In a future iteration of the S3 and LC30 it would be cool to see tighter component integration that allows for Spottily Connect to see the various signal paths in a Fosi stack as separate devices. Like Amp/Speaker combinations A+A, A+B, B+B, B+A as different devices that when selected could be relayed by the S3 to the LC30. Why? Well, I have one signal chain I like to use for Jazz, and a separate one I prefer for classic rock. It would be nice to be able to just select it in the app rather than mashing buttons on the remote. Anyway, it's just a thought I've had since setting up my current system. I haven't added a streamer yet in anticipation of the S3. Just using an old Fire tablet and controlling it through the Spotify app on my phone or the web player.
Streamer S3 Streamer Development Log
- Thread starter Will Zhang
- Start date
Jormvngandr
Member
Chinese lunar new year is in full swing atm, so it might take a while before we will get any info on the progress of the streamer and other things they have in development.
CreativeX42
New member
The silence and lack of news it is disturbing. Probably it is low priority project or abandon.
Martin Roscos
Active member
This is such a good idea! Has this been done elsewhere? I love it.
Martin Roscos
Active member
2nd week March. Clock is ticking now.
I'm not sure if it has been done elsewhere, but I do IT for a living. It shouldn't be too hard to perhaps create a few "virtual" MAC addresses on the S3 NIC I would think? And then each MAC address could represent a different "Device" to the Spotify app. I would assume this would also maybe involve creating virtual NIC's with their own IPs (meaning 4-5 IP's being claimed by the S3). But I'm just spitballing ideas here. I know virtual NICs are pretty common place in Windows, and Linux (I've never tired it in MacOS, but I'd assume it's similar). I have no clue what the S3 is using under the hood. But if it's Linux I'm pretty sure this is something that could be accomplished predominantly in software. At least on the S3 side. Quick and dirty communication to the LC30 could be as simple as an IR relay. The remote can already change between the speakers and amps. So I would think that communication could be relayed semi-simply (I'm not an engineer, I could be horribly under-simplifying this, and if so it's OK to tell me!).
Martin Roscos
Active member
Love it
motleypixel
New member
It will release, but there are areas they need to address. The issue now is they are on Spring Festival which essentially lasts for about a month (moon cycle). I would rather they address some of the software improvements up-front before releasing.
toninhofwi
New member
Hello, I love that it will have an AKM chip, but the black color is essential to match other equipment.
Jormvngandr
Member
I doubt that the color of the streamer will differ much from the rest of the gear in the Z series.
Martin Roscos
Active member
Unfortunately it’ll only be launched in grey. Hopefully later models will black
So, I do not own a Fosi T10 but apparently it works with the WIIM app (and apple devices). Could this be a solution for the Fosi streamers? The ability to use EQ/room correction & link to other Fosi/Wiim streamers would be a huge plus - not having to choose one ecosystem or the other.
Jormvngandr
Member
So it will be in a brighter grey than the rest of the Z series? (yes they look dark grey to my eyes in broad daylight)
Edit: looks like the same dark grey on this photo.
toninhofwi
New member
You described it correctly: “Unfortunately”...
And unfortunately, I won't buy it, because it will look completely out of place alongside my other all-black Fosis.
Regards.
John E. Learning
New member
If not abandoned my reaction would be Roon ready.
People not subscribed to Roon have no right saying this should be omitted just for that reason.
We are not talking ultra high end, and every reasonable choice within scope should be considered at least.
If someone asks for pink besides grey, silver or black its their right to do so. Fosi will decide in the end.
Same as some computer [brand/style] users pretending another computer [brand/style] does not exist...or [please fill in your own preferred details] ...
I believe that this is a worldwide community where Fosi listens to everyone and then takes a business decision.
People not subscribed to Roon have no right saying this should be omitted just for that reason.
We are not talking ultra high end, and every reasonable choice within scope should be considered at least.
If someone asks for pink besides grey, silver or black its their right to do so. Fosi will decide in the end.
