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Fosi v3 Mono - User Impressions | Owner's Thread

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
What is between the Blu-ray player and V3Monos?
 
so the bluray is playing and it doesn't trigger? That is a head scratcher.
I dont know it's weird. It shouldn't matter since it's all the same receiver. It's a Panasonic ub820, not that it matters. Not a huge deal I dont mind going over and turning it on. I dont watch movies as often as listening to music
 
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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
I wonder if your Blu-ray player is generating a constant occiliation that's present in its audio such as a tone at some high, difficult-to-hear frequency, perhaps video-related? Just a hunch.
 
On the phase reversal:

2 V3 Monos ordered from Amazon on August 4th came uncorrected -- phase reversed. 2 V3 Monos ordered direct from Fosi on July 12, shipped August 7th from China, came corrected -- wires switched inside. So it's not precisely when they're purchased, but when they're shipped, from who and where, that determines what arrives.
 
Here are my thoughts on the pair of V3 Monos (and 5A power supplies) that drive my main system. I’ve played audio through them long enough now that it’s more than an impression. My main system has a Topping TP RD3 DAC and two Wharfedale EVO 4.4 towers. One reason I went with the V3 Monos is they have a similar power range to my EVOs. I have no casual, subjective listening complaints; the V3 Monos seem consistent with Amir’s affirmative recommendation. I think their other user-observable benefits also match what Fosi advertised: They are tiny; attractive; very affordable; easy to setup and use; have a concise, focused feature set; and so far they work reliably.



Here is a list of other amps I’ve used in my main system, for comparison:

  1. NAD C316BEE V2 integrated (analog) amplifier
  2. Rotel RA-1572 MKII integrated (analog and digital) amplifier
  3. Behringer A800 power amplifier
  4. Wiim Amp integrated amplifier and network music player


I shelved the NAD C316BEE because at the time I felt my EVOs were lacking in the bass department and needed a subwoofer. If I were running a subwoofer and my main amplifier were integrated like the NAD, I’d want it to have a subwoofer preamp output and 2-way crossover. Since adopting the V3 Monos, I run without a subwoofer anyway, so that preference might be moot; but if I do decide to use my subwoofer, I have an active crossover to connect to the V3 Monos in the analog chain. As far as I can tell, the NAD sounds just as good as the V3 Monos in my setup. However, what I prefer about the V3 Monos over the NAD is the balanced analog connections and the higher power that more closely matches my EVOs.



In comparison to the V3 Monos, the Behringer A800 is too big for my main system, has too much power, and doesn’t measure as well. Personally I like how the Behringer has gain knobs, but they’re not as useful for me since they’re not unified as a master control. The lack of gain control is one small complaint I have with the V3 Monos, only because it scares me that one mistake might destroy my EVOs one day.



I used a Wiim Amp for a while, and I chose the V3 Monos over it in my main system because of their higher power and more favorable measurements. However, I must say, that I love the Wiim Amp given how many useful features it has, and it is a perfect soundbar killer in my rooms that have a TV. I am impressed that the Wiim Amp has the same bass management options as a traditional AVR. That is an advantage it has over the V3 Monos in my system: With the built-in crossover, the Wiim Amp is much smaller and simpler if I use a subwoofer, compared to the added space that my external crossover uses. If I had a MiniDSP, it would be less of an issue.



I still have the other amps above, except for the Rotel RA-1572 MKII, which differs substantially from the V3 Monos. It is very large; very heavy; much higher priced; is an integrated amp with DAC and many inputs; has a front-panel LCD and remote control. At the time I returned it, my reasoning was that it seemed audibly less transparent than the Behringer A800, which I had paired with a Topping E50 DAC. To pay that much for the Rotel, an integrated amplifier, I expected the amp, internal preamplifier, and internal DAC all to be transparent, and there were no objective measurements on ASR to tell me that my ears were deceiving me. This is in contrast to the V3 Monos which have Amir’s shining endorsement (and a golfing panther).



