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

[Kimbrough Xu]

Someone pointed me to a youtube pre-release review, and it was kind of disappointing to me.
Hope this product is better than what he showed… Thambaar!

What disappointed you?

 

[SMen]

Fosi have just released ZD3 product page, with loads of information:

Fosi Audio ZD3 Fully Balanced Desktop DAC

Presents tailored DAC performance, ensuring superior audio quality for pure enjoyment with ease of use.

fosiaudio.com

@Fosi Audio Some additional information might be helpful on the product page:

The product page has loads of information, however adding the following might be helpful as well:

• Does HDMI ARC input works with HDMI 2.1 eARC connections as well> This might be important as all new TVs now have HDMI 2.1 eARC than normal ARC.
• Does HDMI ARC input support volume control by TV (or TV remote)?
• Does Oprical input support volume control by TV (or TV remote)?
• "USB compatible devices" section is missing Android, it might be useful to confirm if it works with android.
• BYPASS mode - It is worth mentioning what does it bypasses, like pre-amplifier section, volume control? Will ZD3 have same output levels in BYPASS mode?

The USB android compatibility is a good point for me (all are good points)...

I'm using an Amanero USB module in my ESS 9038Q2M DAC, and a very effective little android tv box for hdmi to DAC. I'm quite glad I resisted the temptation to buy this Fosi just because it is an ESS 9039Q2M (and looks cute with nice round volume readout)!

My current DAC lets a very effective HiBy music player take direct control of the amanero for bit rates etc. (so at least I know there is no unnecessary additional sampling going on which shows up on my DAC) ... Don't want to start any bias debates, but it's an important detail for me that Fosi needed to have made in the fine print. I'd be mightily miffed not to be able to play out from my android into my USB ... or not be able to bypass any down or upsampling.

 

[pseudoid]

I had a SMSL DO100Pro but I could not refuse the ZD3 offer because I have that bottom unit shown in the photo below.

The DO100Pro's ARC issue -- with having to hard-cycle the AC-power -- has been a b*all-buster for me.

 

[Guddu]

What disappointed you?

It was more for the review than the product, but I think it has been same for most of those youtube reviews for me.
Product looks all right, other than a few things (which may not be critical for some) like the volume knob/potentiometer quirkiness, bypass button on bottom than back and suspence on what does it do exactly, balanced connectors could have been the same as they have used on other products that support TRS as well, still old type B USB than USB C, etc.
And as if opamp rolling wasn't good enough on the amplifiers......
Looks are stunning, however they are advertising it as perfect match for ZA3 and so could have matched it better like keeping volume knob in the middle, logo on the upper left, use of toggle at similar positions for power on/off and/or bypass as well... etc. But it's just another opinion.

While I don't know if and when ASR measurements will come thorugh for ZD3 but I have become accustom to look at those to find out nothing is unusual if I don't have the product in hand.
But seems like ZD3 is already a success.

 

[pseudoid]

While I don't know if and when ASR measurements will come through for ZD3

One can only hope that the manufacturers have been properly skooled to NOT fib w/measurements, if they are willing to advertise them.
[Thank You @amirm]

FOSI ZD3 specs are posted in their website, as above.
Kudos, though limited.

 

[Guddu]

One can only hope that the manufacturers have been properly skooled to NOT fib w/measurements, if they are willing to advertise them.
[Thank You @amirm]
View attachment 393670
FOSI ZD3 specs are posted in their website, as above.
Kudos, though limited.

It’s totally fine if one wants to just go by manufacturers numbers, I don’t.
I know that there are many very well measured DACs available at the same or lower price point, after all!

 

[TonyJZX]

i'm generally quite lenient on what s 'deliverable for the money'

i had every opportunity to buy a DL200 or PS200 if you wanted that 9039 itch but those really are boring boxes... the ZD3 isnt

there's some things i'm not super convinced about but its minor

the industry isnt going to make everything you'd like for $179... if they come close enough then that's all i'd want

 

[pseudoid]

I know that there are many very well measured DACs available at the same or lower price point, after all!

Please provide 'lower price' examples which provide similar features.

 

[Guddu]

Please provide 'lower price' examples which provide similar features.

I believe you know the sense of my statement there, I simply meant a well measured balanced DAC. I am sure no one needs me to put ASR review links here.
I did not say same features or something like that, knew someone might jump onto it.
On the other hand, you probably will point to ARC? but even SMsL DO100 pro was offered with 50% (coming out around 110$ then) off initially for some time.
I can’t occupy my eARC out for 2-channel system, and I am not too keen on it but someone else might.

