Thanks to Harry's for sponsoring! Make sure you check out the Shave and Suds bundle through the link harrys.com/cheapaudioman Buy V3 Mono on Kickstarter: fosiaudio-inc.kckb.me/abbf87bd V3 Mono Landing Page: bit.ly/fosiaudiov3mono
I just got mine hooked up to my Markaudio chr-120 in decware horn dna horns. Switched from Aiyima a07 and the difference is night and day. Not only is there more volume but it is incredibly detailed in comparison and imaging is off the charts. I had been planning on building new speakers but this has brought me the sound I was craving.
Great Review, just wanted to let you know that FOSI is having quality control issues. There have been numerous reports of issues with the ZA3 and I experienced one of them. I purchased a ZA3 from their initial offering and then I like it so much, I purchased a 2nd from the their 3rd (i believe) run so that I can run them as Mono blocks. I connected them to my preamp so I set them both to Max Volume. Well newest ZA3 is putting out about 75% of the wattage as the old one. I reached out to customer suppport and this is yet unresolved.
keep trying. I'd always buy through amazon though too as you have their customer support and you can leave feedback on the product. seems like nothing gets a company's attention faster than a 1 star review. I've heard good things about their customer service though. if you still can't get a resolution on it then let me know somehow and I'll send a message over to them
You have NO quality control "issue". Between different runs, they will take whatever chips are available, and different chips will have different programming and parameters, meaning, they will be DIFFERENT chips. These are NOT the old analogue days, when transistors would match, and resistors would be inserted to match levels! If you do not match the amps to exactly equal versions, you are in a mammary-glands up position!
Li ho collegati ad una coppia di Chario DELPHINUS MKII e devo dirvi...suono favoloso bassi medi acuti...non serve spendere di piu' ..! Forse in futuro per divertirmi ne acquistero altri due per fare la biamplificazione❤. Paolo from florence italy
Separate power supplies make sense for a variety of reasons. One practical logistical reason is when your monoblocks are located a large distance apart.
This is how the U.S. was in the 1960s before the U.S. began specifying RMS or peak. You can just always assume RMS is 1/2 of whatever China is stating it is and you will be within 10% of accurate. That's exactly what we had to do in the 1960s here in the good 'ole USA.
They actually listened to the 3255 cult ,had this running for a year. My Diy disabled budget, hi tech 2.1 system, is quite adequate accurate and loud as car systems . Ooh the look in their eyes. Priceless!
Thanks Randy! I was wondering when you would get a pair of these, so that means we will be able to purchase real soon! I have a single ZA3 running a pair of the Magnepan LRS+ speakers, and the little Fosi did not have any issues, it drove them easily without even breaking a sweat. No distortion at high volume, incredible separation and it simply sounded very very good. My only complaint, is the dimensionality of the amp, but that is an inherent issue with all Class D amps. The Class D amps are very two dimensional, vs a Class A/B and its 3 dimensionality. But, I will be purchasing a pair of these Fosi V3 mono blocks, as they are just simply too cool not to own.
that's bananas you can drive Maggies with these. I heard a great podcast from John Darko about THD. I think if an amp has really low thd and doesn't have a lot of even order harmonics it reduces the 3 dimentiality of the sound. in the race to the lowest THD I think some companies have forgotten that some even order harmonics (distortion) is actually a very good thing. tube folks have known about it for years and care not about measurements
@@cheapaudioman So true on the THD and "distortion". I run a pair of the Zu DW6 Supremes with a 10w tube amp and they sound incredible. But, back to the Maggies, yes this silly little ZA3 did not even flinch or even get warm after around two hours of listening, which really impressed me. I then drug out my 800 pound first gen Emotiva XPA2, the Fosi went back in the box. That old Emotiva amp will simply not go away.
@@cheapaudiomanThat's the reason why you can add even order harmonics with ESS DAC's. Not every manufacturer implemented that functionality but it's there.
@@michaelkaiser5994 I have had folks tell me these first gen XPA amps are not musical. I had the Parasound A23+ in here, and actually prefer the sound out of the XPA. I also had one of Emo's new DR2-XPA units, and it sounded sterile and lifeless, like a Class D amp. I then went to Zu speakers and had no real need for these amps, as I went to tubes. But, I keep that old XPA2 in the house, it is one of those, "In an Emergency, Break Glass" pieces of gear I feel I must keep.
Yeah it has me listening to sound in general from smartTV. I use a Bluetooth converter to send APT-X from TV to a Bluetooth receiver that connects to main amp Denon via fiber and that signal goes out of 2 bridged Fosis and speakers. Impressed with Fosi quality.
I have 2 of the Aiyima A07 Max's running a set of Delcoid LM-1 satellites and matching sub. The sub is a pain to run but these work nicely. The amps seem a bit treble forward but I can deal with it. That said, I think I'll be going back to a class A/B amp soon.
@@SlotHits777What I'm running is a sub/sat system...into the sub and out to the sats. This isn't a sloppy POS sub. These speakers are over 40 yrs old and now would now cost about $7k to $8k. I used to drive them with a GAS Ampzilla. The Aiyima amps DO sound good and they drive the sub with no issues. I just prefer the sound of an A/B amp.
