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

 

[Erebus]

Another interesting new Fosi product: the BT20A MAX. I have one of the original BT20As.

Fosi Audio BT20A MAX Bluetooth Stereo Power Amp

Delivering up to 300W ×2 peak and 180W ×2 RMS at 4Ω, the amplifier provides ample headroom and dynamic authority. Supporting 2–8Ω speakers and featuring a dedicated subwoofer output, it enables effortless construction of a powerful, well-integrated 2.1 system.

fosiaudio.com

 

[F1 Fan]

No Qubuz integration yet on the S3.. #whatonearth

 

[EddNog]

No Qubuz integration yet on the S3.. #whatonearth

The developers indicated on the Fosi forums that Qobuz Connect is in the works, along with Roon Ready certification (which would also allow streaming Qobuz to the S3 if you have both services).

I went ahead and took advantage of the 10% off coupon code and ordered an S3 off Amazon for Wednesday delivery for under $250US shipped. Either it does what I want and I can sell the WiiM (and give the proceeds to my dad, whom this WiiM actually belongs to) or it doesn't and I can return the S3 back to Amazon.

And yes, I know the ZD3 has ARC, but I use a different DAC (Topping D90 III Sabre) and the ZD3 has no digital pass-through, which one would not reasonably expect it to.

-Ed

 

[F1 Fan]

It’s £240 here in the UK via Amazon..

 

[canard]

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

FOSI AUDIO S3 Lecteur Réseau DAC Préamplificateur Symétrique

Le Fosi Audio S3 est un appareil extrêmement complet remplissant les fonctions de lecteur réseaux, DAC et préamplificateur symétrique.

www.audiophonics.fr

Coming soon... On the analog hardware side... what could the future Pro Plus MK2 be like... no?


Quid of software? Linkplay inside?

 

[Aquaman]

Quid of software? Linkplay inside?

This is the key question. Not just with this product but with any streaming solution on the market.
There is zero info on how good their software is and there's no way to try any of it unless you have one of their devices.

A major shortcoming across the whole market, including WiiM.

 

[canard]

(for this essentially "streamer-DAC" not expensive positioning, a bit of a shame no input spdif coax..the price of the lack of space due to the XLR connector...? They should have gone for the 6.5mm balanced jack option)

(Airplay with this futur fosi..)

 

[EddNog]

Okay, so here's how it goes with the S3...

When left in HDMI input, the S3 will turn on and turn off on its own based on signals from ARC/CEC. This is fantastic, and already beats Eversolo completely. Volume control via CEC also works fine.

When left in a different input, such as AirPlay, the S3 ignores all signals from ARC/CEC. This is a satisfactory arrangement. For many people, the ARC functionality is something they only want to use occasionally, and this prevents ARC signals from being overly possessive of the S3 (some WiiM Ultra owners complain about this, although there is a switch to disable CEC takeover when other inputs are selected).

If the TV is being watched but another input is in use (such as AirPlay) and the S3 is switched back to HDMI input, it will pick back up on the ARC audio and function fine including volume control and power control.

I also tested automatic power-on with AirPlay. So if S3 is turned off, when I look in output device list in Apple Music on my iPhone, S3 is there. Tapping on it wakes the S3 and any devices attached via 12V trigger. Please note I tested S3 using Ethernet connection--I am not sure if this works over Wi-Fi, I don't feel like programming my Wi-Fi information into the S3 yet.

Initial setup is extremely quick and basic. It comes with a remote, but I don't personally see much use for the remote for my own purposes of this thing since all I want is basically an ARC processing device.

I've since returned the S3, as I tested a ZD3 and its ARC functionality is the same. Since I have an analog preamp sitting between my main DAC (which uses the preamp's XLR input) and my power amps, the ZD3 uses the RCA input, and I just leave it on RCA input whenever I'm not listening to music, so my family can just use the Apple TV 4K remote to do everything and not worry about dealing with the rest of my system.

-Ed

 

[Wiimer]

Okay, so here's how it goes with the S3...

When left in HDMI input, the S3 will turn on and turn off on its own based on signals from ARC/CEC. This is fantastic, and already beats Eversolo completely. Volume control via CEC also works fine.

When left in a different input, such as AirPlay, the S3 ignores all signals from ARC/CEC. This is a satisfactory arrangement. For many people, the ARC functionality is something they only want to use occasionally, and this prevents ARC signals from being overly possessive of the S3 (some WiiM Ultra owners complain about this, although there is a switch to disable CEC takeover when other inputs are selected).

If the TV is being watched but another input is in use (such as AirPlay) and the S3 is switched back to HDMI input, it will pick back up on the ARC audio and function fine including volume control and power control.

I also tested automatic power-on with AirPlay. So if S3 is turned off, when I look in output device list in Apple Music on my iPhone, S3 is there. Tapping on it wakes the S3 and any devices attached via 12V trigger. Please note I tested S3 using Ethernet connection--I am not sure if this works over Wi-Fi, I don't feel like programming my Wi-Fi information into the S3 yet.

Initial setup is extremely quick and basic. It comes with a remote, but I don't personally see much use for the remote for my own purposes of this thing since all I want is basically an ARC processing device.

I've since returned the S3, as I tested a ZD3 and its ARC functionality is the same. Since I have an analog preamp sitting between my main DAC (which uses the preamp's XLR input) and my power amps, the ZD3 uses the RCA input, and I just leave it on RCA input whenever I'm not listening to music, so my family can just use the Apple TV 4K remote to do everything and not worry about dealing with the rest of my system.

-Ed

What did you think of the app’s UI and usability?