I carry lots of audio gear house to evaluate. 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 search out that she was blown away!
She mentioned that it seemed like she was listening to dwell music! That’s excessive reward, coming from somebody who just isn’t simply moved by shiny, new devices. As I went by my check playlists, I, too, discovered myself fairly impressed by what I used to be listening to! That mentioned, let’s again as much as the start of my time with each: the unboxing!
Right this moment’s finest Fosi Audio i5 Open-Again Planar Magnetic Headphones and Fosi Audio ZH3 DAC Headphone Amp offers
(Picture credit score: @tshakaarmstrong)
Each merchandise come superbly packaged and guarded inside their containers. 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 guide.
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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 guide. No laborious case for such dear headphones as a result of their planar magnetic drivers aren’t meant for touring.
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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
Colour
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, Consumer guide
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 brilliant and simply legible.
The quantity 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.
(Picture credit score: @tshakaarmstrong)
The bottom of the ZH3 has extra inputs and outputs than some pricier DAC/Amps, with three digital and one analog out by way of 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 possibly can set the road out for preamp, connecting to a different amp with fastened quantity, or hook up with your desktop, powered audio system/displays.
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The Fosi i5 planar magnetic headphones are swaddled of their packaging like a new child child, and are simply as lovely. The massive 97mm drivers are encased in a CNC-machined aluminum body, surrounded by a stunning shiny Walnut wooden body.
A “reminiscence alloy” metallic body supplies simply sufficient clamping power to maintain issues in place and cozy on the top for hours, whereas the suede headband takes the heft of those 550-gram (~1.2lbs) headphones and distributes it throughout your head for a mushy, breathable, long-wearing expertise.
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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 scarf makes use of a stepless, clean silicone slider, which was simple to control to seat the suede headband on the correct distance from the earcups.
A strong pairing!
(Picture credit score: @tshakaarmstrong)
The i5s are so lovely and straightforward to put on that I used to be keen to start out the listening check. One of the vital 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. Usually, I overlook in regards to 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.
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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, reasonably than overstaying their welcome like a shiftless houseguest.
I’d truly name Fosi’s i5 planar magnetic headphones a bass lover’s pair for the way properly they reproduce Hip Hop and different bass-heavy genres like Dubstep, D&B, Acid Jazz, and Home.
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As micro-detailed because the sound copy is, one may anticipate that it could be analytical as properly. And, to a level, you’d be proper. Joni Mitchell’s “River (With French Horns)(Blue Periods)” undoubtedly will get fatiguing on among the increased notes sung by Mitchell, and struck by the piano accompaniment.
The excellent news is that the Fosi ZH3 has primary bass and treble acquire choices to mitigate that should you typically hearken to music like hers. The ZH3 additionally has six 32-bit filters inbuilt, 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!
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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 affect because the i5, the ZH3 drives it superbly 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.
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Classes
i5 Planar Magnetic Headphones
Conectivity
Wired, 3.5mm
Drive models
Planar Magnetic Drivers
Most Sound Stress 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
Colour
Black
Within the field
6.35mm Adaptor, 3.5mm Cable with 4.4mm termination, person guide
The one nitpicky grievance 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 amount 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. Accurately.
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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 by way of 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 capable of push the Fosi i5’s with relative ease. I solely wanted to lift the amount 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.
(Picture credit score: @tshakaarmstrong)
In the end, each the Fosi Audio ZH3 desktop DAC/Amp and i5 planar magnetic headphones are very simple 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 superbly 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.
