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Streamer S3 Streamer Development Log

Hello Will, good day. I've enjoyed Fosi products quite a lot. I own a pair of ZA3 as monoblocks and 2 V3 mono. Wonderful sound. I'll be getting the ZP3 pre amp. Regarding the S3 lite, that will kick out your competition as no one offers that solution and we're eager to get the core function, please consider USB out. Regarding normal S3, I don't see why a streamer should have a USB input (for PC or cellphone connection), but a USB out is a must. Other than that, the truth is that subwoofer out, bass management and room correction (PEQ per chanel) are great features implemented in Wiim Ultra, but if you'll offer Airplay 2, you'll crush Wiim as there are millions of Apple Music subscribers.

Take care and keep with the excellent job you're doing.
 
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Hello Will, good day. I've enjoyed Fosi products quite a lot. I own a pair of ZA3 as monoblocks and 2 V3 mono. Wonderful sound. I'll be getting the ZP3 pre amp. Regarding the S3 lite, that will kick out your competition as no one offers that solution and we're eager to get the core function, please consider USB out. Regarding normal S3, I don't see why a streamer should have a USB input (for PC or cellphone connection), but a USB out is a must. Other than that, the truth is that subwoofer out, bass management and room correction (PEQ per chanel) are great features implemented in Wiim Ultra, but if you'll offer Airplay 2, you'll crush Wiim as there are millions of Apple Music subscribers.

Take care and keep with the excellent job you're doing.
Hi,
Thank you so much for your support! We're really happy to hear that Fosi products have brought you joy and helped you enjoy your music.

Yes, we will support AirPlay 2—Apple certification is on the way!

USB output is a bit tricky due to compatibility issues, but we’re doing our best to make it work.

As for subwoofer out, bass management, and room correction, we plan to roll these out gradually through OTA updates. You know, these features involve a significant amount of development work. We're committed to delivering high-quality performance, and we’ll never make false promises about features we can't support.

We’ve already done some initial testing on our room correction feature, and the performance is looking very promising. ;)

Haha, thanks again for your attention and interest!
 
Hello everyone! I am an audio enthusiast, Fosiphile, and music lover. I have numerous music systems scattered around the house many powered by Fosi amps. I have three systems using Raspberry Pi servers/streamers running moOde operating system, and in the listening room, I am currently running a Wiim Ultra streamer. All of the systems feed from a master music library of FLAC encoded files stored in a Synology NAS, and online sources such as internet radio, Amazon Music, Spotify, and YouTube Music. Some also incorporate a locally stored (USB or SD Card) library.

By far, the most important thing for me is the user interface that the streamer presents to my devices for remote control. The album searching and sorting capabilities, the ability to browse and play tracks, at will, in no particular order, the ease of creating, modifying, and importing playlists, the ease of updating the library listings, are just a few of the tasks that both moOde and WiiM do not accomplish gracefully enough.

For me, the absolute gold standard in user interfaces is MusicBee. Of course, its excellence is partly due to its being a PC application, allowing it to benefit from the vast resources that a typical PC has, compared to a tablet or phone mobile device. MusicBee's interface is so versatile that I can find and play any track within seconds with nothing more than a mouse click and add additional tracks to the queue while the current track plays without even switching screens. It has the best search capabilities that allow finding a track even if you just remember a related keyword, artist, partial name, album cover, genre, or year and administrates playlists seamlessly.

But, I give moOde immense credit for designing an interface accessed entirely through a web page server, allowing me to command the interface from ANY device that can run a browser. WiiM uses a device specific App that is not nearly as device independent, requiring a learning curve for each device. It is my belief that the browser-centric interface is the best solution, allowing access across all my devices and displaying a single unified face to the user. It also allows simultaneous access from multiple devices at a time for source selection, track or album play, and volume no matter what PC, tablet, or phone I happen to be nearest to at any given time.

On Android devices, another excellent example of a superior interface is Poweramp, and although it is primarily a music player, I mention it because it has an excellent user interface and a versatile search, storage, and retrieval interface for keyboard-less devices. It allows the entire library to be filtered by genre, for instance, and then play the tracks in random order from within the selected genre. Searching for albums, tracks, artists, genres, etc. is intuitive, fast, and versatile. It handles album art flawlessly and gracefully handles library updates and additions.

