The competition doesn't sleep

[jed1]

Fosi announces S3 streamer with Apple Airplay, Google Chromecast, eARC, Roon and balanced outputs, subwoofer output, and many other features. According to Fosi forum, it will get firmware updates in future to support room correction.

Fosi Audio S3 Balanced HiFi Streamer/DAC/Preamp

Fosi Audio S3: Wi-Fi 6 & Bluetooth 5.3 streamer w/ flagship chipset, balanced circuit. NAS/online, App control. streamer/DAC/preamp. Clean, detailed sound.

fosiaudio.com

It looks very promising and seems to compete with Pro Plus and Ultra.

 

[dtc]

Fosi announces S3 streamer with Apple Airplay, Google Chromecast, eARC, Roon and balanced outputs, subwoofer output, and many other features. According to Fosi forum, it will get firmware updates in future to support room correction.

Fosi Audio S3 Balanced HiFi Streamer/DAC/Preamp

Fosi Audio S3: Wi-Fi 6 & Bluetooth 5.3 streamer w/ flagship chipset, balanced circuit. NAS/online, App control. streamer/DAC/preamp. Clean, detailed sound.

fosiaudio.com

It looks very promising and seems to compete with Pro Plus and Ultra.

So, no coax or usb inputs or outputs, no screen (which some will like) and only 5 band EQ - But AKM dac, AirPlay2, balanced design and balanced outputs.

To be released March 16. App is suppose to be up on Google and Apple stores.

Not a game changer for everyone but a solid first offering with some features Ultra does not have. No usb is probably the biggest miss - but in their forum they do say usb will be coming in the next version.

Now, let's see about the price.

 

[EddNog]

So, no coax or usb inputs or outputs, no screen (which some will like) and only 5 band EQ - But AKM dac, AirPlay2, balanced design and balanced outputs.

To be released March 16. App is suppose to be up on Google and Apple stores.

Not a game changer for everyone but a solid first offering with some features Ultra does not have. No usb is probably the biggest miss - but in their forum they do say usb will be coming in the next version.

Now, let's see about the price.

I've sent them a query to ask if it will power up on its own with a power-on signal over ARC CEC. If so, assuming this thing is reasonably cheap, I can sell my WiiM Ultra for decent money and just use one of these, since all I use WiiM Ultra for is ARC anyway, and it's currently connected to my DAC via optical, which this does have an output for.

-Ed

 

[dtc]

Sonos just announced pre-orders for the new Sonos Play - a battery powered portable speaker, complete with voice control, for $299. It is based on the Era 100 which is a very good sounding speaker. I know there are a lot of anti-Sonos people here (for good reason) but this looks like a nice offering. Wiim should probably add something similar to their lineup.

Sonos Play: A Versatile Bluetooth Speaker

Take your sound on the go with Sonos Play, our most versatile bluetooth speaker.

www.sonos.com

 

[Aquaman]

I've sent them a query to ask if it will power up on its own with a power-on signal over ARC CEC. If so, assuming this thing is reasonably cheap, I can sell my WiiM Ultra for decent money and just use one of these, since all I use WiiM Ultra for is ARC anyway, and it's currently connected to my DAC via optical, which this does have an output for.

-Ed

Yep, ARC, UPnP and trigger out is all I need. If only it didn‘t have that ugly copper-coloured knob.

 

[EddNog]

Yep, ARC, UPnP and trigger out is all I need. If only it didn‘t have that ugly copper-coloured knob.

Remote's bluetooth, and I would expect volume controllable via CEC as well, so theoretically you could just hide the thing entirely (I would--I only want completely black stuff visible in my console).

 

[dtc]

I've sent them a query to ask if it will power up on its own with a power-on signal over ARC CEC. ...

-Ed

You might also try the Fosi Audio forum. There is a thread on the S3 and the Product Manager participates.

 

[EddNog]

You might also try the Fosi Audio forum. There is a thread on the S3 and the Product Manager participates.

Thanks for the reminder; I haven't posted/participated there in years.

Just posed the same question in the S3 thread there.

-Ed

 

[Roedelheim]

Yep, ARC, UPnP and trigger out is all I need. If only it didn‘t have that ugly copper-coloured knob.

It is easy to replace without any tool in 10 seconds with every 6mm axle knob in the market.

 

[Aquaman]

Remote's bluetooth, and I would expect volume controllable via CEC as well, so theoretically you could just hide the thing entirely (I would--I only want completely black stuff visible in my console).

Of course ARC has volume control. If it didn‘t it would be pointless. I‘ve never seen it different.
One of the advantages of the WiiM Ultra (amongst others) is that it is quite decorative. The standby clock display is also very nice and useful. And once we get the clock also during playback the screen will really make sense eventually.

 

[EddNog]

Of course ARC has volume control. If it didn‘t it would be pointless. I‘ve never seen it different.
One of the advantages of the WiiM Ultra (amongst others) is that it is quite decorative. The standby clock display is also very nice and useful. And once we get the clock also during playback the screen will really make sense eventually.

I would agree with you if the enclosure were available in black, but it’s not, so I try my best to hide the top of the WiiM from sight while allowing the screen to show.

-Ed