Fosi Audio ZA3 Amplifier Review

[gpunique]

You'd have to buy a headphone Amp.

Schiit, JDS, Topping, Sabaj, and SMSL all make good headphone Amps for about $100.

Since the Fosi lacks a Pre out, you'd have to connect the headphone Amp to the same analog source that the Fosi is connected to.

For this, you can use RCA splitters:
View attachment 402722

Gotcha thanks. I was hoping to add this to a wiim for the room sound correction software. But I guess the fiio k11 that has a headphone jack would be a better and still awesome choice.

 

[olds1959special]

I have the Fosi ZA3 with all op-amps changed to Sparkos SS3602. It has some issues. The XLR input distorts when fed from my SMSL DL200 dac, unless I reduce the volume to 90 or less. I don't like the on/off design, having to push and hold the volume knob is not ideal. Also the orange knob is ugly. The sound is fine, and it can get really loud with my speakers. I am using the 48V 5A PSU.

 

[andrelambert_]

Anyone upgraded to the ZA3 coming from a Aiyima A07 (the OG one)?? Was it a noticeable improvement?

 

[Jon L]

I have the Fosi ZA3 with all op-amps changed to Sparkos SS3602. It has some issues. The XLR input distorts when fed from my SMSL DL200 dac, unless I reduce the volume to 90 or less. I don't like the on/off design, having to push and hold the volume knob is not ideal. Also the orange knob is ugly. The sound is fine, and it can get really loud with my speakers. I am using the 48V 5A PSU.

Have you communicated with Fosi about the XLR input distortion issue? Does it happen with both Sparkos and stock opamps used for XLR input?

 

[olds1959special]

Have you communicated with Fosi about the XLR input distortion issue? Does it happen with both Sparkos and stock opamps used for XLR input?

I haven't tested it with the stock op-amps. I never contacted Fosi about it. There is also a channel imbalance issue at low volumes which makes it hard to listen at low volumes unless I lower the dac more.

 

[Witterings]

I don't like the on/off design, having to push and hold the volume knob is not ideal. Also the orange knob is ugly.

I posted in another forum a while back I'd pay more for one with a black knob ... and no I didn't mean it like that

I have one although I'm not currently using it, not sure what you're inputting into it but I was using a WiiM Pro Plus with the trigger out into the ZA3 and it worked perfectly so I didn't have to switch on / off the ZA3 manually, it also meant I could use the WiiM remote to control volume from the comfort of my chair.

 

[olds1959special]

I posted in another forum a while back I'd pay more for one with a black knob ... and no I didn't mean it like that

I have one although I'm not currently using it, not sure what you're inputting into it but I was using a WiiM Pro Plus with the trigger out into the ZA3 and it worked perfectly so I didn't have to switch on / off the ZA3 manually, it also meant I could use the WiiM remote to control volume from the comfort of my chair.

You can change the knob. I pulled off the orange one and put on a silver metal one.

 

[Witterings]

You can change the knob. I pulled off the orange one and put on a silver metal one.

Yes I totally realise that .... it was just a joke.

 

[HDavidson]

Why doesn't Fosi make the same amp, but without the volume control, in a power amp version?

 

[Pep2020]

With a high pass filter and PFFB

 

[dedede223]

can your preamp or DAC control volume?
Probably worth trying setting amp vol max in such case to eliminate potentiometer if it has anything to do with it…. but seems unlikely with 2 different amps.
Don’t know if you already isolated it.

So i tested taht, i set the max volume on the amp but still the same issue some times, i switched the speaker several times and it always do taht on the right channel every time, for a moment i though that one of my speaker was going bad on the crossover but it does it on both at random time, the ZA3 was doing the exact same thing but not my old PA3s, i kinda regret switching to that and selling the topping x), i think i'll just sent the AIYIMA A07 MAX back to amazon and buy something else, i don't know what but i don't really have a choice

 

[dedede223]

i just realised that my cable seems to be oxidized, could it be the source of my problem do you think?

 

[Nopiano]

Why doesn't Fosi make the same amp, but without the volume control, in a power amp version?

This is really a power amp, with a gain control. It doesn’t meet my definition of an integrated amp with just one input.

 

[Petevid]

This is really a power amp, with a gain control. It doesn’t meet my definition of an integrated amp with just one input.

But paired with a Wiim Pro streamer it might

 

[Graham849]

What is the best advice re leaving ZA3 on. It gets warm to touch overnight whilst my AO200 was cool to touch. The AO200 was left on 24/7 but I don't thin k the ZA3 copes with being left on?

 

[Witterings]

What is the best advice re leaving ZA3 on. It gets warm to touch overnight whilst my AO200 was cool to touch. The AO200 was left on 24/7 but I don't thin k the ZA3 copes with being left on?

Not sure what you're feeding into it but I bought the correct lead and used the trigger in from a WiiM streamer so it would automatically switch on / go into standby when I stopped using the WiiM.

 

[Graham849]

Not sure what you're feeding into it but I bought the correct lead and used the trigger in from a WiiM streamer so it would automatically switch on / go into standby when I stopped using the WiiM.

I use a smsl DO100 DAC. Maybe it's upgrade time for me. Thanks for suggestion.

 

[Witterings]

I use a smsl DO100 DAC. Maybe it's upgrade time for me. Thanks for suggestion.

The DAC should be pretty decent, what are you feeding into it .... does that have a trigger out??

Why'd did you get rid of the AO 200 or did it blow, I have one running as my desktop amp in my study.

 

[Graham849]

The DAC should be pretty decent, what are you feeding into it .... does that have a trigger out??

Why'd did you get rid of the AO 200 or did it blow, I have one running as my desktop amp in my study.

Usb in from Mele computer. No trigger.

I thought the ZA3 provided a cleaner signal path (less complicated circuit) so passed the AO200 onto my son. I enjoyed it for two years.

 

[obsessive9119]

My ZA3 arrived today. It seems to work really well, though I'm having the trigger issue that some people have reported. After some experimentation and thinking, I'm wondering if it's manufacturing variation in how the trigger is wired up in the ZA3?

If you think about it, the trigger signal should always be sent on the T of TS/TRS - that means that it will work with either TS or TRS lead. My WiiM Pro Plus appears to send the trigger signal on T as expected. The Fosi only triggers when the plug is partially out of the socket - aligning the plug's T with the socket's R. I've tried this with TS and TRS plugs and it's the same. I'm not sure why Fosi would have used a TRS socket for the trigger to begin with (more readily available, maybe?). Being triggered on R seems like it must be a mistake.

Looking at the back of the trigger socket, I can see how it'd be an easy mistake to make:

(photo is from https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/fosi-audio-za3-class-d-amplifier.1191955/page-2)

Tomorrow I'll wire up a TS to TRS lead, connecting the T of the TS to the R of the TRS. I'm pretty confident it'll work, but it'll be interesting to see for sure.