I was very, very surprised that the Fosi V3 mono's could power my Magneplanar 1.7 to a very satisfying level with great 3D sound the Maggies are known for. The comparison to my usual amp (Conrad-Johnson) left me just amazed that these tiny amps could even be in the same neighborhood as the CJ but they are.
Thank you for your review. Nice Reel to Reel machine that is some nice analog equipment ❤ Sounds like you have had audio as your work/hobby for some time !
Great stuff! Will be good to know how V3s stock & upgraded sound with a good sounding tube preamp to explore their true potential partnered with higher end speakers.
very informative comparison for ppl that are shopping for these，with so many versions from many manufacturers one can get lost easily. nice to have someone with good old analog audio benchmark to evaluate them. 🎉🎉🎉
Nice! thanks for the review. I have a pair of the Fosi V3's and I really like them, yes I like my tube amps better but for a change in flavor they are nice. I am waiting on the Opamp review I believe they will be a nice upgrade.
Regarding the sub cutoffs. I suspect the back one is for the "sub out". The front one is for when you run this as a sub amp. Works great for bass shakers too.
I played with this knob playing music through the main outs, I'll admit I was listening to the low frequencies hoping it was a high pass filter, but I didn't hear it acting as a low pass either. I'll have to try that again. I just can't see many people using a passive sub and wanting a over $100 amp to drive it in a budget system to warrant having a knob on every amp for that very niche use?
@@SkunkieDesignsElectronics I'm with you. It adds so much clutter, terrible design choice for us who care about aesthetics. I'll take the Fosi all day long.
It's nice to see a comparison of the new, relatively inexpensive Chinese amps in an honest way. Do you think that the aiyima preamp is holding the aiyima mono blocks back from sounding as good as the V3s with Fosi's preamp? I personally haven't heard either of these. Just out of curiosity, I bought the aiyima a7 amp when it was on sale. I upgraded the op-amps a few times. Finally, I got the Sparkos op-amps. Big improvement, but I'm still not impressed. I would like you to do an aiyima stereo vs. mono's shoot out with the Sparkos op-amps. Some reviewers have had their V3s melt down on them. I hope you don't have that problem.
V5 might fit. I have no experience with 5s except headphone amps. They’re nice. I would also add that the most important location for op-amp swapping is the position closer to the center of the circuit board. Then the one next to it (closer to the front) and lastly the one for XLR gain stage located by XLR/RCA inputs. If only using RCA inputs, that op-amp does not matter. And if anyone wants to really see what these amps can do, I would recommend looking into Staccato or Muzg-Audio op-amps from Poland. Some amazing stuff. 👍🏻
Had the Ayima a07 and tried Burson vintage, sparkos, some cheap TX ins, and the stock op amps. I was not able to put the top back on for the Burson. I also had to get 2 opamp adapters
Hopefully you have both the Burson V7 Classic and V7 Vivid op-amps to swap in I expect you would prefer the V7 Classic which is warm and classic aka nice “color” Got my start with FunFi so it is an audio gateway Enjoying your take on the FunFi Would really like your take on the Nitsch X Schiit Magni Piety $175 head/preamp “A rich-sounding solid state amp with tube-like characteristics.” I really like the sound “color” I have one and really like it
Agree. V3 is just a no BS clean dynamic amp. With upgraded op-amps it actually can compete with many very good/great SS amps out there. I personally use a separate 48V 10A brick for each channel. And I’m using 4 of those (bi-amping) with Martin Logans Aerius i which drop to 1.7ohms at 15kHz. So one stock V-3 for the bass driver of Aerius i (40Hz -400Hz) and one “PRIMO” upgraded mono for electrostatic panel that covers rest of the frequency. BTW these monos do work well with Klipsch Cornwalls 4 as well. But class A or single ended tube amp might make more sense with these 100db plus sensitivity spks. Also, depends what type of music you’re into, room size and personal preferences. Great job. 👍🏻 PS Comparing anything in mono mode due to not having extra pair of amps and additional same pre is OK but keep in mind that you won’t be able to assess the differences in soundstage and imaging (obviously). So you’ll probably hear the differences but there might be this aspect missing from the comparison. 😉
Yeah, sadly I just don't have enough parts/op-amps of both types. I may also compare the burson vs sparkos in the stereo A70 to hear them both in that use. But obviously, I can't AB in real time.
