Review Thoughts on the Fosi audio V3

[DougK1]

Look forward to your review even more now I’ve used one. And yes, doesn’t stand up to some of the headlines attributed to it from my experience. Still good value, but not a game changer.

Sometime this year. I've never been someone who rushes things and this trait has just got worse now I've retired

 

[nopiano]

I had the volume where it is in the picture - that’s a good point, moving the volume much below that & it cuts out. Definitely not great for quiet listening via a direct line in without independent volume control,

Thank you. That’s interesting, as I’d assumed it might need to be well advanced. I’ll probably try mine later, as curiosity is getting the better of me!

 

[nopiano]

Sometime this year. I've never been someone who rushes things and this trait has just got worse now I've retired

Three line whip, Doug, get on with it!

I was surprised not to find these differences that others report. My initial reaction was it sounded a fraction dull or smoothed over, but that was literally a couple of hours from new.

I re-read the bench test on ASR, and 8 ohm speakers elicit a HF rise, whereas 4ohm (like my Sonus fabers) keep it ruler flat. Now I can scarcely hear above 11kHz these days anyway, but you guys might be hearing that. Just a possibility.

After attending the Bristol Show yesterday, I listened to my system for about three hours, so I have some reference points and know it isn’t ’out of whack’! (And I attended a piano recital in London on Friday night too).

 

[manicm]

I'm sure the Fosi is a good amp. But I see it like the Raspberry Pi, it's a good learning experience, and for those who want to tinker.

By the time you upgrade the power supply and op amps then you're into several hundred quid?

 

[nopiano]

I'm sure the Fosi is a good amp. But I see it like the Raspberry Pi, it's a good learning experience, and for those who want to tinker.

By the time you upgrade the power supply and op amps then you're into several hundred quid?

I think op amp ‘rolling’ is pointless on this, but harmless fun I suppose. The larger 48v ps is all you’ll need too.

 

[Gadusmorhua]

I have a WiiM Pro Plus hooked up to a Mojo and a CA A1 amp from the nineties, sounds so good that visitors comment, unsolicited. Total cost £350 without speakers.
Hopefully when I upgrade from my Mordaunt M20 speakers I can enjoy an improvement, but I find them hard to fault without something to compare to.

 

[DougK1]

I have a WiiM Pro Plus hooked up to a Mojo and a CA A1 amp from the nineties, sounds so good that visitors comment, unsolicited. Total cost £350 without speakers.
Hopefully when I upgrade from my Mordaunt M20 speakers I can enjoy an improvement, but I find them hard to fault without something to compare to.

Bravo! But this has exactly what to do with the Fosi amp?

 

[Gergő Csiki]

I think op amp ‘rolling’ is pointless on this, but harmless fun I suppose. The larger 48v ps is all you’ll need too.

do you think that fosi v3 48v is enough for my Technics SB-C 350? I want to use them as a beginner studio monitors (I use Cubase Elements and I study film and audio editing). I don't have the money to buy active speakers to my steinberg ur22 mk2 and i also want something small so i can keep my minimalist lookig desk.

 

[Amormusic]

do you think that fosi v3 48v is enough for my Technics SB-C 350? I want to use them as a beginner studio monitors (I use Cubase Elements and I study film and audio editing). I don't have the money to buy active speakers to my steinberg ur22 mk2 and i also want something small so i can keep my minimalist lookig desk.

Yes. I have previously owned this amp. It is small yet powerful and with a great sound. For the money it is excellent.

If you are after low-cost small form factor, this would be hard to beat.

 

[Gergő Csiki]

Yes. I have previously owned this amp. It is small yet powerful and with a great sound. For the money it is excellent.

If you are after low-cost small form factor, this would be hard to beat.

also i read that i don't need such a powerfull amp for sound editing in a room like 4m x 4 m (13ft x 13ft) because the speakers would be at the end of my desk (approx 1.2m from me, each). So is a 30w amp enough for me to work in Cubase while sitting at my desk?

