The Fosi V3 Mono Amps are AWESOME (just make sure you buy them correctly)...
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 ก.พ. 2025
- Preorder the new V3 Mono amps via Kickstarter here: www.kickstarte...
Regarding my power supply issue, Fosi sent me this note:""We sent you a 48V/10A power supply along with a power splitter cable. However, as this is from the first batch of products, there is a noise issue when using the 48V/10A power supply with two units. We are currently working on solving this issue, and the officially sold products will not have this problem. Please be aware."
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Hi everyone, regarding my power supply issue, Fosi reached out to me with the following note: "We sent you a 48V/10A power supply along with a power splitter cable. However, as this is from the first batch of products, there is a noise issue when using the 48V/10A power supply with two units. We are currently working on solving this issue, and the officially sold products will not have this problem. Please be aware."
I'd go for bi-amping and order two sets
Did they not listen before they sent them to reviewers? Makes me a little nervous about Fosi quality control.
@@earthoid
A concern that, in my experience, is well justified.
Good day! What do you think about Fossi devices? Another thing I wanted to ask you. Is it true that Fossi devices can match the PP quality of devices that cost $1000 and up? For example to compete with devices such as McIntosh, QUAD, Pioneer?
@@oliverosrecki7421
Okay lets get specific ...
When properly implemented the TPA3255 chip at the heart of most mini-amps can and will stand favourably beside old-school amplifiers costing much more. The chip itself is a leap forward in amplifier technology.
Do these mini-amps using TPA3255 chips in general stand favourably beside old school amplifiers costing many times more?
That is not so easy to answer. These little guys are often limited by their power bricks and poor cooling solutions. If you level match the "big boy" amplifiers with the mini-amps... both running about 10 watts or so... yes the sound quality is often equal to or better than the old stuff. But in terms of raw power the big stuff will win every time. The decision you need to make as a consumer is if that difference matters to you. Do you care that the MC2 plays louder than your A07? How often do you need that kind of power? Is it worth paying upwards of 100 times more to get it?
Finally, tunnelling down to my opinion of Fosi ... If I compare them with their prime competitor, frankly I find their engineering and design to be lacking. Doing deep dive examinations in to both Fosi and Aiyima designs, the Aiyima wins practically every time.
This is one youtuber that got it correctly reviewed. Mine got delivered in August second batch, and I have noise from one single PSU. Two i.e 10amp and a 5amp runing in tandem, no noise when turning on and off.👍
Problem is feedback bleeding from one amp to another via Y splitter.
The fix is that Fosi will provide a better DC filter and stop the feedback bleeding noise.
Thanks for sharing and watching!
Finally , an honest review.
There are probably other hidden issues yet to be discovered. I personally would rather pay more to wait a bit making sure there is no more suprise from a brand new product.
Great review and good to know about the PSU, I feel like many will struggle with this problem. Now we only need Fosi to make a little handy preamp in the same form factor and design 🤞😁
Yeah a preamp with multiple inputs would be rad! Thanks for watching!
They are apparently
yeah, maybe a pretty decent preamp with a couple line input and an MM pre-phono, or also an integrated amplifier with these separate modules and a preamp in the same chassis :)
Well they do have the P3 tube preamp, but it only has one rca input, so limited functionality. I have one I use with a stereo V3 and it sounds pretty decent, but needs to warm up a bit before it's at its best.
Those switches on the front are something you typically set once and forget. Would have been nicer to have them on the back, but that requires a slightly wider enclosure.
Just when your video said you’re going to let us hear what the noise sounded like, it went to a JBL Authentics commercial. I’m listening intently for 30 seconds waiting for the noise until your video started again. 😂
Hilarious! I always try to make the videos intriguing but that was unplanned for sure 😂
I will likely get these when the new Wiim Ultra comes out and run the Ultra as my pre amp.
Cool idea! Thanks for watching!
Very educational. Thank you!
Thanks for watching!
Hi Aaron ... nice review.
Absolutely go with dual power supplies. The point of using monoblocks is to have two fully independent amplifiers... connecting them together just defeats the whole idea.
As usual, I will suggest that the optimal power supply for TPA3255s in these unvented cases, with limited cooling is 36 volts. So for this I will suggest 2 x 36 volt 5 amp supplies.
Thanks! I really enjoy these amps with the separate power supplies and just wanted folks to make the right purchasing decision. These little guys sound amazing when I'm not using a noisy PS!
Don't the cases have side vents?
@@AdamsOlympia
A little bit about convection.. heat causes air to expand, becoming less dense. The hot air will rise to the top ... not the side ... of the casing. Plus there's no point venting out hot air unless you are going to bring in cool air to replace it. Those side vents may look cool, but I would seriously doubt they do anything of value.
Aaron isn't the only person reporting noise problems.
The whole point of monoblocks is to have two completely isolated amplifiers. Running them both from a common supply totally undoes the advantage.
If you're going to run two channels off the same power supply... save yourself some money and buy a V3 or A07.
@@Douglas_Blake_579
Don't you think that when the air outside the vents is lower in temperature than inside, and -as you said yourself - there's an air density (pressure) difference, the air will move and starts to dissipate the 'heat'?
@@Wuppie62
Yes, there will be a short term pressure equalization... BUT... unless there is someplace for the air to exit, you're not going to get a consistent flow of air going in. The pressure will reach equilibrium and the air flow will stop.
I think what would be interesting to see is how these type of amplifiers would match up with more expensive solid state or tube preamplifiers. Or how the budget friendly consumer could optimise their sounds quality, matching these amplifiers with other components. I have an Aiyima A07 + muses02 op amp, Smsl SU1 and a DIY Pass Labs Korg Nutube preamplifier powering a Bowers & Wilkins 607s2 and they sound amazing to me. Love your channel btw.
Thanks for sharing and for watching!
Since we're all about power supplies this time around... lets take a bit of a serious look at what the TPA3255 chip can do...
0:57 ... hit pause and look at the numbers. (Yes they are accurate)
For a doubling in SPL you need an increase of 10DB ... 10 times the power. Thus, a 100 watt amp is going to be barely twice as loud as a 10 watt amp.
