Fosi Audio ZD3 Balanced DAC Review

[NeLey169]

Then you should be fine with this setup, you can play bit-perfect anything and DSD natively.
But you don't get software volume control on DSD.

I prefer to convert everything to DSD256 and bypass the DAC volume control, sounds better to me.

I have fiio k11 and i realized it has coaxial out and fosi has coaxial out and I tried setting it up like this and it all worked, how would they be different in theory and what role does the fiio K11 play in the setup 1 ? .All though I don't see difference in sound.
Set up 1 : PC => Fiio K11 ( USB in, Coaxial out ) => Fosi ZD3 ( Coaxial in, XLR out ) => Fosi Za3 ( XLR )=> Speaker
Set up 2 : PC => Fosi ZD3 ( USB in ) => Fosi Za3 ( XLR )=> Speaker

 

[ManniX]

I have fiio k11 and i realized it has coaxial out and fosi has coaxial out and I tried setting it up like this and it all worked, how would they be different in theory and what role does the fiio K11 play in the setup 1 ? .All though I don't see difference in sound.
Set up 1 : PC => Fiio K11 ( USB in, Coaxial out ) => Fosi ZD3 ( Coaxial in, XLR out ) => Fosi Za3 ( XLR )=> Speaker
Set up 2 : PC => Fosi ZD3 ( USB in ) => Fosi Za3 ( XLR )=> Speaker

I think this way the K11 is acting as transport from USB to Coax.
It doesn't make sense, it's only limiting you to Coax capabilities and maybe the K11 is not even doing a great job at it.
Just use the setup 2.

 

[NeLey169]

I think this way the K11 is acting as transport from USB to Coax.
It doesn't make sense, it's only limiting you to Coax capabilities and maybe the K11 is not even doing a great job at it.
Just use the setup 2.

Should I spend $30 to buy the MPS HD400 USB A to B cable or I just use the stock USB cable?

 

[Amperage]

Should I spend $30 to buy the MPS HD400 USB A to B cable or I just use the stock USB cable?

Use the stock/included cable..... Unless you need a longer (much longer?) cable, maybe?

The included cable's fine.

 

[ManniX]

Should I spend $30 to buy the MPS HD400 USB A to B cable or I just use the stock USB cable?

Unless you really need it the included cable should be good.
I didn't test it honestly, I already have 2 x Tertullus and a Topping HS-02.

The HS-02 is really really good at it, only "crashes" every 3-6 months and needs a reboot.
Otherwise it adds noise instead of removing it.
It's Topping not McIntosh

 

[Poultrygeist]

I used to use ADC of an audio interface long time ago just to see comparative differences between equipment or just to trouble-shoot my DIY projects. I looked up ASR review on E1DA Cosmos ADC, even the "B" grade, has fantastic measured performance for the price for a hobbyist like me to toy around. Thanks for the suggestion.

Your comment on using a fancy power supply is absolutely correct. ZD3 performs good enough even with the stock switching power supply. But going with a LPS with obviously less ripple and noise is sweet marginal gain that is easy to get. It might not be significant by itself, then when this kind of small marginal gains accumulated together, it could be a different story. By the way, I use a LPS simply because I already had one.

Today I installed a single Sparkos to the ZD3's RCA out put and that upgrade combined with the Astron linear regulated power supply makes for a significant improvement in SQ. In comparison it humbles my SMSL SU-9.

 

[ManniX]

Today I installed a single Sparkos to the ZD3's RCA out put and that upgrade combined with the Astron linear regulated power supply makes for a significant improvement in SQ. In comparison it humbles my SMSL SU-9.

May I ask which amp/speakers did you connect to it?

I will get an XLR cable tomorrow to test the ZD3 with MTA and the Scarlett.
Curious to see if it makes a difference with the Scarlett.
Will check with the Sparkos on one channel against the 49720 on the other.

