MY PRODUCT OF THE MONTH
The turbo-charged F501s are one of the most entertaining pairs of speakers we’ve heard
Fyne Audio F501SP,
A special take on Award-winning speakers, these bring stunning excitement and energy to music
We’re big fans of Fyne Audio’s F501 floorstanders – these former Awardwinners remain terrific performers for their price (£1299). Despite appearances, the Special Production version we have on test here is a rather different and far more ambitious proposition.
The Special Production idea is to take an existing product and hot-rod it by implementing as much of Fyne Audio’s high-end technology as possible. The company’s engineers haven’t held back, as the price difference between the standard F501 and SP versions indicates.
A flare for timing
Like all of the company’s premium speakers, the F501SPS use an Isoflare drive unit array. The Isoflare array places the tweeter in the throat of the mid/bass unit, which allows a degree of time alignment so that the sound from each drive unit reaches the listener at the same moment. Additional advantages include improved integration between the drive units and more consistent dispersion characteristics.
The array used in the F501SP has a 25mm magnesium dome compression tweeter coupled to a 15cm multi-fibre mid/bass cone. The surround on the mid/bass (and the partnering dedicated bass driver) is fluted so that unwanted mechanical energy in the cone is controlled more effectively, leading to cleaner, more detailed results.
A downward firing port augments the low-frequency output from these drivers. The standard F501s have a wooden plinth and diffuser arrangement that the port fires onto, but the SP version takes things to another level. Here, it’s a highly engineered twin-level aluminium set-up, echoing the designs used on the company’s high-end models.
This downward facing port and diffuser arrangement is designed not only to produce deep and controlled bass, but also to make the speakers less fussy about room placement.
The F501SP’S drive units are linked with a new hand-built crossover network and the whole lot is connected with upgraded silverplated Van Den Hul wiring. Even the cabinets have changed; the panels using denser MDF and lined with three damping materials to control resonances. These SP floorstanders come in a trio of classy gloss finishes – walnut, black or white.
While these towers are fairly tolerant of a close to wall placement, they really shine when given room to breathe. Angle them slightly towards the main listening position to solidify their stereo imaging.
Energy providers
If you’re looking for excitement and energy, we can’t think of a better alternative at the price. Play Nirvana’s Nevermind and the sound erupts from the speakers, generating a sense of drive and attack that makes it hard to sit still.
These are relatively compact towers, but partner them with capable electronics and the deep, punchy quality of low frequencies is impressive. Kurt Cobain’s vocals come through loud and clear, and never get lost in the mix. These towers have enough finesse to texture his voice convincingly and capture the fire in his delivery.
Dvořák’s New World Symphony No.9 shows another side to the F501SP’S character. They have the dynamic reach to cope with the music’s powerful crescendos and the authority to do justice to an orchestra in full flow. It’s an organised presentation that pulls every instrumental strand together to produce a cohesive and musical sound.
Tonally, these Fynes aren’t the smoothest performers. That Isoflare array doesn’t tend to produce the sweetest highs or offer the even-handed neutrality of the best alternatives. But the F501SPS are more than acceptable in these respects, provided the partnering electronics are chosen with care.
The difference in price between the standard F501 and the SP version is huge, but so is the jump in performance. These are thrilling speakers that bring music to life in a way that eludes most rivals. If you’re contemplating a purchase at this level, make sure you have a listen before buying anything else.