antalistvan1968
Member
In this presentation, I will review Fosi Audio new S3 streamer dac preamp from a user's perspective.
Fosi Audio has been breaking new ground lately. Here is this streamer, which is the very first of its kind from this company, which used to be known for its class D amplifiers, and then they appeared on several fronts with success. Dac-headphone amps and even serious planar headphone and iem earphone have already appeared. Now they have launched a promising network device called the S3, a multi-function streamer. I was happy to finally welcome the HI-RES inscription on the box. This is their first product to feature the HI-RES logo.
Let's see what's in the box?
The exterior is clearly beautiful and elegant. If we look at it as a separate unit, then it is the most beautiful. Unfortunately, the size here, as with some new models, is completely different from all previous Fosi units. Moreover, the color is completely different. Dark silver. I don't know what the guiding idea was here because although the silver color is already present at Fosi, it doesn't look like this. Well, let's look at it as a separate unit, it was definitely intended that way because this unit doesn't look good when placed next or up to top another Fosi device. Unfortunately, this is an unpleasant and constantly recurring problem. The company is obviously looking for new ways and renewal, but as a user, this certainly forces compromises and the customer doesn't like that.
So let's see: the housing material is plastic, coated with metal-effect paint. It has a pleasant metallic touch and is solid. It's perfectly fine in its category.
Unfortunately, the inscriptions on the front panel are so badly colored and small that practically nothing is visible in the daylight coming through the window. It's as if they weren't there. They're only visible from a certain angle. This is very annoying. All my hi-fi equipment is placed here and only this i can't see the inscription on this one. It's clearly wrong. I suggest using a more contoured black paint, for example, which is clearly visible because it stands out nicely from the gray front panel.
Front panel:
From left to right: on-off / input selector. - then pair / output button. - four pcs LEDs that indicate the status with their colors. (More details about this can be found in the user manual). Finally, the orange infinite volume control button. It's important to mention that the volume control button works even if the fixed max volume is set in the app menu. So there is no actual bypass option.
If we look at the S3 as a separate unit, then this labeling is the only complaint I have. Apart from this, the device looks and feels premium. The metallic effect of the paint is so good that you don't even feel that the housing is actually plastic. The connectors are excellent.
Backside:
I am happy to see the xlr output. With this, it has surpassed its competitors in its price category. Rca output, sub out (again a good point, although there is no low or high pass filter) optical output, rca input. lan, optical input Hdmi earc input, trigger output and power (12v) input. Unfortunately, like most streamers of similar price, the S3 does not include a usb input. This is a big disadvantage for me because the internal dac chip is very advanced and we could have used the streamer as a full-function media center, it would handle full dsd or any resolution files on the usb socket, and we would not have to run into signal processing and especially connection limitations. If only it had had a usb socket through which it would have been able to play local files from external storage (pendrive, hdd or ssd storage) and accept usb devices. These are just tips from me for the next possible pro version which could actually be a media center with the dimensions and design of the zp3 preamp, out and in xlr with usb c and usb 3 a (or usb-b) input for the external drive and at least two, but preferably three rca inputs.. Oh well.. this is just my dream..
The wall power supply is a simple adapter with a poor quality cable. The S3 will surely appreciate a linear power supply or an Ifi power.
Installing the S3 is easy. We download the Fosi app, pair it with the remote control and set it to our own taste. I also gave the S3 a fixed IP address. It is important that our phone is on the same wifi network as the streamer, this is also valid for using the lan connection. If the streamer receives the internet from another room, then the phone must be on that wifi when using the app, otherwise it will disappear and the app will not see the s3. When I used Tidal connect, tidal it was not sensitive to this, but the Fosi app caused a few unpleasant hours until I figured out why the device sometimes disappears from it. After that, I never had a problem with it. I did not experience any lag or any problem with Tidal connect.
In Tidal app:
The Fosi app is usable. It is not yet mature and detailed like in the case of wiim. There is no multi-band eq (app in 5 band eq), no room correction, no subwoofer settings, etc. It solves what is needed, but it is not ready yet and the software is lagging behind the hardware in this area. Although I do not use the eq. but it does have a 5-band one. I disabled it because I do not need it. I fixed the volume at the highest level. I set the network to wired and the connection to DHCP and I turned off IPV6 in the main router and so all connections are stable and fast. I have actually not had to use an app since then.