The first noticeable change in SPL will come at 3db... which requires twice as much power. Thus a 20 watt amp is just barely louder than a 10 watt amp, in fact most people would not be able to tell them apart in a listening test.
So... between 32 volts and 48 volts ... you have a power ratio of less than 3 to 1 ... That's about an extra 4.5 db of SPL which will be barely noticeable in normal use.
Now we know that the TPA3255 can withstand 48 volts... but what is not obvious is that requires forced air cooling and a much larger heatsink if the chip is not going to overheat and go into protection. There have been multiple videos about this with the A07 and the truth is that you cannot continuously cycle the amp into protection without damaging it.
The highest power supply these chips can sustain in fully enclosed cases ... even when the case is the heat sink.. is between 36 and 40 volts. They will get warm but they will not shut down into protection and will run continuously for days at a time. Now 40 volt power supplies are not commonly available in "brick" formats, so I generally recommend 36 volts at 5 or 6 amps for these fully enclosed designs.
At 36 volts, the RMS power is about 75 watts per channel on 8 ohms and 130 on 4.
I've done some bench testing on TPA3255 amps (although not the V3M version) and while the power is lower at 36 volts, the distortion, frequency response and other parameters are quite stable... in fact there is no sonic advantage in feeding it 48 volts.
Consider that most reasonable listening is going to happen in the 75 to 80 db spl range. For most speakers that will require about 1 or 2 watts... yes, power in single digits. Short term musical peaks, based on curated 16 lufs of overhead from most streaming companies will hit about 30 watts. Thus you can likely play your music collections quite loudly without ever using up the amplifier.
If you consider the barely noticeable difference in SPL, the stable sound parameters, cooler operation and longer lifetime... There is literally no reason anyone should want the maximum voltage here... and especially not at the risk of drastically shortening the amplifiers lifetime.
Aaron's setup with 2 x 32 volt 5 amp supplies will have them running cooler, with only a slight difference in SPL but otherwise still delivering their best sound.
For this V3 mono ... I would recommend two amplifiers and two 36 volt 5 amp supplies as the best setup.
For every db it's ten times the energy. To hear a pin drop (without compression) a hammer dropped onto a bare wooden floor would deafen us! So our perception of sound has evolved to be compressed a lot. And this compression between loud and soft allows us to hear a pin drop and also hear very loud sounds as well. Genius! 😅
@@Justwantahover
You need to recheck your science.
Each step of 1db is 125% power ... that is 1 watt becomes 1.25 watts.
Each step of 3db is 200% (double)... 1 watt becomes 2 watts.
Each step of 10db is 10x power ... 1 watt becomes 10 watts.
There are literally hundreds of links to this information all over the internet, including real-time calculators you can use.
Your pin to hammer analogy obviously does not play out in the real world where there is absolutely no compression applied, as I'm sure most of us have dropped something heavy in our lifetimes and not gone deaf because of it.
Spot On!!! Great review I hope there is adequate room for a discrete OP Amp upgrade sometimes the NE55XX are sub-par.
Thanks for watching!
Yep, Fosi has confirmed a list of suitable upgrades. You may need three per Amp for Line In, or two if using XLR.
@@adrian.parkerYes Correct!! I've found a few more exotic variants, that sometimes require modification but well worth the effort
Everyone speaks of upgrading the opamps. I was listening to my original V3 at my desk last night just thinking that i am not wanting for anything with the original op-amps(ne5532). I have MUSE02's at the ready ($60ish) to install too but feel absolutely no need. Probably a synergistic thing. What i have done was put an inexpensive tube buffer (Suca T1 if they still make it?) before the V3. I would totally recommend that to anyone. Set ya back about $100 with upgraded NOS tubes. Worth it if you can afford it and want to up the sound game.
@@RUMBLEGO1Trust me the term OP-AMPS can be confusing ! Especially when you learn it's just an arrangement of circuits originally vacuum tubes also were configured as OP-Amps . Tubes and transistors control electron flow the red diode was invented in 1962 later the green not until the 80s did we get the blue that single breakthrough made the world we enjoy today and eliminated the CRT screens that had a series of ray-guns in the rear to reproduce color.
( Could you imagine a cathode ray phone?)
All of that to say the arrangement of the transistor is very important even the SUCU Tube PreAmp uses OP-AMPs connected to the Tubes I purchased 3 different types looking for" That Sound " Heated Tubes seemed to work best but it's all about adding the right Harmonics one configuration A/B switches between discrete OP-Amps and Tubes before the Amp because the best OP-AMPs I can find wouldn't fit inside the case. And the better OP-Amps are specifically made for sound and not off a regular assembly line.
Great info. Happy to hear I ordered 2 amps with 2 power supply before seeing this. Coming from technology industry redundancy is key. I have spare 5a 48v on hand if one fails so easy call but 10a was a bit tempting. Hope to see how this upgrade is from my V3 stereo.
I think you will love em!
Nice discussion! I am looking at a handful of Fosi products, with the V3 mono amps being a serious contender. It looks like your preamp was one of the Schiit products and I was wondering, which one. I’m disappointed that Fosi has XLR inputs on a couple of their amps, but they don’t have a true preamp with XLR outputs. The closest thing is their ZD3 balanced DAC, and I may end up buying that except for the fact that I’d love to run my turntable through this system, and it has no RCA inputs. It also does not have tone controls. Frossi seems to have several products that can do it all, but no one product that can do it all. Their MC 331 integrated amp looks like a good low power choice and has what appears to be a nice tube preamp section. Thanks in advance.
I think the joy of these products is the single function and low entry cost, so upgrading to separate PSUs, pre-amp choice, DAC, streamer, Op Amp is all stuff you can lean into gently and affordably as funds allow. Normally this is in the preserve of the $2K + per module in order to play.
I agree and that's why I overall loved the amps and the sound produced! That being said, so many newcomers to hifi are using these as their entry point, which is why I wanted to point out that traditional monoblocks always have isolated power supplies and wanted to suggest they buy the same since they are given the option.
Get them with 36v power supply each...lower noise ,plenty power and runs cooler.
I'm using a similar PS and they do run much cooler!!!