 

[nopiano]

do you think that fosi v3 48v is enough for my Technics SB-C 350? I want to use them as a beginner studio monitors (I use Cubase Elements and I study film and audio editing). I don't have the money to buy active speakers to my steinberg ur22 mk2 and i also want something small so i can keep my minimalist lookig desk.

I’m not familiar with studio ‘desks’ or mixers, so I’m not sure what output levels the Steinberg offers you. However, the 48v power supply gives over 100 watts into your 6ohm speakers, so for desktop use the smaller 32v version should be enough.

See the chart I posted at post #9.

 

[Gray]

Fosi 48v and SMSL on order. Me and Gray will have a play and get back with some thoughts...might take a few months.

Well it did take a few months, but patience is a virtue.

'My' Fosi V3 (and an S.M.S.L. SU-1) was delivered by motorcycle courier, in the form of DougK1 himself, on Friday. He hasn't even tried either yet, so thanks Doug

My most used source is a Raspberry Pi (with a Hi-fi Berry digi+ Pro hat) playing FLAC files, via the built-in DAC of a Cyrus i7-XR integrated amp, into PMC twenty 21 speakers.

For my test, the Fosi V3 was effectively replacing the power amp section of the Cyrus integrated:
Bottom line verdict is that the V3 is unbelievable value for money.
HF, midrange and detail was on a par with the Cyrus (and that's saying something).
I found the V3 bass was slightly less defined (noticeable on leading edges) but with just a bit more body than the Cyrus - which has worked in its favour on one track so far (but only because the track featured sustained bass, rather than leading-edge, twangy stuff).

I found a mild smoothness to the sound - not a rounding off or anything negative, but what I can only describe as a lack of stridency.
Interestingly, I've subsequently re-read the thoughts of @nopiano in post #2 of this thread - where he found the sound to be 'slightly smoothed over' but 'very enjoyable' - which sums it up for me - proved by the fact that, I too, enjoyed an extended test session - there's no lack of power - even if I haven't been able to fully test that aspect yet.

Cheers for the loan Doug

If I hadn't 'just' bought the Cyrus, I'd now be even more interested in some combination that included a couple of V3 monoblocks.....

 

[Amormusic]

These are just ridiculous VFM. They are also able to hold their own in a setup where the rest is considerably more expensive than it is, without being embarrassed, which is impressive.

As I've posted elsewhere here, I'll share my thoughts on the monos when they arrive next month.

 

[Jasonovich]

Well it did take a few months, but patience is a virtue.

'My' Fosi V3 (and an S.M.S.L. SU-1) was delivered by motorcycle courier, in the form of DougK1 himself, on Friday. He hasn't even tried either yet, so thanks Doug

My most used source is a Raspberry Pi (with a Hi-fi Berry digi+ Pro hat) playing FLAC files, via the built-in DAC of a Cyrus i7-XR integrated amp, into PMC twenty 21 speakers.

For my test, the Fosi V3 was effectively replacing the power amp section of the Cyrus integrated:
Bottom line verdict is that the V3 is unbelievable value for money.
HF, midrange and detail was on a par with the Cyrus (and that's saying something).
I found the V3 bass was slightly less defined (noticeable on leading edges) but with just a bit more body than the Cyrus - which has worked in its favour on one track so far (but only because the track featured sustained bass, rather than leading-edge, twangy stuff).

I found a mild smoothness to the sound - not a rounding off or anything negative, but what I can only describe as a lack of stridency.
Interestingly, I've subsequently re-read the thoughts of @nopiano in post #2 of this thread - where he found the sound to be 'slightly smoothed over' but 'very enjoyable' - which sums it up for me - proved by the fact that, I too, enjoyed an extended test session - there's no lack of power - even if I haven't been able to fully test that aspect yet.

