This Mini Amp Sold OUT in 24 Hours and Here's Why
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- čas přidán 31. 05. 2024
- #AmpDyno #Amplifier #FosiAudio
This $150 mini amp has audiophiles rushing to buy
Fosi Audio ZA3 TPA3255 Based Mini Amp
SHOP for the ZA3 Here: amzn.to/41zmrjT
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DISCLAIMER: This video and description contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase from one of the product links, I may receive a small commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases - Auta a dopravní prostředky
_Note: Amp is SOLD OUT as of December 24, 2023 due to incredible demand. It should be in stock again in a few weeks_
*SHOP for the ZA3 Here* amzn.to/41zmrjT
SHOP for Fosi Audio V3 - amzn.to/3PkrK2g
48V 5A Power Supply - amzn.to/3L68Olc
Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2 Bookshelf Speakers: amzn.to/3Mmdbcz
*RELATED VIDEOS*
Fosi Audio V3 Review: czcams.com/video/U0JwSR0yS_A/video.html
Fosi Audio BT20A-PRO Review - czcams.com/video/b1zFuLK655g/video.html
More Power in than Out? czcams.com/video/c7QELbpKMuI/video.html
Mini Amps Video Playlist - is.gd/walminiamps
*TEST BENCH EQUIPMENT*
SMD / D'Amore Engineering Amp Dyno (AD-1): is.gd/wccad1
XS Power D1400 Batteries - amzn.to/2BPFCKW
XS Power PSC60 Charger - amzn.to/2CHGcfs
Fluke 1000A AC/DC Clamp Meter: amzn.to/2Rw5WDA
Handheld Dyno AMM-1: is.gd/wccamm1
My Favorite Precision Screwdriver Kit: amzn.to/3RTO6c4
_DISCLAIMER: This video and description contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase from one of the product links, I may receive a small commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases_
What about the remote?
Thanks for the link...but it is SOLD OUT
Can you provide a paylist for the songs that you have used?
Will this thing handle 60 volts? Thinking about putting a stereo on my 5600w electric scooter
@@buddsmokengood
No. 48 max ...
Here in Japan Amazon still has a few in stock... gonna give one a whirl. Bonus coupon, yay.
Thanks as always and Merry Christmas, and all the best to you.
Edit/update: This arrived a while ago, I finally fired it up yesterday as my usual main amp needs service. I'm very impressed with both the build and the sound, especially at this price point. Quite pleased and thanks again for the heads-up.
Thanks for the review and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours
Have a great Christmas Big D! You're the best, man.
I got 2 of these. Instead of using mono for each speaker, I set it up as bi Amp. Using left channel for low and right channel for mid and high to power my tower speakers. Sound is amazing!
Hi! Do you have a diagram for such wiring please? Woukd you know how to also add a Subwoofer to the setup in this case? Thank you
This is not the best idea due to crosstalk. It's better to use one amplifier for stereo low and second for stereo mid-high if you use an external crossover (a bit of crosstalk between left and right is perfectly fine, between low and high not so much).
@@jd5787dude a lot of home audio amps are bi amp ready. What he is doing is ideal.
@@AdamsOlympia yes I been running it in mono mode bi-wire for past few months. It’s really good. I am considering getting another amp for my center channel. I also considered getting an internal chip upgrade, not sure if its worth it and also for mono do I need one or two per amp?
@Zeck88522 Sorry...this doesn't make sense....
I was hoping you were going to review this one. Great reviews as usual.
“…power sackled oaf an ohn…” Love the southern accent Big D!🤠
I’ve been watching your context for a few years now and I really like your mini amp content. I use mini amps for vinyl and other two channel stuff like streaming. I would love to see much more content like this more from fosi, aiyima, and douk!
can you say shill
Even a cheap remote would be nice. Pretty nice Fosi product.
Love my Fosi Audio BT30D Pro they at least addressed the bluetooth priority by going into connect mode when power cycled, ie it kicks off anyone who stole the bluetooth on the amp. Cheap bluetooth Chinese amps have instant reconnect and no override so if the bluetooth is stolen by another device it won't log off until the offending device either goes out of range or is turned off.
I actually checked the BT30D Pro and it has 50V input caps so up to 48V could be used but the overheating problem will pop up. Looks like they finally addressed that too AND balanced inputs for pro audio use. Awesome, only way to make it better would be to add 2.1 amp capability with adjustable low and high pass crossovers, you know like a car amplifier.
Also wanted to post because I'm giving Williston Audio Labs a shout out on my channel. Your channel is basically my inspiration for starting my own electronics repair business and youtube channel. My first project is a customizable party tower speaker that people can build themselves. Your channel's testing inspired me to take my 20+ years of pro audio repair experience and show people with amps like you test you can build a party speaker that performs better, costs less, and is repairable and upgradeable rather than say a JBL Partybox 1000 in terms of both power output and sound quality.
