FIIO SP3 High Fidelity Active Desktop Speakers (Black)

Product Information

If we focus solely on sound, then I can’t say that it is amazing and it isn't something that I have fallen in love with, but that does not mean it sounds bad, far from it. I have used it for many hours, with many different headphones (and a few speaker set ups), and I really don’t have any complaints about it, just that there are other combinations that I prefer personally. I think this competes with the majority of combo units out there that are priced at the same level or below. However, the price and unique range of functionality put it in a niche segment of the market - to the point the team of experts at What Hi-Fi? were left scratching their heads trying to think of a direct rival to the R7. Playing with the second harmonic functions, it does take away a bit of the coldness that is present in normal (level 0) mode, so that allows us to tailor the sound a bit more to our personal tastes if that is something we like, although I would say that it never really becomes “warm”. Dimensions, About 163x120x132mm (without base), About 170x120x132mm (with 0° flat base), About 182x120x132mm (with 7° elevation base)

The FiiO R7 is not something really new, there are already a handful of similar products, but it is so well designed and implemented that it condemns all competition to obscurity. As mentioned, gamers will enjoy this way more than the casual listener. I’d say that the overall playability of these SP3 speakers, with different sound types behind them, is very good.You can even abandon the built-in AC power supply for an external DC unit, although we found the sound output was perfectly clean straight out of the box. The FiiO SP3 comes with an external power adapter, a high quality 3.5mm to RCA cable, an interconnect cable between the two speakers and two sets of rubber isolation pads. The FiiO SP3 speakers are delivered with 7° inclined stands. These allow for optimal proximity listening, e.g. when placed on a desk. Furthermore, these stands are made of silicone and also act as vibration absorbers. The tweeter of the SP3 also uses silk as a design material to absorb unwanted sound waves behind the driver, further improving the sound qualities of the driver. In addition, a large cavity behind the tweeter's magnet allows the tweeter to reproduce frequencies down to 800Hz. Moreover, when the tweeter delivers frequencies higher than 20kHz, this cavity and the general design of this loudspeaker allow the release of unwanted sound waves and reduce the resonances generated by the movement of the tweeter. The result is a nice extension of the highs and a smooth and accurate reproduction of them.

The SP3's tweeter is precisely angled for lossless transmission of sound waves, while the horizontal striped pattern diffuses sound effectively throughout the room. This design enhances the perceived soundstage, making you feel like you're in a grand concert hall. The real feat here remains the tweeter though. With just 60cm of separation between the two of them on my desk, the small SP3 were able to produce an impressive soundstage, with a great “phantom speaker” in the middle. No need to turn them towards you, even oriented straight the speakers achieved wonderful results in that regard. I listened to Sound And Vision from David Bowie and even compared to my KEF LSX II – my reference in terms of small active speakers – set at the same listening volume, the FiiO won my preference. The SP3's 3.5-inch carbon fibre midwoofer outperforms its smaller counterparts in dynamics, soundstage projection, and overall sonic attributes. Its carbon fibre composition ensures rapid transient response and reduced non-linear distortion, offering an immersive high-fidelity listening experience. Disclaimer: FiiO sent us the SP3 free of charge, for the purpose of this review. In exchange, we’re going to give our honest opinion, as always. Don’t forget to sign up for the FiiO KA5 giveaway here. About FiiO For Bluetooth streaming, the device uses Qualcomm's Snapdragon 660 chipset and supports a wide range of AAC, SBC, aptX, aptX HD, LDAC and LHDC codecs.The innovative double-diffused S-shaped porting tube enhances bass extension and control, resulting in fast bass transients and superior bass quality. This design allows the SP3 to remain compact, maximizes airflow and reduces turbulence to reproduce deep, punchy bass. The SP3 treble, as mentioned, is tame and refined, so it’s smooth and enjoyable without being harsh or pokey on your eardrums. That means you can game in FPS and not worry about your ears bleeding. The Fiio R7 is an interesting device that got me curious when it was released earlier this year. While it could be simply considered a desktop DAP, it’s actually more of an all in one solution for both the desk and as a hub to serve other set ups that you may have at home.

There are a couple of things that stand out to me from these options. For example, the send screen option is pretty interesting as you can mirror the screen of the R7 on other devices, such as a Chromecast or other cast devices. This means you could, in theory, show the screen of the R7 in another room of your house. However, I say “in theory” because I have not been able to get it to see any of the devices on my network. I have many kinds of different devices that can receive casts (smart TVs, smart monitors, Chromecast, Fire TVs, etc.) but none of them can be found by the R7. Now, it’s possible that I am just doing something wrong (maybe probable rather than possible, as I didn’t spend too much time with it) but I played around with different settings and still did not manage to get it working. Focusing on the product quality itself, Fiio works hard to ensure that all of its customers and users to be just happy when using its products. Not only that, Fiio adheres strictly to ISO9001 standards as well as placing priority to get the lowest repair-related products return rate. All of these efforts showcase Fiio's attentiveness to details and its dedication to creating a truly enjoyable experience for its users. In addition, Fiio products are priced in such a way that many people can afford to own it because Fiio believes everyone should be able to experience music without any worry, frustration and fear. It is the little details that will make the real difference and Fiio takes great care in maximising the performance of its products by paying attention to even the subtlest of details that can ruin your experience and eliminate them. Produces Excellent Audio Equipment The FiiO R7 is the most innovative and intriguing product FiiO has ever designed, it points the way to the future and makes us wonder about the already announced FiiO R9.

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The alternatives are all physically larger and cost more. The Android UI would perhaps benefit from a little more out-of-the-box customisation to make the most of the large screen, and we’d love to see a remote included for convenience, but it otherwise leaves you wanting for very little. Outside of that, you get a few rubber placement guides that elevate the speakers, and also all the normal paperwork that includes the guidebook and promotional FiiO materials.