Fosi CA30 Four Channel Car Audio Amp Review

[bunkbail]

To Fosi Audio, please make a 6-channel amp and put the fuses on the outside. I'll be the first one to buy it!

 

[DSJR]

I read earlier in a HiFi News mag from last year, Ken Kessler all but creaming himself over an EIGHTEEN GRAND D'Agostino amplifier confection (the entry level bargain basement model apparently). Yes, I know, the D'Agostino casework will cost a bomb, the maker's name adds huge intellectual property in that fraternity and obviously, it's not as load-sensitive as this little box BUT, I'd suggest from basic reading of the performance, this little thing would give little away and I think actually, in many respects, it performs better despite not being the current state of the amplifier art.

If I have it right, it really does seem as if the high end of domestic audio has totally detached itself from available reality when a cheapo four channel car-amp can now easily compete with and beat the high end of yesteryear and stack up in most respects to an 'exalted' US brand costing tens of thousands of dollars/pounds/euros...

 

[DaniPucc]

Nice review, thanks! One question: the test was probably done with a 12V battery as the power supply, right? How do you think it would perform with a 12V-50A power supply? Would there be any noise issues? PS for example, this: https://www.amazon.it/gp/aw/d/B0BQJML8ZD

 

[10PSPMemSticksForMiku2007]

That type of screw connection is supposed to be used only with ferrules. Did Fosi not include those in the box?

 

[amirm]

Nice review, thanks! One question: the test was probably done with a 12V battery as the power supply, right? How do you think it would perform with a 12V-50A power supply? Would there be any noise issues? PS for example, this: https://www.amazon.it/gp/aw/d/B0BQJML8ZD

Thanks. I did use an LFP custom battery box. I actually supplemented it with a power supply charging it at the same time. By grounding the PS to the Audio Precision, i am getting zero hum contributions which is very nice. You may get unlucky and get hum so be sure you can return the power supply and at any rate, experiment with grounding or not grounding the power supply with the rest of the system.

 

[amirm]

That type of screw connection is supposed to be used only with ferrules. Did Fosi not include those in the box?

I did not look.

 

[PristineSound]

Yeah, I’m surprised there’s much market for car audio still, for the reasons you mention. And not just brand new cars. Even my old 2014 Lexus CT200h (2nd gen Toyota Prius in nicer clothes) would have been such a PITA to upgrade that, even though it sounded terrible, the time to DIY or cost to pay for the upgrade meant that the JBL C608GTi set I bought from Scott Buwalda for it never left its box.

Ugh, yeah. I upgraded the stereo in my Ford Fusion and I had to replace the entire "infotainment system" including climate controls. The replacement unit is kind of buggy and not very attractive.

But I also agree with your other point. Factory audio is often noooot bad these days.

I think manufacturers FINALLY realized that it's a huge selling point and satisfaction driver and it can be cheap to implement. Class D power is clean and cheap. DSP EQ corrections are also cheap. No reason for a stock system to sound bad these days.

Yeah. I be very surprised if the sale volume of this is going to be high.

If I recalled correctly, Dr. Olive worked on a Mark Levison project for Lexus. Many of the premium cars comes with a premium systems now. Why would anyone in their right mind "upgrade" the system in their car that was custom engineered and tuned by Dr. Olive with this $140 Fosi?

I would imagine the market for this is probably 10-15 years old entry level, based model cars. At least in the US.

 

[DearSX]

I installed my Fosi CA 30 in my BMW for now powering an SB Acoustics 12in-sb34swpl76-4. Easy to run the wires from the BMWs rear battery. 2 channels bridged, it does ok, till I get a sub woofer amp.

 

[enio nery]

i just got one few weeks ago. will be powering up 2nd hand BEWITH Be Fit 5" b130 wide range as midbass +Tectonic Element TEBM 46( the mid driver in Philharmonic bmr monitor) as midhi. crossed at 1khz.

 

[DavidK442]

The almost impossible task of installing an after market car stereo is not incidental. Auto manufacturers have purposefully integrated unrelated functions into the head-unit because they want you to spend for the premium stereo/sunroof package. The stock audio in my wife’s top of the line Santa Fe is barely listenable so even though manufacturers could work wonders for little money many don’t.

Back to the review at hand, I really expected Fosi to do better than “good enough” for their first car audio amp. I guess it can join the pile with its brethren. Amplifier options for car audio are legion.

 

[xanalog]

Maybe they’re trying to force best practices. IME bare wire is trouble. Loose strands migrate. Always use ferrules. Ferrules will be clamped down just fine by an angled screw.