So thank you Williston Audio Labs. You're truly keeping the big boys honest.
Going to check out your channel since my uncle wants to buy that jbl Bluetooth speaker
It sounds very clean and can hear all the instruments individually.
You killed me smallz with that Grey poupon reference!! 😂😂😂😂
Those last few seconds! That’s one of my favorite CDs of all time. Cool to know that you enjoy it as well! Cheers and Merry Christmas!
Hopefully I won't have to remove it as the track itself is public domain, but not sure about the Telarc recording. I had a lot of fun listing to a ton of CD's with this setup! Too bad the experience cannot be shared over CZcams
I recognize it but can’t remember that song. I think I used to own it.
Help a brother out?
@@effectivetactics422 it’s a Telarc recording. I’ll find a link and paste it in the comments.
Bachbusters, an awesome sound quality disc.
@@550n440THANK YOU! I think I STILL have that disc! You rock
I usually cannot tell the difference in sq on youtube, but this does sound better than most.
A Big D video on Christmas eve!
And another great mini amp review too
I'm also doing 8 videos straight on my Old School Stereo YT channel starting tomorrow! An old school amp test each day for 7 days!
Can’t wait for those videos Big D!!! Thanks for the early Christmas present!!! May God bless you my brother!
Ahh the good old TELARC CD, loved that label!
I have just received the P3 preamp, it is very nice, I wish it had a remote control at least for the volume.
really loved the work you provided!! but can you also show us if the IC is an original one or a fake one
Good ole Bachbusters at the end! Tocata and Fugue in D Minor! Gotta love Don Dorsey!
You should hear tocata and b by bass mekanik- I think that’s how he spells it…
Pin 2 is hot for our western audio standard, as shown by the Fosi. That Sony CD player uses the Japanese standard of having pin 3 hot. Using mixed XLR units reverses the phase and hurts bass response unless you have a special XLR cable made for this issue.
The maximum power ratings for these amplifiers are usually for 48v 12a psus where in my teating in mono it slightly exceeds the power ratings.
Glad to see this on youre channel man i was hoping these 2 mostly seperate "ends" of audio are being closer in cost and respect from each other.
annoyed i missed this by 1 day. Had to make sure both it would do as im switching to hifi from surround sound and had to make sure i had signal processing that would work plus xmas. Turns out im good on both but they were sold out the next morn! Ik i will be on a trio of these ASAP. Settled for a BT30A pro for the bedroom to try their amplifiers (same ti3255 chip so close and perfect power for the small room)
Their mini usb-c DAC providing a nice clean wired signal to my DSP has done wonders for the car build. Hi-fi speakers are done and sound awesome so this is the last thing but between these and the ayima A07 that im hoping comes back with a competitor this spring.
I've been waiting for your say on the amp. Just waiting for it to get back in stock.
That looks like a Nice desktop solution. This looks like the type of thing that will be good for somebody that's going to college and living in an apartment or a dorm.
Hi! Stupid question but how would you wire it in a setup with an additional central speaker? I really love my old NAD... It gives a LOT in terms of soundstage vs most amps I tried. Perhaps this mini amp could be interesting to add. (btw, what music did you use for the test?)
Would you pair this up with a DAC? Or is it not recommended for headphones??
If so any recommendations??
This is why I wanted to put of my purchase until after it was launched. Thanks.
Sorry, just now subscribed 😮, happy new year.
Thanks for the video review! One thing that is confusing, which you partially glossed over, then dismissed altogether is the fact that the measured output power and the available power from the included AC power supply bear no resemblance to one another. It would be great if you could follow through with your train of thought and explain why the numbers are so vastly different. When I make technical measurements and something is out of whack, I dismiss the measurements and figure out what I did wrong in performing the tests, then fix it before publishing it. I have been following this "mini-Class-D" amp market for a while and have yet to see one amp where these kinds of advertised numbers match up. Things like "Our 600W amp only requires a 108W supply! How? It's magic! Just trust us....honest!"
I continue to remain unconvinced. One last thing is that when an amp has XLR inputs, the pinouts are in the manual. The reason is that there is more than one standard convention for wiring up XLRs. Also - the connector appears to accept 1/4" plugs, which is not mentioned. Hmmm...
Best thing so far is that it's so ding dang cute! So cute that it needs a Hello Kitty sticker on it. Technically...I'd keep shopping.
