Fosi Audio V3 Mono Amplifier Review

[gwing]

Yeah, why do you need a volume control when your amps already have volume control?

If you are using a pre-amp you would ideally drive power amps, without volume controls from your pre- amp. However even if you have to use integrated amps, complete with their own volume control, you might still want to use the preamp vol control so their is a single one to adjust rather than one on each of your integrated amps.

 

[SMen]

I am in category of those who have tried, fried the brain to limit to find any difference.
But I am still hopeful….. may be one day

But you have tried... ! I have too, because a kind fellow member here shared a few (and another sold me a couple), and then I got so hacked off at being told what I could and could not hear I bought a couple more!... but that is for another time and place and context!

If someone says "I can't hear a difference" I say, good, because then, when they say they do, I might believe them!

 

[DavidM1]

Op amps can be switched without soldering skills and that would be the reason a hifi accessory market has emerged. People like to make a buck and it is far easier to sell these through the post than most things. Electronic components generally cost very little in bulk.

The marketing of op amps is the same as for hifi interconnects and power cables. It relies on convincing people that their ears are the only thing that matters and no further information is provided apart from price. Human psychology does the rest, attaching imagined benefits to either the most expensive or the one considered best value. Rarely will anyone admit to wasting time and money on imagined improvements.

If you want to test yourself then start with only the audio track from demonstration videos and see whether you are able to identify which op amps are in use and when they change.

 

[SMen]

Op amps can be switched without soldering skills and that would be the reason a hifi accessory market has emerged. People like to make a buck and it is far easier to sell these through the post than most things. Electronic components generally cost very little in bulk.

The marketing of op amps is the same as for hifi interconnects and power cables. It relies on convincing people that their ears are the only thing that matters and no further information is provided apart from price. Human psychology does the rest, attaching imagined benefits to either the most expensive or the one considered best value. Rarely will anyone admit to wasting time and money on imagined improvements.

If you want to test yourself then start with only the audio track from demonstration videos and see whether you are able to identify which op amps are in use and when they change.

I very nearly used cables as a comparison myself. I think there is a threshold of quality that is rapidly reached, and not at a high price. With op amps there is mass production and scale too (regarding price).

I'm not sure about those demonstration videos though. With the V3 monos it should be possible to use a mono track and put two Muses02 in one v3 mono and switch between speakers (in the same place) with the unchanged second v3 mono... Not sure if it would be possible to also use the same speaker, or even power both speakers in mono and switch. Plenty of power...

 

[DavidM1]

I very nearly used cables as a comparison myself. I think there is a threshold of quality that is rapidly reached, and not at a high price. With op amps there is mass production and scale too (regarding price).

I'm not sure about those demonstration videos though. With the V3 monos it should be possible to use a mono track and put two Muses02 in one v3 mono and switch between speakers (in the same place) with the unchanged second v3 mono... Not sure if it would be possible to also use the same speaker, or even power both speakers in mono and switch. Plenty of power...

I really wouldn’t bother. I’m sure the Texas Instruments op amps are absolutely fine. I think op amp fans are listening with their imaginations fully engaged.

 

[SMen]

I really wouldn’t bother. I’m sure the Texas Instruments op amps are absolutely fine. I think op amp fans are listening with their imaginations fully engaged.

No I know, but where I am coming from is a proper blind A/B test for anyone who wants to, and establish for themselves / challenge their perceptions etc.
Those who already have great. Saves the debating.

As in the goal could indeed be to not hear a difference.

 

[Roland68]

No I know, but where I am coming from is a proper blind A/B test for anyone who wants to, and establish for themselves / challenge their perceptions etc.
Those who already have great. Saves the debating.

As in the goal could indeed be to not hear a difference.

