Jiggly knob on the Fosi ZD3?

[bachatero]

I recently got a Fosi ZD3 DAC because I needed the balanced output. However, the big volume knob on the front feels a little too jiggly for an otherwise great quality device, does anybody else have the same problem? If you do have the same problem then we can rule out this being due to a bad unit.

 

[ManniX]

100% not jiggly, I had 2 units.
Never seen anyone commenting about it, quite the opposite.
It's so firm that I needed a tool to pull it out.
I think you may have a defective unit.

 

[komhst]

I recently got a Fosi ZD3 DAC because I needed the balanced output. However, the big volume knob on the front feels a little too jiggly for an otherwise great quality device, does anybody else have the same problem? If you do have the same problem then we can rule out this being due to a bad unit.

Mine is also exactly as you describe yours.

 

[Wmacky]

Mine too. It's because it's not a potentiometer, but a crappy digital encoder. Digital volume corrupts the bit stream anyway, which is why a real preamp is needed. Best to use the ZD3 as a DAC only and put in bypass. I'm using mine only temporarily as a pre until the ZP3 is released. Mannix up above I is referring to the fit of the knob to the shaft, which is tight. But, we are talking about the shaft itself being flimsy? My knob IS on tight, but the shaft is meh.

BTW, I was getting a issue last night that I couldn't find anyone else having. Every 5 to 30 minutes the audio would drop completely for 1 second. Like the audio file was corrupt, but I rewound and it wasn't. I was using USB/ PC as the source. After the 5th time I got mad and looked for a solution, First I was plugged into a unpowered USB hub. I reconnected the USB directly to the computer. I also rebooted the computer. So far 2 hours and no drop out? Fixed I guess?

 

[ManniX]

Mannix up above I is referring to the fit of the knob to the shaft, which is tight. But, we are talking about the shaft itself being flimsy? My knob IS on tight, but the shaft is meh.

I was just wondering if it was the shaft or the knob. Wow, the shaft is bad...
I had to check multiple times the shaft on the 1st unit, I had to use really a lot of force to pull out the knob and I was worried.
But it never wiggled even a bit.

I reconnected the USB directly to the computer. I also rebooted the computer. So far 2 hours and no drop out? Fixed I guess?

Hopefully yes. Always avoid Hubs.
On AMD processors, if it's a desktop PC, try to use a a USB port connected to the CPU and not the MB Chipset.
It doesn't look well for the quality of your host USB.
If you don't have already something similar, try if a Topping HS-02 helps.

 

[komhst]

BTW, I was getting a issue last night that I couldn't find anyone else having. Every 5 to 30 minutes the audio would drop completely for 1 second. Like the audio file was corrupt, but I rewound and it wasn't. I was using USB/ PC as the source. After the 5th time I got mad and looked for a solution, First I was plugged into a unpowered USB hub. I reconnected the USB directly to the computer. I also rebooted the computer. So far 2 hours and no drop out? Fixed I guess?

I have my Fosi ZD3 plugged directly to a type C USB port on my computer. I never had any dropouts, even in DSD 256

 

[Yersinia Bestmate]

Yeah the knob is jigglywiggly af and it rattles aswell when listening to music at high volume.

 

[FireLion]

knob is stepped so it haz ze jigglez or is clicky!
Unless the bolt is loose? In that case remove the knob and tighten the nut/washer.

Yeah the knob is jigglywiggly af and it rattles aswell when listening to music at high volume.

How would it rattle listening to music, unless your DAC is on a speaker.

The ZD3 has been flawless for me, such a good sounding DAC. especially with opamp rolling!

 

[Yersinia Bestmate]

How would it rattle listening to music, unless your DAC is on a speaker.

Quite easily in fact. All I need is a pair of Magnat Quantum 757's + a pair of heavy reflex loaded diy-subs with DA MX10-22 drivers. I'm driving the Magnats with an Ncore amp (2 x ~230-250W) and the subs with a Crown xls1002 (2 x , ~330-350W), so not much. This setup is in a listening room (approx. 25sq.m) which is in the second floor of a wood-framed house with wooden floors. Occasionally I listen to music pretty loudly - I've measured 105dB at the listening position 3 meters from the speakers & the sub but my ZD3 starts to rattle before that kind of sound pressures. The dac sits on a glass shelf in a metal framed rack with the amps and such. Believe me - those subs can make the doors and paintings on the wall rattle, and the sofa shake, let alone a small dac with a flimsy knob. I've fixed the problem with a piece of blue tack, so all's fine now, even though I'd rather have it not to rattle at all. But anyway, that's how it is done.

The ZD3 has been flawless for me, such a good sounding DAC. especially with opamp rolling!

The dac has worked flawlessly so far not counting the rattle. I've never heard any specific sound signatures in any of the dacs I've owned to this day.

 

[HalasKYO]

May I ask how did you connected the crown amps to the subout on the ZD3 ? RCA-RAC with a splitter ?

 

[Yersinia Bestmate]

May I ask how did you connected the crown amps to the subout on the ZD3 ? RCA-RAC with a splitter ?

Me? In my setup where ZD3 is working as a dac, Crown is connected to a preamp and Fosi just feeds the signal to the preamp via xlr cables. There is no dedicated sub out on Fosi ZD3 but instead xlr and rca outputs.

If I'd use Fosi directly as a dac/preamp, I'd connect the sub amp (in my case a Crown) with rca and the power amp for the main speakers with xlr, or vice versa.