Would 2 of these with a good preamp behind them be solid and sufficient for a set of klipsch rf7 flagships is the question? Enough low end grunt and control or maybe too much to ask? The rf7 is 97 db sensitivity, has a big impedance dip though, rated at 8 ohms.
The MONO mode doesn't bridge the amplifier it puts it into PBTL mode (Parallel bridge tied load) basically putting all the available channels in parallel, this way the amplifier can achieve higher power outputs at lower impedances but it only works under 4 ohms due to ohm's law, if you are using a 4 or 8 ohm load it's basically doing nothing extra vs the normal mode as the resistance is simply not low enough to pass the extra current.
So basically, you are better off having 2 channels than one at anything 4 ohms or higher
The amp chip is voltage limited to 48v, so it won't make more power at 8 ohm.
@@SilmarilS79 i never said anything about 8 ohms
Also given the 63v caps you can safely go to 50v however even though the chip is rated at a max of 54.5 i wouldn't go any higher because cooling might become an issue
I had an aiyima subwoofer amp based on the 3255 and it also had 63v rail caps, i removed the top cover and installed a small fan to the heatsink and i was powering it from a 52.5v 12.5a PSU running at 2 ohms without issues for my 2 10" subs
Good power from it, i still upgraded from it because it wasn't quite enough for 2 10" subs but it served me well.
@@Random_4400 "still upgraded from it because it wasn't quite enough for 2 10" subs but it served me" do you mind telling us, What;s that amp you upgraded to?
Love your stuff, can you include 6 ohm measurements in you vids ?
Love that 7ES player, I have it's little brother 5ES and it still blows minds. What ever you do.. don't sell it ;)
I don't plan on letting it go. Have the original box, manual, remote and it's such a nice piece and the sound is amazing
I have the 5es also weights a ton eh..problem being the laser failed after many moons and cannot get a replacement..bugger
What amplifier do you recommend for two bass 12 audio pipe 4 magnets?
I’ve seen the problem with one amp not working in other videos. It’s definitely concerning me as I have two on the way!! Hopefully both of mine will work. Now, what do I use to run the two ZA3’s? I’m thinking a WIIM pro plus maybe?
I am curious why you didn't show any results for mono into 2 ohms. That is where there really should be some advantage since things are in parallel. Thanks for all that you do. Even though this is not bridged to get twice the power, there are some real advantages with two separate power supplies and the isolation between channels using separate monoblocks.
Texas Instrument rated the chip in PBTL mode for 2 ohm loads.
They also rated it for mono into 4 ohms and 8 ohms and yet, measurements were taken by Williston Audio Labs to verify Texas Instruments chip rating. So why not take the final measurement for us at 2 ohms as well? The whole purpose of these mono amps is the ability to drive 2 or 3 ohm loads. I would have liked to see the results as I'm sure many others would.
Of course, a current output comparison between stereo and mono mode may have been even more revealing. @@SilmarilS79
It's safe to assume 2ohm Mono isn't going to be too far off from @200w and dynamically around 260~280w.
Did you see any issues with the balances circuits? I saw somewhere or might be an inferior typr of balancing.
When you do these test do you listen for hiss or hum between tracks or a no volume?
@myaudioquest
0 seconds ago
I bought the Fosi ZA-3 (with 48V power supply) thinking it might be a keeper. What I discovered was a mixed bag...thin in the mid-range and bass. I also did not care for the volume control, cheap like in build and function. On the plus side is exceptional clarity in the treble but requires a sub-woofer to add body and weight to the music. Best used with a bass centric loudspeaker or possibly use two amplifiers. My two cents!
Or a strong preamp would do the job. I don't get why people are expecting these to perform perfect standalone, you MUST have a decent preamp to get solid performance.
Damn, I wanted to hear Bachbusters. I've been listening to that cd since it came out.
Merry Christmas
Cool nice mini amp👍👍👍
I had v3, like it but will return it because it pops when turning on. ASR reports that Za3 pops less louder but still pops. Is there any issue with the popping noise? Does yours pop?
Another banger video!
I=E/R. 14.22v/8ohms=1.7775amps 1.7775 amps x 14.22volts=25.27watts What kind of tester can be jimmied to give the inflated watt reading yours had?
the tests are gold - thank you! But to sum it up, it appears there is not much (power) advantage to running these in dual mono mode, right? So why buy/use two? I've seen some comparisons of this amp running in stereo vs dual mono mode, and the latter does sound different - more open and differentiated. But yeah, this is just sampled over youtube with whatever mic's the host usesd, then running through my own less than perfect system. I feel like I have looked into this amp deeply but still know nothing :D
Thanks for the tests, one thing I noticed is that from Ch. 2 the output registered a little higher than Ch. 1, but when you tested the 8 ohm mono, it was showing results on Ch.2, but when you did the 4 ohm test, it was on Ch.1, so would the 4 ohm mono results be better on Ch. 2 output?
