As an electrical engineer, I salute this channel for a tasteful blend of informative reviews with a classy production and a mature, knowledgeable, balanced perspective. Keep up the great work, Tarun.
@@abritishaudiophile7314Can you tell me, what is the difference between the Fossi Device, V3, Za3, and devices like the QUAD 405, 44 FM4? Is it better, that is, better quality Quad devices that I mentioned or FOSI V3 or Za3?
I enjoyed the video editing. No annoying background music or noises, extended spoken segments without cuts (most of which were smooth transitions, only one jarring cut near the end). Easy on the ears and brain.
For those that may be interested in a small room system or better yet, a decent desk top amp, they should appreciate the fact that you (Tarun) have explained the level of quality components this unit utilizes. That info alone is gold because we can (and should) question the inner components of any piece of low cost audio equipment. This unit is obviously well constructed but I, for one, would never have it imagined to be so at its price. You continue to be a superb educator all-things-audio. 👌🇨🇦
I have to say I very much appriciate your looks at the internals of the device at hand. I understand that manufacturers are often hesitant to talk about their devices internals but that is exacltly what interests me the most. So thank You once again.
BT 20 upgraded tubes playing with more power and better soundstage then the V3 48 V. V3 sounding like a tweeter disco on both XTZ 99.26 lcr and Buchard 400 MK2. Compared to my proper amp this isn't sounding well at all. Silent and okey soundstage. But no fundament at all. Even my old Cambridge azur 640a plays miles miles and miles better. Disappointed, this tweeter disco amp not for me. Nothing in the depths.
It's good to see a High-quality reviewer look at a wide variety of equipment instead of just the average or somewhat typical things on other channels. Thanks and good review. P.S. Thanks for the imperial measurements, it's a big help in less brainwork I and others have to do in translation.
This channel is superb. Tarun is informative without being lofty, and an engaging speaker. I own a V3; between he and The Cheapaudioman I took a flyer on one. It powers my Dynaudio Special 40s without turning a hair. I stream exclusively through it, leaving other component amplification duties to my Marantz 8006. I listen at about 10 feet and am well-satisfied. Planning on building a small system for the bedroom and making the V3 the centerpiece of it.
Another fine video Tarun. Guess what, I purchased The Fosi v3 a few weeks ago, to use as part of my desktop system and fed from the Chord Mojo2, connected to my PC. Speakers are currently the QA 3030i. It does an exceptional job for relatively little money.
Wow, the way you present your content is incredibly well paced, detailed, your voice is also so soothing. I love how you make comparisons to other products and measurements in layman terms so we have a frame of reference to whatever is going on.
I really appreciate the effort you made to show the internals of V3, your knowledge about electronics and the comparison to similar amplifiers. You are giving multi dimensional facts that will help decide to buy or not a certain gear and therefor minimize buyer's remorse. Many thanks!
Really like that you've given a chance at this cheap amp. It's amazing how far they've gone, being able to offer a good quality product, with good sound, at a such reasonable price point. It's products like this that help democratising the hobby, making good sound available to more people. And i really like Fosi's continuous improvement of their products and listening to their customers in the process. Well done Fosi, well done Tarun!
I’m not sold on this amp. The internet has been hyping it up to infinity. There’s a new similar amp every other week. The consumer is confused as heck. I see people online who bought multiple class D mini amps. They could have bought a Cambridge AXA35 and a pair of speakers for that money. Or buy a used A/B amp around £100 or 100€.
@@user-xg6zz8qs3q have you tried it? or any other from fosi for example? they launch a lot of amps but they're not the same and/or receive several improvements. I've bought some, but have sold some also and didn't loose much money. the Cambridge unit is not comparable in some ways. i use these small guys at a desk or in my bedroom. the Cambridge unit just doesn't fit there. And is quite a bit more expensive. These are also perfect for someone outside of the audio/hifi/audiophile realm that just wants something cheap (and good) to drive a pair of speakers or someone starting off/ dipping their toes. The perfect gateway drug. 😀
@@JoseFerreira-zb7wh I purchased a Sure Tripath amp with TA2024 chip. It lacks power. A run of the mill used A/B amp under 100€ is just better. I was curious to try the Aiyima A07 but I bought a Creek 4240 instead.
Just bought the little Fosi incl. separate power supply following Taruns recommendation as my standard workplace near field set up gave up the ghost (left channel noise from the amp). Wow, I plugged the Fosi in and connected it to my Geshelli DAC, Fostex and my subwoofer and was more than amazed what is possible for this modest amount of money. Couldnt be more happy and dont find the need for a switch to something else at the moment. Kudos to Tarun again!!! And thank you for leading me to this great sounding little piece of equipment.
Pretty much going to echo previous comments. I like the calm and very informative presentation and as someone who has also done DIY amps and headamps, the look at the internals is most welcome. Excellent .
What an amazing and surprising review to find on your channel, Sir! Thank you so much for this great in-depth and components reveal. I wonder what some alternative op-amps would bring to the party. Thank you as always for your time and effort to share this with us all.
I don't usually listen to "audiophile" channels. This show was wonderfully concise, Informative, meaningful,… there is so much bull sugar out there, everybody has a RUclips channel, everybody has an opinion, often RUclips caters to the personality rather than the information. Smashingly well done! (...AND I DO love your personality thus far… ) 😉
So glad to see you having a look at some of the better Chi-Fi offerings on the market these days. As you've mentioned, the days of thin, brittle, sounding Class D are well in the past. It's remarkable the kind of performance these pack into such a tiny size (and budget). This quality would have been impossible to purchase at this price point even twenty years ago. I resisted Class D for a very long time. The resistance has all but vanished nowadays; can't stay stuck in the past, after all, and had to let go of my out-dated ways of thinking. As long as we don't expect these things to rival more expensive, discrete component, amplifiers, they're very cheerful and capable amplifiers.
Tarun, thank you! Currently $100AUD (about 52 quid in old money) at Amazon AU with a $20 discount. For our small-ish bedroom with some older Q Acoustic speakers (3010, i think) and a Wiim Mini, this is so worth a try. That you opened the case and picked apart the components, I've bought this with confidence that as a near-field set-up I can't go wrong. Love (and drool at) some of your more expensive tests, but this review for a basic combo, boom!
I just picked up a Fosi BT30D-PRO to replace an aging Sony 2ch amp (TA-AX390) in my garage/shop, along with the needed BT adapter and larger powered subwoofer that go along with my current setup. This little amp will allow me to get rid of three pieces of equipment and condense things down because it can power a passive subwoofer. Currently I'm driving a pair of Boston Acoustic CR9s and will add a small subwoofer in a shallow box that I can tuck behind my toolbox. So far I'm loving this little amp, thank you for making such great informative content. As others have said it's just the right blend of perspective from experience and technical demonstration.
Good to see that you can get audio enjoyment on a budget - thank you for the review Tarun. Over time my features list for an amplifier got much reduced over time - from 100s of Watts, tape monitor, loudness, balance, separate control for highs and lows - to minimalist features when I went for the Cyrus 1 amp. Never looked back, other than XLR input and output became a must have with my R2R DAC and active speakers.
Wow. I have tons of audio equipment. Pioneer receivers from the 70’s , Cambridge Audio, Audiolab etc. One of my favorite systems has become a pair of Boston Acoustic A40’s, mid 80’s Phillips cd player similar year and this Fosi amplifier. It is in a small room very well set up. The entire system cost less than my 8 ft. kimber cable for my main system. It is so fun to listen to mini systems with ultra lightweight speakers are so easy to manage equipment disappears like a chameleon and I’m not listening to a stereo. I’m listening to music. I would have never discovered this Fosi without this guy. He understands the audio trilogy very well. Electrical, mechanical and acoustical. The only hearing I trust as much as my own ! Thank you British trilogy understander
I’ve got one. Paired with a couple of small Wharfedale Diamond 12.0s. Sounds great. I have small room, about 12’x12’. The comments about power/volume are accurate. It’s not capable of high volume (I think the diamonds are 87db sensitivity). But, for a small room, it’s loud enough for me.
Just discovered your channel this evening, and I must say that I am quite impressed! Your overall knowledge, presentation and evaluation are superb, but your honest opinion is what I truly admire. Great Job, and I look forward to viewing more of your content!
On the test bench, the Fosi V3 has good performance, none of which matches the manufacturer's claims. With a 32V basic power supply, it produced 89W RMS into 8 ohms with THD at around .05%. This makes it a good budget choice for a dorm room with a streamer, or an above average nearfield system for an office. It definitely punches above its weight class, and would likely provide a solid foundation for any budget system with simple requirements. Great review Tarun!
Why would you test it with a marginal 32 volt power supply? A 32V power supply producing 85 WPC at .05 is NOT a budget choice, it's a miracle. Test it with a proper 45V 10A power supply (maybe $25 dollars more at most) and see what it can really do. Why hamstring it?
@billsmith5166 people don't realize they can buy a switching power supply that cheap..they just look at the power bricks available.. and those are upwards of 60$ some even almost 100$..
Nice! And I’ve got this connected to my bedroom tv along with the Topping D30pro driving JBL Stage A130s. It is small enough to fit under TV and sounds way better than a sound bar. Great detailed review!
I have purchased this Amplifier, added the Sparky op amps, a little fiddling but it paid off in terms of better sound, thanks Tarun, keep up the good work.
The TPA 3255 chip has extra treble energy at 8 ohm and a roll off with 4 ohm…I could be switching that up but I think the load dependency could explain how some people experience the top end differently. Great review
It's mostly above the audible band for most people. I would encourage anyone to look at the measurements shown on ASR for a full breakdown on the technical performance of this amplifier if they're curious.
@@seanb3303 Okay... I just went over to ASR and had a look ... once again *check the scaling on the graphs* ... we are talking about variations that no human being could hear ... at 20khz the worst case is 1db rise in 8 ohms and 0.5db roll off on 4 ohms ... At 15khz it's less than .5db .... the big hump on the graph is 1.5db at 30khz.... and again, nobody is going to hear that.
I have 2 Fosi amps in my home. One for background music near the kitchen and another for driving a pair of outdoor Yamaha speakers in the backyard. Both amps are Bluetooth. For their low price, I cannot believe the quality they deliver. Fosi is a winner, at least in my world.
I have this amp. Agree with the review, great for the money and right use case. One thing to note, the pre-out is actually fixed out, should be labeled "loop out" or "fixed out".
Best transparent review I've seen for this Fosi Amp. Thank you! I just ordered one and am still waiting for delivery. I currently use an HK 430 Twin Power vintage receiver in a small room setup. Sounds great with vinyl and streaming from a wii device thru SMSL SU9n DAC and shiit pre amp. Acoustic music, Latin jazz, heavy vocals, and so on sounds amazing, but my system does struggle a bit with more modern music. So I'll be given a try to this Fosy amp for that les instrumentals music listening sessions. I think it will work for my application. Either or I love the fact that Fosi is building that type of product focus on the audio more than other features.
@bazmatvichuk7319 I've been listening to the Fosi V3 for about 3 weeks now. I am very pleased and worth every penny. Does it sound better than the 1976 HK? No. But I like it. I'm using a Freya Plus pre amp and Dali spector 2 speakers. I re-capped the HK and added a pre amp input to bypass the HK pre amp so I've been using the Fosi with the HK pre amp with tone controls that helps. What I liked about the Fosi is that it is a very neutral, clean amp. The sound is narrower than the HK, and it is focused on the low frequency rage, like is trying to not sounds thin. As a result of that, the bass is good and detailed, but in the mids and highs, there are parts of the music that get lost. It's not a deal breaker depending on what music you are listening to. Because of it simplicity, sound quality, price and size is a very versatile amp you can't go wrong with it. Is a revolutionary product in my book.