Not getting the set with the one power supply. Not just for the noise, but also the reduced possibilities of placement
Looks like that XLR input is a combo jack - also accepting a 1/4 input? You didn't mention this. Thanks.
Thanks!
Thank U for this video. I also wondered if using only single power supplyer is OK. The other video I watched didn't mention this. I appreciate your trouble.
Fosi notified me that my power supply had a known issue and will fix it before they release this product to the public.
Interesting. Do you think maybe the noise problem originates with the splitter cable?
Planning to buy 3 V3 Monoblocs when I get my 3 KEF R3 Metas later this year, and dedicate my ZA3 + q150s to rear channel. An Emotiva surround processor/preamp should last much longer than a hot/inefficient AV receivers. It'll be an excellent, affordable alternative since there still aren't any Dolby AVs with class D amp topology.
Awesome!
Look again ... I think you'll find most AV amplifiers are Class-D because of the improved efficiency and reduced heat. In fact I think you'll find that many of them are using TPS3255 chips in their power amps.
@@Douglas_Blake_579 You can certainly find multi channel class D amps for a premium (Buckeye makes them). but that's not an AV receiver. Requires a separate dolby DTS/Atmos processor, defeating the point of wanting everything under one hood, and for a price that would undercut an Emotiva basx mc1 dolby processor + Fosi seperates.
@@Douglas_Blake_579 "Did you read what I wrote?"
You're posting misinformation then doubling down on it when called on it. Not a good look.
AVS forum, a popular home theater forum filled with people very knowledgeable about everything AV related, have discussed this in depth in numerous threads.
Look up the recent thread "Class D AVR's. Who makes them?"
Onkyo and Pioneer briefly made a class D AVR almost a decade ago (out of production and no Atmos support)
No one else uses Class D since in this product category. This is easily verified fact.
@@AdamsOlympia
There is a reason I deleted that comment.
Yes, you're correct. I learned something new today.
(I don't mess with AVRs very often)
thanks for the video, I 'm sure that with 32V instead of 48, you'll get less power for sure, but also will gain sound quality, in terms of stage and definition and last but not least, in terms of reliabilty and durability of the components and also way less operating temperatures
Thanks for the kind words. The 48v made these little guys super hot so I prefer running at 32v, but then again, I love my 10 watt Schiit Gjallarhorn too so I’m not a big power hungry wattage guy.
@@ForeverAnalog never heard of it, I have to replace my old Cyrus2 from Mission that is still working but is about 35yo and now I'm using a little 6W class A from Nobsound paired with my old but still in great shape and conditions Ditton3 from Celestion and have to say the room (4x3m) is filled in a great way and indeed, use a lot of power is not for me too, so will check for the Schiit Gjallarhorn, thanks a gain :)
@@ForeverAnalog interesting little machine, could you please suggest a nice preamp for the Gjallarhorn, at the moment I'm running a minipc with Daphile and a DacMagic 100 from Cambridge Audio, but would love a good preamp with a phono stage and a headphones out
just reached out your video of the Gjallarhorn and now I know you use a Saga+ preamp, nice to know :)
Hello I use Fosi Audio products. They are great. Just a short time ago Fosi released a Fosi Audio Filter which can be used between the adapter and the audio unit. It by kicks distortion etc from the adapter. It is really affordable. I bought it for 14 euros. I will receive it this week. Did you already use this item? Thank you for your great videos. Its always a pleasure. Greetz from Holland. Paul
Yep I saw that update. Thanks for sharing!
Hi thanks for the review. Can you maybe try to connect the 48V 10A power supply to only one of the V3 monos to see whether the noise would be present? To see whether the 2amps per one brick design is somewhat flawed or the power brick is faulty. You are the second reviewer I heard to mention this noise. Thanks.
Yeah I think I saw the same reviewer you mention also discuss the noise and he said Fosi was sending him a new splitter adapter?
@@ForeverAnalog yes, double checked, it was the S|A guy. It would be a shame if this was something widespread. I am thinking of buying these monos, but anyway I want two PS so I can have those blocks closer to speakers.
@MrYurik yeah I think the amps are a great buy and you’ll enjoy with two PA as you mention!
Find myself wanting to ask a question. So I’m thinking of doing an active system. Meaning I’ll be purchasing 4 of these mono amps. Two for each side. Question is, this noise, is it from the left right signal? Or something else.
The noise was from the dual power supply and went away when I used single power supplies. So just don’t use the dual PS. The whole point of mono amps is the isolate the power to each amp so I never understood with Fosi tried to combine the PS
Hi, thanks for the review, I'm curious how it sounds compared to the Aiyima A07 MAX, none youtuber that got both did a comparaison between them. I've only heard that the Ayima 07 Max is wider soundstaging and more clear and bright than the Fosi ZA3 but it's the same conclusion i hear about the ZA3 compared to the V3 Mono, so how is this V3 mono compared to the A07 Max, did someone test it switching from one to the other?
All of the amplifiers you mention are based on the TPA3255 chip. It makes sense to expect them to sound mostly alike.
I'm very happy with my ZA3 mono block Linton setup and it doesn't sound like these would be an upgrade. I'd be very interested in a low cost Class D monoblock configuration that would match the 3D soundstage and sound separation of better Class A/B amps as well as 200watts/8ohm per channel.
Awesome thanks for watching and for sharing!
Will you do a follow-up video with the 48 volt power supply to see if the issue was fixed?
I don't think so only because I still prefer using a dedicated PS for each amp. The one PS for both never made sense to me as a product design decision, regardless of whether it worked properly or not. I have two sets of mono blocks from other companies that I now need to review and each has separate power supplies and for a good reason. Thanks for watching!
@@ForeverAnalog I hear ya, and thanks for replying so quick 👍🏼 Some folks may prefer one less brick tho. Right now on Amazon the pair including the P/S and adaptor is $279.00 For those who want to get it, it would be a benefit if they could buy it confidently knowing the humm/noise issues was resolved.
@ben23a31 I’m in a Fosi Facebook group and some folks had issues with the noise while others didn’t. I think these might have been rushed to market a bit and quality control isn’t the best so all I can really say is it’s a gamble no matter which way you go lol.