Same as some computer [brand/style] users pretending another computer [brand/style] does not exist...or [please fill in your own preferred details] ...
I believe that this is a worldwide community where Fosi listens to everyone and then takes a business decision.
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John E. Learning
New member
That is your right!
In my case I have a mixed lot (colour & brand wise because my first "amendment" is how I can enloy music at the budget I have/wish to spend on audio. Next to my 1200+ vinyl records the colour of my record player is completely irrelevant.
Bottom line is that everyone makes their own choices. Friends of mine will, for example, only buy stuff when it is branded B&O...
parkylives
New member
I have previously and they have stated they would not be going this way and link play devices are becoming dated as wiim device are the only ones that get the updates. Mist linkplay devices are on firmware from the 2022.
Bummer. So instead of using a mature app that’s regularly updated they opted to try and reinvent the wheel. Let see if they can create an app with more features and better stability than the wiim home app.
Fwiw I don’t care one bit about what the streamer looks like. My current source is a WIIM mini stashed under my bed. The only thing I see and interact with is the app on my phone, so other than having the right connectivity imo the only thing that matters for this purchase decision is the app.
Atis Minde
New member
Please, please include Deezer! I have a huge library there and it will be the main decision factor for buying Fosi streamer!
It only supports Wi-Fi 6.
Hi,
Qobuz Connect should be supported very soon.
As for Idagio, there are currently no plans to support it, but I will add it to our OTA roadmap for future consideration.
Thank you very much for your suggestion.
maybe 5V
Hi
It does not support native Apple Music, as Apple does not make this functionality available to third-party devices.
Hi,
YouTube Music is already included in our OTA roadmap. However, we’re sorry that it may not be supported at the time of product launch.
Thank you for your interest. In the meantime, you’re welcome to try the S3 — we’re confident the sound quality won’t disappoint you.
THX
Hi John,
Thank you very much for your continued attention and support.
We sincerely apologize for the long wait. Achieving the best possible sound quality and ensuring stable Wi-Fi streaming have been two of the biggest challenges for us, and we invested a great deal of time in R&D to get them right.
We’re pleased to let you know that the S3 is now confirmed to go on sale in March.
Hi,
It was the Chinese New Year holiday recently, so I took a relatively long break as well.
Haha, now I’m back!
Wishing everyone a smooth and successful year ahead, with good health and happiness.
This is actually our most important project at the moment.
Thank you for your support! We’ll be releasing a black version in the future.
This is a commercial partnership.
However, it’s clearly the most convenient option for users.
Yes, the currently released Deep Space Gray will be different from the black used in the Z series.
Hi
Roon certification is a relatively lengthy process, and we are actively working with the Roon team to move it forward.
However, based on the current progress, we’re sorry to say that the S3 may not have completed Roon certification by the time it officially launches.
Very sorry about that.
Hi,
The S3 does not support this interface.
However, it will be supported in future product iterations.
Shleeable
New member
@Will Zhang can we get a higher quality photo of the back of the unit?
CreativeX42
New member
happy to know
troythector
New member
Hi Will, has development started on the S3 Lite yet? If the S3 is being release in March, do you have any timelines for the S3 Lite or will it be run as a completely separate project?
troythector
New member
That is perfect as I will be adding it to a ZD3 with ZA3's in dual mono setup.
Ashish Khandekar
New member
For similar type of implementation you can check HiFI Rose Audio DAC RD160.
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Release date March 16. 2026
Fosi Audio S3 Streamer
Fosi Audio S3 Streamer
troythector
New member
S3 Streamer details are up.
https://fosiaudio.com/pages/s3-balanced-hifi-streamer-dac-preamp/
https://fosiaudio.com/pages/s3-balanced-hifi-streamer-dac-preamp/
troythector
New member
I would like to know if Fosi Audio will create a separate developer forum for the Fosi Audio App development to track development progress for specific features, patch release notes, patch release cycles, targeted features for next release, etc. since this will require constant future upgrades.
troythector
New member
I'm well aware yes. This launch is still super exciting as we get a good idea of what to expect and more importantly the software support will feature as this will be crucial for the products success.
unclecomfort
New member
No coax output? 
