Fosi Audio T3 Bluetooth 5.0 Hybrid Stereo Tube Amplifier Class AB with Headphone Sub Out

I bought this expecting a possible failure since chinesse products are not of my full confidence. After a year use I must say that I remain impressed by the sound quality and performance. I pair it with a couple of Polk T15 and wired with average hifi cables and matched with an Emotiva Bas X sub and the mix is greatly amazing. I´m in love with the whole set up I made and the T3 plays an impressive role in all.

I purchased my T3 a few years ago and must say that I was not prepared for how wonderful this amplifier can sound. More so, however, is the off-the-charts price-to-performance ratio. The low price that Fosi charges for the T3 is offset by remarkably high audio performance levels. I'm betting that there are some people who would ignored this amplifier because of its low price, falsely assuming that it may not sound as good - but boy, would they be wrong!

To begin with, it is not a class D amp - rather, it's a combination of a tube and class AB amp. And that alone would have one assume that it would cost much, much more - but it doesn't!l

Considering that the tubes are for the preamp section and the class AB is for the actual amplifier, the sound quality coming from this unit easily punches into audiophile territory. And if you can still find one, you should not hesitate to purchase it.

For this review, my comments are based on my using the RCA inputs only. I do not (never have) use Blue Tooth connections for any of my audio components.

But what about the sound, you ask? The first thing I noticed was how immersive the sound was - it literally draws you into the performance (provided you have good recordings, because no amplifier on the market can make bad recordings sound better). Its class AB warmth, immediacy and depth to the music is exemplary. And more so, when you begin tube rolling, you will find even more improvements, dependant upon the tubes you use and your individual musical preferences.

Bass is prodigious and weighty. The midrange frequencies just shine and are perhaps, the most noticeable aspect to the T3's tonality. Brass instruments come across with a realistic bite, yet never harsh. Voices come across with a rich tonality. Higher midrange and treble frequencies are quite smooth, and instruments such as violins in a symphony orchestra can come through with a seductive, silky sheen.

Another aspect to the T3 is that if you have good components attached (DAC, excellent cables, etc), any veils - whether major or minor - seemingly disappear. It's like you're in the same performance venue as the performers, and that is quite uncanny for such an inexpensive amplifier.

I use my T3 (along with other Fosi products that I purchased, such as the V3, P3, ZA3, SK02 and SK01) on a desktop, near-field setting, sitting around 4' back from the speakers. My desktop speakers are KEF Q150 speakers, with a powered subwoofer under my desk.

As far as volume levels are concerned, in a desktop setting, you never have to worry about appropriate levels - in fact, in such a setting with lower efficiency KEF speakers (86 db), I never had to go past 10-11 O-clock with the volume knob. Moving the T3 to a 15' x 17' living room, I had no problems powering a set of KEF floor-standing speakers to loud enough levels (for my tastes of course). Now do keep in mind, I believe that the T3 was never developed to blast ultra loud levels in a large room, with video gear. In my opinion, this T3 is an intimate audiophile product that should be enjoyed in smaller settings.

I do hope that Fosi keeps selling this T3, or better yet, make improvements to it. It seems that all the rage right now is to produce class D amps, and that is well and good. However, this tube/class AB T3 is a real winner and should not be overlooked.

As I type this review, I am listening to Saint Saen's Organ Symphony #3, and I have goose bumps listening to that performance. The intense 32 Hz organ pedal notes, the silky strings, and biting brass - all are brought to life with this T3!

The T3 was powering a set of KEF Q150 speakers, along with a pair of Wharfedale D20 bookshelf models. Bass frequencies were handled by a powered subwoofer. DAC's used were the iFi ZenDac Mk II, Schiit Modi+, Nitsch Piety, SMSL M100 Mk II, and FX-Audio D01. Cables used were Audioquest RCA and speaker cables.

It is easy to give it 5 stars - highly recommended.

Ben Herrmann
Fuquay-Varina, NC USA

I bought this for my computer desktop system, to replace a 32-year old 5.1 Pioneer AV receiver that I kept on a shelf under the desktop. I had to push my chair back, slide the keyboard tray in, and bend down with a flashlight whenever I wanted to switch inputs or change surround settings, etc., especially with the room darkened. Not only was it very bulky and inconvenient to operate, but it was a real pain to pull-out to change rear-panel connections. I paid over three times the price of the new Fosi amp for that Pioneer receiver way back in 1991 - talk about a real bargain in these inflationary times! I never used rear or center channel speakers when using the Pioneer as a desktop amp, and never came close to using the 100W per channel output. I will move the old receiver to TV room to upgrade a cheap off-brand AV system, using a pair of Klipsch SB-2 bookshelf speakers that have been sitting idle in storage for a decade.

The new T3 sits on my desktop right between 42" monitor and a USB DAC/pre-amp, where it is easy to reach and adjust the controls, without having to push my chair back and bend down with flashlight. It is absolutely gorgeous and I love the illuminated tubes glowing in the dark. The sound quality is first-rate for multiple times the price, and the line-out subwoofer jack connects to my Klipsch R-100SW active 10" sub to seamlessly augment the bottom-end from a pair of Klipsch RB-10 satellites with 4" woofer cones. It delivers a stunning stereo image, with no hiss, hum or other audio detritus. With only 25W RMS per channel, it can still drive the very sensitive Klipsch speakers to insane sound levels, without appreciable distortion. I keep the amp's tone controls flat, and use the VLC media player's equalizer to shape the sound spectrum, as well as control volume levels.

I ordered a matched pair of low-noise GE JAN-5725W tubes ($22 Cdn) a couple days before the amp arrived, which are allegedly a sonic upgrade to the stock Chinese 6J2 preamp tubes (the output stage is solid state). I will update this review when they arrive, if the GE NOS tubes result in any further improvement to the stereo soundstage or frequency response. I have seen some very negative reviews of this little amp online and on YouTube, but they seem to be completely baseless based on my unit. I do have the amp plugged into a YY Audio power filter/conditioner, so the lack of hum or hiss is no surprise.

I would highly recommend this little black beauty to anyone who wants a small, simple amp to drive a pair of bookshelf speakers (with or without sub) for nearfield listening, or in a smallish room. It won't push big, power-hungry tower speakers to ear-bleeding levels, but I would bet it would work fine for jazz or chamber music with sensitive, large speakers (like every Klipsch model ever), in anything but a huge listening room.

Right after I received this amp from Amazon (Canada), it disappeared from the site - likely sold out. Get yours while you can

I love this little amp!
Excellent sound, tone controls work well and easy to set up and use with good connection options. I've used it with several different speaker brands and no issues driving even relatively low impedance speakers. My only wish is that it came with a remote, though that is a small issue given the value for price. I'd love to see Fosi Audio make more affordable AB amps.

Pictures of analog setup.Replacing a 70s Marantz receiver with surprisingly good results.