Fosi v3 Mono - User Impressions | Owner's Thread

[Otac0n89]

You only need to reverse the speaker cables if you are also using other amps to other speakers at the same time.

On the other hand - no reason why you shouldn't do it anyway. Its not difficult to do.

Well I tried this, but the Audyssey Measurement in the Marantz AVR is no saying, that both Speakers are out of phase. I'm a bit confused. I bought the both monos on ebay from the official fosi store and I asked them which models i have. They sad they are the models with the inverted phase rca outputs. Can I ignore the audyssey report or identify somehow if the monos have reversed phase or not ?

 

[early rejecter]

Did anyone else here with that combination receive op amps?

Following up to my last reply — I never got around to contacting Fosi about the missing rewards, but the tool set and op-amp showed up today so I guess it was just a stock issue.

 

[norcalscott]

Following up to my last reply — I never got around to contacting Fosi about the missing rewards, but the tool set and op-amp showed up today so I guess it was just a stock issue.

Ah, it may yet arrive then. Thanks for the follow up!

 

[Megaken]

This was not a bias issue. I think you’re misinterpreting what I am saying. My point is that when using one model amp on the left channel and a different model amp on the right channel, even after volume matching the two sides, there is a clear and obvious problem with how the system sounds. Try, for example, having the speaker cables attached (accidentally) in reverse terminal order on just one side with the same amps (so one speaker is out of phase), and you’ll notice a clear and obvious problem with how the system sounds. I experienced a similar effect when I tried using V3 Mono on one channel and ZA3 on the opposite channel and then volume matched. It was very clear and obvious that there is a mismatch between left and right channels.

How are you calling it bias if there is absolutely zero question that you could blindfold me, set up one room with two V3 Monos, and then a second room with one V3 Mono and one ZA3 (again, volume-matched), using identical speakers, and I am perfectly willing to bet my house that I will be able to tell you which room has matched amps and which room has mismatched amps? I never said I could tell which amp is on which channel, I said I could tell the amps are mismatched, that’s it. There are a number of perfectly logical and reasonable causes for this, such as slightly out of phase sound because of mismatched circuitry, design. Where is the bias in this? I find that insinuation insulting.

-Ed

So what would be a solution in that situation? 2 different amps volume matched but one is out of phase?

 

[Zek]

So what would be a solution in that situation? 2 different amps volume matched

Using two different amplifiers for the left and right channels is not a good option because each amplifier has a different gain.
If they are adjusted to have the same volume, it is only at one point, as soon as the input signal volume changes, the output on the left and right amplifiers will not be the same because the gain is different.

 

[Megaken]

Using two different amplifiers for the left and right channels is not a good option because each amplifier has a different gain.
If they are adjusted to have the same volume, it is only at one point, as soon as the input signal volume changes, the output on the left and right amplifiers will not be the same because the gain is different.

I get that but I'm using 3.1 with a stereo amp for L/R and the fosi mono for the center, with room correction that matches everything. But I tested the fosi and it does have the reversed phase. Do I just reverse one of the ends of the speaker cable going to the center speaker from the fosi? Either at the amp end or the speaker end?

 

[EddNog]

I get that but I'm using 3.1 with a stereo amp for L/R and the fosi mono for the center, with room correction that matches everything. But I tested the fosi and it does have the reversed phase. Do I just reverse one of the ends of the speaker cable going to the center speaker from the fosi? Either at the amp end or the speaker end?

Correct, just reverse the wires on either one end.

-Ed

 

[DavidR]

New member. I've been lurking for a while, found the detailed test reports to be the best part of the site. I recently received a single V3 Mono to use for driver near-field and distortion tests. The V3 Mono test report (in comparison to other amps) sold me as well as a number of owner's feedback. I'm still getting up to speed with the Focusrite Scarlett Gen 4 with REW/Arta, but in the mean time I made a short test of substituting the V3 Mono for one channel of my Aragon 4004 MkII in a two-way design of mine (unbalanced amp of course). 4004 has gain of 25.5db, the V3 Mono is set for 26db, so close enough for a brief test. The speakers are about 86b sensitivity. I heard nothing from the Mono side at idle. In use I couldn't distinguish it from the Aragon, but I haven't tried a mono side-by-side test (too busy with the test rig). Given this brief audition, I'd have no qualms about substituting the V3 Mono for my Aragon 4004. It really surprised me. If I didn't already have a decent 6-channel amp for my main system, I'd consider buying six to have a full 3-way setup. That's still a lot cheaper than most/any 6-channel amps of similar quality that I've found.

Edit: I would still have to audition it in a 3-way since my 2-way has a limited low end, but I doubt it would be a limiting factor.

Dave

 

[Father O'Blivion]

A little followup since swapping the V3 Monos into my system...

While I personally wasn't too concerned about the temp, all the talk here did make me curious. As mentioned previously, mine were ordered about 2-3 weeks ago directly from Fosi and arrived with thermal paste from the factory.