Implicit in the last two sentences of the preceding paragraph is a high regard for Audio Science Review. To the critics of ASR, admittedly, it plays a key role in how I select audio equipment for my home. However, I don’t consider an objective review or ASR review to be the only important criterion; I treat it as one of the major criteria. It’s important to reiterate that, on paper, I liked everything about the Fosi V3 Monos; and so far, I am impressed all around.

@SMen , this reply has the NAD C316BEE V2 comparison you requested.
 
Implicit in the last two sentences of the preceding paragraph is a high regard for Audio Science Review. To the critics of ASR, admittedly, it plays a key role in how I select audio equipment for my home. However, I don’t consider an objective review or ASR review to be the only important criterion; I treat it as one of the major criteria. It’s important to reiterate that, on paper, I liked everything about the Fosi V3 Monos; and so far, I am impressed all around.

@SMen , this reply has the NAD C316BEE V2 comparison you requested.
Thank you! And great to get more comparisons. I too like ASR in context. I am finding the Fosi's a considerable step up over the original Aiyima A07 and A08's I have (and must remember to move on). More power and I'm presuming as a result, sense of scale. I am finding them highly resolving, however this may also be partly due to the balanced relay volume control I bought to go with them - this made quite a difference to what I was hearing on many recordings in combination with the monos.
 
On the phase reversal:

2 V3 Monos ordered from Amazon on August 4th came uncorrected -- phase reversed. 2 V3 Monos ordered direct from Fosi on July 12, shipped August 7th from China, came corrected -- wires switched inside. So it's not precisely when they're purchased, but when they're shipped, from who and where, that determines what arrives.
I am wondering if the boxes can be used to determine if corrections have been made (see picture)? I purchased a pair of V3Ms through the kickstarter campaign and they came in a box with the power supply next to the amp (wider/taller box on the left). I then purchased another set of V3Ms during the "presale" and they arrived in a smaller/deeper box with the power supply under the amp. I am planning to check the phase of each pair to confirm, but can anyone else confirm the corrected amps are all being shipped in the box on the right?
 

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I am wondering if the boxes can be used to determine if corrections have been made (see picture)? I purchased a pair of V3Ms through the kickstarter campaign and they came in a box with the power supply next to the amp (wider/taller box on the left). I then purchased another set of V3Ms during the "presale" and they arrived in a smaller/deeper box with the power supply under the amp. I am planning to check the phase of each pair to confirm, but can anyone else confirm the corrected amps are all being shipped in the box on the right?
I got the new box and phases were corrected, you might be onto something
 
Both of mine, one being the replacement unit only have one QC sticker.
That's interesting. Fosi email support showed me a picture of units with two QC stickers and said that's how I would be able to tell. Interestingly, one of mine actually have zero QC stickers.
 
I am wondering if the boxes can be used to determine if corrections have been made (see picture)? I purchased a pair of V3Ms through the kickstarter campaign and they came in a box with the power supply next to the amp (wider/taller box on the left). I then purchased another set of V3Ms during the "presale" and they arrived in a smaller/deeper box with the power supply under the amp. I am planning to check the phase of each pair to confirm, but can anyone else confirm the corrected amps are all being shipped in the box on the right?
Looks like the early ones came in a generic Fosi box, until the Mono branded boxes arrived.

Mine were ordered mid-July, direct on Fosi Audio website with their 20% discount offer. Arrived, via a UK shipping agent, so no import duties, a month later. Mine were in the newer boxes with two QC stickers. (Both stickers are silver foil, but one looks yellow due to reflection). I can’t know if new boxes and changed phase is directly connected, but knowing production lines I doubt it is exact!


IMG_4364.jpegIMG_4371.jpeg
 
Can confirm. New black boxes and two QC stickers = both units are fixed. I opened up both of them.
 
Just received a new set from Amazon ordered yesterday. The phases are still inverted and one QC sticker on each.
 
Just received a new set from Amazon ordered yesterday. The phases are still inverted and one QC sticker on each.
Amazon was one of the first to get those V3 mono. They probably have not been converted if from the 1st delivery because they were built before August 02 2024...
This is what the official statement of Fosi Audio seems to imply...
If in doubt you have to either call Fosi Audio Service or email them...
 
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