Although this next feature may be less popular nowadays, most of my systems predate the exponential rise of streamed content, and so they were designed to also store a "local" copy of my entire music library on removable media such as a thumb drive, portable HDD, or a SD card. Before Wi-Fi connections were as advanced as today's iterations, a local copy was much faster, more reliable, and secure than Wi-Fi. Therefore, I believe that it is imperative that any storage device that can be attached to a streamer must allow network access to the files and folders from a "master" PC using File Explorer or Finder.

This allows the "local" library to be kept synchronized from a central location and conveniently updated with new content as it is added. This is an area where WiiM is utterly deficient. All my moOde servers and my various PC & laptops that hold a copy of the library can be updated through my LAN using a simple file and folder comparison and synchronization application like Beyond Compare in minutes, all without leaving my home office desk. WiiM does not currently afford access to the external USB devices over the network.

Newly downloaded or ripped content is added to the master library on the NAS media server and then quickly and simply distributed to the devices that hold a local copy of the library assuring that they always mirror the master. But for the WiiM, I have to unplug the USB drive, update it by physically plugging it into the PC, and then return it to the WiiM Ultra. The last time I tried that, the WiiM had much trouble updating the local library in its OS and it failed to re-scan the updated drive despite numerous attempts.

In my opinion, therefore, any streamer must have an intuitive, flexible, widely accessible, and powerful interface that allows for complete remote control of all of the server's settings and functions, and complete control and access to NAS or cloud stored music collections with intuitive search, sort, and playback capabilities. The Wi-Fi connection must be rock-solid, able to recover lost connections automatically without user input, and the interface reachable from any Wi-Fi or Ethernet connected device in the LAN.
 
Hello everyone! I am an audio enthusiast, Fosiphile, and music lover. I have numerous music systems scattered around the house many powered by Fosi amps. I have three systems using Raspberry Pi servers/streamers running moOde operating system, and in the listening room, I am currently running a Wiim Ultra streamer. All of the systems feed from a master music library of FLAC encoded files stored in a Synology NAS, and online sources such as internet radio, Amazon Music, Spotify, and YouTube Music. Some also incorporate a locally stored (USB or SD Card) library.

By far, the most important thing for me is the user interface that the streamer presents to my devices for remote control. The album searching and sorting capabilities, the ability to browse and play tracks, at will, in no particular order, the ease of creating, modifying, and importing playlists, the ease of updating the library listings, are just a few of the tasks that both moOde and WiiM do not accomplish gracefully enough.

For me, the absolute gold standard in user interfaces is MusicBee. Of course, its excellence is partly due to its being a PC application, allowing it to benefit from the vast resources that a typical PC has, compared to a tablet or phone mobile device. MusicBee's interface is so versatile that I can find and play any track within seconds with nothing more than a mouse click and add additional tracks to the queue while the current track plays without even switching screens. It has the best search capabilities that allow finding a track even if you just remember a related keyword, artist, partial name, album cover, genre, or year and administrates playlists seamlessly.

But, I give moOde immense credit for designing an interface accessed entirely through a web page server, allowing me to command the interface from ANY device that can run a browser. WiiM uses a device specific App that is not nearly as device independent, requiring a learning curve for each device. It is my belief that the browser-centric interface is the best solution, allowing access across all my devices and displaying a single unified face to the user. It also allows simultaneous access from multiple devices at a time for source selection, track or album play, and volume no matter what PC, tablet, or phone I happen to be nearest to at any given time.

On Android devices, another excellent example of a superior interface is Poweramp, and although it is primarily a music player, I mention it because it has an excellent user interface and a versatile search, storage, and retrieval interface for keyboard-less devices. It allows the entire library to be filtered by genre, for instance, and then play the tracks in random order from within the selected genre. Searching for albums, tracks, artists, genres, etc. is intuitive, fast, and versatile. It handles album art flawlessly and gracefully handles library updates and additions.

