Preamp Q8 Desktop DAC Preamp Development Log

[alaperse]

The product progress is currently going smoothly, and it will be equipped with:
An input interface for a vinyl record player;
Two regular RCA input interfaces;
An HDMI ARC input interface;
One USB input interface, one OPT input interface, and one COA input interface; And a Bluetooth input interface;
One RCA output interface;
An XLR output interface;
A RCA SUB output interface;
And it has HPF and HT BYPASS functions;
The specification parameters will be very good, and distortion will definitely exceed the limit that the human ear can hear;
The overall size will be relatively large, expected to be 320 * 200 * 52mm, and the overall design will be very simple, with a large knob and a remote control;
The product images will be displayed to everyone after our prototype is made, expected by the end of December;

Sounds like you went inside my head and designed exactly the product I wanted.

About the Phono input: does it have the same specs as the Fosi X5? Will it have the same sound quality?

 

[Charles]

Sounds like you went inside my head and designed exactly the product I wanted.

About the Phono input: does it have the same specs as the Fosi X5? Will it have the same sound quality?

Yes, and supports adjusting input capacitance;

 

[alaperse]

Yes, and supports adjusting input capacitance;

It reminds me of Schiit Mani 2. Amazing!

 

[nickhews]

The product progress is currently going smoothly, and it will be equipped with:
An input interface for a vinyl record player;
Two regular RCA input interfaces;
An HDMI ARC input interface;
One USB input interface, one OPT input interface, and one COA input interface; And a Bluetooth input interface;
One RCA output interface;
An XLR output interface;
A RCA SUB output interface;
And it has HPF and HT BYPASS functions;
The specification parameters will be very good, and distortion will definitely exceed the limit that the human ear can hear;
The overall size will be relatively large, expected to be 320 * 200 * 52mm, and the overall design will be very simple, with a large knob and a remote control;
The product images will be displayed to everyone after our prototype is made, expected by the end of December;

Hi again,
Will the USB input interface be for data (eg audio files) or only for power?
Thanks

 

[giannispavlo]

Hi Fosiphiles,

We’re thrilled to officially kick off this thread with exciting news: Q8, one of our most anticipated upcoming products, is finally in development!

Born out of last year’s anniversary co-creation campaign with our community, Q8 is a product that truly embodies your ideas, feedback, and passion. In this thread, we’ll be sharing the latest updates on its progress — from early design concepts to engineering breakthroughs.

As always, your voice matters. The Fosi product team will be here to listen, discuss, and explore your suggestions. Whether it’s a technical detail or a user experience insight, your feedback will help us refine Q8 into something extraordinary.

Brief Introduction:
The Q8 is a multi-input, multi-output DAC preamplifier equipped with both LPF and HPF functions. Designed for users with multiple audio sources or AVR systems, it serves as a powerful system control hub that brings all your devices together seamlessly. It also helps AVR users build a dedicated 2.1 HiFi system with ease and flexibility.

Here is the rendering sketch of the Q8
View attachment 1822

Basic Specs

Input:	USB-C, Optical, Coaxial, Phono RCA, RCA*2, Sub-In, HDMI Arc with CEC, Bluetooth
Output	RCA, XLR, Sub-Out
Trigger	In and Out
Functions	LPF, HPF, Tone Control with Bypass, EQ
In-Built DAC	AKM AK4493S
Sampling Rates	32bit/768kHz+DSD512(USB), 24bit/192kHz(OPT, COA, HDMI), 24bit/96kHz(BT)
Bluetooth Chip	QCC3095
Bluetooth Codecs	AAC, SBC, aptX, aptX-HD, aptX-LL, aptX-Adaptive, LDAC，aptX Lossless
Remote Control

Product Manager in Charge: @Charles

Let’s continue building it together!

HELLO
i have allready BT20APRO, fantastic amp . I orderd ZA3 amp. i am waitting to buy Q8 dac. cose i want LDAC codec. i listen music from my phone.
bass and treble knobs included on Q8 dac? cose the ZA3 amp doesn t.