Add a 70hz hipass to monoblocks (fmod) get a couple of big subs and a big dayton plate or sub amplifier and a big room. Kick some sonic butt in cheap sound
I love the dbX app. Mine says 100db with the monoblocks ,line amplifier to compensate for 3db loss of fmod 70hz hipass . My room is equal to an imax 2.1, I realize pride is wrong, but I am proud of my diy/pro home system. I pushed the boundary of phone driven system
I have the ZA3. I liked it so much that I bought 43 more and are using them as mono blocks in my multi-sampled system. with the Sparkos op-amps, they're remarkable
Utilizing a reasonably good sounding Tube pre amp can really help to overcome some of the ( very few) shortcomings of this amplifier. Currently I am listening to the Aiyma 6A2 pre amplifier, with a pair of Nobsound G2 pro mono amps. This cheap little pre amp delivery the holographic image lacking from the already decent soundstage the tp3255 amps are known to produce. Add's a bit of magic, presence... mid range bliss and with a lot more ( noise free ) gain. Oh.. and don't forget to power the whole kit with lithium polymer batteries.. I use a set of 6s 5000mAh 90c lipos for the main channel amps , and an additional 3s 5000mAh to power the pre amp. Heaven for peanuts
I love the grin when he's expecting it to distort and it doesn't. What do you do with the power brick? In my mind, this is an easy insertion into an existing setup, then gradually deal with DAC and streamer(s). I guess I can use gaffer tape to hide the amps on the back of the speakers...
Great review, V3 Mono's with Sparkos Op Amps? Also how's the gain compared to the ZA3? I'm considering using my current ZA3's (with Sparko's) to drive the bass units on my Martin Logans and getting a pair of V3 Mono's to drive the Stat panels, obviously the Sparko's would be better used in the V3 Monos.
The usual Fosi launch....not a single bad comment despite the issue they admit to having with the noise when running them off a single psu. As if volume is any type of test of sound quality!! Needs xlr for mono blocks cos you want them closer to the speakers
Yes we need the balanced PreAmp. I don’t like a single power supply for 2 amps with a split cable 😂, its like have a single amp. In other channel mentioned the noise of that power supply. I tested 2 V3s to supply power for a bi wire speakers and was awesome. Try that and compare, i believe its cheaper and more balanced sound. Did you find something different in soundstage?. 🤦🏻♂️please don’t say the soundstage was awesome listening electronic music produced by a synthesizer!
***must resist GAS/FOMO urge to buy!!!*** These look awesome and I am seriously trying to find a way to justify buying a pair with a new set of speakers but ARRRGG I have too many as it is. Time to sell something. LOL Thanks for this one Randy. You looked like you had an absolute blast with these.
I do need two more channels of amplification for my home theater... this may be the way. I went ahead and pledged a pair of these. My Marantz Cinema 70s is working great with 5.1 but it can do 7.1 - and with full pre-outs, these will be perfect to drive my main stereo pair and take that load off the weak internal amp.
Awesome ! Perhaps you could persuade them to make an equally high quality FM Tuner/Pre to drive them, w/presets !! Big Fan of your Channels & Patience (watched Live Stream yesterday) !!
I just received my pair today, they sound remarkably good. There’s something different that I can’t put my finger on, maybe I’m just so used to my big class B NAD power amp with all its bouncy smashing dynamics. Curious to the changes that the different op amps and amp chip would make. I’m running mine with an Audio Alchemy Dac, NAD C162 Preamp, a pair of Paradigm Studio 20 v1’s and a Hsu 8” sub. Impressive little amps!
I'm not so sure about that... there's a ton of hype around these days. Remember when the XTZ Edge A2-300 was heavily hyped? It's pretty good (perhaps better than this? And also quite affordable), but there are better amps. Saboton sounds terrible on the XTZ, while a NAD C298 makes it much more listenable. On my Benchmark AHB2 it actually sounds good. There are differences. That being said, I'd be curious to buy this (well, I'd prefer a stereo variant at a lower price tag) to power my rears, but I'd absolutely connect my fronts to them to see how good the Ti-amps actually are.
It’s closer to $220 for a pair. I backed the a kickstarter campaign for three of these with three 48v PSUs and added three RCA cables so I can run these off my Denon AVR to power LCR channels. Was $360ish with the cables, around $330 for three without the cables
He’s back in the lab! I love it. I have to be honest, those curtains in his living room scare me. I’m afraid my wife will see me watching the video and get ideas.
I've been waiting for a decent simple mono power amp for a while. I hope other manufactures catch on. Kind of wished you'd picked a common song (GnR Sweet Child O' Mine?) and run it through this system giving us a description of the amps "characteristics"? How you felt about the songs quality in playback. Those Emotivas look REALLY sweet. I want my next system to be towers rather than the 2.1 I'm running now.
Andrew Robinsons review of these Ti based amps wasn't that... great (in his case it was the Wiim Amp). I wouldn't expect too much out of these. But it all depends on your speakers. If you have decent ones and some money, try the Purifi-based DIY kits. Or the HypeX Nilai-based kits.
Topping just launched the B200 a 200W class AB power monoblock with S/N 145dB and same for dynamics. At US599 , this would be hard to beat as it can drive almost any speaker with 200W into 4/8 ohms. I would be interested to see if it can improved with a better power supply.
Found your channel while searching infos for my 5.1 living room setup. I'm not a hifi voodoo fanatic, so your content is what I like. There will be a AVR as a preamp but what would you chose for FCR power amps? Speakers specs, listening distance and loudness almost exactly like in your setup used in this video. 3x Fosi V3 Mono's (240W @ 4Ohms) or 2xCrown XLS 1002(350W @ 4Ohms)/ 1502 (525W @ 4Ohms)? Greetings from Germany!
