Fosi Audio V3 Mono Amplifier Review

[JRowland]

Thanks for confirming. That is sad to hear. I went to do laundry and was gone about 75 minutes and when I got home the amps were cool to the touch so I assumed they wouldn't consume much power in standby. Or it is the power brick that consumes all the power?

Here in NC standby with 2 units using 48v 5a power suppliers equates to roughly $24/year. I don’t worry too much about it but folks look at things differently and I can understand that.

 

[Rick63]

Here in NC standby with 2 units using 48v 5a power suppliers equates to roughly $24/year. I don’t worry too much about it but folks look at things differently and I can understand that.

Thanks. Yeah I won't worry about what little bit my electric bill may go up.

I like that in the morning I can push one button on my TV remote and the cable box and TV both turn on, in addition my Topping D70 Pro, RSL sub, and these amps all being triggered on. And there is no popping when powering up or down.

 

[monsterlag]

Here in NC standby with 2 units using 48v 5a power suppliers equates to roughly $24/year. I don’t worry too much about it but folks look at things differently and I can understand that.

People spending $250 on Monoblocks and worrying about $20 in power per year is peak ASR.

 

[stigger]

I never said anything about electricity prices, why would you think that is the case? To me the engineering imperfection is far more annoying here.

 

[Freezak]

I never said anything about electricity prices, why would you think that is the case? To me the engineering imperfection is far more annoying here.

I feel the same way, even if it's closer to $50 a year in Europe. It's still a waste of money on a problem that could be solved if they paid more attention into it. I mean, isn't money saving a common motivation when purchasing these great, albeit significantly cheaper amps than some other non-chinese branded alternatives?

 

[gwing]

I feel the same way, even if it's closer to $50 a year in Europe. It's still a waste of money on a problem that could be solved if they paid more attention into it. I mean, isn't money saving a common motivation when purchasing these great, albeit significantly cheaper amps than some other non-chinese branded alternatives?

Clearly it isn't sufficient motivation to actually reach out and switch them off.

That said, I love the convenience of their standby mode and leave them on all the time except when we go away for the weekend or on holiday.

 

[monsterlag]

I feel the same way, even if it's closer to $50 a year in Europe. It's still a waste of money on a problem that could be solved if they paid more attention into it. I mean, isn't money saving a common motivation when purchasing these great, albeit significantly cheaper amps than some other non-chinese branded alternatives?

You can’t be serious? You can just turn it off. I pay a lot more annually for something to be convenient.

 

[monsterlag]

I never said anything about electricity prices, why would you think that is the case? To me the engineering imperfection is far more annoying here.

Slight engineering “imperfection” on something that matches the performance of things that cost $2000? Get off your high horse.

 

[Freezak]

You can’t be serious? You can just turn it off. I pay a lot more annually for something to be convenient.

It's not a lot i'm asking for, a simple standby mode that's actually "standby". I like these little amps and i'm still using them, however i'd prefer if they consumed less power. Don't get me wrong, it's just something i'm looking forward to in case they create another version. Things that can be improved exist all the time and i hope it will be one of them.

 

[monsterlag]

It's not a lot i'm asking for, a simple standby mode that's actually "standby". I like these little amps and i'm still using them, however i'd prefer if they consumed less power. Don't get me wrong, it's just something i'm looking forward to in case they create another version. Things that can be improved exist all the time and i hope it will be one of them.

I think it’s best to wait for whatever 3E Audio is cooking up right now. They have a multi channel amp in the works that could be very promising.

 

[stigger]

Slight engineering “imperfection” on something that matches the performance of things that cost $2000? Get off your high horse.

3e audio A7 has an amazing performance as well and a proper standby mode. I'm using Fosi for the center channel, worked around the standby issue with a simple relay connected to the raspberry pi and a little bit of soldering

Come on, Fosi objectively screwed up here: their standby mode is at least misleading, I don't think any other home appliance in your home has such a hungry standby power draw. In Europe this is probably even illegal.

 

[MajorTom]

Hey guys,
I'm wondering if going from v3mono to something totaly different, like naim 5si, or audio cambridge cxa81 for exemple would make the sound more enjoyable. My speakers are focal profile 918, 8ohms reaching 3.2 ohms...

 

[mike70]

Hey guys,
I'm wondering if going from v3mono to something totaaly different, like naim 5si, or audio cambridge cxa81 for exemple would make the sound more enjoyable. My speakers are focal profile 918, 8ohms reaching 3.2 ohms...

No ... and strongly recommended ... no.

You have the Cambridge review here (https://www.audiosciencereview.com/.../cambridge-cxa81-mkii-amplifier-review.56867/) ... and naim doesn't have many measurements available (some things i saw aren't very good to justify the high price), and also you have less power (naim 60 watts vs 100 watts in 8 ohms).

I'd never justify the change, technically and in ratio of price / performance. Forget it.

 

[MajorTom]

Thx, that's pretty clear! Technically and ratio price/perf, the v3 are better. But musically ?

 

[gwing]

Thx, that's pretty clear! Technically and ratio price/perf, the v3 are better. But musically ?

The others won't be musically better either. They are after all amplifiers not composers or performers

 

[MajorTom]

Old debat : amps do they change sound signatures or not ? Some say it is obvious, others say it doesn't exist.
I don't have enough experience to judge.

 

[gwing]

Old debat : amps do they change sound signatures or not ? Some say it is obvious, others say it doesn't exist.
I don't have enough experience to judge.

Stay around, read some posts and tests, you'll learn

 

[SMen]

Hey guys,
I'm wondering if going from v3mono to something totaly different, like naim 5si, or audio cambridge cxa81 for exemple would make the sound more enjoyable. My speakers are focal profile 918, 8ohms reaching 3.2 ohms...

Look to your source first. The thing about these modern amps is that they raise the 'base level' with regard to quality for not very much outlay, so the whole way of trying amps out has changed. We can buy and sell on.

However Naim still operate with dealers so you could always find out for yourself ...

I preferred the 3e A7 to the Monos - but I confess to loving my Aiyima T20 that I'm using to feed it! But that is source and not a power consideration - and slightly scuppers my credibility I am sure!

 

[mike70]

Old debat : amps do they change sound signatures or not ? Some say it is obvious, others say it doesn't exist.
I don't have enough experience to judge.

you cannot follow "what they say", you only have real arguments with science, and science "says" that any transistor based amplifier with neutral frequency response and inside their operational limits (without clipping), sound the same.

Then, is up to you, if you believe in a scientific approach to resolve your audio questions, stay here. In other way, go to the hundreds of forums / web sites with a subjective approach and begin the dance of terms like "warm", "musical", "detailed", blah blah.

 

[somebodyelse]

you cannot follow "what they say", you only have real arguments with science, and science "says" that any transistor based amplifier with neutral frequency response and inside their operational limits (without clipping), sound the same.

There are a few more conditions than that, like the output impedance being low enough over the audible frequency range to avoid frequency response being load dependent. Mostly we see this with Class D amps without post-filter feedback having sufficient load dependency to give potentially audible frequency response variations with some fairly mainstream speakers, but there are other transistor outliers like the Amp Camp Amp.