Although this next feature may be less popular nowadays, most of my systems predate the exponential rise of streamed content, and so they were designed to also store a "local" copy of my entire music library on removable media such as a thumb drive, portable HDD, or a SD card. Before Wi-Fi connections were as advanced as today's iterations, a local copy was much faster, more reliable, and secure than Wi-Fi. Therefore, I believe that it is imperative that any storage device that can be attached to a streamer must allow network access to the files and folders from a "master" PC using File Explorer or Finder.

This allows the "local" library to be kept synchronized from a central location and conveniently updated with new content as it is added. This is an area where WiiM is utterly deficient. All my moOde servers and my various PC & laptops that hold a copy of the library can be updated through my LAN using a simple file and folder comparison and synchronization application like Beyond Compare in minutes, all without leaving my home office desk. WiiM does not currently afford access to the external USB devices over the network.

Newly downloaded or ripped content is added to the master library on the NAS media server and then quickly and simply distributed to the devices that hold a local copy of the library assuring that they always mirror the master. But for the WiiM, I have to unplug the USB drive, update it by physically plugging it into the PC, and then return it to the WiiM Ultra. The last time I tried that, the WiiM had much trouble updating the local library in its OS and it failed to re-scan the updated drive despite numerous attempts.

In my opinion, therefore, any streamer must have an intuitive, flexible, widely accessible, and powerful interface that allows for complete remote control of all of the server's settings and functions, and complete control and access to NAS or cloud stored music collections with intuitive search, sort, and playback capabilities. The Wi-Fi connection must be rock-solid, able to recover lost connections automatically without user input, and the interface reachable from any Wi-Fi or Ethernet connected device in the LAN.
Absolutely agree with your points regarding the user interface being highest desirable aspect. I imagine development is already a long way down a defined path by now. Let’s hope it will tick all boxes 😁
 
Hello everyone! I am an audio enthusiast, Fosiphile, and music lover. I have numerous music systems scattered around the house many powered by Fosi amps. I have three systems using Raspberry Pi servers/streamers running moOde operating system, and in the listening room, I am currently running a Wiim Ultra streamer. All of the systems feed from a master music library of FLAC encoded files stored in a Synology NAS, and online sources such as internet radio, Amazon Music, Spotify, and YouTube Music. Some also incorporate a locally stored (USB or SD Card) library.

By far, the most important thing for me is the user interface that the streamer presents to my devices for remote control. The album searching and sorting capabilities, the ability to browse and play tracks, at will, in no particular order, the ease of creating, modifying, and importing playlists, the ease of updating the library listings, are just a few of the tasks that both moOde and WiiM do not accomplish gracefully enough.

For me, the absolute gold standard in user interfaces is MusicBee. Of course, its excellence is partly due to its being a PC application, allowing it to benefit from the vast resources that a typical PC has, compared to a tablet or phone mobile device. MusicBee's interface is so versatile that I can find and play any track within seconds with nothing more than a mouse click and add additional tracks to the queue while the current track plays without even switching screens. It has the best search capabilities that allow finding a track even if you just remember a related keyword, artist, partial name, album cover, genre, or year and administrates playlists seamlessly.

But, I give moOde immense credit for designing an interface accessed entirely through a web page server, allowing me to command the interface from ANY device that can run a browser. WiiM uses a device specific App that is not nearly as device independent, requiring a learning curve for each device. It is my belief that the browser-centric interface is the best solution, allowing access across all my devices and displaying a single unified face to the user. It also allows simultaneous access from multiple devices at a time for source selection, track or album play, and volume no matter what PC, tablet, or phone I happen to be nearest to at any given time.

On Android devices, another excellent example of a superior interface is Poweramp, and although it is primarily a music player, I mention it because it has an excellent user interface and a versatile search, storage, and retrieval interface for keyboard-less devices. It allows the entire library to be filtered by genre, for instance, and then play the tracks in random order from within the selected genre. Searching for albums, tracks, artists, genres, etc. is intuitive, fast, and versatile. It handles album art flawlessly and gracefully handles library updates and additions.

