Fosi Audio ZH3 Review by Z Reviews — The $200 DAC/Amp Combo That Delivers Big Performance

In his latest review, Z Reviews (Zeos) shares his impressions of the Fosi Audio ZH3, this compact unit aims to simplify desktop audio setups while maintaining audiophile-grade sound quality.

Zeos opens the review with enthusiasm:

“I’m so glad to finally have another DAC/Amp combo like this — perfect for people starting out, students, or anyone building their first system.”

He positions the ZH3 as a practical, no-nonsense tool that bridges the gap between affordability and high fidelity.

Design & Build Quality

Zeos describes the ZH3 as “compact, solid, and cleanly built.”
The aluminum chassis feels sturdy, with softly rounded corners and a polished matte surface. The most eye-catching feature, he notes, is the round display screen:

“They’ve got a round screen —  That’s something special.”

Another detail that impressed him: when powering off, the display fades out smoothly instead of cutting off.

“That’s the kind of luxury touch you’d expect from a $10,000 B&O system.”

He swapped the default orange volume knob for a black metal one with an infinity logo, calling it “cooler and more premium.”

Controls & Interface

The remote control earns high praise for convenience:

“If you’re setting up a first system — like a college desk or small apartment — the remote’s gonna be huge.”

It allows full access to inputs, volume, mute, brightness, and quick return to the home menu. The screen menus are straightforward, letting users:

• Select inputs (USB, coaxial, optical, RCA)

• Choose outputs (Phones, Line Out, or AUX preamp)

• Adjust gain (Low / Medium / High)

• Modify tone (Bass/Treble ±10)

• Enable Bypass to disable tone shaping

He does note that switching between menus via the knob can take a few seconds, but the remote makes it seamless.

Connectivity & Expansion

Zeos highlights that the ZH3 offers a surprisingly complete rear panel for its price point:

• Balanced XLR outputs for studio monitors or external amps

• RCA outputs and RCA analog inputs (for use as a standalone headphone amp)

• Optical and coaxial digital inputs

• USB-C input for modern devices

• 12V DC power port (the only thing he jokingly calls “the Mickey Mouse plug”)

• Trigger in/out ports to sync power with Fosi’s ZA3 amplifiers

“It’s super rare to see this level of connectivity on a $200 DAC/Amp. They really gave you everything.”

Sound Quality

The AKM 4493SEQ DAC paired with OPA1612 op-amps impressed him with its balanced, natural sound:

“It’s not cold or sterile like some DACs. There’s a touch of warmth — it’s got a bit of life.”

He describes the DAC section as clean, musical, and fatigue-free, performing well even through high-end speakers and headphones.

Power Output

When testing the headphone amp, Zeos couldn’t hide his amazement:

“Two and a half watts balanced. That’s wild for $200.”

The amp drives demanding headphones like the Serene and Fostex TH100RP easily, producing tight, powerful sound without distortion.

Noise Performance

He tested sensitive IEMs (Dunu Zen Pro) to check for hiss:

“On high gain, you hear a bit of hiss. Medium — almost none. Low gain — dead silent.”

For him, that’s a sign of proper circuit design — clean, stable, and quiet even with high sensitivity earphones.

Everyday Experience

Zeos praises the ZH3’s versatility:

“You can use it as a DAC for your speakers or as a dedicated headphone amp — it’s great either way.”

Volume control feels smooth and balanced, and the tone controls offer flexibility for casual users. While he rarely touches tone knobs, he acknowledges that “it’s nice to have them for problem headphones or harsh speakers.”

His only real complaint is that it can’t output to both front and rear simultaneously:

“You have to toggle between them, but that’s not a dealbreaker.”

Internal Hardware

He points out that we used high-quality components throughout:

“AKM 4493SEQ DAC, four OPA1612s, supports 32-bit DSD512. You can even roll the op-amps — that’s awesome if you like tweaking the sound.”

He notes the unit gets slightly warm after long use, which he considers normal for compact all-metal amps.

By the end of the review, Zeos gives a clear and confident recommendation:

“This is a yes. It’s a solid little $200 DAC/Amp. Perfect for beginners, perfect for desktops.”

He summarizes the ZH3 as a “foundation piece” — something reliable and complete enough to build a whole system around.

“You buy this for your nephew who just built a gaming PC — he won’t know what a Fosi is, but he’ll love how it sounds.”

Even with minor shortcomings (no Bluetooth, single active output), Zeos concludes:

“It’s clean, powerful, and thoughtfully made. That’s a win.”

In Zeos’s words, it’s “a starter kit done right.” Whether driving high-end headphones or desktop monitors, the ZH3 delivers clean sound, plenty of power, and thoughtful usability that make it stand out in the entry-level DAC/Amp market.

“Everything about it feels good. It sounds great. It looks great. It’s just… right.” — Z Reviews