Couldn't soldering the tips of the cables be the best practice for car use?
My next project is replacing a 20-year OEM system, using all heavy gauge, tinned-copper, multi-strand (12awg@712 strands) silicone 'Lipo' wiring.

I have two of these FOSI CA30s waiting to be installed, along with a pair of 6.5" coax, a pair of 6.5" component and a pair of 6.5"sub speakers.
The pair of CA30s will be using an 8-channel DSP/EQ (30band/ea), with USB(2x)/Opto/RCA(3pairs) inputs.
The DSP will be fed via DAP, SXM, HD-Tuner, etc.
All OTA capabilities were intentionally omitted.

 

[Mnyb]

Yeah. I be very surprised if the sale volume of this is going to be high.

If I recalled correctly, Dr. Olive worked on a Mark Levison project for Lexus. Many of the premium cars comes with a premium systems now. Why would anyone in their right mind "upgrade" the system in their car that was custom engineered and tuned by Dr. Olive with this $140 Fosi?

I would imagine the market for this is probably 10-15 years old entry level, based model cars. At least in the US.

Id say 20-25 year old cars ? All cars I had the last decades had integrated systems that won’t lend themselves to an easy upgrade for a consumer . Maybe the head unit in my wife’s old car can be exchanged but Carnot the speakers without destroying the interior?

In my youth this was very popular especially badly mounted aftermarket speakers that probably would fly around in the interior in case of a crash

Maybe in you camper van or mobile home ?

 

[john61ct]

Maybe in you caper van or mobile home ?

Yes, lots of use case contexts are more "off grid" than automotive.

up to 4ch per tiny box, 3ch, or 2ch modes available bridging for higher power, crazy wide input sensitivity range, HP/LP filtering built in,

for the price, I think amazing

 

[amirm]

Id say 20-25 year old cars ? All cars I had the last decades had integrated systems that won’t lend themselves to an easy upgrade for a consumer .

Our 2015 Mercedes Van was already upgraded (by the RV conversion company) when we bought it with a horrible Kenwood unit. Last year I updated that with an Android head unit and DSP amplifier.

The aftermarket crowd is working hard to be able to fit into modern cars. They for example have the ability to measure existing car system, create an anti-EQ to back our existing OEM optimization, and then let you EQ them as you like! With that an upgraded speakers, you have a shot at improving the sound of more modern systems. It certainly is not as easy as the good old days but doable.

 

[jasonhanjk]

I have 2 concerns.
1. SINAD will drop during driving.
2. Car battery likely to fail early.

 

[DearSX]

Our 2015 Mercedes Van was already upgraded (by the RV conversion company) when we bought it with a horrible Kenwood unit. Last year I updated that with an Android head unit and DSP amplifier.

The aftermarket crowd is working hard to be able to fit into modern cars. They for example have the ability to measure existing car system, create an anti-EQ to back our existing OEM optimization, and then let you EQ them as you like! With that an upgraded speakers, you have a shot at improving the sound of more modern systems. It certainly is not as easy as the good old days but doable.

On my BMW I just paid the $1000 to get the Helix Match UP DSP amp, plug and play. Took 15 minutes to install and has Helix DSP. I didn't want to run wires and wanted a top class DSP, which is $650 anyway by itself. Aftermarket has the BMW and Mercedes stuff figured out. Kenwood Excelon has a lot of brands figured out too, I can keep my steering wheel controls and everything.

Then I piggy backed the Foci CA30 off the Helix with a short run to the trunk battery and now I have a subwoofer too.

 

[DearSX]

I have 2 concerns.
1. SINAD will drop during driving.
2. Car battery likely to fail early.

Modern efficient amps have come a long way, they use a lot less alternator power and 65 watts per channel is plenty for most cars. Getting a AGX battery also helps when its time for a new battery.

I have been running 3 amps in my car with a small alternator for years, I also plug in a trickle charger as needed when I don't give the battery enough time to recharge on the drive.

 

[xanalog]

Thank you for the review, @amirm,

Should this review be relocated to the "Car Audio Stereo Review and Discussion" forum' section?

...and DSP amplifier.

Which one do you have?

 

[magreen]

why not just rig up some desktop TPA amps such as V3 monos or Topping mini300 or Aiyima A70 for the car, using an inverter to power the stock power supply or a DC-DC replacement power supply? Is there anything this amp does that makes it better for automotive other than run on 12 volts?

 

[DearSX]

why not just rig up some desktop TPA amps such as V3 monos or Topping mini300 or Aiyima A70 for the car, using an inverter to power the stock power supply or a DC-DC replacement power supply? Is there anything this amp does that makes it better for automotive other than run on 12 volts?

I like that idea. That would cost a bit more no? How reliable is an inverter and efficient?