I think Fosi realized how successful were the ZA3 and V3, and realized that there is a missing link there. A missing link of quality, affordable DAC that will perfectly fit in that equation for a fantastic sound on a budget.
Build quality and features
And lo and behold, we have ZD3, which is an incredible value in any sense possible, from sound to almost unbeatable versatility and upgradability in this price range. Yes, ZD3 is another amazing entry in Fosi lineup, and we will see how well it fares against competition and similar devices. It is an ES9039Q2M chip, which is now very common in DACs in this price range. Especially in new ones. And with an amazing price range of 180 dollars, it is really going strong and making a strong case for itself. It can decode 32-bit 768kHz via USB and 24-bit 192kHz via everything else.
Firstly, the build quality is great. It holds many similar patterns that Fosi has established with its lineup. It is a seamless aluminum body with orange accents. I really love that; I love when there are certain color accents on a black body, like the new Radia Arcam series that have yellow accents on black. It just makes the device look very stylish and pretty.
At the front, you have a very simple layout with a big orange button and a small circular screen. The big orange button is good, as always, very tactile and precise. Not the most satisfying clicky tactile like some devices like Primare, but decent enough. But unfortunately, I cannot say the same for the screen. While I love that this device comes with a screen, besides reading the volume number, all other information from afar is impossible to read. It is just too small, and as it follows the circular design, it goes in a circle around volume, making it highly unpredictable. Honestly, we could have lived even without this screen. Some plus is that you get a remote with this DAC, so if you are not certain what input you have, you can always check it with the remote control, which is fine, nothing special to talk about here. A very rudimentary remote, which is used to add or remove volume, change channels, mute, and dim the screen on the device.
Below the DAC, you have a switcher, which is normal and bypass. I prefer to have my DAC in bypass mode to work as a pure DAC and nothing else, and in theory, it should sound better that way. So, as this is not just a DAC, this is also a preamplifier, so you completely cut the preamplifier abilities and use this as a pure DAC only. It is a great add-on, and something we are going to talk a little bit later is how Fosi constantly allows experimentation, self-tailoring to most suit your needs.
Amazing Connectivity options
But the absolute amazingness comes in the back. Fosi gave us an incredible variety of inputs and outputs that is just amazing at this price level. You have your typical analog RCA out, and you also have a balanced out, in my opinion, the best way to connect to this device. You have trigger in and out, Bluetooth, coaxial and optical in, and yes, Fosi, thank you a lot for this, a HDMI ARC in.
This much versatility opens many doors for this DAC. It allows it to become a hub and bridge for many devices, and sort of an interconnect between them. This is all you get for 180 dollars. An incredible add-on to any system you might have. It makes everything from your TV, CD, music streamer, Sony... just sound better.
Sound quality is instantly among the best in class
All of that can be for nothing if Fosi did not deliver sound at this level. It is easy for Fosi to disrupt this budget market, as the competition is not so high and steep, but the DAC market at this level is crawling with fantastic DACs, so it has a lot to live up to.
And I think Fosi did a great job. Not a groundbreaking or must-have, but it did a great job extracting a lot more from your sources. And let’s go into details.
Sonic signature
First thing you notice when listening to Fosi is its neutral nature. It is something I actually prefer with DACs, especially in cheaper ones. As I always felt that when DACs start to color too much, the organic nature of instruments and tonal accuracy always goes straight out the window. Here, Fosi is trying to convey as much as narrow presentations, but also to have tonal accuracy and timbre to not be overexposed.
I always prefer a DAC to be a bridge that organizes and declutters information and passes it to the amp, rather than putting its own spin and coloration. Which can also be great, but only more expensive DACs can do that and sound best to my ears. So over-reliance on sibilance and rolling off can sound fun but a bit distorted and too lean.
Yes, that might create a sound that is not very forward or exciting, but it is insightful and transparent. But nonetheless, to that, you know when a drumstick hits that cymbal, it is not flat, it is round and open. It is a sound that allows you to peer into the percussion booth and tell how they organized sound.