@@jonathangonzalez327 I get all of your points, and I will try the amp again in a more suitable system. Of course my comparison with the Naim was crazy, but my point was that for not much more money, a used amplifier can offer more such as pre-amp, multiple inputs etc, and crucially sound "better", as subjective as that is. As i'm thinking about it, (bear with me, I can be slow) the main feature is size, followed by it's impressively low power consumption. If these things are important, then that will inform the choice. I'm only looking at engagement with the music as this amp has been touted as being a bit of a giant killer. In my initial listenting, the pre amp section of the HK integrated might have been a part of the problem. If memory serves me well, that HK used as an integrated was also lacking in involvement in the music. I will try it next week with desk top topping D50s DAC, along with it's P50 power supply which I suspect will be a better fit. I use that with the matching headphone amp for a desktop headphone system. The problem there is the only speakers I have at that location are Acoustic Energy Aegis 1 from years ago. They are probably not going to work nicely. It will be fun trying it out, and if it really isn't for me, I still completely understand where the amp sits in the hirearchy of equipment and it's value for money. It is worthy of a review by Tarun.
If you start reviewing lower cost equipment you may need to add a new channel called the "Cheap British Audiophile", lol. 😉. Hat tip to Cheap Audio Man. Great review as always Tarun!
I like your reviews. And I agree that class-d has really become a high-end option now. It started with the Tripath chips which I used and now the TI TPA chips. And I like that you show the insides when most other reviewers can't be bothered. One criticism however is that you should refrain from making claims about what the parts do or their properties. For example, the thermistor has nothing to do with preventing speaker thump. Thump is prevented because the speaker outputs rise to half the rail voltage simultaneously so the speaker sees no difference in voltage between the terminals. Its function is most likely to put less stress on the PS. Another example is "the two power amplifier modules" which is actually ONE, the TPA3255 is a stereo module. But keep up the reviews and thanks for including lower-end amps like these. I always seem to chicken out on buying more expensive audio items and I like the small footprint.
Great video - thanks so much for covering budget equipment - coming from someone like you, who has experienced high-end gear and are therefore aware of the quality achievable, it really helps people like me (who're on a budget) to understand how much we can attain even on limited budget. Would love to see a comparison with Aiyima A07 and also amp rolling experience :-)
Spot on - with your review. I got lucky with 20% off after watching your video yesterday, it arrived today and i disconnected my old denon RCD M40DAB and as you described, i got a good tight soundstage and overall clarity. It even seems to drive the B&W 684 in my small bedroom to a decent level. (32V PSU) It is fed from a Raspberry pi3/Allo Boss DAC/IFI PSU and is an absolute budget killer - Many thanks for your concise review - I am now subscribed to your channel
Me again - i liked the V3 so much i bought a second one. I have connected the output of my Allo Boss Dac to both V3's one driveing tweeters the other bass/mid. This has improved the soundstage, detail and dynamics. The B&W 684 S1 reveal the detail however the sound could be warmer. A lot of detail for not much money, i even have some tonal control with the individual V3 gain control. I will try using each V3 for each channel soon. so - Thank you for your enthusiastic review of this new gem.
Fosiaudioshop V3 48v and the Orange Knob delivered £86 I put op amp 2604 in there and it's a smart no nonsense amp . I should add I use the douk audio t8 as a pre amp 7 band graphic equaliser, the tubes are very versatile 12au7 I have lion tubes in, the soundstage went huge very nicely balanced . I use topping e50 with wiim mini, and q acoustic concept 20s . Only my Sabaj A30a beats it at 5 times the price .
Incredible. If you stick to the black knob and get the 8% new customer discount, it comes in at under £80. I wanted the 48v power supply to use with my Burson modified BT 20A Pro but for the sake of about £35 extra just bought the amp as well. I am sure it will find a use.
Great review Tarun. I finally took the plunge into this ‘super affordable’ yet good quality amps ! A Fosi Audio BT20a Pro is in its way now. Would be powering 4 Jbl Control Now speakers arranged as stereo pairs using a designed fan pole mount bracket hung over a game table. The a,p will be hidden behind the false ceiling ! That’s the idea. It was a decision between Fosi and the Arylic A50+ which also has streaming and app. But audio quality was more important for me.
I just bought a Fosi Audio V3 to replace my Cyrus ONE which no longer meets my listening style, having moved away from vinyl, turntable and generally all things analogue. However I needed something a little daring to work with the remainder of my gear: Tannoy HPD385 15" dual concentric studio monitors and a new Eversolo DMP A6 music streamer. Surprisingly, the V3 does a remarkable job driving the Tannoys - not quite the open spacial soundstage that the Cyrus ONE offered, but damn close! My 50 year old Tannoys are very efficient and my hearing loss is testament to that unfortunately, but they need a fair bit of oomph to tighten up the bottom end and the V3 does that with ease without further taxing my hearing. Very impressed with this little amp.
Can you tell me, what is the difference between the Fossi Device, V3, Za3, and devices like the QUAD 405, 44 FM4? Is it better, that is, better quality Quad devices that I mentioned or FOSI V3 or Za3? 
Great observation and explanation of the heat msnagement system for this Class D amp. What people usually don't realize that even though Class D is very power efficient and lower heat there are points or areas of heat which can affect a critical nearby component. This means distributing the heat through thoughtful engineering. Case in point are the capacitors as you mention. Your are a really good communicator.
I think you can upgrade the sound of this pretty cheaply with some better op-amps, or even more with discrete op-amps like the Sparkos SS3602 , that will set you back more than this amp with a 48 volts power supply (it seems to need dual op-amps instead of single ones even though they are on the right and left channel). Did you try it on your Pro-acs? I think I would prefer them making a mono block so I can use a different pre-amp. A cheap version of the Purifi amplification.
I agree with you on the Sparkos Discrete op amps! NICE! But regarding the drive of the Pro Ac speakers, I can attest to my listening years ago that the Pro Ac speakers (the Tablettes and later, a Pro Ac tower) absolutely need VERY good amplification to sound their best. I don't believe that any sub-$2000 USD power amp even today stands a chance of pulling that feat off. I know that Exposure can and, by much listening experience, that also Copland can.
@@abritishaudiophile7314 It's not a likely pairing anyway, looking at the price differences. I have no problem driving 87db speakers with the Fosi TB10D which is basically the same but with lower grade parts. But I guess not every 86db speaker is as hard to drive as those two you mentioned. It can still make the same amount of noise but not sound as good.
@@robinkleinsteuber5217 I was just curious as to how they did with them and wether Tarun dared hooking them up to a cheap Chinese amp (But I guess they weren''t the first he tested 😁)
It needs dual op-amps because they are acting as phase splitters to drive the BTL outputs. That requires 2 per channel. Plus, swapping them isn't likely to make any big difference since they are operating at unity gain ... 1v in == 1v out. Mostly they did this to please the tinkering crowd.
I bought this amp after seeing your review. I have paired it with the Zu DWs. Loving the combo. I also added a Ifi tube buffer in the chain to have fun. Thanks for bringing this product to our attention!
One other thing: the build quality is exceptional. It’s my first jump into the budget class d world, and pictures on amazon of other brands’ products look atrocious. This thing looked good in the pictures, and when it arrived, it exceeded my expectations for fit and finish. I didn’t get 2 volume knobs, though. I’ve seen other reviewers online mention the two knobs. Alas, not for me. I only got a black one. No biggie.
I just picked one up this last week, along with a WIIM pro to setup in the kitchen to replace an awful sonos that never seems to work for the Mrs. This setup paired with some old kef and teac speakers from the loft (as I've tested them) sounds wonderful. Wife is happy she can play music again in the kitchen! Very impressed for the £80 paid on prime day.
In the interests of accuacy ... The TPA3255 chip is a stereo BTL chip, so only one is used. The RMS power expectations on the 32 volt supply are for 50w/ch on 8 ohms and 100w/ch on 4 ohms. Distortion will be less than 0.01% at 99% output and Frequency response runs flat from 8hz to 28khz. (Yes, by measurement) I use these amps on a pair of pioneer towers in my main system and they've got more than enough OOMPH to get the job done. FWIW ... small amp does not mean small output.
Tarin, the V3 is, by itself, impressive. Add two dual Sparkos op amps and it is transformed. Add a 48v power supply and you have, for a total of $240, a simple power amp with power to spare, and incredible sound quality that equals and, yes, bests, some multi-thousand dollars amps I've had in my rig. I am free to say that because I don't have to review the multi-thousand dollar units. The V3 drives lower impedance and sensitivity speakers without breaking a sweat: the Buchardt P300, Sonus faber Lumina II as well as the more efficient HECO Aurora 1000. You would never expect it to have all the good characteristics of high end amps, but it does. It is resolving in the extreme. With it inline, I rarely have to EQ except for sub par recordings. Of course, a rig has to have good components up the line to bring the best out of the V3. I have a Burson Composer 3X DAC with four dual Sparkos op amps replacing Burson's own. I also have a Douk Audio H7 tube preamp, Micca and Blue Jeans cabling, and a Denafrips DDC to clean up the PC USB signal. Synergy is the name of the game.
Yup, with a little care those amps can be used in systems far more demanding than the usual « desktop / secondary system » they are usually reviewed in. The op-amps swap is a MUST. The NE5532 in there should just be considered a temporary fix. They sound dreadful. If an amp manages to sound good with the cheapest 5532 opamps in the input stage you can imagine what is will sound like with something like Sparkos. Even something like LM4562 is already a major step up. Don’t listen to the « you won’t hear a difference » pseudo engineers. In a revealing system, oh boy, you will!
I ordered one for a small setup at my retail store. I have to say I really had my doubts about all the hype around this tiny affordable amp. But when it came from you that it was decent I thought I'd give it a shot. Thanks Tarun.
I'm always so impressed by your depth of knowledge in these matters. Thanks for covering the entire spectrum of gear! I would love to know what tracks you are using to evaluate and/or enjoy!
Thank you Bob. Much appreciated. I consider myself to have pretty conventional tastes across many genres. Jazz: Miles, Bill Evans, Cannonball, Chet, Jimmy Smith, Kenny Burrell, etc.. Blues: Muddy Waters, BB King, John Lee Hooker, Carey Bell, Van Morrison, etc.. Classic rock: Dire Straits, Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Pink Floyd, Led Zep, etc.. I could go on endlessly 😂😂😂
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Dude... we are musical brothers! I will add Wilco, Bowie, Lou Reed, Marvin Gaye and Springsteen to the list! We have many of the same favs. I guess we're both just "regular" guys!
@@UnitedStatesofAnalog I love them too. I still need to find some decent Bowie recordings. My Bowie CDs suck and I can’t get a turntable until I can kick my son out of his playroom 😂👍
I am still using my 1976 Heathkit AA-1506 amplifier. Had to fix it once when a disc capacitor shorted out which caused all power transistors to be blown. I am also still using my 1978 Soundcraftsmen PE-2217 equalizer, which still looks as good as new. One of the slide potentiometers is no longer working, so it is now time for a makeover, thus including cleaning and lubricating all potentiometers, and replacing all electrolytic capacitors. My home made 1978 speakers are still working as good as new. I did at one point have to replace each of the 15" woofers outer foam rings due to the old foam rings having turned to dust due to age. That cost me a massive $27 for rings and glue. Each speaker also has two mid-range drivers, and 4 tweeters.
I don't know anything about Fosi, but had heard some rather positive mentions of this little V3... I've been listening to quite a few very high performance amps from CH Precision, Viola Labs, and Gryphon where I'm presently working. At home, I've a Devialet D250, an Extraudio 250 tube front end + Hypex output hybrid integrated, and also an EAR 868 PL preamp + Classe DR15 poweramp combo. Anyways I picked up a Fosi V3 and the first pair of speakers I could connect it to is a very unlikely pair of Wilson Benesch Discovery 3 Zero speakers... 😂 In the shop where I work it is for us a mid priced speakers... But it sells for about €25k! The cool thing is, in this totally price mismatched set up, I'm amazed that the modest little V3 does a very good job of making music with these infamously super revealing speakers indeed. At home, aside from the aforementioned 3 amplifiers, I also have a Rega Brio R, and an Elex R... Based on today's session with the Wilson Benesch, I'd say the tiny V3 has the Brio firmly beaten, and compares very favorably with the Elex R... Which actually cost at least 15x more costly than the $100 V3! If you're okay with just the single pair of RCA inputs... This tiny amp will upset lots of apple carts on what you think are your favorite budget amps... I know it wiped the floor with my Rega Brio...😂😂😂
Hi T, thank you very much for this video it's great to hear or see that you're reviewing budget price amplifies it's really good to know your opinions on these and how they stack up to Hifi amplifiers, I'm in the process of purchasing an amplifier for portability reasons and would really like your views and opinions on these, thank you so much .