 

[Jormvngandr]

HELLO
i have allready BT20APRO, fantastic amp . I orderd ZA3 amp. i am waitting to buy Q8 dac. cose i want LDAC codec. i listen music from my phone.
bass and treble knobs included on Q8 dac? cose the ZA3 amp doesn t.

The ZP3 comes with those, but then you need a separate dac.

 

[giannispavlo]

The ZP3 comes with those, but then you need a separate dac.

ZP3 doesn t work for me, it hasn t bluetooth. and all fosi dacs with bluetooth, LDAC codec, is missing.

 

[CindyB]

Would it be possible for the USB input to allow charging power for devices?

 

[Jormvngandr]

ZP3 doesn t work for me, it hasn t bluetooth. and all fosi dacs with bluetooth, LDAC codec, is missing.

LDAC missing, might be down to licenscing fees, or the developing teams simply didnt see any benefits of adding it since most people will plug in the devices with cables anyway.

 

[Gryman]

This product looks amazing, but I do have a request.

If at all possible, can we get DSD support via HDMI or any other input other than USB? I have a SACD player that I would love to output DSD instead of PCM to a DAC/Preamp. The market is lacking affordable SACD/DSD gear and this would be a killer addon!

 

[Gryman]

If I have to improve it I will ask for 5.1 output in order to use SACD / DVD AUDIO discs and DSD.files in multichannel format.

5.1 would be nice, but I'm ok with 2.1, but SACD support is a must imo. The units they make now and this one support DSD, but only over USB. I'd like to see it over HDMI or whatever else they can make work. I don't want my player sending in PCM.

 

[Charles]

Hi again,
Will the USB input interface be for data (eg audio files) or only for power?
Thanks

Transmission of data; We have a dedicated DC interface for power supply;

 

[Charles]

yes , we have;

HELLO
i have allready BT20APRO, fantastic amp . I orderd ZA3 amp. i am waitting to buy Q8 dac. cose i want LDAC codec. i listen music from my phone.
bass and treble knobs included on Q8 dac? cose the ZA3 amp doesn t.

 

[Charles]

5.1 would be nice, but I'm ok with 2.1, but SACD support is a must imo. The units they make now and this one support DSD, but only over USB. I'd like to see it over HDMI or whatever else they can make work. I don't want my player sending in PCM.

Okay, let's consider it;

 

[parkylives]

Will the dac be hid complaint so I can stop and start music on my pc using the dac and/or it's remote?

 

[RudydG]

LPF and HPF are useless if you can not adjust them, so sure keep the adjustment!.
Make the size and the finish equal to ZA3 (or2 ;-)
Add tone controls on front.

 

[Anatols_Dad]

The product progress is currently going smoothly, and it will be equipped with:
An input interface for a vinyl record player;
Two regular RCA input interfaces;
An HDMI ARC input interface;
One USB input interface, one OPT input interface, and one COA input interface; And a Bluetooth input interface;
One RCA output interface;
An XLR output interface;
A RCA SUB output interface;
And it has HPF and HT BYPASS functions;
The specification parameters will be very good, and distortion will definitely exceed the limit that the human ear can hear;
The overall size will be relatively large, expected to be 320 * 200 * 52mm, and the overall design will be very simple, with a large knob and a remote control;
The product images will be displayed to everyone after our prototype is made, expected by the end of December;

Including a (very) good headphone out on this, as others have already mentioned, will probably make the future model the wizard in your line-up, IMO. We'll have to wait for the next gen, then...
The design is smashing, by the way.

 

[elshaddaiedwards]

The product progress is currently going smoothly, and it will be equipped with:
An input interface for a vinyl record player;
Two regular RCA input interfaces;
An HDMI ARC input interface;
One USB input interface, one OPT input interface, and one COA input interface; And a Bluetooth input interface;
One RCA output interface;
An XLR output interface;
A RCA SUB output interface;
And it has HPF and HT BYPASS functions;
The specification parameters will be very good, and distortion will definitely exceed the limit that the human ear can hear;
The overall size will be relatively large, expected to be 320 * 200 * 52mm, and the overall design will be very simple, with a large knob and a remote control;
The product images will be displayed to everyone after our prototype is made, expected by the end of December;

You didn't mention it, but will there be a trigger out?