FiiO SP3 High Fidelity Active Desktop Speakers

The FiiO SP3 are compact active desktop speakers that aim to make a small speaker sound grand. Each has a 3.5-inch carbon fibre woofer, larger than usual in this class, with a powerful asymmetrical magnet system, and a 1-inch silk dome tweeter that reaches 35kHz. A true 2-way active crossover feeds four channels of Texas Instruments amplification (30W × 2 + 10W × 2), all inside die-cast aluminium cabinets of just 2.35 litres. The SP3 is Hi-Res Audio certified, and the SP3 series has won awards including a CIHE EHA 2024 Gold Award, VGP 2024 Summer and VGP 2025 Summer awards, and Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity’s Best of Awards 2024.

A 3.5-inch carbon fibre woofer

Bigger woofers have a natural advantage in dynamics and soundstage, so FiiO used 3.5-inch drivers to give films and music real scale, even at higher volumes. Carbon fibre is strong, rigid and light: the low weight gives quick transients and the stiffness reduces distortion by suppressing unwanted vibrations. Each fibre is only 0.007mm thick, about a hair’s width, braided for a wrinkle-free diaphragm that resists cracking over years of use. A special damping rubber surround keeps vocals transparent and detailed and the bass fast and controlled.

To drive it properly, FiiO added an auxiliary magnet at the centre to form an asymmetrical internal and external magnetic circuit, raising the magnetic flux to 1.2 Tesla for a dynamic sound and lower distortion across the range.

A 1-inch silk tweeter

Where many desktop speakers use a ¾-inch tweeter, the SP3 has a 1-inch silk dome reaching 35kHz. Its KSV copper-clad aluminium voice coil keeps ultra-high frequencies uncompressed even at high volume, for detailed, natural treble that also sounds good off-axis. The soft inner dome absorbs unwanted waves behind the driver, a large rear cavity lets it play down to 800Hz, and the design releases unwanted energy above 20kHz to cut resonance. Magnetic fluid cooling and damping in the tweeter’s magnet help extend and refine the treble.

Waveguides for a wide sweet spot

The tweeter is angled for essentially lossless sound anywhere within ±15° off-axis, so you don’t have to sit in one exact spot, and the horizontal stripes in front of it spread the sound around the room for a bigger soundstage. The included 7° stands tilt the tweeters towards your ears, within the ideal 15° of the listening axis, and their rubber decouples the speakers from the desk.

A double-diffused S-shaped port

After dozens of designs, FiiO developed a double-diffused S-shaped port. Its small cross-section keeps the cabinet compact, the S shape keeps the airflow smooth with minimal turbulence, and damping at both ends reduces noise, for pure, robust bass that brings film sound effects to life.

True active crossover and four-channel amplification

As in professional monitors, an active crossover splits the signal before amplification, at 3.4kHz, chosen to get the best from both drivers. The second-order filter isolates the signals precisely, for less intermodulation distortion, no driver overload and more efficient use of power. Each driver has its own amplifier channel, from two Texas Instruments 3118 class D amplifiers with a low noise floor, and the power supply can deliver up to 100W, backed by two large 4,700µF Nichicon capacitors that minimise ripple.

Die-cast metal, lights and quality cables

The cabinets are high-strength die-cast aluminium with uniform internal walls to reduce resonance, and the horizontal stripes on the front reinforce them against vibration at high volume. RGB lights at the base show the status (blue for the RCA input, green for AUX) and, in use, can pulse through 24 colours; a button on the main speaker adjusts the effect or turns it off. FiiO includes a 3.5mm to RCA input cable and an 8-pin cable to link the two speakers, both monocrystalline copper with shielding, so you don’t need to buy extra cables.

Good to know

• This is the wired SP3, with RCA and 3.5mm inputs. For Bluetooth (LDAC, aptX Adaptive), USB-C, coaxial and optical inputs and app EQ, choose the FiiO SP3 BT.
• In the box: primary and secondary speakers, power adapter, AC power cable, 3.5mm to RCA cable, speaker link cable, two pairs of rubber stands (0° and 7°) and instruction manual.