Bittybo Tootkins
New member
The Fosi Audio ZD3 has been in my setup for a while, and I always enjoy listening to it. Its presentation is relaxed and reasonably warm. Detail is there, but never in your face, with a pleasantly smooth treble. The sound is strong, clean, and with a completely silent background. I can listen for hours without fatigue.
Curious if another DAC/preamp could present music differently or maybe even better, I tried the Topping D50 III. I switched cables to swap between the two and listened to several CD tracks via coax.
The D50 III immediately struck me with stronger emphasis on highs and upper mids. Detail felt more pronounced, bass slightly leaner, and the overall presentation snappier and mid/high forward. It was interesting and engaging at first.
However, after a while, the heightened detail started to fatigue me. Switching back to the ZD3 a few times, I began to appreciate its more laid-back sound. It’s not that it lacks detail, it’s just presented in a more musical, integrated way: softer, but present when needed.
This experiment gave me an unexpected outcome. I love detail, but there’s a point where it stops serving the music and starts demanding attention. The D50 III (factory settings) is impressive on paper, but for me, the ZD3’s smoother, cohesive presentation wins for long-term listening. I think the Fosi engineers did a great job tuning its sound.
Curious if another DAC/preamp could present music differently or maybe even better, I tried the Topping D50 III. I switched cables to swap between the two and listened to several CD tracks via coax.
The D50 III immediately struck me with stronger emphasis on highs and upper mids. Detail felt more pronounced, bass slightly leaner, and the overall presentation snappier and mid/high forward. It was interesting and engaging at first.
However, after a while, the heightened detail started to fatigue me. Switching back to the ZD3 a few times, I began to appreciate its more laid-back sound. It’s not that it lacks detail, it’s just presented in a more musical, integrated way: softer, but present when needed.
This experiment gave me an unexpected outcome. I love detail, but there’s a point where it stops serving the music and starts demanding attention. The D50 III (factory settings) is impressive on paper, but for me, the ZD3’s smoother, cohesive presentation wins for long-term listening. I think the Fosi engineers did a great job tuning its sound.
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