I can totally see this thing being awesome for some DIY subwoofers filtered through a miniDSP or a cheap Dayton LF DSP. Wonder if it would immediately go into protection with a 2 ohm load. 😅
Hi ! I bought two ZA3 two months ago and I love them. But these V3 Mono looks fantastic with the auto off and no volume knob. Are they sonically better than the ZA3 ? Should I sell my ZA3 to buy these ??? Thanks !
Hmm that’s a really good point. I was thinking these would be good for a DIY high sensitivity subwoofer, but yeah LF distortion would need to be tested.
Got up early to hit the Kick Starter Fosi V3 Early Bird and landed a pair of V3's with PSUs (and a free tshirt before their Kick Starter early bird sold out, it sold out in about 30 minutes, amazing! Can't wait to get these, going to go full XLR, now just need to decide which XLR preamp (with tone controls) to get, perhaps the Douk Audio T8 PRO, just not sure I want the tubes. 🤔
Fun video, Randy. That’s a lot of amp for $270 for the two? I definitely laughed at the commercial. That’s the way to do it! I would even consider buying Harry’s. I want to be exfoliated.
Hey, now that I'm thinking about this: What other device would do a better job of amplification, at any price, below the tested output of 88 dB? I'm literally thinking this is the best dB/$ (full stop) at any price, no? (I'm assuming I will get heat sink off Amazon for $-nothing.) The only other value-added component in the chain is the DAC, right? (Wall power...DAC...Fosi... speakers.)
@@kadajawi2But dude! That's a little more than 10x the money... But it would be fun to hear it all well enough to get picky about choices made in the recording studio. Todd Rundgren used to talk about that.
Ever try the Dayton Audio line by PartsExpress? I have: APA150 (still on sale), APA102BT (still on sale), DTA100a (long since discontinued), and love 'em all! The baby DTA100a is my desk computer-amp, and I hope it lasts forever, same wish for the other 2, which are in the living room (APA150) and library (APA102BT)!
This might be a dumb question, but if I wanted to use this on a single sub, could I design/build a crossover, and just 3d print an enclosure for it and run the wires through? I'm super new to audio stuff, and keeping car, live, hifi, and surround peripherals straight has been tough.
Hoping you would compare the XLR and RCA outputs. My ZA3 with 3 Sparko's opmaps XLR output sounds way better than the RCA outputs. If possible could you please A/B the outputs on the ZA3 and the Z3 mono blocks. Being the owner of the Z3 and the ZA3 with 3 Sparko's opamps some A/B testing of the XLR/RCA outputs would be helpful for persons who might be considering purchasing the Z3 monoblocks.
This is going in the right direction though I'd rather see a dual mono design like this in a 3/4 or full sized component chassis with the PS built in because what good is one and at this kind of power the small foot print doesn't make any sense. Also I really hope Fosi has a pre-amp coming to pair with this, 3-4 inputs, subwoofer out and a remote would be perfect.
Be nice to know how they perform with more subtle sonic characteristics, detail, imaging etc.. My old 150w p/c power amp also pumps hard, but it's not the best in all areas.
Are you going to be reviewing the Emotiva XC1 or XC2? I have a C2+ and audio clarity is a bit rough for anything off axis. Debating buying an XC2 but waiting on reviews.
Again, two of these in a single enclosure. Power supply built in. Preamp built in. Volume control. Separate bass and treble controls. Bluetooth capability. Why not?
For 13 years I've been living with a Crown XLS class D amp and have been happy with it. In a musical sense, has the state of the Class D art advanced substantially with the advent of these little Chi Fi amps? Would they be musically superior? I've been thinking of trying the Fosi ZA3. Do these new monoblock Fosi's make even more sense?
Get a Schitt Vidar you'll never look at the crown again. If you need the DSP, get a little mini dsp box. I had XLS1002s on my surround channels for a bit. Ultimately swapped them for Vidars and the clarity and dynamics are much better. You'll find that the Schitt amps have that deep black noise floor like you get with pro audio class Ds or studio grade AB pwr like Bryston.
I will be getting 2 of these Fosi V3 Monos in a short while. Thank you so much for sharing this with us all. I don't think they should slow down their product releases, as long as their quality is high and possibly improves on previous releases. I'm glad you shared 'Harry's' products. My nickname since junior school! 😂😂 But I'm confused. You and my beard back but get sponsored by shaving products! 😂😂😂😂 Take care, brother. BTW, please share the name of your phone sonic apps, thanks.
Amazing impressive BUT can I trust it to push vandersteen 2ce ? I was about to push the botton and get two of v3 mono with 48v10A each and the wiim ultra as you recommended. But then I thought maybe they’re not strong enough for the Vandersteen I got. Is the Aiyima A07 max or pro are really stronger ? Can they be better for my speakers or I rather leave the small amps at my situation and go for the emotiva basx a-3 as a stereo amp ? Thanks you
That Harry’s section is worth the video itself hahaha 😂… wow, these speakers are amazing paired with these “little” amps from Fosi Audio. Separating the power supply from the amp is a very wise option because of two main reasons: heat generation, induced distortion and cabinet size. Wait, so that’s three reasons 🤨… thank you for the great content, having the dB meter interactively helps a lot to show what a real-life experience with these amps and speakers would be, instead of others just showing a bench with oscilloscopes and a computer; those are helpful too, but in a very different way. Keep up the great work 😊
were you using the single power with shared power cable or separate power for each amp? another channel reviewer had distortion problem quite obvious when he used one power supply, but it was fixed when used separate power supplies
@@danmarjenka6361 They did not fix it as of last month. My units came with the new "filter" but there's clearly audible distortion when only one amp is powered on.
