This Affordable Amplifier Gives Your Desktop a True Audiophile Upgrade

One of the biggest names in budget hi-fi just released a super cool desktop amplifier.

A wooden shelf unit holds a collection of vinyl records and CDs. On top of the shelf, there is a silver laptop displaying a music player screen, three stacked black audio components with orange knobs, a small black device with two antennas, and a small table lamp with a pleated white shade. Two white speakers with copper-colored woofers are positioned on black stands on either side of the shelf. The background is a plain light gray wall.

Add Gear Patrol as a Preferred Source on Google

Published September 26, 2025

·

If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more

Fosi Audio has been around for less than a decade, but it’s fast becoming one of the most prominent names in the budget hi-fi space.

The company makes everything from turntables to speaker cables, but it specializes in desktop hi-fi components … and that’s exactly where its newest offering comes in.

Meet the Fosi Audio ZH3. It’s one of the brand’s most versatile hi-fi components to date, designed for budget-conscious audiophiles who want to elevate their desktop audio setup.

Fosi Audio ZH3

A desktop audio setup featuring a black Fosi Audio device with an orange volume knob and a digital display showing "60." Next to it, a pair of black and wood-accented headphones rest on a wooden headphone stand. In the background, a black speaker with a white cone and a device with two illuminated tubes are placed on a wooden shelf. A mechanical keyboard and a control panel with multiple buttons are also partially visible on the desk. — Fosi Audio’s ZH3 is an all-in-one hi-fi component.

Amp, DAC and preamp

Fosi Audio’s ZH3 is a 3-in-1 desktop hi-fi component. It combines a DAC, headphone amplifier and preamplifier into a compact body. And thus, it can be used in several different ways.

Ryan Huang, the company’s founder and CEO, says that the ZH3 “is perfect for driving high-impedance headphones, pairing with active desktop speakers, or serving as the centerpiece of a complete HiFi setup.”

A modern desktop audio setup featuring a widescreen monitor displaying a cozy room scene with speakers, a black audio amplifier or DAC connected to the monitor, two white bookshelf speakers on either side, a sleek black and silver keyboard below, and a pair of black over-ear headphones with brown accents resting to the right. The cables are neatly arranged connecting all devices. — It combines a headphone amplifier, DAC and preamplifier in one compact desktop component.

The ZH3 is equipped with a wide range of inputs and outputs — including USB, optical, coaxial, RCA, 4.4mm, 6.35mm, XLR and RCA pre-outs — to ensure that it can work in a multitude of setups.

Fosi Audio ZH3 black audio amplifier with a circular display on the left showing "USB" and labeled sections for Input, Output, Treble, and Bass. It has two gold headphone jacks in the center labeled "PO" and "BAL," and a large orange volume knob on the right labeled "VOL / power. — The intuitive LED display and large dial should make switching inputs and adjusting audio settings a breeze.

High resolution, low noise

As an amplifier, the ZH3 is positioned to drive most headphones and in-ear monitors. It features a proprietary dual-power fully balanced amplifier circuit that according to the brand, provides “a powerful, high-resolution sound with an exceptionally low noise floor.”

It is rated to deliver up to 2,570mW through the 4.4mm balanced connection. It also has three selectable gain settings, which you can switch between depending on the impedance of the headphones you’re using.

A black Fosi Audio ZH3 amplifier with a circular digital display on the left showing "42" and other text, two headphone jacks labeled "PO" and "BAL" in the center, and a large orange volume knob on the right. The background includes blurred audio equipment and a speaker. — You can use this display and dial to adjust bass and treble settings, as well as try out six digital filters.

Naturally, the ZH3 is designed to deliver high-resolution sound at a reasonable price. It features a carefully tuned audiophile-grade chipset that’s built around an AKM 4493SEQ DAC, which promises to support PCM audio up to 32-bit/768kHz and DSD512 over USB.

Depending on your audio preferences, there are bass and treble controls, as well as six digital filters to try. Alternatively, you can bypass these EQ settings entirely for a pure signal path.

Controlling the ZH3 promises to be a breeze thanks to a responsive LCD and intuitive panel controls. The 12V trigger input should make operation smooth and automatic, no matter if the ZH3 is being used on its own or as part of a larger system.

Two black Fosi Audio devices with orange volume knobs are stacked on a desk. The top device displays "20" on its circular screen, while the bottom one shows "48." A headphone cable is plugged into the top device. To the right, wooden and black headphones rest on a wooden stand. In the background, a black speaker and other audio equipment are visible. — The ZH3 can deliver up to 2,570mW through the 4.4mm balanced connection.

As far as that larger setup is concerned, the ZH3 features the same footprint and design as Fosi Audio’s ZD3 DAC ($180) and ZA3 amplifier ($130). If you want to take your desktop audio game to an even higher level (and have it all match), you can get all three and stack them.

A wooden shelf holds a stack of three black audio components with orange knobs, a small lamp with a pleated white shade and wooden base, and a closed laptop. Below the shelf are vinyl records and CDs. To the right, a white speaker with an orange cone is visible. — The ZH3 (top), stacked with Fosi’s ZD3 DAC and ZA3 amplifier.

Price and availability

Fosi Audio’s ZH3 is available now from the company’s website as well as other online retailers, including Amazon.

It costs $200.

Fosi Audio ZH3

About the Author: Tucker Bowe has been on Gear Patrol’s editorial team since 2014. With a passion for consumer tech and hi-fi, he tracks everything from headphones and turntables to smartphones and wearables. If it lights up or makes noise, he probably covers it.

Want to stay up to date on the latest product news and releases? Add Gear Patrol as a preferred source to ensure our independent journalism makes it to the top of your Google search results.