Temp:
2-3 hours at moderate volume (70-80db measured at @12')
Ambient room temp: 76
Top of case, max reading: 109F (42.78C)
Bottom, max reading: 117F (47.2C)

Standby:
Top: 94F
Bottom: 95F

Power consumption:
Standby: Total for both 8w
On at idle: Total for both18.8w

Standby has been working perfectly (so far, 2 days only). Entering standby after ~10 minutes, then waking with a substantial click (from the amps, not through the speakers) within a second of receiving signal. No false wakes noticed as of yet. I really like the standby feature. My previous amp would have simply remained on all day, whether in use or not, often forgetting to turn it off overnight.

Subjective results:

Even my wife, who doesn't share my HiFi passion, yelled out from the kitchen "Honey! Did you lift a veil from the speakers?!? That walrus tusk and stale marshmallow sound they used to have is gone! Totally freakin amazeballs!"

'nuff said.

 

[Doodski]

Even my wife, who doesn't share my HiFi passion, yelled out from the kitchen "Honey! Did you lift a veil from the speakers?!? That walrus tusk and stale marshmallow sound they used to have is gone! Totally freakin amazeballs!"

'nuff said.

 

[antcollinet]

I think that was intended as a joke - to say they sounded fine. Poe's law strikes again.

 

[Doodski]

Poe's law

Now that I read what Poes law means it fits this situation perfectly.

 

[Giro413]

@Miley_B since you ordered and received the same package from Fosi as I did (single 10A power supply and filter) I am curious if you received op amps? I don't really care as I have doubts about op amp rolling, but I seem to remember that I "should" have received alternate op amps, but none were in the package.

Did anyone else here with that combination receive op amps?

I ordered the same bundle as you and did receive the op amps along with everything else. Only the noise filter can seperate.

 

[Father O'Blivion]

Sorry for any confusion there. They sound great, but very little (if any) difference from the amp they replaced. I think they may sound better when pushed to higher levels, but haven't done the proper testing to confirm that to myself, let alone declare it to the forum.

When my attempt at absurdity is taken seriously...oof. I need to work on my style, or I've greatly misjudged how bad things are in the "audiophile" world. Or possibly both

 

[antcollinet]

Sorry for any confusion there. They sound great, but very little (if any) difference from the amp they replaced. I think they may sound better when pushed to higher levels, but haven't done the proper testing to confirm that to myself, let alone declare it to the forum.

When my attempt at absurdity is taken seriously...oof. I need to work on my style, or I've greatly misjudged how bad things are in the "audiophile" world. Or possibly both

To be fair to you,

That walrus tusk and stale marshmallow sound

Was as good as a crying laughing emoji for me. Chapeaux.

 

[EddNog]

…When my attempt at absurdity is taken seriously...oof. I need to work on my style, or I've greatly misjudged how bad things are in the "audiophile" world. Or possibly both

For what it’s worth, I definitely found it quite hilarious, and I sit more on the receiving side of this trebuchet. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

-Ed

 

[Killingbeans]

When my attempt at absurdity is taken seriously...oof. I need to work on my style, or I've greatly misjudged how bad things are in the "audiophile" world. Or possibly both

Poe's law is particularly easy to encounter in this hobby. There's really no limit to the absurdities being delivered with a straight face

 

[norcalscott]

I ordered the same bundle as you and did receive the op amps along with everything else. Only the noise filter can seperate.

Yesterday, I had an odd little package in my mail box, and lo and behold, it was a well packaged box with two op amps in it. Kudos to @Fosi Audio for sending everything they promised! My filter was in the package with my amps and the power supply.

 

[courtesy]

I posted this the other day in the V3 Mono Review thread:

My Fosi V3Monos arrived this past Friday. Pre-ordered from the Fosi site. They are fed by a WiiM Ultra and the setup is driving a pair of Ascend Acoustics Luna v2's...with an RSL-10e sub in my bedroom. Using it as Roon endpoint and using HDMI Arc from my TV(source is an AppleTV).
I had been using the WiiM Amp, the setup is noticeably better...the DAC, the amps, or both definitely making a difference.

FWIW - the amps have the reversed polarity issue, and also run pretty warm. I'll double check, but warmer seems to be in conjunction with how loud I play the system.

 

[Slowloris]

I posted this the other day in the V3 Mono Review thread:

My Fosi V3Monos arrived this past Friday. Pre-ordered from the Fosi site. They are fed by a WiiM Ultra and the setup is driving a pair of Ascend Acoustics Luna v2's...with an RSL-10e sub in my bedroom. Using it as Roon endpoint and using HDMI Arc from my TV(source is an AppleTV).
I had been using the WiiM Amp, the setup is noticeably better...the DAC, the amps, or both definitely making a difference.

FWIW - the amps have the reversed polarity issue, and also run pretty warm. I'll double check, but warmer seems to be in conjunction with how loud I play the system.

For what it’s worth I don’t play my music or movies very loud…they don’t seem to get much warmer than other components. Only issue I have is standby won’t trigger from my blu ray player…but works in everything else. They sound great btw