@@ForeverAnalog That's true. Thx dude
The gain boost looks like it is only applicable to the rca inputs. Other reviewers haven't experienced your issue with the power supply. It is probably an issue with the supply itself. I wouldn't give advice on this before consulting with Fosi about it. For me I would probably go for separate supplies to keep the speaker cables as short as possible. Then I would probably get the GanFet 48v/5a supplies fosi also offers.
Thanks! I just saw another reviewer, Scientific Audiophile, had the same issue with a noisy power supply like mine. Love the amps, just want to make sure folks get the right PS for them! Thanks again for watching!
The only place you can put a gain control is on the input of a component. If its on the output, its a volume control.
GanFet, you say? Thank you very much for that little nugget of information.
@foreveranalog Are you using the "little Schiit" (Vali I believe) headphone amp as a volume control for these? I have the same and have often used it as a pre amp/volume control for various amps around the house. Wondering if it is possible to send too much voltage from the Schiit that could possibly damage a power amp? Much Thx
I used the Schiit Saga+ preamp - are you perhaps thinking of the SYS? I don't think either could send too much voltage.
@@ForeverAnalog The Saga S or + are now discontinued now Schitt offer the Saga 2 who seems to deliver more gain.
@@ForeverAnalog Ha, no. I actually use the Vali (headphone amp) as a pre amp. Thought I saw the same in your video. Thx for the reply
The TPA3255 class D amplifier chip has a 53.5 maximum working voltage and in my opinion running them at 48 V with a minimal heatsink (that case) is not a good idea, somewhere around 40 V would be better for long term reliability.
Indeed ... Wanting 48 volts simply because the chip can withstand it is a mistake.
I've done considerable testing on TPA3255 mini-amps and DIY boards. The "sweet spot" compromise between heat and output is in the 36 to 40 volt range. There you can get some pretty impressive sound without burning down your listening room.
On 36 volts you will get 70 to 75 watts on 8 ohm loads, 120 on 4 ohms.
However; 40 volt supplies are not readily available so I generally recommend 36 volt 5 amp power bricks.
Industrial supplies, while adjustable, can be a problem because of their fast acting protection circuits. They will appear to shut down prematurely, by responding to instantaneous peaks in current. A "charger" style brick will allow those short term bursts and not go into current limiting right away.
Mine got HOT when using the 48v PS lol.
@@Douglas_Blake_579
Is it possible to get 80-100 Watts from 36 Volts on a 6-Ohm load?
@@Hare_deLune
I run my A07 and occasionally a TB10d (both TPA3255 based) on a 36 volt 10 amp supply ... typical power is 75 watts on 8 ohms... 140 on 4... so 6 ohms would fall mid point of that range at about 90 to 100 watts.
My speakers are pioneer towers specd for 8 ohms... and they get ear splitting loud when I get all carried away.
i was considering "upgrading" from my V3 to these monos, but I'd need 3 as I'd need to feed a subwoofer as well, and overall it just doesn't seem worth the cost. I've got an Adcom GFP-555II preamp feeding my V3, and they sound great to me (feeding Klipsch Heresy II and RSL Speedwoofer 10S mkii).
Awesome. Yeah, I think we forget just because a product comes out it doesn't mean we have to upgrade, especially if we have a system that's working great for us. Important to consider given how often these new class D amps are being made available to market these days! Thanks for the comment and for watching!
@@ForeverAnalog yeah man. i tried taking the preamp out of the loop to hear what it'd sound like straight from my DAC to the V3. the preamp adds both power and a warmer sound signature: i can adjust the sound signature at the same volume by adjusting the volume pots of the two. if i only had the v3, maybe i'd consider an upgrade, but with the preamp, it's great imo.
What do you think about
1)buy 2 fosi za3 instead 2 fosi Mono v3 ?
2) buy 2 DIY with mono case + hypex nilai500diy + PS500 diy power supply
3) 2 FX Audo L07
Thank's
I haven't heard any of the options outside of Fosi, sorry, so I can't comment on those. I only received one ZA3 so I haven't run it in mono. If you go V3, just make sure you buy two power supplies.
We'll I just bought a set of the V3 monos in August 2024 from amzn Canada and while they came with the filter I'm still getting the feedback when only one amp is powered on. So it appears they have not fixed this issue with the filter. So they were lying when they said it would be fixed for officially sold products.
Sorry to hear that - I'm in the Fosi Facebook group and others who have had issues all had them resolved by Fosi.
Great review, thank you. What do you think about the idea of replacing 2 x Freya mono (XLR) with 4 x V3 mono (5A) (via XLR Y split)?
I don’t have experience with the Freya specifically so hard for me to answer, sorry!
Great review
Thanks for watching!
Which op amp(s) do you advise to add a little warmth/smoothness, improved soundstage, little bit more emphasis on reverb to the sound without losing clarity/fidelity/details?
I haven’t the ability to go down the op amp rabbit hole yet, sorry. Maybe someone else will add in some recs though!
I commented about the heat issue but the post seems to have disappeared.😡 Once again...I have no problem running the ZA3 with 48V 5A and 10A PSUs. It barely gets warm, a far cry from some Class A amps I've owned and cooler that the 5V LPSU I use to power my Raspberry Pi/Allo DigiOne sig streamer. I haven't tried listening at eviction notice levels for 12 hrs in the middle of a heat wave but still...
If ever I found it getting too hot I would modify a computer fan to run slow/silent off a 5V USB connection and place behind the amp to draw hot air away from it. But honestly I can't see that happening.
Thanks for sharing!
Great review, are the sound quality exactly the same between the Fosi V3 mono, vs Fosi Za3 Dual mono ?
I only have one ZA3 so can't run a proper comparison.
What kind of loudspeakers do they match the Fosi V3 with. Is it HIFI or just loud sound. Kindly.
hello, i have Fosi Audio TDA7498E older version mini amp, and also rated at 2 to 8 ohms. i HAVE 2 ohms speakers and driving that amp at 15 volts maximum because of heating at 24 volts. that little amp driving those monsters at 2 ohms without a problem and without any distorsion at decent volume level.
Amazing. Thanks for sharing!
What would you recommend as a Pre-amp with volume control for a Turntable setup?
