FOSI AUDIO ZP3 Balanced Preamplifier

FOSI AUDIO ZP3
A wonderful preamplifier, I listen to it in bypass mode, it sounds more bassy to me. I give it 4 stars because it arrived with a defective power cable. The side of the IEC C5 "Mickey Mouse" connector is bent and very loose, I had to buy a new one.

Very good preamplifier for the money
It is pretty transparent even with the stock OPAs (in my case LM49720). Highly recommended (for the money).
It is difficult to open and change the OPAs. Acrylic side plates are annoying.

The Fosi ZP3 preamplifier completed my fully balanced system
The Fosi ZP3 preamplifier completed my fully balanced system.
The sound quality is amazing for the money, the ZP3 sound is neutral without being too dry, transparent enough, with exemplary resolution for a the budget range. What I really like is the bass control and dynamics, especially on the hi-rez files that have a higher dynamic range. ZP3 presents the soundstage correctly, with correct positioning of the sound sources in space, without exaggerating or compressing the width of the stage, or the depth. This is almost on par with my E88CC unbalanced tube preamp - a mu-Follower configuration with capacitor output and mild NFB - except for the apparent 'naturalness' of the tones of natural instruments and human voices, otherwise the Zp3 has the edge on any other chapter!
On the audio tracks with a Dynamic Range more than 10, the modern recordings with avant-garde jazz, contemporary classical music or full scale orchestral works could sound 'scary' in a healthy impressive manner. Some music albums examples here, that I used to evaluate the SQ of my ZP3 unit:
- Mussorgsky: 'Pictures at an Exhibition'; Gürzenich Orchestra Cologne, Dmitrij Kitajenko; 2019 [Oehms]
- Mats Eilertsen Trio: 'Sails Set'; 2013 [Hubro]
- Jonathan Faralli: 'Percussion XX'; 1999 [Arts]
- Bach|Gubaidulina, Anne-Sophie Mutter: Violin Concertos | In Tempus Praesens; 2017 [Deutsche Grammophon]
- Aaron Copland: Orchestral Works CD1; 1996 [Decca]
My unit came with LME49720 opa factory installed, to my surprise, and I left it how it is, after briefly testing AD8599, which proved not to be on par with the LME chip.
This preamlifier is a keeper for those loving a neutral - studio like sound - transparent, decently detailed and dynamic sound, that faithfully reproduce the recordings as god as they are, and do not bother the lack of a volume control display. The remote set provided inside the package is quite handy, and works well from all angles, having enough power, like any decent remote.
Despite ordering my unit was was not on stock, the Audiophonics announcements, packaging and tracking service was exemplary: merci a vous !
My audio set consists in: custom balanced DAC with AKM4499; Fosi ZP3; Fosi V3 Mono x 2; 2way custom made passive 98dB sensitive speaker with Beyma 15LX60V2 low-mid driver and Beyma CD10 Nd compression driver in a Polish horn SEOS15 by Autotech, with 2-nd order crossover implemented with CD passive equalization.
Will give it 4 stars out of 5, because:
- lacking of a volume display
- it is advertised to allow the customer to easily swap the 2 output opamps, which in practice is almost impossible for a less skilled owner, as the black glossy acrylic decorative sheets from the L/R case sides are very hard to remove in order to reach the 4 screws of the aluminum side plates of the case (are attached with double-sided tape)
- on balanced mode, the volume control chip does enter in a kind of soft mute mode, especially when the unit is freshly started, a mute and un-mute sequence from the remote set being the cure. I do not find this normal, but it does not affect the SQ so far after the 'fix'.

une vraie montée en gamme par rapport au P4
Après avoir utilisé le Fosi Audio P4 pendant plusieurs mois, j’étais curieux de découvrir ce que le nouveau ZP3 avait à offrir. Clairement pensé comme une évolution directe du P4, ce nouveau modèle apporte des améliorations sensibles à tous les niveaux.

Qualité sonore : plus de définition, plus de dynamique
Le ZP3 reprend l’approche du P4 avec ses AOP interchangeables, mais va plus loin en termes de transparence et de scène sonore. Le grave est mieux tenu, les médiums plus ouverts et les aigus plus ciselés sans devenir fatigants. On gagne en précision et en séparation des instruments, ce qui donne une écoute plus "hifi" que le P4, qui restait un peu rond ou doux selon les configurations.

Construction et design : plus sérieux
Là où le P4 semblait presque "jouet" dans sa finition, le ZP3 respire davantage la qualité. Châssis plus solide, meilleurs connecteurs, et une alimentation plus sérieuse permettent de tirer le meilleur de ses composants internes. C’est un vrai plus si vous l’intégrez dans un système audiophile.

Fonctionnalités : toujours aussi modulable
Comme le P4, le ZP3 permet le remplacement des AOP (op-amps), ce qui est un vrai bonheur pour les tweakeurs. Il est livré avec de très bons AOP d’origine (souvent des NE5532 ou dérivés), mais il prend une toute autre dimension avec des modèles comme les OPA627 ou Sparkos SS3602. De plus, il accepte sans problème des sources variées grâce à sa large plage de gain et ses entrées bien pensées.

Le Fosi Audio ZP3 est clairement une montée en gamme logique et réussie. Il conserve l’esprit DIY et audiophile du P4, mais avec un raffinement et une maturité sonore que le P4 n’atteignait pas. Si vous avez aimé le P4, vous allez adorer le ZP3. Et si vous hésitez entre les deux, le ZP3 justifie largement son tarif légèrement supérieur par une restitution bien plus maîtrisée et audiophile.