D-class amps of a similar power output, and modern DACs all sound the same to me. Transparent amps shouldn't sound different, or they wouldn't be transparent. I understand why so many argue otherwise - it'd be a bitter pill to swallow having invested thousands in gear, when $200 would get the same end result. That's why you won't see them volunteering blind ABX of their boutique gear vs these commodity parts. Their silver lining = expensive gear often looks so much more aesthetically pleasing, hold their value, can be more versatile and premium builds often last longer. I'm pure pragmatist though, so Fosi is a boon to my audiophile hobby. It means I can afford to spend far more money where it counts the most, on nice speakers and room treatment.
I have an Audiolab 6000A, could I use a pair of these with it? I'm not really sure how the setup works. The Audiolab 6000A has an integrated amp, pre power mode and power mode. Any information would be appreciated. I'm using Focal Chora 806 speakers and a REL T/Zero MK III subwoofer.
I ordered 2 of these amps after watching your review but have not received them. I reached out to Fosi and have been given 3 different dates that they would ship and after that just tried to cancel my order. Their customer service has been horrendous and I'm starting to think its a scam.
I was hoping for something like this, though not a mono variant. Give me an affordable stereo power amp so I can power my rear speakers. The regular V3 has the problem that it has a volume knob...
What has a fuller sound, two of these in mono or one Schiit Gjallarhorn? I'm considering this for nearfield for a Desktop setup, my listening levels are not that high.
Thanks to Harry's for sponsoring! Make sure you check out the Shave and Suds bundle through the link harrys.com/cheapaudioman
Buy V3 Mono on Kickstarter: fosiaudio-inc.kckb.me/abbf87bd
V3 Mono Landing Page: bit.ly/fosiaudiov3mono
I just got mine hooked up to my Markaudio chr-120 in decware horn dna horns. Switched from Aiyima a07 and the difference is night and day. Not only is there more volume but it is incredibly detailed in comparison and imaging is off the charts. I had been planning on building new speakers but this has brought me the sound I was craving.
Great Review, just wanted to let you know that FOSI is having quality control issues. There have been numerous reports of issues with the ZA3 and I experienced one of them. I purchased a ZA3 from their initial offering and then I like it so much, I purchased a 2nd from the their 3rd (i believe) run so that I can run them as Mono blocks. I connected them to my preamp so I set them both to Max Volume. Well newest ZA3 is putting out about 75% of the wattage as the old one. I reached out to customer suppport and this is yet unresolved.
keep trying. I'd always buy through amazon though too as you have their customer support and you can leave feedback on the product. seems like nothing gets a company's attention faster than a 1 star review. I've heard good things about their customer service though. if you still can't get a resolution on it then let me know somehow and I'll send a message over to them
@@cheapaudioman Thanks for your help. You're my "GoTo" audio equipment reviewer.
@@robsandler1818 lol. You may want to seek more qualified help…
You have NO quality control "issue". Between different runs, they will take whatever chips are available, and different chips will have different programming and parameters, meaning, they will be DIFFERENT chips. These are NOT the old analogue days, when transistors would match, and resistors would be inserted to match levels!
If you do not match the amps to exactly equal versions, you are in a mammary-glands up position!
Is this what happens when you leave him home alone? He just starts putting on shaving cream in the living room?
pretty much
Looks like rabies but he still has the beard. Guess the shaving cream needs a razor.
They have medication for this behavior
@@roadfordays I’m on a ton. Looks like a need to go back to the psychiatrist for a tune up
Li ho collegati ad una coppia di Chario DELPHINUS MKII e devo dirvi...suono favoloso bassi medi acuti...non serve spendere di piu' ..! Forse in futuro per divertirmi ne acquistero altri due per fare la biamplificazione❤. Paolo from florence italy
Separate power supplies make sense for a variety of reasons. One practical logistical reason is when your monoblocks are located a large distance apart.
Super cool, I would like a 2.1 preamp with mono amps like this. It should include a crossover dial as well.
The Chinese power amps need to specify RMS power ratings instead of peak power!
They did. They clearly give you 2 ratings at 1% and 10% distortion.
This is how the U.S. was in the 1960s before the U.S. began specifying RMS or peak. You can just always assume RMS is 1/2 of whatever China is stating it is and you will be within 10% of accurate. That's exactly what we had to do in the 1960s here in the good 'ole USA.
@@Henry-Brock😂
They provide just under 100w RMS with an 8 ohm load.
They actually listened to the 3255 cult ,had this running for a year. My Diy disabled budget, hi tech 2.1 system, is quite adequate accurate and loud as car systems . Ooh the look in their eyes. Priceless!
The Harry's commercial made me forget the real reason for the video.
