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

[Ricrosar]

The firmwares sound different to me. I know it’s probably impossible.

Do you mean different in a good or a bad way? I kind of reluctant to update anyway exactly for the fear of fixing one thing and breaking something else. I got rid of the POP by setting bit/sampling rates fixed at 24/192 in the wiim optical out. Maybe I'll wait a bit before updating.

 

[Matt1974]

Do you mean different in a good or a bad way? I kind of reluctant to update anyway exactly for the fear of fixing one thing and breaking something else. I got rid of the POP by setting bit/sampling rates fixed at 24/192 in the wiim optical out. Maybe I'll wait a bit before updating.

Very sensible.

 

[alebin]

Yes another vote for a Mac OS firmware update option please.

I have been back and forth with Fosi customer support. Extremely disappointing to say the least. Nothing they are willing to do to help me, no exchange, no new unit, I just have to figure out a way to upgrade firmware with a Windows PC.

 

[LewisWaddo]

Cheers to @Fosi Audio for the firmware update! Now let us dim the display! please.

 

[Schwing]

Hi there, received my ZD3 today, got the dreaded sound glitch after something like 2 hours of glitch-free listening. Installed 1.06 firmware (was on 1.04), no more glitching so far, really pleased with the sound. Cheers to the early adopters who reported the problem and to Fosi for fixing it

 

[RScheckmate]

I updated to 1.06 firmware and windows USB driver provided by Fosi as per instructions . Now testing ZD3 USB input up to 768k driven through Roon upsampling rate conversion on my laptop. All seems fine and works but display shows NONE when 705.6 kHz is converted from Roon but it plays fine though. All other conversions display fine.... 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192, 352.8, 384, (not 705.6..shows as NONE) , 768, DSD64 shows as 64, DSD128 shows as 128

 

[avdoc]

The firmwares sound different to me. I know it’s probably impossible.

I also thought the V1.06 initially sounded worse than the V1.05 (sort of echo-ey). However, I think there may have been an issue with the initial V1.06 update. I was getting disconnections from my computer through the USB input. I re-installed the V1.06 update and it sounds like the V1.05 version and I haven't had a disconnect. I'm hopeful this update is a winner.

 

[Matt1974]

I also thought the V1.06 initially sounded worse than the V1.05 (sort of echo-ey). However, I think there may have been an issue with the initial V1.06 update. I was getting disconnections from my computer through the USB input. I re-installed the V1.06 update and it sounds like the V1.05 version and I haven't had a disconnect. I'm hopeful this update is a winner.

Thanks, reinstalled after downloading again and it’s sounding great now. Whether this was to do with the firmware, the updater, or some artefact of my system (it sounded almost mono for some reason, first go) I don’t know. Fosi’s customer service is really very good. They’ve kept in contact and kept answering emails.

 

[Iggypot]

Hi all,

Managed to get my new ZD3 hooked up to my system today, perhaps I did something wrong or I need to give it more time……but I’m left feeling rather underwhelmed.

I connected my Ultra to the ZD3 via USB - for what it’s worth, the end of the cable that goes to the back of the ZD3 stuck out a few mm, and felt ‘wobbly’ I’m not sure if it’s meant to go in all the way or not so didn’t force it.

I connected the trigger in/out between the Ultra and ZD3 and then the XLR cables from the back of the ZD3 to my two V3 Monos, replacing the previous RCA cables that were going direct from the Ultra to the Monos originally.

My two V3 Monos have their 2 x main Op Amps replaced with Sparkos SS3602’s and the ZD3 is currently using its stock Op Amps although some alternatives came with it.

I set the WiiM to USB out in the App and set volume to 100, left the ZD3 base switch to ‘Off’

The playback though my Dali Oberon 5’s was nice enough, detailed and good soundstage, but I was surprised at how low the volume was compared to the previous ‘pre’ ZD3 setup/RCA (25db gain) and how it felt like all its ‘guts’ were missing?

On a separate note, I also tried to update the ZD3 firmware (currently on 1.04) but it stalled towards the end of the process. I’ve attached an image below in case anyone is able to offer any advice on this or my experience in general….maybe my expectations were too high….,I just didn’t expect it to sound ‘inferior’

Thanks all in advance for any advice

 

[hyperknot]

Hi, how stable is this DAC with the latest FW? I'd be using it with HDMI ARC of an LG OLED TV, are those CEC troubles fixed now?
If not, can I just not turn off CEC in the TV?

My other option would be to buy a SMSL D6s and something like an optical-to-coax adapter for the TV. The optical in is taken by the WiiM Mini.

 

[Sleven]

Hi, how stable is this DAC with the latest FW? I'd be using it with HDMI ARC of an LG OLED TV, are those CEC troubles fixed now?
If not, can I just not turn off CEC in the TV?

My other option would be to buy a SMSL D6s and something like an optical-to-coax adapter for the TV. The optical in is taken by the WiiM Mini.

I have an LG B4 OLED TV and bought the Fosi to use with a couple of powered studio monitors. I've just updated the firmware and the CEC functionality is still broken. If you turn off the TV with the Fosi or the LG remote, the Fosi switches itself back on after 15 seconds and turns the TV back on. You can disable the CEC functionality on the TV and that will allow you to turn the tv off... Although this is quite annoying and I really hope @Fosi Audio fixes this. The whole reason I got the ZD3 was so I could use my monitors with the TV remote. Hope that answers your question

 

[alloallo]

I just bought the Fosi Audio ZD3 on Amazon and I'm probably going to return it because I'm having too many problems with the HDMI input.
I have updated the firmware from version 1.04 to 1.06. This has eliminated the echo problem that appeared randomly.

