Fosi Audio ZD3 Balanced DAC Review

[maxliii]

Just nuts what 180 clams can get you in a DAC these days. And a remote. Perhaps they can intro a $225 model with EQ and analog input in the future. These guys at Fosi have nailed what the mainstream listener wants in audio. They are doing what Vizio did to TVs a decade or so ago -- produce really good ones at a budget price that drives quality up and prices down among all competitors.

Why are the EQ and analog input ideal features?

 

[maxliii]

Not SOTA performance but audibly transparent and with this feature set and price, it’s a no-brainer purchase.

Why is SOTA performance？And how does it value to a dac?

 

[maxliii]

I am still waiting for a DAC with HDMI arc with EQ presets (5bands+). I'm using a 42 oled TV as a PC monitor and sometimes I want to use the build-in TV apps. It would be very nice if I could set an EQ for the speakers for all my use cases.

why is HDMI arc with EQ presets essential for a DAC in your view?

 

[Martin]

What kind of display you used is better?

LCD, LED, blinking lights, anything is better for static displays than a technology prone to burn-in.

Martin

 

[maxliii]

Does anyone have experience with this unit? I'm curious if the balanced and RCA outputs work at the same time. Like, could I use the RCA outputs for signals for a 2-channel setup, and use one/both of the balanced outputs for a sub or subs? Obviously, the voltage output would be different, but that could be balanced with the amplifiers themselves.

Also, now that we're starting to see more DACs with HDMI ARC input, does anyone have experience feeding these DACs a 5.1 decoded PCM signal from an A/V source? Are they able to mix it to stereo? Or do these DACs only work with stereo sources?

I would love to have something that my TV could plug into for a stereo setup. I find Toslink too inconsistent in the volume control department, but HDMI ARC passes through the volume levels in my experience, so I could turn things up or down with my TV remote. I've messed with home theater setups in the past, that whole market is a racket. The fact I have to pay for Dolby/DTS decoding at the end device when most sources and TVs can do the decoding themselves is silly. And then if I want my own amplification, I have to buy a fancy "processor", that somehow costs 3x as much as the entry-level HTRs that process surround formats AND include crappy amplification. I would love to have just a clean 2.0, 2.1, or 2.2 modular setup with some discrete, high-performance devices like this DAC.

In my mind, the balanced and RCA outputs could work at the same time for the speakers and subs. Why is a clean 2.0, 2.1, or 2.2 modular? and why discrete?

 

[JakeK]

Hi JakeK，

I am new here, and wondering why are extensive preamp functions important for a DAC? Also, why do you think LDAC influence the DAC and sound quality?

Looking forward to your reply.

Cheers,
Max

Hi,

Preamp functions are not always needed in a dac but it would be nice to have both functions in one unit. Otherwise you may as well use the DAC built into your source. For example a streamer will normally have it's own DAC built in and not need a ZD3 as well. I've never had a use for an external DAC that's just a DAC but I do want one that's a pre-amp as well.

LDAC is a really hi-fi bluetooth codec so it's a feature I look for. If I'm going to use bluetooth I want it to be LDAC.

 

[diaolodoro]

why is HDMI arc with EQ presets essential for a DAC in your view?

Because I want to use EQ on my TV with the practical benefits of HDMI Arc (single remote to control volume)

 

[GXAlan]

Because I want to use EQ on my TV with the practical benefits of HDMI Arc (single remote to control volume)

WiiM Ultra is pretty good. Node Icon gives you Dirac.

 

[ManniX]

WTH, I assumed the volume bypass switch on the bottom of the ZD3 would not degrade the SQ.
If something, enabling the bypass would improve a little bit.
I was wrong with the assumption, should have measured it earlier.
Can't explain this.

Volume bypass enabled:

Volume bypass disabled:

They must have done something really wrong.

 

[hoverdonkey]

You're welcome! Yes, after I installed the update, I listened to a couple of concerts on Youtube through HDMI ARC for about 2 hours last evening without any apparent issues, while before every 30/40 minutes or so, I would get that really distracting effect/glitch.
About my feedback, well, who knows ? Anyway, I've already given them my feedback and thanked them for the good support.
Seems we right might have a new competitor in the DAC race !

Just chipping in to add some data on the echoey glitch issue (but nothing new, I think).

My ZD3 had the glitch. I am mostly using optical. Fosi support were very responsive. They sent me firmware v 1.06 (not 1.07, even though some of you lot had had it by then). Anyway, 1.06 has sorted me out, I haven't heard the glitch again.

The file they sent me was named "ZD3 Software Upgrade Steps-spdif_stable.rar". Does this suggest that the issue is only on SPDIF? I haven't used USB/Bluetooth much, so can't comment on those.


Otherwise, I'm loving this DAC. It's great having the trigger output, my amp no longer wastes energy when I forget to turn it off at night (which was most nights). The discrete input selection is working flawlessly with my Logitech Harmony Elite remote system. This was a real cause of a lot of (wifey) frustration with my old DAC that didn't have it.

 

[hoverdonkey]

View attachment 428324

View attachment 428325

I bought it for about $20 for a 1m A to B, is it good enough?

Chunky. You might want to find some thin sounding op-amps to offset that.

 

[Viriatusrex]

Just chipping to add some data on the echoey glitch issue (but nothing new, I think).

