Fosi Audio ZD3 $179 and Presale starts Sept 19

[Negatywny]

Whats the practical difference between these plugs? None, so who gives a... Also, aren't USB-B cables in much more variable lenghts?
I never understood the need to put a headphone jack in a DAC. Its a DAC, it doesn't need to be a headphone amplifier.

 

[Totemis]

it seem they have made a better remote : "Simplifying audio adjustments, streamlining control over the listening environment from anywhere in the room." !
Treble and bass control is missing for a nice mariage with ZA3 Amp ... Maybe we need to buy a future third Fosi "box" ! and another Fosi box for headphone...
I don't understand why there is no Ldac codec...
Is the Arc input CEC ?
I hope in a near future Fosi can implement mobile app for setup, PEQ and remote control... for some products
It seem the ZD3 is sold out today on Fosi website ! strange...

 

[cobby]

Whats the practical difference between these plugs? None, so who gives a... Also, aren't USB-B cables in much more variable lenghts?
I never understood the need to put a headphone jack in a DAC. Its a DAC, it doesn't need to be a headphone amplifier.

practical in this case, none.
but there is no argument for USB B anymore these days, cable lenghs are the same.
and USB-C can deliver up to 100W of power and is rated for more plug/unplug cycles (around 10,000) compared to USB-B, enhancing their lifespan.

 

[TonyJZX]

the only time i see B used on these desktop dacs is if the manuafacturer thinks its a 'high end' $1,000+ dac that *requires* a big time desktop style plug rather than type-c which they think is for mobile phones

 

[Totemis]

Whats the practical difference between these plugs? None, so who gives a... Also, aren't USB-B cables in much more variable lenghts?
I never understood the need to put a headphone jack in a DAC. Its a DAC, it doesn't need to be a headphone amplifier.

The European Union has played a vital role in promoting the adoption of USB-C as the universal standard for charging and data transfer.
The use of different types of cables has not only caused inconvenience to consumers, but also caused unnecessary electronic waste due to numerous redundant cables.
A lot of DAC have headphone output (4,4mm, 3,5 mm) !
Why a headphone amplifier ... I live in apartment in a city, i have 2 young children
If you don't like jack, Apple Tv has a nice bluetooth implementation for listening bluetooth headphone... it's quite useful for neighbor and children peaceful !

 

[VientoB]

Whats the practical difference between these plugs? None, so who gives a... Also, aren't USB-B cables in much more variable lenghts?
I never understood the need to put a headphone jack in a DAC. Its a DAC, it doesn't need to be a headphone amplifier.

No I doubt that.

 

[TonyJZX]

The European Union has played a vital role in promoting the adoption of USB-C as the universal standard for charging and data transfer.
The use of different types of cables has not only caused inconvenience to consumers, but also caused unnecessary electronic waste due to numerous redundant cables.
A lot of DAC have headphone output (4,4mm, 3,5 mm) !

I'm happy to heap praise on the EU and the Chinese govt. for FORCING standards on manufacturers who would rather do anything but what's sensible... this makes all the sense in the world for mass market electronics like mobile phones. We can see how certain companies like Apple really dont care unless forced.

BUt this does not apply to Fosi in this regard. A dac isnt a mass market piece of equipment. So I'm ok with this.

Why a headphone amplifier ... I live in apartment in a city, i have 2 young children
If you don't like jack, Apple Tv has a nice bluetooth implementation for listening bluetooth headphone... it's quite useful for neighbor and children peaceful !

This product isnt for you. The DL100/200 could be.

They should put BT input and output receivers in these I guess.

 

[Giro413]

I'm interested to know whether people think there are any potential benefits in using this between the WiiM Ultra and the Fosi Audio V3 monos.

My thoughts exactly, as I have the same kind of setup. WiiM Ultra - 2 x Fosi V3 Monos. Mine are hooked up to two Dali Oberon 5’s and an Argon S850 sub. Anyone care to elaborate on whether using the ZD3 in this kind of setup will make sense?

 

[TonyJZX]

i'm betting that the ZD3 will measure as well as the DL100/200

and with that i think we would all fail a dbx with the ZD3 vs. the Ultra - if everything was flatlined

 

[Negatywny]

My thoughts exactly, as I have the same kind of setup. WiiM Ultra - 2 x Fosi V3 Monos. Mine are hooked up to two Dali Oberon 5’s and an Argon S850 sub. Anyone care to elaborate on whether using the ZD3 in this kind of setup will make sense?

Xlr outputs.

 

[VientoB]

So can this do Bluetooth up to 24bit/48kHz PCM? I didnt realise that was possible with Bluetooth now.

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[Ropeburn]

So can this do Bluetooth up to 24bit/48kHz PCM? I didnt realise that was possible with Bluetooth now.

