Help Shape Fosi Audio’s First Streamer — We Value Your Input

[Fosi Audio]

Hello members,

Currently, Fosi Audio is developing our debut streamer, and we have designed this survey to understand your experience in using your current streamers and your expectations regarding their features.

Whether you are currently using, have used in the past, or are considering purchasing a streamer, your participation is very important to us.
If interested, please complete the application questionnaire for 3-5 minutes.
https://fosiaudio.wjx.cn/vm/wVwuplP.aspx#

As a token of our gratitude, about 3 participants who complete the survey thoughtfully and participate in a further online interview will receive a reward: An exclusive coupon valued at $100 on Fosi Audio products, or A free unit of the launch edition streamer sent to you when it officially releases.

Thank you for your participation. Your valuable feedback means a lot to us.

 

[SlowJim]

I filled it out, nice to see a company that values user input. IMO hifi buyers are mainly buying streamers because they don't trust integrated streaming solutions to be supported for the life of the product - see

https://www.reddit.com/r/audiophile/comments/1k7607a/jbl_sa750_obsolete_after_only_2_years

. So, software stability and reliability are #1.

 

[bravomail]

I like Wiim Amp Pro, but it lacks USB input. Make sure to have all 4 basic inputs - USB/optical/coax/bluetooth. Consider FM radio as well - I have some nice local stations. As for online streaming - I don't use much, but there are some online radios I like. I don't use any paid subscription streaming, so cannot say what is the best. I'd say, avoid those streaming services who participated in sanctions, cutting off their loyal customers.

 

[Fosi Audio]

I like Wiim Amp Pro, but it lacks USB input. Make sure to have all 4 basic inputs - USB/optical/coax/bluetooth. Consider FM radio as well - I have some nice local stations. As for online streaming - I don't use much, but there are some online radios I like. I don't use any paid subscription streaming, so cannot say what is the best. I'd say, avoid those streaming services who participated in sanctions, cutting off their loyal customers.

May I ask why you need a USB input?

Is it because you need to play high-sampling-rate audio files (such as PCM 384kHz or DSD64) via USB?

 

[Xombul]

2 versions with and without a (good) DAC
Balanced OUT (Dac version)
USB out (both versions)

No "nice" display (waste of money)
No roon-ready or as an option (same)
qobuz/deezer/Amazon music/Tidal etc.
Web-radios ?
Frequent updates of the app if any!
Secured wifi
PEQ + Advanced DSP options (with the possibility to directly import Flac correction files at least L+R for loudspeakers and text format PEQ for headphones)
Sd card reader
Wifi/USB/spdif/toslink/coax/bt/HDMI arc : IN

 

[obsessive9119]

I think you’re going to have your work cut out for you to compete with WiiM, but I’m very glad you want to give it a shot.

Hardware aside, the big thing is going to be the quality of the software. Streamers do a lot of stuff, and to do it well takes real effort. WiiM do quite a good job, and they push new features to old hardware as much as possible.

 

[kemmler3D]

I agree that the software / app is extremely important. Probably more than the hardware because the user interacts with it a lot more. Hire the best UI designer you can find.

I think WiiM has a very good product. The value for dollar is very good. It's hard to find big flaws. So my other thought is to simply see what WiiM does and find at least a few ways to improve on that.

 

[GXAlan]

Hello members,

Currently, Fosi Audio is developing our debut streamer, and we have designed this survey to understand your experience in using your current streamers and your expectations regarding their features.

Whether you are currently using, have used in the past, or are considering purchasing a streamer, your participation is very important to us.
If interested, please complete the application questionnaire for 3-5 minutes.
https://fosiaudio.wjx.cn/vm/wVwuplP.aspx#

As a token of our gratitude, about 3 participants who complete the survey thoughtfully and participate in a further online interview will receive a reward: An exclusive coupon valued at $100 on Fosi Audio products, or A free unit of the launch edition streamer sent to you when it officially releases.

Thank you for your participation. Your valuable feedback means a lot to us.

Do a Fosi x WiiM collaboration.

Take a WiiM Ultra with custom Fosi graphics and a custom analog stage based upon the ZD3. You get the software benefits of WiiM paired with your ZD3 DAC technology and your Phono PreAmp technology in a single box. WiiM handles digital, you handle analog.

 

[TonyJZX]

the wiim ultra is almost there

they need to add an xu316 and then call it

its such a minor thing that would make everyone happy

like you guys, for streamers, long term support is everything and so i'd be reluctant to buy any streamer with LESS support than what the wiim offers because then... why not just buy the wiim?