Nice detail review. It is difficult to get any good sounding amplifiers below $500 ! This V3 is available at a fraction of that. I am tempted to buy V3 after your very positive review.
Good to have your review and approval on this Fosi V3 amp. I have two on order and have also ordered Mean Well UHP500-48 power supplies to match. I’m hoping at 48v they don’t get too hot as many cheap TPA3255 implements, BerryBak BRU5 being one of the examples. Often the excessive heat is generated by the inductors, not the TPA3255 chip, but capacitor/inductor combination could be the root cause.
@@johnm3544 Recommended typical supply voltage in the TI data sheet is 51 volts when feeding a 4 ohm load. 48 volts sounds like a sensible off-the-shelf value, not something that should cause stress to the amplifier chips. As for not shorting internally and damaging speakers, that requirement applies to any directly coupled amplifier design.
Really enjoyed watching this informative balanced review. I own the v3 and have done some experimenting with op amp rolling. Not going crazy with Sparkos or Burson op amps as it doesn't make monetary sense but so far I've tried opa1656 and 2604. Soon to try opa1622. I have to say the improvements are surprising! The 2604 adds a wider soundstage, tighter punchier bass and with more microdetail. The 1656 gives even more microdetail and a slightly more textured bass but in so loosing the soundstage width and tighter punchier bass of the 2604. To keep it brief what I am basically saying is this amp scales well with different op amps so its worth rolling a few. Could make comparative content! And also the power supply matters with this amp, for me moving from stock to a better one helped with high volume transients allot. My setup for reference is: wiim pro on linear psu topping e50 on linear psu fosi v3 on Meanwell drp 480-48v run at 43v speakers are MA silver 100 7gs Also I have two seas l26roy subs both with matching passive radiator.
Thank you for this good review in your calm manner. The amp is minimalistic, but the missing connections can actually be supplemented just as compactly, because the Arylic BP50, for example, really has all the connections you could wish for and which are sorely missed even on expensive devices. Both together fit on a small table and allow maximum music enjoyment for incredibly little money. How much money would you have had to spend 20 years ago for this quality, if it even existed back then.
Fosi Audio, who ever would have guessed? I have one of those with DAC and Bluetooth on my desktop along with the Sony CS5 speakers. I can listen to podcasts or Tidal from my iPhone or my PC. This system is very transparent, it gets the job done. Very high performance to price ratio.
Hi Tarun! This little nugget could be the answer for someone with a very little room or working space and want a tiny bit of Hi-Fi on a very tight budget. No more need to go to a brick and mortar retailer and spend a couple thousands on separates. Some might say it is hi-fi apocalypse, but I think this new trend will only grow bigger until everyone join in or disappear from the face of the Earth. Fascinating review and compelling product! What's not to like?
Thorough review as always. Glad you clarified those ridiculous output claims! Great box for your desk with something like the ifi Zen Blue. To your question, selector, volume and remote is all I want in my amp, thank you very much. 😊
Hello, respectfully the power claims are not ridiculous or false, the TI TPA3255 is capable of delivering 17 amps of current with the right power supply >600VA which none of the power supplies used to test these wonderful TPA325x based products by Fosi and Aiyima, by any RUclips reviewer including ASR Amir were---as they were all less than 500VA. We have developed our own line of high-end supplies for these products and have driven a 2 ohm load, with an unmodified Aiyima a07, and produced 288 watts at less than 1% distortion. Verified. P.S. the unit remained cool, under 89 degrees Celsius. Lastly the maker of the TPA3255, Texas Instruments published the technical specs, not Fosi or Aiyima, which have been found, through testing to be correct. We do not believe one of the largest and most respected semiconductor manufacturers in the world is in the habit of publishing false claims.
@@larryjohnson9019 Hi Larry, the claim is not being made by TI, it’s being made by Fosi Audio in the header of their advertisement on Amazon for their £99 amplifier. If a car manufacturer claims a 0-60 time of 4 seconds for model X, you don’t expect to have to option in a 4 litre turbocharged V8 to achieve it, you expect the 1.6L in the advert to do it. Or rather, you don’t, of course. The fact is that I was completely put off buying this amp for my desktop setup as it seemed so patently implausible that I couldn’t trust anything else written in the description. If they had claimed a real world figure of 40wpc with the supplied PSU I might have bought one.
@@markcarrington8565 Hello Mark..good discussion. Your car analogy is a good one, in fact...in the performance car market that is done all the time ergo Porsche, Alfa Romeo, Range Rover...we owned all of them. With that said, you are correct about the Fosi's advertisements on Amazon, outside of a power table that you must scroll down to see and read---Unlike Aiyima, Fosi fails to state in writing that the user must purchase a larger capacity power supply to achieve higher power output and performance. However, our statement stands true and many if not all RUclips audio reviewers simply echo the same false statements that "this amp will never reach the 300W output period" Whether someone likes the voicing of these products, we will never question as that is what choice is all about, but technical evaluation must always be based on facts---and that is what we are hoping to provide here---just the facts.
Yayy! Someone other than Cheapaudioman reviewing this kind of kit is just great! To be frank, I never know how seriously to take him, but I can see from your more detailed review that you're in broad agreement. To be frank, I only use one analogue input, from my DAC, plus speaker outputs. But I've got many more inputs than I really need on both my Audiolab 6000A in my desktop system, and Acoustic Invader preamp in my main system. It seems difficult to get amps with more than one, but less than the usual panoply. Maybe there's a case for it for folk wanting a little more versatility for not too much extra cash? As to a remote, one could maybe use that of a DAC or streamer, or maybe an associated mobile app, to control volume. It's interesting that one can roll the op amps; I wonder how the device would sound with something like Sparkos upgrades (if they would fit, that is). Here in the UK the Sparkos costs c.£100 for just one. At any rate, I've upgraded my DAC with just the one and that takes it into a higher tier. One wonders what a pair of them would do for this amp. Might be amazing...😊
I don't take Randy seriously at all ... But I can tell you the TPA3255 chip they're using in these inexpensive amps is no toy. It is widely used in Public Address, Studio Monitors and Home Theatre equipment... much of which is labelled as "high end", from well known manufacturers. The small size and low price are happening because Class D amplification very deeply simplifies amplifier design. You saw the inside of that case... not a whole lot of parts or expensive heat sinks or power transformers, in there. The low price is a function of simplified design and mass production... not bad audio quality. As one of my clients pointed out ... "I guess I can't let the small size fool me anymore."
A really interesting and informative review. I think the letters NTC on the thermistor refer to its negative temperature coefficient, not a manufacturer.
I own this amp and I can say this it has a lot of versatility despite its lack of features. Many people have very complicated systems and so the lack of features is a benefit. With the 48v power supply it is capable of driving 8ohm speakers admirably well. Very impressive output. Quite surprising. Excellent thermal management
Hi Do you think that 2 v3 units with 2 48v / 8.3a would work well in a relatively small room with my big floorstanders? They are 4ohm nominal with 96db sensitivity and can be bi amped. Thanks :)
@@ryanchappell5962 Thanks for your prompt reply. I'm taking about a big ass floor stander...7 drivers on each side, 3 of them are 8inch woofers.. they love current. Do you think that 2 v3 units with a 48v PSUs will supply that current?
@@ilanspiro1645I think the trick would be bi-amping where you have one V3 on each side so that each 8amp power supply only deals with one speaker. You would have the tweeter section running from one channel of the amp and the woofers running on the other. That being said, I always use a powered sub so I never ask that much from my main speakers
Just discovered this channel and I'm really amazed! I don't listen to many audiophile reviews, but the way you describe the electrical and physical concepts behind the product you review is super interesting! Regarding this amplifier, do you think it could suffice to drive in a satisfying way a couple of floorstand speakers, like Quad 22L? If so, could the iFi iPower power supply be a nice upgrade? Even if it would feel a bit strange to spend more for the power supply than for the amp... 😅 Thanks a lot for all the useful info in your videos!
@@1ydtad great to have you on board. I don’t k so how difficult the 22L are to drive. To be safe you should pick an amp with more peak current delivery 😊
The big electrolytics are the power supply filter caps, but the red Wima's and the ferrite inductors are the -mandatory- low pass filter to block the high frequency switching signal of the class-D amplifier.
Thanks for another great video Tarun, I really appreciate your reviews of equipment that is affordable to those on a lower budget. I have the Cambridge Audio AXA35 paired with the Dali spektor 2s both of which you mention in this video and I can confirm they work well together especially with a sub. Please can you clarify how a class A/B amp such as the AXA35 is chip based when I believed previously that chip based amps were always class D. Answering your question, to me balance control is essential due to my rooms layout where I'm unable to have my speakers equidistant. Ideally I'd also want tone controls to be able to have some basic room correction options. Because I don't have a perfectly set out listening room a lot of higher end equipment is ruled out due to the lack of balance and tone controls which leaves me feeling excluded.
Nice system. You can have chip based class AB amplifiers like the TI LM3886 found in the AXA35. It is to do with how the transistors work. Class D is is high frequency switching and class AB is a low bias condition for pairs of transistors each covering half a cycle 😊
A very "organised", thorough and inspiring review. Thank you. Sorry for the novice question but still I find myself in a bewilderment: I am looking for a cheap amplifier to drive two OEM speakers which on their labels have the following info: "Max 50watts (music Power), Impendance: 6 - 8 ohms. I am not interested that much in sound quality. Despite the fact that I am afraid that the "50watts" most probably is fake, and the fact that I find hard to understand how the impendance of a speaker is not consitent...my question remains: Can this Fosi Audio Amplifier drive these speakers without overheating (or without damaging the speakers)? Furthermore, can Fosi BT20A, with TPA3116, which claims an 100 RMS Power at 4 Ohms, drive "safely" (no clicks, no speaker damages, no amp overheating) such speakers? Thank you in advance.
Thank you kindly. Too much power from amplifier is hardly ever a problem as long as you don’t drive the speakers louder than they are capable of going 😊👍
I've never had much expectations from these just like most people but seems pretty decent. Worth it for a cheap set up in a spare room and I love the simplicity
Another insightful post Tarun. Yourself and The Audiophiliac are far and away the best reviewers. 👍 Can I ask what speaker cables you use at home please? I presently use AQ Rocket 11 for my Atoll 200 amp and Kudos C1 speakers. 👍🎶🎵🎼
Thank you. I have traditionally used Linn K20 speaker cable. In expensive but good. I am currently investigating 3 more expensive options. Wireworld Equinox 8, Chord Epic X and Audiomica Red Series cables. I am taking my time running each in my reference systems 😊
Good to listen to you Tarun. I was considering something like this. Just got a Set of Focal Chora 806 for a very low price. 300us NIB. They sound nice but why would I run a 5k rega aethos on these.... There are just for fun not real listing. Thank for you effort.
3:25 does this thermistor allow for use of a smart plug to turn the amp on and off? Or would turning the amp (set on a certain volume) on and off that way damage the hardware? And is it correct that a thermistor does not control for a thump when turned off? (with and without use of a smart plug) This will be my first ever amp, and I am quite excited. Thank you for the excellent review!