@ForeverAnalog did you get to test bi-amping these monos? (Defo NOT bridging) That is the configuration I have gone for. For the ££ involved, it is worth a punt.
For high frequency band I presume an analog amplifier will be a better option.
So what is the price for two of the amplifiers with two 48 volt volt 10 amp power supplies ?
Check the Kickstarter link for all of the pricing options. There are so many. If I tried to list them it this video would've been twice as long lol
@@ForeverAnalog it should be easier to buy
@@ForeverAnalog oh and thank you very much
@@ForeverAnalog I thought Fosi was a big company I guess I don't understand this Kickstarter stuff why is it a Kickstarter if something goes wrong will I get my money back or or will they keep it Kickstarter seems like a scam or something
@@ForeverAnalogI did buy two of the amplifiers with two separate 10 amp power supplies I think the biggest thing these amplifiers have done for me so far even though I haven't listened to them yet is they did cause me to completely clean up my super super cluttered you couldn't even walk around in there living room of this house 18 ft wide by 24 ft long living room I just completed completely cleaning it out yesterday maybe I will try the amplifiers today I have a pair of speaker Lab s50 speakers we'll see how it sounds
привет, а если у меня есть bluetooth плата с ldac и регулятором громкости, выходами rca и недорогими колонками, то имеет ли смылс покупать v3 моно или можно купить обычный v3 ? будет ли слышна разница в звуке?
I going for the two power supplies preorder but is 5A sufficient for the amplifier? Or will the 10A be better? I haven’t seen anything about max current draw related to max power output. Thanks for the review I was thinking about this question before ordering and you answered it.
Zeos review said the 10a was overkill lol.
48 volts 5 amps will be sufficient for one monoblock on 8 or 6 ohms, so long as you aren't pushing constantly to maximum volume.
A better plan that won't run into heat or overcurrent problems is to use a 36 volt 5 amp supply for each amplifier. That will get you 70 to 75 watts on 8 ohms and 140 on 4 without running into problems.
5a will be enough unless you have some crazy hard to drive big speakers.
Thanks for review
What preamp and what speakers you recommend for these ?
Would you recommend two blocks of 5 A each or 10 A each?
I have a Schiit Saga + preamp and vintage Klipsch Heresy speakers. I don't think 10a is needed, even Zeos said the same in his review. These little guys run HOT with 48v, so 5a will suffice, but since my power supply has a known issue (Fosi confirmed with me after posting this), I've still really enjoyed using my 32v/5a with each!
@@ForeverAnalog My Fosi ZA3 with Fosi 48v 5a supply does not run hot, barely warm when powering Maggie LRS+ or Kef LS50 METAs. I wonder if all this heat you experienced is because of your defective 48v 10a version?
Does anyone know when Fosi is going to start shipping these out? I ordered 2 and I'm dying to try them out! Also, I'm planning on using the v3 to power Martin Logan electrostatic ESL speakers (one v3 for each). Do you think these amps will power the electrostatics enough/sound good? Id love to hear everyone's thoughts!
I think they ship in June but not 100% sure.
I got 2 x V3 Fosi amps with 2 x 48V PSU and bingo - great sound. The pricing on the Kickstarted is a little high. Go get 2 V3's second hand and save the money. If you do bu the new ones, I suspect the price will not be attractive when you add into the extra PSU (that you really should have).
So how are you using them as monoblocks?
@@tamayaytam Initially I just used one channel each amp for left and right. Now I use both channels via a 2-way electronic crossover (again cheap to buy second hand).
I just put my Maggies 0.7 back, now on a pair of ZA3. I marked the spot on the floor with tape yet it took me over an hour to get them to focus in the centre. Only by turning the volume down on the right side I managed to get it centered. First time I had to, but also first time I could in 40 years. I have never had any use for tone controls or balance on my amp.
So, how do these sound compared to the ZA3? Does the new feedback design work?
You're driving .7 maggies with a Fosi amp?
It may be stupid question. I have Wiim Amp. Can i use this Fosi V3 mono connecting to Wiim Amp?
Don’t think so sorry
Unfortunately, Wiim Amp has no analog out, unless if you really love its features, you can open it and take the signal before the amplifier, although I do not think you will gain something by doing this.
Would you recommend buying two of the 32V or two of the 48V? Great video by the way!
Great question. I didn't a great chance to really listen with the 48v supply due to the noise issue, so I can't speak to a true sound comparison. I've loved using the 32V, but some folks will tell you it's all about the 48V. If I get a chance to get a hold of two 48v PS, I'll let you know!
48v is for overhead to drive big bass cone magnets properly. Always go for het highest voltage if you want dynamics. Watts are rated at 1 khz. If they would rate at 40Hz wattage would rate much lower.
Go for the 48v. As for v3 48v power supply gives more dynamic range in my opinion. I feel a substantial difference.
Legit question, how does a two channel amp work with a single power supply and not have the noise issue? Isn’t a two channel amp just two monos in a single chassis?
New subscriber here.
I've been looking at the Ayune Flamingo to use as a preamp with these. I think you reviewed it, didn't you?
Either that, or maybe a Bottlehead DIY preamp.
What do you think?
I haven’t used the Ayune Flamingo yet but I would LOVE to build a bottlehead kit!
@@ForeverAnalog
Thanks. Me too!
There looks to be two opamps for the amplifier in this so is this a true mono or did fosi just shut down one channel like the za3? That doesn't make it a true mono amp right?
Probably neither. Sometimes companies will take one of their stereo amps and bridge it. They'll call it a mono amp, but that's misleading. A bridged amp and a mono amp are not the same thing. If that's what they did then you would be correct. Bridging is a half ass solution. Its very hard on the amp. You're better off buying 2 stereo amps and doing a vertical biamp.
Neither of your assumptions is true...
Grab a copy of the "TPA3255 Spec Sheet" (free, online) and read up on the Parallel Bridge Tied Load (PBTL) configuration. Yes, the TPA3255 chip can be configured as a high current mono amplifier... in the ZA3 that is switched in the V3M it's hard wired.
@@AT-wl9yq
ALL TPA3255 amplifiers are bridged. The technical term is "Bridge Tied Load" and the chip is purposely built to support it.