Thanks Randy! I was wondering when you would get a pair of these, so that means we will be able to purchase real soon! I have a single ZA3 running a pair of the Magnepan LRS+ speakers, and the little Fosi did not have any issues, it drove them easily without even breaking a sweat. No distortion at high volume, incredible separation and it simply sounded very very good. My only complaint, is the dimensionality of the amp, but that is an inherent issue with all Class D amps. The Class D amps are very two dimensional, vs a Class A/B and its 3 dimensionality. But, I will be purchasing a pair of these Fosi V3 mono blocks, as they are just simply too cool not to own.
that's bananas you can drive Maggies with these. I heard a great podcast from John Darko about THD. I think if an amp has really low thd and doesn't have a lot of even order harmonics it reduces the 3 dimentiality of the sound. in the race to the lowest THD I think some companies have forgotten that some even order harmonics (distortion) is actually a very good thing. tube folks have known about it for years and care not about measurements
@@cheapaudioman So true on the THD and "distortion". I run a pair of the Zu DW6 Supremes with a 10w tube amp and they sound incredible. But, back to the Maggies, yes this silly little ZA3 did not even flinch or even get warm after around two hours of listening, which really impressed me. I then drug out my 800 pound first gen Emotiva XPA2, the Fosi went back in the box. That old Emotiva amp will simply not go away.
@@michaelwright1602I know what you mean. Using a first gen XPA 3.
@@cheapaudiomanThat's the reason why you can add even order harmonics with ESS DAC's. Not every manufacturer implemented that functionality but it's there.
@@michaelkaiser5994 I have had folks tell me these first gen XPA amps are not musical. I had the Parasound A23+ in here, and actually prefer the sound out of the XPA. I also had one of Emo's new DR2-XPA units, and it sounded sterile and lifeless, like a Class D amp. I then went to Zu speakers and had no real need for these amps, as I went to tubes. But, I keep that old XPA2 in the house, it is one of those, "In an Emergency, Break Glass" pieces of gear I feel I must keep.
Yeah it has me listening to sound in general from smartTV. I use a Bluetooth converter to send APT-X from TV to a Bluetooth receiver that connects to main amp Denon via fiber and that signal goes out of 2 bridged Fosis and speakers. Impressed with Fosi quality.
I just got that fosi audio amp/speaker switcher. Its awesome. VU meters are life.
Got the Za3 monoamps. Satisfied for a couple of years. Rocks like a champ.
That new Fosi monoblock is the bees-knees of hifi amps at low cost.. but highly recommend separate power supply for each amp
There's power strips for hifi, like one from dynavox.
They usually bring the silence people are looking for
I have 2 of the Aiyima A07 Max's running a set of Delcoid LM-1 satellites and matching sub. The sub is a pain to run but these work nicely. The amps seem a bit treble forward but I can deal with it. That said, I think I'll be going back to a class A/B amp soon.
@@rakitakhan imo, not really a sub amp.. mains, center, surrounds are better use case
@@SlotHits777What I'm running is a sub/sat system...into the sub and out to the sats. This isn't a sloppy POS sub. These speakers are over 40 yrs old and now would now cost about $7k to $8k. I used to drive them with a GAS Ampzilla. The Aiyima amps DO sound good and they drive the sub with no issues. I just prefer the sound of an A/B amp.
The ad is almost as much fun as the Fosi news! 😂😂😂
I had fun with the ad read
That’s probably the first time a deliberately watched an entire ad. Smart of Harry’s.
Add a 70hz hipass to monoblocks (fmod) get a couple of big subs and a big dayton plate or sub amplifier and a big room. Kick some sonic butt in cheap sound
I love the dbX app. Mine says 100db with the monoblocks ,line amplifier to compensate for 3db loss of fmod 70hz hipass . My room is equal to an imax 2.1, I realize pride is wrong, but I am proud of my diy/pro home system. I pushed the boundary of phone driven system
I hate ads. However, the Harry’s ad was better than any ad during the last Superbowl. Very amusing and actually watched the whole thing.
All hail Wayne Static. RIP. Great shirt, Randy.
they are a blast in concert
I have the ZA3. I liked it so much that I bought 43 more and are using them as mono blocks in my multi-sampled system. with the Sparkos op-amps, they're remarkable
I’m guessing there are a couple of commas missing. 😂
Lol
Utilizing a reasonably good sounding Tube pre amp can really help to overcome some of the ( very few) shortcomings of this amplifier. Currently I am listening to the Aiyma 6A2 pre amplifier, with a pair of Nobsound G2 pro mono amps. This cheap little pre amp delivery the holographic image lacking from the already decent soundstage the tp3255 amps are known to produce. Add's a bit of magic, presence... mid range bliss and with a lot more ( noise free ) gain. Oh.. and don't forget to power the whole kit with lithium polymer batteries.. I use a set of 6s 5000mAh 90c lipos for the main channel amps , and an additional 3s 5000mAh to power the pre amp. Heaven for peanuts
you'd get about 13,300 of these for the price of that $4m system at Axpona, thats 3,192,000 watts - its a no brainer (speakers extra)
Just shaved... Harry's 5 blade of course and this pops up! Love it, great channel!
Fosi audio is Class D king
Ask them to build one with a GaN MOSFET.
According to Bruno Putzi “ the father of class D” GaN FET makes a difference in 100k HZ plus range, well beyond human hearing !
Hypex Class D is better.
