I did the same thing for a bedroom system for the same reasons. Got a pair of Fosi ZA3s and rolled the op amps with Burson V7 Vivids (yes, op amps cost more than the unit). There's a lot of talk on removing ALL of the op amps and just inserting the XLR and channel amps, since you won't use anything else (second channel, RCA), so you only need two op amps if you run them as mono and use only one input. I tried with stock, with Vivid, with extraneous op amps removed. All three slightly nuanced and removing extras DID make a difference. Call it an "inexpensive" system, but the centerpiece is a Topping Centaurus R2R and it is worth every penny. Added a Schiit Saga pre, WiiM Ultra, etc. Super fun to build this.
op amp rolling
https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipO7mVKfzW_dSV5rxCvMv4z2gwdtk1cLM3eSFhIy
I have a setup for a send system that I have been playing with to see what I can do on the cheap and I've been quite surprised at the result so far. I've been reading about supposedly major improvements in performance of the Fosi ZA3 amps with op amp swaps. I'm wondering if anyone else has had any experience with the various ones available. I'm running the dual mono with XLR on each speaker bi wired to max the power which means I'll need three per amp which will cost more than the amps so I'd like to get it right the first time if I can. I'd like to take some of the sibilance from the top end which some I reckon comes from the nature of the speakers (Klipsch RPM 600II). Any opinions/advice would be most welcome. I'm looking at the Burson v7 vivid and the sparko but the sparko has been reported as softening the ZA3 too much which the reviewers on youtube seem to like for the V3 mono but not for the ZA3. I have attached a link to the setup because I cand figure out how to attach the photo to this forum. Thanks in advance
Showing 2 responses by bigeks357
https://forum.audiogon.com/users/johnnybwood There are five op amps inside the fosi ZA3 - one for each channel (2), one for the sub out, and one for each input (RCA and XLR). If you are decided on your output and running them as monoblocs, you only need two new op amps and can pull the extraneous ones. That means you only need to purchase four op amps, or two pairs. Put one in the XLR or RCA slot, and one in the right (mono) channel out. I thought the sound became more alive, expanded the dynamic range. It puts the high end in your face a bit, but not bright. They are aptly named vivid. For $160 or so per pair, it was worth the punt and totally worth it for the project and education on Class D. Is it worth the sound? For me, totally. |