I'm thinking about replacing the A-S700 with an LA90D.
Not sure yet but if I end up doing it then I'll probably buy a Cosmos as well.

 

[ManniX]

Well, I'm not really thrilled...
Not even the time to connect the HDMI analyzer.

My ZD3 just died in front of my eyes; what a pitiful end.
At first I thought the ASIO driver got stuck and rebooted.
But then I noticed the driver status was showing DSD256 playback and the OLED PCM48.
foobar gets stuck exiting like the ASIO driver fails to communicate with the DAC via USB.
Doesn't give codec info or produce output on Optical or BT as well. Stone dead.

Now the price went up 30€ but I preferred to initiate the return.
Will think again if attempt a 2nd round or try something else.
Back to the Topping D50s...

 

[Amperage]

Well, I'm not really thrilled...
Not even the time to connect the HDMI analyzer.

My ZD3 just died in front of my eyes; what a pitiful end.
At first I thought the ASIO driver got stuck and rebooted.
But then I noticed the driver status was showing DSD256 playback and the OLED PCM48.
foobar gets stuck exiting like the ASIO driver fails to communicate with the DAC via USB.
Doesn't give codec info or produce output on Optical or BT as well. Stone dead.

Now the price went up 30€ but I preferred to initiate the return.
Will think again if attempt a 2nd round or try something else.
Back to the Topping D50s...

Really sorry to read this. Maybe @Fosi Audio can help.

 

[GXAlan]

Well, I'm not really thrilled...
Not even the time to connect the HDMI analyzer.

My ZD3 just died in front of my eyes; what a pitiful end.

Sorry to hear, These budget DACs are definitely not as reliable as premium based products.

I tried emailing Fosi support and their reply has largely been “can you avoid using the AppleTV?”

They did mention that they use a LGTV for their in house testing and that they do NOT have an AppleTV.

 

[ManniX]

They did mention that they use a LGTV for their in house testing and that they do NOT have an AppleTV.

Apple who?
Quite a miss. They will soon find out the awful world of HDMI inter-operability testing.

Really sorry to read this. Maybe @Fosi Audio can help.

Thanks but for only 30€ I'll save myself the hassle of the repair process and eventually ending up with a repaired unit.
Will directly buy a new one if there isn't anything else better.

Going back to the D50s sucks
Not much for the sound which is still very good, just a notch worse.
I forgot how chunky and bad was with all these hisses, pops, blips, etc
Got used to the ZD3 which is almost perfect and now the difference hurts.

 

[blunile]

I put 10x10x7mm copper heatsinks on LM317 and 7805 voltage regulators to alleviate heat-transfer through the pcb to the nearby electrolytic capacitors.

 

[GXAlan]

Apple who?
Quite a miss. They will soon find out the awful world of HDMI inter-operability testing.

Apple Senior Level support insists that the Apple TV isn't sending anything out while on standby but who knows. I suspect that Fosi is basing it on signal detect as opposed to CEC wake up command. If that's the case and they have the ability to modify the firmware, it could be an easy fix. Anytime you see the wake up command, regardless of the target device you can wake up. But if it's just signal, can ignore it...

It could also be a weird interaction with the Sony TV. I'll have to play with my Samsung TV just to see what happens. The big problem with having the ZD3 wake up is that I'm using the 12V trigger to power on the active speakers so I hate having those turn on unnecessarily.

 

[ManniX]

Apple Senior Level support insists that the Apple TV isn't sending anything out while on standby

Pretty sure it doesn't indeed.

I suspect that Fosi is basing it on signal detect as opposed to CEC wake up command

For sure it is, CEC is optional and can be disabled.
A good implementation uses both HPD and CEC commands at the same time, because CEC commands can be just plain wrong or the TV sink have it badly implemented.
When CEC is not available you have to rely only on HPD but maybe it's not so precise despite RxSense (or maybe it's an old HDMI that doesn't have it) so you need to workaround the issue (like waiting a few hundred ms after the first HPD and check again before switching on).
Many TV/projectors have HDMI ports on different ICs (like when only first 2 port are HDCP 2.3 or 10-bit, etc); terrible things can happen in this situation like fake HPDs when the IC is put in power saving mode to save energy in standby and/or when it's resumed from standby.

