I love the Fosi design philosophy. Minimum features, minimum price. Sound quality competitive in a much, much higher price bracket. It’s a reinvention of Hi Fi.
I have a zd3 and upgraded the op amps and added a low noise linear power supply. What i like about it is that it sounds great out of the box but with my upgrades can compete with $500 DACs.
Just bought the ZD3 and two ZA3s. Going to connect with XLR. ZD3 comes with trigger cable to connect to one amp. I ordered one more trigger cable (super cheap on Amazon) to trigger the other ZA3. Started to buy the V3 monos, but finally settled on the ZA3. Really don’t care for the volume knob on the ZA3. I don’t need those if I have volume control with the ZA3. The ZA3 is a good DAC (I swapped op amps in the 2 amps and the ZD3 and put in all MUSES02). But the ZD3 is a reluctant preamp; It lacks tone controls on it as well as a headphone amp. I’d also like at least one pair of RCA inputs for my turntable. Line in would be fine, as I have a MM preamp. Two RCA inputs on the ZD3 would be wonderful. Maybe I’ll pick up a Fosi P3 preamp. That gives me tone controls and headphone amp, but then I lose my balanced XLR connection. And I still need a way to bring in my Thorens turntable via RCA. However, the P3 preamp does introduce tubes into the mix and that is always nice. I love the Fosi components. I just can’t quite get all the features I want and need. I’ll continue to use my Emotiva PT-100 preamp and Emotiva A-300 amplifier for now, as I have DAC built in to the preamp, along with inputs for CD player, Node 2i streamer and the turntable.
If it had headphone output, it would have been perfect for me. Picking one up anyway and will pair it to a TV for great stereo audio instead of the normal TV audio...
I'm surprised at why you don't use or recommend two V3 monos instead for better sound, as it is your flagship dac with your flagship amp, cause ZD3 already has volume control, so you don't need the ZA3 potentiometer.
I have this DAC and V3 mono's running Proac Response DT8's. This is a very good set up, I won't repeat what others have said, what I will say is Fosi Audio appear to be confused re their auto power on/off preference, and the DAC has trigger in and out, but the V3 amps don't. Instead, the V3's go into standby after 10 mins of no signal detection. I want to use the triggers from the DAC, but CAN'T on what is supposed to be compatible equipment from the same brand, please sort this Fosi Audio. The second observation is that the equipment is clean and aesthetically pleasing, but the remote is as cheap as they come, with the old style rubbery buttons and flimsy plastic body. If Fosi Audio used the same remote internals, but made the body and buttons better quality (see Samsung small TV remote) this would elevate the system feel and appearance. The sound is great though, mine are running in still, so I look forward to seeing how they sound as time goes on, and then I shall look at changing the Op-Amps. Just remember to replace the thermal paste when you re-insert the internals, the chassis is the heat sync, so rather important to maintain device operating longevity. Unfortunately the company suffers from very poor customer service, which I experienced too, missing parts and cosmetic damage, Fosi are yet to resolve this. The ZA3 amp is not as good as the mono, that's why I got the mono's instead, why change from triggers, it's daft.
Thanks so much for your support and suggestions! For power on/off synchronization, ZD3 will match the ZA3 amp since they belong to the same series. For the remote, we will mark this down for our R&D team.
@@fosiaudioyour customer service was and continues to be very poor, I hope you manage to sort it out, as it could damage your business irreparably if not.
I have already preordered one. Looking forward to testing it. I will change to the OPA1612 op amps as I do in all my digital audio devices. I have one question. Can you change between different DAC digital filter types e.g. Linear Phase Fast Roll-Off and others like Minimum Phase or Apodizing Fast Roll-Off, or is set at just one filter type?
You're warmly invited to join our co-creation campaign. 😆😆If your idea is adopted, it will turn into reality and you will be rewarded. Let's Co-Create the Future Audio Gear: community.fosiaudio.com/threads/lets-co-create-the-future-of-audio.115/
Bonjour. Pour cela, il faut le connecter à un préamplificateur avec des réglages de graves et d'aigus. Hello. You will have to connect it to a preamp with bass/treble controls for that.
i have the za3 where i can use the xlr output of the zd3 but i also want to use my SE headphone amp with it. if there is an option for switching the output between xlr and rca, that would be great. simultaneous output to both xlr and rca would work as well. but if xlr takes priority when rca and xlr both are connected, that would be a problem for my case. if anyone knows anything about it please share. Thanks a lot.
@@DJMikeron who said anything about the sound quality? by this logic then why not use firewire? pretty sure there's a bunch of overpriced audio interfaces that you could use to justify a company cheaping out on a 50 cent connector.