@@rainham1 thanks for the reply! I’ve read some concerns about this method over at audio science review, hence my initial question. I know too little about electronic circuits to judge
Generally the best bet with these systems is to plug them in, leave the AC on all the time and turn the amplifier on and off by it's own front panel switch. The V3's soft start will handle its own inrush current nicely for you, so that's not a worry. The power bricks are a different matter. When started from cold-off they can draw a real nasty surge of current to charge their internal capacitors. Turning them on and off repeatedly can slowly damage the internal rectifiers, shortening their lifetimes considerably.
My signal chain: Topping E30 DAC > Adcom GFP-555II preamp > Fosi V3 amp (48v psu) > Klipsch Heresy II and an RSL Speedwoofer 10S MKII. My dad was the original owner of the Heresies, and I assembled the rest in the last few years. I removed the 555II from the signal chain to check the sound. With it, there's way more power, it sounds warmer/fuller, and I don't have to crank the V3's volume pot. I leave it at 50, adjusting both pots if I want it loud. Pushing the V3's volume pot to 100 will introduce distortion. I almost upgraded to 3 x V3 monoblocks, but I'm dubious to the value. Without the 555II, sure, but I don't need the extra power, and I'm not sure how much I'd notice improvements in SQ like channel separation. I paid $90 for my V3 (black friday 48v deal), and the kickstarter for the monos would be about $330.
@abritishaudiophile7314 i actually have a gfa-5300, but i blew it a few years ago. I suppose it could be as simple as needing a new fuse, but I don't know much about that and put it off. It's just a paperweight in my spare room now.
After a disappointing experience with an Aiyima T9 Pro (and Dali Spektor 2 speakers) I lost my faith in this cheap tiny class D amps... But your video just restored some hope, so I might give this Fosi a try... (Worst case scenario it goes back to Amazon like the Aiyima did...) Thank you for your great videos and reviews.
@@sheikmaideen9307 sorry to hear that... I've ordered a Fosi V3 (48V psu version directly from fosi audio), but I haven't received it yet... I'm currently using a vintage Philips FA950 with my Spektor 2 and it sounds significantly better than the Aiyima T9 Pro. My only problem with it is its huge size... Looking for something much smaller (that doesn't cost more than the speakers). Fosi V3 is my last hope... Hoping to receive it next week. I'll report back once I try it
@@abritishaudiophile7314 I finally got the Fosi V3 (with 48V PSU). I only tested it for a couple of hours with the Dali Spektor 2, but so far it seems to be doing great. I need more time to test it properly, but so far I can't really tell much of a difference in comparison to the vintage Philips FA950 I've been using with the Spektor 2. My faith in the these tiny "chi-fi" amp is now restored... The difference between the Aiyima T9 Pro and the Philips was very perceptible (I won't say night and day, but surely like sunny and rainy day). With the Fosi V3 if there are differences, they're not undoubtedly evident (to my ears at least). The 300W (into 4Ω or 150W into 8Ω I think) per channel is of course a bit of a joke. The Philips (which is rated at 100W into 8Ω) with the volume knob at 10 o'clock position sounds as loud as the Fosi at 2 o'clock position. More than enough for my needs though, so that's not an issue. I just wish they wouldn't exaggerate those ratings that much... Anyway, bottom line... I think the Fosi V3 does well with the Spektor 2 despite them not being the most efficient speakers out there and definitely much better than the Aiyima T9 Pro did. The fact that it draws only 6.4W from the wall and that it's about 40x smaller than the vintage Philips are two big plus on its favour!
When I first started earning, way back when, I walked into Radford hifi expecting to walk out with a hifi system. That didn’t happen, not that day anyway. The assistant sat me down and went to great lengths to explain what constitutes a good hifi system and the reasoning behind his hypothesis. I was young, green and impressionable. I took on board every thing said and although time, trial and error, mistakes and experience has now enabled me to make my own judgement and form my own opinion, that Radford’s assistants words and advice have always stuck with me throughout my hifi purchasing history. One thing that he was rigid about, was tone controls and graphic equalisers. They could only alter the sound and in so doing, cause instability within the amp and end up being overall detrimental to the final musical reproduction. Hence, I’ve never purchased any audio equipment that incorporates tone controls! That was then, the pre-digital age. This is now and digitisation has drastically changed the world of hifi. Alterations to tone can now be implemented in the digital domain, eliminating many of those nasties that Radford’s assistant steered me away from. I now appreciate that tone controls are down to personal choice. A bit like analog or digital, there is no right or wrong. I still have no tone controls anywhere in my hifi system. Not in the analog or digital domain. That’s my choice and I make that choice because I’m a ‘set and forget’ audiophile. I like to place a 33rpm on the platter. A disk in the cd transport or select a playlist on my streaming device. Sit back in my favourite armchair with a cold beer and hot woman and just let the music happen. Well, in the words of Meatloaf, “2 out of 3 ain’t bad”! I know only too well, that if I had tone controls to play with, I’d be constantly making tonal adjustments and tweaks and not giving the music the undivided attention it demands. Hell, when I first installed a pair of subs, it took me an eternity of fiddling with crossover settings Etc. Before I could convince myself that the optimal setting had been achieved. Many reviewers have criticised the manufacturers of my subs for not incorporating remote control. Much like my take on tone controls, if I had a remote control to hand to adjust my subs, I’d likely be forever playing with it. So, I appreciate the lack there of. I’ve recently upgraded my preamp to the manufacturer’s, flagship model. It can be used as a simple one input line stage device, facilitating only the ability to adjust volume. I’m guessing we’ll witness other manufacturer’s following that example. It must represent purity of the signal path. Is not that what audiophiles strive for? I’m certain that little amp you’ve just reviewed will serve a lot of small room audiophils, admirably.
I bought the Fosi TB10D - currently being used with a pair of Jamo speakers - the rear pair of a defunct 5.1 system. Eventually I'll bring it back to the UK to pair up with a pair of 1977 Wharfedale Dentons. It has it's limitations but it's better than the mini system I was using. Source is a Philips DVD player. Not audiophile but it does for me. I can swap the source out to an Echo Dot if I want background muzak.
I love a stripped down piece of HiFi at a bargain price. I don't have remote control for any of my equipment and I only need a turntable input, so this amps single inpur wouldn't be a problem for me. Excellent work VOS 🎶😎
I just got one of these direct from Fosi for $107 with the 48v power supply and the orange knob, granted that you have to wait 15 days for shipping but it offers a real saving, if it turn out to be as good as Tarun so eloquently says it is then I am sure that I will be adding another to try some bi-amping. Again, thanks so much for the info you provide, one could even define it as priceless.
It is fantastic, it got here in five days and as soon as I hooked it up to an old pair of Dynaudio audience 60's(4ohm) I knew strait away that this is now my favorite amplifier, to be fair my other amps aren't up to much because i mostly have active speakers but after hearing it I then started hooking it up to all my non active speakers and I can't really tell if this is subjective or objective but it made my hifi speakers sound much more like my active studio monitors, even an old pair of Acoustic Energy Ageis Evo sounded fantastic, it gave them an authority that I had not heard from them before and what it did to an old set of restored mission 700's(1980 version) was nothing short of miraculous, so thank you very much for your recommendation as it is what finally made me take the plunge and try one of these chip amps, I am now going to order another one to try some bi-amping.@@abritishaudiophile7314
Thanks for your review ,I have been waiting for an ear I felt trust in on this Amp that being said experience tells me upgrading those OpAmps to a Muse02 or discrete will improve the sound because of that type of power arrangement I'm going to test it with big set of capacitor banks , it may get very close to 300 watts @ 48 volts and booster in the front end
I picked up 3 of these for home theatre surround speakers, nothing to complain about. I use the AVR for auto on/off so it's set and forget for me. 3x$154 CAD (£268) tax and delivery included with the 48v/5a power supply. They don't get hard use as the surround channels aren't that demanding esp with subs doing the heavy work.
Thanks for your review I got this amp but not yet tested I will pair it with my KEF Q300 and FX Audio Dac-M1 as an input indeed you are right this amp seems rock with a very budget price
As an electrical engineer, I salute this channel for a tasteful blend of informative reviews with a classy production and a mature, knowledgeable, balanced perspective. Keep up the great work, Tarun.
Thank you kindly Clarence 😊👍
T, pre-amping with my Jotunheim, "0" tweeter hiss. Ordering the SA LS35A this week. So happy, D.( Typed on a comment page, sorry)
@@abritishaudiophile7314Can you tell me, what is the difference between the Fossi Device, V3, Za3, and devices like the QUAD 405, 44 FM4?
Is it better, that is, better quality Quad devices that I mentioned or FOSI V3 or Za3?
I enjoyed the video editing. No annoying background music or noises, extended spoken segments without cuts (most of which were smooth transitions, only one jarring cut near the end). Easy on the ears and brain.
Thank you 😊
Agreed. A calm, pleasant voice never hurts either.
For those that may be interested in a small room system or better yet,
a decent desk top amp, they should appreciate the fact that you (Tarun)
have explained the level of quality components this unit utilizes. That
info alone is gold because we can (and should) question the inner components
of any piece of low cost audio equipment. This unit is obviously well constructed
but I, for one, would never have it imagined to be so at its price.
You continue to be a superb educator all-things-audio. 👌🇨🇦
Thank you Charles. That is very much appreciated 😊👍
Heeey,get a room you two.
got one... came with a wife @@ms-jl6dl
I have to say I very much appriciate your looks at the internals of the device at hand. I understand that manufacturers are often hesitant to talk about their devices internals but that is exacltly what interests me the most. So thank You once again.
Thank you. Much appreciated 😊👍
BT 20 upgraded tubes playing with more power and better soundstage then the V3 48 V. V3 sounding like a tweeter disco on both XTZ 99.26 lcr and Buchard 400 MK2. Compared to my proper amp this isn't sounding well at all. Silent and okey soundstage. But no fundament at all. Even my old Cambridge azur 640a plays miles miles and miles better. Disappointed, this tweeter disco amp not for me. Nothing in the depths.
It's good to see a High-quality reviewer look at a wide variety of equipment instead of just the average or somewhat typical things on other channels. Thanks and good review. P.S. Thanks for the imperial measurements, it's a big help in less brainwork I and others have to do in translation.
Thank you. Much appreciated 👍
Well done for doing budget kit Tarun. Good to know this is a decent recommendation for people looking for entry level amps.
Thank you 👍
This channel is superb. Tarun is informative without being lofty, and an engaging speaker. I own a V3; between he and The Cheapaudioman I took a flyer on one. It powers my Dynaudio Special 40s without turning a hair. I stream exclusively through it, leaving other component amplification duties to my Marantz 8006. I listen at about 10 feet and am well-satisfied. Planning on building a small system for the bedroom and making the V3 the centerpiece of it.
That is great. Thank you for sharing your experiences 😊👍
I really appreciate your open mindedness and even handedness when reviewing audio equipment. You let your expertise do the load talking.
Thank you kindly 😊👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 thank him? and kindly? british audiophile that´s the diference,"don´t mind me so"
Another fine video Tarun. Guess what, I purchased The Fosi v3 a few weeks ago, to use as part of my desktop system and fed from the Chord Mojo2, connected to my PC. Speakers are currently the QA 3030i. It does an exceptional job for relatively little money.
Thank you. That is great 😊👍
Wow, the way you present your content is incredibly well paced, detailed, your voice is also so soothing. I love how you make comparisons to other products and measurements in layman terms so we have a frame of reference to whatever is going on.
@@stevess7777 thank you. Much appreciated 😊👍
I really appreciate the effort you made to show the internals of V3, your knowledge about electronics and the comparison to similar amplifiers. You are giving multi dimensional facts that will help decide to buy or not a certain gear and therefor minimize buyer's remorse. Many thanks!
Thank you. Much appreciated 😊👍
Really like that you've given a chance at this cheap amp. It's amazing how far they've gone, being able to offer a good quality product, with good sound, at a such reasonable price point. It's products like this that help democratising the hobby, making good sound available to more people. And i really like Fosi's continuous improvement of their products and listening to their customers in the process. Well done Fosi, well done Tarun!
