FOSI S3 Balanced Streamer Review

[OrangeWalrus]

What is your UPNP source setup?

I use MiniDLNA as a docker on an Unraid server.

 

[jareinertson]

I accept your rational explanation. XLR may be unnecessary, like SINAD over 90dB, but I like the assurance that I can run my signal cables alongside many miscellaneous cables in my tight cabinet and not worry about it. Also, cable cost is strangely similar while sticking to Amazon Basics or Monoprice quality.

I consider XLR a nice luxury for home audio use, and enjoy the hefty connectors with positive mechanical connections. It's less a rational decision and more an emotionally satisfying decision.

Well said and I agree.

 

[jareinertson]

What sources/services do you play using the WiiM app? I'd address the question to anyone who primarily controls playback on their WiiM using the app.

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For myself, I tried to get used to playing my ripped CDs and purchased audio files from UPnP but couldn't hack it with a couple of thousand albums on the server. Lyrion otoh is fine.

For accessing a cloud streaming service, the quality and sophistication of the UX is paramount. Spotify is by far the best that I have used and WiiM didn't come close. But Spotify can eff off (discussed elsewhere). Amazon Music was pretty bad. Qobuz is acceptable.

For playing a few internet radio stations the WiiM app seemed ok.

I use the WiiM app to stream from a Plex server and for stream management of Radio Paradise or other internet stations. I use the Spotify or Tidal app to control what gets streamed via a WiiM Mini.

 

[somebodyelse]

Balanced in-and outputs use two signal wires in opposite phases (hot and cold) plus ground. Interference typically couples equally to both conductors and is largely eliminated in the differential input through subtraction (common-mode rejection). The practical benefit therefore lies primarily in the suppression of hum and crosstalk, as well as in the ability to use very long cable runs with minimal interference.

Nearly there. The common mode rejection comes from having the same impedance on the hot and cold legs, ideally with twist so that any field induces an equal voltage on both legs. There is no requirement to have opposite phase on the legs, or even to have both legs driven. There's no need to have the signal on the legs ground-referenced.

In the domestic setting the interference rejection is usually of little consequence, although there are occasionally sources of interference strong enough that it might help. The much more common benefit is in avoiding ground-related noise issues, assuming manufacturers are following AES-48 which unfortunately isn't a given, probably more so in the hifi side than the pro audio side. With single ended interconnects there's always the possibility of a ground noise issue, even though most people will get away with it most of the time. The ongoing stream of people asking how to get rid of hum, buzz or 'USB noise/computer noise' is what happens when people don't get away with it, and could be avoided if HiFi moved over to properly implemented balanced rather than single ended.

 

[himey]

I use MiniDLNA as a docker on an Unraid server.

I am curious if you would have similar issues if you set up a LMS Music server? That's what I use in a Docker compose configuration on Linux.

 

[OrangeWalrus]

I am curious if you would have similar issues if you set up a LMS Music server? That's what I use in a Docker compose configuration on Linux.

How would the streamer access the music? (S3 available options include line-in, optical in, HDMI ARC , Google Cast, Airplay, UPnP, Bluetooth)

Also, do you mean Lightweight Music Server or Lyrion Music Server?

 

[himey]

How would the streamer access the music? (S3 available options include line-in, optical in, HDMI ARC , Google Cast, Airplay, UPnP, Bluetooth)

Also, do you mean Lightweight Music Server or Lyrion Music Server?

Lyrion Music Server and use the S3 as a upnp renderer. That would probably be a better option than Google cast.

 

[OrangeWalrus]

Lyrion Music Server and use the S3 as a upnp renderer. That would probably be a better option than Google cast.

I installed Lyrion and it scanned my library successfully, but I couldn't get it to be visible as a DLNA device.

Although that gave me an idea. I spun up my Plex DLNA server (I had deactivated the Plex DLNA option because I prefer MiniDLNA). Once again, the Fosi app could see the Plex DLNA server, but it would only show the first 31 items in a list. I was able to get around this in the same way - either turn on the S3 via the front panel button before starting the Fosi app, or browse while the S3 is on standby.

By the way, I have other apps/devices using UPnP and none of them have any trouble with my Plex DLNA or MiniDLNA. (Denon Heos, Samsung TV, VLC running on an Android TV or Linux PC, and BubbleUPnP.) It looks like a scrolling problem because it seems the Fosi app has a built in pause after scrolling far - have to reswipe to continue scrolling - but the bug seems to freeze and not allow resumption of scrolling.

 

[KEFCarver]

1. If the S3 doesn't have USB input or output and can't even show all the files available on a network NAS it's not much of a streamer.

2. While balanced output is nice its really not much of a pre-amp if it offers zero gain.

3. It's nice to have SINAD measurements of the S3 but it would be very helpful for any review to include basic functionality limitations as well. The fact that we are 10 pages into review comments before it is disclosed that the device has major software bugs with local NAS libraries is problematic?

I

I noticed something similar. There is definitely a bug in the app that limits scrolling to the first 31 items. (It's seems to be the first 31 items of any list - songs, folders, artist names.)

But it does seem to be a scrolling bug. For example, if you search for the exact title, it shows up.

If you power on the S3 with the front panel button first, and then open the app, you should be able to scroll through the whole list.

It's a problem that needs to be fixed, regardless.