Anyways, I am not saying ZD3 is a bad product or something, I even started this thread for it.
I just implied I don’t always trust manufacturers numbers. And this remains same for every product, not just this.

 

[Vlvvv]

I wonder if in zd3 the sound is simultaneously fed to both rca and xlr, or will there be a choice of balanced/unbalanced output?

 

[Kimbrough Xu]

It was more for the review than the product, but I think it has been same for most of those youtube reviews for me.
Product looks all right, other than a few things (which may not be critical for some) like the volume knob/potentiometer quirkiness, bypass button on bottom than back and suspence on what does it do exactly, balanced connectors could have been the same as they have used on other products that support TRS as well, still old type B USB than USB C, etc.
And as if opamp rolling wasn't good enough on the amplifiers......
Looks are stunning, however they are advertising it as perfect match for ZA3 and so could have matched it better like keeping volume knob in the middle, logo on the upper left, use of toggle at similar positions for power on/off and/or bypass as well... etc. But it's just another opinion.

While I don't know if and when ASR measurements will come thorugh for ZD3 but I have become accustom to look at those to find out nothing is unusual if I don't have the product in hand.
But seems like ZD3 is already a success.

Fosi says its a perfect match for ZA3 because they use the same chasis, since ZD3 has display, if they still put the volume know in the middle, this product will be out of balance.

 

[Graham849]

Fosi says its a perfect match for ZA3 because they use the same chasis, since ZD3 has display, if they still put the volume know in the middle, this product will be out of balance.

I concur with Guddu: logo and bypass switch on left, volume in middle and display on right. Design language is important.

 

[Guddu]

Fosi says its a perfect match for ZA3 because they use the same chasis, since ZD3 has display, if they still put the volume know in the middle, this product will be out of balance.

Interesting to know this and thanks for sharing but I will have to disagree, just give it a look and see which one you find more designwise aligned and balanced:

 

[TonyJZX]

i think the ZA3 was designed a long long time ago and they had no idea at the time the ZD3 would even look like

and so they only told the ZA3 guys to make it fit in the case and they didnt tell them to make it look the same

i agree they should have better integration

they should have had one guy do a design study maybe TWO years ago with a ZA3 ZD3 and every other possible Z series device all stacked up and looking like the same team did everything

this looks piecemeal

BUT I'm not going to buy a ZA3 and my ZD3 will live with 19" equipment...

 

[WillBrink]

One can only hope that the manufacturers have been properly skooled to NOT fib w/measurements, if they are willing to advertise them.
[Thank You @amirm]
View attachment 393670
FOSI ZD3 specs are posted in their website, as above.
Kudos, though limited.

More stats in new vid:

 

[MaDeuce]

I wonder if in zd3 the sound is simultaneously fed to both rca and xlr, or will there be a choice of balanced/unbalanced output?

i need to know about this as well. i have the za3 where i can use the xlr output of the zd3 but i also want to use my SE headphone amp with it. if there is an option for switching the output between xlr and rca, that would be great. simultaneous output to both xlr and rca would work as well. but if xlr takes priority when rca and xlr both are connected, that would be a problem for my case. if anyone knows anything about it please share. Thanks a lot.

 

[Guddu]

i need to know about this as well. i have the za3 where i can use the xlr output of the zd3 but i also want to use my SE headphone amp with it. if there is an option for switching the output between xlr and rca, that would be great. simultaneous output to both xlr and rca would work as well. but if xlr takes priority when rca and xlr both are connected, that would be a problem for my case. if anyone knows anything about it please share. Thanks a lot.

It’s funny that Fosi sent ZD3 to so many youtubers but no one thought of testing this and find out.
But @Fosi Audio should be able to tell.

 

[Kimbrough Xu]

i need to know about this as well. i have the za3 where i can use the xlr output of the zd3 but i also want to use my SE headphone amp with it. if there is an option for switching the output between xlr and rca, that would be great. simultaneous output to both xlr and rca would work as well. but if xlr takes priority when rca and xlr both are connected, that would be a problem for my case. if anyone knows anything about it please share. Thanks a lot.

I tested, they output to XLR and RCA simultaneously.

 

[MaDeuce]

I tested, they output to XLR and RCA simultaneously.

Thank you so much for the info, Kim.

 

[pseudoid]

Can anyone recommend me a reasonably priced - BUT SOTA- active 2-channel RCA or 3.5mmTRS (unbalanced/SE) to 4-channel XLR (balanced) converter?
MiniDSP is 3x what I want to spend and an 2RCA<>4XLR splitter-cable is not a workable solution, due to loading.