Lynn opinions the Fosi Audio BT20A MAX, a brand new desktop wireless-capable energy amplifier designed for contemporary 2.1 residence audio methods. It’s at present priced at $229.99.
Disclaimer: This pattern was despatched to me for my sincere opinion. Headfonics is an unbiased web site with no affiliate hyperlinks. I thank Fosi Audio for his or her assist.
You may click on right here to be taught extra about Fosi Audio merchandise beforehand reviewed on Headfonics.
This text follows our present scoring tips, which you’ll be able to learn right here.
Fosi Audio BT20A MAX Assessment
Abstract
For a starter or secondary system, the Fosi Audio BT20A Max desktop wireless-capable energy amplifier covers all bases for sources and playability inside a house audio system. Whether or not you’re integrating a subwoofer or rotating in older gear, it handles the duty with ease.
Execs
Sufficient energy for many purposes.
Tone controls enable for fine-tuning the sound, as an amplifier ought to.
Small footprint makes it eminently movable.
Cons
Some shall be bothered by the fan noise.
The dearth of micro-details might quell some listeners’ enjoyment.
Lack of extra inputs.
Fosi can be recognized for reasonably priced desktop amplifiers, DACs, headphone amplifiers, and passive bookshelf audio system, and has not too long ago entered the headphone class with the highly regarded i5.
I’ve not had the pleasure of attempting any merchandise from Fosi, however we do have latest opinions, together with the ZD3 and K7 articles final 12 months.
The Fosi BT20A MAX is an upgraded model of the earlier two BT20 models, together with the Professional. Its worth ranges from $229.99 to $270, relying on the facility provide you purchase it with.
The BT20A MAX has a premium worth over the opposite fashions, which suggests these modifications may actually be value the additional value.
So, how does it carry out and examine to the likes of the ZD3, FiiO’s BR15 R2R, and SMSL’s PA-X? I came upon in my full overview under.
Options
One of many greatest additions to the BT20A MAX is the usage of PFFB know-how.
Submit-Filter Suggestions helps maintain distortion under 0.003% and an SNR above 112 dB. This purportedly retains the sound extra linear, with much less noise, and total, a extra environment friendly amplifier.
Analog and digital energy provides are remoted individually. Moreover, the facility supply might be ordered based mostly in your nation of origin, and with a DC voltage of 32-48V, protecting a extra linear energy provide.
The BT20A Max‘s output energy can attain 300W per channel @4 Ω (180Wx2@8Ω), which might drive not solely most bookshelf audio system, but additionally many flooring audio system.
I utilized this energy in two very totally different audio system to check how properly the BT20A MAX might maintain up.
To be used with a subwoofer, a toggle can minimize off all sound under 80Hz, which is then routed to the subwoofer, minimizing crosstalk. You can even rapidly defeat any tone modifications (bass & treble) with a swap on the again.
Qualcomm’s QCC3095 BT6.0 chipsets ship a wi-fi reference to as much as SBC/AAC/aptX/aptX HD/aptX Adaptive/aptX/LDAC decoding functionality.
An inner fan, mounted under a gap on the highest case, has drawn combined opinions, with some stating that, in near-field use, it may be heard readily.
I solely heard it when actively listening between songs. Vented sides herald cooler air, serving to to maintain the Class-D amplifier comparatively cool.
Design
The BT20A MAX is a slight departure from Fosi’s conventional black field strategy, with smooth, rounded edges and a little bit of design aptitude.
Missing solely an LED display screen on the entrance, the three knobs of bass, treble, and an orange potentiometer quantity knob considerably dominate.
To the left of these are the IR bubble for the distant, a trio of LED mode lights, and the bubbled energy/mode swap to the far left.
I do want the mode lights and famous perform have been bigger, however with a little bit of repetitiveness, you rapidly perceive which perform is energetic.