In Fosi app:
The S3 has Tidal connect, Spotify. Google cast. Roon ready, Apple airplay connection.
Qobuz connect? Will it only be available from external applications? Roon, Google cast, airplay, dnla etc..? Is an open question for now
Spotify is out of the question for me. I haven't listened to mp3 or equivalent quality but upconverted content for years. I use Tidal for steaming, it provides good sound at the "max" setting. The stream sound quality is excellent! The Fosi's dual, separated digital and analog power supply path is very good. It was already excellent in the Bt20a max. It's also very good here.
I compared the optical input with the optical input of the fosi ZH3 and the s3 seems better to me. I'm still testing this, but so far it's better.
Size and color chaos:
The rca input is very good, although there would be more.. I also tested the optical output long time, it works stably. The hdmi earc is unnecessary for me, but I know many people use it. I can't test this due to the lack of a device. The wifi and bluetooth connection are stable, but for me they are completely unnecessary. I tried them in the test, both are correct and stable, but I don't use them for audio transmission. The RCA and XLR outputs can be used simultaneously and this means double output. This is a very good point for me.
It is important for me that the streamer plays my own flac wav ape dsd dsf files that I have been collecting for more than twenty years, bit-accurately. Since there is no USB input on the S3, I set the jriver program on the laptop to dnla mode and it receives a bit-point signal via a switch and a lan cable to the streamer, and from there the signal runs to the Fosi ZH3 via an rca cable for the duration of the test. A high-quality usb cable goes from the laptop to the zh3, my lan cable is the worst yellow noname (the new lan cable has not arrived yet). The ZH3 dac/preamp/headphone amp drives a Fosi i5 planar headphone and I certainly couldn't say for sure in a week that despite the numbers, that is, between the streamer's resolution and the zh3's resolution, I could hear any difference with my ears I can hear any difference between the resolution of the streamer and the resolution of the zh3. The switch is simple and fast for the intstant test, you only need to switch the ZH3 input and the jriver zone. The sound of the S3 streamer is excellent! All windows sound activities are turned off and disabled on my computer. jriver does not convert, its own engine does not work. The largest native dsd files sound perfect despite the nominal limitations of the lan input. The performance is light, airy. The decays of the sounds are clean. I think it is of the same quality as the zh3 (when listening to it by planar headphone). The infinite volume control adjusts beautifully from zero very smoothly, completely as it should, over a long distance. It is continuous from zero to maximum and there is no sudden jump in the beginning. I tested it with digital silence sound and there is perfect silence, no noise. Perfect! If it had a headphone amplifier, I think the ZH3 would retire immediately. I always adapt my articles to my own user needs and if there was anything sound problem or any problem would include it here as well. The S3 sound fantastic. What I described, the very different sizes from their other products and the visibility of poorly visible inscriptions and the color difference problems, are all real. But they all affect only the design and the functions that are still important to me, which may be available in future products with the next time developments. Unfortunately, they exceed the price of the wiim pro and are very close to the wiim ultra streamer, which is worth thinking about because the S3 still needs a lot of software development. requires and deserves a better power supply.
And hey need to hurry up with software development because they are at a big disadvantage.
I'm sorry that the op amps are no longer interchangeable here. I would have liked to upgrade with my favorite class A op amps, but the S3 really sounds great with the opa1612 op amps and is a very nice looking device.
You can find more technical information on the manufacturer's website, I won't burden you with this. User experience matters.
Definitely recommended, especially for those who, in addition need to excellent sound quality, have an XLR output or the dual analog output. Very good sound quality!
Pro:
Easy installation, handling.
Good construction.
Stable connections.
Very good sound!
Nice look and nice metal-effect paint.
Dual digital/analog power supply path.
Dual analog output. RCA+XLR
cons:
Very different size and color from previous products
Hard to see inscriptions (bad color combined) and use of too small inscriptions on the front panel.
No usb (I could have written this twice because it is so missing)
Poor quality and thin wiring wall adapter
A traditional infrared remote control would have been better and more "direct" buttons.
