A few people pointed out (wisely) that while using XLR connections, I can then use the RCA input on the ZA3 for my turntable instead of the selector switch, thank you! But funny enough, after posting this video, I read in the Fosi facebook group where someone said they bought the ZD3 not realizing it didn't have an RCA input, lol. Someone gave them the same advice for his turntable!
Except that it is an output not an input. Even if it works because somehow it is internally connected to the XLR, passing through a signal, there isn't an RIAA phono preamp so the signal would be much too low. Also it would likely contaminate the XLR output with a lot of noise. Bad idea. The ZD3 is a Digital preamp only, like any DAC with volume control. Most cheaper DAC/Amps dat do have analog inputs use an ADC (of likely questionable quality) to convert the analog signal to digital first, defeating the purpose of listening to a pure analog source, you get digitized pops and cracks. What you could do with the RCA output is attach a subwoofer e.g. if you are using the V3 mono amps, which do not have a sub out.
Just a note of caution... The SU-1 defeats the on-screen volume control and the keyboard media buttons on most PCs. If you are using a wireless keyboard to control an HTPC you will find yourself with an always full volume system. Then, while you can control volume in the media player, the rest of the system sounds will still be at flat out max volume. You will have to manually adjust volume on your amplifier. FWIW... The Windows exclamation sound is quite the experience at 140w/ch.
Aaron if you are using the zd3 with the za3 and use the xlr out of the zd3 into the xlr in of the za3 then you still have the rca in of the za3 available for your turntable or any other analog source.
Geshelli Labs J2 with the 4499s really kicks it up, understand more money but I believe the Difference in money is well worth it I'm sure I saw some cable company making RCA to Balanced and vice versa!
With a ton of dacs out there that have volume control but no analog ins, the Parks Audio Waxwing is starting to look like a better option all the time now. Yes I know digitizing our our records is heresy but I've heard really good things about the Waxwing and it would make things convenient.
I’m swamped with gear to review and behind on the Waxwing. Thank you for bringing it to my attention. Sounds like I need to check it out! Thanks again!
Years ago, I moved from a townhouse to a largish bachelor pad, to save money. This meant I didn't have a lot of room for my turntable, stand, speakers and, of course, the vinyl collection. I slowly got tired of the cramped quarters and decided to get rid of the vinyl. Around 2004 I started to transcode the vinyl to the newly available MP3 format. It took a while to flesh it out but using a PC Audio Interface and a mixer, I played with the levels and settings until I got it "just right"... then the 2 year job of transcoding began. In the end I had about 3,000 MP3/192 files taken from my albums. Comparing the vinyl and digital I often had to look to see which was playing. There was virtually no audible difference. I've since sold the boxes of Vinyl, converted all the MP3s to MP3/320 and used MP3 Gain to normalize them all at the standard -16LUFs used by streaming services, and of course the collection has grown over time as well. The 5,000 song collection currently lives in a tiny-pc with a rather large storage inside, that feeds my music system with large playlists and really good music. As a bonus, without the records, turntable and stands, the batch pad is now rather roomy and comfortable. So, no there's no worry about transcoding vinyl ... in fact, the older mixes often sound better than the digital remakes.
@@crazyprayingmantis5596 Sounds like a good idea. The big plus for me was my system went from a wall of records, a large stand, amplifier, cd player, and large speakers to a tiny computer, dac and mini-amp that now sits in an empty drawer well in my TV stand. The magic is all in the computer with a media player, storage for both music and movies, hdmi feed to the TV and audio through a USB DAC and Class D amplifier, feeding a pair of pioneer towers. The electronics takes up less space than my previous Marantz amp did... it does more and it sounds every bit as good.
my ZD3 is out for delivery :) the ZA3 will be mine in january . but i'm hoping the upcoming ZP3 preamp will have balanced in and out along with RCA in/out and a headphone output . any idea if my wishes will be granted or do you know when it might be released ? ...... NDA probably has you gagged for a while though (: . take care dude :)
I'm intrigued, of course, with the new world of audio. Would this compare with my expensive amp, driving $14,000 speakers? Maybe I sound like a dreamer, but who knows?