I love the grin when he's expecting it to distort and it doesn't. What do you do with the power brick? In my mind, this is an easy insertion into an existing setup, then gradually deal with DAC and streamer(s). I guess I can use gaffer tape to hide the amps on the back of the speakers...
gaffer take solves all problems
This video was worth it…your Harry’s performance was amazing! Your “unit” review was good too. 😂
Great review, V3 Mono's with Sparkos Op Amps? Also how's the gain compared to the ZA3? I'm considering using my current ZA3's (with Sparko's) to drive the bass units on my Martin Logans and getting a pair of V3 Mono's to drive the Stat panels, obviously the Sparko's would be better used in the V3 Monos.
Fosi, keep doing what you’re doing!
The usual Fosi launch....not a single bad comment despite the issue they admit to having with the noise when running them off a single psu.
As if volume is any type of test of sound quality!!
Needs xlr for mono blocks cos you want them closer to the speakers
I'll get my hands on mine in 3 weeks! Can't wait!!!
Three weeks later ?
Dude, you EARNED that sponsorship!
I totally laughed out loud when you stated placing shaving cream all over your face 🤣 Best sponsored spot ever
Lmao, the shaving ad was actually so entertaining
Yes we need the balanced PreAmp. I don’t like a single power supply for 2 amps with a split cable 😂, its like have a single amp. In other channel mentioned the noise of that power supply. I tested 2 V3s to supply power for a bi wire speakers and was awesome. Try that and compare, i believe its cheaper and more balanced sound. Did you find something different in soundstage?. 🤦🏻♂️please don’t say the soundstage was awesome listening electronic music produced by a synthesizer!
When they went to Stripes and ran out of Copenhagen 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂. That's phenominal, bro. I have seen that roughneck reaction 😂😂
💯
***must resist GAS/FOMO urge to buy!!!***
These look awesome and I am seriously trying to find a way to justify buying a pair with a new set of speakers but ARRRGG I have too many as it is.
Time to sell something. LOL
Thanks for this one Randy. You looked like you had an absolute blast with these.
tons of fun. I think that it also had something to do with the speakers
Harry's is the best 60 seconds on Utube !!
Me the young version of the old Handel's Messiah guy.
Have a pair of these, blew one up already, sure run hot for class D tech ill stick to my Yamaha receiver, runs cool even cranked
You are becoming an extraordinary sales spokesperson.
I hate sponsers but I get it. Your bit was the best one I have seen. Well done.
I do need two more channels of amplification for my home theater... this may be the way. I went ahead and pledged a pair of these. My Marantz Cinema 70s is working great with 5.1 but it can do 7.1 - and with full pre-outs, these will be perfect to drive my main stereo pair and take that load off the weak internal amp.
Awesome ! Perhaps you could persuade them to make an equally high quality FM Tuner/Pre to drive them, w/presets !! Big Fan of your Channels & Patience (watched Live Stream yesterday) !!
thanks for watching!!!!
I just received my pair today, they sound remarkably good. There’s something different that I can’t put my finger on, maybe I’m just so used to my big class B NAD power amp with all its bouncy smashing dynamics.
Curious to the changes that the different op amps and amp chip would make.
I’m running mine with an Audio Alchemy Dac, NAD C162 Preamp, a pair of Paradigm Studio 20 v1’s and a Hsu 8” sub. Impressive little amps!
Nice job with the sponsor Randy! these amps are that good for $300 a pair? What a time to be alive!!!
I'm not so sure about that... there's a ton of hype around these days. Remember when the XTZ Edge A2-300 was heavily hyped? It's pretty good (perhaps better than this? And also quite affordable), but there are better amps. Saboton sounds terrible on the XTZ, while a NAD C298 makes it much more listenable. On my Benchmark AHB2 it actually sounds good. There are differences.
That being said, I'd be curious to buy this (well, I'd prefer a stereo variant at a lower price tag) to power my rears, but I'd absolutely connect my fronts to them to see how good the Ti-amps actually are.
It’s closer to $220 for a pair. I backed the a kickstarter campaign for three of these with three 48v PSUs and added three RCA cables so I can run these off my Denon AVR to power LCR channels. Was $360ish with the cables, around $330 for three without the cables
He’s back in the lab! I love it. I have to be honest, those curtains in his living room scare me. I’m afraid my wife will see me watching the video and get ideas.
ha
I've been waiting for a decent simple mono power amp for a while. I hope other manufactures catch on. Kind of wished you'd picked a common song (GnR Sweet Child O' Mine?) and run it through this system giving us a description of the amps "characteristics"? How you felt about the songs quality in playback. Those Emotivas look REALLY sweet. I want my next system to be towers rather than the 2.1 I'm running now.
Andrew Robinsons review of these Ti based amps wasn't that... great (in his case it was the Wiim Amp). I wouldn't expect too much out of these. But it all depends on your speakers. If you have decent ones and some money, try the Purifi-based DIY kits. Or the HypeX Nilai-based kits.
So obviously you need a preamp to control volume. What did you hook them up to? Does it fine with two power supplies?
He says in the video
I noticed FA has an option for 2 monos with 2 48v/10A I think that would be better with noise
Topping just launched the B200 a 200W class AB power monoblock with S/N 145dB and same for dynamics. At US599 , this would be hard to beat as it can drive almost any speaker with 200W into 4/8 ohms. I would be interested to see if it can improved with a better power supply.