I'm going to take Aaron's word about the sound quality. I'm sure it's pretty good.
However;
I'm still not convinced this bottom chassis cooling thing is a good idea. There have been several reports of high temperatures and heat. (Flip them over upside down.. do they run cooler?)
I'm also not sold on the "full bore' design with no attenuators to level match and/or set maximum sound levels.
I still don't get why the XLR/RCA switch is needed on the front when there are relatively simple auto-selecting designs that could be incorporated for only a few pennies more.
I really wish these manufacturers would implement the Clipping and Protection warning signals provided by the TPA3255 chip to help people keep their listening sessions within the clean audio capabilities of the amplifier.
Why didn't they continue the 12v trigger from the ZA3 in this new model. Using a trigger out on a pre-amp or with a simple hub they could control two of the monoblocks and 2 powered subs from a single switch.
===
I've been watching all these various iterations of TPA3255 designs from several manufacturers. All of them seem to get it right... _except_ ... and there's always that near miss _except_ . I won't pretend to understand why but if the designers sat back and looked at what it takes to run a comprehensive system, one might reasonably assume they could figure it out.
Lots of YTers releasing videos on this product today. Would love to watch an honest video on why that is.
Companies simply ask reviewers to post on a release day of the product. Thanks for watching!
Two words.... Marketing Blitz.
Not a new idea. Even before the internet press releases about new products would have an embargo date so one early story wouldn’t ruin the newsworthiness of all the other stories.
Yes, it has an XLR connector, but is that input truly/fully balanced?
Simple test ... using a needle touch the contacts inside the XLR connector... you should hear a buzzing sound from pins 2 and 3 but not from pin 1
@@Douglas_Blake_579 Agreed, but one would need to already possess the piece to utilize such a test and I wouldn't order one before knowing the answer.
@@michaelsparrow4798
You could always email Fosi's support address and ask...
Or, perhaps Aaron would agree to probe it for us.
I wonder what will sound better? V3 Monos with a 5A PSU per amp or 10A PSU per amp?
Even Zeos in his review said the 10a per amp was overkill. They run hot at 48v so keep that in mind. I had to use two 32v since my provided PS was faulty and they run much cooler.
Fosi has a handy chart on their website with recommendations for 4-Ohm, 6-Ohm, and 8-Ohm loads, with the expected output for each.
The current difference won't make any difference. Just because you have a 10 amp supply does not mean the amplifier will draw 10 amps from it. Most of the time, during normal listening, it's probably drawing less than an amp.
Typically, lower Voltage PSU has less noise and sounds cleaner. Typically b more Voltage equals better Dynamics. But not all power supplies are created equal so it would be interesting to find out which one works better. The 2x 5A psu should be enough for my needs.
really great to know
My only issue with the za3 is there is a dip in the lower mid range. For example, Alice n chains got me wrong live, lane Staleys voice is not as loud as Jerry Cantrells voice. On that recording they occupy the same space. Plus the beautiful crunchy accoustic guitar is recessed. My fear is the mono blocks will be voiced the same way.
Neither is "voiced" ... the frequency response of both amplifiers is flat. It sounds to me like you've either got a speaker or a room issue.
@@Douglas_Blake_579 I had the aiyima max in the system, song sounded great. Same speakers, same near field listening position. There's a dip in the lower mids somewhere. Phil Collins sounds undynamic on the za3, too. Maybe the aiyima has a bump in the mids that I like over the fosi.
@@danisold
Trust me ... there is no "dip in the lower mids".
I've tried to post a comment explaining this but good old YT decided you didn't need to see it... Long story short... what you are describing is a psychoacoustic phenomenon known as "mid-field cancellation" in which moving your head just a couple of inches can appear to entirely change the way an system sounds.
I appreciate your efforts, and I am not trying to be obtuse, and I leave the possibility open that I am absolutely wrong--I've been wrong before and I'll be so again--it is just that I want Alice n Chains and Phil Collins to sound like the used to, lol. I've got a schitt saga plus coming this week which allows for switching amplifiers. I'll try that and report back.
@@danisold
Do a search for "DBPages music" (you'll recognize it when you see it) then read up on "the listening test" for the info I was trying to share.
We've all been wrong from time to time... that's one of the best ways to learn. Those lessons tend to stay with us.
How come Fosi doesn’t make a matching preamp for those mono amps?
Good question. I know a lot of folks are waiting for one ☺️
Did the noise disappear when you powered on the other V3 mono?
Fosi confirmed with me the PS they sent me has a known issue and will be replaced before releasing to consumers.
Is it possible to connect the 48v 10a to each mono?
Yes.
But possibly not the smartest setup. For reasons of heat and current demands, I generally recommend 36 volt 5 amp supplies for the TPA3255 amps in fully enclosed cases. So the "perfect" system here would be 2 V3M amps with 2 36/5 power bricks.
Another advantage of two power supplies would be more power. 😁
If it seems too good to be true it usually is.
I think some other reviewers’ PS are working fine so maybe some of us just got duds lol.
I'm sure these sound great. It's too bad about the power supply.The British Audiophile rated the original V3 as the best amp under 1000 pounds. He is British after all. Great info. Thanks for the heads up.
Thanks as always for watching!
Doesn’t he have a very high sensitive speakers? Might not be a problem on another set of speakers.
Yeah it's a problem no matter what speakers ... that kind of noise isn't supposed to happen ever, at all, anytime.
Fosi sent me a note today saying the power supply they sent me has a known issue but will be fixed before released to consumers.
Just received the 48V 10A PSU for the ZA3. My initial impressions compared to the 48V 5A version are that it sounds more detailed, better separation but possibly a bit thinner sounding. I switched back and forth a dozen times on different tracks and then let the 10A in for a few hours listening to random tracks. Could be fatigue or my state of mind so I'll need to give it another go tomorrow with rested ears.
I was quite happy with the 5A version but decide to order the 10A somewhat out of curiosity but also hoping that it would have more headroom for difficult to drive speakers.
Thanks for sharing! Let me know your thoughts after some further listening!
