Prelude
Anticipation. Like you’re eight years old and Christmas being a mere, yet agonizingiy long, 2 weeks away. The wait. A wait with no control over what would arrive. Still, something would arrive. The anticipation was in a way, part of the gift.
Unless you got socks. You could always tell. They were never boxed, just wrapped in paper. No glory of the unpackaging of multiple layers of stiff cardboard, just a quick rend of paper, ornate with some Christmas motif, each quickly revealing....socks. It could also be underwear, each held the same knee to the gut letdown. Oh well, on to the next present, and it had better be in a box. A box with some weight to to it. One learns at an early age age that the best presents, both come in boxes and have some mass to them.
Cut to now, and me. Well not quite now but certainly me and no I’m definetly not going back to when I was eight, A few weeks ago I placed an order with Fosi Audio. I ordered an MC-351 amplifier with many features that I will list in a bit. But firstly, I will step back a little more to explain why I placed an order with Fosi Audio. I think it makes the story more cohesive if all of the background details are mentioned. It started about seven or eight months ago. I was watching some YouTube videos about Audio components. I have long been an audio enthusiast. Going back to my teens when I would frequent audio shops, (remember them), and bother the salesmen daily about new arrivals, bringing armloads of new vinyl in to bug them to be allowed to hear new speakers and amps in the solitude of the “Listening Room”. I remained since then an “Old School” Stereo Guy.
So from Youtube channels, I started hearing about new components, “mini-components”, made by audio companies that I had never heard of. With names like Douk, Fosi and Doss, to name but a few.
I am setting out to build a mini-components system. I have collected stereo pieces for years finally settling on my “old school” system. It consists mainly of Sony ES series, amps, pre-amp
and tape deck, with the addition of a Kenwood KY-8300 tuner and a Technics SL-Q2 turntable.
So the day arrived, not Christmas)and so did my Fosi Audio MC-351. Some months ago I purchased a pair of Sony CS-S5 speakers. They remained in their box until now as I was moving. So I set out to test the new Fosi amp with both new and vintage components. I started with Fosi Audio because after researching the company, I grew to love it’s ideology of consumer based focus in their design.
Firstly some specifications;
Channels 2.1
Output Power 165W X 2 +350W @4Ω
Device Dimension: 13.82 x 9.21 x 3.62 inches
Input Bluetooth, RCA, CoAxial, Optical, USB
Output Passive Speakers, Passive Subwoofer, Pre-Out
Amp Chip TI TPA3255
SNR ≥100dB
Dynamic Range ≥100dB
THD <.03%
Spkr Imped 4-8Ω
Freq. Resp. 20Hz-20KHx(+0.5dB)
Sub Out Freq 20Hz-250Hz
Voltage Range DC24-48V
Bluetooth Ver. 5.3
Sampling Rate USB24bit/96Khz, Opt/COA 32bit/192Khz
Bluetooth Range >10m (Barrier Free)
Bluetooth Trans Format SBC/AAC
Power Supply 24-48 Vdc/5A
VU Meter; reflects audio signal strength.
Pre-Out allows unit to to be used as a pre-amp by-passing the power amp.
Powers down after two minutes of mp input.
The Test Process
For all the reviews, I used my go-to audio tracks. They are Dave Brubeck, “Blue Rondo a la Turk”, Traffic: “Glad” Genesis,”Cinema Show”, U.K., “In the Dead of Night” and Joni Mitchell’s, “Free man in Paris”. There are more but this is my starting point.
Each test had a different input, put through one pair of the four speakers listed.
Test Number 1
Equipment;
Fosi Audio MC-351
Sony SS-CS5 Speakers, Avid Audio Speakers, Series 103, Vivid TX-440, Centrios 408173
Bluetooth form laptop
Results;
The Bluetooth connected almost instantly. At first not that impressed with what I was hearing. The Sony’s needed to be bunt in I guess. I had ran them very little since purchase, that and they sounded infinitely better as I addded hours to their used life. I listened to some of my go-to tracks, and the MC-351 powered them beautifully. It seemed instantly to be a perfect match.
Test Number 2
Equipment:
Fosi Audio MC-351
Sony CDP-X33ESCD Player
Sony SS-SC5 Speakers, Avid Audio Speakers, Series 103, Vivid TX-440, Centrios 408173
Results;
As before it drove the Sony’s well and the sound exceeded the Bluetooth source from the previous test. I would note at this pointhat it seemed the MC-351 seemed to be benefiting from the burn in time as well.
Test Number 3
Fosi Audio MC-35IPOD Video (Ancient but works)
Sony SS-CS5 Speakers, Avid Audio Speakers, Series 103, Vivid TX-440, Centrios 408173
Results;
The IPOD Video is over 20 years old but due to care and numerous layers of cases/shrink wrap, it is in great shape. My son once said, “one more layer of protection and you wouldn’t be able to play the thing” Play MP3’s of various sampling rates, it sounded fine through all te speakers. There was a sweet spot in the volume out of the IPOD that worked best with the MC-351.
The Summary;
I tried the Fosi MC-351 through four sets of speakers, mostly vintage, except for the Sony’s and it powered them sufficiently in all cases, perhaps working harder with the Avid’s and the Vivid’s, both those are larger floor standing speakers. I did not test the MC-351 with the KEF 105’s. I know from experience that the KEF’s won’t open their eyes unless 200 watts a side is poking them. The Centrios speakers have a soft spot in my heart. They were cheap and although bass deficient, are an excellent speaker to add above another speaker that is treble reduced. Their price and robustness means they see the patio more than the others.
I found the MC-351 to be a solid and clean amp. Responsive and clear regardless of what was fed to them. They power bookshelf speakers with ease. The variety of input choices make them a clear choice for those with both new and older components, Perhaps one of the most flexible amps around. For te price, you can’t go wrong, either adding this to your system or as a building point. The ability to use the MC-351 as a pre-amp is truly bonus.
If I were to find any faults they would be few. A lack of controls for the subwoofer out means
balancing the sub with rest of the system is problematic. My only other beef is I wish there were two VU meters. I’m a big fan of symmetry
All things said, it is a versatile, solid unit at a value price. I couldn’t be happier and I recommend this amplifier without qualm.
Enjoy. Music makes the day, and Fosi Audio Makes the MC-351.
Cheers
Ron