The perimeters have spherical vent holes, highlighted with an orange steel mesh for cooler air consumption. The highest mimics the orange steel vent with the “BT20A MAX” highlighting the place air exits, pushed out by the fan. Air motion felt very slight when inserting my hand over the BT20A MAX.
Round again, twin RCA inputs are far left, adopted by the tone defeat swap and subwoofer output under the swap.
Diagonal (a lot appreciated) speaker mounts with conventional wire holes (or banana plugs) take up the middle ⅓. Connecting both possibility was straightforward.
To the proper, the 12V plug lies side-by-side with the connected BT antenna. Utilizing the 12V plug permits for connection between many units, and management of the on/off performance with out having to fret about every unit. A pleasant contact, must you be arrange that means.
Under the 2 talked about above is the high-pass filter (HPF) and the facility plug. I did discover entry to the HPF toggle lower than splendid, however for those who run with or with out a subwoofer, it’s basically set-and-forget.
I/O
Two RCA inputs together with 6.0 BT are the only choices, however enough to be used with a CD participant, turntable (with inner phono pre-amp), and no matter your BT machine is perhaps.
As soon as arrange in such a fashion, I used to be in a position to make the most of a turntable (by an exterior phono pre-amp, and a BT TT), my iPhone 16 Professional to the BT20A MAX through BT, and an Oppo BDP83 CD transport by the JC Acoustics UDP-5 as a pre-amp.
Not fairly what you may hook up utilizing a full two-channel amplifier, however for a “starter” amplifier, that is greater than enough, particularly for those who bypass the exterior DAC or pre-amp for one thing extra direct.
I used the BT20A MAX with and with out a pre-amp, or an exterior DAC and phono pre-amp.
Controls
A lot has been mentioned in regards to the lack of advantageous management when the amount is about very low. I by no means had a difficulty and will attain very low quantity ranges with the distant and by hand. There was no channel dropout, like can typically occur with units corresponding to this.
Copious quantities of bass and treble (I’m not sure of how a lot, however I’d guess +/-9-12dB) might be added utilizing the small knobs. Fortunately, there’s a heart detent for the impartial place. Testing was executed principally in that impartial place.
The facility button may also be used to vary modes, however aside from for testing, I utilized the distant. Performance of the button was crisp with no slop.
Distant
The complete-function distant can management as much as 4 outfitted Fosi units just by activating every with a button. Since I didn’t have every other Fosi machine, I used to be unable to check this perform. There may be even a dimming button for these Fosi units with screens.
Play, pause, FF, and REW pair with the amount up and down on the round heart of the distant. Tactility is sort of good.
A crimson energy button and mute button spherical out the controls. Missing solely a backlight, the distant functioned properly all through the testing, with no missteps.
Use at odd angles was additionally examined to see how obtuse utilization might get. The distant is not going to undergo stable objects and needs to be pointed on the IR reader on the entrance panel.
Packaging & Equipment
The BT20A MAX is heavier than I believed, with a very good a part of that heft coming from the heatsink. However the exterior energy provide is the heaviest half, which exhibits the dedication Fosi has for controlling exterior EM noise.
Separated by smooth foam cutouts, every a part of the Fosi is well-protected, and one needn’t fear about potential injury.
Included is an intensive multi-language starter information, which incorporates troubleshooting ought to the necessity come up.
Sound Impressions
The next sound impressions of the Fosi Audio BT20A MAX have been accomplished with the JC Acoustics hooked to the Oppo BDP-83 CD transport, and the FiiO TT13 turntable (each through RCA and BT), with the HiBy R4 (RCA primarily).
I additionally used the Cambridge Audio’s Alva Duo with the Denon DP1200 (Denon 110 MC cartridge), and Professional-Ject Debut Carbon (Sumiko Moonstone MM cartridge).
The iPhone 16 Professional was additionally linked to BT20A MAX for impressions by the KEF Q150 and Dynaco A25 audio system. The Edifier T5S subwoofer was used as properly.
Abstract
The Fosi Audio BT20A MAX presents a full sound with good element. Readability is on par with different Class-D amplifiers however lacks within the micro element division.