Likely those are just "per-run" testing errors. It happens.
In case anyone cares, TRS is also balanced. Tip/ring/sleeve. Standard 1/4 connector, TS, tip/sleeve is unbalanced. Most XLR inputs are both XLR and TRS...the hole in the middle is for TRS . :)
If they wired it up correctly, inserting a TS to RCA cord should also work as an unbalanced input.
Wow! Thank you for the reminder. It's easy to start thinking in terms of big fat XLR cords and overlook TRS connectors. 👌
Damn! Nice little amp!
Just a note: they _did_ have two op-amps on the XLRs. The NE5532 is two op-amps in one package. The better question is why they needed 10 total in that amp. Guessing they're doing lots of buffering internally? Maybe input impedance control? 🤷 Still, pretty cool, and good to see a TI TPA at the core.
2 for the XLR differentiators. 2 for the Sub filters then 2 for each channel's phase splitter ... total... 8 op-amps. The extra 2 are in the sub filter... so maybe it's got a really sharp cutoff.
Interesting. Thank you for the breakdown. @@Douglas_Blake_579
So if you were to swap the op-amp for the xlrs would you need one or 2?
2 op-amps, but only 1 chip package. @@c34webb
@@c34webb
1 chip ... 2 op-amps.
The board is marked. so you know what you're messing with.
But if I might suggest, leave that one alone. The differentiators for XLR are a rather sensitive balance. They have to be just so to minimize distortion. Try leaving it alone at first. Change it only if you need to and be prepared to change it back later.
No wifi? Thats a definition go for me. I bought a really great mini amp off Amazon with wifi for airplay. Works amazing
The on/off cycling of the amp at 2 ohms is no doubt the power supply. The power supply would likely get bogged down a bit even at 4 ohm. A 198 watt 2 ohm load would load the power supply to about 9.9 amps and the voltage would probably droop to about 19.9 volts on the power supply due to current limiting. At almost 10 amps on a 5 amp power supply it would certainly put itself into short circuit protection but I would have thought it would reach full protection before that. The TPA3255 also has over current protection but it is hard to tell which would trigger first without knowing what the circuit set the TPA3255 over current protection to.
The Fosi site and the TPA3255 data sheet both describe the mono mode as PBTL ... Parallel Bridge Tied Load. This is not a power increasing mode it is a mode that parallels the output channels and lets the chip work on lower impedance loads (2 and 3 ohms, per the data sheet) without destroying itself.
The one that wouldn't turn on is worrying.... Wazzup wi' dat? Did it work in stereo mode?
Also I'm still waiting to see someone flip that Stereo/Mono switch with music playing... The chip is not designed for "on the fly" reconfiguration so there is a doubt that it's safe to do and that switch is right out in "Daddy what does this do?" territory.
That switch definitely needs to be elsewhere, these companies almost get things right, they haven't made the complete package yet there's always something that is missing or misplaced.
Very frustrating
@@crazyprayingmantis5596
Agreed ... It's almost like they have a "department of silly mistakes" to make sure of it.
If it was up to me changing modes wold require removing the front cover.
@@Douglas_Blake_579 or maybe a recessed switch in the rear.
Well, idiot me just did that today messing with cables on the fly. The amp stopped playing, but after a switch off/on, it worked again with apparently no issues, guess I was lucky, idk. However, it can't hurt to put the switch somewhere else and kinda foolproof.
@@34332
Oh man, that could have been a shitty Christmas present, for sure. I'm glad it came back on!
But now we know... it's not a safe thing to do while the amp is powered up. I can't offer a guess how often you would get away with that, but I'm thinking you were lucky. Now I wonder if that's why one of the amps failed during Dereck's rather gushy video...
Let me be plain here... I like Fosi and it's ambitions to bring excellence to inexpensive audio, but of late I seem to have a habit of calling them out on some pretty serious engineering mistakes... If you look at my other posts you will find one about the TB-10D, where they not only misunderstood the chip's control logic but left the thing in a state where it would actually play music while turned off. Now this stereo/mono thing. I wish I could say I didn't see it coming a mile away, but I did.
Even worse is the matter that literally dozens of reviewers extolled the virtues of the TB-10D after Fosi's supposed upgrade... and none of them caught the problems. Not one of them. Not even the guys doing hardware testing caught it. Now, after more than a dozen ZA3 reviews and the only way this one is caught is by accident. This is not good.
I'm betting the AO7Max has the same issue, except that they had the common sense to hide the switch in a spot where the kids won't play with it and it's unlikley to be flipped by accident.
Dumb mistake Fosi ... really dumb!
