In this review, we will be comparing F501S and A7, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Fyne Audio and Spendor.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Fyne Audio F501S and Spendor A7 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Fyne Audio F501S | Spendor A7 |
|---|
| Brand | Fyne Audio
United Kingdom · founded 2017 | Spendor
United Kingdom · founded 1969 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | — | 0.87" |
|---|
| Woofer | 6" | 7.09" |
|---|
| Frequency response | 36-34k Hz | 32-25k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30 - 150 W watts | — |
|---|
| Weight | 18.60kg / 40.9lbs | 18.00kg / 39.6lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 38.7" x 9.84" x 12.5"
983.0 x 249.9 x 317.5mm | 36.77" x 7" x 12"
934.0 x 177.8 x 304.8mm |
|---|
What size room are the Fyne Audio F501S and Spendor A7 speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
Fyne Audio F501S |
Spendor A7 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that F501S is a 3-way design whereas the A7 is a 2-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
Fyne Audio F501SSpendor A7
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Fyne Audio F501S |
Spendor A7 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
0.87-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
x 6-inch
|
1 x 7.09-inch
|
F501S features a " Tweeter and x 6" Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 250 Hz, 1700 Hz. On the other hand, the A7 features a 0.87" Tweeter and 1 x 7.09" Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3,700 Hz.
Frequency Response
F501S has a frequency range of 36-34k Hz whereas A7 has a frequency range of 32-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 32Hz, the A7 can go slightly deeper then the F501S's min frequency of 36Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
F501S and A7 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. F501S sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the A7's is at 88 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Fyne Audio F501S a more sensitive speaker compared to Spendor A7, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
F501S features Binding post type posts and A7 has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Fyne Audio F501S's and Spendor A7's external dimensions. Fyne Audio F501S has external dimensions of 983.0 x 249.9 x 317.5mm (38.7 x 9.84 x 12.5inch) whereas Spendor A7 has external dimensions of 934.0 x 177.8 x 304.8mm (36.77 x 7 x 12inch).
Fyne Audio F501S is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 72.1mm wider, 49mm taller and 12.7mm deeper than Spendor A7.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Fyne Audio F501S needs about 46% more floor or shelf area. Fyne Audio F501S is 49mm taller.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the Fyne Audio F501S is approximately 793.4cm2 / 123.0inch2 and base area of the Spendor A7 is approximately 541.9cm2 / 84.0inch2. The F501S requires 46% more surface area than the A7 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The Fyne Audio F501S weighs 18.60kg / 40.9lbs and the Spendor A7 weighs 18.00kg / 39.6lbs. This makes the F501S 3% heavier than the A7.
Here is a comparison of how F501S and A7's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 High Frequency Response |
34k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
2799USD
vs
6300USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Woofer Size |
7.09 inches
vs
6 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
32 Hz
vs
36 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
934mm
vs
983mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
541cm2
vs
793cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Fyne Audio F501S |
Spendor A7 |
| Brand |
Fyne Audio |
Spendor |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
36-34k Hz |
32-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
|
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6" |
7.09" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
|
| Tweeter Size |
- |
0.87" |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
250 Hz, 1700 Hz |
3,700 Hz |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
983.0mm (38.7") |
934.0mm (36.8") |
| Width |
249.9mm (9.8") |
177.8mm (7") |
| Depth |
317.5mm (12.5") |
304.8mm (12") |
| Weight |
18.60kg (40.9lbs) |
18.00kg (39.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
|
| Labor Warranty |
|
|
These sit in different price classes - Spendor A7 costs roughly 2.3x what Fyne Audio F501S does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Spendor A7 digs deeper - 32Hz against 36Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Fyne Audio F501S is more sensitive (90dB vs 88dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Size | depends | Spendor A7 is easier to place; Fyne Audio F501S is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | A | Fyne Audio F501S is cheaper - $2,799 against $6,300, about 56% less; arguably a different class. |
A Fyne Audio F501S B Spendor A7
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. In a large or open-plan room, Fyne Audio F501S has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Spendor A7 is the easier speaker to get right. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Fyne Audio F501S is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.