Fosi ZP3..

[PC Audio Lover]

Are you about to stop playing with your UMIK-1, soon??

Maybe one day...

I actually just got it right before the ZP3 so I could tune in the crossover point, as I've never done a HPF and LPF setting separately on different devices before. Turns out it wasn't that big of a deal in the long run and I just set both to 80hz and it seems to be fine. I'm going to try to do more thorough room EQ soon as well because I'm in a small office and there's some really bad room modes... did a bit of rough EQ manually already and fixed some things.

Got it from Deer Creek Audio for less than I typically see on Amazon these days.

 

[Audionaut]

This is just a link to the website, but not to a specific thread

Wrote a little review in a german forum. Pics in the third post.
Please use a translator, if interested.
Link to ZP3 review on hifi-forum.de (Sorry, only http)

 

[db&light]

You mean the lucky first 2000 who payed 15% more than necessary?


EDIT: Sort of reminds me of the old saying:

View attachment 464369

No, Fossi first offer was even better, 20% off !

 

[badie]

This is just a link to the website, but not to a specific thread

I am so sorry.
(can´t edit the post anymore)
Here is the actual link
Link to ZP3 review on hifi-forum.de (Sorry, only http)

 

[Anatols_Dad]

I am so sorry.
(can´t edit the post anymore)
Here is the actual link
Link to ZP3 review on hifi-forum.de (Sorry, only http)

Weird, I can see that you posted a review (hainfelder) - but the linked page can't be found. Do you have to be a member to be able to read the post?

 

[UA8890]

It is very difficult to disassemble the case. The plastic sides are simply glued. The rear balanced connectors are cheap plastic.

 

[UA8890]

Turn on subtitle translation and watch the disassembly.I have never seen a glued amplifier case. This is despite the fact that the operational amplifiers are inside the case, removable. How can those who like this change them? A strange design decision?!

 

[Anatols_Dad]

Received mine yesterday. I am a happy man today. Would have loved an extra input and the option to buy an extra black volume knob, but hey, for that price.. I will definitely recommend it to my best (hifi) mate. Just don't forget to turn down the volume on the end of every listening session.

What are your thoughts on the ever so slight decrease in SNR with XLR and RCA?

Edit, Sept 2025: For the record, I have taken this preamp out of my main system again, after the music started full blast when I turned it on one morning. Supposedly my partner or son had played around with it whilst I was gone, or maybe someone sat on the remote control..? I don't want to risk ruining my speakers or especially hearing for good. Tough luck, wouldn't recommend it any more...

 

[Ropeburn]

What are your thoughts on the ever so slight decrease in SNR with XLR and RCA?

Small enough to be irrelevant in practice. XLR has technical advantages if and when you're having problems with interference. If you don't, there's no advantage - except having two parallel outputs, which is nice. Or you simply happen to like chunky, secure plugs.

 

[Anatols_Dad]

Small enough to be irrelevant in practice. XLR has technical advantages if and when you're having problems with interference. If you don't, there's no advantage - except having two parallel outputs, which is nice. Or you simply happen to like chunky, secure plugs.

In the recently posted teardown video you could see that esp. the XLR sockets are all welded so-so (I'm no expert). But I understand what you mean! Thanks very much!

 

[Anatols_Dad]

IMO the IR receiver is positioned really suboptimal - right to the left of a knob - my remote control doesn't work when I lie on the sofa to the right of my setup...
For the record - not everyone sits straight in front of his or her amp all the time

 

[PC Audio Lover]

So after owning the Fosi ZP3 for a while I have something unfortunate to report.

With the Bypass on, it's dead silent. But when I turn off the Bypass, there's a faint hissing that comes out of my speakers (Ascend Acoustics Sierra-1 v2s).

The hiss is there for any input (and even if there's no inputs connected at all.) The volume setting of the ZP3 doesn't seem to affect the volume of the hiss at all ... even after turning the volume all the way down the hiss is there.

Unfortunately, if you want to use the HPF or Tone Controls, you can't turn the Bypass off. And I know many purchased this for the use of the HPF specifically (such as myself.)

I have an email out to Fosi support. I'm really hoping it's just a defective unit and I can get one that doesn't have this issue. It's a faint hiss, but it's certainly there and not easy to ignore with my nearfield setup at my desk. But this is not something that should be happening with a pre-amp that's supposedly transparent and has all these high quality parts. I'll report back if I figure out how to get rid of it or they send me a replacement unit and it fixes the issue. Stay tuned.

 

[Wmacky]

So your not sure if it was present since new?

 

[PC Audio Lover]

So your not sure if it was present since new?

I am not. Reason being: I had been running it with Bypass turned ON, thinking it ONLY bypassed tone controls. Little did I know it ALSO bypassed the HPF (which I thought was on and intended to use.) So once I realized I needed to turn Bypass off to get my HPF working, I then noticed it. It's a faint hissing... almost like high pitched white noise.

 

[morejazzplease]

So after owning the Fosi ZP3 for a while I have something unfortunate to report.

With the Bypass on, it's dead silent. But when I turn off the Bypass, there's a faint hissing that comes out of my speakers (Ascend Acoustics Sierra-1 v2s).

The hiss is there for any input (and even if there's no inputs connected at all.) The volume setting of the ZP3 doesn't seem to affect the volume of the hiss at all ... even after turning the volume all the way down the hiss is there.

Unfortunately, if you want to use the HPF or Tone Controls, you can't turn the Bypass off. And I know many purchased this for the use of the HPF specifically (such as myself.)

I have an email out to Fosi support. I'm really hoping it's just a defective unit and I can get one that doesn't have this issue. It's a faint hiss, but it's certainly there and not easy to ignore with my nearfield setup at my desk. But this is not something that should be happening with a pre-amp that's supposedly transparent and has all these high quality parts. I'll report back if I figure out how to get rid of it or they send me a replacement unit and it fixes the issue. Stay tuned.

The exact same thing happened to me! I tried two different ZP3s and they both had the same exact issue as you describe! I thought I was going crazy because of the universal praise for the ZP3. Same exact symptoms too. Not effected by volume, louder when bypass is "off" (i.e., tone controls and HPF circuit enabled) but still audible when bypassed. The only other thing I noticed was that the hiss was louder over the XLR output than it was on RCA, but that is likely due to the output voltage differences between the two.

I tried different power strips, I tried the same power strip as my other gear, I tried directly plugged into the wall, I tried no trigger cable, I tried different inputs. Nothing changed or impacted the presence of the hiss other than the bypass switch making it louder or quieter.

I could not figure it out! I think it is pretty silly of Fosi to make this device have an internal power supply and a three prong grounded plug when literally nothing else they make is grounded. I am not sure it is a ground loop, but it is just one more thing about the ZP3 which just makes little sense from a design perspective (the volume control being the other major one). The ZP3 is so close to being basically the only thing on the market that has the features it has, but is just flawed enough to spoil it.