Where did you get your royalty-free source material? Thank you!
could it power my 2 little vintage GE speakers?
The dogma surrounding XLR connections in HiFi systems seems very durable. Based on what I'm seeing on that PC board, the RCA jacks should offer superior performance.
Unbalanced is subject to noise from errant electromagnetic sources. Balanced is not. It is not dogma, it is a technical solution.
@@AdamTait-hy2qh, quite honestly for most hifi-applications in residential environments, XLR is very much a nice-to-have for most people. The advantages are larger for longer cable-runs or much noisier environments than a normal living space.
If you have long runs of RCA running along power cables or in-walls or such, there's a good case for XLR, but it's rarely necessary for things like hooking up a separate power amp with a cable of a few feet.
@@AdamTait-hy2qh Try measuring/hearing that noise on a 1M interconnect and compare that to the noise floor of the equipment and recording.
Can I send you a soundtown pro amplifier because I’m curious how much power it’s putting out
Luckily, I was able to get an Emotiva BasX a2 (class A/B) on sale for $300. I have a lifeless class D amp like the Fosi and use it twice a year (Aiyima a07). Better than nothing.
What a deal!! I need to find that deal. I just bought two ZA3’s and a wiim amp to try these smaller amps out but unless you’re in need of every single inch of space why not just get what you did. I’m guessing the Emotiva would sound night and day better than these small class D amps. I have a Onkyo A/V amp running at the moment and I’m curious how all these would compare including against your Emotiva. Great find!!
Can u please test out zeroflex 12k please ive been using i wanna know how much im wattage its producing as its a popular brand in newzealand
Hehe, XLR is mostly for noise. There is a chance it would not be that noticeable by ear. It requires you to spend a lot attention to what your hearing and most ppl just want to relax to there tunes .
I have some KEF LS50 Meta currently for stereo. I intend to upgrade them to KEF R3 Meta when/if they go on sale. I only have a Yamaha RX-A4A receiver that is rated at 110W/ch. Do you think this amp or any of the new little class D amps will be a significant upgrade to give the KEF a little more volume for Hi-Fi stereo playback?
The truth ... "No" ... until your Yamaha breaks it should be just fine for your needs.
$100 would be a better price. I would love to see Fosi audio to make just a multi-filter(Lowpass/highpass) unit with phase adjust knob and switch for freq slopes 24dB/oct and 12dB/oct...
TRS connections are typically balanced. Three leads, just like XLR.
Nice review, thank you. On the 12v trigger, you said it was in and out. Does that mean we can use one to trigger the other? If that is the case, do you know if it is a TS or TRS cable? I've never used trigger lines. Thanks.
I could not get it to trigger a 2nd ZA3, but the 2nd one I have would not turn on. Fosi didn't provide info on the cable needed, but I believe it is just a TS 3.5mm, but TRS will work as well.
The standard trigger cable is a mini-TS (mono microphone) cable. I doubt the 12 volt trigger is bidirectional ... more likely it's just an input.
@@wal
Doesn't look good when they send you a dud as a review sample!
Thanks.
Hi everyone, how will this amp perform with a Acoustic Research AR-3A. ?
I had a few ES components back in the day but never one of those baller CD players!
What's the best headphone amp ?
*test the Wuzhi Audio AS21P. I run one in my work van pushing a full Sundown setup and it slaps lol. Also run one in my home theatre room and it does the job well too. These amp lack a case but have great cooling, but do lack some of the finishing touches like the Fosi amps with banana plugs and such, but they perform great in my opinion*
Its same power. Same output filter .
Interesting is 3e audio tpa3255 .
Wondom have little bit more power.
I prefer it over my Fosi BT30D. Mainly because it has the large heatsink with a fan.
If Fosi would use a vented case with ALL of their amps, they would greatly benefit. Keeping any of of these chip amps in an enclosed case isn't the best design, especially higher power chips like the tda7498 and tpa3255. The Fosi case gets SO HOT, especially at 2ohm. Had to disassemble it and drill holes in the case and that helped greatly with cooling.
But none of that is a huge deal. I feel if Wuzhi put their amps in a case with banana plugs..etc. they would be a VERY GOOD competitor. These amps sound wonderful, obviously run cool, have most of the same features eq wise, 2ohm stable on all channels, protection circuitry. These Wuzhi amps also have LOTS of capabilities for add ons. Like adding a separate sub amp to a 2.0 amplifier..etc. aftermarket bluetooth chips, dsp chips..etc.
I use it inline with a Schiit Audio Modi 3e and a Schiit Loki eq for a little extra low end Oomph(loki starts from 20hz)
Thanks for the review!