Best part of this amp
We can say that the best explanation is how the mid-section is the best part of this DAC, as it does what I think is most important for a DAC: to declutter and organize the busiest section of the dynamic scale. And truly, it helps if you have a great amp and speakers to firmly hold vocals in the center of the soundstage, with great timing and imaging. Vocals have nice inflections, where it is detailed and well separated from others. There is a certain shyness to it, a bit reserved nature like this. Vocals will be very well-rounded on the soundstage, and male and female vocals will all be very present. But with the help of more forward pushing amp and speakers, you will get its best mixture here.
But that transparency and just vividness of details are great here. It is not the most falsely clinical of sounds, but it does so well organizing and presenting info that it makes everything sound more clear and present on the soundstage. Doing that great thing where by cleanliness it opens the soundstage even more. As your brain begins picking up more and more information, you will see how they are placed around you. And the better the speakers and amplifier, the better this DAC is at expanding the soundstage.
Something like "Money for Nothing" really showed me all of this while I was changing and changing different DACs for side-by-side listening. It managed to hold firm and does not allow the sound to be unfocused, while clearly separating and showing every strum, every synth, drums, and vocals. To, for example, SMSL or Neohipo, but that will be more explained later.
Bass
And the bass is a surprise. I did not expect anything, to be honest, here. I was listening to "Mirage" by Klaus Schulze, which has all this manner of different bass used to create a chilling soundstage. And it is a synth bass, so it can go really deep. This DAC helped even the Wharfedale 12.1, which is not so famous for its bass, to sound deep and, most importantly, focused. I was surprised, to be honest, by how much detail it was trying to push to the lower end, and it was great. Not spectacular, but great, and surprising as well.
Some small issues
Maybe what is most lacking is how it resolves the top end. Again, the DAC is part of your system chain and has an effect on your system; it cannot fundamentally drive or change the sound, so depending on your system, it might be more or fewer issues. I guess with a more punchy, treble-rich combination, it is enough organized and present. But in more neutral or warm systems, it is just a bit less resolving and a bit more shy and distant. The treble, like percussions and furiosity, will not be as forward and driving. The rhythmic section will not be as pronounced as on some other DACs. But it remains a lot of neutrality in timbre and accuracy, even though it is not the most detailed presentation. It will lack a bit of texture and organics, but this DAC was never aiming to be this resolving master, that drives everything to new heights.
Pairing and synergy
Certainly, a DAC like this you can pair and synergize to your liking and preferences. It will fit in any chain greatly as it will be more of laid-back, more reserved to your system to fully bloom. But for some reason, I loved it with, believe it or not, a warm amp and bright speakers. So it is a cocktail that kind of elevates many issues this DAC has and creates the best of both worlds. You can also use a full-on treble-rich system for this DAC as well; it will work great anyway. And even in a relaxed, balanced system, this DAC can integrate inside that kind of system. But my favorite combination is a warm amp, treble-rich speakers, and that is my recommendation.
Let’s go side by side with a few great DACs to test its quality against the competition.
Neohipo DC10
Firstly, against cheaper competition. Neohipo DAC10 is a great small pure DAC with the same chipset as Fosi. It costs around almost 80 dollars cheaper. It is a much smaller device that can hide and fit any table and system configuration. But one thing that instantly goes for Fosi is how versatile with inputs, outputs, and preamp Fosi is, something small Neohipo could never match. But Neohipo holds well in the sound department, as it is much more resolving and forward-sounding. It is even, in some instances, more detailed and textured. And it sounds more rhythmically cohesive and fun. But Fosi is more mature sound in my opinion. It is just more clear and transparent, and it does a much, much better job decluttering and organizing the midsection, creating a sound with more neutrality and sound accuracy. So I can see someone enjoying the Neohipo more, but Fosi just delivers so much more in this price range that I think here it is a clear winner.
Read Full review here:
SMSL SU-6
Jumping to the similarly priced SMSL SU6, which is a bit cheaper—I think 160 or 160 is SMSL. The SMSL sound is comparable with Neohipo, but a more mature version of it. It can ground the sound more, allowing better organization and timing, while also having great and informative treble. This is a great DAC that will fit more different types of listeners—those who like well-organized sound but also like a bit more forwardness, a bit more presence for the sake of transparency. And that is something in comparison to Fosi, which is more organized, clear, and present but lacks the definition and details in the treble of SMSL. It is not that SMSL is cluttered and messy; it is just that Fosi does a bit better job here. And Fosi is much more versatile when it comes to input and outputs.
