FOSI S3 Balanced Streamer Review

[Karmacoma]

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? ;-) )

You didn't adress the other issues I noticed in your first ''reply'', I conclude I was right and you were wrong on these.
Ok let's compare it with the Wiim pro plus you're right, yes same Dac chip, not same Dac, slightly better implementation if we trust the accuracy of the measurements, by 1dB.
Not that I care, the Wiim pro is already good enough that nobody would notice a difference, but if you insist on being petty It's just fun to beat you at your own game

 

[amper42]

Presumably not everyone wants to build a raspberry pi device.

Actually, building the Raspberry Pi to my custom specification and learning a few new skills is half the fun. Even if it only takes me 20 minutes to build and load the software - I enjoy doing it.

It's also cheaper than just about any streamer out there and can be used for multiple purposes like setting up a video server, etc. The number of functions a RPi5 can be configured to do is mind boggling. And software setup has never been easier with the new Raspberry Pi Imager. You can get as deep into the software as you desire or as little as you want. Setting up Moode is so simple my 10 year old can do it.

 

[morillon]

You didn't adress the other issues I noticed in your first ''reply'', I conclude I was right and you were wrong on these.
Ok let's compare it with the Wiim pro plus you're right, yes same Dac chip, not same Dac, slightly better implementation if we trust the accuracy of the measurements, by 1dB.
Not that I care, the Wiim pro is already good enough that nobody would notice a difference, but if you insist on being petty It's just fun to beat you at your own game

Post in thread 'FOSI S3 Balanced Streamer Review' https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...3-balanced-streamer-review.70970/post-2576938


You seem to have a problem with the idea of losing face or not... I don't. I think I've answered pretty much everything... Let's leave it at that...
;-)
Ps
ask mesureaments at mr Armim in asym...like plus ultra etc
will be a little more constructive...see the measurements of the ana input etc.
;-)

 

[Chanur]

Actually, building the Raspberry Pi to my custom specification and learning a few new skills is half the fun. Even if it only takes me 20 minutes to build and load the software - I enjoy doing it.

It's also cheaper than just about any streamer out there and can be used for multiple purposes like setting up a video server, etc. The number of functions a RPi5 can be configured to do is mind boggling. And software setup has never been easier with the new Raspberry Pi Imager. You can get as deep into the software as you desire or as little as you want. Setting up Moode is so simple my 10 year old can do it.

I'm pretty tech savvy but I have no interest in it. I just want something that works, I'm not looking to make a hobby out of it. I assume most people feel the same. Not that there is anything wrong with it and the Pi stuff is amazing in all it can do.

 

[staticV3]

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

Graphic:

thanks ,The 10-band EQ has been developed and will be released via an OTA update upon completion of testing this month. Additionally, preset EQs will be added with status display functionality, scheduled for release next month.

View attachment 526644

And here's confirmation that it's indeed fixed frequency, fixed Q (click the arrow to see the full message):

yes thanks

 

[TheLavenderBaron]

Actually, building the Raspberry Pi to my custom specification and learning a few new skills is half the fun. Even if it only takes me 20 minutes to build and load the software - I enjoy doing it.

It's also cheaper than just about any streamer out there and can be used for multiple purposes like setting up a video server, etc. The number of functions a RPi5 can be configured to do is mind boggling. And software setup has never been easier with the new Raspberry Pi Imager. You can get as deep into the software as you desire or as little as you want. Setting up Moode is so simple my 10 year old can do it.

Still not everyone wants to build a pi. And, as the father of two intelligent 4 and 6 year olds, I can only imagine how capable an intelligent 10 year old is these days! So that statement doesn't make me think it's any easier.

 

[Karmacoma]

You seem to have a problem with the idea of losing face or not... I don't. I think I've answered pretty much everything... Let's leave it at that...
;-)
Ps
ask mesureaments at mr Armim in asym...like plus ultra etc
;-)

It's certainly not the fear of loosing face, it's merely the naïve hope that underlining the pointlessness of your message would make you change your irritating tone. You left it at that...

 

[morillon]

It's certainly not the fear of loosing face, it's merely the naïve hope that underlining the pointlessness of your message would make you change your irritating tone. You left it at that...