So weird that it doesn't bridge with mono mode regardless of power rating 😅
Next stop Aiyima A07 MAX?🎉
It's already bridged in stereo mode.
Hey man can you do a review on the MTX Terminator subs and amp?
Can we PLEASE test the Eton ultra low distortion car amps? Core A2 claims distortion to be .001%. Mobile “hi-res” low distortion monster. Supposedly the absolute best car amp for “hi-res”. Inquiring minds want to know lol. I think it’s like $2000 for a 200w amp so I get the reluctance but a dyno of this amp would probably bring audiophiles to this channel
Good afternoon: just a personal curiosity, could u measure voltage gain or level on input? Tks in Advance
Do a search for "TPA3255 data sheet" everything you need to know is there... The chip is fixed gain at 21.5db ... Voltage gain of 12
Hi - is there much point in biamping with 2 ZA3s ifthey are not bridged in mono mode? Thanks so much, in anticipation!
In a stereo bi-amp setup you actually do get twice the overall power where in dual mono mode you get the same power as in stereo mode.
Thanks so much for your response! Happy new year!@@Douglas_Blake_579
Based on features and bench testing, the best deal from Fosi is still the TB10D.
With a 48 volt 10 amp supply I easily got 220w/ch 0.1% distortion at 4 ohms out of mine. I generally run it at 36 volts where it's got good power but doesn't heat up much. With a couple of simple mods, that distortion figure can be gotten down to 0.03%.
Hello, Doug. Can you provide details about those mods?
@@MiguelAngelVelazquez
Here ya go:
As long as you can do some minor SMT soldering it's pretty easy...
1) At the left front corner of the main board there is a zener diode (tagged D1, I believe) that sets the logic control voltage. On the version 2.1 and earlier board it's setting that at 5 volts. You can test the voltage on the centre pin of the power switch. The control logic for the chip is 3.3 volts. You will need to parallel another zener onto the existing one to reduce that voltage for proper operation. I found the right value by experimentation, but IIRC it's 3.9 volts.
2) When off, the reset pin on the TPA3255 (Pin 18) is left floating. This actually allows the chip to remain on with the power switch in the off position. The fix here is to scratch away some of the solder resist, exposing copper on the bottom of the board, at the bottom of the rear leg of the power switch. Now solder bridge that pin to the exposed ground to force the chip to shut down when the switch is off. (Later versions have this done already)
3) The last mod involves a problem with the output coils. They're too close to the main heat sink. This causes all kinds of inductive eddy currents in the heatsink, and cross coupling between the coils which causes all kinds of minor havoc, including inductive heating of the heat sink. The fix here is to remove the heat sink, being careful not to lose the spacers and cut away one fin smooth with the bottom of the second fin, effectively making it one fin smaller on one side. Now, clean up your cut, redo the thermal paste and replace the heatsink so that the missing fin is nearest the coils. This creates about a 1cm gap which is sufficient to avoid most of the inductive coupling.
The first two are for longevity of the amp. The last one cleans up the sound quality quite noticeably.
Best of luck with it!
@@MiguelAngelVelazquez
Also note ... these mods apply to the TB10D *only* .
@@MiguelAngelVelazquez
Just a quick update ... I've just gotten TB10Ds in.
The board version is now 2.2.
The power switch problem is fixed, that back pin is now firmly grounded as it should have been.
The logic voltage is still sitting well above the 3.3 expected. I just read 4.7... so you will need to fix the zener diode controlling that. On the V2.2 board it is at the board edge next to the power switch, tagged as D3.
Of course the heatsink is still touching the coils which affects the sound quite noticeably. Comparing the new stock with one of my modded units the bass is a bit boomy, not clear and the highs are less distinct. So cutting one fin off the heatsink is still a viable modification.
Hope this helps.
@@Douglas_Blake_579thanks for sharing
What is the name of the song playing at 10:35 ?
When will you post more recoil tests
I love your videos, but you listed no USB for High Rez audio as a negative? It was designed as an amplifier and marketed as such, not a DAC. An external DAC can play any resolution level into this amp just fine. I'm sure you know that, but I was wondering why you listed it as a negative that it didn't have USB for high rez when this is not a DAC? It isn't a FM radio either but you didn't list that as a negative on the power amplifier.
So realistically, is there any reason to use these in mono? The power difference doesn't seem that great, so what would be use cases for going mono? I did plan on buying two of these, but I'm having second thoughts now...
The best use case would be for very low impedance speakers, under 4 ohms.
@@Douglas_Blake_579 Thanks. That won't be my use case, so I'll just stick with one and put the rest into an svs sub. 👍
@@NWGR
Sure thing ... and a pretty good choice too.
