As a drummer and listening to the Ritchie Everett -The One sound clip, I like the bass depth and punch of AMP1. I haven't finished the video yet, but I'm guessing that AMP3 has to be Sparkos, because it has better range, openess and air for the mid and high range freqs, but lacks the punch and depth of the bassdrum in songs. Sadly, that's why I returned mine. I like the punch and depth of my bassdrums. :) Thank you very much for doing this video! Since 99.99% of us that don't have equipment like this to test, we rely on people like you to do these critical tests. Thank you.
Great demo. I got 2 Aiyimas and love it. I like the Fosi ZA3 too,it has a bigger n better looking case n metal orange nob., but its almost double the price of the Aiyima max, plus i dont have XLR. The Aiyima does not look n feel as good. I am not into looks, but the plastic volume nob feels very cheap. But the sound is dynamic and punchy. And bang for buck, the Aiyima wins. I like your demo cause you play the music, i dont know why so many reviewers never plays the music. I know playing sound in RU-vid is not the same, but we can for sure hear the difference between them. Keep up your channel, its way better than all the others on RU-vid...
Thank you very much for your comment and feedback. Yes Aiyima a at it's price range is amazing :) Well recording music, first is difficult due to copyrights, second it takes time and money to perfect recording skills it takes more time to record and edit, and last but not least everyone can hear if it's bullcrap or not what you say ;)
I totally agree, i changed my 3000 € class A Amp for 2 ZA3 in dual mono. But I changed the internal câble, the condensators 63V 2200µf by Mundorf MLytic and binding Post by Elec AUdio with Power Supply 48V 7,3 A. For the Op amp i choosed Burson Audio V7 Vivid Pro (For XLR) blended with Burson Audio V7 Classic Pro for volume, for me better than Sparkos SS6602, it's my opinion. It's just fantastic, you can play with those amps without spend a lot of money and obtain a great great sound. Thank you for your demo.
I forgot about my A-class Atoll amplifier, now it seems like a nightmare to me - soft sound without a normal separation of musical images. After watching this video, I also tried RCA instead of XLR (dual mono too). The musical images have become noticeably less holographic, but the harmonics and depth of the musical scene have slightly increased. Then I read your comment and ordered myself a pair of V7 Pro Classic for the gain stage. For XLR I left my Sparkos SS3602, I really like the result.
For all of the cost you have added on to those cheap amps, you could have just purchased something better instead of these. people forget that I guess.
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Thank you very much for this informative review and comparison. I am awaiting the V3 Mono release to see if there is a difference between these amps. I would just like to ask if the Sparkos are 'really' necessary to get the best out the V3? Your time and efforts to share this with us all are very much appreciated. Take care.
Hi, the V3 monos just landed here and I'll put on the review next Saturday ;) No the Sparkos are not necessary. I tested many different opamps already and liked the discrete ones the most. With the V3 Monos I'll do an Opamp wars and will compare many different ones :)
Given the fact I'm hearing your demo on 1" self powered computer speakers the subtle differences you're describing are lost to my hearing experience. I could send the signal to the home setup and see if I can hear any changes but my ears are older not necessarily wiser. Anything above 13,500 Hz is gone with the wind! I did buy the Wiim ZA3 with the 48 Vdc P.S. and use it in mono to power an 8" subwoofer I built. It works beautifully in that function. Nice clean sound class D amp for a great price, so far so good.
I have not finished the entire video yet. 6 minutes in so far and I like Amp 3 the best and 2 is my second choice also sounds good. Amp 3 has great vocals ok mids and punchy low's. Amp 2 has good vocals and mids but the lows sound muddy and not very dynamic.
I've got the ZA3's running in dual mono XLR and chose amp 1 as the more natural of the three. I'm listening thorough a pair of cheap $20.00 headphones over U-Tube and could tell the difference. I have not upgraded op amps as of yet, but I will.
Guess AMP-3 is wrongly subtitled as FOSI V3 STEREO, isn't it AMP 3-DUAL MONO you've been using since 2 months like you mentioned here: 0:32? Hope Fosi Audio brings out the Fosi V3 monoblocs with XLRs soon, because music from AMP-3's RCAs sounded full-bodied, layered/nuanced; way better than even the celebrated AMP-1 configuration. Meanwhile nice if you can play the PecanPi + XLR against other streamers (perhaps WiiM Pro Plus) along with matching GAN amps from Orchard Audio playing against Fosi V3 RCA monoblocs. Thanks for your efforts and continued interest. Hope you're getting monetized.