I have constructive and criticism feedback. Why not USB-C ? Instead USB Type B You get better long-term durability easily find nice cables for it and way better sound quality Fosi your going to lose customers because of this dumb decision also why not 135 or 145 DB of Dynamic Range
These digital amplifiers have only 2 advantages that they are small and lightweight. I would never plug a digital amplifier into my system, they have a flat and artificial sound with no bass. I'm a follower of a quality class AB analogue amplifier with a massive toroidal transformer, preferably two (dual mono) and extreme filtering.
I love the Fosi design philosophy. Minimum features, minimum price. Sound quality competitive in a much, much higher price bracket. It’s a reinvention of Hi Fi.
Superb❤
I have a zd3 and upgraded the op amps and added a low noise linear power supply. What i like about it is that it sounds great out of the box but with my upgrades can compete with $500 DACs.
Amazing device. This is the DAC I have been looking for!❤
Thank you friend!
Just bought the ZD3 and two ZA3s. Going to connect with XLR. ZD3 comes with trigger cable to connect to one amp. I ordered one more trigger cable (super cheap on Amazon) to trigger the other ZA3. Started to buy the V3 monos, but finally settled on the ZA3. Really don’t care for the volume knob on the ZA3. I don’t need those if I have volume control with the ZA3. The ZA3 is a good DAC (I swapped op amps in the 2 amps and the ZD3 and put in all MUSES02). But the ZD3 is a reluctant preamp; It lacks tone controls on it as well as a headphone amp. I’d also like at least one pair of RCA inputs for my turntable. Line in would be fine, as I have a MM preamp. Two RCA inputs on the ZD3 would be wonderful. Maybe I’ll pick up a Fosi P3 preamp. That gives me tone controls and headphone amp, but then I lose my balanced XLR connection. And I still need a way to bring in my Thorens turntable via RCA. However, the P3 preamp does introduce tubes into the mix and that is always nice. I love the Fosi components. I just can’t quite get all the features I want and need. I’ll continue to use my Emotiva PT-100 preamp and Emotiva A-300 amplifier for now, as I have DAC built in to the preamp, along with inputs for CD player, Node 2i streamer and the turntable.
The product page states that it "caters to your digital and analog audio sources", yet there are no analogue inputs on the ZD3.
Thank you for pointing out. We've made the correction.
How do i connect headphones to ZD3 or ZA3?
I don't mind the USB-B type plug. But I'm missing two features: Parametric EQ for room EQ and subwoofer output with gain and low-pass filter knobs
If it had headphone output, it would have been perfect for me. Picking one up anyway and will pair it to a TV for great stereo audio instead of the normal TV audio...
Thanks for your suggestion and support!
need trigger cable (Y or how to) for ZD3 DAC and two Fa3 in mono
Wish this had a headphone out for balanced and unblanced modes.
I'm surprised at why you don't use or recommend two V3 monos instead for better sound, as it is your flagship dac with your flagship amp, cause ZD3 already has volume control, so you don't need the ZA3 potentiometer.
I have this DAC and V3 mono's running Proac Response DT8's. This is a very good set up, I won't repeat what others have said, what I will say is Fosi Audio appear to be confused re their auto power on/off preference, and the DAC has trigger in and out, but the V3 amps don't. Instead, the V3's go into standby after 10 mins of no signal detection. I want to use the triggers from the DAC, but CAN'T on what is supposed to be compatible equipment from the same brand, please sort this Fosi Audio.
The second observation is that the equipment is clean and aesthetically pleasing, but the remote is as cheap as they come, with the old style rubbery buttons and flimsy plastic body. If Fosi Audio used the same remote internals, but made the body and buttons better quality (see Samsung small TV remote) this would elevate the system feel and appearance.
The sound is great though, mine are running in still, so I look forward to seeing how they sound as time goes on, and then I shall look at changing the Op-Amps. Just remember to replace the thermal paste when you re-insert the internals, the chassis is the heat sync, so rather important to maintain device operating longevity.
Unfortunately the company suffers from very poor customer service, which I experienced too, missing parts and cosmetic damage, Fosi are yet to resolve this.
The ZA3 amp is not as good as the mono, that's why I got the mono's instead, why change from triggers, it's daft.
Thanks so much for your support and suggestions! For power on/off synchronization, ZD3 will match the ZA3 amp since they belong to the same series. For the remote, we will mark this down for our R&D team.
@@fosiaudioyour customer service was and continues to be very poor, I hope you manage to sort it out, as it could damage your business irreparably if not.
