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FiiO, a brand renowned for its high-value personal audio gear, has again stepped into the active desktop speaker arena with the SA1. These compact speakers aim to deliver a high-fidelity audio experience for desktops, small rooms, and even vinyl enthusiasts, thanks to a surprisingly rich feature set. Do they punch above their diminutive size? FiiO’s first attempt at such speakers definitely did, and we rated them fairly highly. Now the new pair aims to do the same, and for a wider range of people. Can they succeed? Let’s dive in.
Priced at approximately $199 USD (it’s always a good idea to check current retailers for the latest), unboxing the FiiO SA1 reveals the main active speaker, its passive partner, the necessary power and speaker connection cables, a handy remote control (that’s new!), and typically a basic RCA cable to get you started, along with the user manual.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Design and Build Quality: Desktop-Friendly Elegance
The FiiO SA1 speakers present a clean, minimalist aesthetic, making them quite easy to visually integrate into most desktop environments. The cabinets are fashioned from high-density MDF, which lends a feeling of solidity and plays a role in their acoustic performance by helping to minimize unwanted resonances. The design, while pleasantly retro, is not as modern as the SP3, which I still liked better for their metal black case.
You’ll find the amplification, all the inputs, and the controls housed in the main active speaker, while the secondary speaker is, as expected, passive. Tactile physical knobs for volume, and often bass adjustment, are present on the main unit, which is always a nice touch for quick changes. A key appeal here is their compact footprint; they’re clearly designed for folks who don’t have a ton of desk real estate to spare (hey, that’s me). While they might not scream “ultra-premium luxury,” the build quality is certainly commendable for what you’re paying, feeling sturdy and well put together. That’s typical of FiiO speakers.
Read also: FiiO BT11 review: Lossless Bluetooth for iPhone users
Features and Connectivity: The All-In-One Desktop Solution
This is an area where the FiiO SA1 truly makes a statement, especially when you consider the price tag. FiiO has managed to cram an impressive suite of features and connection possibilities into these compact boxes. At the heart of their sound reproduction, each speaker employs a 3.5-inch wood fiber cone woofer and a ¾-inch aluminum-magnesium alloy dome tweeter. These are driven by Texas Instruments Class D digital amplifiers.
The versatility in how you can feed audio into the SA1 is a major highlight. For analog sources, you get an RCA input that can cleverly switch between a standard line-in and a Phono input – a fantastic bonus for vinyl aficionados, as it means you can directly connect a turntable (with a Moving Magnet cartridge) without needing a separate phono stage. There’s also a handy 3.5mm AUX input. On the digital front, a USB-C port allows for a direct connection to your PC or Mac, supporting audio up to 96kHz/32bit. If you prefer, Coaxial (up to 192kHz/24bit) and Optical (up to 96kHz/24bit) inputs are also available. And for wireless convenience, Bluetooth 5.4 is on board, complete with support for high-resolution codecs like LDAC, AAC, and SBC.
But it doesn’t stop there. If you want to bolster the low-end, a dedicated RCA subwoofer output lets you easily connect an active subwoofer. FiiO has also integrated a Digital Signal Processor (DSP). Through the FiiO Control app, available for both iOS and Android, you gain access to a remarkably detailed 31-band high-precision lossless Parametric Equalizer (PEQ). This opens up a world of sound tuning, allowing you to tailor the audio to your exact preference or even compensate for the acoustic quirks of your room. The app also comes with several preset sound profiles for different genres like Pop, Jazz, and Classical, including a “Monitoring” style curve, and lets you save your own custom PEQ settings. To round things off, an included infrared remote control adds a layer of convenience for adjusting volume, switching inputs, and controlling playback from your seat. It’s no surprise then, that they’ve earned both wired and wireless Hi-Res Audio certifications. The sheer breadth of options here makes the SA1 a true hub for almost any desktop audio source.
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Sound Performance: Punching Above Their Weight
Considering their modest dimensions, the FiiO SA1 speakers manage to produce a sound that feels surprisingly mature and engaging, especially when you’re listening up close in a desktop setting. They generally aim for a well-balanced sound profile with a pleasant touch of natural warmth, rather than a strictly analytical, flat response. This makes them quite easy to listen to for long stretches, and the extensive EQ capabilities mean you can really sculpt the sound to your liking.
The 3.5-inch wood fiber woofers do a respectable job with the low frequencies for their size, delivering bass that is punchy and reasonably well-defined, reaching down to a claimed 65Hz. For typical desktop use, this is often quite adequate, and placing them near a wall can give the bass a bit of a natural lift. However, these are still small speakers, so if you’re craving truly deep, room-shaking bass, or if you listen to a lot of bass-heavy music at higher volumes, taking advantage of that dedicated subwoofer output is highly recommended. Without a sub, pushing the bass too hard can, as you’d expect, lead to some distortion.