 

[Mnyb]

I filled the form .

IMO make the DSP and PEQ flawless all internal/integrated solutions seems to contain low level artifacts of some kind probably a lack of proper floating point math or some similar limitations.

And offer normal tone controls on top of that and a loudness function similar the the one RME has .

 

[anonyless]

Filled the survey as ell

the first company who would think outside of the "corporate streaming services world" box and start supporting open source media streaming services , would win my world (and probably take some of my money..)

 

[obsessive9119]

Filled the survey as ell

the first company who would think outside of the "corporate streaming services world" box and start supporting open source media streaming services , would win my world (and probably take some of my money..)

When I filled out the form, I mentioned supporting Jellyfin, which is really the only thing WiiM lacks for me (other than more/better physical controls).

Really though, WiiM supports DLNA and Squeezelite, along with bare SMB shares, so it's not like you're locked into paid streaming at all.

 

[Karmacoma]

I agree that the software / app is extremely important. Probably more than the hardware because the user interacts with it a lot more. Hire the best UI designer you can find.

I think WiiM has a very good product. The value for dollar is very good. It's hard to find big flaws. So my other thought is to simply see what WiiM does and find at least a few ways to improve on that.

Exactly, so for me the cool addition would be a very nice display with visualisation options and also the connectivity XLR and digital out.
And a good preamp function, a nice volume knob, a nice remote. For the rest everything's fine
Edit: oh and a trigger is a nice option too for a preamp, subwoofer out.
There's also the possibility to make a pure streamer with no preamp no dac like the Fiio SR11 and a separate preamp for who needs it.

 

[anonyless]

When I filled out the form, I mentioned supporting Jellyfin, which is really the only thing WiiM lacks for me (other than more/better physical controls).

Really though, WiiM supports DLNA and Squeezelite, along with bare SMB shares, so it's not like you're locked into paid streaming at all.

DLNA on the WiiM is kinda horrible, I tried it. it wouldn't even publish the track's name when I stream to it from various apps.
SMB share interface is not good - it works but that's it . you simply get folders view. don't have Squeezelite server to test the WiiM with it, but from their website and what i saw - i don't think it's going to handle 60,000 songs library very well.
Chromecast works, but has many limitations - for once you can only skip forward song, play/pause and that's it. The Tidal integration on the other hand, is kinda perfect and completely supported from the WiiM's app itself. this is the level i want for Subsonic

 

[obsessive9119]

DLNA on the WiiM is kinda horrible, I tried it. it wouldn't even publish the track's name when I stream to it from various apps.

DNLA has worked brilliantly for me - I use it all the time. There are two ways to use it - streaming from a DLNA server, or as a DLNA Renderer.

When streaming from a DLNA server, it does exactly what I want: shows me the collections I've configured in minimserver, and I can browse them and pick what I want to play. What it shows is very dependent on the DLNA server. The only thing I'd like would be to add my DLNA server to the main Browse screen so I don't have to go into Home Music Share first.

As a DLNA Renderer (which I'm using right now, with Neutron casting to a WiiM Mini) it's pretty dependent on the casting software. Neutron has an option where you an push the track metadata to the Renderer - when I turn that on, the WiiM app shows it fine. But if I'm streaming to the WiiM I don't much care what the WiiM app itself shows, because I'm not using it.

SMB share interface is not good - it works but that's it . you simply get folders view.

Yeah, agree there, but all my music is organised into folders so it's certainly usable, if I didn't have DLNA set up.

don't have Squeezelite server to test the WiiM with it, but from their website and what i saw - i don't think it's going to handle 60,000 songs library very well.

What makes you think that? I was fiddling with LMS last night and it's pretty seamless. The WiiM is just a dumb squeezelite endpoint - you pick it from the LMS UI and play to it. I don't see why the size of the library would matter at all - the WiiM only sees what's sent to it.

Chromecast works, but has many limitations - for once you can only skip forward song, play/pause and that's it.

I did find chromecast a bit flaky, but haven't tried it for ages and don't need it. You maybe right.

The Tidal integration on the other hand, is kinda perfect and completely supported from the WiiM's app itself.

The Qobuz support is pretty good, too. Not quite as good as the native app, but close enough for me.

this is the level i want for Subsonic

Yeah, I'd like it for Jellyfin, too - then I wouldn't need to run minim as well as Jellyfin. I imagine the number of users of both of those is absolutely tiny though, compared to even the smaller paid streaming platfoms.