It's one of life's harder lessons ... Price is not an indicator of quality. I recently A-B compared a $100 A07 with a $1,500 TS-A75 ... had to look to see which was playing.
It would sound terrible and run out of power and headroom quickly with $4000 speakers nevermind $14000 it's for components of similar price and people who have never heard real audio
@@misterzero8667 I guess you missed the part about the ZD3 being a PREAMP... not a power amplifier. And yes, I have heard the companion ZA3 power amp working on $9,000 each Klipsh LaScala speakers and it does a fine job with them. Whether you like it or not, the ZA3 is an honest to goodness 200 w/ch power amplifier.
does it turn on automatically when the power is plugged in? Or do I have to turn this on every day for the rest of my life? Seems like it has to be turned on EVERY DAY!
It has a trigger input. You can connect it to the trigger output of another device, a timer, etc. If you keep the AC on and turn it on, it will stay on until you turn it off or the trigger input goes off.
Thank you! In all honesty, I always have a massive pile of gear to review so as soon as I finish a video I have to tear that gear down and start all over with the new set up. Not complaining (lol) just still haven't figured out how to keep up a system set up long enough to get into op amp rolling! I'll get there one of these days!
@@joshdeakins1775 yes, that's what I thought too, but I read on the Internet that it is not possible to connect a dac to my amplifier.....so do you think it will work 100%?Sound from my PC from youtube is totally shit, when i switch to FM radio quality is good, this quality need from my PC....thats all i need
dude if you appreciate dacs what's the point in buying vinyl in 2024, is it just a matter of following trends? the world is really going to hell.🤪 great video. Thank.
Yeah, good question - I still enjoy buying vinyl, CDs and even cassettes and like to try and find gear to get the best sound possible out of each. Thanks for watching!
I like the design on this unit but sadly not really a pre-amp, just a DAC with digital volume attenuation and a pre-amp is exactly what Fosi needs. Because its all done in the digital domain its cheap enough to implement but as a "pre-amp" not very useful. Building a true pre-amp would be more expensive but Fosi has to not be afraid to go slightly up market in terms of features, we're pretty much tapped out what you can do with sub $200 amps and DACs in tiny boxes.
I think a lot of people will love the ZD3 and I don't fault them there, but I'm someone who is always subbing new gear in and out of a system from DACs to streamers to phono preamps, so I also like the idea of Fosi just having a traditional preamp.
@@ForeverAnalog Yeah, it looks like a great DAC and it stacks perfect with the ZA3 but there is already a ton of DACs in this class. You could literally be buried alive in SMSL and Topping DACs with this basic feature set and price range. Nobody is making a legit pre-amp with multiple inputs and outputs, remote, ect. and thats the missing piece for these high performance to dollar class D amps.
I would lean towards K11 R2R but the preamp controls on that unit are a little more cumbersome than the ZD3. But I like having the headphone output on the K11 as well.
Yeah, I still think a lot of folks will love it, which is great. I might just be too high maintenance due to having too many audio sources in my setup lol. Thanks for watching!
It's a DAC with the ability to control volume and I think they should have just called it a DAC. There is a Fosi analog solid state preamp with multiple inputs and outputs (including balanced) being announced very soon.
If you have a turntable with built in pre-amp, you can couple that with an inexpensive BlueTooth transmitter to connect to the ZD3 without adding a switchbox or losing the volume control.
@@ForeverAnalog Then, if you really wanted to go crazy (and what audiophile doesn't?) you could hook the BT transmitter to the output of your switch box.
Wow, those things are TINY compared to my vintage gear. The XLR connections are almost as big as they are tall. I might start venturing into the streaming world soon, but it will be to integrate into my vintage audio components. I'll be looking to you for your advice! Great Vid as always!
Thanks Scott! I just set up one of those beast vintage receivers I emailed you about and I agree, it makes these little class D amps look so small, lol. I hope to get that video out soon and might hit you up for more advice when digging in. Thanks for watching!