You didn't run them in balance ? They are balanced by design And cancel noise. ? Also separate power supplys is the way to go ! If this was designed with XLRs those are primary and RCAs are second by design. If you hook it up balance and still have noise then something else is wrong .
Fosi sent me a faulty power supply 😊
Balanced inputs will only clean up noise on the signal cord. It won't fix any other problem.
How about the monoprice amp that has a real 90wpc measured 20-20khz. not just 1khz? Class a/b, no need for extra power supply or opamp changes.
I need to check that out, thank you for the suggestion!
Maybe the cable they sent you to power both was defective
Perhaps, but I still think using separate power supplies is the most ideal when using mono blocks. Just my opinion though. Thanks for watching!
Did you test each independently with the included power supply? I don't think a single power supply would be an inherent problem. If the noise continues with the included PS when it's only hooked up to one amp, it's the power supply or amplifier, NOT the fact that they're both hooked up to the same power supply. You've also got a problem if you hook up separate power supplies that don't test the same in voltage and amperage. There's no likelihood that they do even if they're both spec'd the same, thus one amp may be 80 watts and the other could be 90 watts, etc. More info is needed.
Fosi told me the power supply they sent has known issues and it will be fixed before it ships to consumers.
@@ForeverAnalog That makes more sense.
The V3 manufacturer is making inaccurate claims. Claiming each V3 mono amp can deliver 240 watts into 4 ohms. They supply either a shared 480 watt power brick, or 2 240 watt power bricks. This means that in order for those V3 mono amps to deliver that level of power, they must be 100% efficient. They’re not. They get warm. That warmth is generated by electrical inefficiency. Begs the question, what other inaccuracies are hidden with in?
Watt gibberish, but how do they sound?
@@marksauer7604 well, honestly, by all accounts they sound pretty good. Ive never heard them, so I can’t verify that. I’ve heard them described as ‘lively’ and ‘energetic’. Fine. But me, personally, I lean more toward an effortless, relaxed, presentation. Linear power supplies with oversized O ring transformers driving a class AB amplification topology tend to satisfy that preference.
@@howardskeivys4184
"I've never heard them but I'm here to trash on them anyway" ...
Really???
@@Douglas_Blake_579 I haven’t trashed them. I’m not in a position to do so as I have never heard them. I’ve merely speculated that maybe, the manufacturer’s power rating just might be, liberal.
@@howardskeivys4184
Well then, don't frame the comment as an absolute:
_"The V3 manufacturer is making inaccurate claims. "_
I've been working with the TPA3255 chip for the past year or so, had lots of them on my bench and I can confirm their ratings are both accurate and in compliance with the TPA3255 spec sheets.
The TPA3255 is a very high quality chip, made for pro-audio and AV systems and it is fully capable of excellent sound and performance.
Maybe next time look up the chip's specs before trying to convince people away from it.
How much does one cost?
Check the Kickstarter link as they have them priced in a bunch of different configurations
Doesn’t look like plenty of venting.
Like it except there was a no crossover bypass for the subwoofer output.
Thanks for watching!
Add an active crossover, Rolls makes a couple, and so does Sublime Acoustic, along with others.
There is no subwoofer output on the the V3M.
I got this confused with the ZA3
@@robertendsley8312
Ahh ... okay.
The Chinese power amps need to list RMS power rating instead of peak power rating.
They did. The chart at 1:00 is accurate.
Yes you really can get 240 RMS watts out of this thing.
It seems other reviews haven't had the same problem as you.
One reviewer has and Fosi confirmed with me they sent me a PS with a now known fault, which thankfully they will replace before releasing to consumers.
Most "other reviewers" are focused on the selling points, do quick listening tests and then sing the praises. A good reviewer also listens and checks for problems and flaws... Not spotting something like this noise problem speaks volumes about the quality of most reviews.
you know....as much as I like these mini amps, the power supplies are highly questionable and likely the main problem with them. I have a za3 with the 48v/5a supply and I don't get noise through my system, but the connection between the brick and the power plug end of the cable comes apart way too easily, and sometimes even when everything is connected "tightly", the PS makes a bizarre whining noise. have to unplug it, let it sit for 10 minutes or so, and reconnect it to the mains to stop the noise. It's not encouraging and there is no way in hell I'd leave this thing on and unattended.
Just shady.
Sorry to hear about that issue!
Sounds like you have a defective power brick. You can get replacements from online vendors cheaply enough...
I saw most of reviews, this review is less stellar in fact below average I think you have a retake review, no indepth comparison with V3 integrated.
Thanks for the feedback. Each reviewer has their own style and I decided to focus on advising people on which power supply to buy. Honestly, I didn't see many other in depth comparisons on the V3 from other reviewers either lol.
@@ForeverAnalog If you think about a a potential buyer/user what I should be looking for so many models around the same price range, Does it compare with all the rest, V3 integrated, Aiyama, etc in terms of sonic performance, features, built quality , etc so many things you can talk about. Then summarise, should one buy it and in what content.
@@yttean98
Aaron did the correct thing ... He identified a flaw in the design and reported it.
You wouldn't want to spend good money on these only to discover there's a flaw nobody went about reporting... would you?
When buying a set of monoblocks with a common powersupply, you have a stereoamplifier In two cabinets - why wold anyone want that?
More interesting is, why Fosi does not put the powersupply into the cabinet and make it themselves - that would give them a few more controlpoints and avoiding the powerconnector that needs to carry a lot of amperes.
Two reasons ... UL and CSA approval.
Neither is cheap and they get pretty stringent with SMPS driven stuff.
By using external bricks, purchased from 3rd parties with approvals in place, they entirely bypass the big hassle.
@@Douglas_Blake_579 Okay - thats more than fair :-)
Not feasible at these prices 😊.
@@bikeman7982
Actually, open frame SMPS units that mount into a device chassis are usually cheaper than external power bricks. No cords, or cases to pay for.
@@Douglas_Blake_579But won’t that incur the cost of UL certification?
If your car has 4 wheels and it doesn't run because you have one engine, it's because that specific engine is faulted.
Replacing that single engine with 4 engines-each for every wheel is not the sensible solution.
If your single ps ingect noise, most chances are that it's a bad ps or even a bad power cable.
