In this review, we will be comparing F700 and F500SP, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Fyne Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Fyne Audio F700 and Fyne Audio F500SP first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Fyne Audio F700 | Fyne Audio F500SP |
|---|
| Brand | Fyne Audio
United Kingdom · founded 2017 | Fyne Audio
United Kingdom · founded 2017 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Woofer | 6" | 6" |
|---|
| Frequency response | 40-34k Hz | 42-34k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30 - 150 W watts | 30 - 120 W watts |
|---|
| Weight | 8.98kg / 19.8lbs | 7.98kg / 17.6lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 13.7" x 8.8" x 13.3"
348.0 x 223.5 x 337.8mm | 12.7" x 7.9" x 12.6"
322.6 x 200.7 x 320.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Fyne Audio F700 and Fyne Audio F500SP 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 F700 |
Fyne Audio F500SP |
| Near-field |
Good |
Good |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
No way |
(* 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
Both F700 and F500SP are 2-way speakers.
Fyne Audio F700Fyne Audio F500SP
Woofer
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 F700 |
Fyne Audio F500SP |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
x 6-inch
|
x 6-inch
|
F700 features a " Tweeter and x 6" Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1700 Hz. On the other hand, the F500SP features a " Tweeter and x 6" Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1700 Hz.
Frequency Response
F700 has a frequency range of 40-34k Hz whereas F500SP has a frequency range of 42-34k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 40Hz, the F700 can go slightly deeper then the F500SP's min frequency of 42Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf 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
F700 and F500SP have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. F700 sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the F500SP's is at 90 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Fyne Audio F500SP a more sensitive speaker compared to Fyne Audio F700, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
F700 can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS, whereas F500SP has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 30 watts less than the F700.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
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
F700 features Binding post type posts and F500SP 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 F700's and Fyne Audio F500SP's external dimensions. Fyne Audio F700 has external dimensions of 348.0 x 223.5 x 337.8mm (13.7 x 8.8 x 13.3inch) whereas Fyne Audio F500SP has external dimensions of 322.6 x 200.7 x 320.0mm (12.7 x 7.9 x 12.6inch).
Fyne Audio F700 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 22.8mm wider, 25.4mm taller and 17.8mm deeper than Fyne Audio F500SP.
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 F700 needs about 18% more floor or shelf area. Fyne Audio F700 is 18mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Fyne Audio F700 is 25mm 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 F700 is approximately 755.0cm2 / 117.0inch2 and base area of the Fyne Audio F500SP is approximately 642.2cm2 / 99.5inch2. The F700 requires 18% more surface area than the F500SP 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 F700 weighs 8.98kg / 19.8lbs and the Fyne Audio F500SP weighs 7.98kg / 17.6lbs. This makes the F700 13% heavier than the F500SP.
Here is a comparison of how F700 and F500SP's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Low Frequency Response |
40 Hz
vs
42 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Height |
322mm
vs
348mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
642cm2
vs
755cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1999USD
vs
3899USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Fyne Audio F700 |
Fyne Audio F500SP |
| Brand |
Fyne Audio |
Fyne Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
30 - 150 W watts |
30 - 120 W watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
40-34k Hz |
42-34k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
|
|
| Woofer Size |
6" |
6" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
|
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
1700 Hz |
1700 Hz |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
348.0mm (13.7") |
322.6mm (12.7") |
| Width |
223.5mm (8.8") |
200.7mm (7.9") |
| Depth |
337.8mm (13.3") |
320.0mm (12.6") |
| Weight |
8.98kg (19.8lbs) |
7.98kg (17.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
|
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
|
| Labor Warranty |
|
|
These sit in different price classes - Fyne Audio F700 costs roughly 2x what Fyne Audio F500SP 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 | evenly matched | Much the same reach (40Hz vs 42Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (89dB vs 90dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | A | Fyne Audio F700 takes more power (150W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Fyne Audio F500SP is easier to place; Fyne Audio F700 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | B | Fyne Audio F500SP is cheaper - $1,999 against $3,899, about 49% less; arguably a different class. |
A Fyne Audio F700 B Fyne Audio F500SP
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?
Fyne Audio F700 is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 95% more. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - Fyne Audio F500SP looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the Fyne Audio F700 appeals to you. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $1,900 saved by taking the cheaper pair would buy a subwoofer or a better amplifier, and either usually does more for the sound than the difference between these two.
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.