FOSI S3 Balanced Streamer Review

[amper42]

@amper42 : I use Moode from the beginning, around 2016, so I know what can it do and what it cannot do.
Firstly, streamer is also bit perfect, either through SPDIF coax or USB (Wiim Ultra). All streamers from Wiim or Fosi can do streaming from local source with UPnP like Moode, so no advantage for either of Rpi5 or streamers.
Secondly, I use shairport for airplay streaming for a long time. And I can tell you that it still have bug and never error-free like what I get from my Wiim Pro Plus.
Thirdly, being an kind of open source, Moode or Volumio are always in the catching up mode. So integration with big, popular commercial platform or like Spotify Connect, Amazon Music Unlimited, Google Cast is either non-existence or sometimes broken.

Of course, for a specific use case, Rpi5/Moode is good enough. And your concern about security and privacy is spot on. But for vast major of users, streamers are far more error-free, convenient and feature-rich. And price for them are very reasonable.

I tried to use Wiim with local music and the interface was poor in comparison to Moode. In addition, UPnP would never work properly with Audirvana as well. Once I threw my Wiim gear away and switched to Moode/RPI5 all these issues disappeared. Each person will find what works best for them. The customization and privacy in Moode is far superior to anything in Wiim. I would never buy a streamer from a Chinese based company again.

 

[Chanur]

Or to add a headphone amp. A super nice low budget package for the living room (HDMI).
Amazing how affordable such devices can be.

Fosi Audio S3 Balanced HiFi Streamer/DAC/Preamp

Fosi Audio S3: Wi-Fi 6 & Bluetooth 5.3 streamer w/ flagship chipset, balanced circuit. NAS/online, App control. streamer/DAC/preamp. Clean, detailed sound.

fosiaudio.com

A decent headphone amp would help differentiate it from the WiiM which is the juggernaut at this price point.

 

[Chanur]

I understand that it’s important to you, but Roon isn’t really essential for a streamer’s basic setup. I think it’s an overreaction to downgrade a streamer just because Roon isn’t supported.

Spotify is by far the largest user base for music streaming. So it's the most important integration.

 

[Matias]

A decent headphone amp would help differentiate it from the WiiM which is the juggernaut at this price point.

To be honest it costs almost nothing to add a CS43131 amp+DAC chip in parallel with the line outs, and add a front 3.5mm jack. A dongle, with USB connector, USB receiver and cable costs 20 usd and measures great, would cost even less in the S3. Or add SGM8262 opamps and 4.4mm balanced jack and there goes a nice mid level HP out.

 

[valcon]

When they say they are about to introduce "10 band of EQ" do they mean parametric or graphic?

 

[somebodyelse]

https://www.streamunlimited.com/stream1832/ - the AE version has WiFi 6. It's interesting that there's no back panel USB, but there is an internal USB header as well as a serial header that might give some interesting boot console content. I wonder what the unpopulated CN1 is for. The USB seems to be host-only.
https://www.streamunlimited.com/streamsdk/ might give some insight into possible future capabilities if they develop the firmware like Wiim have done.

 

[Mathijs Kok]

The wiim pro much cheaper and older still keep its rank and provide a comfirmed app

But no sub out.

 

[aagstn]

This is a cool product. It took Wiim some time to get their software side very polished. The catching up there that Fosi would have to do would be my biggest concern. Wiim is such a robust streamer now that it is hard to choose alternatives at the same price point.

 

[aagstn]

I tried to use Wiim with local music and the interface was poor in comparison to Moode. In addition, UPnP would never work properly with Audirvana as well. Once I threw my Wiim gear away and switched to Moode/RPI5 all these issues disappeared. Each person will find what works best for them. The customization and privacy in Moode is far superior to anything in Wiim. I would never buy a streamer from a Chinese based company again.

I was not a fan of Wiim's software side in 2023 and went the Moode route as well. However, their software is greatly improved and I am currently using a Pro Plus with UPnP and it works perfectly. I will always have a soft spot for Moode though and understand choosing it over other options.

 

[A Surfer]

That's not the point at all. Most streamers actually have Bluetooth built in. There are just a lot of things a streamer can do that a smartphone paired with a Bluetooth receiver can't.

I recognize that, my post was in response to another member saying that they did not really see the point of a streamer versus Bluetooth from a phone. I was not attempting to weigh in on that although I personally find my phone perfectly acceptable in this regard.

I was however, replying to address the sentiment expressed that somehow Bluetooth was not audibly transparent.

 

[TehMowat]

Not sure why someone would choose this when RPi5/Moode supports more streaming options and offers the ability to plug in a USB stick and stream local music with a fantastic album interface while also supporting UPnP?

RPI5/Moode supports more high resolution formats and includes software music playback options this streamer will never offer. Once you use RPi5/Moode its hard to be satisfied with the limitations of other streaming boxes.