It's nice to see the XLR lines over the TRS due to a balanced signal being far better at rejecting noise into the signal...nice little amp, ..after reading a few reviews, i guess its not only a small power house but sounds great and frequency response is not bad for the price...good job fosi
??? TRS can also carry a balanced mono signal just like XLR.
Looks like the balanced inputs are converted to single ended internally. This is why only one dual opamp is required for the balanced inputs, converting them to single ended.
Odd choice (if you look at the TPA3255 data sheet, but there again a dual opamp is less expensive than two signal relays😁) as is the mono operation, I understand that the TPA3255 is bridged internally, so not possible to bridge for mono. So why not parallel? No more voltage but twice the current on tap.
Not knocking it, at this price you just can't! I've paid more for a single XLR connector.
I am looking forward to a Fosi true monoblock amplifier (They're working on it!) And a 10A SMPS (They're working on it!)
Only heard of Fosi today, have to say I love a bargain! This one is not for me, but I will buy a monoblock or six. 😁
Correct the XLR Op-amp is a dual chip. Correctly done the two opposing signals of XLR are received differentially, and summed to create a single phase signal for the internal electronics.
This is how the noise canceller gets enacted. The Hot and Cold audio lines are out of phase... but any noise on the twisted pair is almost certainly in phase. Out of phase signals pass through while the in phase signals are cancelled.
To not do this, means doubling every circuit in the device. Not only does it make the device more power hungry and more failure prone... it fails to cancel noise on the inputs.
The channels are already in bridge mode, you just parallel channel R to channel L when you use mono mode. In that case the problem is your power supply. You need more power for that mode.
I hooked the amp up in mono mode as shown and described by Fosi Audio. It's also labeled on the amp to use R input and only R output
TRS and XLR are the same from an electrical and noise reduction standpoint. Just the connectors are different. Don't forget, only attach the shield at one end.
ALWAYS attach the shield at both ends unless you want to build an antenna.
I have a few NEW 2000 ppl amps…precious power
Comparing the max power results of the ZA3 to the V3 shows virtually identical results with the edge actually going to the V3 for most results. The only advantage power wise of the ZA3 in mono is about 10-15 watts over the stereo V3 output. I would guess that if only one channel of the V3 was tested it would be identical to the ZA3 in mono. As I see it the only advantage of the ZA3 is the XLR inputs and 12 volt trigger. I did get the ZA3 and listening to it with my Maggie 1.7 it sounds a bit brighter than my V3. Is this sample to sample variation or did Fosi actually change something in the ZA3 circuit? dunno
They're both based on the same chip. The difference in distortion specs is probably due to the extra Op-Amps (the NE5532 chips are a bit messy).
The Mono mode parallels the two stereo channels for more output current. It's no surprise the power ratings are nearly the same.
Mono use will gives you more control of a 2 ohm load than in stereo configuration. Might be better for hard to drive speakers that dips below 4 ohm. Running a 6-8ohm load, it won't matter between stereo/mono.
@@SilmarilS79
The only real difference at 6 and 8 ohms is the chip will run a bit cooler in Mono mode.
@@SilmarilS79 I'm actually using the Fosi V3 with my Magneplanar 1.7's (amazing isn't it?) I bought the ZA3 wondering if using it in mono and getting a second one would be worthwhile and it is not for my purposes. Actually the V3 sounds great - currently playing wonderful Christmas Music - Merry Christmas to all.
@ernestojajan1419 I did the same thing , had 2 za3's and tested and compared against my v3. The 2 za3's vs my v3 was only 1 decibel louder but more harsh compared to my V3, to me the V3 sounds much nicer. All the za3 is doing is killing off 1 channel nothing more in my opinion, you can get technical all you want but 1 decibel isn't adding any power increases. Back to back the v3 wins in sound but looses with no sub out.
Any plans on upgrading those speakers for SQ tests?
maybe eventually. CZcams compression kills the SQ for you guys anyway, so not sure how much sense it makes to use really high end speakers
Great vid as usual...thank you. Any idea what the 12v plug type and wiring diagram looks like?
The TPA3255 chips won't even start up on 12 volts. This is not a car amp.
@@Douglas_Blake_579 I understand, I have 2 of them powering a system now. I'm trying to make a DIY 12v trigger module, but I've never done anything with those triggers.
@@MacCelium
Okay, now I understand your question ... The trigger will use a 12 volt supply, any old regulated wall wart will do fine. Be sure to check, because some actually output 13.8 volts...
The trigger cables are 3.5mm TS mono microphone cables. Nothing fancy.
The wiring can be as simple as cutting the wall wart DC cord and adding a switch inline, then hooking up 2 of the TS cables to it.
The Tip is positive the Sleeve is Negative.