This sponsorship was S tier
Copenhagen wow we are rocking it old school! That was my Dad's poison of chooice for many many years! I did not know it was still a thing in 2024! LOL
Found your channel while searching infos for my 5.1 living room setup. I'm not a hifi voodoo fanatic, so your content is what I like. There will be a AVR as a preamp but what would you chose for FCR power amps? Speakers specs, listening distance and loudness almost exactly like in your setup used in this video. 3x Fosi V3 Mono's (240W @ 4Ohms) or 2xCrown XLS 1002(350W @ 4Ohms)/ 1502 (525W @ 4Ohms)? Greetings from Germany!
I can totally see this thing being awesome for some DIY subwoofers filtered through a miniDSP or a cheap Dayton LF DSP. Wonder if it would immediately go into protection with a 2 ohm load. 😅
Hi Randy! How do you think the v3 mono compares (sound quality-wise) with AVRs like the Marantz NR5015 or similar?
@@unbornchiken I have the same IVR. I would like to know too.
Hi ! I bought two ZA3 two months ago and I love them. But these V3 Mono looks fantastic with the auto off and no volume knob. Are they sonically better than the ZA3 ? Should I sell my ZA3 to buy these ??? Thanks !
I did the same and wondering the same too... do I upgrade!?!
The ad was super funny.. you should do more conedic bits.
I would like to have the opportunity to test these mono blocks.
Published power rating at 1% is at 1kHz. At 20Hz or 20kHz, it would be significantly less.
Hmm that’s a really good point. I was thinking these would be good for a DIY high sensitivity subwoofer, but yeah LF distortion would need to be tested.
Got up early to hit the Kick Starter Fosi V3 Early Bird and landed a pair of V3's with PSUs (and a free tshirt before their Kick Starter early bird sold out, it sold out in about 30 minutes, amazing!
Can't wait to get these, going to go full XLR, now just need to decide which XLR preamp (with tone controls) to get, perhaps the Douk Audio T8 PRO, just not sure I want the tubes. 🤔
These two and wiim ultra should do the trick as ultra is a preamp right ?
Fun video, Randy. That’s a lot of amp for $270 for the two? I definitely laughed at the commercial. That’s the way to do it! I would even consider buying Harry’s. I want to be exfoliated.
you need the exfoliation, Steve
Heavy on the "Pimp My ride/Cribs" vibe 😗
I would like them with separate power supplies. They could be used for more channels out of a home cinema preamp
That's exactly what I am planning. 😁
13 of them to be precise. I hope they turn out to be reliable and the QC-issues be resolved. 😉
@@quaternion Thirteen?!? I like the sound of this, what’s the project??
@@ricochet243 The project is named 'Mom's a retired blind widow who needs some entertainment now and then' 😂
Yes, it has an XLR connector, but is that input truly/fully balanced?
Hey, now that I'm thinking about this: What other device would do a better job of amplification, at any price, below the tested output of 88 dB? I'm literally thinking this is the best dB/$ (full stop) at any price, no? (I'm assuming I will get heat sink off Amazon for $-nothing.) The only other value-added component in the chain is the DAC, right? (Wall power...DAC...Fosi... speakers.)
Better job at amplication? Benchmark AHB2. Yes, it is more expensive, but it is as close to perfection as you can get.
@@kadajawi2But dude! That's a little more than 10x the money... But it would be fun to hear it all well enough to get picky about choices made in the recording studio. Todd Rundgren used to talk about that.
Ever try the Dayton Audio line by PartsExpress?
I have: APA150 (still on sale), APA102BT (still on sale), DTA100a (long since discontinued), and love 'em all!
The baby DTA100a is my desk computer-amp, and I hope it lasts forever, same wish for the other 2, which are in the living room (APA150) and library (APA102BT)!
I like seeing the story boards in the office area. At least I think they are story boards?
This might be a dumb question, but if I wanted to use this on a single sub, could I design/build a crossover, and just 3d print an enclosure for it and run the wires through? I'm super new to audio stuff, and keeping car, live, hifi, and surround peripherals straight has been tough.
What app are you using to measure dB? I have my SSCS5 speakers connected. Testing different amps.
decibel X
Daaamn, "discount fruits" is already banging, only through my tablet speakers 😂
Didn't knew that about you, Randy 😅
thanks for the video (and for leave your beard on) :)
Which preamplifier could you suggest for control these two little beasts?
Much for Free Range Pomeranian Taco? Also.. How does this compare to the Topping LA90 ??
Hoping you would compare the XLR and RCA outputs. My ZA3 with 3 Sparko's opmaps XLR output sounds way better than the RCA outputs. If possible could you please A/B the outputs on the ZA3 and the Z3 mono blocks. Being the owner of the Z3 and the ZA3 with 3 Sparko's opamps some A/B testing of the XLR/RCA outputs would be helpful for persons who might be considering purchasing the Z3 monoblocks.
This is going in the right direction though I'd rather see a dual mono design like this in a 3/4 or full sized component chassis with the PS built in because what good is one and at this kind of power the small foot print doesn't make any sense. Also I really hope Fosi has a pre-amp coming to pair with this, 3-4 inputs, subwoofer out and a remote would be perfect.
And…. actuate a 70hz high pass filter when a sub is connected!!! Now we’re talking!
Be nice to know how they perform with more subtle sonic characteristics, detail, imaging etc.. My old 150w p/c power amp also pumps hard, but it's not the best in all areas.
The music used in this video is so irritating....
What does it sound like? Could a pair compare to my NAD 214 sound wise?