I’m not sold on this amp. The internet has been hyping it up to infinity. There’s a new similar amp every other week. The consumer is confused as heck. I see people online who bought multiple class D mini amps. They could have bought a Cambridge AXA35 and a pair of speakers for that money. Or buy a used A/B amp around £100 or 100€.
@@user-xg6zz8qs3q have you tried it? or any other from fosi for example? they launch a lot of amps but they're not the same and/or receive several improvements. I've bought some, but have sold some also and didn't loose much money. the Cambridge unit is not comparable in some ways. i use these small guys at a desk or in my bedroom. the Cambridge unit just doesn't fit there. And is quite a bit more expensive. These are also perfect for someone outside of the audio/hifi/audiophile realm that just wants something cheap (and good) to drive a pair of speakers or someone starting off/ dipping their toes. The perfect gateway drug. 😀
@@JoseFerreira-zb7wh I purchased a Sure Tripath amp with TA2024 chip. It lacks power. A run of the mill used A/B amp under 100€ is just better. I was curious to try the Aiyima A07 but I bought a Creek 4240 instead.
@@user-xg6zz8qs3q ok, so you haven't tried. power is more than enough, specially for what it is.
Thank you. These chip based amps have come a long way in recent years 😊
Just bought the little Fosi incl. separate power supply following Taruns recommendation as my standard workplace near field set up gave up the ghost (left channel noise from the amp).
Wow, I plugged the Fosi in and connected it to my Geshelli DAC, Fostex and my subwoofer and was more than amazed what is possible for this modest amount of money. Couldnt be more happy and dont find the need for a switch to something else at the moment.
Kudos to Tarun again!!! And thank you for leading me to this great sounding little piece of equipment.
That is great! Thank you for sharing your experiences 😊👍
Pretty much going to echo previous comments. I like the calm and very informative presentation and as someone who has also done DIY amps and headamps, the look at the internals is most welcome. Excellent .
Thank you 😊👍
What an amazing and surprising review to find on your channel, Sir! Thank you so much for this great in-depth and components reveal. I wonder what some alternative op-amps would bring to the party. Thank you as always for your time and effort to share this with us all.
Thank you Simon. Very much appreciated. Op amp rolling would be fun with this device 😊👍
The quality of your videos improved over the years. Now it is perfect. Congratulations.
Thank you. I am learning all the time 👍
I don't usually listen to "audiophile" channels. This show was wonderfully concise, Informative, meaningful,… there is so much bull sugar out there, everybody has a RUclips channel, everybody has an opinion, often RUclips caters to the personality rather than the information. Smashingly well done! (...AND I DO love your personality thus far… ) 😉
Thank you. I appreciate you watching 😊
So glad to see you having a look at some of the better Chi-Fi offerings on the market these days. As you've mentioned, the days of thin, brittle, sounding Class D are well in the past. It's remarkable the kind of performance these pack into such a tiny size (and budget). This quality would have been impossible to purchase at this price point even twenty years ago. I resisted Class D for a very long time. The resistance has all but vanished nowadays; can't stay stuck in the past, after all, and had to let go of my out-dated ways of thinking.
As long as we don't expect these things to rival more expensive, discrete component, amplifiers, they're very cheerful and capable amplifiers.
Thank you 😊
Tarun, thank you! Currently $100AUD (about 52 quid in old money) at Amazon AU with a $20 discount. For our small-ish bedroom with some older Q Acoustic speakers (3010, i think) and a Wiim Mini, this is so worth a try. That you opened the case and picked apart the components, I've bought this with confidence that as a near-field set-up I can't go wrong. Love (and drool at) some of your more expensive tests, but this review for a basic combo, boom!
That is great! Please let me know how you get on 👍
I just picked up a Fosi BT30D-PRO to replace an aging Sony 2ch amp (TA-AX390) in my garage/shop, along with the needed BT adapter and larger powered subwoofer that go along with my current setup. This little amp will allow me to get rid of three pieces of equipment and condense things down because it can power a passive subwoofer. Currently I'm driving a pair of Boston Acoustic CR9s and will add a small subwoofer in a shallow box that I can tuck behind my toolbox.
So far I'm loving this little amp, thank you for making such great informative content. As others have said it's just the right blend of perspective from experience and technical demonstration.
Thank you. Great to learn about your experiences 😊👍
Tarun…I LOVE when you take components apart and point out all the inner morsels! 👍🏼😀
This one is soooo interesting at its price point.
Thank you kindly 😊👍
I love how you bring the hype down to earth.
Thank you 😊👍
THANKS TARUN🤗 for sharing this, proving that this is the best time to be an audiophile 💚💚💚
Thank you 😊
Your channel rules! I will watch your videos very often.Keep up with it
Thank you. Much appreciated 😊👍
Good to see that you can get audio enjoyment on a budget - thank you for the review Tarun. Over time my features list for an amplifier got much reduced over time - from 100s of Watts, tape monitor, loudness, balance, separate control for highs and lows - to minimalist features when I went for the Cyrus 1 amp. Never looked back, other than XLR input and output became a must have with my R2R DAC and active speakers.
Thank you for sharing 😊
Wow. I have tons of audio equipment. Pioneer receivers from the 70’s , Cambridge Audio, Audiolab etc. One of my favorite systems has become a pair of Boston Acoustic A40’s, mid 80’s Phillips cd player similar year and this Fosi amplifier. It is in a small room very well set up. The entire system cost less than my 8 ft. kimber cable for my main system. It is so fun to listen to mini systems with ultra lightweight speakers are so easy to manage equipment disappears like a chameleon and I’m not listening to a stereo. I’m listening to music. I would have never discovered this Fosi without this guy. He understands the audio trilogy very well.
Electrical, mechanical and acoustical. The only hearing I trust as much as my own ! Thank you British trilogy understander
Thank you Sean. Much appreciated 😊👍
Wow! Quite a revelation. And coming from you, I trust that it’s good and not just hype.
Thank you Jeremy. It is great for the money in the right use case 👍
I just join in in the praise: Great style, no hype, clear and right to the point. Thank you!
Thank you. Much appreciated 😊👍
I’ve got one. Paired with a couple of small Wharfedale Diamond 12.0s. Sounds great. I have small room, about 12’x12’. The comments about power/volume are accurate. It’s not capable of high volume (I think the diamonds are 87db sensitivity). But, for a small room, it’s loud enough for me.
Cool 😎 thank you for sharing 👍
Just discovered your channel this evening, and I must say that I am quite impressed! Your overall knowledge, presentation and evaluation are superb, but your honest opinion is what I truly admire. Great Job, and I look forward to viewing more of your content!
Thank you kindly Glenn. That is very much appreciated 🙂👍
On the test bench, the Fosi V3 has good performance, none of which matches the manufacturer's claims. With a 32V basic power supply, it produced 89W RMS into 8 ohms with THD at around .05%. This makes it a good budget choice for a dorm room with a streamer, or an above average nearfield system for an office. It definitely punches above its weight class, and would likely provide a solid foundation for any budget system with simple requirements. Great review Tarun!
Thank you 😊
This chip will make 600w rms @ 4ohms +10% distortion with a 48v 10a power supply
The sweet spot is 48v 7.3a a solid 150x2 @8ohms sub 1% distortion
Useful.
Why would you test it with a marginal 32 volt power supply? A 32V power supply producing 85 WPC at .05 is NOT a budget choice, it's a miracle. Test it with a proper 45V 10A power supply (maybe $25 dollars more at most) and see what it can really do. Why hamstring it?
@billsmith5166 people don't realize they can buy a switching power supply that cheap..they just look at the power bricks available.. and those are upwards of 60$ some even almost 100$..
I’m currently ‘right sizing’ a lot of things in life. This amp is exactly what I need right now. Thanks for this review.
Thank you 😊
I'm also "right sizing" my hi-fi.
I've decided to keep the TDL RTL3s and the Musical Fidelity Pre Amp & twin Typhoons.
Nice! And I’ve got this connected to my bedroom tv along with the Topping D30pro driving JBL Stage A130s. It is small enough to fit under TV and sounds way better than a sound bar. Great detailed review!
Thank you. Nice set up 👍
I have purchased this Amplifier, added the Sparky op amps, a little fiddling but it paid off in terms of better sound, thanks Tarun, keep up the good work.
Thank you 😊
You are welcome.
The TPA 3255 chip has extra treble energy at 8 ohm and a roll off with 4 ohm…I could be switching that up but I think the load dependency could explain how some people experience the top end differently. Great review
It's mostly above the audible band for most people. I would encourage anyone to look at the measurements shown on ASR for a full breakdown on the technical performance of this amplifier if they're curious.
Check the scaling on your graphs ... we're only talking about half a DB at frequencies nobody can hear.
@@Cujobob I remember the load dependency graph at ASR showing differences below 15khz
@@Douglas_Blake_579 at ASR there were notable differences below 15khz…enough for Amir to complain 😉
@@seanb3303
Okay... I just went over to ASR and had a look ... once again *check the scaling on the graphs* ... we are talking about variations that no human being could hear ... at 20khz the worst case is 1db rise in 8 ohms and 0.5db roll off on 4 ohms ... At 15khz it's less than .5db .... the big hump on the graph is 1.5db at 30khz.... and again, nobody is going to hear that.
I have 2 Fosi amps in my home. One for background music near the kitchen and another for driving a pair of outdoor Yamaha speakers in the backyard. Both amps are Bluetooth. For their low price, I cannot believe the quality they deliver. Fosi is a winner, at least in my world.
I have this amp. Agree with the review, great for the money and right use case. One thing to note, the pre-out is actually fixed out, should be labeled "loop out" or "fixed out".
Thank you 👍
I notice if you add a preamplifier to it, the pre out becomes variable.
@@anthony2010707 I connected headphones to the line out, the output was not variable. Perhaps Fosi has updated later units.
Best transparent review I've seen for this Fosi Amp. Thank you! I just ordered one and am still waiting for delivery. I currently use an HK 430 Twin Power vintage receiver in a small room setup. Sounds great with vinyl and streaming from a wii device thru SMSL SU9n DAC and shiit pre amp. Acoustic music, Latin jazz, heavy vocals, and so on sounds amazing, but my system does struggle a bit with more modern music. So I'll be given a try to this Fosy amp for that les instrumentals music listening sessions. I think it will work for my application. Either or I love the fact that Fosi is building that type of product focus on the audio more than other features.
Thank you Jonathan 😊👍
would be very interested in your view after you have had a chance to listen with the V3 for a few days.
@bazmatvichuk7319 I've been listening to the Fosi V3 for about 3 weeks now. I am very pleased and worth every penny. Does it sound better than the 1976 HK? No. But I like it. I'm using a Freya Plus pre amp and Dali spector 2 speakers. I re-capped the HK and added a pre amp input to bypass the HK pre amp so I've been using the Fosi with the HK pre amp with tone controls that helps. What I liked about the Fosi is that it is a very neutral, clean amp. The sound is narrower than the HK, and it is focused on the low frequency rage, like is trying to not sounds thin. As a result of that, the bass is good and detailed, but in the mids and highs, there are parts of the music that get lost. It's not a deal breaker depending on what music you are listening to. Because of it simplicity, sound quality, price and size is a very versatile amp you can't go wrong with it. Is a revolutionary product in my book.
@@jonathangonzalez327 thank you for sharing your experiences 😊
@@jonathangonzalez327 I get all of your points, and I will try the amp again in a more suitable system. Of course my comparison with the Naim was crazy, but my point was that for not much more money, a used amplifier can offer more such as pre-amp, multiple inputs etc, and crucially sound "better", as subjective as that is. As i'm thinking about it, (bear with me, I can be slow) the main feature is size, followed by it's impressively low power consumption. If these things are important, then that will inform the choice. I'm only looking at engagement with the music as this amp has been touted as being a bit of a giant killer. In my initial listenting, the pre amp section of the HK integrated might have been a part of the problem. If memory serves me well, that HK used as an integrated was also lacking in involvement in the music. I will try it next week with desk top topping D50s DAC, along with it's P50 power supply which I suspect will be a better fit. I use that with the matching headphone amp for a desktop headphone system. The problem there is the only speakers I have at that location are Acoustic Energy Aegis 1 from years ago. They are probably not going to work nicely. It will be fun trying it out, and if it really isn't for me, I still completely understand where the amp sits in the hirearchy of equipment and it's value for money. It is worthy of a review by Tarun.