Although this next feature may be less popular nowadays, most of my systems predate the exponential rise of streamed content, and so they were designed to also store a "local" copy of my entire music library on removable media such as a thumb drive, portable HDD, or a SD card. Before Wi-Fi connections were as advanced as today's iterations, a local copy was much faster, more reliable, and secure than Wi-Fi. Therefore, I believe that it is imperative that any storage device that can be attached to a streamer must allow network access to the files and folders from a "master" PC using File Explorer or Finder.

This allows the "local" library to be kept synchronized from a central location and conveniently updated with new content as it is added. This is an area where WiiM is utterly deficient. All my moOde servers and my various PC & laptops that hold a copy of the library can be updated through my LAN using a simple file and folder comparison and synchronization application like Beyond Compare in minutes, all without leaving my home office desk. WiiM does not currently afford access to the external USB devices over the network.

Newly downloaded or ripped content is added to the master library on the NAS media server and then quickly and simply distributed to the devices that hold a local copy of the library assuring that they always mirror the master. But for the WiiM, I have to unplug the USB drive, update it by physically plugging it into the PC, and then return it to the WiiM Ultra. The last time I tried that, the WiiM had much trouble updating the local library in its OS and it failed to re-scan the updated drive despite numerous attempts.

In my opinion, therefore, any streamer must have an intuitive, flexible, widely accessible, and powerful interface that allows for complete remote control of all of the server's settings and functions, and complete control and access to NAS or cloud stored music collections with intuitive search, sort, and playback capabilities. The Wi-Fi connection must be rock-solid, able to recover lost connections automatically without user input, and the interface reachable from any Wi-Fi or Ethernet connected device in the LAN.
Hi,
Thank you so much for your detailed feedback and for taking the time to share such thoughtful suggestions—they’re incredibly valuable and truly help us better understand your needs.
  1. Regarding the user interface, we’ll take a closer look at players like MusicBee and Poweramp and study the strengths of their design and user experience.
  2. As for the functionalities you mentioned that a user interface should ideally offer, we believe this represents an important long-term direction for Fosi. (Thanks again for the insightful suggestions!) We have to admit that our current app is still a bit behind that goal, and we’re sorry for any inconvenience.
  3. About accessing local storage devices (like USB drives) via network from a master PC—this is currently not supported on Fosi products, but we will bring it up with our R&D team for further research and evaluation.
  4. Regarding your preference for a browser-based interface—again, we’re sorry that Fosi currently uses an app-based approach. One reason for this is that apps can maintain long-term login sessions, while browser-based interfaces may require reloading from time to time, which could be less convenient. That said, our app does support multi-device control within the same local network—so you can still access and control the S3 from multiple devices at once.
We’re really happy to engage in this kind of product discussion with you.
 
Love the FOSI kit, currently running four v3 monos with two Wiim pro plus to shower sound to my outdoor zones.

Keen to add this to some of my internal systems as part of a multi zone setup. Will this have a mic to automatically set delays (sync sound between rooms) like the WiiM does?
 
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Love the FOSI kit, currently running four v3 monos with two Wiim pro plus to shower sound to my outdoor zones.

Keen to add this to some of my internal systems as part of a multi zone setup. Will this have a mic to automatically set delays (sync sound between rooms) like the WiiM does?
That’s a great setup. I’ve also wondered this but I don’t think it’s been discussed at all. Multiroom along with a mic - fingers crossed!
 
Regarding your preference for a browser-based interface—again, we’re sorry that Fosi currently uses an app-based approach. One reason for this is that apps can maintain long-term login sessions, while browser-based interfaces may require reloading from time to time, which could be less convenient.

My argument for the browser based approach is that it is, in my opinion, easier to write one browser based interface and port it to any of the variety of devices that can run a browser than it is to write separate (and totally different) apps for Android, IOS, and PC.

The browser based moOde OS on RPi does fall prey to the disconnect issue if the tablet or phone goes to sleep, but it reawakens with a prominent "Reconnect" button center screen which reconnects and refreshes the screen in a second or two. If the tablet (or my PC) is not allowed to sleep, the connection is persistent.
 
Hello.
In addition to the technical features, which are very important, working with a fluid app is essential.
The best reference is Wiim. In my case, I use the PRO, and it's easy to control.
Yes, I have a Pro on long term loan (left behind by a visitor🙂) and tried the Ultra too briefly.
The app and general usability sets a gold standard.
 