Inputs and outputs are a part of audio ! But since this is disposable tech ? It won’t live long…. You don’t have record outputs anymore , you don’t have tape inputs cause now recording is bad? You don’t have tuners? So the only thing being supported is digital? This is not audio… per se . In the pro environment multiple signals are being sent and received from the mixing board , in the home it would be your preamp! And you can do more than just playback? And yes phono ! Since these aspects of audio are not being encouraged or supported they should not be mentioned in the same manner? This is plug and play for a non participant audience, and is disposable by design and use ! It’s not Legacy quality equipment , it won’t be around long 6mo ? How long did it take to get rid of Radio ,Tape , vinyl, CDs ,DAT , SACD ? And from this consumer trust and buying confidence are supposed to be obtained ? Kids in other countries build their own phones ! And yours.
A few people pointed out (wisely) that while using XLR connections, I can then use the RCA input on the ZA3 for my turntable instead of the selector switch, thank you! But funny enough, after posting this video, I read in the Fosi facebook group where someone said they bought the ZD3 not realizing it didn't have an RCA input, lol. Someone gave them the same advice for his turntable!
Except that it is an output not an input. Even if it works because somehow it is internally connected to the XLR, passing through a signal, there isn't an RIAA phono preamp so the signal would be much too low. Also it would likely contaminate the XLR output with a lot of noise. Bad idea. The ZD3 is a Digital preamp only, like any DAC with volume control. Most cheaper DAC/Amps dat do have analog inputs use an ADC (of likely questionable quality) to convert the analog signal to digital first, defeating the purpose of listening to a pure analog source, you get digitized pops and cracks. What you could do with the RCA output is attach a subwoofer e.g. if you are using the V3 mono amps, which do not have a sub out.
Great video my friend. Good detail. Mini amps are everywhere! I love me some AKM Velvet Verita chips. That SMSL SU-1 is amazing for the money.
Thanks Ed! Keep up the great work friend.
@@ForeverAnalog Thx.
Just a note of caution... The SU-1 defeats the on-screen volume control and the keyboard media buttons on most PCs.
If you are using a wireless keyboard to control an HTPC you will find yourself with an always full volume system.
Then, while you can control volume in the media player, the rest of the system sounds will still be at flat out max volume.
You will have to manually adjust volume on your amplifier.
FWIW... The Windows exclamation sound is quite the experience at 140w/ch.
Aaron if you are using the zd3 with the za3 and use the xlr out of the zd3 into the xlr in of the za3 then you still have the rca in of the za3 available for your turntable or any other analog source.
Great point! Thank you 🙏🏻🙌🏻
Geshelli Labs J2 with the 4499s really kicks it up, understand more money but I believe the Difference in money is well worth it
I'm sure I saw some cable company making RCA to Balanced and vice versa!
Great point, thank you!
Those are industry standard adaptors ... lots of companies make them.
Hi, what do you need an RCA input for a turntable that needs a phono input with Riaa equalization?
With a ton of dacs out there that have volume control but no analog ins, the Parks Audio Waxwing is starting to look like a better option all the time now. Yes I know digitizing our our records is heresy but I've heard really good things about the Waxwing and it would make things convenient.
I’m swamped with gear to review and behind on the Waxwing. Thank you for bringing it to my attention. Sounds like I need to check it out! Thanks again!
Years ago, I moved from a townhouse to a largish bachelor pad, to save money. This meant I didn't have a lot of room for my turntable, stand, speakers and, of course, the vinyl collection. I slowly got tired of the cramped quarters and decided to get rid of the vinyl.
Around 2004 I started to transcode the vinyl to the newly available MP3 format. It took a while to flesh it out but using a PC Audio Interface and a mixer, I played with the levels and settings until I got it "just right"... then the 2 year job of transcoding began.
In the end I had about 3,000 MP3/192 files taken from my albums. Comparing the vinyl and digital I often had to look to see which was playing. There was virtually no audible difference.
I've since sold the boxes of Vinyl, converted all the MP3s to MP3/320 and used MP3 Gain to normalize them all at the standard -16LUFs used by streaming services, and of course the collection has grown over time as well.
