matthoover
New member
Longtime AVR user here...but today I learned about Fosi.
Here's what I'm trying to do and I need to confirm if I'm buying the right gear:
ROOM: 20x20 garage in Florida, used as home gym, workshop, and mancave
SOURCE: Apple Music via iPad (preferably) or Apple TV 4K w/TV
SPEAKERS: TBD 2.0 channel setup (speaker recommendations welcome, prefer something that can last in a hot, humid garage, so potentially outdoor speakers if they sound great)
AMP/DAC: Fosi MCM101, MC331, MC351 or BT20A
I'd like to mount an iPad to the wall and play high-quality audio from Apple Music to a Fosi/2.0 setup. I don't want a standard size receiver since it gets warm in there and it'll take up too much space.
Fosi's MCM101 or BT20A seem to be well-regarded. I prefer the look of the MCM101. They both have 2-channel stereo speaker outputs, and a preout for an active subwoofer if I choose to add one. It looks like I'll get more power out of the BT20A. I plan to use the largest power supply I can, and the MC101 tops out at 24V, while I can use a 48V with the BT20A, so I'm leaning a little that direction.
Reading into them further, the MC331 and MC351 with their built-in DACs seem like they'd be a fit, but some reviews on the MC351 DAC and performance are not great.
In order to (somewhat) maintain lossless audio from Apple Music, I know I can use an Apple Lightning to 3.5mm adapter, which has an internal DAC, however that DAC still downgrades the signal.
Will this work? Or, what do I need to do to get it to work?
My other option is to use an Apple TV 4K as the source, connected to my 50" TV, but that gives me a larger screen and means I have to use the TV and remote control to listen to music instead of the iPad, and I'd have to connect my TV to a Fosi amp that has an optical input, which leaves only the MC331 or MC351.
Also looking for speaker recommendations: considering outdoor speakers from Yamaha, Polk, or Kicker but I've never used them and don't know what the audio quality is like. I'd prefer to mount the speakers up on a wall to save floor space and don't want to deal with bookshelf speakers and then either shelving or brackets.
Thanks in advance for all guidance.
Here's what I'm trying to do and I need to confirm if I'm buying the right gear:
ROOM: 20x20 garage in Florida, used as home gym, workshop, and mancave
SOURCE: Apple Music via iPad (preferably) or Apple TV 4K w/TV
SPEAKERS: TBD 2.0 channel setup (speaker recommendations welcome, prefer something that can last in a hot, humid garage, so potentially outdoor speakers if they sound great)
AMP/DAC: Fosi MCM101, MC331, MC351 or BT20A
I'd like to mount an iPad to the wall and play high-quality audio from Apple Music to a Fosi/2.0 setup. I don't want a standard size receiver since it gets warm in there and it'll take up too much space.
Fosi's MCM101 or BT20A seem to be well-regarded. I prefer the look of the MCM101. They both have 2-channel stereo speaker outputs, and a preout for an active subwoofer if I choose to add one. It looks like I'll get more power out of the BT20A. I plan to use the largest power supply I can, and the MC101 tops out at 24V, while I can use a 48V with the BT20A, so I'm leaning a little that direction.
Reading into them further, the MC331 and MC351 with their built-in DACs seem like they'd be a fit, but some reviews on the MC351 DAC and performance are not great.
In order to (somewhat) maintain lossless audio from Apple Music, I know I can use an Apple Lightning to 3.5mm adapter, which has an internal DAC, however that DAC still downgrades the signal.
Will this work? Or, what do I need to do to get it to work?
My other option is to use an Apple TV 4K as the source, connected to my 50" TV, but that gives me a larger screen and means I have to use the TV and remote control to listen to music instead of the iPad, and I'd have to connect my TV to a Fosi amp that has an optical input, which leaves only the MC331 or MC351.
Also looking for speaker recommendations: considering outdoor speakers from Yamaha, Polk, or Kicker but I've never used them and don't know what the audio quality is like. I'd prefer to mount the speakers up on a wall to save floor space and don't want to deal with bookshelf speakers and then either shelving or brackets.
Thanks in advance for all guidance.