Correct.No coax output?
Yes.
So does anyone know if S3 will be able to automatically power on via ARC/CEC signal?
-Ed
CreativeX42
New member
Shleeable
New member
I'm going to grab a S3 BUT my perfect S3 Lite/S4 would be
Pure Streamer (No DAC)
* Screen for cover art and EQ/visualisations.
* Network/Wifi for streaming apps and NAS over SMB
* Internal drive and/or USB for storage
* Outputs: USB Out (plug in my USB DAC), Optical Out, COAX Out (I2S would be a bonus).
* Digital EQ/DSP.
* Bonus: Room Correction/PEQ style.
I've got a R2R Druid and might get the Fiio Warmer for the tubes (unless Fosi make something similar) and just connecting the streamer to my existing DAC would be great.
My current streamer is a Raspberry Pi running piCorePlayer with a touch screen and it's.. good enough.. but having something dedicated with bonus features like the room correction would be nice.
Pure Streamer (No DAC)
* Screen for cover art and EQ/visualisations.
* Network/Wifi for streaming apps and NAS over SMB
* Internal drive and/or USB for storage
* Outputs: USB Out (plug in my USB DAC), Optical Out, COAX Out (I2S would be a bonus).
* Digital EQ/DSP.
* Bonus: Room Correction/PEQ style.
I've got a R2R Druid and might get the Fiio Warmer for the tubes (unless Fosi make something similar) and just connecting the streamer to my existing DAC would be great.
My current streamer is a Raspberry Pi running piCorePlayer with a touch screen and it's.. good enough.. but having something dedicated with bonus features like the room correction would be nice.
Juan Rodriguez
New member
Hello everyone,
A question for Fosi: does the S3 streamer set and V3 amplifiers present very different results if the connection is made via Xlr or Rca?
A question for Fosi: does the S3 streamer set and V3 amplifiers present very different results if the connection is made via Xlr or Rca?
XLR has higher gain (+6dB more) than RCA, so you would have to turn the volume dial lower in XLR to get the same volume level. RCA passes through one less op-amp, so it has a potential to sound cleaner with ZA3 (ZA3 uses an op-amp at the XLR input to convert the signal down from balanced/differential to single-ended in order to pass the signal through the volume potentiometer which cannot be bypassed).
-Ed
So will S3 be able to automatically power on via ARC/CEC signal?
toninhofwi
New member
Please tell me that's not true. Qobuz is the best streaming service out there right now, at least when it comes to Hi-Res content.
I was thinking of ordering one, but I'll wait for Qobuz.
Earmuff3538
New member
Hopfully the youtube music supports free as well as paid service.
Agreed; extremely disappointing.
So will S3 be able to automatically power on via ARC/CEC signal?
-Ed
I don't think there's any difference, in the app, the difference is in the login on YouTube regarding free or payed content from YouTube
Earmuff3538
New member
Is it? That is not the case with the native youtube app in Wiim.
Im not talking about chromecast from phone to streamer. Im talking about native youtube app.
The S3 already sounds impressive, but my use case requires Analog to Digital Conversion from the RCA inputs to the toslink output. This is to allow a turntable with a phono preamp to be connected to my KEF LS60 Wireless speakers at 24/196. This conversion is something that is missing from so many other streaming devices, and when it has been attempted it really is poorly executed. Is the S3 able to do so? It would be useful to also be able to play vinyl and use Airplay across the whole home, although I’m not sure if this would be licensed or approved by Apple. As someone who actually prefers to use Apple Music (I know, right?) could the S3 eventually support Apple Music on the device itself to achieve HiRes Lossless playback? Thanks.
