply.

I am using with a Wiim Ultra streamer/DAC (I have checked they it's set to the 2 volt output) and a pair of Neat Petite Classic speakers (nominal impedance of 6 ohms, sensitivity of 87 dB.

On the 25dB gain setting, even with the volume at 100%, it's loud but far from ear splitting. It's better on the 31dB obviously, but I don't understand why it is I have to crank the volume up so far even for moderate listening levels.

Power dictates headroom.

Gain dictates loudness.

This is crucial. It means that a 600W Amp with 20dB gain will play quieter than a 30W Amp with 30dB gain (given low enough input voltage).

If your Amp isn't loud enough, and there's no audible clipping/distortion from the Amp, then you have either too low input voltage, or too low gain.
In that case, the Amp's power rating is actually irrelevant.

If you have a basic multimeter at home, one thing that you can do is measure your WiiM's output voltage, as well as your Fosi's gain.

This will tell you where your bottlenecks are, as well as how close you are to maxing out the Fosi's power budget.

 

[Sokel]

Can anyone please help me understand why, even at max volume, my pair of V3 monos are not very loud?

I am using the 48v 5 amp power supply.

I am using with a Wiim Ultra streamer/DAC (I have checked they it's set to the 2 volt output) and a pair of Neat Petite Classic speakers (nominal impedance of 6 ohms, sensitivity of 87 dB.

On the 25dB gain setting, even with the volume at 100%, it's loud but far from ear splitting. It's better on the 31dB obviously, but I don't understand why it is I have to crank the volume up so far even for moderate listening levels.

2V output may not be enough with low gain.
This output usually refers to test tones, nicely recorded music rarely gets above 500mV (the whole additive spectrum) on average at line level, sometimes a lot less.

You can use an interface and watch RTA connected to Wiim and convert what you see at the screen at V if it does not have it by itself and only shows dB.
Or just throw a track at REW or Multitone Analyzer and see the ballpark of the whole spectrum.

(of course there's works crushed to death near 0dbFS, lots of them, so... )