If you start reviewing lower cost equipment you may need to add a new channel called the "Cheap British Audiophile", lol. 😉. Hat tip to Cheap Audio Man. Great review as always Tarun!
Thank you. I don’t think Randy will have anything to worry about 😂👍
I like your reviews. And I agree that class-d has really become a high-end option now. It started with the Tripath chips which I used and now the TI TPA chips. And I like that you show the insides when most other reviewers can't be bothered. One criticism however is that you should refrain from making claims about what the parts do or their properties. For example, the thermistor has nothing to do with preventing speaker thump. Thump is prevented because the speaker outputs rise to half the rail voltage simultaneously so the speaker sees no difference in voltage between the terminals. Its function is most likely to put less stress on the PS. Another example is "the two power amplifier modules" which is actually ONE, the TPA3255 is a stereo module. But keep up the reviews and thanks for including lower-end amps like these. I always seem to chicken out on buying more expensive audio items and I like the small footprint.
Thank you 😊
Great video - thanks so much for covering budget equipment - coming from someone like you, who has experienced high-end gear and are therefore aware of the quality achievable, it really helps people like me (who're on a budget) to understand how much we can attain even on limited budget. Would love to see a comparison with Aiyima A07 and also amp rolling experience :-)
A very detailed comparison with the A07 is here ... ruclips.net/video/vlksPSj7n3I/видео.html
@@Douglas_Blake_579 thanks - will definitely check it out
Thank you. Much appreciated Dipan 👍
Spot on - with your review. I got lucky with 20% off after watching your video yesterday, it arrived today and i disconnected my old denon RCD M40DAB and as you described, i got a good tight soundstage and overall clarity. It even seems to drive the B&W 684 in my small bedroom to a decent level. (32V PSU) It is fed from a Raspberry pi3/Allo Boss DAC/IFI PSU and is an absolute budget killer - Many thanks for your concise review - I am now subscribed to your channel
Thank you. I appreciate you watching and your kind words of support 👍
Well done review. Happy to see you expand your reach with a "budget product" here. There are some good one's. Always appreciate your thoughts.
Thank you 👍
Me again - i liked the V3 so much i bought a second one. I have connected the output of my Allo Boss Dac to both V3's one driveing tweeters the other bass/mid. This has improved the soundstage, detail and dynamics. The B&W 684 S1 reveal the detail however the sound could be warmer. A lot of detail for not much money, i even have some tonal control with the individual V3 gain control. I will try using each V3 for each channel soon. so - Thank you for your enthusiastic review of this new gem.
Thank you Paul 😊
Fosiaudioshop V3 48v and the Orange Knob delivered £86 I put op amp 2604 in there and it's a smart no nonsense amp .
I should add I use the douk audio t8 as a pre amp 7 band graphic equaliser, the tubes are very versatile 12au7 I have lion tubes in, the soundstage went huge very nicely balanced . I use topping e50 with wiim mini, and q acoustic concept 20s . Only my Sabaj A30a beats it at 5 times the price .
Incredible. If you stick to the black knob and get the 8% new customer discount, it comes in at under £80. I wanted the 48v power supply to use with my Burson modified BT 20A Pro but for the sake of about £35 extra just bought the amp as well. I am sure it will find a use.
Cool 😎
Great review Tarun. I finally took the plunge into this ‘super affordable’ yet good quality amps ! A Fosi Audio BT20a Pro is in its way now. Would be powering 4 Jbl Control Now speakers arranged as stereo pairs using a designed fan pole mount bracket hung over a game table. The a,p will be hidden behind the false ceiling ! That’s the idea. It was a decision between Fosi and the Arylic A50+ which also has streaming and app. But audio quality was more important for me.
Thank you for sharing 😊
I just bought a Fosi Audio V3 to replace my Cyrus ONE which no longer meets my listening style, having moved away from vinyl, turntable and generally all things analogue. However I needed something a little daring to work with the remainder of my gear: Tannoy HPD385 15" dual concentric studio monitors and a new Eversolo DMP A6 music streamer. Surprisingly, the V3 does a remarkable job driving the Tannoys - not quite the open spacial soundstage that the Cyrus ONE offered, but damn close! My 50 year old Tannoys are very efficient and my hearing loss is testament to that unfortunately, but they need a fair bit of oomph to tighten up the bottom end and the V3 does that with ease without further taxing my hearing. Very impressed with this little amp.
Thank you for sharing your experiences 😊
Can you tell me, what is the difference between the Fossi Device, V3, Za3, and devices like the QUAD 405, 44 FM4? Is it better, that is, better quality Quad devices that I mentioned or FOSI V3 or Za3?

Great observation and explanation of the heat msnagement system for this Class D amp. What people usually don't realize that even though Class D is very power efficient and lower heat there are points or areas of heat which can affect a critical nearby component. This means distributing the heat through thoughtful engineering. Case in point are the capacitors as you mention. Your are a really good communicator.
Thank you 👍
I think you can upgrade the sound of this pretty cheaply with some better op-amps, or even more with discrete op-amps like the Sparkos SS3602 , that will set you back more than this amp with a 48 volts power supply (it seems to need dual op-amps instead of single ones even though they are on the right and left channel). Did you try it on your Pro-acs?
I think I would prefer them making a mono block so I can use a different pre-amp. A cheap version of the Purifi amplification.
I agree with you on the Sparkos Discrete op amps! NICE! But regarding the drive of the Pro Ac speakers, I can attest to my listening years ago that the Pro Ac speakers (the Tablettes and later, a Pro Ac tower) absolutely need VERY good amplification to sound their best. I don't believe that any sub-$2000 USD power amp even today stands a chance of pulling that feat off. I know that Exposure can and, by much listening experience, that also Copland can.
The V3 is great with easy to drive speakers but it struggled with my ProAc Response 1SCs and the Amphion Argon 1s 😊
@@abritishaudiophile7314 It's not a likely pairing anyway, looking at the price differences. I have no problem driving 87db speakers with the Fosi TB10D which is basically the same but with lower grade parts. But I guess not every 86db speaker is as hard to drive as those two you mentioned. It can still make the same amount of noise but not sound as good.
@@robinkleinsteuber5217 I was just curious as to how they did with them and wether Tarun dared hooking them up to a cheap Chinese amp (But I guess they weren''t the first he tested 😁)
It needs dual op-amps because they are acting as phase splitters to drive the BTL outputs. That requires 2 per channel. Plus, swapping them isn't likely to make any big difference since they are operating at unity gain ... 1v in == 1v out.
Mostly they did this to please the tinkering crowd.
I bought this amp after seeing your review. I have paired it with the Zu DWs. Loving the combo. I also added a Ifi tube buffer in the chain to have fun. Thanks for bringing this product to our attention!
That is great 😊👍
One other thing: the build quality is exceptional. It’s my first jump into the budget class d world, and pictures on amazon of other brands’ products look atrocious. This thing looked good in the pictures, and when it arrived, it exceeded my expectations for fit and finish. I didn’t get 2 volume knobs, though. I’ve seen other reviewers online mention the two knobs. Alas, not for me. I only got a black one. No biggie.
Thank you for sharing. My review sample came with the copper knob as well as the black. I think it may be optional 🤔
I just picked one up this last week, along with a WIIM pro to setup in the kitchen to replace an awful sonos that never seems to work for the Mrs. This setup paired with some old kef and teac speakers from the loft (as I've tested them) sounds wonderful. Wife is happy she can play music again in the kitchen! Very impressed for the £80 paid on prime day.
That is great 👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Watched your excellent review afterwards! Subscribed now so will also check out your other content.
In the interests of accuacy ...
The TPA3255 chip is a stereo BTL chip, so only one is used.
The RMS power expectations on the 32 volt supply are for 50w/ch on 8 ohms and 100w/ch on 4 ohms.
Distortion will be less than 0.01% at 99% output and
Frequency response runs flat from 8hz to 28khz.
(Yes, by measurement)
I use these amps on a pair of pioneer towers in my main system and they've got more than enough OOMPH to get the job done. FWIW ... small amp does not mean small output.
Thank you for sharing 😊
Tarin, the V3 is, by itself, impressive. Add two dual Sparkos op amps and it is transformed. Add a 48v power supply and you have, for a total of $240, a simple power amp with power to spare, and incredible sound quality that equals and, yes, bests, some multi-thousand dollars amps I've had in my rig. I am free to say that because I don't have to review the multi-thousand dollar units.
The V3 drives lower impedance and sensitivity speakers without breaking a sweat: the Buchardt P300, Sonus faber Lumina II as well as the more efficient HECO Aurora 1000. You would never expect it to have all the good characteristics of high end amps, but it does. It is resolving in the extreme. With it inline, I rarely have to EQ except for sub par recordings.
Of course, a rig has to have good components up the line to bring the best out of the V3. I have a Burson Composer 3X DAC with four dual Sparkos op amps replacing Burson's own. I also have a Douk Audio H7 tube preamp, Micca and Blue Jeans cabling, and a Denafrips DDC to clean up the PC USB signal.
Synergy is the name of the game.
Thank you for sharing your experiences 😊
Yup, with a little care those amps can be used in systems far more demanding than the usual « desktop / secondary system » they are usually reviewed in. The op-amps swap is a MUST. The NE5532 in there should just be considered a temporary fix. They sound dreadful. If an amp manages to sound good with the cheapest 5532 opamps in the input stage you can imagine what is will sound like with something like Sparkos. Even something like LM4562 is already a major step up. Don’t listen to the « you won’t hear a difference » pseudo engineers. In a revealing system, oh boy, you will!
Thanks Tarun. Sounds perfect for my budding audiophile grand nephew. He's being groomed for more higher level audio insanity.
With the right speakers in a small room, absolutely! 👍
I ordered one for a small setup at my retail store. I have to say I really had my doubts about all the hype around this tiny affordable amp. But when it came from you that it was decent I thought I'd give it a shot. Thanks Tarun.
Cool 😎 please let me know how you get on 👍
I'm always so impressed by your depth of knowledge in these matters. Thanks for covering the entire spectrum of gear! I would love to know what tracks you are using to evaluate and/or enjoy!
Thank you Bob. Much appreciated. I consider myself to have pretty conventional tastes across many genres.
Jazz: Miles, Bill Evans, Cannonball, Chet, Jimmy Smith, Kenny Burrell, etc..
Blues: Muddy Waters, BB King, John Lee Hooker, Carey Bell, Van Morrison, etc..
Classic rock: Dire Straits, Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Pink Floyd, Led Zep, etc..
I could go on endlessly 😂😂😂
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Dude... we are musical brothers! I will add Wilco, Bowie, Lou Reed, Marvin Gaye and Springsteen to the list! We have many of the same favs. I guess we're both just "regular" guys!
@@UnitedStatesofAnalog I love them too. I still need to find some decent Bowie recordings. My Bowie CDs suck and I can’t get a turntable until I can kick my son out of his playroom 😂👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 The struggle is real!
@@abritishaudiophile7314 have you tried the new wave of english jazz? so many excellent artists and music!
Man, I got one of these! But, I'm jonesing for the copper volume knob! How about a trade!😊 Another incredible review, my friend!