Joseph
New member
Hi guys! I'm new to this forum, but not new to Fosi. Enjoying ZD3&ZA3 for a long time. Great gear!
As a source I'm using RPi4 with Volumio and Spotify plugin. But the problem with it is the fact that Spotify open source plugin is limited to 320kbps only. So, here is the question!
Do you have access to official Spotify SDK for lossless Spotify connect functionality?
Thanks!
As a source I'm using RPi4 with Volumio and Spotify plugin. But the problem with it is the fact that Spotify open source plugin is limited to 320kbps only. So, here is the question!
Do you have access to official Spotify SDK for lossless Spotify connect functionality?
Thanks!
Ordered an S3 off of Amazon with the coupon code, came out to under $250 shipped. If it is able to automatically power on and off from ARC/CEC (at least when left in HDMI input mode), this will be great. I can't use the ZD3 for this function because I already have another DAC that I prefer (Topping D90 III Sabre).
-Ed
-Ed
troythector
New member
I see you've been asking that question for a while with no response. Please let us know if it works. Thanks.
I am hoping it works a bit like ZD3, where, when left in HDMI/ARC input mode, it will do it, but it won't do it if left in a different input.
-Ed
troythector
New member
Makes sense, I do not see why they would change that with the S3 but always good to have confirmation. It's just weird that @Will Zhang & @Fosi Audio Team has not responded on this though. It will take them like 2 minutes to test it in the lab.
Well, based on information I've seen elsewhere, this S3 streamer is (at least partially) based on an, "off-the-shelf," streaming module from another company, which allowed them to leverage somebody else's already refined streaming hardware and significantly reduce development time, but likely also limits certain aspects of how the S3 is able to function. I don't know exactly who built/programmed the ARC/CEC functionality within S3, so if it is part of the streaming circuit they brought in from elsewhere, they might not be able to make it behave the same as ZD3. Of course, I think it is highly likely that Fosi did that part themselves anyway, so fingers crossed. Either way, it's not easy to find an affordable solution with ARC/CEC input combined with power automation plus 12V trigger out. I am using a WiiM Ultra for that at the moment, but it's my dad's and I'd rather sell it already so he can recoup some of the cost (of his upgrade to an Eversolo T8).
-Ed
troythector
New member
The streaming module used is an StreamUnlimited Stream1832AE module which has been confirmed by Fosi Audio S3 Streamer Intro & Demonstration YouTube video but I cannot find any information relating to HDMI ARC/CEC in the documentation. I assume the ARC/CEC functionality has been built separately by Fosi Audio, so they would need to confirm if it's done according to standards.
Magpie
New member
Sorry to jump in bluntly but why the Deep Space Grey ? I have the ZA3 and ZD3 and would have had the S3 but I wouldn't want one at any reduction , Fosi products are excellent but the look is a major factor , I am not sitting an S3 on or next to my other Fosi-ies period .
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If I had to guess, there's something about the way the wireless radios are physically configured that they needed to have a plastic/resin/composite enclosure that doesn't block radio signals like an aluminum/metal one would. They painted it to look like metal because that's as...un-cheap...as it will get. This might even go back to the need to rely on StreamUnlimited module.
-Ed
Earmuff3538
New member
@Will Zhang, Would you share/publish the development road map for the S3 and for the App?
I've now also ordered a ZD3. I will be able to directly compare the ARC/CEC behavior of S3 against ZD3 and WiiM Ultra (which I consider the current standard-bearer for ARC implementation among music streamers; far better than the ARC implementation in Eversolo streamers).
-Ed
troythector
New member
That's great news Ed. Please provide feedback of your findings once you have had a moment to test. Thanks
Why does it have different color? These devices should create a "set", not a Christmas tree. V3s are black, ZA, ZD also... almost all devices go in black. Only BT20A is grey, but what is the point to stack BT20A with S3? (of course, none)
If I had to guess, there's something about the way the wireless radios are physically configured that they needed to have a plastic/resin/composite enclosure that doesn't block radio signals like an aluminum/metal one would. They painted it to look like metal because that's as...un-cheap...as it will get. This might even go back to the need to rely on StreamUnlimited module.