The flexibility to fine-tune the sound utilizing bass and treble controls can assist fill within the gaps, however in the end, micro element is missing.
That mentioned, the copious ranges of energy supplied make this a compelling possibility for a starting system or secondary system.
The bass reaches fairly low with the tone management, and including a subwoofer particular to the low finish helps to offer a specialization that may accommodate most listeners’ tastes.
The highest finish is well mannered and might be lifted utilizing the treble management too, making for a very good three-dimensional illustration, missing solely in depth. Supply enter can alter the consultant sound, making the BT20A MXA a flexible amplifier, too.
Timbre
The supply used performs a big half in figuring out sound high quality emanating from the BT20A MAX, as does the speaker of alternative.
I discovered that whereas utilizing the Denon DP1200 and Dynaco A25s, the sound was vibrant, punctuating, and had good pulse to it. Missing in true bass depth might be altered utilizing the tone management, however I discovered this strategy to be too accentuated on full bass.
Barring the supply alternative, the BT20A MAX comes throughout pretty much as good with macro particulars, however missing micro particulars, as talked about above. This presents a extra middle-of-the-road strategy to the sound high quality.
When referred to as upon, corresponding to with the Denon, the sound can punctuate your audio system with good verve and power, basically staying out of the way in which.
When paired with the HiBy R4 and KEF Q150s, Tidal streamed with that very same power, equaling the sound qualities. Solely the restrictions of the 150s held the BT20A MAX again.
Some have described the sound as on the hotter facet, however I’d state the qualities are extra within the impartial class, with any push on both finish accentuated by the enter of tone controls and supply. Elevating the amount didn’t hinder the sound qualities coming forth, both.
As the amount went north, there was no punctuating of the highs or an overexuberance of lows pushing the boundaries of distortion. The extra the BT20A MAX was pushed, the extra the sound stayed true to the supply.
Including the subwoofer elevated the low-end, with no latency both. Utilizing YouTube movies, there was no delay between the three concerned models, making the BT20A MAX equally at residence for video inputs.
Staging & Dynamics
The three-dimensional stage of the BT20A MAX got here throughout as almost impartial, with the sound qualities listed above. Missing in true depth, this is able to solely come into play for a room two-channel system. In nearfield methods, the depth was enough to appease any issues.
Neither top nor width prolonged to the purpose of contradicting both of the opposite dimensions, which might typically occur to counter a perceived “fault” in anybody dimension. The three dimensions all performed collectively properly, irrespective of the supply or audio system concerned.
The one differentiation in dynamic presentation got here from the supply used. The MC-laden Denon TT got here throughout as vibrant and glorious ranges of element (from the supply), whereas the 150’s introduced a extra laidback signature to the listening.
If the supply was dynamic and stuffed with verve, so was the BT20A MAX’s presentation. If the supply was hotter, so was the sound coming forth. The BT20A MAX stayed principally out of the way in which, letting the supply play the a part of any potential “coloration” of sound.
Connectivity Efficiency
Pairing with Qualcomm’s 6.0 BT was seamless throughout a number of units. Utilizing Tidal and Qobuz by my iPhone functioned properly, and music & YouTube by the HiBy R4 functioned with very low latency.
Using the twin RCA inputs allowed me to have two units attached for fast switching between the 2.
At anybody time, I had the JC Acoustics hooked to be used with the Oppo BDP-83 CD transport, FiiO TT13 turntable (each through RCA and BT), and the HiBy R4 (RCA primarily).
I additionally included Cambridge Audio’s Alva Duo to be used with the Denon DP1200 (Denon 110 MC cartridge), and Professional-Ject Debut Carbon (Sumiko Moonstone MM cartridge).
As a starter system, that is lots, and for these in search of an workplace or den setup, you’ll almost certainly have objects corresponding to these listed above for a various utilization sample.
Click on on web page 2 under for my really helpful pairings and chosen comparisons.