Are you going to be reviewing the Emotiva XC1 or XC2? I have a C2+ and audio clarity is a bit rough for anything off axis. Debating buying an XC2 but waiting on reviews.
Oh GOD FUNNY ! refreshing!!!!!! Coming back for more!
Again, two of these in a single enclosure. Power supply built in. Preamp built in. Volume control. Separate bass and treble controls. Bluetooth capability. Why not?
Erm, so you want... a Fosi V3?
@@kadajawi2 No PFFB though
For 13 years I've been living with a Crown XLS class D amp and have been happy with it. In a musical sense, has the state of the Class D art advanced substantially with the advent of these little Chi Fi amps? Would they be musically superior? I've been thinking of trying the Fosi ZA3. Do these new monoblock Fosi's make even more sense?
Get a Schitt Vidar you'll never look at the crown again. If you need the DSP, get a little mini dsp box. I had XLS1002s on my surround channels for a bit. Ultimately swapped them for Vidars and the clarity and dynamics are much better. You'll find that the Schitt amps have that deep black noise floor like you get with pro audio class Ds or studio grade AB pwr like Bryston.
@@ELcinegatto87 What is a DSP? Those little class d Chinese amps like the Fosi's?
I will be getting 2 of these Fosi V3 Monos in a short while. Thank you so much for sharing this with us all. I don't think they should slow down their product releases, as long as their quality is high and possibly improves on previous releases. I'm glad you shared 'Harry's' products. My nickname since junior school! 😂😂 But I'm confused. You and my beard back but get sponsored by shaving products! 😂😂😂😂 Take care, brother. BTW, please share the name of your phone sonic apps, thanks.
Amazing impressive BUT can I trust it to push vandersteen 2ce ?
I was about to push the botton and get two of v3 mono with 48v10A each and the wiim ultra as you recommended. But then I thought maybe they’re not strong enough for the Vandersteen I got.
Is the Aiyima A07 max or pro are really stronger ? Can they be better for my speakers or I rather leave the small amps at my situation and go for the emotiva basx a-3 as a stereo amp ?
Thanks you
What do you suggest between Aiyima A70 mono and Fosi V3 mono? I would use a couple of them with the stereo pre-outs of my AV receiver...
That Harry’s section is worth the video itself hahaha 😂… wow, these speakers are amazing paired with these “little” amps from Fosi Audio. Separating the power supply from the amp is a very wise option because of two main reasons: heat generation, induced distortion and cabinet size. Wait, so that’s three reasons 🤨… thank you for the great content, having the dB meter interactively helps a lot to show what a real-life experience with these amps and speakers would be, instead of others just showing a bench with oscilloscopes and a computer; those are helpful too, but in a very different way. Keep up the great work 😊
Even if it was made with the horn of the last winged unicorn, still class D 😂 😂 😂
Is your audio tester an app on your phone? Where can I get it? Did your watt meter indicate 200 watts?
Sill the best audio Man to Watch. Thanks for making it still entertaining event though i have a good setup. Or do i ?
We are at BANANAS GOOD tier now ; )
were you using the single power with shared power cable or separate power for each amp? another channel reviewer had distortion problem quite obvious when he used one power supply, but it was fixed when used separate power supplies
He said he was using the single power supply with the splitter. Maybe Fosi has already fixed the buzz issue that was occurring with earlier units.
@@danmarjenka6361 They did not fix it as of last month. My units came with the new "filter" but there's clearly audible distortion when only one amp is powered on.
These look nice, but i just purchaed 2, AO7 max's. Theyll do the job for now and at half the price, 140 for 2.
D-class amps of a similar power output, and modern DACs all sound the same to me. Transparent amps shouldn't sound different, or they wouldn't be transparent. I understand why so many argue otherwise - it'd be a bitter pill to swallow having invested thousands in gear, when $200 would get the same end result. That's why you won't see them volunteering blind ABX of their boutique gear vs these commodity parts. Their silver lining = expensive gear often looks so much more aesthetically pleasing, hold their value, can be more versatile and premium builds often last longer.
I'm pure pragmatist though, so Fosi is a boon to my audiophile hobby. It means I can afford to spend far more money where it counts the most, on nice speakers and room treatment.
I have an Audiolab 6000A, could I use a pair of these with it? I'm not really sure how the setup works. The Audiolab 6000A has an integrated amp, pre power mode and power mode. Any information would be appreciated. I'm using Focal Chora 806 speakers and a REL T/Zero MK III subwoofer.
Why don't they put 2 of these + a Wiim streamer + a nice DAC like Jeshelli + a nice clean LPS in one box, and save me from buying 10 different cables.
I ordered 2 of these amps after watching your review but have not received them. I reached out to Fosi and have been given 3 different dates that they would ship and after that just tried to cancel my order. Their customer service has been horrendous and I'm starting to think its a scam.
I was hoping for something like this, though not a mono variant. Give me an affordable stereo power amp so I can power my rear speakers. The regular V3 has the problem that it has a volume knob...
What has a fuller sound, two of these in mono or one Schiit Gjallarhorn? I'm considering this for nearfield for a Desktop setup, my listening levels are not that high.
Your neighbours must love you 😂 that said I’m sold
What is the continuous power rating for 8ohm at 20hz-20khz, 2 channels driven? So I can compare that with what my avr produces.
These are monobloc so it’s just one channel driven and the Fosi website says 120w at 8ohm with the 48v PSU
Do I want to check out ASR forum? No thanks.