I just wonder how many people use a passive sub to the point of including a big frequency knob on the front of every amp? Who even sells a passive sub anymore?
The sub controls on the amps are cool if your running budget passive subwoofers like youd get for auto....powered with an ao7 max. ....for that its cool.
Many of the subwoofers don't have a crossover button. Some of the yamaha subwoofers, for example. It will be useful for someone, but I'm not sure that it is a good idea to put all those things in one simple, cheap monoblock amp.
I thought the high-pass filter on the amplifier is there to ensure that the woofer don't run full range. This means less power is needed and the woofer has less distortion. The low-pass filter on the subwoofer can't do that. A nice feature imho.
An actual high pass filter removes the low frequencies sent to the main speakers, and let's the sub handle those. It would be a nice feature, but as I said in the video that is not what that knob is doing.
@@SkunkieDesignsElectronics The knob is for a passive subwoofer. There’s a toggle switch on the bottom of the amp. For an active subwoofer it's on the back.
I think it’s great to step outside of your own bubble and venture outside to see what else is out there that might be worth looking into. But that’s just me. 😉
I was very, very surprised that the Fosi V3 mono's could power my Magneplanar 1.7 to a very satisfying level with great 3D sound the Maggies are known for. The comparison to my usual amp (Conrad-Johnson) left me just amazed that these tiny amps could even be in the same neighborhood as the CJ but they are.
Thank you for your review. Nice Reel to Reel machine that is some nice analog equipment ❤ Sounds like you have had audio as your work/hobby for some time !
Totally agree with many of your points. Who will be the first to do a high pass filter on a "affordable" mono block?!
I think whoever does that will sell a lot of them! Pretty sure the people using these are also the powered sub user crowd.
Great stuff! Will be good to know how V3s stock & upgraded sound with a good sounding tube preamp to explore their true potential partnered with higher end speakers.
Coming soon!
very informative comparison for ppl that are shopping for these，with so many versions from many manufacturers one can get lost easily. nice to have someone with good old analog audio benchmark to evaluate them. 🎉🎉🎉
This stuff is interesting. The way you've broken it up into lots of little videos was a good choice.
Glad you think so! I'm trying to knock out this backlog of stuff to review and clean off my plate!
Nice! thanks for the review. I have a pair of the Fosi V3's and I really like them, yes I like my tube amps better but for a change in flavor they are nice. I am waiting on the Opamp review
I believe they will be a nice upgrade.
Agreed!
Regarding the sub cutoffs. I suspect the back one is for the "sub out". The front one is for when you run this as a sub amp. Works great for bass shakers too.
I played with this knob playing music through the main outs, I'll admit I was listening to the low frequencies hoping it was a high pass filter, but I didn't hear it acting as a low pass either. I'll have to try that again. I just can't see many people using a passive sub and wanting a over $100 amp to drive it in a budget system to warrant having a knob on every amp for that very niche use?
@@SkunkieDesignsElectronics I'm with you. It adds so much clutter, terrible design choice for us who care about aesthetics. I'll take the Fosi all day long.
It's nice to see a comparison of the new, relatively inexpensive Chinese amps in an honest way.
Do you think that the aiyima preamp is holding the aiyima mono blocks back from sounding as good as the V3s with Fosi's preamp?
I personally haven't heard either of these. Just out of curiosity, I bought the aiyima a7 amp when it was on sale. I upgraded the op-amps a few times. Finally, I got the Sparkos op-amps. Big improvement, but I'm still not impressed.
I would like you to do an aiyima stereo vs. mono's shoot out with the Sparkos op-amps.
Some reviewers have had their V3s melt down on them. I hope you don't have that problem.
The pre-amps weren't part of the test. The output of the reel to reel deck was straight into the amp RCA with no pre-amp.
There are 3 Burson op amps which can all sound different. Where space height is a problem, than
Burson V 5i can fit and always annihilate the 5532 .