I'm not saying that having a single ps for each amp is a bad practice, I'm saying that your trouble shooting process as described in this video is not supporting that argument.
Thanks for watching and sharing! Fosi told me the PS they sent was faulty and even designed a "filter" to release with the product launch.
@ForeverAnalog
So the ps was indeed faulted?
In that case, using a proper single ps for both amps should be ok, right?
@@FugaziSB yeah, but Fosi is still selling the one PS - I just think mono amps should have separate PS so I thought the combination was silly to begin with
Wow thats exactly what i wrote on the comments at cheapaudioman channel. 2 amps feed from 1 power supply is the same like a single amp, that damage the concept of balanced amps. Another thing. That noise sometimes comes from vacuum tubes near some wifi from the streamer, check your equipment setup. Or ground the amps!. I have to mention, i tested 2 V3s to power s biwiring speakers. Was awesome, the image and layering increased. The soundstage not much.
Thanks! I haven't had any issues with using separate power supplies and Fosi emailed saying they are aware of the faulty single PS, so everything has been working fine since then.
thats because its not a true mono block design its using one half of the TDA3255
Can anyone name any mainstream speaker company besides Tekton that offers 2 ohm stereo speakers (non PA or Car audio)?
Why would you want that?
@@Douglas_Blake_579 I don't want or need them I'm just curious who is using the 2 ohm post on those high end amps that have a positive for 8,4 or 2 ohms :)
@@HappyHighwayman
Probably almost nobody ... the transformer taps you're pointing to are for old-school tube amps.
While it is true there are not many 2 olm speaker out there. Many 4 olm speakers will dip well below 4 olms especially in the base region where it is important an amplifier will not have a problem delivering all the current necessary. This is why some speakers are hard to drive. If you have speakers with this issue and play the very loud using two of those 48 volt 10 amp power supplies would be a good thing.
@@stevengagnon4777 For sure. These seem like great value and I wouldn't hesitate to buy them right now except I'm running an Aiyima A07 stereo amp for my desktop at like half main volume and it can drive them plenty loud.
I'm confused as to why anyone would want these things. Between the two amps and the power brick it doesn't save much space over a traditional amplifier, plus you have the mess of wires that comes with it. And for the price (probably $300 retail after the Kickstarter is over) you can get an entry level (new) Sony, Yamaha, or Onkyo stereo receiver. And if you're willing to buy used, there's a ton of cool stuff that blows these things away for the price. So...I just don't get it.
Yeah. I always think part of the fun of this hobby is different products appeal to different consumers, just like some folks prefer tubes to solid state, etc.
My thoughts as well but one TH-camr compared the ZA3 more or less ''favorably'' to a $5000 Naim Supernait 3. Other than that I haven't seen many comparisons to more affordable amps. Make what you will of that claim. I think if you just get ONE ZA3 and don't fall down the rabbit hole with expensive discrete opamps, PSU upgrades or a dual mono setup you don't have much to lose. I bought mine out of curiosity and, for now, have yet to try swapping opamps.
It's maybe a good amp, but doesn't worth its price.
Buying a TPA3255 amp with $140 is insane. TPA3255 module only worth $15. Then the case worths over $100?
What so called PFFB is just a few caps and resistors suggested in the TI datasheet.
Just give me a true balanced monoblock. I dont care about power supply. There are tons of options for this.
I don't understand how a company can sell a product with such glaring flaws.
They are not selling the product. These reviews are based on pre-production "prototypes" and it is very likely a number of issues will be corrected before the full on production begins in June.
I don't think the product is flawed especially since the amps themselves have worked wonderfully since installing two separate PS I pulled from other class d amps (as mentioned in the video). Fosi contacted me and said they are aware of the faulty PS they sent me and it will be corrected before shipping to consumers in a few months. That's why in my review, I suggested people still buy the amps, just get separate power supplies. Thanks for watching!
@@ForeverAnalog
Okay ... one more test... take the Y connector you got with the 48 volt supply and hook it up with one of the 32volt supplies and two amps. You won't get to full volume because it will draw too much current... but it will be enough to let you assess if the noise returns when idling.
If it does return... it is not a power supply issue.
over hyped....get the ZA3
I do like the ZA3! Thanks for watching!
get two psus, problem solved
W T H. DID this company tell everyone to come out od the wood work and say nice crap about the damn China stuff. OK course you want say anything about switching powee supply
Not knowing to much. A have a lot of Class D. Amps
My Polish friend. I suggest you should buy them. Who are you ???
Fosi Audio VS Competition .Well it's all the same as 5$usd amplifier modules on E bay 100 W/ channel @22 volts @ 10 amp .You add a box and claim !@#$%^%$.To my ears these are a rip -off.Full background noise and poor imaging.That's why they are not worth considering .Cause after 2 weeks you'll want to send them back ! Buy something worthwhile..Spend more and get closure !
There are already Soooo many amps the world don't need another amp🤢
中国人骨子里的：多快好省 大干快上 差不多得了
If you would stop promoting and evaluating this Chinese crap , maybe they would go away and people will start buying products that will hold up over time from reputable companies.
Thanks, but I still these think amps are a great gateway for newcomers to hifi who will eventually upgrade to the products you mention.
FWIW ... I have about 60 "sound bar killer" systems using these mini-amps sold to friends and friends of friends. The oldest is now about 5 years ... and not one service call on any of it.
Very informative now cut that ridiculous hair
Typical " cut corner type" of the Cheap Chinacom amps.
Nice discussion! I am looking at a handful of Fosi products, with the V3 mono amps being a serious contender. It looks like your preamp was one of the Schiit products and I was wondering, which one. I’m disappointed that Fosi has XLR inputs on a couple of their amps, but they don’t have a true preamp with XLR outputs. The closest thing is their ZD3 balanced DAC, and I may end up buying that except for the fact that I’d love to run my turntable through this system, and it has no RCA inputs. It also does not have tone controls. Frossi seems to have several products that can do it all, but no one product that can do it all. Their MC 331 integrated amp looks like a good low power choice and has what appears to be a nice tube preamp section. Thanks in advance.
Hi, I would be patient on the preamp as I think Fosi has a P4 coming that will have 3 RCA inputs.