This article is based on an interview conducted by the Tech Walker editorial team, with founder and CEO Ryan (Huang Qinglong), who reflected candidly on his journey—from humble beginnings to building a global brand. The conversation was first published in Chinese on WeChat and has been translated and adapted for a Western audience.

Eight years ago, in a cramped 10-square-meter office in Shenzhen, two young entrepreneurs ignited a dream that would change the landscape of high-fidelity audio. Ryan, a passionate audiophile born after 1995, and his partner founded Foresight Technology and the now globally recognized brand: Fosi Audio.

Armed with two second-hand computers, a worn-out desk, and an unshakable belief that quality sound should be accessible to all, they set out to shake up an industry dominated by overpriced imports and subpar plastic sound. Today, Fosi Audio is a global name, selling in more than 150 countries and frequently topping Amazon’s HiFi charts.

Q: Take us back to eight years ago. Where did the inspiration for Fosi Audio come from, and what were those early days like in your tiny office?

Ryan: In 2017, I spent nearly every day buried in audio forums and roaming the audio stalls of Shenzhen’s Huaqiangbei electronics market, observing all kinds of audio equipment. What I noticed was disheartening: if you wanted great-sounding HiFi gear, you either had to shell out half a year’s salary on a major imported brand, or settle for cheap speakers with hollow, plastic-like sound.

One day, I saw an older man standing in front of a well-known amplifier brand, gently touching it for a long time before sighing and walking away. That moment hit me hard—why should high-quality music only be accessible to a privileged few?

That was when I made up my mind: I wanted to create a HiFi product that ordinary people could afford, something that would bring pure music within reach. So I spent all my savings on a set of international HiFi equipment, took it back to my rented apartment, and completely dismantled the amplifier and speakers. I examined every part, every wire.

For the next three months, I was obsessed. I lived in the library, researched online, asked questions to audiophiles and experts, and even dreamed about PCB layouts. Eventually, I realized that these so-called unattainable HiFi products weren’t as mysterious as they seemed. With enough care and thoughtful design, it was absolutely possible to build high-quality products at a price more people could accept.

My partner and I were so excited that we didn’t sleep that night. The next day, we rented a 10-square-meter office and began our Fosi Audio journey. It was so small, it barely fit one table, two second-hand computers, and our dismantled reference gear. The air conditioner worked off and on—during summer testing, sweat would drip onto the circuit boards like we were in a sauna. Our most valuable possession was a used oscilloscope. To save on shipping fees, we strapped our first prototypes onto shared bicycles and wobbled through the streets of Shenzhen to the nearest courier station.

I’ll never forget the time a sudden rainstorm flooded the office. Water leaked through the window and soaked half our circuit blueprints. My partner and I lay across cardboard boxes, scrambling to save the designs for our first amplifier. We looked at each other and laughed bitterly, saying, “If we actually make it, this is going to be a legend.” It was that attitude—charging forward even when we knew there were tigers in the mountains—that kept us post-95s going.

In October 2017, Fosi Audio released its very first product: the V1.0. Compact, powerful, and surprisingly high in sound quality, it took off on Amazon the moment it launched. Positive reviews flooded in. One user even commented, “To get this kind of sound at this price? Unbelievable!” That first success laid the foundation for everything that followed and solidified our belief that HiFi should be part of everyday life.

Q: As a young founder, what was the biggest challenge in the early days of your startup? How did you overcome it?

Ryan: When we started the company, it was only my second year out of university. I had no savings, and after visiting numerous banks with no success, I ended up taking out a microloan for 50,000 yuan and borrowing another 50,000 from friends—just enough to scrape together 100,000 yuan (about $14,000 USD) to get things off the ground.

What stands out the most in my memory was a supply chain crisis in 2018 that nearly sank our first major order. I was only 23, and most people around me doubted that I had what it took—they thought I’d give up easily.

But I was determined. Through open and honest communication with our client, we gained their trust, and they prepaid the entire order upfront. That gave us the funds to move forward. Then came another blow: a batch of components arrived that didn’t meet our quality standards. I was panicked—we risked losing our entry into the market.

To fix it, my team and I worked 48 hours straight, analyzing the problem, developing solutions, and troubleshooting every detail. In the end, we solved it and saved the order. That experience taught me something I’ll never forget: as a founder, you can never compromise on product quality.

What moved me most during that time was the spirit of the team. Everyone came together, united by a shared dream. That experience not only forged my own resilience but also deeply rooted the value of “quality first” into Fosi Audio’s culture. Even when faced with overwhelming challenges, our team has always kept user needs at the center and committed to meeting the highest standards for every product we build.

Q: Fosi Audio topped Amazon’s HiFi category in just two years. What was the secret behind that rapid rise?

