FOSI S3 Balanced Streamer Review

[amper42]

Moode is indeed awesome. There’s a whole thread about it here

I used to use it on my RPi4 before switching to a WiiM Amp Ultra. The WiiM can enter standby, RPi/moode cant, and since you’re using RPi5, that’s drawing a decent amount of power at idle. It also is harder to add / integrate a subwoofer with moode. I found moode to be somewhat unreliable, which is probably to be expected for an open source project; I remember their Spotify connect breaking almost immediately after I first started using it.

I tried Wiim but the UPnP was not reliable with Audirvana. It would stall when moving from track to track no matter which firmware version was used. The only way I could get it to work reliably was to stay with the Wiim app. And the local playback software wasn't great. Once I moved to Moode, UPnP with Audirvana worked without issue. The quality of the UPnP capability was steps ahead.

I used RPi4 with Moode originally and it works fine. Based on power reports for the RPi5, I thought it may use more. However, once I measured the RPI5 with Moode and an active cooler installed I discovered that configuration ran Moode with as little as 6W according to Kill-a-Watt even with a Samsung Fit Plus 256GB USB Thumb drive attached. In addition, the Raspberry Pi Active Cooler's integrated temperature-controlled radial blower fan keeps the RPi5 cooler than the RPi4 and it can install software in a fraction of the time. It's a big leap forward.

Reliability with Moode has been far superior in my experience with Wiim UPnP. The Wiim will probably work for you as long as you stay with its limited software app but Moode offers more options and the ability to turn on just the features I want. I also appreciate the Hi-Res audio up to 352kHz capability of the Samsung USB FiT Plus with my RME ADI-2 DAC FS, RPI-5 Moode combination. The Moode album artwork display on any screen from computer to phone using a local IP address is also superior. No wifi is required for the music playback stream when using USB attached local music. You use Wifi to tell it which album to play but once instructed it sends the music direct from the USB Drive to DAC and out to amp. Nothing cleaner than that for local playback.

Security and privacy are also enhanced with Moode vs Wiim. Moode doesn't collect your personal data or want your location or your router password. Wiim privacy data collection is poor and Chinese law requires that data be available to the state. No one talks about these privacy issues when promoting their Wiim experience. It's a security issue I would rather avoid.

Bottom line - The switch from a WiiM to an RPi5/moOde setup is a "big leap forward" for reliability, flexibility, and data privacy, particularly for someone using a high-end DAC and a demanding controller like Audirvana.

 

[Krusty09]

Pro audio gear and outdoor audio as well.

Edit: Wiim Pro Plus iOS screenshots
View attachment 532094View attachment 532095

Thanks for that screen grab. I had knew about wiim being able to do it i just wanted to know about fosi. It's a great feature I think . Maybe they will be able to do it one day

 

[himey]

You use Wifi to tell it which album to play but once instructed it sends the music direct from the USB Drive to DAC and out to amp. Nothing cleaner than that for local playback.

That doesn't sound right as long as a network connection is working correctly.

 

[formdissolve]

That doesn't sound right as long as a network connection is working correctly.

They're saying you use the web interface over WiFi which controls the Pi, so the Pi is reading directly from a USB drive.

 

[Blahzot]

Damn your fantastic reviews, Amir, I keep buying new gear because of them

 

[MacP]

As a user of this device, I can say it sounds really very good — better than the WiiM Ultra on the analog outputs. However, it is poorly suited for driving a power amp due to the lack of any volume indicator and, as already mentioned here, very large volume step increments when using the remote control. I hope the next firmware update will fix this. The entire scale is divided into just 20 steps! An input auto-sense feature would also be highly welcome; cycling through the remote options just to switch to HDMI or optical is cumbersome and unnecessary. I'm glad to hear about the announcement of the Lite version, which will feature USB and coaxial outputs. It will offer strong competition to the WiiM Pro, if only it can match its app functionality.

 

[babadono]

@yuting does FOSI have any future plans to make a device like the WiiM mini? So a user can use the S3 where they need the internal DAC and a mini type in another location hooked to an external DAC and stream both with same music.

 

[formdissolve]

Note that this is currently $50 off at the Fosi Audio website using a discount code on the page (FS320) making it $209USD. There is also a 10% off first time customer coupon, but I am unsure if you can stack that on top of the $50 off. Hell of a deal!