V5 might fit. I have no experience with 5s except headphone amps. They’re nice. I would also add that the most important location for op-amp swapping is the position closer to the center of the circuit board. Then the one next to it (closer to the front) and lastly the one for XLR gain stage located by XLR/RCA inputs. If only using RCA inputs, that op-amp does not matter. And if anyone wants to really see what these amps can do, I would recommend looking into Staccato or Muzg-Audio op-amps from Poland. Some amazing stuff. 👍🏻
Had the Ayima a07 and tried Burson vintage, sparkos, some cheap TX ins, and the stock op amps.
I was not able to put the top back on for the Burson. I also had to get 2 opamp adapters
Hopefully you have both the Burson V7 Classic and V7 Vivid op-amps to swap in
I expect you would prefer the V7 Classic which is warm and classic aka nice “color”
Got my start with FunFi so it is an audio gateway
Enjoying your take on the FunFi
Would really like your take on the Nitsch X Schiit Magni Piety $175 head/preamp
“A rich-sounding solid state amp with tube-like characteristics.”
I really like the sound “color”
I have one and really like it
I was sent the Vivid version to review. I suspect from initial listening it's not going to be my cup of tea.
thank you
You're welcome
Agree. V3 is just a no BS clean dynamic amp. With upgraded op-amps it actually can compete with many very good/great SS amps out there. I personally use a separate 48V 10A brick for each channel. And I’m using 4 of those (bi-amping) with Martin Logans Aerius i which drop to 1.7ohms at 15kHz. So one stock V-3 for the bass driver of Aerius i (40Hz -400Hz) and one “PRIMO” upgraded mono for electrostatic panel that covers rest of the frequency.
BTW these monos do work well with Klipsch Cornwalls 4 as well. But class A or single ended tube amp might make more sense with these 100db plus sensitivity spks. Also, depends what type of music you’re into, room size and personal preferences. Great job. 👍🏻
PS
Comparing anything in mono mode due to not having extra pair of amps and additional same pre is OK but keep in mind that you won’t be able to assess the differences in soundstage and imaging (obviously). So you’ll probably hear the differences but there might be this aspect missing from the comparison. 😉
Yeah, sadly I just don't have enough parts/op-amps of both types. I may also compare the burson vs sparkos in the stereo A70 to hear them both in that use. But obviously, I can't AB in real time.
on the A70 mono , the rear for active sub the front for passive sub
I just wonder how many people use a passive sub to the point of including a big frequency knob on the front of every amp? Who even sells a passive sub anymore?
Looking at the aiyima youtube channel, it shows only 1 removable op amp. Am I missing something?
Not all of there products have multiple op amps.
The sub controls on the amps are cool if your running budget passive subwoofers like youd get for auto....powered with an ao7 max. ....for that its cool.
Many of the subwoofers don't have a crossover button. Some of the yamaha subwoofers, for example. It will be useful for someone, but I'm not sure that it is a good idea to put all those things in one simple, cheap monoblock amp.
Thanks for the info!
I thought the high-pass filter on the amplifier is there to ensure that the woofer don't run full range. This means less power is needed and the woofer has less distortion. The low-pass filter on the subwoofer can't do that. A nice feature imho.
An actual high pass filter removes the low frequencies sent to the main speakers, and let's the sub handle those. It would be a nice feature, but as I said in the video that is not what that knob is doing.
@@SkunkieDesignsElectronics The knob is for a passive subwoofer. There’s a toggle switch on the bottom of the amp.
For an active subwoofer it's on the back.
where can you even buy a passive subwoofer for home use? Just seems like an odd thing with limited usefulness.
British audiophile said he rather just go with the stereo fosi V3
Well good for him :P
Isn't that the same guy who raved about that horrible Wilsenton R300? I think he called it "The gourmet option"...
Вывод , Aiyima A70 того что стерео достаточно, 2 моно сильно дороже, по качеству мизер прироста качества.
I agree, unless you actually need the extra power these bridged mono amps have, the integrated A70 is a much better choice.
class D
Would be great you could do more tube amp reviews and leave these kind of gear aside.
Why limit yourself? Don't watch if your not interested.
@@lysippus relax and watch some videos. These amps are ok 👍.
I think it’s great to step outside of your own bubble and venture outside to see what else is out there that might be worth looking into. But that’s just me. 😉
It would be great to have some tube amps sent for me to review...
How do these compare to your tube amp? How do they pair with tube preamp?