Fosi V4 & V5 Mono - Fosi goes Hypex

[PristineSound]

I universally recommend Buckeye to almost everyone simply for the value, despite I personally wouldn't want one for the reason that many have strongly expressed.

But it's a very difficult to see this Fosi excelling in US sales, when you have this. Aesthetics on both are questionable, despite I may put the Fosi slightly ahead, but for that price, and I am forced between two uglies, I go with the Buckeye.

 

[Joe Smith]

Will be interesting to see how Fosi does with these. The V3 Monos are the one Fosi product that I think had frequent quality issues, they were due for some form of replacement. These are a pretty high price point for Fosi and perhaps not as good a value as some other Hypex makers for people who need a lot of power (I don't). Attractive? Eye of the beholder there, I think.

I am personally more interested in a new version of the V3 stereo unit, but perhaps the cycle of new 3255 amps is about over.

 

[Ropeburn]

I universally recommend Buckeye to almost everyone simply for the value, despite I personally wouldn't want one for the reason that many have strongly expressed.

But it's a very difficult to see this Fosi excelling in US sales, when you have this. Aesthetics on both are questionable, despite I may put the Fosi slightly ahead, but for that price, and I am forced between two uglies, I go with the Buckeye.

View attachment 538930

Yeah, I wonder too where the price is supposed to come from. Even if you really don't like Buckeye cases, it's not like there aren't alternatives.

Near state of the art performance in stereo, for Fosi V5 mono price:

Countless examples in the US and Europe.

Fosi is effectively competing with Apollon and their nice cases and build quality at this price point. As a company known for cheap chip amps... success questionable. I'll keep watching in any case, should be interesting.

 

[Transistor]

I universally recommend Buckeye to almost everyone simply for the value, despite I personally wouldn't want one for the reason that many have strongly expressed.

But it's a very difficult to see this Fosi excelling in US sales, when you have this. Aesthetics on both are questionable, despite I may put the Fosi slightly ahead, but for that price, and I am forced between two uglies, I go with the Buckeye.

View attachment 538930

When an amplifier costs over $500, it simply shouldn't look like that. Why doesn't Buckeye have a designer on staff?

 

[PristineSound]

When an amplifier costs over $500, it simply shouldn't look like that. Why doesn't Buckeye have a designer on staff?

My guess is cost and company's philosophy.

These cases are stamped metal, they are extremely economical, hence the Buckeyes are very affordable.

Then the company simply isn't into the aesthetics. Different strokes for different folks, there are a lot of utilitarians who prioritizes affordability.

 

[Transistor]

My guess is cost and company's philosophy.

These cases are stamped metal, they are extremely economical, hence the Buckeyes are very affordable.

Then the company simply isn't into the aesthetics. Different strokes for different folks, there are a lot of utilitarians who prioritizes affordability.

Are there any good-looking Hypex/Purifi integrated amplifiers with volume and tone controls priced under $1,000? If not, why hasn't anyone created such an amplifier yet? It would be a massive bestseller.

 

[PristineSound]

Are there any good-looking Hypex/Purifi integrated amplifiers with volume and tone controls priced under $1,000? If not, why hasn't anyone created such an amplifier yet? It would be a massive bestseller.

I don't believe Hypex makes modules to built integrated amp, certainly not Purifi.

If I have to take a guess, these Hypex and Purifi integrators don't have their own deep electronics engineering capabilities, that's not their business model, it costs a lot to have such capabilities and why do you need such capabilities when you are integrating modules.

 

[PristineSound]

Yeah, I wonder too where the price is supposed to come from. Even if you really don't like Buckeye cases, it's not like there aren't alternatives.

Near state of the art performance in stereo, for Fosi V5 mono price:

View attachment 538933

Countless examples in the US and Europe.

Fosi is effectively competing with Apollon and their nice cases and build quality at this price point. As a company known for cheap chip amps... success questionable. I'll keep watching in any case, should be interesting.

BTW these VTV cases are likely sourced from the same factory that Ghentaudio sells.

 

[Transistor]

I don't believe Hypex makes modules to built integrated amp, certainly not Purifi.

If I have to take a guess, these Hypex and Purifi integrators don't have their own deep electronics engineering capabilities, that's not their business model, it costs a lot to have such capabilities and why do you need such capabilities when you are integrating modules.

I’m not sure I fully understood you. Major companies like NAD, Marantz, Cambridge, and TEAC do use Hypex in their amplifiers, but those brands are naturally very expensive. So why don't more modest companies—like Fosi, Topping, or Aiyima—make a similar product for $1,000?

 

[PristineSound]

I’m not sure I fully understood you. Major companies like NAD, Marantz, Cambridge, and TEAC do use Hypex in their amplifiers, but those brands are naturally very expensive. So why don't more modest companies—like Fosi, Topping, or Aiyima—make a similar product for $1,000?