Ryan: The key to Fosi Audio’s rapid growth has always been our deep focus on user needs. We’ve consistently used customer feedback to guide product development and relied on Amazon as a platform to iterate quickly and meet real expectations.

We treat nearly every Amazon review as a valuable suggestion. I remember one user mentioned that our power adapter was too bulky. As soon as we saw that, we created a dedicated task force to redesign it. That kind of responsiveness and respect for users helped us build a strong reputation, especially in the U.S. and European markets.

We’ve always known that marketing alone isn’t enough. We proactively engage with our users, regularly checking in to understand their needs and pain points—and we respond fast. That sincerity and openness helped Fosi Audio stand out in a crowded market and ultimately claim the top spot in Amazon’s HiFi category.

Q: The SP601 speakers and i5 headphones offer high-end sound at affordable prices. How does Fosi Audio manage this? And why is “HiFi equality” so important to you?

Ryan: Fosi Audio’s mission has always been to make high-quality sound accessible to every music lover. I’ll never forget the expression on that older man’s face—how much he wanted a HiFi system, and how disappointed he looked when he realized he couldn’t afford it. That moment has stayed with me and drives my team and me to keep investing in R&D and lowering production costs through technology.

During the development of the SP601, we built a 2,300m² R&D center and applied for over 20 patents. Through innovation, we made the sound quality comparable to systems costing tens of thousands of yuan, but kept the price within reach. I’ve always believed that everyone deserves to hear studio-grade sound—HiFi should not be a luxury for the few. Our goal is to give music lovers around the world the right to enjoy exceptional audio.

We believe that creating real value for users with sincerity will lead to greater recognition and loyalty. As more and more music lovers join us, I’m confident that Fosi Audio will continue to rise and become a true leader in the industry.

Q: Was there a moment when you realized Fosi Audio was making waves globally?

Ryan: Absolutely. Just last month, we returned from AXPONA—the most influential HiFi show in North America. There were more than 20,000 passionate audio enthusiasts and over 200 audio companies from around the world.

Fosi Audio took the stage with the theme “Building a New HiFi Equality Ecosystem for Audio Enthusiasts,” unveiling a brand refresh and several new products, including the SP601 passive bookshelf speakers and i5 planar headphones. It was our first time showcasing our all-in-one HiFi ecosystem to the world.

Every day, over 2,000 people came to our booth for in-depth listening sessions. What truly shocked me was that more than half of them already knew the Fosi Audio brand. Many shared how they were actively using our products, especially the popular V3 and V3 Mono. I didn’t expect that level of recognition—it honestly blew me away.

It was deeply moving, and it reaffirmed my belief that we must always put users first, continue creating value, and focus on building the best possible products.

Q: Technological innovation is at the heart of Fosi Audio. How do you balance cutting-edge development with the real needs of audio enthusiasts?

Ryan: At Fosi Audio, we’re passionate about pushing the limits of audio technology—but we’re equally committed to making sure that innovation truly resonates with the people who matter most: our community of audio enthusiasts. We don’t innovate for the sake of innovation, and we’re not interested in engineering as a form of self-entertainment. For us, the best technology is the kind that enhances the listening experience and earns genuine appreciation from users.

Take our V3 amplifier, for example. Its story didn’t begin in a lab—it began on the Audio Science Review (ASR) forum. We spent months talking to hundreds of audiophiles, listening to their frustrations, their dreams of perfect sound, and their real-world needs. Those conversations shaped the very first V3 prototype.

From there, we entered a relentless development cycle: lab testing, optimization, and real-world evaluation with the community. We built more than a dozen prototypes, each undergoing hundreds of hours of testing and feedback. I still remember one late night when a beta tester messaged us and said, “This is it! Warm tones, clear details—like hearing my favorite song for the first time.” That was the moment we knew we had succeeded. Our technology only truly shines when it brings someone that kind of joy.

Q: From your early 10-square-meter office to becoming a rising star in the global HiFi scene, people are curious—what is Fosi Audio’s scale and strength today?

Ryan: Looking back eight years, my partner and I were crammed into a 10-square-meter office with nothing but two second-hand computers and a pile of dismantled audio parts. Our dream was to bring high-quality HiFi products into homes everywhere. Today, Fosi Audio has grown from that little sweat-filled studio into a nationally recognized high-tech enterprise with a solid presence in the global HiFi market. Our products are now sold in over 150 countries and regions, reaching tens of millions of users across North America, Europe, and Asia. Every time I walk into our current 2,300m² R&D center and see our team testing the latest audio equipment, I think—this really is the continuation of that “legendary dream.”

Our strength isn’t just about market reach. It’s built on a foundation of technological innovation. We now hold over 100 global patents across audio signal processing, power amplification, digital audio decoding, and acoustic optimization. These patents are the result of countless days and nights of focused effort from our team.

