PCAudioLover
New member
Here would be some very small changes Fosi could make to the ZP3 preamp to make it almost perfect (
s indicate important ones):
TONE CONTROLS REMOVAL EXPLANATION:
I'm honestly a bit surprised anyone is even messing around with tone controls on dedicated pre-amps these days. Bass and Treble tone controls via unmarked knobs are such an antiquated feature. They are limited if not downright clumsy and don't give NEARLY enough control for what most people are after. (What frequency setting and bandwidth/range does each knob effect ? What's the dB gain adjustment range? Too many limitations and lack of reference.) These days, most people that actually want to do tonal adjustment for either personal preference or room correction just use parametric EQ because it's so powerful and so ubiquitous now. Many DACs and streamers are providing EQ, or people are just using software like I am. Preamps aren't really the right product for these tonal features anymore. Getting rid of tone controls on products like the ZP3 would save money and probably increase signal quality, potentially removing the need for a Bypass mode altogether and allowing other features to be used without as much signal degradation.
If a small part of the market REALLY wants clunky, limited analog tone controls via 2 knobs that they can fiddle with blindly, then just create a separate EQ unit like Schiit Audio does with a few more knobs at a few more frequencies! Each of the two customer types will be MUCH happier that way!
Preamps are really control centers - they get you plenty of connections in and out, have quality volume control, turn the rest of your stack on/off, and should definitely do adjustable bass management for 2.1 setups. Preamp tone controls are a silly move in 2025/2026 if you ask me. Down with tone controls!
But some of you probably disagree with me.
SUMMARY:
The Fosi ZP3 gets 90% of the way there... and what it does get right, it gets very right. It's the right price, the right form factor (size is great... it even stacks with other gear well like Schitt products), has some decent quality parts in most of the signal path, and it even has the perfect number and mix of input/output types on the back including features like the trigger. But the 10% this product gets wrong unfortunately REALLY cripples it for a lot of consumers.
With these very simple tweaks, and keeping it at around the same price point, Fosi could have dominated the market with the ZP3 preamp for many years to come. I'm still rooting for Fosi to get this right!
s indicate important ones):- High Pass Filter: Provide a few more steps/options for the HPF settings such as 60hz and maybe even 40hz.
(MOST people will use the 80hz setting, but as a second choice more people use settings LOWER than 80hz than HIGHER. Who in the world is setting a 120hz crossover between their mains and sub?) - High Pass Filter: Remove the noise/hiss when the HPF settings are enabled.
(This is currently due to the HPF being on the same circuit path as the tone controls and the need to have bypass off in order to use the HPF. 3 potential fixes: 1) Take the HPF off the tone control circuit 2) Remove the tone controls entirely, more on that below or 3) Improve the noise floor for the existing circuit via parts/design. I'm sure most would prefer choice 3 so tone controls remain intact and noise floor is improved everywhere, but I think any are viable options. People almost expect tone controls to affect noise floor. HPF shouldn't, however.) - Tone Controls: Remove the tone controls (or implement them in a way where there's less noise, or separate from the HPF circuit. More thoughts on their complete "removal" below.)
- Op Amps: Make the op amp swapping much easier.
(What a strange design choice Fosi: you made the op amps swappable by not soldering them in and adding the sockets, but then made them almost impossible to get to! Maybe just put one of those removable glass tops on the unit like everyone else seems to be doing, which makes the product more attractive aesthetically and to tinkerers who like to upgrade and roll op amps. But however you do it: make the op amp sockets easily accessible!) - Power Connector: Replace that super rare mickey mouse power plug in the back (IEC C6 I think it is) and use a standard plug (IEC C14 I think?) so people can use their fancy audiophile power cables they already own, or if they need a longer power cord can get one more easily and cost effectively with the standard plug.
- Power Cord: Make the power cord included with the unit a bit longer so people don't have to worry about buying a longer one in the first place.
- Volume UI: Put a volume indicator on the unit.
(The most noted issue on the internet. Don't think I need to explain more.)
TONE CONTROLS REMOVAL EXPLANATION:
I'm honestly a bit surprised anyone is even messing around with tone controls on dedicated pre-amps these days. Bass and Treble tone controls via unmarked knobs are such an antiquated feature. They are limited if not downright clumsy and don't give NEARLY enough control for what most people are after. (What frequency setting and bandwidth/range does each knob effect ? What's the dB gain adjustment range? Too many limitations and lack of reference.) These days, most people that actually want to do tonal adjustment for either personal preference or room correction just use parametric EQ because it's so powerful and so ubiquitous now. Many DACs and streamers are providing EQ, or people are just using software like I am. Preamps aren't really the right product for these tonal features anymore. Getting rid of tone controls on products like the ZP3 would save money and probably increase signal quality, potentially removing the need for a Bypass mode altogether and allowing other features to be used without as much signal degradation.
If a small part of the market REALLY wants clunky, limited analog tone controls via 2 knobs that they can fiddle with blindly, then just create a separate EQ unit like Schiit Audio does with a few more knobs at a few more frequencies! Each of the two customer types will be MUCH happier that way!
Preamps are really control centers - they get you plenty of connections in and out, have quality volume control, turn the rest of your stack on/off, and should definitely do adjustable bass management for 2.1 setups. Preamp tone controls are a silly move in 2025/2026 if you ask me. Down with tone controls!
But some of you probably disagree with me.SUMMARY:
The Fosi ZP3 gets 90% of the way there... and what it does get right, it gets very right. It's the right price, the right form factor (size is great... it even stacks with other gear well like Schitt products), has some decent quality parts in most of the signal path, and it even has the perfect number and mix of input/output types on the back including features like the trigger. But the 10% this product gets wrong unfortunately REALLY cripples it for a lot of consumers.
With these very simple tweaks, and keeping it at around the same price point, Fosi could have dominated the market with the ZP3 preamp for many years to come. I'm still rooting for Fosi to get this right!
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