My ZD3 had the glitch. I am mostly using optical. Fosi support were very responsive. They sent me firmware v 1.06 (not 1.07, even though some of you lot had had it by then). Anyway, 1.06 has sorted me out, I haven't heard the glitch again.

The file they sent me was named "ZD3 Software Upgrade Steps-spdif_stable.rar". Does this suggest that the issue is only on SPDIF? I haven't used USB/Bluetooth much, so can't comment on those.


Otherwise, I'm loving this DAC. It's great having the trigger output, my amp no longer wastes energy when I forget to turn it off at night (which was most nights). The discrete input selection is working flawlessly with my Logitech Harmony Elite remote system. This was a real cause of a lot of (wifey) frustration with my old DAC that didn't have it.

Great that you sorted it out with the firmware! I like this DAC so much that I'll treat it with a pair of Sparkos SS3602 Dual opamps onto the XLR sockets, and a Muses01 onto the RCA socket, so I may switch the sound a bit, just by chosing XLR or RCA .

 

[Viriatusrex]

WTH, I assumed the volume bypass switch on the bottom of the ZD3 would not degrade the SQ.
If something, enabling the bypass would improve a little bit.
I was wrong with the assumption, should have measured it earlier.
Can't explain this.

Volume bypass enabled:
View attachment 434686

Volume bypass disabled:
View attachment 434685

They must have done something really wrong.

Hi, i'm a noobie on these matters, sorry, but i'm really curious: which numbers should I pay attention and what do they mean ? I'm really just asking to understand, I'm not trying to be funny or ironic or the like. As far as i know, Volume bypass should make the circuit simpler, with less stuff in the way, to cause signal decay, right? So, yes, if it's actually the opposite, it's really strange :S

 

[ManniX]

Hi, i'm a noobie on these matters, sorry, but i'm really curious: which numbers should I pay attention and what do they mean ? I'm really just asking to understand, I'm not trying to be funny or ironic or the like. As far as i know, Volume bypass should make the circuit simpler, with less stuff in the way, to cause signal decay, right? So, yes, if it's actually the opposite, it's really strange :S

I'm a noob too so no problem at all.
It's 1-1.5dB better in noise everywhere, look at the TD+N.

I have no idea how it could happen but I saw that the RME ADI-2 as well measures same a little better with DSDDirect Off.
So if it can happen with an ADI-2 guess it's fine for a ZD3.

 

[hoverdonkey]

Hi, i'm a noobie on these matters, sorry, but i'm really curious: which numbers should I pay attention and what do they mean ? I'm really just asking to understand, I'm not trying to be funny or ironic or the like. As far as i know, Volume bypass should make the circuit simpler, with less stuff in the way, to cause signal decay, right? So, yes, if it's actually the opposite, it's really strange :S

I'm a noob at this too!

I'm guessing the volume control is electronic, i.e. no physical potentiometer is being bypassed, so in theory the bypassed & un-bypassed results could/should be the same.

 

[hoverdonkey]

I'm a noob too so no problem at all.
It's 1-1.5dB better in noise everywhere, look at the TD+N.

I have no idea how it could happen but I saw that the RME ADI-2 as well measures same a little better with DSDDirect Off.
So if it can happen with an ADI-2 guess it's fine for a ZD3.

Something that could make a difference (I'm only guessing) is output level, i.e. if the two tests were done at different levels then it might affect the results. I can't see a voltage level reading in the results screenshots to compare (but I don't really understand what I'm looking at either!) Could it be that un-bypassed at 100% ain't the same as whatever bypassed has been set at?

 

[ManniX]

Could it be that un-bypassed at 100% ain't the same as whatever bypassed has been set at?

Both same volume level, peak and rms levels are in the screenshots (top right box).
I tested back and forth for 4-5 times just to check again and again.
It's always consistent.
Maybe it's a very unique feature of my unit.

 

[hoovey]

Both same volume level, peak and rms levels are in the screenshots (top right box).
I tested back and forth for 4-5 times just to check again and again.
It's always consistent.
Maybe it's a very unique feature of my unit.

I ran the same tests as you did and had somewhat similar results.

Bypass on:

Bypass off:

 

[NeLey169]

Chunky. You might want to find some thin sounding op-amps to offset that.

i use bypass mode

 

[JFByers]

My use scenario might be different to that of others, and having searched I've found a potential problem so I thought I'd ask:

My current setup is computer optical output --> Fiio DAC with RCA output --> Nobsound NS-05P --> XLR output --> Crown XLS1502 --> speakers.

The Nobsound is passive. The channel imbalance at very low volume may seem like a small bother but it's finally gotten on my nerves enough. Moreover I'm using the Crown at full input gain since I have no preamp gain other than what signal comes out of the old $30 DAC and makes it through the Nobsound.

I'd like to use this as a preamp, eliminating the Fiio and the Nobsound.

However, the equipment (all of it!) is left on 24/7. I'm not the only user in the house. The PC, DAC, and amp have been on since cs. 2020 or so.

My worry is that the volume control on this Fosi is digital, and may fail to send full gain into the power amp. Another worry is how hot the Fosi may get, but that's less of a concern.

Are my fears realistic? And if so, is there another option I can look into?