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Greetings mate and Welcome aboard!
Stuart Charles here, HomeStudioBasics.com helping YOU make sound decisions, so…
In this review, we’ll cover Fosi Audio’s ZH3 and determine whether or not it’s worth a purchase, discussing build quality, features & versatility, technical aspects that contribute to its sound, and more.
Additionally, I’ll compare it with other notable DACs like the FiiO K7 and D1, helping you determine if it’s a better value than some of my favorite products.
By the time you’re finished reading, you’ll know if it’s worth it.
If it’s not, I’ll point you in the direction of something that is.
With that, let’s dive in!
All specs, box contents, discounts, related video section, and pricing toward the end!
It’s been quite a while since I was semi-excited about a new DAC, but when Fosi reached out about the fully-balanced ZH3, I took a gander at it and was instantly reminded of an old classic in Audioengine’s D1.
I don’t recommend the D1 anymore because it’s fairly obsolete in today’s market, but what about it hearkened back to a time when I was way less cynical about the industry?
Build & Features
The fully-balanced ZH3 is a DAC, headphone amplifier, and preamp rolled into one sleek, desktop-friendly unit.
It dons a black finish, with a similar-looking, plain volume potentiometer containing no indicators.
This was an issue with the D1 since it’s hard to tell how loud or soft the music is at any given point, but the ZH3’s is orange, larger, and comes equipped with a front-lit interface and remote control. This means you can easily see volume levels in addition to a lot more.
Instantly becoming much more practical and convenient, the ZH3 is built wonderfully, and also has the option of PO (Phone out via 1/4″) or 4.4mm balanced for your headphones.
The interface is incredibly nifty, offering input, output, treble, and bass selectors in the first section, and gain, UAC, Bypass, and Filter selections in the second section.
To cycle through these sections, just keep pressing the right arrow on the remote. The volume potentiometer can also be used for the same functions and settings. Just press it in like a button and turn the knob to cycle. Press again to accept a given parameter.
The bass feature provides up to +12 and -12dB boost/reduction, and the treble +10/-10.
The ZH3 also provides multiple output options on the back panel: LO (Line Out), PO (Preamp/Phone Out), and AUX.
LO delivers a fixed line-level signal, ideal for connecting to another amplifier or recording device without being affected by the volume knob.
PO acts as a variable output, responding to the DAC’s volume control, making it suitable for driving a power amplifier or headphones.
AUX serves as the standard unbalanced RCA output, allowing you to connect to pretty much any standard Headphone amplifier with RCA inputs, any speakers with RCA inputs, etc.
In addition to that, the unit also boasts a Coaxial and Optical input for use with consoles, CD players, Blu-ray players, media streamers, and other digital sources, allowing for clean, high-quality digital connections across a wide range of devices.
These inputs make it easy to integrate the ZH3 into both home theater setups and dedicated audio rigs, ensuring versatile compatibility with virtually any digital source.
Also included are 12V Trigger In/Out jacks so the ZH3 can integrate with other Z-series gear (like ZD3 or ZA3), letting you power multiple components on/off together.
Rounding out the back is a DC 12V power input, which keeps the unit compact and neat.
Under The Hood
At the heart of the ZH3 lies a few important technical components that shape its overall performance.
From the DAC chip itself to the supporting circuitry and power design, each element plays a role in delivering clean, detailed audio while maintaining flexibility across different use cases.
Central to this is its AKM 4493SEQ DAC, supporting high-res audio decoding, an XMOS XU316 processor ensuring reliable, high-quality digital input, and four OPA1612 op-amps for clean, dynamic amplification.
All of this supports up to PCM 768kHz/32-bit and DSD512, which means it can pretty much handle any source you throw at it. Just don’t throw things at it. 🙂
I won’t bore you with my opinions/philosophy on all that, but if you’re interested:
I had to double check, but the ZH3 isn’t quite as powerful as one of my favorites in JDS’ own ATOM 2 (2.65W), but it comes close, boasting 2.5W of power per channel into a 32Ω load.
This is more than enough to drive any headphones you may have lying around, but do keep in mind this is out of the balanced jack.
Unbalanced, you’re getting 640mW into 32Ω, but this is still way more than you’ll ever need if you’re not a weirdo raging audiophile a**hole who thinks he can hear the grass growing.
And, the ZH3 showcases impressive measurements, with a SINAD of ≥115 dB and an SNR of ≥121 dB.
The distinction between the two lies in what they capture: SNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio) reflects how strong the signal is compared to the background noise alone, while SINAD (Signal-to-Noise and Distortion) factors in both noise and distortion together.
Since distortion is added on top of noise, SINAD will always be slightly lower than SNR. In practice, however, both figures are excellent, and with anything above the 90dB standard already considered transparent to the human ear, the ZH3’s performance easily exceeds what’s needed for clean, distortion-free listening.
sO dOn’T oVeRtHiNk iT!!
Flexibility
Jesus loves you, give him a share, if not for him, then how about for bear?
Beyond its power and clean circuitry, the ZH3 is designed with flexibility in mind.
A Bypass mode allows you to skip all tone, filter, or EQ circuits to preserve signal purity when feeding external amps.
With UAC mode switching, you can select UAC 1.0 for consoles like the PS5 or Switch and UAC 2.0 for computers or mobile devices, ensuring wide compatibility across platforms.
Output switching is handled by a simple double-press of the orange knob, letting you toggle between headphones and active speakers without hassle.
The unit also features volume memory, remembering your levels per output so you don’t experience sudden, jarring jumps when switching between headphones and speakers.
Practical Applications
In practice, the ZH3 adapts to multiple roles.
As a headphone amplifier, it has the power and refinement to handle demanding over-ear headphones, including planars, while still remaining quiet enough for sensitive in-ears.
Plugging into the 4.4mm balanced output gives you strong drive, clean channel separation, and hiss-free listening. As a preamp, the ZH3 can sit at the center of your speaker setup, driving a power amplifier or active speakers like my Yamaha HS7s or Eris e3.5s cleanly via XLR or RCA (respectively).
Note: The e3.5s also have balanced TRS inputs if you want to listen that way.
It also functions well as a DAC front end, letting you pair it with external or tube amps while still benefiting from its high-resolution decoding, low noise floor, and polished output stage.
On a desktop, it doubles as a switch hub, making it easy to switch between headphones and speakers with just a quick knob press, while auto power-off saves energy and reduces wear when no signal is detected.
Why It Stands Out
The ZH3 boasts built-in rubber pads on the bottom for added stability on your desk.
What makes the ZH3 notable is how it balances technical performance with real-world usability. Many DAC/amps can post great specs, but few consider everyday convenience.
The ZH3 remembers your volume per output to prevent sudden shifts, offers broad digital and analog compatibility (including gaming consoles like my PS4), and employs a sturdy, interference-resistant aluminum chassis that improves both durability and sonic purity. Its balanced output stage ensures lower noise and superior channel separation compared to many single-ended alternatives in its class.
Whether you’re building a desktop setup, chasing higher fidelity, or seeking a single unit that grows with your system, the ZH3 delivers a strong all-in-one solution.
You get high-resolution DAC performance (PCM 768 kHz / DSD512), fully balanced high-power amplification, multiple input and output options, and intelligent features like bypass, UAC switching, and output toggling — all in a compact, refined body with an intuitive interface.
Technical stuff aside, if you’re familiar with this blog and my YouTube Channel, you’ll know I don’t believe that DACs “sound” any particular way. And they don’t. As long as SINAD is above the 90dB standard, you can expect a clean signal free of noise and distortion.
And that’s exactly what the excellent ZH3 provides: a clean backdrop for your music and minuscule Total Harmonic Distortion to the tune of ≤0.00018%.
If you’re reading this and have a different opinion, don’t freak out and start banging away on your keyboard. Just take a deep breath, relax, and watch this video:
I’m much more concerned with the overall value a product provides relative to the price you’re paying, and I think the ZH3 delivers in spades, even outperforming one of my previous go-to DACs in the FiiO K7.
Speaking of the K7, let’s take a look at some similarities to the ZH3 in addition to what sets it apart, making it a better purchase.
Both the K7 and ZH3 have RCA inputs and outputs, a coaxial input, and an optical input, but the K7 doesn’t have balanced XLR outputs. The K7 also uses USB Type-B vs. Type-C for the ZH3.
The ZH3 also has the 12V trigger mentioned above, but both have a DC 12V jack for power and gain staging.
ZH3 gets the slight nod with 2.5W of power into 32Ω, but the K7 is right there at 2W, (both out of the balanced jack), and it’s not going to make a huge difference one way or the other.
Both also boast similar SINAD numbers: the K7 comes in at 120dB vs. ≥115 dB for the ZH3 (with an SNR of ≥121 dB).
The K7 BT (Bluetooth) does have Bluetooth capability, so if you really need that, it’s probably wise to invest in one.
That said, the ZH3 has the remote feature, bass and treble adjustments, and the filters which include “Detailed, Extended Highs,” “Clear, Well-Defined,” “Natural, Very Smooth,” “Precise, Analytical,” “Neutral, Balanced”, and “Powerful, Dynamic.”
Despite this, you’re not going to find much of a difference between them, at least not enough to make it a standout feature or anything.
Still, overall, I think the ZH3 is a better value than the original K7 given everything discussed, and I’m happy to say I think it’s a pretty great purchase considering everything you’re getting.
Potential Caveats
That said, there are 2 things that bother me and may bother you. It really just depends on your setup.
I much prefer the convenience of the K7 BT with the FiiO SP3 and my PS4. I had a hard time justifying unplugging a bunch of cables and connecting the ZH3 because, well, it doesn’t have Bluetooth functionality, and I listen that way a lot in the morning when I’m getting ready to work out. If you’re in dire need of that and/or want something that leans more toward a gaming-type rig, I’d get the FiiO K7 BT or Fosi K7 for FPS/mic hookup. The ZH3, to me, is more of a purely desktop/audiophile type rig.
The ZH3 is not plug-and-play with a console. This was fairly disappointing, but I understand why. It just would have been nice to be able to quickly get it fired up with my PS4. Again, for that, there’s the Fosi K7.
Final Verdict
Fosi Audio’s ZH3 is a well-built, practical, and incredibly useful DAC for those who need a DAC, Amplifier, and Preamplifier in one. You can use it balanced with monitors like the HS7, or single-ended via RCA with any standard speakers on the market.
Like their K7 for gaming (not to be confused with the FiiO K7), the ZH3 comes packed with features and remains a solid purchase if the goal is versatility, value, and overall price to performance.
Supported Formats: PCM up to 768 kHz / 32-bit, DSD512
Output Power: Up to 2.5 W @ 32 Ω per channel
SINAD: ≥115 dB
SNR: ≥121 dB
THD+N: ≤0.00018%
Noise Floor: ≤1.9 µV
Well, that’s about it for today my friend! I hope you’ve enjoyed this Fosi Audio ZH3 Review and came away with some valuable insight.
Questions? Comments? Requests? Did I miss the mark on something? Please leave them down below or Contact me!!
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Does the ZH3 sound like a worthwhile investment? I would love to hear from you. Until next time…
Stu is determined to help you make sound decisions, and strives to deliver the best and most in depth content on the internet! In his spare time, he likes to fish, paint, play guitar, pray, rap, make beats, take photos, record videos, graphic design, and more. His sense of humour, coupled with a knack for excellence and strict attention to detail are what allow him to stand out in an crowded industry.