 

[babadono]

At $209 I'll give it a spin...and no you can't stack the additional 10% off.

 

[babadono]

Ordered Monday, here today....must have stock already here in US. No tariffs......Yea

 

[Power Pop 23]

Note that this is currently $50 off at the Fosi Audio website using a discount code on the page (FS320) making it $209USD. There is also a 10% off first time customer coupon, but I am unsure if you can stack that on top of the $50 off. Hell of a deal!

I am currently seeing a 20 percent off digital coupon for the Fosi Audio S3 at Amazon USA yielding a net price of $207.99

I am uncertain whether this is a listing targeting me or not.....

 

[redjr]

I am currently seeing a 20 percent off digital coupon for the Fosi Audio S3 at Amazon USA yielding a net price of $207.99

I am uncertain whether this is a listing targeting me or not.....

Indeed an extraordinary value at $207.99. One complaint, no USB-IN (or OUT). Why this oversight on a product like this in 2026 is really baffling. Most music enthusiasts have computers.

 

[himey]

Indeed an extraordinary value at $207.99. One complaint, no USB-IN (or OUT). Why this oversight on a product like this in 2026 is really baffling. Most music enthusiasts have computers.

IN I understand, OUT should have been a given.

 

[Power Pop 23]

Indeed an extraordinary value at $207.99. One complaint, no USB-IN (or OUT). Why this oversight on a product like this in 2026 is really baffling. Most music enthusiasts have computers.

Agreed.

A similar interface to connect with a computer is lacking from WiiM-branded streamers.

It is my speculation offering such a USB I/O may hinder the business model of reselling the data of customers using a music streamer.

 

[himey]

Agreed.

A similar interface to connect with a computer is lacking from WiiM-branded streamers.

It is my speculation offering such a USB I/O may hinder the business model of reselling the data of customers using a music streamer.

Everything is a conspiracy in 2026.

No IN makes sense because that would be for DAC sales. No OUT is an oversight that will hopefully be included next gen.

 

[Power Pop 23]

Everything is a conspiracy in 2026.

No IN makes sense because that would be for DAC sales. No OUT is an oversight that will hopefully be included next gen.

That is so '2025'.

Until that next gen, a workaround can be a 'UR23' or 'UR27' from Hifime to convert the optical output of the Fosi Audio S3 to a USB output

Hifime SPDIF Optical to USB converter, record DAT/minidisc to computer

The UR23 accepts SPDIF optical sources and transfer this to USB. Suitable to record DAT tapes, minidisc or other digital source to a computer.

hifimediy.com

 

[himey]

That is so '2025'.

Until that next gen, a workaround can be a 'UR23' or 'UR27' from Hifime to convert the optical output of the Fosi Audio S3 to a USB output

Hifime SPDIF Optical to USB converter, record DAT/minidisc to computer

The UR23 accepts SPDIF optical sources and transfer this to USB. Suitable to record DAT tapes, minidisc or other digital source to a computer.

hifimediy.com

I would like to think eventually both will be standard it is just a matter of when.

 

[Laserjock]

I held out for awhile and then saw $50 off and same day delivery using Amazon.

I could have save tax using Fosi order ~$16 but figured Amazon easier and faster. (Not sure how no tax on Fosi direct)

That eARC was something I wanted to try on bar/dining area TV.
Direct XLR to amp simplifies also.

XLR -> Choice of Topping PA5 II plus, Topping PA5 OG or March Audio P122 -> Revel M106

 

[staticV3]

That is so '2025'.

Until that next gen, a workaround can be a 'UR23' or 'UR27' from Hifime to convert the optical output of the Fosi Audio S3 to a USB output

Hifime SPDIF Optical to USB converter, record DAT/minidisc to computer

The UR23 accepts SPDIF optical sources and transfer this to USB. Suitable to record DAT tapes, minidisc or other digital source to a computer.

hifimediy.com

You can't plug a DAC into the UR23/UR27 USB output, only a computer to e.g. record the S3's output through the UR23/UR27.

 

[amper42]

S3 really needs a volume LED on front of the case and to support USB. My guess is this version will be updated at some point or simply die out.