Sonos ERA 100: the new Sonos recently replaced some of my One at the house, thanks to their extended low range and dual tweeter system. On my desk, a pair of ERA 100 output a crazy wide soundstage, but head to head with the FiiO SP3, it immediately felt artificial, almost chemical. That said, the bass of the Sonos is a world above what FiiO has to offer and in my multi-room setup, I’d never exchange the ERA100, for the SP3. The sound is crystal clear and transparent with excellent source fidelity and at the same time the R7 has a very musical and engaging character that connects the listener with the music. So, I am sure that is why FiiO made sure their SP3 speakers here might be able to be run through a preamp so to speak, even though you don’t need the extra power.

The appearance resembles that of a desktop active monitor like the upcoming SP3 that FiiO has under development and from the photos it looks like that the R7 is going to be the perfect visual match. Again, while it wouldn’t be my first choice based solely on the music reproduction (because of personal preferences and not because it is bad), I could easily think of half a dozen scenarios where I could fit an R7 in my system, and many more scenarios where I would recommend it to others (in fact, I already did recommend it to a couple of people I know). steps of volume let you fine-tune even the most sensitive sets of headphones, with an ultra-low noise floor ensuring there’s nothing distracting you from the music. It has the oomph to drive just about anything through its balanced output, too. We used a pair of Sendy Apollo planar magnetic over ears, which performed with fantastic precision, but it also lets more affordable equipment like the Sennheiser IE200 IEMs sing. The device looks modern and will fit well on any modern style desk set up, while being small enough to even be placed on a small bookshelf or similar and not stand out. There are coloured rings around the knobs which change depending on the status of the device and add to the modern vibes of the device.Mids : great layering and good dynamic. Voices have always been good on FiiO players, and the SP3 are no exception to the rule. This is especially true with classic jams like the Beatles or Paul Simon, who love the smooth mids. Pair them with a good source, and the FiiO will reward you 10 times fold.

In terms of I/O, the FiiO SP3 is surprisingly conservative and you only get two inputs: a RCA and a 3.5mm line input. A layout that might seem a bit light for many users, as you usually get a phono in, and some digital inputs on this kind of speakers. They have less clean treble, are not refined, and are a bit harsh. The SP3 is refined, smoother, much lusher, and more enjoyable. The Bluetooth connection is stable and reliable but with so many options lying around the Bluetooth would be my last choice and I would use it only for transmitting music to a Bluetooth headset.Lows : lightweight. You won’t get the FiiO SP3 for the lows, and that’s a shame as you can get some really good low-mids when put against a wall, thanks to the bass-reflex. Still, if you expect them to match Neuman, Yamaha or even Triangle, you might be disappointed. Otherwise, you might get accustomed to the sound signature overtime Founded in 2007, FiiO is one of the pillars of the portable audiophile world, with companies like Astell&Kern, iBasso , or even Meze. IEM, headphone amps, DACs, and obviously DAPs, they did it all and did it well, filling each and every corner with an endless list of multi-awarded devices, like the K9 Pro, BTR5 , KA5, or the M17. In a ported speaker, the resulting bass frequencies are made by the bass woofer and the porting tube. The job of the porting tube is to further enhance bass extension and enhance bass control, for fast bass transients and overall better bass quality. Focusing on the product quality itself, Fiio works hard to ensure that all of its customers and users to be just happy when using its products. Not only that, Fiio adheres strictly to ISO9001 standards as well as placing priority to get the lowest repair-related products return rate. All of these efforts showcase Fiio's attentiveness to details and its dedication to creating a truly enjoyable experience for its users. In addition, Fiio products are priced in such a way that many people can afford to own it because Fiio believes everyone should be able to experience music without any worry, frustration and fear. It is the little details that will make the real difference and Fiio takes great care in maximising the performance of its products by paying attention to even the subtlest of details that can ruin your experience and eliminate them. Produces Excellent Audio Equipment The volume dial needs no explanation, but the output selector beneath it might. You can swap between headphones + preamp; just headphones; just preamp; or line out; the latter turns the R7 into a dedicated DAC, in case you’ll be plugging it into another amplifier. Headphones + preamp lets you hook up some active speakers or a subwoofer as well as a pair of cans.

There are a few things that Fiio could polish in the UI of the device but at the same time, I think that the multiple use scenarios put it in a position where it really doesn’t have much competition. The only other similar device that comes to mind is the Shanling EM5, which has similar functionality but is a different format (much larger and with the screen on the top) and is also more expensive than the R7. You can even abandon the built-in AC power supply for an external DC unit, although we found the sound output was perfectly clean straight out of the box. The product is returned in original condition (with brand’s/manufacturer's box, MRP tag intact, user The FiiO SP3 speakers are delivered with 7° inclined stands. These allow for optimal proximity listening, e.g. when placed on a desk. Furthermore, these stands are made of silicone and also act as vibration absorbers.Moreover, FiiO opted for a silk domed tweeter than a metal one, which some audio nerds, like me, feel breaks up the wave patterns in a more euphoric and less obtrusive manner. Scanning my test SD card from the Fiio Music app took around 24 minutes to read and load just under 10,000 songs on the R7, whereas the M11s did the same thing in just over 7 minutes.

Both devices (the R7 and the M11s) run Android 10, however, even though the R7 has the extra 1GB of RAM, I do find it to be a little more sluggish in use than I remember the M11s being. As this is a tour unit and I am not the first person to use it (nor have I reset it to factory settings), it is possible that some apps have been installed and are slowing it down slightly. I haven't seen anything that stands out and it is possibly just leftovers from previously installed apps, I haven’t really dug into it too deep, but I just find it to be a little slower. Not terrible but noticeable. However, the SP3 feels just as clear and clean, but also significantly smoother and more refined in tone. KEF LSX II: in terms of sheer power, subs and soundstage, the KEF remain a good step above the FiiO – which was to be expected. Add to that an extensive I/O, and the ability to link the two speakers wirelessly and the LSX II easily outperforms the SP3 in almost every aspect. But, once on my desk and volume matched, I tend to prefer the FiiO… the cleanliness of the highs, their small form-factor and the overall signature, everything concurred to seduce me. How? That is why I prefer to use a portable amplifier with a plug-in power switch (USB usually) that I can use as a DAC and flip a bass or treble switch to get more out of my YouTube and general PC usage. And for gaming, that route is highly recommended. Mids Noise : like many active speakers, the FiiO SP3 exhibits a slight level of noise when no music is playing. The good news is that noise levels do not increase with volume and even with the volume knob turn on to the max, only a faint ‘sshhh’ could be heard. Bad news, there is noise.

Designed to match the R7 aesthetics, the FiiO SP3 takes a lot from there siblings, which is a very good thing. The bass is percussive, dense, and at the same time restrained and whippy. They are clearly compromised in terms of texture variability and depth, but they are quantitatively verified, and their localization is clear. There is an elastic rebound, which, with the complete rubber stands, will also entertain you with vibration across the table. Well, at least not through the floor, the neighbors will survive. If you turn the control to the maximum, you can increase the density and duration of sustain on the midbass. If you remove it to a minimum, the bass will be more collected and fast, the rest of the range will be more neutral and thin.