"
Connectic +- like ultra
Ah...surpasses...that much? What makes you say that? The balanced outputs? Such different measurements in unbalanced?
(Dac akm same with the "plus"...with just 1612... The Ultra is a DAC ess /1612 of the same range)
;-)
"
Just questions
(and I'm in automatic transcription)
;-)

I hope Fosi takes note of Wiim's offer... and that Wiim learns from this episode "s3"...
For futur...

 

[Matias]

Graphic:


And here's confirmation that it's indeed fixed frequency, fixed Q (click the arrow to see the full message):

A shame they are not planning for the EQ to be parametric. 1st big omission imo. @Fosi Audio

 

[Karmacoma]

Just questions
;-)

I'll trust people's intelligence to judge on that, as well as on the rest.

 

[morillon]

I'll trust people's intelligence to judge on that, as well as on the rest.

People might be able to separate the wheat from the chaff upon rereading, distinguishing between the form (not to my advantage), the content, and the facts...
;-)

 

[staticV3]

A shame they are not planning for the EQ to be parametric. 1st big omission imo. @Fosi Audio

No room correction (yet), indeed.

 

[Bleib]

No room correction (yet), indeed.

I repeat that the next step should be to sell with included microphones like AVRs

 

[staticV3]

I repeat that the next step should be to sell with included microphones like AVRs

Building an accurate mic right into the remote control would be such a slick UX!

Though not even WiiM managed to figure that part out, as AFAIK they use their remote microphone only for lip sync (and perhaps subwoofer delay?), so probably too much to ask of Fosi.

 

[Timcognito]

Another blow to the expensive Bluesound products. A comprehensive, well configured, and debugged GUI, and PEQ are critical to any new streaming device aimed at the audio enthusiast crowd. The price and features here are tempting though. One of my Nodes just died so my decade with BS may be ending soon.

 

[morillon]

Building an accurate mic right into the remote control would be such a slick UX!

Though not even WiiM managed to figure that part out, as AFAIK they use their remote microphone only for lip sync (and perhaps subwoofer delay?), so probably too much to ask of Fosi.

This microphone in the remote control isn't useless... it seems to be nearing completion for use in subwoofer/speaker calibration... You don't need a high-quality microphone for that.
But for 2+1.... only one output sub in ultra and "amp" ..shame...

 

[Power Pop 23]

Building an accurate mic right into the remote control would be such a slick UX!

Though not even WiiM managed to figure that part out, as AFAIK they use their remote microphone only for lip sync (and perhaps subwoofer delay?), so probably too much to ask of Fosi.

Given the number of times I have dropped my phone and remote controls, I wonder how accurate an embedded microphone would be after a few years of use - otherwise, I like the idea of an optional remote control conveniently offering an accurate microphone for room measurement.

 

[milanjeromos]

@amirm could you do a test with rca in xlr out? Big feature to have analog input for turntables, tape decks etc, I am sure lot of us are interested in that.

 

[morillon]

Given the number of times I have dropped my phone and remote controls, I wonder how accurate an embedded microphone would be after a few years of use - otherwise, I like the idea of an optional remote control conveniently offering an accurate microphone for room measurement.

For time alignment, etc., no need. But as a reminder, on WiiM, " room fit " via the phone's microphone is clumsy... or directly connected via USB, Microphones like the Umik or the small, calibrated Dayton usb...
Wiim can receive correction files.
So there's no need for a high-quality microphone in the remotes...



I get the impression that some people here simply don't know where Wiim stands... even though it's still improvable:
Example in audio....in 32bits..

- PEQ 2*10 bands
- Room measurements and corrections (linked to this PEQ) via Sweep or MMM etc. via "phone"
-- Quite powerful control over subwoofer and speaker settings...
- Multiroom
-presets for each input etc.

Many of these things took a long time to come to fruition...very long...


My point is not to overvalue Wiim...but to clarify our questions, a little insistent ,about the functional/software content of the S3...the argument, as it stands, of just "sym output " being too "short".

but they also have old, unfinished projects or gasps
And I'm not one of the last to remind them
;-))

 

[testp]

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?

with wiim, i use the app not that much, but regarding streaming ->

i use a second router next to my devices in Bridge mode, it connects to my main router with internet by wi-fi - flawless for years.

another option is to use your phone hotspot, that way streaming devices can use your phone internet.