I've jusst watch another review that he also changed the XLR op amp with the V7 Vivid and also the right Channel one then plat dual mono... Does it make the XLR into another higher level with the better XLR Op amps? I saw that you mention about take out the Sub op amp and also the Left channel Op amp too, is it better? Or just leave them there?
Some liked the AMP1, others liked the AMP2 and the rest liked the AMP3. This just tells me that each amp is not better than the other. It just boils down to personal preference. There's no right or wrong since it's yourself that you are trying to please not the so-called 'audiophiles'.
I keep coming back to this video to listen to your music selection.😇 One question: Do FOSI, AIYIMA amps use GaNFETs? Else what transistor type is used?
Bought two 60volt 10amp Linear power supplies for my Fosi Monoblocks. Set the voltage at 50 volts and 10 amps. The difference is incredible. I have no test equipment, but subjectively they opened up and drove my very inefficient AR3a’s like they were new speakers instead of being over 40 years old. (They were rebuilt five years ago with original drivers and crossovers.) The Fosi amps replaced a Van Alstein Dynaco Stereo Double 400.
V3 for me .. more musical voices ,trumpet -saxophone and more rounded highs . others might sound more precise and clean but also too clinical for my taste . could be better if matched with a tube preamp but as standalone amps i prefer v3 . Im very happy i found your channel , best reviews ever in every aspect , respect for your work and honesty above all ..
Thank you very much for your comment and feedback. Glad you like the videos and I hope you will be happy with more that are coming :) The new Fosi V3 Monos just landed at my place and are braking in for 3 days now. Will listen on Monday and publish the video about them next Saturday :)
I would think it depends on the source. I just changed to XLR cables from a balanced DAC and preamp, and it was a definite improvement in the soundstage.
Vorrei comprare uno dei due, ma non so quale scegliere, dopo questo video sono ancora più confuso😂 lo za3 sembra più preciso e dettagliato e probabilmente in futuro vorrei metterci un p3 insieme, il v3 sembra suonare più naturale sulle voci, ma più sporco e meno controllato sui bassi… ma non so se è la registrazione, consigli?
If you want only RCA and want the best overall performance out of the box go for V3. If you can buy 2 units for dual mono and swap opamps go for za3. Either way go for 48v 5a power supply
Where was this comparison when i was deciding between za3 and v3! In the end i went with the latter because za3 was much more expensive... I've always been questioning why my system sounded so flat and devoid of energy considering my speakers are known to be very energetic (goldenear aon3). Looks like i'll be upgrading to the za3's soon but will probably not go mono due to space constraints. Thsnks again man this is really an eye opener.
I have to correct that which I said in my earlier post. I see now that you did reveal what Amp 1, Amp 2, and Amp 3, are. It's written in the "conclusion" part of the video. I didn't see that before. I apologize for my inability to watch carefully. But my other suggestions... about using the same musical phrases to demo each option and to use time stamps that we can click on to switch between the options... are still good suggestions.
Hello Peter ;) It's all fine :) thanks for your suggestion. With 15s iterations for each change the chapters would be too dense to even click on them properly ;) Nevertheless your IQ are being build at the moment ;)
Good day! very uncanny and honest review and with ample experience and really deep dive into the real issue without being influenced but the price tags and fancy looking units that cost more than 20, 30 times more than these great little Class D amps. As an extremely happy user of Aiyima A08pro, I'm tempted to try the Fosi products. But based on your comments, I may stay put as I had bought the 07Max to play against my A08pro and in the end I much preferred the A08pro. Man this is one heck of an amp! The musicality, PRAT and extension to both ends is simpler better. It is simply more involving! It has gotten better with the 36V PS than the 32V that I have been using. Have you auditioned the A08Pro yet? What's your view? I have also recommended my friend to get the Holo Spring1 L3 at dirt cheap price of 650USD 2nd hand and he is all so happy ! That said, I have been extremely happy with my Wattson Emerson Analog which the DAC part in this little unit can compare nicely wit the Holo Spring 1. It plays MUSIC!!!
Thank you for your comment and positive feedback :) I try to avoid all units with features I don't use like bluetooth or EQ since its additional signal path that potentially impacts the sound. But one of our employees has the Aiyma A07Pro and is very happy with it. The Spring at 650$ thats a steal. Great DAC for silly money. Congtars to your friend.