If you liked it, please read my other presentations.
by: Antal István
Fosi Audio has been breaking new ground lately. Here is this streamer, which is the very first of its kind from this company, which used to be known for its class D amplifiers, and then they appeared on several fronts with success. Dac-headphone amps and even serious planar headphone and iem earphone have already appeared. Now they have launched a promising network device called the S3, a multi-function streamer. I was happy to finally welcome the HI-RES inscription on the box. This is their first product to feature the HI-RES logo.
Let's see what's in the box?
The exterior is clearly beautiful and elegant. If we look at it as a separate unit, then it is the most beautiful. Unfortunately, the size here, as with some new models, is completely different from all previous Fosi units. Moreover, the color is completely different. Dark silver. I don't know what the guiding idea was here because although the silver color is already present at Fosi, it doesn't look like this. Well, let's look at it as a separate unit, it was definitely intended that way because this unit doesn't look good when placed next or up to top another Fosi device. Unfortunately, this is an unpleasant and constantly recurring problem. The company is obviously looking for new ways and renewal, but as a user, this certainly forces compromises and the customer doesn't like that.
So let's see: the housing material is plastic, coated with metal-effect paint. It has a pleasant metallic touch and is solid. It's perfectly fine in its category.
Unfortunately, the inscriptions on the front panel are so badly colored and small that practically nothing is visible in the daylight coming through the window. It's as if they weren't there. They're only visible from a certain angle. This is very annoying. All my hi-fi equipment is placed here and only this i can't see the inscription on this one. It's clearly wrong. I suggest using a more contoured black paint, for example, which is clearly visible because it stands out nicely from the gray front panel.
Front panel:
From left to right: on-off / input selector. - then pair / output button. - four pcs LEDs that indicate the status with their colors. (More details about this can be found in the user manual). Finally, the orange infinite volume control button. It's important to mention that the volume control button works even if the fixed max volume is set in the app menu. So there is no actual bypass option.
If we look at the S3 as a separate unit, then this labeling is the only complaint I have. Apart from this, the device looks and feels premium. The metallic effect of the paint is so good that you don't even feel that the housing is actually plastic. The connectors are excellent.
Backside:
I am happy to see the xlr output. With this, it has surpassed its competitors in its price category. Rca output, sub out (again a good point, although there is no low or high pass filter) optical output, rca input. lan, optical input Hdmi earc input, trigger output and power (12v) input. Unfortunately, like most streamers of similar price, the S3 does not include a usb input. This is a big disadvantage for me because the internal dac chip is very advanced and we could have used the streamer as a full-function media center, it would handle full dsd or any resolution files on the usb socket, and we would not have to run into signal processing and especially connection limitations. If only it had had a usb socket through which it would have been able to play local files from external storage (pendrive, hdd or ssd storage) and accept usb devices. These are just tips from me for the next possible pro version which could actually be a media center with the dimensions and design of the zp3 preamp, out and in xlr with usb c and usb 3 a (or usb-b) input for the external drive and at least two, but preferably three rca inputs.. Oh well.. this is just my dream..
The wall power supply is a simple adapter with a poor quality cable. The S3 will surely appreciate a linear power supply or an Ifi power.
Installing the S3 is easy. We download the Fosi app, pair it with the remote control and set it to our own taste. I also gave the S3 a fixed IP address. It is important that our phone is on the same wifi network as the streamer, this is also valid for using the lan connection. If the streamer receives the internet from another room, then the phone must be on that wifi when using the app, otherwise it will disappear and the app will not see the s3. When I used Tidal connect, tidal it was not sensitive to this, but the Fosi app caused a few unpleasant hours until I figured out why the device sometimes disappears from it. After that, I never had a problem with it. I did not experience any lag or any problem with Tidal connect.
In Tidal app:
The Fosi app is usable. It is not yet mature and detailed like in the case of wiim. There is no multi-band eq (app in 5 band eq), no room correction, no subwoofer settings, etc. It solves what is needed, but it is not ready yet and the software is lagging behind the hardware in this area. Although I do not use the eq. but it does have a 5-band one. I disabled it because I do not need it. I fixed the volume at the highest level. I set the network to wired and the connection to DHCP and I turned off IPV6 in the main router and so all connections are stable and fast. I have actually not had to use an app since then.
