Fosi V4 & V5 Mono - Fosi goes Hypex

[TheLavenderBaron]

OK let's just drop it and let this thread get back on topic. There is zero need to continue the gender topic as this isn't the place..

Well, we both agree that rating power at 10% THD is b.s. And that's a start!

 

[Rick63]

Well, we both agree that rating power at 10% THD is b.s. And that's a start!

And a good one. I apologize if I upset or offended you or anyone else earlier.

I come here to have a fun and read reviews, and lately I've been getting frustrated with this forum because of members mucking up threads and starting childish arguments with others. The last thing I want is for them to rub off on me and it kind of did today as I got particularly frustrated when it happened in the Pink Floyd thread. It is my opinion that the repeat offenders aren't dealt with strongly enough. That's why I took a break from here the last few weeks, and why I am considering leaving this forum as much as I'd rather not. But I have no tolerance for grown men acting in such a manner, and all it does is make @RickS have to work harder than he should have to.

 

[Rick63]

At this point I'm far more interested in the upcoming Aiyima A20 than these new Fosi amps, but want to see the real specs and measurements, and price.

 

[VintageFlanker]

Meh...

 

[Guddu]

At this point I'm far more interested in the upcoming Aiyima A20 than these new Topping amps, but want to see the real specs and measurements.

Surely you meant Fosi amps.

 

[Rick63]

Surely you meant Fosi amps.

LOL yes I did. Corrected.

 

[Ultrasonic]

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.

Is there a strong reason you wouldn't consider a separate pre-amp and power amp combination? That's probably the best route to what you're asking for here.

Edit: as this is a Fosi thread there is their own P4 pre-amp for example, which is not expensive.

Also consider if tone controls are really what you'd want as opposed to a more capable DSP/EQ solution.

 

[Fletcher Munson]

The looks of stuff doesn't really bother me too much but these are a bit immature in design i'd say.

I always thought the attraction of these Chinese brands was that you were getting a well engineered product but not paying for the Brand tax as you do for conventional higher end brands. With products like this that margin is greatly reduced making the old school brands sleek design and pedigree more attractive IMO

 

[Joe Smith]

I think clearly Fosi is beginning to pursue a more varied product portfolio, which is not inherently a bad thing - in the pen world, for instance, I have always greatly admired (and use a lot of) Lamy products, who make an excellent $15 pen as well as a $300 pen. As others are pointing out, when Fosi starts to play up in the $500+ realm, there is a lot of other competition and they may find it tougher going - they need excellent engineering, attractive looks and a standout product feature to be really competitive in that arena.

 

[Guddu]

I think clearly Fosi is beginning to pursue a more varied product portfolio, which is not inherently a bad thing - in the pen world, for instance, I have always greatly admired (and use a lot of) Lamy products, who make an excellent $15 pen as well as a $300 pen. As others are pointing out, when Fosi starts to play up in the $500+ realm, there is a lot of other competition and they may find it tougher going - they need excellent engineering, attractive looks and a standout product feature to be really competitive in that arena.

Just to add some prospective, they always had competition with every product they have.
V3 Stereo version release time had several other well selling TPA3255 stereo amplifiers existed, and likewise V3 Mono's case. But they came up with attractive case, design/features and most importantly the price. Its the overall package that gets the selling.

With these new Hypex based amplifiers, if they are going to target the prices higher than already established or reliable brands (or assemblers if you like) then it becomes a different story.

Just to say, every other comment on Buckeye amplifier is about the aesthetics of the case they use. A reasonable place to start for US market could be to provide better looking but functional case with similar performance for relatively similar price to compete positively.

 

[Transistor]

Is there a strong reason you wouldn't consider a separate pre-amp and power amp combination? That's probably the best route to what you're asking for here.

Edit: as this is a Fosi thread there is their own P4 pre-amp for example, which is not expensive.

Also consider if tone controls are really what you'd want as opposed to a more capable DSP/EQ solution.

I am not currently shopping for an amplifier.
I am curious why there are so few integrated amplifiers based on Hypex or Purifi technology in the $600–$1,000 price range. I specifically mean integrated models, as they tend to look more attractive; even expensive power amplifiers are usually just boring boxes.
For instance, I really like the design of the Hypex-based Teac AX-505, and I would be happy if someone produced something with a similar form factor at a reasonable price.

 

[Ultrasonic]

I am not currently shopping for an amplifier.
I am curious why there are so few integrated amplifiers based on Hypex or Purifi technology in the $600–$1,000 price range. I specifically mean integrated models, as they tend to look more attractive; even expensive power amplifiers are usually just boring boxes.
For instance, I really like the design of the Hypex-based Teac AX-505, and I would be happy if someone produced something with a similar form factor at a reasonable price.

Ha! I love how individual taste is . I think that amp looks horrible . I like my HiFi to not draw attention to itself though.

The market for the type of amp you're asking about is presumably a shrinking one, which is likely a factor here. But I see your point it seems none exist at under $1000. Maybe Hypex charge too much for the modules that major manufacturers would have to use?

 

[SoySalsaPicante]

Ha! I love how individual taste is . I think that amp looks horrible . I like my HiFi to not draw attention to itself though.

The market for the type of amp you're asking about is presumably a shrinking one, which is likely a factor here. But I see your point it seems none exist at under $1000. Maybe Hypex charge too much for the modules that major manufacturers would have to use?

The tapered edge contours on the front fascia of the V5 Monos actually would match kind of nicely with that of my DX9 Discrete's front fascia, though, as would the gloss top panel with the glass top panel of said DAC/pre.