@@VirtualHiFi the 07pro may have similar circuitry as 08pro. But 07max is not be the same. Once again proves adding "hifi" grade parts is not working all the time. I much prefer the 08pro to 07max... My friend got a first gen L3 , current model is already 3rd gen already, hence much more expensive now!
Thanks for your awesome work ❤ ! I listened on my AMD PC via optical on Nubert 125 - ZA3 is awesome on RCA. Damned i bought the Audio BT20A Pro ;-). I want the ZA3 Mono system too...
The only one I knew for certain was amp 3 was the V. I thought 2 was the Z with XLR and that 1 was the Z with RCA. Thank you for doing the comparisons. They all sound amazing. I had the Aiyima A07 Max at home in my office and love it. I'm going to upgrade the op amps now. Thank you for helping me appreciate the difference in the sound quality.
Comparing cassette decks is much more entertaining, differences are way bigger. Listening to this samples differences are so subtile, that nothing to talk about....
I only tried - Fosi Audio DS1 Headphone Amps Tiny Amplifier USB DAC which they sent me and I use it for my phone to power my Moondrop Blessing 3 with and it works beautifully. But the small dedicated DACs from Fosi no, I'm waiting for something that will be truly groundbraking since I had multiple small DACs like that and they were never as groundbraking as the TPA3255 amps ;)
Ok, so you tell us that you are going to do a sound demo between 3 different possible choices... - Fosi Z3 RCA - Fosi Z3 XLR - Fosi VR Then in the video you label the 3 versions... - Amp 1 - Amp 2 - Amp 3 because you don't want us to know which is which and you don't want us to be biased. You want it to be a blind test and you want us to have a completely open mind. So far so good! We listen carefully and hear differences. Then in the "conclusion" part of the video, YOU tell us what YOU hear the differences to be and that you seem prefer the V3... and you tell us why (the sonic characteristics if V3). BUT WHAT YOU DON'T DO IS TELL US WHICH ONE WAS AMP 1, WHICH ONE WAS AMP 2, AND WHICH ONE WAS AMP 3. This means that we never get to know which version to associate with what WE were hearing. Yet, people in their comments say, "I preferred Z3 because I heard..." or "I preferred V3 because I heard..." even though they can't possibly know whether the one that they were hearing at any given moment was the Z3 or the V3. Of course, after you say, in the conclusions, that the Z3 sounds like this and the V3 sounds like that, we can go back and hear if AMP 1, 3 or 3 is the Z3 or the V3 based on what YOU said, but in that case you have put the idea in our heads. At that point we are no longer totally open minded. We have a bias that we are looking for... which is what you didn't want in the first place. You wanted us to listen to see IF we heard any difference between 2 different amps and, if so, decide what those differences were. That's why you didn't describe the sonic differences between the two amps before doing the demo. You described the sonic characteristics of the Z3 but NOT the sonic characteristics of the V3. So my first suggestion is that the very first thing you should say in the conclusions is "AMP 1 was..., AMP 2 was... AMP 3 was..." giving us the opportunity to decide whether what we already heard agrees with what you say you hear. The other suggestion I would like to make is that you test each component using the same musicial phrase and that you time stamp each one so that we can instantaneously shift from AMP 1 to AMP 2 and hear the same musical phrase that we just heard in AMP 1. This is the way that Chord Audio do their comparisons of the F 10 Nenuphar, F8 Nenuphar, and Jazzon speakers... and also what they do when comparing the two different versions of their Qualio speakers... and it is very effective.
ZA3 in XLR is good ZA3 in RCA is much better with better body and textures in the mids V3 just gets a worse with a sour timbre. The ZA3 in RCA is easily the best
First track. B is the winner. C and after A, but sound similar. B sounds much better, with more body. ZA3 mono XLR must be. B 10 points 👈 C 7.5 points A 6.5 points Same with third track. With vocal as 1º, more easy. Easy test again. You made very good recordings!
I was wrong, B is Fosi ZA3 but RCA and not XLR (A), which has puzzled me. Are you sure it is not the other way around? If it is as you say then the XLR input is not well implemented because it sounds much worse than the unbalanced RCA 🧐
@@D1N02 From what FOSI said, the improvements with opamp upgrades for XLR are marginal, as the one already installed only does the balance filtering, and is only part of the equation of the entirety of the combination of opamps in the ZA3. Hope that makes sense.
I'd say it cover my previous experiences with the XLR. The sound is more energetic, with better definition and resolution, but is overall more sterile. XLR cancel out even harmonic distortions and that might be the reason. But overall for the richness in the midrange SE is the way to go and for punch and control XLR takes the lead.
