I convey quite a lot of audio gear house to overview. A part of my testing typically consists of permitting my spouse and grownup “children” to hear, and as a rule, whereas my sons are impressed, my spouse is unbothered. Once I had her sit down and hearken to Fosi Audio’s new i5 planar magnetic headphones and ZH3 desktop DAC/Amp, I used to be shocked to seek out that she was blown away!
She stated that it gave the impression of she was listening to reside music! That’s excessive reward, coming from somebody who will not be simply moved by shiny, new devices. As I went by way of my check playlists, I, too, discovered myself fairly impressed by what I used to be listening to! That stated, let’s again as much as the start of my time with each: the unboxing!
Each merchandise come fantastically packaged and guarded inside their bins. With the Fosi ZH3 desktop DAC/Amp, you get the unit, a 3.5mm-to-6.35mm adapter, a 12V set off cable, a convertible USB-A or USB-C-to-USB-C cable, a 12V energy adapter, an IR distant, and a handbook.
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The Fosi i5 planar magnetic headphones include a 6.35mm adapter, a 1.5m twin 3.5mm cable (plugs into the headphones) with a 4.4mm Balanced termination (plugs into your supply), and the handbook. No exhausting case for such expensive headphones as a result of their planar magnetic drivers aren’t meant for touring.
|
Classes |
Fosi Audio ZH3 DAC Headphone Amp |
|---|---|
|
Chipset |
XMOS XU316 + AKM4493SEQ + OPA1612 x4 |
|
Outputs |
4.4mm Balanced, 6.35mm Single-ended, RCA, XLR |
|
Inputs |
Coaxial, Optical, USB-C, RCA |
|
Headphone Impedance |
16–300Ω |
|
Most Sampling Charges |
USB: PCM 32-bit 768 kHz, DSD512 Optical: PCM 24-bit 192 kHz Coaxial: PCM 24-bit 192 kHz |
|
Energy enter |
DC 12V |
|
USB Suitable Units |
Home windows 8 or later, macOS X 10.6 or later, Linux |
|
Bluetooth Assist |
No |
|
Shade |
Black with Orange quantity knob |
|
Within the field |
Exterior energy provide and AC cable, USB C to A, 3.5 mm to three.5mm aux cable for the set off, 6.35 mm adapter, Distant management, Person handbook |
Eradicating the ZH3 from its field, the very first thing to note is the heft. It is all aluminum enclosure feels sturdy and properly put collectively. When powered up with the included 12V energy adapter, the beautiful LCD show is vivid and simply legible.
The amount nob has a satisfying click on at every of its 99 steps. On the entrance, I’ve entry to six.35mm (¼-inch) and 4.4mm Balanced outputs, extra on that in a second.
The bottom of the ZH3 has extra inputs and outputs than some pricier DAC/Amps, with three digital and one analog out through an RCA connection. Then there are the outputs on the entrance that I discussed, together with RCA and XLR line outs on the again.
You may set the road out for preamp, connecting to a different amp with mounted quantity, or hook up with your desktop, powered audio system/displays.
The Fosi i5 planar magnetic headphones are swaddled of their packaging like a new child child, and are simply as lovely. The big 97mm drivers are encased in a CNC-machined aluminum body, surrounded by a stunning shiny Walnut wooden body.
A “reminiscence alloy” metallic body offers simply sufficient clamping drive to maintain issues in place and cozy on the pinnacle for hours, whereas the suede headband takes the heft of those 550-gram (~1.2lbs) headphones and distributes it throughout your head for a gentle, breathable, long-wearing expertise.
The reminiscence foam-wrapped composite leather-based earpads additional assist distribute weight with out feeling tight and keep cool throughout lengthy listening classes of two to 3 hours.
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The twin-axis yokes that maintain the earcups swivel sufficient that the i5 ought to match comfortably on anybody’s head. We each discovered the dimensions distinction between us amusing. The headscarf makes use of a stepless, easy silicone slider, which was straightforward to govern to seat the suede headband on the correct distance from the earcups.
A robust pairing!
The i5s are so lovely and simple to put on that I used to be keen to begin the listening check. One of the crucial chaotic, frenetic, deeply layered Jazz songs on my check record is Charles Mingus’ “Moanin’,” and as I hear, I’m utterly blown away by simply how properly this pairing handles nuance and instrument placement. I discover myself getting misplaced in the entire little issues, two or three layers deep within the combine. Sounds which are typically buried by lower-resolution DACs/Amps and headphones.
