In this review, we will be comparing FA501iC and FA302iC, two Passive In-wall speakers by Fyne Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Fyne Audio FA501iC and Fyne Audio FA302iC first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Fyne Audio FA501iC | Fyne Audio FA302iC |
|---|
| Brand | Fyne Audio
United Kingdom · founded 2017 | Fyne Audio
United Kingdom · founded 2017 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Woofer | 6" | 8" |
|---|
| Frequency response | 40-34k Hz | 37-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | — | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30 - 125 W watts | 25 - 120 W watts |
|---|
| Weight | 2.27kg / 5lbs | 2.13kg / 4.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 8-13/16" x 8-13/16" x 4"
224.0 x 224.0 x 101.0mm | 10-3/4" x 10-3/4" x 4-1/2"
273.0 x 273.0 x 115.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Fyne Audio FA501iC and Fyne Audio FA302iC 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 FA501iC |
Fyne Audio FA302iC |
| 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 FA501iC and FA302iC are 2-way speakers.
Fyne Audio FA501iCFyne Audio FA302iC
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 FA501iC |
Fyne Audio FA302iC |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
x 6-inch
|
x 8-inch
|
FA501iC features a " Tweeter and x 6" Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1700 Hz. On the other hand, the FA302iC features a " Tweeter and x 8" Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2800 Hz.
Frequency Response
FA501iC has a frequency range of 40-34k Hz whereas FA302iC has a frequency range of 37-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 37Hz, the FA302iC can go slightly deeper then the FA501iC's min frequency of 40Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the In-wall class in our database.
Low Frequency
In-wall 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.
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.
FA501iC can handle a max power of 125 watts RMS, whereas FA302iC has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 5 watts less than the FA501iC.
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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
FA501iC features Binding post type posts and FA302iC 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 FA501iC's and Fyne Audio FA302iC's external dimensions. Fyne Audio FA501iC has external dimensions of 224.0 x 224.0 x 101.0mm () whereas Fyne Audio FA302iC has external dimensions of 273.0 x 273.0 x 115.0mm ().
Fyne Audio FA302iC is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 49mm wider, 49mm taller and 14mm deeper than Fyne Audio FA501iC.
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 FA302iC needs about 39% more floor or shelf area. Fyne Audio FA302iC is 49mm taller.
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 FA501iC weighs 2.27kg / 5lbs and the Fyne Audio FA302iC weighs 2.13kg / 4.7lbs. This makes the FA501iC 7% heavier than the FA302iC.
Here is a comparison of how FA501iC and FA302iC's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive In-wall class.
Weight
All In-wall Speakers
 Max Input Power |
125 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 High Frequency Response |
34k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
224mm
vs
273mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
226cm2
vs
314cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
37 Hz
vs
40 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
Fyne Audio FA501iC |
Fyne Audio FA302iC |
| Brand |
Fyne Audio |
Fyne Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Passive In-ceiling Speaker |
Passive In-ceiling Speaker |
| Power Range |
30 - 125 W watts |
25 - 120 W watts |
| Sensitivity |
n/a |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
40-34k Hz |
37-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
|
|
| Woofer Size |
6" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
|
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
1700 Hz |
2800 Hz |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
224.0mm (8.8") |
273.0mm (10.7") |
| Width |
224.0mm (8.8") |
273.0mm (10.7") |
| Depth |
101.0mm (4") |
115.0mm (4.5") |
| Weight |
2.27kg (5lbs) |
2.13kg (4.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
In-wall |
In-wall |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
|
| Labor Warranty |
|
|
Both are Fyne Audio, from different ranges - so the house sound is shared and the differences are mostly in scale, engineering and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Fyne Audio FA302iC digs deeper - 37Hz against 40Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (125W vs 120W). |
| Size | depends | Fyne Audio FA501iC is easier to place; Fyne Audio FA302iC is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($419 vs $419 a pair). |
A Fyne Audio FA501iC B Fyne Audio FA302iC
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 FA302iC has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. In a large or open-plan room, Fyne Audio FA302iC has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Fyne Audio FA501iC is the easier speaker to get right.
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.