Switch on... amps on... switch off... amps off.
It's pretty easy.
@@Douglas_Blake_579 Thanks a ton, that is exactly what I hoped the solution looked like but one of forums said it was a crazy idea. I just did not want to start playing with things until I had some confirmation. Appreciate the info and Happy NewYear.
@@MacCelium
If you want to play it extra safe wile testing put a small resistor in series with the switch... 100 ohms should do the job, at least that will prevent you from dumping half an amp into that socket.
Best of luck with it.
How did you wire it for mono? It has a wierd schema in the manual....
Follow the instructions ... also the amplifier case is marked.
Pre-out right -> za3 1 right in -> right out -> right speaker.
pre-out left -> za3 2 right in -> right out -> left speaker
Heat Sink Paste disturbed when opened?
Reggae, Funk & Brass 🔈🔉🔊
Yep... and when sitting on a bench or table likely to pick up lumps of dust that can degrade the cooling quite a bit. Best bet... buy some thermal paste, clean and re-paste every time. The fun part is that unless you want to waste a ton of paste, you need to put a thin line of it inside the case so the heatspreader will pick it up as it moves over it. Putting it on the spreader will just result in a big smear of wasted paste all the way along the case.
@@Douglas_Blake_579
Good info, tx!
Will it power a couple of Dali Spektor 6 floorstanders?
Easily
🤔 I can DIY this one for less then have the price. But another great review test sir thank you
Awesome, thanks for watching and commenting!
Sorry. I dont understand. The output is in continuos rms or in dynamic rms ????
Continuous RMS. In class-d designs with requlated supply the two are almost the same anyways.
Wow cool
Looks great...but a bit concerned about getting a dead unit sent out to you.
Damn, kinda disappointed in this as i ordered 2. I thought it was bridged inside and would double the power output in mono mode. I guess i will be sending one back 🤷♂️ .
You should do a test on the Aiyima A07 Max, that amp in mono mode uses both channels power which makes me wonder if they actually do bridge the amp. 🤔
The amp chip has 4 output channels and is technically running bridged in 2 channel operation. Fosi choose to run the 2 Bridged channels in parallel for mono mode for quality and stability over higher wattage. 2 channel is BTL, mono is PBTL. bridged tied load and parallel bridged tied load
What Josh said^^^
The outputs are already bridged in stereo mode. The mono mode parallels them for more current.
The only real advantage of the monoblock setup is that you are using 2 power supplies for increased current output into low impedance loads.
I just thought the power would of came close to double, not 10 to 20 watts over than running in stereo mode. To me it looks like one channel shuts down as if you did the same in stereo mode but unplug one channel. 🤷♂️
@@mattburgess2
First, since the outputs are bridged already in stereo mode you're not going to bridge them again. Thus the output voltage across the speaker _will not change_ If the voltage doesn't change, neither does the wattage.
What they are doing is hooking the outputs from the left and right channels together to form one monophonic bridged amplifier. This gives them more current capacity for low impedance loads but doesn't increase power on the more common loads.
Where the extra power comes from is lower speaker impedance...
For example, if you are running 50 watts on 8 ohms, the same speaker voltage would produce 100 watts on 4 ohms... or 200 watts on 2 ohms. It's that last step that requires the Parallel Bridge Tied Load mode of the chip.
So, if like most of us you're using speakers in the 4 - 6 - 8 range you won't get higher power in mono mode.
I think I understand now, thank you
Well it's not going to replace my push pull 60 lb tube amp, but for an office or spare room, with some efficient speakers, it might be a low cost solution...
yes real 'entry' and affordable gift would be awesome, sort of limited yuins, these op buds just too generous, but suit the 11+ yrs i guess
i bought the wondom sure amp bru5 with blue tooth 5.0 and a dsp you can program for 40 usd sure wondom has great amps ill test it soon it uses the same amp chip
Have you paid for the amp ? Are you sending it back or keeping it ? we just need to know ...
I did not pay for the amp but this doesn’t matter as I have more amps than I need and my goal is to share the info for others and not to promote any amplifier brand
does the volume control the sub output?
Yes
@@Douglas_Blake_579 thanks i'm getting one when it gets back on stock in amazon
I feel like these mini amps usually need some sort of preamp to have enough functionality to be useful for most people. No dac, no Bluetooth, no HDMI, no remote, no phono. There's just not much that people use these days with RCA out. So that just makes cost higher than the list price because it's not terribly useful without some of those features. And at that point why not just buy something a bit nicer that has all of that included? Never quite understood who these are for honestly. I can see them making a great amp for a couple of passive subwoofers for a home theater. Should be enough power for most people. Other than that I'm not really sure. Let me know though what you use yours for I'd be curious.