But there are dropouts almost every 5 minutes when I use it connected to the ARC output of a TCL Google TV with an Apple TV.
When I do not use the Apple TV but only the TCL TV, it is great : no dropout (playing an album from the Plex app on the TCL TV).
When I use the Apple TV with the TCL TV sending audio to the HDMI ARC input of a Marantz NR1200, I never have any dropouts.
So I prefer to keep the Marantz until audio dropouts problems are fixed on the Fosi Audio ZD3.

With the TCL TV, sleep/wake and volume control via HDMI seemed to work fine. No problems encountered.

I then tested it by connecting it to an LG TV. Here I had some dropout problems at first but I didn't do much testing. The major problem is that it wakes up after 5 seconds, so it is unusable.

Also, sometimes I could hear a click when the audio stream starts or stops, but that is acceptable.

I hope the audio dropout problems can be fixed via firmware.

 

[Sleven]

I’ve actually just realized after updating the firmware to 1.0.6 that the Bluetooth functionality stopped playing sound. I can connect to the device and it appears that music is playing but there is no sound at all. @Fosi Audio, do you have the old firmware so I can downgrade it?

 

[Fosi Audio]

I’ve actually just realized after updating the firmware to 1.0.6 that the Bluetooth functionality stopped playing sound. I can connect to the device and it appears that music is playing but there is no sound at all. @Fosi Audio, do you have the old firmware so I can downgrade it?

Hello friend, please turn to our support team [email protected] and my colleague will help you solve it.

 

[Sleven]

Hello friend, please turn to our support team [email protected] and my colleague will help you solve it.

Hi @Fosi Audio,

Thanks for your reply! I have now sent an email to the support team and look forward to hearing from them.

 

[dpuopolo]

Hello friend, please turn to our support team [email protected] and my colleague will help you solve it.

That did not happen to my unit.

 

[Sleven]

That did not happen to my unit.

False alarm! I had to forget the Fosi Audio ZD3 from Bluetooth settings and re-pair to solve the no sound issue.

 

[pandasonic]

Hi. I've also got this issue described by a few here.. a audio glitch.. was using an optical input and RCA output from the device. can't remember if it also happened while I was using HDMI ARC input.

I wouldn't necessarily call it an echo.. it almost feels to me like the speakers go from 100% simple stereo mode to 100% DSP induced surround mode.. my LG TV has something that produces a similar sonic effect; it's called DTS Virtual:X. Feels like the sound is coming from everywhere around me, mostly the high frequencies. It happens for a second and then returns to working normally, seemingly randomly.

I got my ZD3 unit a week ago and this was an issue that made me jump up the first two times I heard it. Almost like a glitch in the ...

From an engineering and technical point, I'd be really fascinated to hear or learn what is causing this and what exactly is happening.. @Fosi Audio

 

[JimBean]

Hi. I've also got this issue described by a few here.. a audio glitch.. was using an optical input and RCA output from the device. can't remember if it also happened while I was using HDMI ARC input.

I wouldn't necessarily call it an echo.. it almost feels to me like the speakers go from 100% simple stereo mode to 100% DSP induced surround mode.. my LG TV has something that produces a similar sonic effect; it's called DTS Virtual:X. Feels like the sound is coming from everywhere around me, mostly the high frequencies. It happens for a second and then returns to working normally, seemingly randomly.

I got my ZD3 unit a week ago and this was an issue that made me jump up the first two times I heard it. Almost like a glitch in the ...

From an engineering and technical point, I'd be really fascinated to hear or learn what is causing this and what exactly is happening.. @Fosi Audio

Seems like the same glitch others described. The firmware update to 1.06 fixes it. As to what is causing it or what is actually happening, not sure if you'll get the answer from Fosi or not.

 

[pandasonic]

Hi, how stable is this DAC with the latest FW? I'd be using it with HDMI ARC of an LG OLED TV, are those CEC troubles fixed now?
If not, can I just not turn off CEC in the TV?

My other option would be to buy a SMSL D6s and something like an optical-to-coax adapter for the TV. The optical in is taken by the WiiM Mini.

I have an LG B4 OLED TV and bought the Fosi to use with a couple of powered studio monitors. I've just updated the firmware and the CEC functionality is still broken. If you turn off the TV with the Fosi or the LG remote, the Fosi switches itself back on after 15 seconds and turns the TV back on. You can disable the CEC functionality on the TV and that will allow you to turn the tv off... Although this is quite annoying and I really hope @Fosi Audio fixes this. The whole reason I got the ZD3 was so I could use my monitors with the TV remote. Hope that answers your question

Seems like the same glitch others described. The firmware update to 1.06 fixes it. As to what is causing it or what is actually happening, not sure if you'll get the answer from Fosi or not.

Hi guys, @Fosi Audio, I can confirm that the firmware update (from v1.04 to v1.06) did not fix this sonic issue (glitch/echo) for me.

LG TV HDMI ARC to Fosi ZD3 HDMI input > RCA output to amp.

Day two of listening to/using it after the firmware update and I heard that glitch/echo on both days (once in about 2 hours of listening).

HDMI-CEC issues still persist too (turns on automatically some 15-20 seconds after I turn the TV off; doesn't stay switched off unless I change the ZD3's input to something other than HDMI; doesn't let me change the sound output on my LG TV to something else (internal speaker, optical, bluetooth) if the ZD3 is on and connected via HDMI).

I must definitely add that the Fosi Audio support team has been really good. Very responsive, very understanding, very helpful and genuinely seem like they care and want to help; unlike the sad state of affairs with most modern day tech and electronics companies.

When the ZD3 works, it's really good. The sound is way cleaner, clearer and well separated compared to the DAC I had before.