I’ve said it before, but it’s worth repeating: marketing is not my specialty. In fact, you could go so far as to say I have zero skill in that art. The latest evidence is the fact that I can make neither heads nor tails of Fosi Audio’s new slogan, which I’m seeing for the first time on the packaging of its BT20A MAX (from US$229.99, CA$319.99, or €239.99), which the company calls a “Bluetooth Stereo Power Amp,” but which is, in point of fact, an integrated amplifier with two line-level inputs and feature-packed Bluetooth connectivity.
Apparently, this new slogan, “Hear the Unheard,” was launched at AXPONA (Audio Expo North America) in 2025 as part of a brand revamp, and I’ll admit it’s catchier than the old slogan, “HiFi Made Fun,” but pedant that I am, I can’t help but wonder how any piece of gear is supposed to make me hear what isn’t heard. I’d rather hear audible things, thank you very much.
That said, Fosi has managed to build an incredibly successful hi‑fi brand from scratch in just nine years, becoming pretty much a household name in that tiny span of time, so it’s safe to say the brand knows more about selling audio gear than I ever will.
Whatever you want to say about slogans, I adore the brand’s new visual flair and how its aesthetic is evolving. I also really love the way the BT20A MAX’s design is featured front and—well, sort of—center on the box. From that alone, you get not only a sense of what the amp looks like and how it would fit into your décor, but also the fact that it has physical tone and volume controls and supports three sources. That’s as clear an example of “show, don’t tell” as you could hope for.
Flip the box on its side, and you get even more information about the amp at a glance, including a nice look at its back panel, which features the aforementioned line-level inputs (RCA), a subwoofer output, nice five-way binding posts, and a switch for engaging or disengaging bass management (a fixed 80Hz high-pass filter applied to the speaker-level outputs).
The back of the box also calls out some noteworthy features, including the reliance on post-filter feedback for more consistent frequency response, even if your speakers have roller-coaster impedance curves.
Pop the top of the box, and you’ll find the handy instruction manual, although given the simplicity of the BT20A MAX, it’s unlikely that most seasoned hi‑fi junkies would need to crack it open.
Pull up the top piece of EPE foam, and you’ll notice that nearly half the package is dedicated to the power supply and cord, giving you some sense of scale here. That top carve-out, by the way, houses the remote control—not a feature you’d necessarily take for granted in a $230 stereo amp.
Speaking of the power supply: if you’re wondering why I mentioned a starting price for the BT20A MAX instead of an MSRP, it’s because you have your choice of three different power supplies that affect the number on the sticker. Fosi shipped my review unit with the 48V/5A GaN power supply, which brings the total price to US$269.99, CA$389.99, or €279.99.
This is the option I’d go for if I were buying the amp for myself—the 48V because it unlocks the full power potential of the amp, and the GaN option because it should be more efficient and cooler-running. Fosi hasn’t published detailed specifications with the different power supplies in the equation, but needless to say, you’re not going to achieve anything resembling the specified theoretical max output of 180Wpc into 4 ohms if you opt for the least expensive 32V option.
With the amp and remote out of the box, you get an even better sense of scale, since I think pretty much everyone has a device of some sort that relies on this remote template. Give or take a few millimeters here and there, it’s pretty much exactly the same size as the remote you get with a WiiM amp, Apple TV, Fire TV, Fluance powered speakers, or any number of components from Aiyima. You can also see here that the exhaust vent for the amp’s cooling fan doubles as the product badge.
A more isometric view reveals that the intake vents are finished in the same metallic orange as the exhaust vent and volume knob. What you can’t see from the photo is that the bass and treble knobs have really strong center detents, so you’re not going to brighten or darken the sonic signature of your amp without meaning to. Not going to lie: I was also surprised by how nice the volume control feels in the hand, especially at this price point.
And hey, I know the side of the box already spoiled the BT20A MAX’s back panel layout, but it’s worth a closer look. I love the well-thought-out little touches, such as the slanted configuration of the speaker-level connections, as well as the unobstructed subwoofer output with nothing blocking it from above (although I might have put the HPF switch where the tone bypass switch is, but whatever). The inclusion of a 12V trigger is really nice at this price, and I love the robust Bluetooth antenna, which makes up for its compact size with a complete lack of that utterly snappable quality that plagues so many of its counterparts on other brands’ gear.
Will the stubbiness of the BT antenna affect range or signal strength, though? That’s one of the things I’ll be testing out, for sure, so keep your eyes peeled for my full subjective evaluation, coming in a couple of weeks.
. . . Dennis Burger
dennisb@soundstagenetwork.com