​

Yeah, seriously. @Fosi Audio , you should adapt your product page, because "lossless Bluetooth" doesn't exist yet, and certainly not in your product. I'm assuming it's an honest mistake due to bad translation or whatever, but as it's written there right now, it's false advertising.

It's better to be accurate with your words, to not put off the more knowledgeable part of your potential customers, and avoid legal trouble.

 

[Ropeburn]

the only time i see B used on these desktop dacs is if the manuafacturer thinks its a 'high end' $1,000+ dac that *requires* a big time desktop style plug rather than type-c which they think is for mobile phones

My best guess is: that's the exact reason. USB-B is bigger and chunkier and seems more solid and durable - which it really isn't in practice - but this superficial impression of some people and therefore customers is what counts.

 

[TonyJZX]

this uses the QCA 3031

you can get the data sheet for this and work out that it will limit things to whatever AptXHD has - which is already an older 5yr old chipset

i'm guessing this is soldered to the board so this cant be upgraded so this is all the unit will ever do

its a convenience feature

 

[Ropeburn]

this uses the QCA 3031

you can get the data sheet for this and work out that it will limit things to whatever AptXHD has - which is already an older 5yr old chipset

i'm guessing this is soldered to the board so this cant be upgraded so this is all the unit will ever do

its a convenience feature

I have yet to see socketed, user replaceable Bluetooth chipsets in ANY product. So what exactly is your point?

 

[kemmler3D]

My overall take is this is a rather decent price for a DAC with HDMI, and otherwise looks competent, so if I was in the market for a DAC this would be on the list. Otherwise checks all the boxes but doesn't go beyond that I guess. Would have been nice to have PEQ built in, that would make it pretty damn compelling for a 2.1 or 2.2 living room "main system".

 

[TonyJZX]

wouldnt the Wiim Ultra do all that for $100 more?

 

[sthaus]

Yeah, seriously. @Fosi Audio , you should adapt your product page, because "lossless Bluetooth" doesn't exist yet, and certainly not in your product. I'm assuming it's an honest mistake due to bad translation or whatever, but as it's written there right now, it's false advertising.

It's better to be accurate with your words, to not put off the more knowledgeable part of your potential customers, and avoid legal trouble.

Qualcomm® aptX™ HD | High Resolution Audio Technology

Discover how Qualcomm® aptX™ HD audio enables Bluetooth wireless devices to deliver high-resolution audio with no compromise on quality or sound distortion.

www.aptx.com

"aptX HD is designed to deliver 24-bit wireless HD audio wirelessly over Bluetooth"
AptX HD is also support 24b/48kHz.

You must understand the Bluetooth technology before given thought about it. If it supports AptXHD, then they can legally claim it!
- LDAC is also lossless quality (990kbps), aptX Lossless (1200kbps) ... I don't mean It's Hi-Res but lossless, that's okay
- New tech from 2023, LHDC + LHDC ONE claimed 24/192kHz sampling rate and 5.3 BT with low latency

From my understand, reading sample rate and transfer sample rate are 2 different things. It does read Hi-Res file YES, but it doesn't mean to transfers a Hi-Res quality to our ear.

 

[Ropeburn]

Qualcomm® aptX™ HD | High Resolution Audio Technology

Discover how Qualcomm® aptX™ HD audio enables Bluetooth wireless devices to deliver high-resolution audio with no compromise on quality or sound distortion.

www.aptx.com

"aptX HD is designed to deliver 24-bit wireless HD audio wirelessly over Bluetooth"
AptX HD is also support 24b/48kHz.

You must understand the Bluetooth technology before given thought about it. If it supports AptXHD, then they can legally claim it!
- LDAC is also lossless quality (990kHz), aptX Lossless (1200kHz) ... I don't mean It's Hi-Res but lossless, that's okay
- New tech from 2023, LHDC + LHDC ONE claimed 24/192kHz sampling rate and 5.3 BT with low latency

From my understand, reading sample rate and transfer sample rate are 2 different things. It does read Hi-Res file YES, but it doesn't mean to transfers a Hi-Res quality to our ear.

Neither aptX HD nor LDAC are lossless. There's still compression, and the bandwidth isn't even enough for lossless 16/44.

 

[sthaus]

Neither aptX HD nor LDAC are lossless. There's still compression, and the bandwidth isn't even enough for lossless 16/44.

For me, both lossless and lossy are compressed format anyway. Typically, Flac is lossless and MP3 is lossy. Both are less than CD quality at 1411kbps, except some Flac with Hi-Res quality (still compressed), that’s why we we need DAC. But what I meant above was it able to read Hi-Res file format, doesn’t mean it’s transfer all to our ear with that resolution, therefore nothing wrong with their claim.