In this review, we will be comparing F701SP and Reference 1 Meta, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Fyne Audio and KEF.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Fyne Audio F701SP and KEF Reference 1 Meta first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Fyne Audio F701SP | KEF Reference 1 Meta |
|---|
| Brand | Fyne Audio
United Kingdom · founded 2017 | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | — | 12th Generation Uni-Q |
|---|
| Tweeter | — | 1" aluminium dome with MAT |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 5" |
|---|
| Woofer | 8" | 6.5" aluminium cone |
|---|
| Frequency response | 35Hz - 34kHz | 45-35k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 85 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30 - 180 W watts | 50-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 14.00kg / 30.8lbs | 18.20kg / 40lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 18-5/16" x 10-15/16" x 15-1/2"
465.0 x 278.0 x 393.0mm | 17.3" x 8.1" x 16.6"
440 x 205 x 422 mm |
|---|
What size room are the Fyne Audio F701SP and KEF Reference 1 Meta 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 F701SP |
KEF Reference 1 Meta |
| Near-field |
Good |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
Average |
(* 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 F701SP is a 2-way design whereas the Reference 1 Meta is a 3-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 F701SPKEF Reference 1 Meta
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
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 F701SP |
KEF Reference 1 Meta |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
x 8-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
F701SP features a " Tweeter and x 8" Woofer. On the other hand, the Reference 1 Meta features a 1" aluminium dome with MAT Tweeter, a 5" Midrange and 1 x 6.5" aluminium cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 450Hz and 2100Hz.
Frequency Response
F701SP has a frequency range of 35Hz - 34kHz whereas Reference 1 Meta has a frequency range of 45-35k Hz. With a minimum frequency of Hz, the F701SP can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Reference 1 Meta's min frequency of 45Hz.
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
Impedance and Sensitivity
F701SP is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Reference 1 Meta which has a nominal impedance of 4 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Reference 1 Meta can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. F701SP sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the Reference 1 Meta's is rated at 85 dB. This 5 dB difference makes the Fyne Audio F701SP a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF Reference 1 Meta, 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.
Reference 1 Meta can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas F701SP has a max power handling value of 180 watts RMS, 20 watts less than the Reference 1 Meta.
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
Reference 1 Meta features Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. F701SP has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
KEF Reference 1 Meta's Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts terminals allows Bi-amping or 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 F701SP's and KEF Reference 1 Meta's external dimensions. Fyne Audio F701SP has external dimensions of 465.0 x 278.0 x 393.0mm () whereas KEF Reference 1 Meta has external dimensions of 440 x 205 x 422 mm (17.3 x 8.1 x 16.6).
KEF Reference 1 Meta is 73mm narrower and 25mm shorter than Fyne Audio F701SP but it is also 29mm deeper.
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 F701SP needs about 26% more floor or shelf area. KEF Reference 1 Meta is 29mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Fyne Audio F701SP 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 F701SP is approximately 1092.5cm2 / 169.3inch2 and base area of the KEF Reference 1 Meta is approximately 865.1cm2 / 134.1inch2. The F701SP requires 26% more surface area than the Reference 1 Meta 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 F701SP weighs 14.00kg / 30.8lbs and the KEF Reference 1 Meta weighs 18.20kg / 40lbs. This makes the Reference 1 Meta 30% heavier than the F701SP.
Here is a comparison of how F701SP and Reference 1 Meta's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
Hz
vs
45 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Price per pair* |
8999USD
vs
9000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
180 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
440mm
vs
465mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
865cm2
vs
1092cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Fyne Audio F701SP |
KEF Reference 1 Meta |
| Brand |
Fyne Audio |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
30 - 180 W watts |
50-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
85 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.2 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
35Hz - 34kHz |
45-35k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
|
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
aluminium cone |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
aluminium dome with MAT |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
450Hz and 2100Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
465.0mm (18.3") |
440.0mm (17.3") |
| Width |
278.0mm (10.9") |
205.0mm (8.1") |
| Depth |
393.0mm (15.5") |
422.0mm (16.6") |
| Weight |
14.00kg (30.8lbs) |
18.20kg (40lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
High-Gloss White/Blue, High-Gloss White/Champagne, High-Gloss Black/Grey, High-Gloss Black/Copper, Satin Walnut/Silver |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
No |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 years |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Amplifier needs | A | Fyne Audio F701SP is more sensitive (90dB vs 85dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | A | Fyne Audio F701SP is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (180W vs 200W). |
| Size | depends | KEF Reference 1 Meta is easier to place; Fyne Audio F701SP is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | B | KEF Reference 1 Meta: bi-amping. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($8,999 vs $9,000 a pair). |
A Fyne Audio F701SP B KEF Reference 1 Meta
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 F701SP has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. Match it to your room: we rate Fyne Audio F701SP the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and KEF Reference 1 Meta for a mid-size room and a large room. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Fyne Audio F701SP 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.