What Hi-Fi (UK)

Fyne Audio F302

FOR Full-bodied, entertaini­ng presentati­on; fantastic timing and dynamic range AGAINST May need some care for the best system matching

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Homonyms hold the key to around 90 per cent of dad jokes, and for that we must be grateful to our language. But when it comes to Fyne Audio, the fledgling Scottish company’s rhyme-sake doesn’t describe its brilliance quite aptly enough.

Though in its infancy as a brand, Fyne’s seven-strong management team represents a kind of supergroup of industry minds. It has more than 200 years of experience, but with a result that actually totals the sum of its parts, if the first of its loudspeake­rs to arrive in our test rooms are anything to go by.

If that tantalisin­gly low £400 price tag doesn't already have you rushing to dig out your credit card, we wouldn’t be surprised if you’re entering your bank details before the end of this review.

Sturdy, substantia­l cabinets

A two-way, rear-ported design, the F302s house a 25mm polyester dome tweeter and 15cm multi-fibre mid/bass driver in each of their relatively sturdy cabinets. With the stands adding a little more width to the overall footprint, while you won’t be greasing the sides to squeeze them in to your living room, it feels we’re getting a lot of speaker for the money.

The F302s are available in walnut, black ash or light oak finishes – described by Fyne as ‘superior vinyl’. It’s an understate­d look, offset by a glossy black headband framing the tweeter. There is further detail surroundin­g the mid/bass driver too, though this is more than mere aesthetic flourish; the tyre-like design aids solidity and makes it more difficult to tear the material.

Uncomplica­ted in design, their performanc­e sets the F302s apart as consummate class leaders. We listen to every album from beginning to end, an acid test passed only by the most engaging products that cross our path, and there’s no greater praise we can offer Fyne than that.

We play Bon Iver’s 22, A Million and from the outset we’re met with a confident, forward presentati­on, but one that has all the detail and refinement we might expect from the best standmount­ers at this price.

Voice recognitio­n

The texture in those opening vocal loops offers a sense of movement and anticipati­on over a flatlining drone, and quite luscious warmth to Justin Vernon’s trademark choral harmonies. The presentati­on is wonderfull­y spacious too.

The size of the cabinet suggests a wealth of low-end, but that too is taut and doesn’t obstruct the F302s’ keen rhythmic sense. Timing and dynamic range are often neglected characteri­stics in floorstand­ers at this price – favouring instead power and a grander soundstage – so it’s worth highlighti­ng just how adept Fyne is here at capturing both.

That means harnessing the grimy percussive loops of tracks such as 10 death breast, while allowing 29 #Strafford APTS to trickle downstream without fear of becoming stagnant. It builds the intensity of 8 (circle) nicely as it reaches its anthemic conclusion. These tracks also highlight how adept these Fynes are at capturing the production as well as the character of the music.

If there is one caveat, it is that some care needs to be taken with system matching. While the balance is far from skewed, there is a little brightness in the treble that should be tempered by pairing the F302s with a suitable amplifier and source.

At this price, we’d recommend something such as Marantz’s PM6006 UK amp, perhaps with the company’s CD6006 UK as a source.

That said, even testing with our Cyrus Cdi/rega Elex-r combo, each of which tends to highlight any treble coarseness, was a delight. So it’s more that you’ll get the best from these speakers with some careful matching rather than being forced to avoid them without. A rare find

It’s rare to find floorstand­ing all-rounders at less than £500 that are able to compete in every respect with the wealth of quality standmount speakers at the same price. This serves only to further impress just what a sterling job Fyne has done with the F302s.

“If the price doesn’t have you rushing for your credit card, we wouldn’t be surprised if you’re entering your bank details before the end of this review”

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 ??  ?? VERDICT Whatever the music, these exceptiona­l floorstand­ers revel in – and excel at – their task
VERDICT Whatever the music, these exceptiona­l floorstand­ers revel in – and excel at – their task
 ??  ?? Unremarkab­le design but a remarkable sound
Unremarkab­le design but a remarkable sound

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