Topping D50 III
Topping D50 is a masterful DAC in this price range. I can easily see why to many people this could be the best in this price range. It is indeed a more expensive DAC, coming in at like 230 dollars. And the greatest praise I can give to Fosi is how similar, almost identical, it sounds to Topping. It is, by the way, a very similar architecture and chip inside. Topping maybe sounds a bit more firm and more refined, but both of them are incredibly transparent and organize superbly. Without a significant head-to-head, it is really hard to notice. Topping has a program called Topping Tuning for parametric equalizer, while Fosi to my knowledge has none of such. But Fosi has more modern and more input/output options and is upgradable in so many ways, making it even more appealing than Topping. But both of them are awesome DACs—if you had either one of those, you are in luck.
Upgradability and Modularity
There is one thing that makes Fosi cemented as best in class in this price range, and that is op-amp rolling. We can say that Fosi is theoretically modular and adjustable, as you can change op-amps and add an external linear power supply. I always recommend adding an external linear power supply, especially with cheaper products. It truly has sonic benefits, adding more clarity and transparency, and you can always reuse that power supply for any other HiFi product you buy. But there is something else I can always easily recommend with newer Fosi devices, and that is op-amp rolling.
And it is not something that requires special knowledge or special tools; Fosi made it so easy to do op-amp rolling—just plug in and plug out op-amps built for Fosi. It is as easy as that, and for only a few extra dollars, you can see some improvements in sound or just to see the sound signature change more to your liking. There are different op-amps on Fosi’s website; they are really cheap and really fun to change and experiment with sound. I really highly recommend that, and not just that; it shows that there is no DAC currently that rivals Fosi with sound, modularity, and just inputs and outputs, making it truly a class leader.
Conclusion
And what more to say? It is another great win for Fosi, who constantly pushes boundaries on what you can get in a more budget-friendly price range. Its greatest strength is its immersive inputs and outputs, allowing this DAC to become an entertainment hub for your room. And that is followed by sound which rivals other class leaders in its price range, with great emphasis and future thinking about upgradability and modularity. That modularity, combined with incredible versatility, truly pushes it into territories that not many DACs can now reach at this level. It is incredibly talented in organizing sound to be clear, precise, and transparent, adding more push in extending soundstage and providing a more organized and quality signal for your amp and other HiFi gear. Truly a big recommendation on my side.
Keep daydreaming, and see you in the next video.
Bye.
Pros
Build Quality and Aesthetic Appeal
High-quality aluminum body with attractive orange accents.
Stylish design reminiscent of premium audio gear like the Radia Arcam series.
Versatility in Features
Works as both a DAC and a preamplifier with a bypass mode for pure DAC use.
Comprehensive input and output options: RCA, balanced out, Bluetooth, coaxial, optical, and HDMI ARC.
Includes a rudimentary yet functional remote control for easy operation.
Sound Quality
Neutral sonic signature preferred for tonal accuracy and transparency.
Excellent midrange performance, decluttering complex audio passages.
Surprising bass performance for the price range, with deep and focused low frequencies.
Expands soundstage by effectively organizing and presenting audio details.
Value for Money
Competitive pricing at $180, offering a level of performance and connectivity uncommon at this price point.
Comparable to higher-priced models like the Topping D50 III in sound quality.
Upgradability and Modularity
Supports op-amp rolling for tailoring sound preferences.
Compatible with external linear power supplies for enhanced performance.
Connectivity Hub
Functions as an interconnect for various devices, improving overall audio quality for TVs, CD players, streamers, and more.
Cons
Display Design
The small circular screen is difficult to read from a distance and offers limited utility.
Information placement in a circular pattern around the volume adds to the confusion.
Limited Treble Resolution
The high-end frequencies may lack detail and texture, especially in neutral or warm systems.
Slightly reserved and distant treble performance compared to competitors like SMSL SU-6.
Remote Control
Basic functionality with no standout features, which might underwhelm some users.
System Synergy Dependency
Performance can sometimes depend how you pair and synergies. As there is fear that this DAC might sound a bit dull if not paired correctly. But in general it is relatively easy to pair.