After my review of the VOL20 Multimedia Volume Control Knob, Fosi Audio asked me if I would like to review any of their other devices. What piqued my interest was the MC351 2.1 Channel Integrated Amplifier. Besides its simple black and gold aesthetic, along with its single VU meter, it seemed a feature rich piece of equipment. Offering 165W per channel as well as 350W for the subwoofer (@ 4Ω), it seemed impressive on paper, especially for its size and price. I will, however, state that I don't have the means to accurately put these figures to the test, and research online indicates that these numbers may be a bit on the ambitious side. This can be improved by replacing the 32V/5A power supply with the 48V/5A option, which is what I did for this review.
What makes the MC351 appealing is its sheer flexibility. You have the choice of five inputs - Bluetooth, RCA, Coaxial, Optical, and USB - selectable by cycling through a single button. Output can either through the 2.1 speaker connections, or a 3.5mm preamp connection. From a visual point of view, it looks great. The body is black aluminium alloy, measuring 330 x 228 x 76mm, tinged with a gold ring around its VU Meter and a gold volume control. A blue LED indicates the input mode, and the black input selection button and treble/bass controls complete the front facade. On the back you have the inputs and outputs you'd expect as well as an unobtrusive Bluetooth antenna.
For context, my main audio set up is a Wiim Pro Plus connected to a Fosi Audi ZA3 amplifier, driving a pair of KEF Q150 speakers, and I was interested to see how the MC351 would compare. Considering the size of my listening room, I wasn’t expecting the MC351 to be as effective as the ZA3, but was willing to be surprised. As a further point of comparison, I connected the Wiim Pro Plus to the MC351 using both optical and RCA cables to see how the DACs in the two devices differed.
With the Wiim feeding the MC351 via the RCA cables, the results were impressive. Sure it didn’t have as much drive as the ZA3 amplifier, but it was still crisp and carried enough weight to be enjoyable. It was when I changed the input to optical did I notice a marked difference. The sound was quieter, flatter and lost a lot of its warmth, indicating the DAC on the MC351 wasn’t quite on par with the one in the Wiim Pro Plus. To see how it compared to the DAC in a cheaper streamer, I replaced the Pro Plus with a Wiim Mini. In this case there was little difference, both in volume and quality, when switching between RCA and optical input, despite the output settings on the two devices being the same. Whether this is due to differences in the DACs, or the level of pre-amplification I cannot be sure. The reassuring thing though is that the DAC in the MC351 isn’t as disappointing as I first thought, because when connected to the Wiim Mini it still sounded pretty good.
Trialling the other inputs went as expected. Bluetooth pairing was seamless and the connection remained stable during my testing. For a while I had my turntable connected to the MC351 via Bluetooth, my phone plugged in via USB, and the Wiim Pro Plus via RCA, and it made for a neat little package. The only inconvenience was the lack of remote control, meaning I had to get up to change the input or adjust the volume. When using the Pro Plus I had the MC351 at a set volume and used the Wiim to control the volume - this wasn’t a luxury I had when listening to my turntable unfortunately. Another minor irritation I noticed was despite the MC351 supposedly turning off automatically after two minutes of no input signal, the unit I had steadfastly remained on, regardless of the input selected and the time left alone.
So, based on my experience with the MC351, would I recommend it? Although it performed well in my situation, I think it’s best used in the near field - say a small room or on the desktop. The lack of a remote may be annoying for some, but if it's on a nearby shelf or on your desk in arms reach it’s not much of a big deal. The KEF Q150 speakers I connected it to are a pretty easy speaker to drive, but I’m not sure how the MC351 would fare with a pair of more demanding speakers. However, a pair of small passive speakers would be a breeze. The wide variety of inputs and the ease of selection would make this ideal in a small office. Have your PC connected by USB or RCA, as well as other audio devices such as a streamer, turntable, etc to the other inputs, and it you would be set. The lack of headphone output may be a problem for some, but if you don’t mind that, then Fosi Audios MC351 would most likely suit your needs.