Fosi Audio ZD3 Balanced DAC Review

[CedarX]

Your reply there comes across as quite… Dunno the word. In my native language we have a saying:

«Lage storm i vannglass»

Translates to making a storm in a glass of water. I’m guessing you pick up on the meaning.

I bought the unit, swapped the op-amps; it came with an extra set. Swapped the ones in my V3 monos as well. It is a fun little exercise, and I might just check out other as well. For the fun of it. Makes more sense than different power cables and usb-cables, and it doesn’t have to be expensive. So why the grief?

As I came across as “exhausting” (thanks @CReeDeR for your kind words, and @dlovesmusic for your unconditional 100% support of the same kind words), I’ll try to be brief…

As I said in previous posts, I have no issue with the feature (rollable opamps), even if I question the value. My grief is about Fosi “signature” assessment of these opamps and their “recommendations” based on genre…

An audiophile who listens to “Classical, Jazz, Audiophile Recordings” (Fosi’s words), and trusts Fosi’s recommendations should buy 3x Sparkos SS3602 opamps. Fosi is an official distributor for Sparkos, and sells these opamps as “accessories” for the modest price of $163.99 (2x sets) + $85.99 (1x set + DIP socket) = $249.98. How is a strong snake oil smell not hovering above Fosi’s brand name?

 

[dlovesmusic]

Sounds like what you're advocating for (more choices without degrading performance) is the exact state of the current product though- opamps can be swapped, but not mandatorily so. So why did you suggest something as extra as "Make a special limited ASR edition of the same dac, solder the opamp slot so it won’t allow swapping of opamps" especially when it goes against what you're defending in the first place?

My suggestion is for the few folks that apparently were bother by the fact that Fosi have something in there as an option that you do not have to use it, but it still bothers them simply by the existence of that option being there.

 

[JeffB1961]

im planning on ordering the ZD3 tomorrow to find the best BF deal .
my question is ... how does Fosi compare to SMSL with build quality between the ZD3 and the smsl raw mda-1 and do100 pro ?
also does either company provide better customer support than the other ?

i've got a little $60 schiit HP amp and want a DAC for the desktop in our bedroom and we have a 65 incher on the wall in there .
i see fosi has a ZP3 balanced HP amp/preamp coming which should make for a very handsome stack .

Co-Create - Multichanel Preamp

Co- Create Multichanel preamplifier Hi everyone! I have been thinking about a multi-channel preamplifier for a long time, I think it would be very necessary. Unfortunately, I don't know the parameters of the lc40 that is being made now, I just read that it is being made.. maybe I am knocking...

community.fosiaudio.com

"You can keep an eye on our fosi audio ZP3, it has 2 RCA inputs and 1 XLR input, with RCA and XLR outputs."

 

[JSmith]

Does it really matter?

Being misleading does matter and should be called out, as it has been and as many other brands have been on ASR. There is no need for Fosi to go down this path, their products are good and already speak for themselves.

Again for those that missed the gist of that topic... recommending opamps based on genre;

It seems most inconvenient to me to have to swap opamps before listening to a certain genre and the need to have 5 different opamps on hand.


JSmith

 

[AndreaT]

There is zero evidence from Amirm’s measurement that the standard op amp has any limitations to warrant swapping. Well, we know audiophiles and their lingo: “liquid sound”, “analog-like”, “black background noise”, “musicality”…and so on and on. Their VIIIth cranial nerve must be different from mine and independent of objective measurement, and they probably will connect the ZD3 with a $ 500 SPDIF coaxial and believe it makes a “huge difference”. No harm in receiving four op amps in the box. As I reported, the ZD3 (w stock op amp) has improved my audio-video experience in my modest set-up, the remote works flawlessly, the different inputs make it versatile. A great DAC at a competitive price.

 

[JSmith]

No harm in receiving four op amps in the box.

It comes with an LME49720... yet they suggest one needs to swap this for one of four other suggested opamps (depending on genre) that need to be purchased separately.


