I was absolutely surprised by how the sound changed for the better. The Fosi Audio ZD3 plays like a top-class DAC.
This device caught my eyes too as it has ES9039Q2M and XLR outputs for optimal performance. Nice unusual shape and unusual display too. Not the 13 in a dozen appearance most have. Too bad the brand emphasises on opamp rolling by laymen.
It would be nice to compare this one with SMLS D6s which has the same DAC chip but with an internal PSU (SMPS). It has LDAC too. Some appear to have a whine by the SMPS when in stand by which would be unpleasant to have.
It would be nice to compare this one with SMLS D6s which has the same DAC chip but with an internal PSU (SMPS). It has LDAC too. Some appear to have a whine by the SMPS when in stand by which would be unpleasant to have.
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When I bought the ZD3 new, I wanted to send it back. The sound wasn't that good, but by replacing the OP it got much better and the battery operation brings even more plasticity and space.
Is it that bad when new!? Usually things need a day powered on to settle. One should not be too fast judging a device.
Since I worked with battery and DC systems for many years I know that 2 items in high reliability environments could not be trusted. That are people and batteries 🙂 Over the years many spectacular incidents and acid leakages so not in my home please.
A linear 12V PSU is made in a few hours. Nice to try out. Of course I tried out batteries as I always had these available but a linear PSU can be just as quiet.
Since I worked with battery and DC systems for many years I know that 2 items in high reliability environments could not be trusted. That are people and batteries 🙂 Over the years many spectacular incidents and acid leakages so not in my home please.
A linear 12V PSU is made in a few hours. Nice to try out. Of course I tried out batteries as I always had these available but a linear PSU can be just as quiet.
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I wasn't interested in building an expensive power supply. I also have a DMP-A6 Master Edition with a Beattechnik linear power supply from Eversolo, which is significantly more expensive than the ZD3, but doesn't keep up with its sound, and that only required two simple modifications.
The Eversolo DMP-A6 Master Edition cost me €1,000 plus €160 for the Beattechnik linear power supply, while I only spent €160 on the ZD3 plus €104 for the Burson Audio V7vivid Pro dual; I still had the battery lying around.
The Eversolo DMP-A6 Master Edition cost me €1,000 plus €160 for the Beattechnik linear power supply, while I only spent €160 on the ZD3 plus €104 for the Burson Audio V7vivid Pro dual; I still had the battery lying around.
I suggest you try batteries with Eversolo. That should give you a much better sound. You'll need two 12V batteries for the + and -12V DC rails, and one for the 5V DC rail... that could be a problem because 6V battery might be too high. I am not aware of a 5V battery. Nevertheless, you could just try to feed + and -12V DC rails from two batteries and leave the +5V DC rail supply from the Beattechnik. Once you realise the improvement, build your own low-noise, low-impedance linear power supply with the required rails - it'll be definitely worth it, and a huge upgrade to sound quality.
I've removed the Burson Audio V7 Vivid Pro from the Fosi ZD3. The V7 is too valuable for a DAC with a noise floor.
The ZD-3 has an extremely low noise floor in original state so it would not surprise the opamp is the cause instead of a remedy:
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/fosi-audio-zd3-balanced-dac-review.58688/
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/fosi-audio-zd3-balanced-dac-review.58688/
In contrast to the Eversolo, this thing is extremely noisy (Starkr's background noise), even with the original op-amp. Even if you have a link, my ears tell me that this thing is noisy!
Please troubleshoot by bringing everything back to original state so with original PSU and opamp. You did treat stuff ESD safe and grounded yourself when handling ICs and touching the parts/PCB I hope?
Check XLR cabling. Then test.
Check XLR cabling. Then test.
It should be assembled for best results 🙂 Please answer following questions as many here like to troubleshoot technical issues with pragmatic thinking and exclusion of possible causes. It is a technical forum after all.
1. Is it fully back to unhampered original state and with a closed metal casing?
2. Is it connected with straight XLR cabling?
3. So no (active) bal-unbal adapters or any of such stuff in between?
4. Is it connected to a normal input sensitivity amplifier?
5. If noise is only now noticed it was not noisy when out of the box? Normally that is noticed directly when evaluating a new device.
6. If you have some clip on ferrite beads you could try that out on both mains and output cabling.
7. Remove all RF devices out of its vicinity too. If applicable disable BT of the device itself too for testing.
1. Is it fully back to unhampered original state and with a closed metal casing?
2. Is it connected with straight XLR cabling?
3. So no (active) bal-unbal adapters or any of such stuff in between?
4. Is it connected to a normal input sensitivity amplifier?
5. If noise is only now noticed it was not noisy when out of the box? Normally that is noticed directly when evaluating a new device.
6. If you have some clip on ferrite beads you could try that out on both mains and output cabling.
7. Remove all RF devices out of its vicinity too. If applicable disable BT of the device itself too for testing.
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So as expected it is not the DAC. The numbers again prove to be right contrary to the ears/interpretation.
This may be the exact right time to write your own short but adequate test protocol if only to avoid jumping into conclusions way too fast.
This may be the exact right time to write your own short but adequate test protocol if only to avoid jumping into conclusions way too fast.
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There's no noise with other network players. Could the noise be because I'm connecting the DAC to an amplifier without volume control?
As that amplifier is "open" so a power amplifier with full volume yes. Quite dangerous too. If the source has a bad day (a skewed bit 🙂) your loudspeakers wil pay the price. The amplifier wil amplify anything that it inputs "see" with maximum gain so also noise, hum etc. People keep telling me that this works out OK for many years but that is up to them.
If you connect it like that unbalanced even more. You choose to reply selectively (or not at all) so I don't know if you use XLR or not but in this user case it would be better.
If you connect it like that unbalanced even more. You choose to reply selectively (or not at all) so I don't know if you use XLR or not but in this user case it would be better.
I've connected it via RCA. Should I put a resistor in the signal path of the power amplifier's input?