Take our V3 amplifier, for example. Thanks to our in-house digital signal processing technology, it delivers powerful output in a compact form—yet the sound quality rivals gear costing tens of thousands of yuan. The SP601 passive speakers use patented acoustic tuning to give users a cinema-like immersive experience right at home. These kinds of breakthroughs are what allow us to keep delivering outstanding listening experiences to music lovers around the world. And we’re not stopping—we’re actively developing even more cutting-edge technologies and are confident that Fosi Audio can become a true game changer in the HiFi industry, redefining what’s possible.

Our production and supply chain capabilities have also advanced rapidly. We now have a modern manufacturing center in Shenzhen, supported by an efficient global logistics network to ensure our products can quickly reach users worldwide. From a 10-square-meter office to a global presence, we’ve built the Fosi Audio story with technological innovation and user trust—writing a HiFi legend of our own.

Q: As a “post-95 pioneer,” how has your generation shaped Fosi Audio’s culture and strategy? (“Post-95” refers to people born after 1995—in Chinese usage, it’s a common way to group generations by decade. For a Western audience, the closest equivalent would be late Gen Z, typically born between 1995 and 2010.)

Ryan: Being part of the post-95 generation gives us a natural advantage—we grew up with the internet. Social media isn’t just something we use; it’s woven into our lives. That background has shaped every aspect of Fosi Audio, from how we engage with our community to how we think strategically.

We don’t sit in a boardroom guessing what users want. We’re out there—on Facebook, YouTube, ASR, Reddit—having real-time conversations with our users. It’s not just marketing; it’s co-creation with the community. I’ll never forget a comment someone left on YouTube: “Fosi doesn’t feel like a company—it feels like a friend who understands me.” That’s exactly the atmosphere we’re trying to create.

Our culture is rooted in openness and passion. We’re young, so we’re not afraid to take risks or try bold ideas, but we’re also grounded—we believe in long-term thinking. Our team and our users form a creative family, constantly exploring what kind of brand resonates and what kind of products become unforgettable. It’s this curiosity, authenticity, and forward momentum that keep driving us ahead.

Q: Over these eight years of building Fosi Audio, what has been the most touching moment for you?

Ryan: There have been some incredibly exciting moments—like in 2023, when we surpassed 100 million RMB in sales on Amazon and held the top spot in our category for the entire year. That moment had the whole team cheering.

But the moment that truly left a mark on me came in the form of a thank-you letter from a user in Canada. I still get emotional thinking about it. He shared that he has a hearing impairment, and for many years, music had felt distant and muffled—out of reach. Then he tried our DAC, which uses our self-developed signal processing technology. For the first time, he could clearly hear the delicate pluck of guitar strings and feel the warmth in a singer’s breath.

In his letter, he wrote:
“Fosi didn’t just give me sound—it gave me back the beauty of the world.”
I read it at my desk, and I couldn’t hold back the tears.

That’s why our brand slogan is: ‘Hear the Unheard.’

It’s not just about chasing perfect sound. It’s about unlocking emotion, nuance, and connection—changing the way people experience life. That letter perfectly captures what drives us: listening to our users and putting their needs at the core of everything we do.

Q: What’s next for Fosi Audio in terms of strategy and planning?

Ryan: At Fosi Audio, we often say that great sound isn’t just about technology—it’s about emotional resonance. Looking back, every step of our journey has been made possible by the support of audio enthusiasts. Looking ahead, our strategy continues to center on one core idea: building truly valuable HiFi experiences for users through long-term dedication and craftsmanship.

We’re not chasing short-term trends. Instead, we aim to make the company more valuable—not just in terms of financials, but in how deeply the brand is trusted and respected by the audiophile community. We’re increasing our investment in R&D and diving deeper into user needs. We want to create products that not only serve today’s listeners, but will still matter to them years down the road.

Recently, during a team discussion about a new project, one of our engineers shared a story: when he was a child, his father had an old radio. Every time it played a familiar melody, the whole family would gather around it. In that moment, music became a bridge of emotion. That’s what we want our products to be—not just devices, but carriers of memory and feeling.

What excites us most is that the future of Fosi Audio will be more open than ever. We’re planning a global co-creation program, inviting audiophiles from around the world to take part in our R&D process. From product concept to prototype testing, their voices will be heard every step of the way.

We firmly believe that creating sincere value for users will earn recognition and support over time. Fosi Audio’s brand influence is steadily growing, and we’re confident that the next stage of our journey will accelerate exponentially. In the future, we don’t just want great sound to enter more homes—we want every audio enthusiast to feel that they helped create this generation’s HiFi legend with Fosi Audio.

·  FIN  ·

Original interview by Tech Walker, edited by Zhou Zhou. Translated and adapted for Western audiences by PMA Magazine.