The 5,000 song collection currently lives in a tiny-pc with a rather large storage inside, that feeds my music system with large playlists and really good music. As a bonus, without the records, turntable and stands, the batch pad is now rather roomy and comfortable.
So, no there's no worry about transcoding vinyl ... in fact, the older mixes often sound better than the digital remakes.
I was thinking about buying an ultrasonic cleaner but I think I might just use the money for the waxwing.
@@crazyprayingmantis5596
Sounds like a good idea.
The big plus for me was my system went from a wall of records, a large stand, amplifier, cd player, and large speakers to a tiny computer, dac and mini-amp that now sits in an empty drawer well in my TV stand.
The magic is all in the computer with a media player, storage for both music and movies, hdmi feed to the TV and audio through a USB DAC and Class D amplifier, feeding a pair of pioneer towers. The electronics takes up less space than my previous Marantz amp did... it does more and it sounds every bit as good.
my ZD3 is out for delivery :)
the ZA3 will be mine in january .
but i'm hoping the upcoming ZP3 preamp will have balanced in and out along with RCA in/out and a headphone output .
any idea if my wishes will be granted or do you know when it might be released ?
...... NDA probably has you gagged for a while though (: .
take care dude :)
Awesome! I think you will really like this pairing. I haven’t talked to Fosi directly on future plans but I’m excited to see what 2025 will bring!
I'm intrigued, of course, with the new world of audio.
Would this compare with my expensive amp, driving $14,000 speakers?
Maybe I sound like a dreamer, but who knows?
Great question - I haven't had the chance to listen to speakers that expensive so I can't say one way or the other! Thanks for watching!
It's one of life's harder lessons ... Price is not an indicator of quality.
I recently A-B compared a $100 A07 with a $1,500 TS-A75 ... had to look to see which was playing.
It would sound terrible and run out of power and headroom quickly with $4000 speakers nevermind $14000 it's for components of similar price and people who have never heard real audio
@@misterzero8667
I guess you missed the part about the ZD3 being a PREAMP... not a power amplifier.
And yes, I have heard the companion ZA3 power amp working on $9,000 each Klipsh LaScala speakers and it does a fine job with them.
Whether you like it or not, the ZA3 is an honest to goodness 200 w/ch power amplifier.
@misterzero8667 the price of a speaker doesn't determine its power handling ability lol
il n y a pas de tone control. No TREBLE ET BASE?
does it turn on automatically when the power is plugged in?
Or do I have to turn this on every day for the rest of my life?
Seems like it has to be turned on EVERY DAY!
You manually turn it on and off by pushing the volume button. I suppose you could just leave it on?
It has a trigger input. You can connect it to the trigger output of another device, a timer, etc.
If you keep the AC on and turn it on, it will stay on until you turn it off or the trigger input goes off.
Was this with stock op amps on the zd3? Will you test it with different op amps?
Of course you answer that towards the end lol I highly highly recommend switching the op amps to sparkos. You will be amazed.
Thank you! In all honesty, I always have a massive pile of gear to review so as soon as I finish a video I have to tear that gear down and start all over with the new set up. Not complaining (lol) just still haven't figured out how to keep up a system set up long enough to get into op amp rolling! I'll get there one of these days!
hello can i ask ? can i my AV Receiver Sony STR-DH190 connect with cinch to this Fosi then use USB to my PC (win11)and it will work ? THX.
You can connect the ZD3 to a computer with the USB. Then out of the ZD3 to your Sony with RCA's.
@@joshdeakins1775 yes, that's what I thought too, but I read on the Internet that it is not possible to connect a dac to my amplifier.....so do you think it will work 100%?Sound from my PC from youtube is totally shit, when i switch to FM radio quality is good, this quality need from my PC....thats all i need
The solution to your phono rca dilemma is the WAXWING… you can come out of the waxwing with coax or ?
Awesome thank you!
dude if you appreciate dacs what's the point in buying vinyl in 2024, is it just a matter of following trends? the world is really going to hell.🤪 great video. Thank.
