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Fosi ZD3 -Balanced DAC (ESS 9039Q2M) - First Look!

Ctroncy said:
Bonjour,
I have tried during the last 2 days to record the glitch. because I thought it could help FOSI to find the issue.
But nothing, no issue, everything was working well, and this DAC is excellent. I was disappointed to be unable to reproduce the issue, but I noticed that during these tests the volume output from my Coax input was set to -4db, so I am wondering if there is a kind of saturation when the audio volume is at it's max.
maybe it is a wrong hypothesis, I will check again with the volume set to max.
Cheers.
Click to expand...
Definitely interesting. I have set my WiiM Pro Plus to fixed volume and only use the ZD3 to control the volume. And, as already mentioned, I haven't heard any audio glitches yet. Apart from the pop noise when changing the audio quality, which has not/rarely occurred in the last few listening sessions. The firmware of the ZD3 is still the same as when it was delivered and I'm using a different power supply unit.
 
Subscribing to this discussion as I have ZD3 on my radar, want to connect it to Wiim Pro Plus and LG TV (hdmi).
Regarding the audio glitches - I used to have them on the Wiim Pro Plus playing certain mp3 files, but it was fixed in a firmware upgrade sometime in September. I guess everyone has the firmware up to date by now but I wanted to mention it. The audio glitches introduced by ZD3 would be a show stopper for me.
 
Well, today I sent the device back to Amazon, the ability to try and catch these glitches is very difficult, also the turning off and turning everything on CEC bug is just infuriating, we were told there was a software update and it still hasn't been pushed and that was quite a few days ago, I've not even been asked to try it so I've just sent the device back. I have ordered a different brand. It's a shame cause it's got a really nice sound but that sound is not enough. It needs to be functional. It needs to work, good luck everybody. I hope you get it solved.
 
Reading through the comments, it’s quite clear that @Fosi Audio are dedicated to ironing out these issues. It only bolsters my opinions of this company. They helped me with ordering issues despite them being my fault entirely when I accidentally ordered two ZD3s. They have been faultless in that regard. As consumers of hifi we should all know there are usually incompatibilities and issues between fringe cases of the infinite combinations of sources. I find it hard to justify bitching and moaning about a company that is clearly working to improve its devices. Hell! some of my high end DACs give out some horrible noises when it doesn’t get the right signal, and they never received a software update to fix the issues.

If waiting for an update on a product that has just launched for you is too much, fair enough. Move on. But I can’t justify throwing all the toys out of the pram because of some tiny issues that are being worked on as we speak in the launch window for a very promising product.

I question as to what you were expecting as an early adopter of a DAC.

I recommend you chill your frills, pick one up post launch, or move on and get something else.

Far better than moaning at the company like spoilt children, and denouncing the entire company.

If you have issues, let Fosi know. Let’s be constructive.
 
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ehhhh the thing i see is that one person has a problem on *THEIR* system and somehow every youtuber and person here is supposed to have seen the same thing???

my word people get upset over a $200 device dont they
 
Hello, this is my first message on this forum. I found this thread to discuss any experiences using the ZD3. I haven't experienced any glitches or pop noises yet. However, I noticed that the HDMI CEC feature unintentionally turns on the device. When the TV and ZD3 turn off through the remote control power button, waiting for about 15-25 seconds wakes up both the ZD3 and the TV. The TV's input device name is ZD3(connected HDMI ARC). It seems a specific HDMI CEC signal is unintentionally triggering the ZD3's power and the connected HDMI device's power.

I received the ZD3 and ZA3 last week from AliExpress. The ZD3's firmware is the stock version.

I hope a fixed firmware is released soon.

Source Input:
LG OLED42C4 HDMI ARC PCM → ZD3
LG OLED42C4 Optical 192KHz → Coaxial Converter → ZD3
PC Optical 192KHz → ZD3
PC USB PCM 384Khz → ZD3

Output:
ZD3 → ZA3 Power AMP via XLR balanced cable
ZD3 → Active SUB Woofer via RCA cable
Fosi Audio said:
Hello, regarding the HDMI issue you described as an audio signal dropout, could you please clarify the specific symptoms you’re experiencing with the HDMI input mode?