JSmith

 

[phoenixsong]

Being misleading does matter and should be called out, as it has been and as many other brands have been on ASR. There is no need for Fosi to go down this path, their products are good and already speak for themselves.

Again for those that missed the gist of that topic... recommending opamps based on genre;

View attachment 410258

It seems most inconvenient to me to have to swap opamps before listening to a certain genre and the need to have 5 different opamps on hand.


JSmith

Oh I meant if it really mattered if Fosi were to make a special ASR version of this product with its opamps soldered at extra cost as @dlovesmusic was suggesting. But your post does make sense if it were in the context you perceived it to be. Ah, online communication can be such a pain

 

[JSmith]

Oh I meant if it really mattered if Fosi were to make a special ASR version of this product with its opamps soldered at extra cost as @dlovesmusic was suggesting.

Yep, I see... but the original issue wasn't that the op-amps are able to be changed (certainly not uncommon at all), more so the strange and suggestive marketing around doing so based on genre of music and non-existent sound signatures. So unsure why that was even suggested tbh.


JSmith

 

[Old_School_Brad]

Thinking about Fosi opamps genre-based recommendations… The ZD3 is actually a terribly bad design: if my next track is a different musical genre, I have to stop listening, get my toolbox, open up the ZD3, swap the opamps, re-assemble and re-connect everything before starting the next track…!!!???

I also have a few Chinese traditional music tracks for which there is no opamp recommendations: I can’t play these on the ZD3…???

Really, I shall buy a DAC that can play every musical genre with no issue and no opamp swap, rather than this very inconvenient (staying polite) ZD3… I changed my rating to “Poor”.

An excellent business idea would be for us to team up and create a PCB with eight sockets, each designed for a different op-amp. We could house it in a stylish enclosure with a rotary switch labeled 1-8, enabling users to seamlessly switch between unique sound profiles -ranging, for example, from Diane Bish to Skrillex.

 

[JSmith]

ranging, for example, from Diane Bish to Skrillex.

Look I just want to know what opamp to pick for some Tuvan throat singing... please help.


JSmith

 

[Old_School_Brad]

Look I just want to know what opamp to pick for some Tuvan throat singing... please help.


JSmith

I’m confident we can cater to Tuvan throat singing enthusiasts within the disclosed genre range. For your preferred genre, we’d normally recommend starting about two to three clicks clockwise from the "Diane Bish extreme."

 

[JakeK]

Your reply there comes across as quite… Dunno the word. In my native language we have a saying:

«Lage storm i vannglass»

Translates to making a storm in a glass of water. I’m guessing you pick up on the meaning.

In England we say 'A storm in a teacup' which is a very similar saying. There are definitely worse things that happen at sea!

I’m confident we can cater to Tuvan throat singing enthusiasts within the disclosed genre range. For your preferred genre, we’d normally recommend starting about two to three clicks clockwise from the "Diane Bish extreme."

While singing from the throat you can try to blow up a storm in your preferred beverage!

Even easier would be to believe in the audio science that shows that this DAC adds no colour to the sound at all. The whole pint is that the electronics don't alter the sound in any way that can be heard. Yes the swapping of op-amps is a bit fluffy but at least they didn't put tubes in it!

 

[facefirst]

If this had an analogue input then I would get one, paired with the matching amps (x2 in mono configuration). Soooo close to perfection.

 

[CedarX]

If this had an analogue input then I would get one, paired with the matching amps (x2 in mono configuration). Soooo close to perfection.

It’s a DAC… If the source is analog, why do you need a DAC for? I believe you can always connect your analog source directly to the amps…

 

[JakeK]

It’s a DAC… If the source is analog, why do you need a DAC for? I believe you can always connect your analog source directly to the amps…

What if your amp only has one input or you're using active speakers? It's something I would want as well so that the DAC is also a preamp and you can use it's volume control for a line in or two as well. It does mean the DAC has to have an ADC as well so it's understandable that a low cost, high performing DAC like this won't have that.

 

[Mark S.]

