{"product_id":"the-balanced-reference-fosi-zd3-dac","title":"The Balanced Reference | Fosi Audio ZD3 Desktop DAC with ES9039Q2M and HDMI ARC","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"product-narrative\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe last link in the chain decides the whole chain.\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInside 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eFeed it a signal and it hands it back unharmed. That is the entire job, and it is harder than it sounds.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\u003chr style=\"margin:22px 0;border:0;border-top:1px solid #eee;\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"product-features\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eKey Features\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul style=\"list-style:none;padding:0;\"\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"padding:9px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #eee;\"\u003e✦ Fully balanced ES9039Q2M converter with XMOS XU316 USB interface\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"padding:9px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #eee;\"\u003e✦ USB support for PCM 32-bit \/ 768kHz and native DSD512\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"padding:9px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #eee;\"\u003e✦ 126dB SNR, 126dB dynamic range and noise floor of two microvolts\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"padding:9px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #eee;\"\u003e✦ HDMI ARC input - the first Fosi Audio DAC to accept a television directly\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"padding:9px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #eee;\"\u003e✦ Balanced XLR at 5Vrms and single-ended RCA at 2.5Vrms outputs\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"padding:9px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #eee;\"\u003e✦ 1.5-inch OLED display with remote control and preamp bypass switch\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"padding:9px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #eee;\"\u003e✦ 12V trigger in and out for synchronised power with the rest of the system\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"product-specs\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTechnical Specifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul style=\"list-style:none;padding:0;\"\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"padding:9px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #eee;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eChipset:\u003c\/strong\u003e XMOS XU316 + ESS ES9039Q2M + QCC3031 + LME49720\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"padding:9px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #eee;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eInputs:\u003c\/strong\u003e USB, HDMI ARC, Coaxial, Optical, Bluetooth 5.0\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"padding:9px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #eee;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOutputs:\u003c\/strong\u003e Balanced XLR and single-ended RCA\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"padding:9px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #eee;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMax Sampling Rate (USB):\u003c\/strong\u003e PCM 32-bit \/ 768kHz, DSD512\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"padding:9px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #eee;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMax Sampling Rate (OPT\/COA\/HDMI):\u003c\/strong\u003e PCM 24-bit \/ 192kHz\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"padding:9px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #eee;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSignal to Noise Ratio:\u003c\/strong\u003e 126dB\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"padding:9px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #eee;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTHD+N:\u003c\/strong\u003e Below 0.00008 percent\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"padding:9px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #eee;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOutput Level:\u003c\/strong\u003e XLR 5Vrms \/ RCA 2.5Vrms\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"padding:9px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #eee;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFrequency Response:\u003c\/strong\u003e 20Hz - 20kHz (plus or minus 0.1dB)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"padding:9px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #eee;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePower Input:\u003c\/strong\u003e DC 12V 1.5A (adapter included)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"product-applications\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eApplication Scenarios\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"product-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-bottom:16px;\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ:\u003c\/strong\u003e Does HDMI ARC really work with a television?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:4px 0 0 0;\"\u003eYes. 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-bottom:16px;\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ:\u003c\/strong\u003e Do I need drivers on Windows?