Fyne Audio F500SP

LOUDSPEAKER

- KEN MICALLEF

In my April 2020 review of Fyne Audio’s inexpensive F301 stand-mount loudspeakers,1 I wrote, “The Fyne F301s impressed with their exceptional rendering of soundstage width and depth, reasonably wide dynamic range, extended low end (for their size), and exuberant, I-can’t-stop spinning-records presentation. The Fynes presented a finely layered, spatially convincing soundstage with images that were solid, if small.”

Upon receiving Editor Jim Austin’s assignment to review the Fyne F301’s big brother, the F500SP, an upgraded version of the company’s F500 model, I wondered if listening would reveal a house sound. Fyne’s bookshelf speakers share a similar look, and similar parts and design. But, while the F301s cost just $425/pair and the base-model F500s, $849/pair, the F500SP will set you back $1995/pair in gloss black or white, $2295/pair in walnut. The F500SP’s dedicated FS6 stands add $995/pair to the price.

Founded in 2017, Fyne Audio is the brainchild of several former Tannoy employees, including Dr. Paul Mills, the company’s technical director, who was formerly the engineering director at Tannoy; and Max Maud, Fyne’s sales and marketing director, who formerly served as Tannoy’s sales manager. “SP” designates Fyne’s “Special Production” speakers, which are made at Fyne’s Glasgow factory by the company’s “Special Projects” team, in contrast to the regular F300 and F500 lines, which are manufactured at Fyne Audio’s Asia facility. The SP line adds features found in the more expensive 700 line to the 300 and 500 speakers.