Would there be any limitations or drawbacks with using;

PC/RTX 2070 Super >> HDMI >> TV >> HDMI eARC >> ZD3?

ETA >> what I'm wondering is if this could be an all-in-one solution, dispensing with the USB and optical connections I currently faff with when switching between PC audio, BRD player, video streamer et al. ETA 2 >> and come to think of it, even the APTX LL Bluetooth transceiver I sometimes use for headphone listening with movies! Nah, no APTX LL unfortunately.- ETA 3 !!! Nothing about APTX LL in the specs (only APTX and APTX-HD) but at '7.30' on the display what do I spy? ETA 4 Doh - that'll be a Bluetooth input.

 

[JeffB1961]

ordered the ZD3 from amazon with their 3 year warranty . hdmi arc will be useful and i like the styling a lot . should be more than adequate for my old ears .

 

[vimholic]

Would there be any limitations or drawbacks with using;

PC/RTX 2070 Super >> HDMI >> TV >> HDMI eARC >> ZD3?

ETA >> what I'm wondering is if this could be an all-in-one solution, dispensing with the USB and optical connections I currently faff with when switching between PC audio, BRD player, video streamer et al. ETA 2 >> and come to think of it, even the APTX LL Bluetooth transceiver I sometimes use for headphone listening with movies! Nah, no APTX LL unfortunately.- ETA 3 !!! Nothing about APTX LL in the specs (only APTX and APTX-HD) but at '7.30' on the display what do I spy? ETA 4 Doh - that'll be a Bluetooth input.

I tested my ZD3 by connecting my PC's motherboard DisplayPort via a DP to HDMI 2.1 converter to my LG 42C4 TV, and then connecting the TV to the ZD3 via HDMI ARC.

In this setup, the ZD3 does not display the sampling rate, even though the PC's sound source is 32-bit 192kHz. All sound output from the PC and LG TV through the ZD3 HDMI ARC connection works well, but it is limited to the TV's PCM output configuration. The sampling rate for the TV's embedded apps, such as Netflix and Apple TV, displays as 44 or 48kHz on the ZD3.

According to the HDMI ARC specification, it supports a maximum sampling rate of 24-bit 192kHz. However, I think this depends on the TV manufacturer's ARC configuration and the app's output sampling rate.

I prefer using a USB connection with my PC for sound clarity, so I just tested with HDMI ARC. The HDMI ARC input is useful for TV remote volume control, which is very handy. However, the DAC's full performance is limited by the TV's output configuration. Additionally, the latest firmware (v1.06) still has HDMI CEC issues (unintended power on with ZD3 and LG TV).

Tested Setup:

• PC HDMI or DisplayPort (via DP to HDMI 2.1 Converter) >> LG TV HDMI1 port
• LG TV's HDMI2 ARC >> ZD3 HDMI ARC

My current setup is as follows:

• PC >> ZD3 USB @ 384kHz
• TV >> ZD3 HDMI ARC @ TV's PCM 2CH output
• Chromecast Audio mini Toslink >> ZD3 Optical
• ZD3 RCA Output >> Tube Preamp RCA >> ZA3 RCA
• ZD3 XLR Output >> ZA3 XLR

 

[dpuopolo]

This unit has had an intermittent audio "Echo". The latest 1.06 firmware fixes this. If you got your unit before December first I'd upgrade.

https://support.fosiaudio.com/attachments/token/yJRy6lhf3GWYzbZXXRN524vz9/?name=ZD3+Software+Upgrade+Steps-spdif_stable.rar

 

[Hammeredklavier]

This unit has had an intermittent audio "Echo". The latest 1.06 firmware fixes this. If you got your unit before December first I'd upgrade.

https://support.fosiaudio.com/attachments/token/yJRy6lhf3GWYzbZXXRN524vz9/?name=ZD3+Software+Upgrade+Steps-spdif_stable.rar

I was just going to ask if someone had checked if this product works properly. My Fosi DS2 was basically a complete waste of £60!