Yes, I have a Pro on long term loan (left behind by a visitor🙂) and tried the Ultra too briefly.
The app and general usability sets a gold standard.
I have tried the apps from a few different systems (inc BluOS, 4Stream from Arylic, CA Connect and HEOS) and the only one I really don't get on with is UNDOK for Argon - it gives a jitter when changing tracks. The others have always suited me well. I feel sure the Fosi app will be super smooth and stable.
 
Yes, I have a Pro on long term loan (left behind by a visitor🙂) and tried the Ultra too briefly.
The app and general usability sets a gold standard.
I have a Pro and, although I love its overall functionality, I find many "holes" in the Android tablet user interface. In my opinion, it needs considerable streamlining and usability tweaks. Selection and sorting is inconsistent between pages, there are buttons that don't produce the expected result, and navigation is often kludgy. I think it's good, but not great.
 
Here are a few things that I think are primary when designing an App based user interface.

When displaying and browsing one’s personal music collection, the user interface must above all, prioritize the selection of individual tracks and albums to add to the queue, typically at the bottom (last) of the “to-be-played” (queue) list, and optionally, to be played immediately or next. This should be regardless of the source, whether it is a music service or a locally stored library.

It is important that the user’s entire library of tracks be quickly accessible and displayed by all the usual categories: By Album, By Artist, By Track, By Genre, By Date, By Date Added, By Playlist, etc. These “main” selections should be available on a customizable “Home” page with one tap.

The Home page must include a “global” search box that can be used to search the entire collection and incorporate virtually all the fields in a library’s individual tracks' ID tags. If I can remember a few words in a song’s title, or recall the album’s name, I can jump to it with a quick search and not have to drill down into the entire library screen by screen.

The primary goal is to allow you to find a particular track (or album) as easily and quickly as possible even if you only remember one detail about the track, however obscure. The interface must allow you, while engaged in a listening session and playing a particular track, to easily locate and select additional tracks to be added to the end of the current queue, as it is typical that the currently playing track leads to wanting to play similar or related music.

So, it must also be simple and convenient for the user to re-display his library in whatever category he needs and to be able to sort that category into a variety of optional orders. If, for instance, he wants to hear more jazz tracks, he should, with few taps, be able to list his library by the “Jazz” genre, and display the results grouped by Album, Artist, Date, Track, etc.

From that listing, if his jazz tracks are all grouped by Album, for instance, tapping an album should expand the Album’s tracks, and (here is the important part) tapping a particular track should add it automatically to the bottom of the current queue. (This needs to be filtered with a slight delay so that it requires more than an instant tap as to eliminate false touch additions when the user meant to scroll the list but stutters, resulting in an unwanted selection and addition to the queue). A “long” tap should pop up other options like “Play Now’ or “Play Next”. He can then scroll or navigate to the next Album, Artist, etc. that he wants to explore and quickly repeat the selection of another track to add to the queue and so forth, building a listening session while already listening to the first few selections.

During the process, virtually all of the listings should be accompanied by a thumbnail of the album cover for each listing line, as most dedicated music collectors are quite familiar with their albums and the thumbnail provides a quick visual cue when searching and scrolling the library and speeds finding the desired tracks.

All displayed lists need to have a quick access navigation column on the right of the screen (a jump list) to eliminate the need to endlessly scroll through a long list of entries when searching for a particular item. If I’m looking at a “Beatles” album and next need to browse a “Yes” album, I should be able to get there with a single tap on “Y” on the jump list and a short scroll, not an endless scroll through all my 750+ albums. Also, all displayed lists should have a “Quick search” box that allows for the list to be pared down instantly by adding search terms that are found, by default, if they appear anywhere in the listing.

Every item in any listing should also have an accompanying symbol (typically a “star”) that can be tapped to add that item to a “favorites” list for quick access and future consideration, using the favorites list more like an expanding “clipboard” than an actual favorites list. It serves to flag a track or album (or folder or artist) to revisit and explore at a later date, rather than during the current listening session.

The current queue should be accessible with a single tap from virtually any screen. This is easily done if every screen reserves space for a "Play" bar at the bottom with typical skip, play/pause, back, and volume buttons and a link to the current queue list.