In Fosi app:
The S3 has Tidal connect, Spotify. Google cast. Roon ready, Apple airplay connection.
Qobuz connect? Will it only be available from external applications? Roon, Google cast, airplay, dnla etc..? Is an open question for now
Spotify is out of the question for me. I haven't listened to mp3 or equivalent quality but upconverted content for years. I use Tidal for steaming, it provides good sound at the "max" setting. The stream sound quality is excellent! The Fosi's dual, separated digital and analog power supply path is very good. It was already excellent in the Bt20a max. It's also very good here.
I compared the optical input with the optical input of the fosi ZH3 and the s3 seems better to me. I'm still testing this, but so far it's better.
Size and color chaos:
The rca input is very good, although there would be more.. I also tested the optical output long time, it works stably. The hdmi earc is unnecessary for me, but I know many people use it. I can't test this due to the lack of a device. The wifi and bluetooth connection are stable, but for me they are completely unnecessary. I tried them in the test, both are correct and stable, but I don't use them for audio transmission. The RCA and XLR outputs can be used simultaneously and this means double output. This is a very good point for me.
It is important for me that the streamer plays my own flac wav ape dsd dsf files that I have been collecting for more than twenty years, bit-accurately. Since there is no USB input on the S3, I set the jriver program on the laptop to dnla mode and it receives a bit-point signal via a switch and a lan cable to the streamer, and from there the signal runs to the Fosi ZH3 via an rca cable for the duration of the test. A high-quality usb cable goes from the laptop to the zh3, my lan cable is the worst yellow noname (the new lan cable has not arrived yet). The ZH3 dac/preamp/headphone amp drives a Fosi i5 planar headphone and I certainly couldn't say for sure in a week that despite the numbers, that is, between the streamer's resolution and the zh3's resolution, I could hear any difference with my ears I can hear any difference between the resolution of the streamer and the resolution of the zh3. The switch is simple and fast for the intstant test, you only need to switch the ZH3 input and the jriver zone. The sound of the S3 streamer is excellent! All windows sound activities are turned off and disabled on my computer. jriver does not convert, its own engine does not work. The largest native dsd files sound perfect despite the nominal limitations of the lan input. The performance is light, airy. The decays of the sounds are clean. I think it is of the same quality as the zh3 (when listening to it by planar headphone). The infinite volume control adjusts beautifully from zero very smoothly, completely as it should, over a long distance. It is continuous from zero to maximum and there is no sudden jump in the beginning. I tested it with digital silence sound and there is perfect silence, no noise. Perfect! If it had a headphone amplifier, I think the ZH3 would retire immediately. I always adapt my articles to my own user needs and if there was anything sound problem or any problem would include it here as well. The S3 sound fantastic. What I described, the very different sizes from their other products and the visibility of poorly visible inscriptions and the color difference problems, are all real. But they all affect only the design and the functions that are still important to me, which may be available in future products with the next time developments. Unfortunately, they exceed the price of the wiim pro and are very close to the wiim ultra streamer, which is worth thinking about because the S3 still needs a lot of software development. requires and deserves a better power supply.
And hey need to hurry up with software development because they are at a big disadvantage.
I'm sorry that the op amps are no longer interchangeable here. I would have liked to upgrade with my favorite class A op amps, but the S3 really sounds great with the opa1612 op amps and is a very nice looking device.
You can find more technical information on the manufacturer's website, I won't burden you with this. User experience matters.
Definitely recommended, especially for those who, in addition need to excellent sound quality, have an XLR output or the dual analog output. Very good sound quality!
Pro:
Easy installation, handling.
Good construction.
Stable connections.
Very good sound!
Nice look and nice metal-effect paint.
Dual digital/analog power supply path.
Dual analog output. RCA+XLR
cons:
Very different size and color from previous products
Hard to see inscriptions (bad color combined) and use of too small inscriptions on the front panel.
No usb (I could have written this twice because it is so missing)
Poor quality and thin wiring wall adapter
A traditional infrared remote control would have been better and more "direct" buttons.
If you liked it, please read my other presentations.
by: Antal István
Last edited:
