Beschreibung
The last link in the chain decides the whole chain. Every digital audio system is a sequence of conversions, and the final one - numbers becoming voltage - is the only one you actually hear. Loudspeakers cannot read a file. Amplifiers cannot read a file. Between your source and your ears there is exactly one moment where mathematics turns into music, and everything upstream is judged by how faithfully that moment is handled. The ZD3 is built for that single moment.
Inside sits a four-part signal chain: an XMOS XU316 USB interface, an ESS ES9039Q2M converter running in fully balanced configuration, a QCC3031 Bluetooth receiver, and an LME49720 output stage. Together they deliver a signal-to-noise ratio of 126dB, total harmonic distortion plus noise below 0.00008 percent, a dynamic range of 126dB and a noise floor of two microvolts or less. Over USB the ZD3 accepts PCM to 32-bit / 768kHz and DSD512. Over optical and coaxial it takes 24-bit / 192kHz. Output level is five volts RMS on XLR and 2.5 volts RMS on RCA, with a frequency response that stays inside plus or minus 0.1dB from 20Hz to 20kHz.
The features around the converter matter as much as the converter itself. This is the first Fosi Audio DAC to accept HDMI ARC, which means a television becomes a legitimate source rather than an afterthought. A 1.5-inch OLED display reports the active input and sample rate without guesswork. The supplied infrared remote handles volume and input switching from the listening position. A preamp bypass switch removes the volume stage entirely when you want your integrated amplifier to keep full control, and 12V trigger in and out ports let the ZD3 power up and shut down in lockstep with the rest of the rack. The chassis follows the same language as the ZA3 amplifier, which is deliberate: the two are designed to sit together, share the same shelf, and be forgotten about.
Feed it a signal and it hands it back unharmed. That is the entire job, and it is harder than it sounds.
Key Features
- ✦ Fully balanced ES9039Q2M converter with XMOS XU316 USB interface
- ✦ USB support for PCM 32-bit / 768kHz and native DSD512
- ✦ 126dB SNR, 126dB dynamic range and noise floor of two microvolts
- ✦ HDMI ARC input - the first Fosi Audio DAC to accept a television directly
- ✦ Balanced XLR at 5Vrms and single-ended RCA at 2.5Vrms outputs
- ✦ 1.5-inch OLED display with remote control and preamp bypass switch
- ✦ 12V trigger in and out for synchronised power with the rest of the system
Technical Specifications
- Chipset: XMOS XU316 + ESS ES9039Q2M + QCC3031 + LME49720
- Inputs: USB, HDMI ARC, Coaxial, Optical, Bluetooth 5.0
- Outputs: Balanced XLR and single-ended RCA
- Max Sampling Rate (USB): PCM 32-bit / 768kHz, DSD512
- Max Sampling Rate (OPT/COA/HDMI): PCM 24-bit / 192kHz
- Signal to Noise Ratio: 126dB
- THD+N: Below 0.00008 percent
- Output Level: XLR 5Vrms / RCA 2.5Vrms
- Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20kHz (plus or minus 0.1dB)
- Power Input: DC 12V 1.5A (adapter included)
Application Scenarios
The ZD3 is the centre of a desktop or rack system that has outgrown the DAC inside a computer or a streaming amplifier. Pair it with a pair of active studio monitors for a nearfield setup, or feed a class-D power amplifier and a pair of bookshelf speakers for a compact lounge rig. Because HDMI ARC is onboard, the same unit can carry television audio without a second box or a second remote. Vinyl and CD listeners use the RCA and optical inputs as a clean front end, while headphone-first listeners feed the XLR outputs into a balanced headphone amplifier. Upgraders who have already invested in the ZA3 will find the ZD3 stacks directly beneath it, sharing the same footprint and the same 12V trigger behaviour.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does HDMI ARC really work with a television?
Yes. HDMI ARC is a native input on the ZD3, so a TV remote can control volume and the converter will follow the display power state. Use a standard HDMI cable into the ARC-labelled port on both devices.
Q: Do I need drivers on Windows?
Older Windows releases may require the XMOS USB driver to unlock the highest PCM and DSD rates. Windows 10 and 11, macOS and Linux are recognised without additional installation for standard rates.
Q: Can I change the op-amps?
Yes. The output stage is socketed, so LME49720, LM4562, MUSES02, OPA2604, OPA2134PA and comparable dual op-amps can be swapped without soldering.
Q: Is DSD512 genuinely supported?
Native DSD512 and PCM 32-bit / 768kHz are supported over the USB input. Optical, coaxial and HDMI inputs are limited to 24-bit / 192kHz, which is a limitation of those transports rather than the converter.
Q: Should I use XLR or RCA outputs?
Use XLR when your amplifier accepts balanced input - the output level is five volts RMS and common-mode noise rejection is better over longer cable runs. Use RCA for single-ended equipment at 2.5 volts RMS.
Q: What is the preamp bypass switch for?
It removes the ZD3 volume stage from the signal path entirely, passing the converter output straight through. Use it when an integrated amplifier or preamplifier already controls system volume.















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