After all, the whole purpose and goal of having all this hardware and software, of collecting music for 60 years, of maintaining a music library, of assembling the best equipment one can afford, is to immerse oneself into one’s music. The goal is the listening, the immersion, the emotion we experience when the music plays.

The interface must intrude on the listening as little as possible, yet afford the flexibility, ease of use, and transparency to keep the music playing with minimal distraction. So many times, I enter the listening room with a specific session in mind, to listen to a newly acquired album, for instance. As I’m listening to a track, it reminds me somehow of another artist, album, or track I have in the library, so I want to add some tracks to continue my listening session after the new album finishes. That process must be simple, seamless, quick, and convenient so I can make my additions with minimal effort and get my attention focused back on the music that’s playing currently.
 
Love the FOSI kit, currently running four v3 monos with two Wiim pro plus to shower sound to my outdoor zones.

Keen to add this to some of my internal systems as part of a multi zone setup. Will this have a mic to automatically set delays (sync sound between rooms) like the WiiM does?

Love the FOSI kit, currently running four v3 monos with two Wiim pro plus to shower sound to my outdoor zones.

Keen to add this to some of my internal systems as part of a multi zone setup. Will this have a mic to automatically set delays (sync sound between rooms) like the WiiM does?
Haha, thank you for your interest! ;)
Yes, we will first integrate a PDM MIC directly on the PCBA. Later on, we plan to add latency adjustment functionality via OTA updates.
 
My argument for the browser based approach is that it is, in my opinion, easier to write one browser based interface and port it to any of the variety of devices that can run a browser than it is to write separate (and totally different) apps for Android, IOS, and PC.

The browser based moOde OS on RPi does fall prey to the disconnect issue if the tablet or phone goes to sleep, but it reawakens with a prominent "Reconnect" button center screen which reconnects and refreshes the screen in a second or two. If the tablet (or my PC) is not allowed to sleep, the connection is persistent.
We will evaluate this aspect to decide whether to add it in the future, but for the initial S3 launch, the focus will remain on the app.
 
Hello.
In addition to the technical features, which are very important, working with a fluid app is essential.
The best reference is Wiim. In my case, I use the PRO, and it's easy to control.
Yes, we will do our best to ensure the app runs smoothly and remains stable.💪
 
I have tried the apps from a few different systems (inc BluOS, 4Stream from Arylic, CA Connect and HEOS) and the only one I really don't get on with is UNDOK for Argon - it gives a jitter when changing tracks. The others have always suited me well. I feel sure the Fosi app will be super smooth and stable.
Haha, THX😊
 
Will there be a option to connect the HDMI to a small screen and RCA out to ZP3?
By "small screen," are you referring to a TV?

You can connect the device to a TV via HDMI and then use the RCA output to connect to the ZP3.

You can also use the trigger interface to power all the connected devices on or off with a single button.
 
We’ve made two initial appearance samples, haha—can you tell the difference between the two colors? What do you think of the color options?☺️


1752829340183.png 1752829356611.png
 
We’ve made two initial appearance samples, haha—can you tell the difference between the two colors? What do you think of the color options?☺️


View attachment 1887 View attachment 1888
please make it the same color as the Z series, even if you invert it (orange unit, gray knob) or go full Jack Pollack on it, please please make it the same color pallete. =D
 
That’s a mean dial colour :-) is the one on the right darker? As individual units they look great. When pairing to other audio kit, timeless black or Matt black work best. The other fosi kit is black, would prefer this matches. Apples Apple TV is black too :)
 
You know the little rubber feet that Fosi products stand on. It would be nice to have something more substantial - maybe unscrew the rubber feet and upgrade to more isolationist spikes or aluminium mounts
 
You know the little rubber feet that Fosi products stand on. It would be nice to have something more substantial - maybe unscrew the rubber feet and upgrade to more isolationist spikes or aluminium mounts
Got it, we’ll take that into consideration and switch to a more durable foot pad.
 
I disagree entirely. I like the fact that Fosi is starting to add the orange accent colors to their devices as it forms a nice cohesive brand identity and helps them stand out in this market.
I agree that Fosi doesn't have to win a design competition, but you have to admit that a Wiim ultra looks much nicer.
 