The SA1 delivers surprisingly good midrange performance, exceeding expectations for its class. Vocals, both male and female, benefit from commendable clarity, a pleasant presence, and mostly natural timbre. Instruments such as guitars and pianos offer decent detail and articulation, though some artificiality remains. While excelling at highlighting vocals in music, podcasts, or game dialogue, the sound can be a bit harsh at times, and ultimately, while decent for desktop listening, it doesn’t quite reach the level of a proper Mini Hi-Fi system. If you want something for serious listening, it’s not quite at that level.
When it comes to the higher frequencies, the aluminum-magnesium tweeters deliver crisp and articulate highs. You’ll hear plenty of detail, but they manage to avoid sounding harsh or sibilant, contributing to an overall smooth yet clear top end. Some reviewers have noted that you can do a bit of fine-tuning with placement; a slight toe-in (angling the speakers towards your ears) can brighten the treble a touch, while angling them outwards can result in a slightly darker presentation.
For near-field listening, the SA1s carve out a respectable soundstage. It might not be the widest you’ve ever heard, but they offer good separation between instruments and decent imaging, allowing you to pinpoint where individual sounds are coming from within the stereo field. This definitely makes for a more immersive experience than you might anticipate from such compact enclosures. With 20 watts going to each woofer and 5 watts to each tweeter, they have enough oomph for satisfying listening levels at your desk or in a small to medium-sized room. They handle dynamics pretty well, though they won’t give you the kind of visceral impact you’d get from larger, more powerful speaker systems.
The impact of the 31-band PEQ really can’t be overstated. It gives you the power to correct for problematic room modes, fine-tune the sound to perfectly match your personal taste, or even try to emulate the sound signatures of other systems. The “monitoring-style” flat curve preset is also a useful tool for those who are aiming for a more neutral, uncolored sound. It’s important to keep expectations in check regarding deep bass given their physical size, but FiiO has been smart to include that subwoofer out. When you do pair them with a capable sub and spend a little time with the EQ, the SA1 system can really transform into a very capable and satisfyingly full-sounding setup. Don’t underestimate the importance of initial placement either; elevating the speakers to ear level can bring a significant improvement in clarity.
Read also: FiiO DM13 review: CD Renaissance Is In Full Swing, And I Am Here For It
Who Are They For?
So, who would find the FiiO SA1 active speakers a good fit? They’re a good match for desktop audio enthusiasts looking to seriously upgrade from typical computer speakers, whether for a PC or Mac. Music lovers dealing with limited space in small apartments, dorm rooms, or for a secondary listening setup will appreciate their compact nature and a plethora of connection options. The built-in phono preamp makes them a fantastic starting point or a convenient option for vinyl beginners. Gamers and multimedia users will also benefit from the clear dialogue reproduction and decent imaging, which can really enhance gaming and movie-watching experiences. And finally, if you’re a bit of a tinkerer who loves to fine-tune and experiment with your sound, the extensive PEQ options will be right up your alley.
However, it’s also important to be realistic about what speakers of this size can achieve. Deep bass output is naturally limited without the aid of a subwoofer, which is an expected trade-off for their small footprint. If you try to push them too hard in the low-end at high volumes, they can, like most small speakers, start to show signs of distortion. Achieving their best sound can also be a bit placement-sensitive, so be prepared to experiment a little, perhaps with elevation or toe-in, to find what works best in your space. And while the FiiO Control app is undeniably powerful, it does introduce an extra layer of interaction that some users might prefer to avoid, even though the basic physical controls cover the essentials.
Verdict
In the bustling market of sub-$200 active desktop speakers, the FiiO SA1 emerges as a compelling option. They manage to successfully blend a compact, easy-to-live-with design with an astonishingly comprehensive feature set. We’re talking versatile connectivity that covers almost every base, high-resolution Bluetooth for quality wireless streaming, that valuable built-in phono preamp, and, perhaps most impressively, a powerful app-controlled 31-band PEQ that offers a level of control rarely seen at this price point.
While they won’t magically defy the laws of physics when it comes to producing thundering deep bass from their small drivers alone, they deliver a clear, engaging, and musically satisfying performance, especially suited for near-field listening. The thoughtful inclusion of a subwoofer output is a smart move by FiiO, giving users an easy pathway to build out a more full-range system if and when they desire.