Yeah, good question - I still enjoy buying vinyl, CDs and even cassettes and like to try and find gear to get the best sound possible out of each. Thanks for watching!
I'm really enjoying my Focusrite 2i2 DAC. Does anyone out there have comparison experience with the ZD3?
I haven't had a chance to review a Focusrite product yet but would love to!
I like the design on this unit but sadly not really a pre-amp, just a DAC with digital volume attenuation and a pre-amp is exactly what Fosi needs. Because its all done in the digital domain its cheap enough to implement but as a "pre-amp" not very useful. Building a true pre-amp would be more expensive but Fosi has to not be afraid to go slightly up market in terms of features, we're pretty much tapped out what you can do with sub $200 amps and DACs in tiny boxes.
I think a lot of people will love the ZD3 and I don't fault them there, but I'm someone who is always subbing new gear in and out of a system from DACs to streamers to phono preamps, so I also like the idea of Fosi just having a traditional preamp.
@@ForeverAnalog Yeah, it looks like a great DAC and it stacks perfect with the ZA3 but there is already a ton of DACs in this class. You could literally be buried alive in SMSL and Topping DACs with this basic feature set and price range.
Nobody is making a legit pre-amp with multiple inputs and outputs, remote, ect. and thats the missing piece for these high performance to dollar class D amps.
@PhillioDoede I always end up using my Schiit Saga+ lol
This or K11 R2R? =)
I would lean towards K11 R2R but the preamp controls on that unit are a little more cumbersome than the ZD3. But I like having the headphone output on the K11 as well.
@@ForeverAnalog I just intend to use either as a pure dac. :)
Yeah, the lack of at least one analog input is a dealbreaker for me, at least for this as a preamp
Yeah, I still think a lot of folks will love it, which is great. I might just be too high maintenance due to having too many audio sources in my setup lol. Thanks for watching!
It's a DAC with the ability to control volume and I think they should have just called it a DAC. There is a Fosi analog solid state preamp with multiple inputs and outputs (including balanced) being announced very soon.
@sean_heisler looking forward to that! Thanks for sharing!
If you have a turntable with built in pre-amp, you can couple that with an inexpensive BlueTooth transmitter to connect to the ZD3 without adding a switchbox or losing the volume control.
That's certainly an idea, lol
@@ForeverAnalog
Then, if you really wanted to go crazy (and what audiophile doesn't?) you could hook the BT transmitter to the output of your switch box.
@@Douglas_Blake_579 nah I just wanna connect cables via rca lol
Wow, those things are TINY compared to my vintage gear. The XLR connections are almost as big as they are tall. I might start venturing into the streaming world soon, but it will be to integrate into my vintage audio components. I'll be looking to you for your advice! Great Vid as always!
Thanks Scott! I just set up one of those beast vintage receivers I emailed you about and I agree, it makes these little class D amps look so small, lol. I hope to get that video out soon and might hit you up for more advice when digging in. Thanks for watching!
Small is good ... tons of power and good sound that doesn't take over the whole room.
@Douglas_Blake_579 big is good too lol
@@ForeverAnalog
Big only counts in sex and explosives. 💥
When peoples dont know you suppose to pair this with an amp lmfao smdh
Um i enjoy my p3 with my tv also, its call bluetooth smdh
Awesome - thanks for watching!
Inputs and outputs are a part of audio ! But since this is disposable tech ? It won’t live long…. You don’t have record outputs anymore , you don’t have tape inputs cause now recording is bad? You don’t have tuners? So the only thing being supported is digital? This is not audio… per se . In the pro environment multiple signals are being sent and received from the mixing board , in the home it would be your preamp! And you can do more than just playback? And yes phono ! Since these aspects of audio are not being encouraged or supported they should not be mentioned in the same manner? This is plug and play for a non participant audience, and is disposable by design and use ! It’s not Legacy quality equipment , it won’t be around long 6mo ? How long did it take to get rid of Radio ,Tape , vinyl, CDs ,DAT , SACD ? And from this consumer trust and buying confidence are supposed to be obtained ?
Kids in other countries build their own phones ! And yours.