This is Where It Starts... | Fosi Audio ZA3 - Class D Mono/Stereo Amplifier | Speaker Journey #1

#FosiAudio #ZA3 #speaker #amp
(Affiliate links below, supports the channel but comes at no extra cost for you)
Where can I find this? -
Fosi Audio ZA3 - fosiaudioshop.com?sca_ref=6044935.HdKY4YFmbl
Speaker used for testing - Focal K2 Aria 906
Don't understand what the graphs mean? Watch this first - • Frequency Response SUC...
What can EQ do? - • EQ SUCKS!.... and why ...
Where can i get audio gears?
Linsoul - www.linsoul.com?sca_ref=2904070.marhjDMIKq
Melbourne Chifi Audio - melbournechifiaudio.com/
Do you like looking at pretty pictures of IEM's & Headphones? Check out my social media
Instagram: reallynotareview
Twitter: RNARexperience
TikTok: reallynotareview
0:00 Icebreaker
0:05 Intro
0:12 Opening/Disclaimer
0:40 Accessories
1:25 Design
2:25 Features
3:00 Size Comparison
3:30 Sound
4:05 Conclusion
My personal view of audio gears price category;
$0-100 = BUDGET-FI
$100-500 = MID-FI
$500-1000= HIGH-FI
$1000 - $2000 = SUMMIT-FI
$2000 & Beyond = STRATOS-FI
DISCLAIMER: This is based on my own personal experience with this gear and does not reflect or represent what you or others may experience. The biggest advice would be to try and test ANY gears on your own first prior to making that purchase decision
I hope you found this video somewhat informative. Any feedback to help improve my content would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for watching and till the next video!

[@Douglas_Blake_579]

Hook that ZA3 up to a pair of tower speakers ... you're in for a treat.

[@rnarexperience]

I just need to hunt for tower speakers now

[@Douglas_Blake_579]

@@rnarexperience
LOL ... yep.
One mistake (and it is a mistake) that I keep seeing with these mini-amps is that for some reason people assume that Small Amp == Small Speakers. Of course this simply isn't the case.
The TPA3255 chip used in most of these mini-amps was actually developed for pro-audio use and can be found in studio monitors, sound reinforcement and even home theatre systems. Recently there have been introductions of high end audiophile systems using them as well.
With the 36 volt power supply they give you, that little monster cranks out a very respectable 75 watts RMS per channel on 8 ohms and 150 on 4, with virtually no distortion. Only a few years ago that would have been something you only found in a stereo "super-system".
My own system is driven by an Intel NUC computer, feeding a D3-mini DAC which then feeds an Aiyima A07 (another TPA3255 mini-amplifier) which in turn feeds a pair of Pioneer towers. This is my main system in my apartment living room. In a recent full power test it was heard 6 floors down and half a building away in the lobby. Staying in the room with it was difficult as it was just so tremendously loud (110db). I don't normally listen anywhere near that loud, so the whole setup suits my needs perfectly.
The small size and price are not a result of corner cutting or limited performance. They are largely the result of the chip itself, low parts counts (look inside, it's a very simple circuit) mass production and the noteworthy absence of the usual "audiophile" markup.
We truly have come a long way in a very short time.

[@CoffeeXmusic]

Great video bro. Although I’m not into amps, I do like your reviews🎉

[@MrBenherrmann]

The key to having these seemingly much heralded class D amps (i.e. Fosi BT20 Pro, V3, ZA3, and Aiyima A07 Max and A70) sound competitive, is to change out the op amps for better, discrete dual channel versions (i.e. Burson varieties or the wonderful Sparkos Labs SC3602 versions). When you do this, a whole new world of audio reproduction opens up to you - that is, wider, deeper sound-staging, more depth, smoother sound. I have the Sparkos Labs ones in my ZA3 and they substantially improve the sound - with the ZA3 now sounding warmer and a bit more like a class AB amp. I don't know why Fosi doesn't just incorporate those discrete op amps rather than the typical, omnipresent (and cheap) NE5532 IC-based Op Amps, which every Asian-made class D amp seems to have installed.

[@Douglas_Blake_579]

NE5532 == $0.30 ... yep 30 cents.
SC3602 == $70.00 .... 20 times as expensive
There are 5 of them. It would drive the price of the amplifier up by quite a lot...

[@MrBenherrmann]

@@Douglas_Blake_579 Well, in my particular case, I changed 3 of them (for RCA and XLR inputs), and left the 5532's in there for the bass. It's a matter of choice and the fact that you have the flexibility to op-amp roll, makes these amps actually quite competitive - just like tube rolling in various tube amps.

[@Douglas_Blake_579]

@@MrBenherrmann
Not the same. Op-amp rolling seldom gives the differences you might see in tube rolling. Most of the time the only thing that changes is your bank account.
That said.... getting the NE5532s out of there does make sense. I typically replace them with RC4558 or TL072 chips... either of which can be had for less than a dollar. But I'm not swapping them to improve sound. I'm swapping them because the NE5532 chips are frequently counterfeited by rebranding other op-amp chips, some of which have very different characteristics (eg. video amplifiers). Beyond that first swap, chip flipping actually does very little for you.

[@MrBenherrmann]

@@Douglas_Blake_579 I often find it interesting when some one argues a point and then issues a statement that sounds like it is universal (i.e. "Beyond that first swap, chip flipping actually does very little for you"). I must add that I noticed differences in sound qualities when swapping out different op-amps (both IC based and discrete), and so for me (not for your or anyone else for that matter), that's good enough for me.

[@Douglas_Blake_579]

@@MrBenherrmann
Fine knock yourself out.
Just be aware that in bench testing there is no measurable difference, beyond that first swap. These op-amps are running at very low gain, often unity gain and thanks to heavy feedback just about any op-amp is going to behave the same in that situation.

[@san616mofo]

Great video. Looking forward to a comparison video of 'Fosi Audio ZA3 + ZEN Air DAC' vs 'SMSL AO300.' I recently purchased DALI Spektor 1 and am considering these two options, ZA3 or AO300, so your video hits the spot. If you don't mind, please write your review under this comment.

[@rnarexperience]

Ooof there's a lot to compare but if i were to summarize, if you want more features, more power, the SMSL AO300 would be the way to go. If you want something more straight to the point, then the Fosi Audio ZA3, paired with a DAC would be the simpler choice. I'll just list the dot points below for your consideration;
SMSL AO300
Pros
- More inputs, HDMI (Arc), RCA, USB C
- Built in Integrated system (DAC, Headphone Amplifier, Speaker Amp)
- More power
- More features, filters, EQ presets
Cons
- Does NOT have XLR Inputs
- USB C connection has a very slight delay, no problem if you hook up a separate DAC via RCA (will explain more in the video)
Fosi Audio ZA3
Pros
- Mono/Stereo Option if you're into that but you have to buy 2 of the ZA3
- Has XLR and RCA inputs
- Simple and straight to the point
Conditions
- Requires a source to pair with
- Has sufficient power but dependent on source as well
- Those wanting more features would have to look elsewhere
Hope the above helps

[@nc3419]

I auditioned the Spektor 1 and it was a nice sounding speaker for its size. I didn't even feel the Oberon 1 was too great an improvement in SQ but as a small speaker with a low sensitivity, it does need some power to get going. I now have the Dali Opticon 1 MK1 which is alot better in all respects but at 4 ohms, I find it easy to drive and louder with lower watts in relation to the Spektor 1. Go for watt output on an amp. Having a built in dac that's decent is all you need. Don't think you'll need a more expensive dac at that level of system. Everything should work well together. A sub will transform the experience.