Oh, I thought you were referring to companies like VTV, Nord, Buckeye, Apollon. Those are integrators, they used modules from Hypex and Purifi and build a case with controls around them to create a finished product. These companies don't have on staff deep electronics engineering capabilities. So they can't built an integrated product if Hypex don't sell the modules. Well, not that they can't, they would have to make a significant investment or contract it out, which will drive up cost.

Companies like Topping, have plenty of engineering prowess that the don't need to used anything from anyone, they just build it themselves. And they do have integrated amps. The LA90? And their products are more affordable than Hypex and Purifi.

 

[Transistor]

Oh, I thought you were referring to companies like VTV, Nord, Buckeye, Apollon. Those are integrators, they used modules from Hypex and Purifi and build a case with controls around them to create a finished product. These companies don't have on deep electronics engineering capabilities and staff. So they can't built an integrated product if Hypex don't sell the modules. Well, not that they can't, they would have to make a significant investment or contract it out, which will drive up cost.

Companies like Topping, have plenty of engineering prowess that the don't need to used anything from anyone, they just build it themselves. And they do have integrated amps. The LA90? And their products are more affordable than Hypex and Purifi.

The Topping LA90 is a Class AB amplifier. It would be interesting if they made something based on Hypex technology at the same or a slightly higher price point—perhaps in a more compact chassis.

 

[PristineSound]

The Topping LA90 is a Class AB amplifier. It would be interesting if they made something based on Hypex technology at the same or a slightly higher price point—perhaps in a more compact chassis.

What's wrong with Class AB?

 

[Transistor]

What's wrong with Class AB?

He's fine.

 

[Ropeburn]

Are there any good-looking Hypex/Purifi integrated amplifiers with volume and tone controls priced under $1,000? If not, why hasn't anyone created such an amplifier yet? It would be a massive bestseller.

You would think so. But Fosi isn't doing it either, a pair of the 250W ones costs 1000.

Volume control, EQ, display, sub out on a monoblock... remains questionable. Super weird thing to do.

 

[Bleib]

Are there any good-looking Hypex/Purifi integrated amplifiers with volume and tone controls priced under $1,000? If not, why hasn't anyone created such an amplifier yet? It would be a massive bestseller.

This is the closest

AUDIOPHONICS DA-S250NC Class D Integrated Amplifier NCore NC252MP DAC ES9038Q2M Bluetooth 2x250W 4 Ohm 32bit 768kHz DSD256 - Audiophonics

Versatile and powerful, we offer you with DA-S250NC a real integrated amplifier to which you can add speakers to enjoy your music in the best possible way...

www.audiophonics.fr

No EQ though

 

[Ropeburn]

This is the closest

AUDIOPHONICS DA-S250NC Class D Integrated Amplifier NCore NC252MP DAC ES9038Q2M Bluetooth 2x250W 4 Ohm 32bit 768kHz DSD256 - Audiophonics

Versatile and powerful, we offer you with DA-S250NC a real integrated amplifier to which you can add speakers to enjoy your music in the best possible way...

www.audiophonics.fr

No EQ though

Its biggest flaw: no analog in. Meh. If it had that, I'd probably have one right now.

 

[Transistor]

This is the closest

AUDIOPHONICS DA-S250NC Class D Integrated Amplifier NCore NC252MP DAC ES9038Q2M Bluetooth 2x250W 4 Ohm 32bit 768kHz DSD256 - Audiophonics

Versatile and powerful, we offer you with DA-S250NC a real integrated amplifier to which you can add speakers to enjoy your music in the best possible way...

www.audiophonics.fr

No EQ though

Yes, that's not a bad option.

 

[Bleib]

Its biggest flaw: no analog in. Meh. If it had that, I'd probably have one right now.

I agree, it's a major flaw. Same with Wiim Amp ultra (although based on 3225) has analogue in but it goes through ADC conversion. More inputs please!
(this is why I'm looking at the Fosi Q8 as a pre-amp)

 

[Jon L]

If Aiyima is monitoring these threads, please don't do what Fosi is doing, i.e. spending too much money on (probably) pricey casing that look bad, adding features many don't want to pay for, with ultimate pricing higher than what's already available from others.

 

[Bleib]

If Aiyima is monitoring these threads, please don't do what Fosi is doing, i.e. spending too much money on (probably) pricey casing that look bad, adding features many don't want to pay for, with ultimate pricing higher than what's already available from others.

To be released in soon:ish. June 18th?

Key Features​

• Enhanced User Experience: Vintage-style VU meter displays music playback status while adding aesthetic appeal
• Powerful Mono Output: 600W × 1 (2Ω, 10% THD), delivering full and dynamic sound
• Premium Components: TI TPA3255 + OPA1612 chipset, WIMA & Rubycon high-fidelity capacitors (63V 3300μF)
• Versatile Connectivity: XLR/RCA inputs, speaker terminals, and subwoofer output
• Comprehensive Functions: PFFB / VU meter / 12V trigger / Gain control / HPF (80Hz)
• Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20kHz