Because most people don't want to build a raspberry pi and deal with that level of tinkering. People want to buy a product that works, not one they have to build and configure and learn linux or whatnot.

 

[dtaylo1066]

At that price, it is great. Balanced out a big plus. Too bad no Tidal Connect. Maybe in an update. Ooops, web page says Roon Ready and Tidal Connect!! And it says more app updates in May!

 

[Joe Smith]

I assume that Fosi was anxious to get the product launched in Q1 2026 and that's why the software is running a bit behind. Not an ideal way to launch, but maybe a compromise within their ranks. For my streaming needs, which are simple, it works fine as is. My main gripes are the tiny indicators, small printed legends and the remote layout have a bit of a learning curve. The app itself, though basic, is pretty easy to understand and use right away. Works well with Spotify.

 

[Karmacoma]

Connectic +- like ultra
Ah...surpasses...that much? What makes you say that? The balanced outputs? Such different measurements in unbalanced?

First of all I don't like people asking questions just to answer it themselves, it's the level zero of conversation: it feels frantic, often induces a straw man and is overall unpolite.

Yes it surpasses the Wiim in connectics, it is a factual observation, and I never said ''that much''.
And Yes balanced is better, again, it's a fact.
The DAC is better as well, a fact.

It's in the Wiim pro price range so I compare it with the Wiim pro.
If we were comparing it with the Wiim Ultra I'd go for the ultra.
In the end, if you've read properly, I didn't even put it over the Wiim, so relax.

 

[morillon]

No...
if for comparaison that s with the Wiin Pro Plus... not the Pro...
AKM AK4493S in "plus" and s3..
Do your research
;-)
(I'm inclined to think that the vast majority of users of these kinds of affordable streamers will use them in asymmetrical mode...don't you think? ;-)
I just regret this overemphasis on "symmetry connectic" (when the topic should be software, features, etc.)... and the lack of measures focused on asymmetrical... that's all.
)

And rest assured...
I won't be any more lenient with Wiim..
- Analog input not good...
- Could do better in terms of digital output quality...
-Headphone output is modest on the Ultra...

And the bad idea, given the well-known marketing impact , of the lack of symmetry, at least since the "plus" and then the ultra...
Fosi jumped on the bandwagon...
but it can't hide everything else.

 

[Chanur]

Not sure why someone would choose this when RPi5/Moode supports more streaming options and offers the ability to plug in a USB stick and stream local music with a fantastic album interface while also supporting UPnP?

RPI5/Moode supports more high resolution formats and includes software music playback options this streamer will never offer. Once you use RPi5/Moode its hard to be satisfied with the limitations of other streaming boxes.

Presumably not everyone wants to build a raspberry pi device.

 

[Matias]

I assume that Fosi was anxious to get the product launched in Q1 2026 and that's why the software is running a bit behind. Not an ideal way to launch, but maybe a compromise within their ranks. For my streaming needs, which are simple, it works fine as is. My main gripes are the tiny indicators, small printed legends and the remote layout have a bit of a learning curve. The app itself, though basic, is pretty easy to understand and use right away. Works well with Spotify.

"Launch early and iterate" was Google mantra for the last 20 years or so. Worked fine for them.

 

[TheLavenderBaron]

Anyone interested can use the code wethrift15 to get 15% off. I don't work for Fosi, and am not suggesting you should or should not buy this product. I am suggesting that if you do decide, go on Fosi's site so you don't have to pay full price.

Shipping can take some time direct from Fosi though (2 weeks at times).

 

[TheLavenderBaron]

I use the Hiby music app with eq and 10 band peq (with Qobuz or Tidal) on my Android phone and a 3-5 meter long usb cable between my phone and dac. I get lossless playback easily and cheaply. Sometimes I use bluetooth connection between my phone and dac (LDAC). I don't see why I should spend money on a separate streamer.

If that's your use case you shouldn't.

That's right. I wrote this in another Thread >
My main music streaming service is Amazon Music Unlimited. It isn't supported, just like YouTube Music Premium. If I'm not mistaken, Roon only supports TIDAL and Qobuz. That's a bit (a lot) limited.

I’d read about Roon quite a bit before and decided to check if its features could be useful to me—in other words, if it offered any added value.
I didn’t see any, and I still don’t. To me, it’s a useless product with no real added value.

I haven’t found anything in my setup that gives Roon a clear advantage over WiiM’s Linkplay platform. In fact, WiiM supports more of the services I actually use, so Roon would mean paying extra while losing functionality.

You can cast from the Amazon music app- did you mean an interface from within the app itself?

 

[Chanur]

Always my number 1 concern for streamers.

Totally agree. How ever under 300 dollars my concern is a lot less.