I tried your approach and the file/folder/artist limitation was still there. I have hope they will get it fixed.

 

[himey]

I installed Lyrion and it scanned my library successfully, but I couldn't get it to be visible as a DLNA device.

You might need one of the add-on's in LMS for DLNA.

 

[OrangeWalrus]

I

I tried your approach and the file/folder/artist limitation was still there. I have hope they will get it fixed.

Try this: with the S3 on standby, go into the Fosi app and go through UPnP. This seems to be more reliable. Of course, once you select a song that way, it turns on the unit and then the scrolling problem resumes.

To be clear, I'm not offering a workaround as much as I am trying to help isolate the bug. My real workaround right now is to use BubbleUPnP app.

 

[somebodyelse]

I installed Lyrion and it scanned my library successfully, but I couldn't get it to be visible as a DLNA device.

Go to Settings, then the 'Manage Plugins' tab and enable the UPnP/DLNA plugin. When you click 'Apply' it'll ask whether you want to restart now or later. The plugin will only take effect after restart. LMS should then be able to play to UPnP/DLNA endpoints, and will appear as a UPnP/DLNA server.

 

[LuckyNat]

I'm afraid I am a loss as to what streamers are for? Seriously I cannot see a reason.

Seeing as you need you phone to run the control app, why not just have a decent, modern Bluetooth receiver and run your streams from your phone?

Most homes don't have ethernet wiring, so how many people are going to sit it next to the router?

Or is it really just a very nice Wi-Fi/Bluetooth receiver?

Back in the good old days, when people played music from CDs , the radio, records etc .. you could take a call on the landline whilst still listening to that music , even talk about that music to your friend on the phone, hold the phone up to the speaker so they could hear .

You could watch a news report on the TV without having to chose between one or the other ..

Personally I find it very annoying to stream from my phone and then have the music stop because someone has dared call (haha) or a website has a popup as that plays, or I also want to watch a news report on a news website or YouTube etc etc

Streamers free you from this locked-in, one device for everything, world that the mobile phone companies have sold us.

Streamers without control screens that it seems they need a phone to work with anyway? Yeah .. I could see your point in this case, but because it is only for control, it is again uninterrupted by other audio from your phone.

Of course let's not forget folks with NAS's full of ripped CDs to play ...

Most homes have routers with ethernet sockets. That means you can run ethernet wiring anywhere. I poked a flat cable under the carpet from where the router sits. Many homes will have legacy internet connections that enter their homes near some entertainment system, TV etc because their internet package includes Sky or cable TV.

These streamers are just independent audio hubs that also include your streaming services - very practical and remove many inconvenices from using your phone or laptop.

 

[yuting]

网站上说S3支持Roon。

View attachment 527250

yes,,We are authenticating.

 

[yuting]

And yet, at Audiophonics it is clearly marked "Roon Ready".

View attachment 527259

yes，We are authenticating. so now is ready not finish, It has been sent to Roon Labs for testing for nearly six months, and Roon has responded that their testing process takes 6–12 months. Although they cannot yet specify exactly when the testing will be completed and support will be available, I believe the wait will not be too long.

 

[yuting]

说实话，在线路输出端并联一个 CS43131 功放+DAC 芯片，再加一个前置 3.5mm 耳机接口，成本几乎可以忽略不计。一个带 USB 接口、USB 接收器和线缆的转换器售价 20 美元，性能出色，如果用在 S3 上，成本会更低。或者，也可以加装 SGM8262 运算放大器和 4.4mm 平衡接口，这样就能得到一个不错的中档耳机输出。

yes ,wo have development it ,in a new product ,it have a diaplay

 

[yuting]

改进软件和固件的代码固然重要，但硬件本身无法改进。例如，S3 开发过程中，用户曾向 Fosi 反馈过缺少 USB 输入接口，导致无法从外接硬盘串流播放音乐。我不太确定 Fosi 是否真的想要“来自用户社区的真实反馈”。

thanks,wo have add it on S3 lite,S3 have no space to add it

 

[Ruediger]

What sources/services do you play using the WiiM app? I'd address the question to anyone who primarily controls playback on their WiiM using the app.

I'm a dlna/network renderer user mostly (foobar). But when not on a PC I used to use BubbleUPNP, upnp server (MinimServer), playback controlled by some mobile to upnp renderer. Same thing with VLC when just playing back locally (can't send it anywhere).

But I found myself in the WiiM app more and more often. And using smb access to files as a default. It's faster than upnp (in my case, a 50TB NAS) and I don't really use any additional features from the MinimServer.

The WiiM app lacks major usability when playing this way. You can go into a folder and start playing. There is no playlist builder with recursive action through the underlying items, as the other apps have since forever. But I expect WiiM to complete their player with that feature as it is a very obvious and big deficit (feature request sent). Nonetheless, in many cases I am happy with how the app works.

Got just one favorite for a radio station in there (vtuner).

 

[yuting]

我

我尝试了你的方法，但文件/文件夹/艺术家数量的限制仍然存在。我希望他们能尽快修复这个问题。

thanks ,we have test it ,Once we identify this issue, we will fix it promptly.,First, we need to rule out whether this is an issue inherent to UPnP itself.

 

[amirm]

Bunch more tests added to the review. Results are pretty positive!