 

[anonyless]

DNLA has worked brilliantly for me - I use it all the time. There are two ways to use it - streaming from a DLNA server, or as a DLNA Renderer.

When streaming from a DLNA server, it does exactly what I want: shows me the collections I've configured in minimserver, and I can browse them and pick what I want to play. What it shows is very dependent on the DLNA server. The only thing I'd like would be to add my DLNA server to the main Browse screen so I don't have to go into Home Music Share first.

As a DLNA Renderer (which I'm using right now, with Neutron casting to a WiiM Mini) it's pretty dependent on the casting software. Neutron has an option where you an push the track metadata to the Renderer - when I turn that on, the WiiM app shows it fine. But if I'm streaming to the WiiM I don't much care what the WiiM app itself shows, because I'm not using it.

this is from my experience with Navidrome (subsonic based) server streaming using Symfonium app or Dsub DLNA . very basic, simply not good enough

Yeah, agree there, but all my music is organised into folders so it's certainly usable, if I didn't have DLNA set up.

usable..but not good. if you have 1000s of folders with long names, it's hard to get by to get what you want to listen to.

What makes you think that? I was fiddling with LMS last night and it's pretty seamless. The WiiM is just a dumb squeezelite endpoint - you pick it from the LMS UI and play to it. I don't see why the size of the library would matter at all - the WiiM only sees what's sent to it.

that's the problem, i don't want "dumb squeezelite endpoint" or "Chromecast support". I want to see full integration, or something that comes close to it - just like for Tidal, Spotify etc.

I did find chromecast a bit flaky, but haven't tried it for ages and don't need it. You maybe right.

I use casting (cc) from Symfonium (the only app i found that actually seems to be doing proper native CC streaming) app that plays from the Navidrome server. it works, I can see the album art etc on the WiiM app, and can skip track forward using the WiiM (and play/pause) but that's about it.

The Qobuz support is pretty good, too. Not quite as good as the native app, but close enough for me.

yea, I'm sure it is..just like any other paid streaming subscription service :-/

Yeah, I'd like it for Jellyfin, too - then I wouldn't need to run minim as well as Jellyfin. I imagine the number of users of both of those is absolutely tiny though, compared to even the smaller paid streaming platfoms.

yep..but one can hope ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[shuppatsu]

Gonna be tough to beat Wiim at its own game. Not only could they leverage their dev time while providing software for clients, but they have many years’ head start.

So I concur with @GXAlan that maybe the best plan is not to beat Linkplay but to join them. Otherwise, try not to go head-to-head with them, but go orthogonal.

Some things I’d really like:

1. Wiim Mini, but $30 instead of $90. We already live in the age of transparent $5 dongle dacs with PEQ. Take that, quintuple the price for WiFi and an SOC that can host various streamer “connect” protocols, and call it a day. No need for Bluetooth, AirPlay, etc.

2. A $100 or so device with good specs, a snappy-ish SOC, integrating free open source libraries. Maybe one way to catch up to Wiim is to let other people work on your project.

 

[Mnyb]

LMS works quite well with 60000 tracks . It depends on what it runs on . I tried one of the older raspberry pi that I own that did not work .
No problems on my intel NUC . Or in the past on windows or linux I’ve had all kinds of mini servers in the past .

Now I have Roon on the NUC and a new pi for LMS .

Roon really wastes cpu cycles it must be incredibly inefficient compared to LMS

 

[anonyless]

LMS works quite well with 60000 tracks . It depends on what it runs on . I tried one of the older raspberry pi that I own that did not work .
No problems on my intel NUC . Or in the past on windows or linux I’ve had all kinds of mini servers in the past .

Now I have Roon on the NUC and a new pi for LMS .

Roon really wastes cpu cycles it must be incredibly inefficient compared to LMS

my Navidrome sever runs on Odroid HC4 SBC (arm64 CPU/4GB ram/slowish SD card) Symfonium app last index was 60562 tracks. runs very well, no lagging

 

[Snoopy]

I filled it out, nice to see a company that values user input. IMO hifi buyers are mainly buying streamers because they don't trust integrated streaming solutions to be supported for the life of the product - see

https://www.reddit.com/r/audiophile/comments/1k7607a/jbl_sa750_obsolete_after_only_2_years

. So, software stability and reliability are #1.

Since it’s about that JBL amp.. there is nothing obsolete.. it’s roon ready and supports Airplay2 . The OP there seems to complaining that he is not able to cast hires from tidal anymore.

Anything new today without Roon and Airplay should be considered obsolete