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Fosi ZD3 -Balanced DAC (ESS 9039Q2M) - First Look!
- Thread starter Guddu
- Start date
Why?No, No!
Don't go there, please!
Yeah, KT88s are different than 6550s...
Just switched a 12AX7 out for a 12AY7. I don't really subscribe to the notion that the same model of tube from different manufacturers sound different.
Way off-topic and many tube related topics here and elsewhere.
Fair enough. On the plus side, my ZD3 just shipped. So it should be here in about 10-14 days.
I had emailed them about having a preamp months ago so I guess this is what "Carl" had replied back about. Unfortunately won't work for me as I need an analog input for my turntable. Yes, I still have 1200 LP's that I've amassed since when I first started buying them in 1978. But, 90% of my music playing is Qobuz and Spotify along with 1000+ CD's ripped to my NAS and played via JRiver. I do like my pair of ZA3's that I use in the summer months but switch to a tube amp in the fall/winter as it sounds better on the modified Speakerlab SK cornerhorns.
Too bad they didn't put that volume knob on the ZA3's on the right side so it would blend better with the preamp. Also have no interest in op amp "rolling".
Too bad they didn't put that volume knob on the ZA3's on the right side so it would blend better with the preamp. Also have no interest in op amp "rolling".
Alexandre Delaforetnoire
Member
You are right !
I made a real A/B test, recording that on video.
The original NE5532 have more details and punch, clarity.
The other JRC 8580D made me make a mistake : they soften the sound and remove details and brillance. Doing that, the medium is forwarded but it is not an improvement, it degrades the sound.
2024-10-14 22:11
In clearance processing - Import
2024-10-14 22:10
CN, International flight has departed
2024-10-13 18:46
CN, Arrived at the origin international airport
2024-10-13 15:16
Mainland China, CN, Shipment is in transit to next facility
2024-10-13 05:19
Mainland China, CN, Departed from sort facility
2024-10-13 03:26
Mainland China, CN, Arrived at origin facility
2024-10-11 10:40
Shipment information received
so its now the 18th so typically it spend more time bouncing around this city than from CN to here
In clearance processing - Import
2024-10-14 22:10
CN, International flight has departed
2024-10-13 18:46
CN, Arrived at the origin international airport
2024-10-13 15:16
Mainland China, CN, Shipment is in transit to next facility
2024-10-13 05:19
Mainland China, CN, Departed from sort facility
2024-10-13 03:26
Mainland China, CN, Arrived at origin facility
2024-10-11 10:40
Shipment information received
so its now the 18th so typically it spend more time bouncing around this city than from CN to here
fredreadrick
Member
- Joined
- Jan 25, 2024
- Messages
- 34
- Likes
- 25
Received my ZD3 this morning.... It's worth the wait
Hello Friends.
Yesterday I joined the ZD3 club.
I had big doubts about what I was going to find.
And the sound is very round and I speak without the new toy effect.
Later I will change the OP, out of curiosity because the standard sound is worth it.
Compared to the ESS 9039PRO I expected the 9039Q2M to be below, but in the configuration that I use daily the ZD3 has more punch.
The DO300 that I use has the customization options that allow you to adjust the sound disabled, so I compare them both with standard configuration.
This weekend I will try it in the TV area to evaluate the changes.
Yesterday I joined the ZD3 club.
I had big doubts about what I was going to find.
And the sound is very round and I speak without the new toy effect.
Later I will change the OP, out of curiosity because the standard sound is worth it.
Compared to the ESS 9039PRO I expected the 9039Q2M to be below, but in the configuration that I use daily the ZD3 has more punch.
The DO300 that I use has the customization options that allow you to adjust the sound disabled, so I compare them both with standard configuration.
This weekend I will try it in the TV area to evaluate the changes.
Attachments
Alexandre Delaforetnoire
Member
What is your amplification ?
2024-10-18 13:40
CN, Arrived at the origin international airport
2024-10-18 12:06
We have received a notification from the sender that a package is on its way. The tracking will be updated once the shipment has been handed over to us.
2024-10-17 17:40
Mainland China, CN, Shipment is in transit to next facility
2024-10-15 22:25
Mainland China, CN, Departed from sort facility
2024-10-15 08:42
Mainland China, CN, Arrived at origin facility
2024-10-11 10:41
Shipment information received
Mine has spent a week bouncing around inside China, and has not even left the airport yet!
fredreadrick
Member
- Joined
- Jan 25, 2024
- Messages
- 34
- Likes
- 25
September 19....