I agree that Fosi doesn't have to win a design competition, but you have to admit that a Wiim ultra looks much nicer.
I’m not sure. In any system pictures you see with a WiiM Ultra it always looks out of place. It’s the wrong size , doesn’t match any other equipment design, the glossy plastic looks just that. Give me a hifi piece that matches colour size and shape of the things in my system. Each to their own, I know.
 
By "small screen," are you referring to a TV?

You can connect the device to a TV via HDMI and then use the RCA output to connect to the ZP3.

You can also use the trigger interface to power all the connected devices on or off with a single button.
Hello, My plan is to use a 10" LCD display with the streamer. Thanks
 
Hello will, this steamer is really exiting me !! I'm fan of your products. Right now i have 2 za3 with a zd3 riding a pair of rp-600mk2 and its awsome. I have a question i really like using the xlr cable. Do you plan using xlr out on the s3?. And will the app include an equalizer ? Thank you.
 
Hello will, this steamer is really exiting me !! I'm fan of your products. Right now i have 2 za3 with a zd3 riding a pair of rp-600mk2 and its awsome. I have a question i really like using the xlr cable. Do you plan using xlr out on the s3?. And will the app include an equalizer ? Thank you.
Ooopss so sorry just found that xlr output will be used. Lol. This is gonna be a really nice steamer!! 😎
 
Hello will, this steamer is really exiting me !! I'm fan of your products. Right now i have 2 za3 with a zd3 riding a pair of rp-600mk2 and its awsome. I have a question i really like using the xlr cable. Do you plan using xlr out on the s3?. And will the app include an equalizer ? Thank you.
HaHa simonmd,

I noticed in your next reply that you've already found out the S3 has XLR outputs.

Regarding the EQ settings in the app, we've only implemented basic functions so far. However, I believe the app will continue to improve as we rapidly iterate through OTA updates. We’re committed to responding quickly to user feedback and making continuous improvements.
 
HaHa simonmd,

I noticed in your next reply that you've already found out the S3 has XLR outputs.

Regarding the EQ settings in the app, we've only implemented basic functions so far. However, I believe the app will continue to improve as we rapidly iterate through OTA updates. We’re committed to responding quickly to user feedback and making continuous improvements.
So of course the ZD3 doesn't have XLR inputs, so if the S3 doesn't have USB output, for best fidelity when using the S3 and ZA3 amps, you're effectively making the ZD3 redundant in a full Fosi highest fidelity stack- until the S3 Lite is released?

Would seem to make a lot more sense to launch the S3 Lite first as WiiM have no directly equivalent product and you would be continuing to support sales of the ZD3 - then do the S3 (Dac inclusive version) 2nd.

Or at minimum, include USB out on the S3, to provide highest fidelity connectivity to the ZD3.
 
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So of course the ZD3 doesn't have XLR inputs, so if the S3 doesn't have USB output, for best fidelity when using the S3 and ZA3 amps, you're effectively making the ZD3 redundant in a full Fosi highest fidelity stack- until the S3 Lite is released?

Would seem to make a lot more sense to launch the S3 Lite first as WiiM have no directly equivalent product and you would be continuing to support sales of the ZD3 - then do the S3 (Dac inclusive version) 2nd.

Or at minimum, include USB out on the S3, to provide highest fidelity connectivity to the ZD3.
Sensible point although there will be optical out straight into ZD3?
 
We’ve made two initial appearance samples, haha—can you tell the difference between the two colors? What do you think of the color options?☺️


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Keep the current z series color. Side note, the color of the volume knob on zd3 and za3 are different. Please try to design products as one product line, z series with familiar design. The zp4 is like from another family. Also make the logo size always the same on the products. It would be nice if the designer and developer team think ahead- what products are planned, how they fit together as one desing group. How they will look if they are stack up or side by side. Also make products with better stand, so if i would like to push the button the unit wount move. These are my thoughts on your otherwise great audio devices. Thank you for making great audio products available more people. Keep up the good work!
 