Anyway I'm pretty sure I switched off the ZD3 yesterday evening, left it only with Optical and PSU plugged in.
This morning was powered on in BT mode... maybe my mistake but now I have doubts

 

[Poultrygeist]

May I ask which amp/speakers did you connect to it?

I will get an XLR cable tomorrow to test the ZD3 with MTA and the Scarlett.
Curious to see if it makes a difference with the Scarlett.
Will check with the Sparkos on one channel against the 49720 on the other.

I'm thinking about replacing the A-S700 with an LA90D.
Not sure yet but if I end up doing it then I'll probably buy a Cosmos as well.

Mono blocks 2a3 SET amps ( RCAs only ) driving Lii Audio F-15 wide band drivers in open baffles with bi-amped bass woofer assist. The main advantage of XLR's is there's less degradation of SQ for long speaker runs. That's why they are most commonly used in pro audio.

 

[ManniX]

The main advantage of XLR's is there's less degradation of SQ for long speaker runs

I don't have long cable runs at all and I listen to low volume so...
I think I don't really have any reason to move to XLR... but why not
If I decide to upgrade to something like the LA90D which does have a stunning low noise floor and high SINAD would be a shame to keep using RCA.

Mono blocks 2a3 SET amps ( RCAs only ) driving Lii Audio F-15 wide band drivers in open baffles with bi-amped bass woofer assist.

Nice, thanks for info!
May I ask how is it the experience with the F-15 open baffles?
Bass woofer assist because it's really needed or just to offload the F15?

 

[Viriatusrex]

The firmware update (from v1.04 to v1.06) did not get rid of this sonic issue for me. Day two of listening to/using it after the firmware update and I heard that glitch/echo on both days (once in about 2 hours of listening).

HDMI-CEC issues still persist too.

Hi, Have you managed to get rid of the glitch/echo? I have updated mine to v1.06 yesterday, and all seemed to be fine and dandy, and then suddenly, while using HDMI Arc, there it went again... some weird echo...

 

[Poultrygeist]

I don't have long cable runs at all and I listen to low volume so...
I think I don't really have any reason to move to XLR... but why not
If I decide to upgrade to something like the LA90D which does have a stunning low noise floor and high SINAD would be a shame to keep using RCA.


Nice, thanks for info!
May I ask how is it the experience with the F-15 open baffles?
Bass woofer assist because it's really needed or just to offload the F15?

An advantage of adding discrete op amps like the Sparkos to the RCA outputs is that you only need to buy one. For the XLR outputs you need two and they get pricey at $79 each.

The F-15s are amazing in DIY open baffles. A single pair produce decent bass but I like a bit more bottom end so I added the Eminence Alpha bass woofers. The F-15s run full range and a crossover or filter is not needed. I low pass the bass woofers with F-mods on their Aiyima AO7 amp's inputs.

 

[Poultrygeist]

These Lii Audio F-15s over H-frame bass woofers are heavy and difficult to move around so I now use them in flat baffles as shown above. Once you hear well executed open baffles you can become hooked for life and box speakers just sound like music coming from a box.

 

[ManniX]

An advantage of adding discrete op amps like the Sparkos to the RCA outputs is that you only need to buy one. For the XLR outputs you need two and they get pricey at $79 each.

Yes indeed but to get the best you still would need to buy another two, 85€ each here, for the XLR outputs; the RCA input is connected to the XLR outputs so you maybe get something better but could be even better. At a cost of course!

Once you hear well executed open baffles you can become hooked for life and box speakers just sound like music coming from a box.

I have to avoid any listening session then, I don't have the space for it