Way earlier than me. I’m replacing a denon S920W with this setup and using Dirac Live. Hopefully I’ll see a difference in sound on my KEF LS50s.
well i just hooked mine up
as per performance - it sounds the same as my C100 M300 etc using just usb and xlr
op amps you can throw away and with TWO orange knobs... lol
what i would say is there's some slight operational niggles - ie. there's no screen dimmer or timeout
if you turn off the screen, it comes back on if you use the knob and then it doesnt turn off
it might be OLED but it has that annoying pale 'white-ish' black that LCD screens have... ie. it has poor black levels
sure you can turn the screen off with the remote but i was expecting some kind of menu structure like the M300
there's no filters as you might expect, the whole operation is basically set input, set vol. and go
so as my thoughts go as a 'fully featured' 9039 dac its not *THAT* fully featured but at least it doesnt have the SMSL DL200 messed up filters
as per performance - it sounds the same as my C100 M300 etc using just usb and xlr
op amps you can throw away and with TWO orange knobs... lol
what i would say is there's some slight operational niggles - ie. there's no screen dimmer or timeout
if you turn off the screen, it comes back on if you use the knob and then it doesnt turn off
it might be OLED but it has that annoying pale 'white-ish' black that LCD screens have... ie. it has poor black levels
sure you can turn the screen off with the remote but i was expecting some kind of menu structure like the M300
there's no filters as you might expect, the whole operation is basically set input, set vol. and go
so as my thoughts go as a 'fully featured' 9039 dac its not *THAT* fully featured but at least it doesnt have the SMSL DL200 messed up filters
I use M-Audio BX8 D3, BX5-D3 Active Monitors and Heco Passive Monitors with ZA3 mono.
Taking advantage of the weekend, I tested it in the TV area.
Same impression as in the audio area.
A very round sound, I really like the punch of the bass, they are very sweet and the sound is clear.
Although here I usually use a C200 with ESS 9038Q2M and a Denon H2800X, the sound quality is a notch above.
All the ZD3 inputs are working. Feeding the outputs to the active and passive monitors connected to the ZA3.
Regarding operating settings, as mentioned @TonyJZX , there is only one source input selection, I do not use the 9039PRO filters in the DO300 PS: As a curiosity, I had to change the 8K cable used in the TV/PS5 connection that I tested first for a standard HDMI, since the standard works well from the first connection.
Greetings.
Same impression as in the audio area.
A very round sound, I really like the punch of the bass, they are very sweet and the sound is clear.
Although here I usually use a C200 with ESS 9038Q2M and a Denon H2800X, the sound quality is a notch above.
All the ZD3 inputs are working. Feeding the outputs to the active and passive monitors connected to the ZA3.
Regarding operating settings, as mentioned @TonyJZX , there is only one source input selection, I do not use the 9039PRO filters in the DO300 PS: As a curiosity, I had to change the 8K cable used in the TV/PS5 connection that I tested first for a standard HDMI, since the standard works well from the first connection.
Greetings.
Attachments
this is the problem i have with subjective dac comparisons
i've been using a c100 for months now... its a fuss free unit
just swapped it out and switched inputs to xlr
overall it sounds pretty flat to me - the bass may be a tad stronger... i think people have said it has a bassy sort of feel
i dont think it has the high end energy of the M300 but Crystal has a rep. for brightness - like many older gents here i may prefer a tad elevated treble
you need a week and possibly more to get used to it
OPERATIONALLY as a i use it more i'm seeing more foibles - the vol knob goes from 0-80 but you really get no sound until you hit 40
i wonder if fosi can do firmware updates???
also i think i read somewhere that the new ZP3 has been leaked in the manual???? ie. their new same form factor analog xlr pre amp
i've been using a c100 for months now... its a fuss free unit
just swapped it out and switched inputs to xlr
overall it sounds pretty flat to me - the bass may be a tad stronger... i think people have said it has a bassy sort of feel
i dont think it has the high end energy of the M300 but Crystal has a rep. for brightness - like many older gents here i may prefer a tad elevated treble
you need a week and possibly more to get used to it
OPERATIONALLY as a i use it more i'm seeing more foibles - the vol knob goes from 0-80 but you really get no sound until you hit 40
i wonder if fosi can do firmware updates???
also i think i read somewhere that the new ZP3 has been leaked in the manual???? ie. their new same form factor analog xlr pre amp
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