Cheers for the loan Doug

If I hadn't 'just' bought the Cyrus, I'd now be even more interested in some combination that included a couple of V3 monoblocks.....

Excellent summing up Gray, the short time I had the Fosi V3. The first thing that hit me, "Was this sound really coming out of this little box"?
The sound was expansive and lots of detail in the mid range, the bass was lean but clean, nothing bloated or lumpy. I had it for six months and by chance, somebody was selling cheap on eBay, almost new, Atoll 100 and upgraditis swayed me to part my money. I can imagine two Fosi mono's would be a formidable force.

 

[Revolutions]

with Gray’s review, makes me wish I’d tested the V3 with a proper preamp rather than just the WiiM mini. Sold it now though.

On the flip side, the unfair A/B tests did reinforce how much I love my current setup. Easy to take things for granted when they become normal.

 

[Witterings]

On the flip side, the unfair A/B tests did reinforce how much I love my current setup. Easy to take things for granted when they become normal.

I've found this as well testing my current system vs the ZA3 and also against an Atoll IN300 ... easy to take for granted what you do have sometimes and forget how good it is.

 

[plastic penguin]

If I could easily use the Leema as a preamp, I would seriously consider the Fosi V3

 

[Gray]

I can imagine two Fosi mono's would be a formidable force.

I reckon so Jason.
Will be very interesting to hear how @Amormusic thinks they compare to the stereo amp (they really don't need to be too much better).

 

[Gray]

If I could easily use the Leema as a preamp, I would seriously consider the Fosi V3

You could.
Due to having its own volume control, it's best to give the (stereo) V3 a fixed, line level input - and that's what your Pulse record out would give it.
(I gave the V3 a fixed line out of the Cyrus).

That would mean the Pulse would be doing your input selection but not the volume controlling - which would be done on the V3.

I saw from a photo of the 1st generation Pulse that there were a pair of 'Line Outs'.
Presumably the volume control varies their levels???. (In other words they could just as easily have been labelled as'preamp out'???).
If so, they're the ones you'd use to connect to the V3 stereo version with it's volume control full up (or to feed the V3 monoblocks) - then the Leema would control the volume.

(Feed rec outs to the monoblocks and say goodbye to your speakers 😱).

 

[plastic penguin]

You could.
Due to having its own volume control, it's best to give the (stereo) V3 a fixed, line level input - and that's what your Pulse record out would give it.
(I gave the V3 a fixed line out of the Cyrus).

That would mean the Pulse would be doing your input selection but not the volume controlling - which would be done on the V3.

I saw from a photo of the 1st generation Pulse that there were a pair of 'Line Outs'.
Presumably the volume control varies their levels???. (In other words they could just as easily have been labelled as'preamp out'???).
If so, they're the ones you'd use to connect to the V3 stereo version with it's volume control full up (or to feed the V3 monoblocks) - then the Leema would control the volume.

(Feed rec outs to the monoblocks and say goodbye to your speakers 😱).

Cheers, yes it has its own line outs for either connecting a power amp or a passive sub. I've never used them so I don't know how it works exactly.

 

[plastic penguin]

You could.
Due to having its own volume control, it's best to give the (stereo) V3 a fixed, line level input - and that's what your Pulse record out would give it.
(I gave the V3 a fixed line out of the Cyrus).

That would mean the Pulse would be doing your input selection but not the volume controlling - which would be done on the V3.

I saw from a photo of the 1st generation Pulse that there were a pair of 'Line Outs'.
Presumably the volume control varies their levels???. (In other words they could just as easily have been labelled as'preamp out'???).
If so, they're the ones you'd use to connect to the V3 stereo version with it's volume control full up (or to feed the V3 monoblocks) - then the Leema would control the volume.

(Feed rec outs to the monoblocks and say goodbye to your speakers 😱).

Cheers, yes it has its own line outs for either connecting a power amp or a passive sub. I've never used them so I don't know how it works exactly.