Keep the current z series color. Side note, the color of the volume knob on zd3 and za3 are different. Please try to design products as one product line, z series with familiar design. The zp4 is like from another family. Also make the logo size always the same on the products. It would be nice if the designer and developer team think ahead- what products are planned, how they fit together as one desing group. How they will look if they are stack up or side by side. Also make products with better stand, so if i would like to push the button the unit wount move. These are my thoughts on your otherwise great audio devices. Thank you for making great audio products available more people. Keep up the good work!
@will williams this theme crops up quite often. I wonder if you or someone appropriate in the design team would say a few words on the design philosophy at Fosi?
(PS I love the design element carried through from the ZD3 to the streamer but the OP here and many others make a very valid point)
 
Sensible point although there will be optical out straight into ZD3?
Perhaps a further question (to avoid using optical), if an HDMI out port was included on the S3 (as is included for input on the ZD3), would that allow IIS (I squared S) to be added to the HDMI output/input of both units, via firmware upgrade down the track?
 
So of course the ZD3 doesn't have XLR inputs, so if the S3 doesn't have USB output, for best fidelity when using the S3 and ZA3 amps, you're effectively making the ZD3 redundant in a full Fosi highest fidelity stack- until the S3 Lite is released?

Would seem to make a lot more sense to launch the S3 Lite first as WiiM have no directly equivalent product and you would be continuing to support sales of the ZD3 - then do the S3 (Dac inclusive version) 2nd.

Or at minimum, include USB out on the S3, to provide highest fidelity connectivity to the ZD3.
Hi,

Yes, you've provided a very insightful point.

This was actually one of our initial considerations. For HiFi enthusiasts who already own a lot of equipment, what they really need from a streamer is pure streaming functionality. I believe our upcoming S3 Lite will be a better fit for this group of users.

On the other hand, for those who are new to HiFi or prefer all-in-one solutions, the S3—with its built-in high-performance DAC and premium components—offers a great balance of sound quality and ease of use, lowering the entry barrier.

We aim to meet the diverse needs of different user groups.

As for USB OUT, there are indeed some R&D challenges, mainly around compatibility. Essentially, the device has to function like a mini PC or host, and we are actively exploring solutions to address this.
 
@will williams this theme crops up quite often. I wonder if you or someone appropriate in the design team would say a few words on the design philosophy at Fosi?
(PS I love the design element carried through from the ZD3 to the streamer but the OP here and many others make a very valid point)
That's an interesting suggestion!

The designer is actually sitting not far from me—I'll go talk to him about it right now, haha.
 
Keep the current z series color. Side note, the color of the volume knob on zd3 and za3 are different. Please try to design products as one product line, z series with familiar design. The zp4 is like from another family. Also make the logo size always the same on the products. It would be nice if the designer and developer team think ahead- what products are planned, how they fit together as one desing group. How they will look if they are stack up or side by side. Also make products with better stand, so if i would like to push the button the unit wount move. These are my thoughts on your otherwise great audio devices. Thank you for making great audio products available more people. Keep up the good work!
Thank you for your suggestion — it's really helpful!

Yes, I agree that we still have a lot to learn when it comes to product development. We're truly grateful for all the feedback and advice you’ve shared—it helps us improve and create better products.

I think you meant to say ZP3.

Yes, when we designed the ZP3, we didn't take all of that into consideration. Also, due to the large size of the ZP3's PCBA, the industrial design and enclosure had to be scaled up accordingly. As a result, it's significantly larger than the ZD3 and ZA3, making it difficult to maintain a consistent design language across the three models.

We’ve gained more experience now, and I believe we’ll be able to make even better products in the future.
 
There must be a lot of work involved in designing and maintaining a proprietary OS and app. Did you think about making a Raspberry Pi based streamer that can run existing OSs for the Pi such as Moode, Volumio etc? Pi2 Design are about to release a Merc-Mini (pure digital transport, no DAC) you might want to look at that to see what the competition are up to. I guess you’re aiming at more of a mass market appeal?
 
It would be really great if such Streamer could use the eArc to decode Dolby Digital, DTS, Dolby Atmos as well... And create a family of different multichannel size decoders. For example: a simple 5.1, a midsize 7.1 and a bigger 9.2.4
Cheers
 
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