When it will be available in India?
I have already preordered one. Looking forward to testing it. I will change to the OPA1612 op amps as I do in all my digital audio devices.
I have one question. Can you change between different DAC digital filter types e.g. Linear Phase Fast Roll-Off and others like Minimum Phase or Apodizing Fast Roll-Off, or is set at just one filter type?
Hi, does the opamp sparkos 3602 fit into the rca opa amp socker? Or do i need a adaptor?
It fits quite well
Do the hands belong to the voice?
Yes.."he" is not quite there yet 🙂
😂
Why no subwoofer rca jack? Will this be upgradable to Bluetooth 6 once that becomes available?
Do the RCA outputs and the XLR outputs output a signal at the same time ?
According to Fosi, yes, they do.
Is blanced output much better sounding?
Can i connect Balanced but use adapter for unlanced power amp?
can you use xlr for speakers and rca for subwoofer ?
I'm still waiting for a mono amp with bass level and bass frequency having atleast 500Rms output.. And yeah with in the box high Power Power supply
You're warmly invited to join our co-creation campaign. 😆😆If your idea is adopted, it will turn into reality and you will be rewarded. Let's Co-Create the Future Audio Gear: community.fosiaudio.com/threads/lets-co-create-the-future-of-audio.115/
No bass & treble adjustment 🤔🥺
Bonjour,
est il possible de régler les niveaux de basses et aigus ?
Bonjour. Pour cela, il faut le connecter à un préamplificateur avec des réglages de graves et d'aigus. Hello. You will have to connect it to a preamp with bass/treble controls for that.
i have the za3 where i can use the xlr output of the zd3 but i also want to use my SE headphone amp with it. if there is an option for switching the output between xlr and rca, that would be great. simultaneous output to both xlr and rca would work as well. but if xlr takes priority when rca and xlr both are connected, that would be a problem for my case. if anyone knows anything about it please share. Thanks a lot.
Hello. The RCA and XLR outputs can work simultaneously.😄
@@fosiaudio That is superb to know - That's sorted out one problem (Headphones) - Now just to figure out how to add tone-controls to this, if at all!?
How does one input a turntable into this pre-amp?
There are no analogue inputs on the ZD3, so it wouldn't be feasible.
Gonna wait until it’s usb c like it should 🤙🏽
It lacks RCA input for turntables
HDMI: CEC support?
No, it supports HDMI ARC
Hello, sorry that we made a mistake. The ZD3 does support HDMI CEC!
Why not USB-C for the USB input? That's becoming a global standard. Definitely a fully loaded and impressive DAC!
Because you have plenty of space available on the back panel and you want the most robust option.
Indonesia Please...
manque une entrée RCA ou XLR. .....l entre usb plus personne utilise cela!
It's a DAC, not an amp. And use English. Nobody speaks French any more.
design is terrible, there is no standby mode, no ldac support. It is such a piece of crap that I returned it.
USB type B in 2024🤣
came in to say the same. what's the reasoning behind putting such an archaic port in a 2024 premium product instead of usbc?
Ughh... why? It's like a DVI port today.
What do chord electronics high end DACs use or the T and A DAC for 6000 euros 😂😂😂some people on you tube really make me laugh 😂😂😂
@@kinatasssmakes no difference to the sound . 6000 euro DACs also do this. Chord electronics or T and A etc. it is a 170 Euro DAC 😂
@@DJMikeron who said anything about the sound quality? by this logic then why not use firewire? pretty sure there's a bunch of overpriced audio interfaces that you could use to justify a company cheaping out on a 50 cent connector.
simplier take JBL extreme 3
I have constructive and criticism feedback. Why not USB-C ? Instead USB Type B You get better long-term durability easily find nice cables for it and way better sound quality Fosi your going to lose customers because of this dumb decision also why not 135 or 145 DB of Dynamic Range
Please explain to me why in the hell you would get better sound quality out of a USB C cable.
These digital amplifiers have only 2 advantages that they are small and lightweight. I would never plug a digital amplifier into my system, they have a flat and artificial sound with no bass. I'm a follower of a quality class AB analogue amplifier with a massive toroidal transformer, preferably two (dual mono) and extreme filtering.
😮 Is this a digital amplifier? Are you not comparing a Toyota to a Lexus? To each his own.
VirtualHiFi
Is The FOSI ZD3 Worth It? Comparing FOSI ZD3 $180 Vs $6000 DAC
ruclips.net/video/BxCYteuane8/видео.html
This shows how overpriced DAC's are.