There are differences in OPAmps, but firstly they are marginal and secondly they are not to be found in the area of sound. There are very subtle differences in the area of reproduction of details, bass precision etc., but they are really small, because each OPAmp does its job.
The often heard differences in sound are very often due to a mismatch between the circuit and the OPAmp, which is why OPAmp rolling without background knowledge, experience and adaptation of the circuit is nonsense in most cases.

 

[SMen]

There are differences in OPAmps, but firstly they are marginal and secondly they are not to be found in the area of sound. There are very subtle differences in the area of reproduction of details, bass precision etc., but they are really small, because each OPAmp does its job.
The often heard differences in sound are very often due to a mismatch between the circuit and the OPAmp, which is why OPAmp rolling without background knowledge, experience and adaptation of the circuit is nonsense in most cases.

So yes they are small. The Fosi has a list of circuit compatible op amps and people can try for themselves with the two Muses 02's they receive vs the stock TI op amp, perhaps A/B 'ing with a well recorded mono recording. It's only a suggestion given the strange circumstance of only receiving 2! !!! I'm a glass half full kind of chap!
Maybe over on the user's thread it will be fun for those who wish (but only those who wish).

 

[amix]

VinylSonic

This one?

 

[amix]

I am in category of those who have tried, fried the brain to limit to find any difference.
But I am still hopeful….. may be one day

It might to have to do with age. I'm not stating that you are old ;-) , just recapitulating my last hearing test: I need to EQ above 4k and can't hear above 10k. The older one gets...

 

[iLoveCats]

This one?

Yes. Was a great idea. Last update was April 2023 on Kickstarter

 

[Eron]

Has anyone done a 2x Mono Aiyima A07 vs v3 Mono comparison at this point?

 

[drizzy]

Not sure if this helps anyone but late pledge supporters might only have their shipping address collected on the 25th of June. Only "bought" it yesterday but I'm already so impatient
They also confirmed that it would be shipped straight from China but there wouldn't be any extra duties or taxes, at least to the UK

 

[Roland68]

Has anyone done a 2x Mono Aiyima A07 vs v3 Mono comparison at this point?

Do you mean the monomode of the Aiyima A07 MAX?
I don't know of any mono version or monomode for the normal Aiyima A07.

 

[Sputnik]

I am hoping (from the continent of Europe) that it is going first to a warehouse (in the EU), and then on, with no tax demands on delivery. Someone on another post for another Fosi Kickstarter said that their V3 (I think it was) arrived quite swiftly, and without tax - I'm assuming it was pre-paid as happens on AliExpress for example, from wherever it is sent.

We shall see because, we will get tracking on dispatch I understand.

I asked Fosi and they assured me there would be no extra tax due for EU.

 

[Eron]

Do you mean the monomode of the Aiyima A07 MAX?
I don't know of any mono version or monomode for the normal Aiyima A07.

Yes sorry.. The A07 MAX in mono mode (2) vs 2 v3 Monos.

 

[Down South]

I asked Fosi and they assured me there would be no extra tax due for EU.

This makes a big difference. If the sender (from outside the EU) doesn't complete IOSS procedure you will get hammered. Imused to buy LPs from DIG in the UK but because they couldn't be bothered gotaxed and had to pay a Customs charges as well - no more business for DIG.

 

[Jon L]

Yes sorry.. The A07 MAX in mono mode (2) vs 2 v3 Monos.

To compete/compare with Fosi V3 Monos, Aiyma will have to come up with similar balanced monoblock design, which I'm sure is in the pipeline..

 

[Roland68]

This makes a big difference. If the sender (from outside the EU) doesn't complete IOSS procedure you will get hammered. Imused to buy LPs from DIG in the UK but because they couldn't be bothered gotaxed and had to pay a Customs charges as well - no more business for DIG.

Many Kickstarter projects ship their products from several continents. Shipping could be from the EU.

 

[LSPhil]

Could someone explain to me why you are buying mono amplifiers with the TPA3255 chip?

If you only have 4 Ohm speakers, there is no difference in output power between mono and stereo modes.