Thank you Bob but I’ll keep the copper one 😂👍
I am still using my 1976 Heathkit AA-1506 amplifier. Had to fix it once when a disc capacitor shorted out which caused all power transistors to be blown. I am also still using my 1978 Soundcraftsmen PE-2217 equalizer, which still looks as good as new. One of the slide potentiometers is no longer working, so it is now time for a makeover, thus including cleaning and lubricating all potentiometers, and replacing all electrolytic capacitors. My home made 1978 speakers are still working as good as new. I did at one point have to replace each of the 15" woofers outer foam rings due to the old foam rings having turned to dust due to age. That cost me a massive $27 for rings and glue. Each speaker also has two mid-range drivers, and 4 tweeters.
I don't know anything about Fosi, but had heard some rather positive mentions of this little V3... I've been listening to quite a few very high performance amps from CH Precision, Viola Labs, and Gryphon where I'm presently working. At home, I've a Devialet D250, an Extraudio 250 tube front end + Hypex output hybrid integrated, and also an EAR 868 PL preamp + Classe DR15 poweramp combo.
Anyways I picked up a Fosi V3 and the first pair of speakers I could connect it to is a very unlikely pair of Wilson Benesch Discovery 3 Zero speakers... 😂 In the shop where I work it is for us a mid priced speakers... But it sells for about €25k!
The cool thing is, in this totally price mismatched set up, I'm amazed that the modest little V3 does a very good job of making music with these infamously super revealing speakers indeed.
At home, aside from the aforementioned 3 amplifiers, I also have a Rega Brio R, and an Elex R... Based on today's session with the Wilson Benesch, I'd say the tiny V3 has the Brio firmly beaten, and compares very favorably with the Elex R... Which actually cost at least 15x more costly than the $100 V3!
If you're okay with just the single pair of RCA inputs... This tiny amp will upset lots of apple carts on what you think are your favorite budget amps... I know it wiped the floor with my Rega Brio...😂😂😂
That is very interesting. Thank you for sharing Kevin 👍
Hi T, thank you very much for this video it's great to hear or see that you're reviewing budget price amplifies it's really good to know your opinions on these and how they stack up to Hifi amplifiers, I'm in the process of purchasing an amplifier for portability reasons and would really like your views and opinions on these, thank you so much .
Thank you. You are most welcome 😊👍
Nice detail review. It is difficult to get any good sounding amplifiers below $500 ! This V3 is available at a fraction of that. I am tempted to buy V3 after your very positive review.
Thank you. It is great with easy to drive speakers 👍
Good to have your review and approval on this Fosi V3 amp. I have two on order and have also ordered Mean Well UHP500-48 power supplies to match. I’m hoping at 48v they don’t get too hot as many cheap TPA3255 implements, BerryBak BRU5 being one of the examples. Often the excessive heat is generated by the inductors, not the TPA3255 chip, but capacitor/inductor combination could be the root cause.
Thank you for sharing 😊
@@johnm3544 Recommended typical supply voltage in the TI data sheet is 51 volts when feeding a 4 ohm load. 48 volts sounds like a sensible off-the-shelf value, not something that should cause stress to the amplifier chips. As for not shorting internally and damaging speakers, that requirement applies to any directly coupled amplifier design.
Really enjoyed watching this informative balanced review. I own the v3 and have done some experimenting with op amp rolling. Not going crazy with Sparkos or Burson op amps as it doesn't make monetary sense but so far I've tried opa1656 and 2604. Soon to try opa1622. I have to say the improvements are surprising! The 2604 adds a wider soundstage, tighter punchier bass and with more microdetail. The 1656 gives even more microdetail and a slightly more textured bass but in so loosing the soundstage width and tighter punchier bass of the 2604. To keep it brief what I am basically saying is this amp scales well with different op amps so its worth rolling a few. Could make comparative content! And also the power supply matters with this amp, for me moving from stock to a better one helped with high volume transients allot.
My setup for reference is:
wiim pro on linear psu
topping e50 on linear psu
fosi v3 on Meanwell drp 480-48v run at 43v
speakers are MA silver 100 7gs
Also I have two seas l26roy subs both with matching passive radiator.
Also try the RC4558 op-amps ... in my tests they give very good results, too.
And they're cheap as chips ... Less than a dollar each.
Thank you. I appreciate you sharing your experiences 😊
@@abritishaudiophile7314
The quest for "better" does not always equate to "more expensive".
Thank you for this good review in your calm manner. The amp is minimalistic, but the missing connections can actually be supplemented just as compactly, because the Arylic BP50, for example, really has all the connections you could wish for and which are sorely missed even on expensive devices. Both together fit on a small table and allow maximum music enjoyment for incredibly little money. How much money would you have had to spend 20 years ago for this quality, if it even existed back then.
@@62goodyear thank you 😊
Fosi Audio, who ever would have guessed? I have one of those with DAC and Bluetooth on my desktop along with the Sony CS5 speakers. I can listen to podcasts or Tidal from my iPhone or my PC. This system is very transparent, it gets the job done. Very high performance to price ratio.
Cool 😎
Great stuff Tarun, keep it up!👍👍
Thank you kindly 😊👍
Hi Tarun! This little nugget could be the answer for someone with a very little room or working space and want a tiny bit of Hi-Fi on a very tight budget. No more need to go to a brick and mortar retailer and spend a couple thousands on separates. Some might say it is hi-fi apocalypse, but I think this new trend will only grow bigger until everyone join in or disappear from the face of the Earth. Fascinating review and compelling product! What's not to like?
Thank you Yves 😊
You look good in powder blue. Also lighting is correct too. Good job!
Thank you 😊
Thorough review as always. Glad you clarified those ridiculous output claims! Great box for your desk with something like the ifi Zen Blue.
To your question, selector, volume and remote is all I want in my amp, thank you very much. 😊
Thank you Mark 👍
Hello, respectfully the power claims are not ridiculous or false, the TI TPA3255 is capable of delivering 17 amps of current with the right power supply >600VA which none of the power supplies used to test these wonderful TPA325x based products by Fosi and Aiyima, by any RUclips reviewer including ASR Amir were---as they were all less than 500VA.
We have developed our own line of high-end supplies for these products and have driven a 2 ohm load, with an unmodified Aiyima a07, and produced 288 watts at less than 1% distortion. Verified.
P.S. the unit remained cool, under 89 degrees Celsius.
Lastly the maker of the TPA3255, Texas Instruments published the technical specs, not Fosi or Aiyima, which have been found, through testing to be correct. We do not believe one of the largest and most respected semiconductor manufacturers in the world is in the habit of publishing false claims.
@@larryjohnson9019 Hi Larry, the claim is not being made by TI, it’s being made by Fosi Audio in the header of their advertisement on Amazon for their £99 amplifier.
If a car manufacturer claims a 0-60 time of 4 seconds for model X, you don’t expect to have to option in a 4 litre turbocharged V8 to achieve it, you expect the 1.6L in the advert to do it. Or rather, you don’t, of course.
The fact is that I was completely put off buying this amp for my desktop setup as it seemed so patently implausible that I couldn’t trust anything else written in the description. If they had claimed a real world figure of 40wpc with the supplied PSU I might have bought one.
@@markcarrington8565 Hello Mark..good discussion. Your car analogy is a good one, in fact...in the performance car market that is done all the time ergo Porsche, Alfa Romeo, Range Rover...we owned all of them.
With that said, you are correct about the Fosi's advertisements on Amazon, outside of a power table that you must scroll down to see and read---Unlike Aiyima, Fosi fails to state in writing that the user must purchase a larger capacity power supply to achieve higher power output and performance.
However, our statement stands true and many if not all RUclips audio reviewers simply echo the same false statements that "this amp will never reach the 300W output period"
Whether someone likes the voicing of these products, we will never question as that is what choice is all about, but technical evaluation must always be based on facts---and that is what we are hoping to provide here---just the facts.
Excellent calm , balanced, informative and simple explanation and not delivered by an American
No way you reviewed this! So cool!
Thank you 👍
Yayy! Someone other than Cheapaudioman reviewing this kind of kit is just great! To be frank, I never know how seriously to take him, but I can see from your more detailed review that you're in broad agreement.
To be frank, I only use one analogue input, from my DAC, plus speaker outputs. But I've got many more inputs than I really need on both my Audiolab 6000A in my desktop system, and Acoustic Invader preamp in my main system. It seems difficult to get amps with more than one, but less than the usual panoply. Maybe there's a case for it for folk wanting a little more versatility for not too much extra cash? As to a remote, one could maybe use that of a DAC or streamer, or maybe an associated mobile app, to control volume.
It's interesting that one can roll the op amps; I wonder how the device would sound with something like Sparkos upgrades (if they would fit, that is). Here in the UK the Sparkos costs c.£100 for just one. At any rate, I've upgraded my DAC with just the one and that takes it into a higher tier. One wonders what a pair of them would do for this amp. Might be amazing...😊
I don't take Randy seriously at all ...
But I can tell you the TPA3255 chip they're using in these inexpensive amps is no toy. It is widely used in Public Address, Studio Monitors and Home Theatre equipment... much of which is labelled as "high end", from well known manufacturers.
The small size and low price are happening because Class D amplification very deeply simplifies amplifier design. You saw the inside of that case... not a whole lot of parts or expensive heat sinks or power transformers, in there. The low price is a function of simplified design and mass production... not bad audio quality.
As one of my clients pointed out ... "I guess I can't let the small size fool me anymore."
A really interesting and informative review. I think the letters NTC on the thermistor refer to its negative temperature coefficient, not a manufacturer.
Thank you. They do indeed 😊
Just a minor point to note. NTC isn't the manufacturer of the thermistor, it's an NTC (negative temperature coefficient) thermistor.
Thank you 😊
I own this amp and I can say this it has a lot of versatility despite its lack of features.
Many people have very complicated systems and so the lack of features is a benefit. With the 48v power supply it is capable of driving 8ohm speakers admirably well. Very impressive output. Quite surprising. Excellent thermal management
Hi
Do you think that 2 v3 units with 2 48v / 8.3a would work well in a relatively small room with my big floorstanders?
They are 4ohm nominal with 96db sensitivity and can be bi amped.
Thanks :)
Yes that's very high sensitivity so you'll probably not even be able to tolerate the amp running anywhere near its potential.
@@ryanchappell5962
Thanks for your prompt reply.
I'm taking about a big ass floor stander...7 drivers on each side, 3 of them are 8inch woofers.. they love current.
Do you think that 2 v3 units with a 48v PSUs will supply that current?
@@ilanspiro1645I think the trick would be bi-amping where you have one V3 on each side so that each 8amp power supply only deals with one speaker. You would have the tweeter section running from one channel of the amp and the woofers running on the other.
That being said, I always use a powered sub so I never ask that much from my main speakers
Bought this little amp based on your recommendation,its sounds great,thanks for a great review.
That is great 😊👍
Yes T’ .. solved a hum issue on my spark’ .. by swapping over to the fosi .. thanks captain it was driving me mad at my desk .. ❤
Cool 😎
I've owned a few Fosi devices and have always found them to offer excellent value for money.
Cool 😎
Just discovered this channel and I'm really amazed! I don't listen to many audiophile reviews, but the way you describe the electrical and physical concepts behind the product you review is super interesting! Regarding this amplifier, do you think it could suffice to drive in a satisfying way a couple of floorstand speakers, like Quad 22L? If so, could the iFi iPower power supply be a nice upgrade? Even if it would feel a bit strange to spend more for the power supply than for the amp... 😅
Thanks a lot for all the useful info in your videos!
@@1ydtad great to have you on board. I don’t k so how difficult the 22L are to drive. To be safe you should pick an amp with more peak current delivery 😊
The big electrolytics are the power supply filter caps, but the red Wima's and the ferrite inductors are the -mandatory- low pass filter to block the high frequency switching signal of the class-D amplifier.
@@meindertsprang7491 thx 😊
Thanks for another great video Tarun, I really appreciate your reviews of equipment that is affordable to those on a lower budget. I have the Cambridge Audio AXA35 paired with the Dali spektor 2s both of which you mention in this video and I can confirm they work well together especially with a sub. Please can you clarify how a class A/B amp such as the AXA35 is chip based when I believed previously that chip based amps were always class D.