Subsequent up was System of a Down and “Chop Suey!” The element retrieval actually shines as you hearken to the assault and decay of guitar riffs and the resonance of piano key strikes, even at decrease volumes. Typically, I neglect concerning the assault, or touche, of the piano key strikes on “Chop Suey!” as a result of many headphone/DAC combos I’ve listened to bury them.
On all these closely instrumental tracks, the i5-ZH3 pairing radiates emotion.
The 808 bass extension on The Roots’ “Do You Need Extra?!!!??!” is a delight and one thing I wasn’t anticipating in any respect from a pair of planar magnetic headphones. The deep, resonant bass hits present how dynamic that 97mm driver is, with transients resolving shortly and naturally, somewhat than overstaying their welcome like a shiftless houseguest.
I’d truly name Fosi’s i5 planar magnetic headphones a bass lover’s pair for a way properly they reproduce Hip Hop and different bass-heavy genres like Dubstep, D&B, Acid Jazz, and Home.
As micro-detailed because the sound replica is, one would possibly anticipate that it could be analytical as properly. And, to a level, you’d be proper. Joni Mitchell’s “River (With French Horns)(Blue Classes)” undoubtedly will get fatiguing on a number of the larger notes sung by Mitchell, and struck by the piano accompaniment.
The excellent news is that the Fosi ZH3 has primary bass and treble achieve choices to mitigate that when you typically hearken to music like hers. The ZH3 additionally has six 32-bit filters in-built, however after listening for some time, I had a tough time distinguishing them or their results on the audio.
Collectively sensible, AND independently highly effective!
Experiencing how every Fosi product behaves by itself, I’m equally as impressed as I’m after they’re paired. Connecting the Sennheiser HD660S2 to the Fosi ZH3 is a delight. Although the HD660S2 doesn’t fairly have the identical low-end impression because the i5, the ZH3 drives it fantastically and is as resolving.
Hooking up the Hidisz MK12 Turris yields noteworthy outcomes. The ZH3 opens up their soundstage, and the transmission of micro-details within the tracks is a delight. Utilizing the ZH3 as my DAC/Amp supply for these IEMs truly makes them sound higher than they already did.
|
Classes |
i5 Planar Magnetic Headphones |
|---|---|
|
Conectivity |
Wired, 3.5mm |
|
Drive items |
Planar Magnetic Drivers |
|
Most Sound Strain Degree |
>120 dB SPL |
|
Frequency Response |
10Hz – 50kHz |
|
THD |
|
|
Sensitivity |
98 dB/mW @ 1kHz |
|
Nominal Impedance |
28Ω |
|
Really useful Energy |
≥ 500mW |
|
Minimal Really useful Energy |
100mW |
|
Weight |
550g / ~1lb |
|
Shade |
Black |
|
Within the field |
6.35mm Adaptor, 3.5mm Cable with 4.4mm termination, consumer handbook |
The one nitpicky criticism I’ve is that the audio high quality from the Balanced 4.4mm output is audibly higher than from the single-ended 6.35mm output. That isn’t an excessive amount of of a shock, although, provided that the previous places out a whopping 2570mW (2.5 watts) and the latter, 650mW. By the way in which, that 2.5 watts is greater than sufficient overhead to actually push the quantity and check for distortion, which I by no means skilled from both product.
Conversely, the noise flooring is black. With each IEMs and over-ear headphones, I hear nothing throughout quiet sections in songs. No crackle or static. Simply darkness. Correctly.
Up subsequent, I join the i5 to an iFi Go Hyperlink Max and FiiO’s glorious M21 DAP. The M21 DAP powers the Fosi i5 headphones with aplomb in high-gain mode through its 4.4mm Balanced Output. The outcomes I obtained from listening to music have been almost an identical to these I had with Fosi’s desktop ZH3 DAC/Amp.
The $70 iFi Go Hyperlink MAX carried out fairly properly when utilizing the USB Audio Professional app on a Google Pixel 9 as my music supply. It was in a position to push the Fosi i5’s with relative ease. I solely wanted to boost the quantity to round 70%, in contrast to once I tried the identical setup on an iPhone 16 Professional Max, which required maxing it out. With this setup, issues have been a bit much less detailed.
In the end, each the Fosi Audio ZH3 desktop DAC/Amp and i5 planar magnetic headphones are very straightforward to advocate. With the ZH3, you get glorious enter and output choices, together with a flexible DAC/Amp that may energy nearly any headphones you throw at it, in addition to your powered audio system. And, at $200, it sounds glorious.
With the i5s, you get a fantastically crafted pair of headphones whose consideration to audio element is simply as meticulous as its consideration to aesthetics. At $550, they will not be an impulse purchase, however you’ll get a pair of planar magnetic headphones that may go note-for-note with pricier fashions, with none purchaser’s regret.