Additionally, we are already addressing the compatibility issue between the ZD3 and LG TVs, and we will release a firmware update for you as soon as possible. Thank you very much for your patience.
Click to expand...
 
I changed my connection. Now I'm running my WiiM Pro Plus fixed output and using the ZD3 to control the volume. Someone here said when they tried things this way the echo disappeared. We'll see I guess.
 
dpuopolo said:
I changed my connection. Now I'm running my WiiM Pro Plus fixed output and using the ZD3 to control the volume. Someone here said when they tried things this way the echo disappeared. We'll see I guess.
Click to expand...
I use my combination in exactly the same way and haven't had any glitches/echo yet.
 
Hello everyone,
I received the device on friday and I would like to report: I use it with the WiiM pro plus via toslink. This goes to a vintage rotel amp RA2020, User as preamp, to a darzeel clone to my speakers.

I have set the latency time on the WiiM to 480 ms.

I have now listened for about 10 hours. when I set this setting, there was only a crackle in about 6 hours.

It was more in the first 4 hours before I adjusted the latency.

The OLED screen is off.

Maybe just a coincidence?

I don't know if it is negative for the sound to set the latency, but the problem has been dramatically minimized.

IMG_2244.jpeg
 
Last edited:
joqueval said:
Hello.
The HDMI-eARC works ok. It turns the ZD3 on and off.
I have it connected via HDMI and optical in case any video platform has a problematic codec.
I think it's a 2023 model - QE65Q75BATXXC
Click to expand...

the volume option also work on your samsung tv with zd3 connected via hdmi arc? someone else with samsung/zd3 arc experience? i want to order it but i want to be sure that CEC on/off and ARC volume works
 
LewisWaddo said:
I got a sound glitch today. Listening via optical input at 96.0k @Fosi Audio source was a Waxwing phono stage. Possibly a spike from EMI?
Click to expand...
Moved over to coaxial, and not heard an issue in hours. I think there may be an issue with the buffer on optical input @Fosi Audio or it may by the output from my source. I’ll be trying another device on it soon, and have a hunt for the specs on what I’m using.

Edit! Ok, still getting drop outs on coaxial.
 
Last edited:
LewisWaddo said:
Moved over to coaxial, and not heard an issue in hours. I think there may be an issue with the buffer on optical input @Fosi Audio or it may by the output from my source. I’ll be trying another device on it soon, and have a hunt for the specs on what I’m using.

Edit! Ok, still getting drop outs on coaxial.
Click to expand...
Hi
have you try to decrease the source output volume by at least -4db.
It works for me.
Cheers.
LewisWaddo said:
Moved over to coaxial, and not heard an issue in hours. I think there may be an issue with the buffer on optical input @Fosi Audio or it may by the output from my source. I’ll be trying another device on it soon, and have a hunt for the specs on what I’m using.

Edit! Ok, still getting drop outs on coaxial.
Click to expand...
 
I have the same problem on my side, but not on the usb input.
Didn't notice that before because most of the time I use USB from my laptop.
Some people said the same 2 weeks ago on Facebook Fosi Community page.
I sent a message today on Fosi support WhatsApp.
 
I'm still using this setup:
Tascam CD-200 <- opt -> Wiim Ultra <- USB -> ZD3 <- XLR -> Fosi v3 monos

.. and this seems to be the setup that works best for me for now. There are some minuses still: the fixed output feature is not available for USB in Wiim Ultra, so the input bitstream settings are mirrored to the output. That itself would be a non-issue for me, but if the ZD3 detects a change in bitrate or bitdepth, like when changing Wiim inputs, that change usually produces a loud pop from the ZD3 to the amplifier.

Also, when shutting down the ZD3, it apparently shuts down completely, whereas Wiim Ultra only goes to sleep or turns off the screen or whatever. The ZD3 disappears from the Wiim Ultra outputs until powered back on. In my experience after such a power or sleep cycle these devices do not always properly find each other over USB and/or are unable to handshake the bitrate+bitdepth correctly. I don't know which device is to blame for this, but rebooting Wiim Ultra fixes this issue.

I do understand that this was a preorder and that there may be glitches and stuff because of all that. I'm hoping that both Wiim and Fosi keep publishing new firmwares that eventually improve the co-operation of these things to glitch free level.
 
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