Answering your question, to me balance control is essential due to my rooms layout where I'm unable to have my speakers equidistant. Ideally I'd also want tone controls to be able to have some basic room correction options. Because I don't have a perfectly set out listening room a lot of higher end equipment is ruled out due to the lack of balance and tone controls which leaves me feeling excluded.
Nice system. You can have chip based class AB amplifiers like the TI LM3886 found in the AXA35. It is to do with how the transistors work. Class D is is high frequency switching and class AB is a low bias condition for pairs of transistors each covering half a cycle 😊
A very "organised", thorough and inspiring review. Thank you.
Sorry for the novice question but still I find myself in a bewilderment: I am looking for a cheap amplifier to drive two OEM speakers which on their labels have the following info: "Max 50watts (music Power), Impendance: 6 - 8 ohms. I am not interested that much in sound quality. Despite the fact that I am afraid that the "50watts" most probably is fake, and the fact that I find hard to understand how the impendance of a speaker is not consitent...my question remains: Can this Fosi Audio Amplifier drive these speakers without overheating (or without damaging the speakers)?
Furthermore, can Fosi BT20A, with TPA3116, which claims an 100 RMS Power at 4 Ohms, drive "safely" (no clicks, no speaker damages, no amp overheating) such speakers?
Thank you in advance.
Thank you kindly. Too much power from amplifier is hardly ever a problem as long as you don’t drive the speakers louder than they are capable of going 😊👍
I've never had much expectations from these just like most people but seems pretty decent. Worth it for a cheap set up in a spare room and I love the simplicity
Cool 😎
Another insightful post Tarun. Yourself and The Audiophiliac are far and away the best reviewers. 👍 Can I ask what speaker cables you use at home please? I presently use AQ Rocket 11 for my Atoll 200 amp and Kudos C1 speakers. 👍🎶🎵🎼
Thank you. I have traditionally used Linn K20 speaker cable. In expensive but good. I am currently investigating 3 more expensive options. Wireworld Equinox 8, Chord Epic X and Audiomica Red Series cables. I am taking my time running each in my reference systems 😊
Good to listen to you Tarun. I was considering something like this.
Just got a Set of Focal Chora 806 for a very low price. 300us NIB.
They sound nice but why would I run a 5k rega aethos on these.... There are just for fun not real listing.
Thank for you effort.
Thank you 😊
The AX35 has something special. And I like to look at it. For me, its all I need.
It is a great amp 😊
3:25 does this thermistor allow for use of a smart plug to turn the amp on and off? Or would turning the amp (set on a certain volume) on and off that way damage the hardware?
And is it correct that a thermistor does not control for a thump when turned off? (with and without use of a smart plug)
This will be my first ever amp, and I am quite excited.
Thank you for the excellent review!
I have it on a smart socket and leave it on 100% volume up. I can confirm it makes no sound whatsoever music playing full blast or no music.
@@rainham1 thanks for the reply! I’ve read some concerns about this method over at audio science review, hence my initial question. I know too little about electronic circuits to judge
Generally the best bet with these systems is to plug them in, leave the AC on all the time and turn the amplifier on and off by it's own front panel switch.
The V3's soft start will handle its own inrush current nicely for you, so that's not a worry.
The power bricks are a different matter. When started from cold-off they can draw a real nasty surge of current to charge their internal capacitors. Turning them on and off repeatedly can slowly damage the internal rectifiers, shortening their lifetimes considerably.
My signal chain: Topping E30 DAC > Adcom GFP-555II preamp > Fosi V3 amp (48v psu) > Klipsch Heresy II and an RSL Speedwoofer 10S MKII. My dad was the original owner of the Heresies, and I assembled the rest in the last few years. I removed the 555II from the signal chain to check the sound. With it, there's way more power, it sounds warmer/fuller, and I don't have to crank the V3's volume pot. I leave it at 50, adjusting both pots if I want it loud. Pushing the V3's volume pot to 100 will introduce distortion. I almost upgraded to 3 x V3 monoblocks, but I'm dubious to the value. Without the 555II, sure, but I don't need the extra power, and I'm not sure how much I'd notice improvements in SQ like channel separation. I paid $90 for my V3 (black friday 48v deal), and the kickstarter for the monos would be about $330.
Thanks for sharing. It would be worth investigating other power amp options 😊
@abritishaudiophile7314 do you have any particular suggestions?
@@f4phantom2500 the matching Adcom power amp would be a good place to start 😊
@abritishaudiophile7314 i actually have a gfa-5300, but i blew it a few years ago. I suppose it could be as simple as needing a new fuse, but I don't know much about that and put it off. It's just a paperweight in my spare room now.
Good video, interesting to see this level being reviewed and a bit of an eye opener really.
Thank you 😊
After a disappointing experience with an Aiyima T9 Pro (and Dali Spektor 2 speakers) I lost my faith in this cheap tiny class D amps... But your video just restored some hope, so I might give this Fosi a try... (Worst case scenario it goes back to Amazon like the Aiyima did...)
Thank you for your great videos and reviews.
Thank you. Please let me know how you get on 👍
I have dali spektor 2 and not satisfy
Changed almost 3 amplifer
Pls suggest correct matching amplifier
@@sheikmaideen9307 sorry to hear that... I've ordered a Fosi V3 (48V psu version directly from fosi audio), but I haven't received it yet... I'm currently using a vintage Philips FA950 with my Spektor 2 and it sounds significantly better than the Aiyima T9 Pro. My only problem with it is its huge size... Looking for something much smaller (that doesn't cost more than the speakers). Fosi V3 is my last hope... Hoping to receive it next week. I'll report back once I try it
@@abritishaudiophile7314 I finally got the Fosi V3 (with 48V PSU). I only tested it for a couple of hours with the Dali Spektor 2, but so far it seems to be doing great.
I need more time to test it properly, but so far I can't really tell much of a difference in comparison to the vintage Philips FA950 I've been using with the Spektor 2. My faith in the these tiny "chi-fi" amp is now restored...
The difference between the Aiyima T9 Pro and the Philips was very perceptible (I won't say night and day, but surely like sunny and rainy day). With the Fosi V3 if there are differences, they're not undoubtedly evident (to my ears at least).
The 300W (into 4Ω or 150W into 8Ω I think) per channel is of course a bit of a joke. The Philips (which is rated at 100W into 8Ω) with the volume knob at 10 o'clock position sounds as loud as the Fosi at 2 o'clock position. More than enough for my needs though, so that's not an issue. I just wish they wouldn't exaggerate those ratings that much...
Anyway, bottom line... I think the Fosi V3 does well with the Spektor 2 despite them not being the most efficient speakers out there and definitely much better than the Aiyima T9 Pro did. The fact that it draws only 6.4W from the wall and that it's about 40x smaller than the vintage Philips are two big plus on its favour!
@@sheikmaideen9307 I've tried the Fosi V3 with the Spektor 2. I think it's a good match. See my other comment on this thread for more details.
When I first started earning, way back when, I walked into Radford hifi expecting to walk out with a hifi system. That didn’t happen, not that day anyway. The assistant sat me down and went to great lengths to explain what constitutes a good hifi system and the reasoning behind his hypothesis. I was young, green and impressionable. I took on board every thing said and although time, trial and error, mistakes and experience has now enabled me to make my own judgement and form my own opinion, that Radford’s assistants words and advice have always stuck with me throughout my hifi purchasing history. One thing that he was rigid about, was tone controls and graphic equalisers. They could only alter the sound and in so doing, cause instability within the amp and end up being overall detrimental to the final musical reproduction. Hence, I’ve never purchased any audio equipment that incorporates tone controls!
That was then, the pre-digital age. This is now and digitisation has drastically changed the world of hifi. Alterations to tone can now be implemented in the digital domain, eliminating many of those nasties that Radford’s assistant steered me away from. I now appreciate that tone controls are down to personal choice. A bit like analog or digital, there is no right or wrong. I still have no tone controls anywhere in my hifi system. Not in the analog or digital domain. That’s my choice and I make that choice because I’m a ‘set and forget’ audiophile. I like to place a 33rpm on the platter. A disk in the cd transport or select a playlist on my streaming device. Sit back in my favourite armchair with a cold beer and hot woman and just let the music happen. Well, in the words of Meatloaf, “2 out of 3 ain’t bad”! I know only too well, that if I had tone controls to play with, I’d be constantly making tonal adjustments and tweaks and not giving the music the undivided attention it demands. Hell, when I first installed a pair of subs, it took me an eternity of fiddling with crossover settings Etc. Before I could convince myself that the optimal setting had been achieved. Many reviewers have criticised the manufacturers of my subs for not incorporating remote control. Much like my take on tone controls, if I had a remote control to hand to adjust my subs, I’d likely be forever playing with it. So, I appreciate the lack there of.
I’ve recently upgraded my preamp to the manufacturer’s, flagship model. It can be used as a simple one input line stage device, facilitating only the ability to adjust volume. I’m guessing we’ll witness other manufacturer’s following that example. It must represent purity of the signal path. Is not that what audiophiles strive for?
I’m certain that little amp you’ve just reviewed will serve a lot of small room audiophils, admirably.
@@steven2809 note, I didn’t criticise the use of tone controls. I simply said it was personal preference!
Note, I didn’t criticise, or condemn tome controls. I simply stated that like most things, it is personal choice and preference!
Great to learn about your experiences 😊
I bought the Fosi TB10D - currently being used with a pair of Jamo speakers - the rear pair of a defunct 5.1 system. Eventually I'll bring it back to the UK to pair up with a pair of 1977 Wharfedale Dentons. It has it's limitations but it's better than the mini system I was using. Source is a Philips DVD player. Not audiophile but it does for me. I can swap the source out to an Echo Dot if I want background muzak.
That is great. Thank you for sharing 😊
Very good review as always.
Thank you 👍
I love a stripped down piece of HiFi at a bargain price. I don't have remote control for any of my equipment and I only need a turntable input, so this amps single inpur wouldn't be a problem for me. Excellent work VOS 🎶😎
Thank you 😊
I just got one of these direct from Fosi for $107 with the 48v power supply and the orange knob, granted that you have to wait 15 days for shipping but it offers a real saving, if it turn out to be as good as Tarun so eloquently says it is then I am sure that I will be adding another to try some bi-amping.
Again, thanks so much for the info you provide, one could even define it as priceless.
Thank you. Please let me know how you get on 🙂
It is fantastic, it got here in five days and as soon as I hooked it up to an old pair of Dynaudio audience 60's(4ohm) I knew strait away that this is now my favorite amplifier, to be fair my other amps aren't up to much because i mostly have active speakers but after hearing it I then started hooking it up to all my non active speakers and I can't really tell if this is subjective or objective but it made my hifi speakers sound much more like my active studio monitors, even an old pair of Acoustic Energy Ageis Evo sounded fantastic, it gave them an authority that I had not heard from them before and what it did to an old set of restored mission 700's(1980 version) was nothing short of miraculous, so thank you very much for your recommendation as it is what finally made me take the plunge and try one of these chip amps, I am now going to order another one to try some bi-amping.@@abritishaudiophile7314
Thanks for your review ,I have been waiting for an ear I felt trust in on this Amp that being said experience tells me upgrading those OpAmps to a Muse02 or discrete will improve the sound because of that type of power arrangement I'm going to test it with big set of capacitor banks , it may get very close to 300 watts
@ 48 volts and booster in the front end
Thank you 😊
Well done,good stuff as allways.
Thank you kindly 👍
I picked up 3 of these for home theatre surround speakers, nothing to complain about. I use the AVR for auto on/off so it's set and forget for me. 3x$154 CAD (£268) tax and delivery included with the 48v/5a power supply. They don't get hard use as the surround channels aren't that demanding esp with subs doing the heavy work.
@@Roof_Pizza cool 😎
Thanks for your review I got this amp but not yet tested I will pair it with my KEF Q300 and FX Audio Dac-M1 as an input indeed you are right this amp seems rock with a very budget price
That is great 👍