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:4px 0 0 0;\"\u003eOlder 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-bottom:16px;\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ:\u003c\/strong\u003e Can I change the op-amps?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:4px 0 0 0;\"\u003eYes. The output stage is socketed, so LME49720, LM4562, MUSES02, OPA2604, OPA2134PA and comparable dual op-amps can be swapped without soldering.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-bottom:16px;\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ:\u003c\/strong\u003e Is DSD512 genuinely supported?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:4px 0 0 0;\"\u003eNative 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-bottom:16px;\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ:\u003c\/strong\u003e Should I use XLR or RCA outputs?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:4px 0 0 0;\"\u003eUse 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-bottom:16px;\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ:\u003c\/strong\u003e What is the preamp bypass switch for?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:4px 0 0 0;\"\u003eIt 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"product-gallery\" style=\"margin-top:30px;text-align:center;\"\u003e\n\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0503\/6412\/1244\/files\/S30a2ffaf153443c6aec89a3ba800b284Y_00f932e7-fef7-4724-a1bd-da3520b5af3e.webp?v=1791424204\" alt=\"Product image\" style=\"max-width:100%;margin-bottom:14px;border-radius:8px;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0503\/6412\/1244\/files\/Saa348add51df4dab8d7120d6bdf573e0H_0a62f011-4f4a-4cd6-8ca1-0224a59aca3e.webp?v=1791424203\" alt=\"Product image\" style=\"max-width:100%;margin-bottom:14px;border-radius:8px;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0503\/6412\/1244\/files\/S678a671729544fafb603dd50291728cfk_2fe29a28-d33f-4456-b415-f9631d95ace1.webp?v=1791424203\" alt=\"Product image\" style=\"max-width:100%;margin-bottom:14px;border-radius:8px;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0503\/6412\/1244\/files\/A79bf702afc984ba3b3e238a222e80bfcX_efd57658-3f2c-4e75-9c65-33e859506038.webp?v=1791424204\" alt=\"Product image\" style=\"max-width:100%;margin-bottom:14px;border-radius:8px;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0503\/6412\/1244\/files\/Aa183381f77774e86bfef185cee5431aaJ_7d711ba6-2e76-4089-95ee-9da7c10717ea.webp?v=1791424204\" alt=\"Product image\" style=\"max-width:100%;margin-bottom:14px;border-radius:8px;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0503\/6412\/1244\/files\/A30cfaf32e8a84acc978ceca1e5623f32d_ecc150c5-cec5-49cc-9682-66668874b067.webp?v=1791424204\" alt=\"Product image\" style=\"max-width:100%;margin-bottom:14px;border-radius:8px;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0503\/6412\/1244\/files\/Afa40ead13f1e4116ae0869ca0669e4410_1774f177-68e6-4b22-af58-0db3fcdbe165.webp?v=1791424204\" alt=\"Product image\" style=\"max-width:100%;margin-bottom:14px;border-radius:8px;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0503\/6412\/1244\/files\/Aac37e08382294b2283ab07cec282fc72h_54b106f0-0056-4a88-8fed-f0c0a9182dd0.webp?v=1791424204\" alt=\"Product image\" style=\"max-width:100%;margin-bottom:14px;border-radius:8px;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0503\/6412\/1244\/files\/Ad059b01f044546afbc6568830201694aY_be308f8a-48b5-43ce-bb15-048570a83726.webp?v=1791424204\" alt=\"Product image\" style=\"max-width:100%;margin-bottom:14px;border-radius:8px;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0503\/6412\/1244\/files\/Aba10d48aeedd4c479b4c7924b0dd5980q_31c45dd8-e8d8-4d83-ab05-ff875b73b605.webp?v=1791424204\" alt=\"Product image\" style=\"max-width:100%;margin-bottom:14px;border-radius:8px;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0503\/6412\/1244\/files\/Ae7036ca04c1344a38a4e1336ff96fefd6_2f09e9df-47a0-4a73-b40f-9e24488a4ac2.webp?v=1791424204\" alt=\"Product image\" style=\"max-width:100%;margin-bottom:14px;border-radius:8px;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0503\/6412\/1244\/files\/Af9c8798b34284f16b4dde56f00da19a4I_4dcc10e6-bdc7-4bce-be59-044d408ba089.webp?v=1791424204\" alt=\"Product image\" style=\"max-width:100%;margin-bottom:14px;border-radius:8px;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0503\/6412\/1244\/files\/A71856485684f420fa1fd0074ec2f71a67_aa64b239-e6e3-457a-acfe-b652675ff5ad.webp?v=1791424204\" alt=\"Product image\" style=\"max-width:100%;margin-bottom:14px;border-radius:8px;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0503\/6412\/1244\/files\/Ad9aaea5fe864404393d515b35b094cceY_07a56b1b-4813-4536-91c3-bdc5e700ac9d.webp?v=1791424204\" alt=\"Product image\" style=\"max-width:100%;margin-bottom:14px;border-radius:8px;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0503\/6412\/1244\/files\/Ac6096fce5e4042248257c99f69ac0ab5x_4368710a-2941-476d-985c-8f108ccf27fe.webp?v=1791424204\" alt=\"Product image\" style=\"max-width:100%;margin-bottom:14px;border-radius:8px;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0503\/6412\/1244\/files\/A1b55d13ce153424d818594a1c62bcdd3D_fe72e4fb-b63f-4f78-8f6f-b41523290731.webp?v=1791424204\" alt=\"Product image\" style=\"max-width:100%;margin-bottom:14px;border-radius:8px;\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cscript type=\"application\/ld+json\"\u003e{\"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\", \"@type\": \"Product\", \"name\": \"The Balanced Reference | Fosi Audio ZD3 Desktop DAC with ES9039Q2M and HDMI ARC\", \"description\": \"The last link in the chain decides the whole chain. 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