 

[Ropeburn]

I am not currently shopping for an amplifier.
I am curious why there are so few integrated amplifiers based on Hypex or Purifi technology in the $600–$1,000 price range. I specifically mean integrated models, as they tend to look more attractive; even expensive power amplifiers are usually just boring boxes.
For instance, I really like the design of the Hypex-based Teac AX-505, and I would be happy if someone produced something with a similar form factor at a reasonable price.

I've been wondering too for a while and my preliminary conclusion is:

Hypex/Purifi/etc is for nerds.

No, seriously. We here in a very technology focused forum are the best example. We care about engineering and "things done properly" and weigh carefully with price-performance ratio and such, sometimes so much it becomes funny because we forget about audibility for a moment and are fascinated with the latest and greatest noise and distortion figures. And we're having fun nerding out over it.

The big portion of standard average hifi enthusiasts thinks a bit differently. Names, company heritage, myths, feelings (beyond "fuck yeah my amp is three orders of inaudible magnitude better than yours" lmao) count way more, so does physical design. Quite a different clientele.

In that light, the clearly visible "market gap" between very affordable, highly valuable Hypex etc. implementations from the usual implementers/builders that perhaps offer the greatest bang for buck on the market today, to those old established brands that use Hypex etc. (Marantz, NAD, many more) and sell it for big money because they can, is not very surprising.

What's left to fill is the inbetween those two. I regard that as super difficult market niche. You compete with both the great value of the simple offerings, and the brand strength and "luxury appeal" of the big brands.

I'm very skeptical Fosi of all companies can fill that particular niche. But as said before, it's interesting and I'll keep watching.

 

[Elgrosso]

Wow so ugly! And more objectively there is a big discrepancy between the design language (if we can say so ) and the sale pitch in video and from daril. Fosi's messaging was already a bit shady but at least harmless and almost funny in contrast to the no-nonsense budget devices.
There’s probably more designers in China than anywhere else in the world, if they really want to step up they should hire a real/good one.

 

[girtab]

Are there many reports of V3's failing in a way that destroys speakers that I have missed? (And I don't mean if a user accidentally turns max input signal on).

How common is it that a given amp of any brand fails and damages speakers, and which amps can be guaranteed to never do this?

I'm looking forward to reading the anecdotal horror stories.

I have briefly touched on my experiences before here but I wanna make sure some of you people realize what you get into when buying high power amps from china that cut costs in terms of reliability.

Like another commenter, I also have $1,600 speakers. We may even have the same ones- Lintons. Unlike them, I'm more than fine to use Fosi V3 mono with them, in addition to some restored vintage amps/receivers and a contemporary Yamaha integrated. It's not really that I'm less risk averse, I don't see the risk.

I'm not saying there's zero risk, I'm saying there's no evidence to indicate they'd fail in such a way to break speakers, like an outrush of DC current. It stands to reason they'd fail in the same way other amps fail- going into protection, dead channels, failed power supplies, distortion, reduced output. As opposed to blowing up.

I do understand the other side of this I just don't relate to it, if that makes sense.

First, I went with topping. The pa7 plus I ordered came with a broken power supply. Sent them back and got refunded since they had no replacement.

Then I tried Fosi and boy do I regret it. I ordered them from amazon and if you've ever had any experiences with amazon, you'll know that they always send returned/faulty products first to customers, in hopes that they dont return them.

Both monoblocks came broken. One had insanely loud hiss and the other distorted audibly. (I didn't know that at the time). So I sent the one with hiss back and got a replacement from amazon.

Unfortunately once I realized the fault with the other I was past the return window and had to contact fosi. Anyways so I get the replacement from amazon and at first the output seemed awfully quiet. But I didnt think much of it I thought it was just due to my low signal output of my dac.

Once fosis replacement amp came in, i realized that the amazon one clearly had reduced output. While I was trying to troubleshoot that, the replacement amp from fosi literally blew up in my hands while connected to my speakers.

Before I could unplug the speaker cables it sent some very high power signal pops to them which audibly caused excessive excursion to my drivers. Fortunately the speakers still work fine (as far as I know)

 

[Bleib]

I ordered them from amazon and if you've ever had any experiences with amazon, you'll know that they always send returned/faulty products first to customers, in hopes that they dont return them.

I received a broken Denon AVR-x2800h from amazon.de
I'm surprised the loudspeakers survived as it was nothing but noise. Since then I always connect cheaper speakers first. And not towards the ears

 

[Chanur]

Wow so ugly! And more objectively there is a big discrepancy between the design language (if we can say so ) and the sale pitch in video and from daril. Fosi's messaging was already a bit shady but at least harmless and almost funny in contrast to the no-nonsense budget devices.
There’s probably more designers in China than anywhere else in the world, if they really want to step up they should hire a real/good one.

I think Fiio has the best industrial designers of the bigger Chinese brands.

 

[jdbob]

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.

I just got one of Buckeye's Purifi 3 channel amps. It is in a cabinet with smoked glass front, all I see is the blue LED. Then there all those folks that have the rack mount versions sitting in an out of the way location. For a lot of people paying for a machined case that nobody ever sees it isn't worth it.

 

[PristineSound]

I just got one of Buckeye's Purifi 3 channel amps. It is in a cabinet with smoked glass front, all I see is the blue LED. Then there all those folks that have the rack mount versions sitting in an out of the way location. For a lot of people paying for a machined case that nobody ever sees it isn't worth it.

Yes, that's why I say it's different strokes for different folks. Also why I universally recommend Buckeye, even if I wouldn't buy it myself.

Me lurking here on ASR and being part of a local audiophile group, I have observed many people who cares about the aesthetics, like those who commented on this thread and myself.