After reading my review of their BT20A amplifier, Fosi Audio reached out and asked if I also wanted to review their new amplifier, the Fosi Audio TB10D. I jumped at the chance to receive a free piece of audio gear to review and said yes.
In an effort to be fully transparent, Fosi Audio sent this amp to me at no cost, but did not pay me for this review, nor consult with me before posting. Please note, some links in this article are affiliate links and I receive a small commission on sales which I use to further invest in this blog.
If, after reading, you would like the purchase the TB10D, you can do so directly from Fosi Audio here.
Let’s first discuss the features of this little amp and then I want to do a comparison with the BT20A in order to help you decide which is best for your setup.
Fosi TB10D Amplifier Features
Fosi TB10D Power Rating
First, the TB10D is a class D amplifier, made in China, that is reportedly rated at a whopping 300 watts per channel for a total rating of 600 watts.
Now, it’s worth noting that this rating is a little misleading. If you read the manual closely, you will notice that in order to achieve the reported 300 watts per channel, you will need to upgrade the adapter in the box to one that is 48v/10a.
The manual does not give a power rating for the amplifier when using the stock power adapter, so I can’t give you the exact specs, but I can tell you the little amplifier is plenty loud, something I will discuss later when addressing the sound quality.
Fosi Audio TB10D Audio Connections
The Fosi TB10D is first and foremost, an amplifier, meaning it only offers one RCA input on the rear of the unit.
This input could be used to connect a preamp or you could directly connect a source such as a CD player or streaming DAC.
The amplifier can power one set of passive speakers which, according to the manual, can power as low as 2 ohms up to 8 ohms.
The speaker bindings can accept banana plugs, but if you are using bare wire, please note it’s a tight fit back there so please ensure you connect the speaker wires only while the unit is powered off.
Fosi TB10D Missing Features
This amplifier offers a lot of power, but is missing a few features that might be important to you.
First, the TB10D does NOT have a phono preamp installed, therefore you will need to pair this with a turntable that has a built in phono preamp or purchase an external phono preamp that will be connected in between your turntable and the TB10D amplifier.
It’s also worth noting that the Fosi TB10D does not have bluetooth connection. I will explain this more in comparing this amp with the BT20A below.
Finally, the TB10D does not come with a remote control.
How does the Fosi TB10D Sound?
I have found class D amplifiers of this nature to offer A LOT of sound, meaning they often bring the power, with enough detail to impress you.
But, as someone who spent his life listening to more traditional class A/B amplifiers, I always caution people that they should not try to replace that sound with these small class D amps. I find class A/B has a more analog sound overall.
I would also not suggest anyone who is used to spending a lot of money on audio gear, someone who may identify as an “audiophile”, to ever try to replace that gear with one of these class D amps, as I can guarantee they will not provide the sound they are used to.
However, for anyone who is just beginning their journey in hi-fi, and is looking to get started at an affordable price, the Fosi TB10D will pleasantly surprise them with powerful detailed playback.
Looking at the front of the amplifier, the first thing you notice is the treble and bass tone controls, meaning you can adjust the treble and bass levels to your liking.
Thanks to this ability to adjust the treble and bass tones, I will not spend a lot of time describing those as you will be able to adjust them according to your listening preference but, I want to point out that if you are a fan of bass, I found this little inexpensive amp produces the sound easily and with adequate definition.
Thanks to the massive power rating on this tiny amplifier, I found the volume to be plentiful for my small listening room. At just a quarter turn, I could hear everything great and never even got close to turning it up halfway with the fear it might blow my ears out in my small listening space!
In short, buy this amp for detailed playback, even at loud volumes, but if you are a fan of the classic A/B amplifier playback sound and critical listening, save your money for something more expensive.
Comparing the Fosi TB10D and BT20A Amplifiers
If you are shopping for affordable class D amplifiers and are trying to decide between the Fosi TB10D and BT20A, I will give you a short comparison below to help you make the best decision.
First, looking at the front of each unit, both will give you the ability to adjust the treble and bass via tone controls.
Turning the units around, both allow you to connect one RCA input and one set of passive speakers. Neither of these amps allow for connecting a turntable without a built in preamp or using an external phono preamp.
Even the price of the units are the same with both the BT20A and the TB10D priced at $89.99.
So, what are the differences between the two amps? Power rating and bluetooth.
The BT20A rates at 100 watts per channel while the TB10D supposedly rates at 300 watts per channel. Again, that 300 wpc rating is only available with an updated power adapter and the manual does not state what the actual rating is with the supplied adapter in the box.
I noticed a slight improvement with sound when using the TB10D, but it’s not enough to cancel out the convenience of the bluetooth connection on the BT20A, which leads me to my next big difference.
If having a bluetooth connection so you can stream music is a top priority for you, the BT20A should be your choice as the TB10D does not offer that connectivity.
Should You Buy The Fosi Audio TB10D Amp?
I believe these little class D amps are becoming the future of HiFi.
The low price point and large detailed sound will immediately appeal to beginners to hifi, people who are just starting their audio journey.
These little amps are like gateway drugs for newcomers, allowing them to get into audio at a great price and hopefully encourage them to buy more hifi gear later on in life.
I talk a lot more about this in my YouTube video review of this little amp:
So, if you are someone just beginning on this audio journey, you will be pleasantly surprised with this little amp.
But, as I mentioned in my review of the BT20A, I would not buy this specifically for critical hifi listening.
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