-Ed
georg.rehm
New member
Would going from the S3 via XLR into a ZP3 preamp be a problem? I know the S3 is a preamp and that going from a preamp to another preamp is not the smartest idea but this shouldn't pose an issue does it?
The S3 is not a true/analog preamp. It is a digital, "preamp," which means it can attenuate volume in the digital domain. You can lock the volume to maximum in the S3 if you want and use ZP3 for volume control instead.
-Ed
:Bump
On Facebook, Fosi responded to me that S3 does support automatic activation over ARC/CEC.
I am still waiting for the two devices to arrive later today from Amazon.
-Ed
Okay, so here's how it goes with the S3...
When left in HDMI input, the S3 will turn on and turn off on its own based on signals from ARC/CEC. This is fantastic, and already beats Eversolo completely. Volume control via CEC also works fine.
When left in a different input, such as AirPlay, the S3 ignores all signals from ARC/CEC. This is a satisfactory arrangement. For many people, the ARC functionality is something they only want to use occasionally, and this prevents ARC signals from being overly possessive of the S3 (some WiiM Ultra owners complain about this, although there is a switch to disable CEC takeover when other inputs are selected).
If the TV is being watched but another input is in use (such as AirPlay) and the S3 is switched back to HDMI input, it will pick back up on the ARC audio and function fine including volume control and power control.
I also tested automatic power-on with AirPlay. So if S3 is turned off, when I look in output device list in Apple Music on my iPhone, S3 is there. Tapping on it wakes the S3 and any devices attached via 12V trigger. Please note I tested S3 using Ethernet connection--I am not sure if this works over Wi-Fi, I don't feel like programming my Wi-Fi information into the S3 yet.
Initial setup is extremely quick and basic. It comes with a remote, but I don't personally see much use for the remote for my own purposes of this thing since all I want is basically an ARC processing device.
Anything else people want me to test or try while I have it? I am not yet sure I will keep it--I might just keep the ZD3 instead which I am about to test.
-Ed
Yeah, that's what I am looking for too. More a Digitial Transport.
Streaming is just a bonus as I purchase/downlaod what I want to listen too... subsciption services have no interest for me.
MusicNirvana
New member
Please consider adding USB playback option (like WiiM Ultra Streamer) and also one USB out for external DAC. These are standard features these days.
Jormvngandr
Member
Not sure how far they have gone with the plans, but if you look a few pages back in this thread there is talks about a second version of a streamer.
The S3 is just released, so it has to be on the S3 Lite or Ultra, or what they end up calling them.
It's really cheap, and I just saw that you can buy one, and get one for free, that's crazy.
Attachments
In ZD3 there is one annoying function; when ZD3 was turned off on HDMI input (as you were watching TV) and later you turn it on with the use of ZD3 pilot (because you want to listen to music through bluetooth or through usb), it turns on also a TV. I wonder whether it is the same with S3. And in general I would appreciate separation of reactions depending on which pilot am I using - if the one from TV, turn on both: TV and ZD3, but when I am using ZD3 pilot: turn on only ZD3 and other devices connected with the use of trigger outputs.
Ah...
Good thing I don't use the ZD3 for my other activities. It is only acting as ARC/CEC & 12V Trigger manager. As such, it is never taken out of HDMI input mode.
I have a FiiO R7 that I use for Roon Ready endpoint for my actual music streaming, and that is connected to a Topping D90 III Sabre DAC. The Topping DAC hooks up to a Topping Pre90 preamp's XLR input. The ZD3 hooks up to the RCA input. I leave the Pre90 in RCA input and powered on 24/7 so my family can watch TV with just one remote (Apple TV 4K remote). I manually turn on the ZD3 with its remote control and switch Pre90 to XLR input when I go to do music listening.
-Ed
