Fyne F5E or...what?

[blackstrat]

I'd like to replace my Tesi 241s with something better. These speakers have a very high quality/price ratio, but after more than 10 years, I think it's time for an upgrade.
I had the opportunity to listen to the Fyne Audio F5Es in the store and was amazed by their overall balance and clarity. Clarity doesn't mean a lack of body and depth, but rather the ability to reproduce correctly all the instruments in the mix. The concentric design paired with a bass-reflex port aiming down seem like a very effective solution.

I would use them in a 2.1 home theater system with an 8" powered subwoofer, but I wouldn't rule out purchasing a network streamer soon (Wiim Pro or Wiim Ultra) to listen to streaming music.
Has anyone had a chance to listen to them or even own them? What do you think? I read that they are the successors to the Tannoy, bought by a Chinese holding company, but I've never owned Tannoy speakers so I can't make a direct comparison and say how much they remind me of old Tannoys.
Are there any good alternatives of the same type, i.e. compact bookshelf speakers with 4-5" woofer?

 

[DanielT]

I read that they are the successors to the Tannoy,...

The founders come from Tannoy:


But some Englishman, maybe even a Scotsman, can tell you more about that.

I have a pair of vintage Tannoy coax. Surprisingly nice. Not the smoothest FR but I can smooth it out via Wiim PEQ (manually or automatically). You can also do that after you bought Wiim. EQ, especially for the subwoofer where your room influence causes a roller coaster bass FR response (check:The Schroeder frequency).
WiiM Ultra is good if you are going to plug in a subwoofer because it has bass management functionality:


WiiM Pro does not have bass management functionality as far as I know.

Regarding Fyne Audio F5E. I haven't heard them but if you like them, buy them. There are of course other bookshelf speakers in about the same price range, which we also know how they measure (if that interests you?). I don't know how Fyne Audio F5E measures. If that doesn't interest you, then there is nothing to worry about.
Just keep in mind that a coppy FR can be a crush that quickly passes.

 

[komhst]

WiiM Pro does not have bass management functionality as far as I know.

Even WiiM mini has parametric equalizer and auto room correction...

 

[DanielT]

Even WiiM mini has parametric equalizer and auto room correction...

I know. That's exactly why I bought a WiiM Mini a few months ago,.. but it doesn't have:

 

[blackstrat]

I read that they are the successors to the Tannoy,...

The founders come from Tannoy:
View attachment 485738

But some Englishman, maybe even a Scotsman, can tell you more about that.

I have a pair of vintage Tannoy coax. Surprisingly nice. Not the smoothest FR but I can smooth it out via Wiim PEQ (manually or automatically). You can also do that after you bought Wiim. EQ, especially for the subwoofer where your room influence causes a roller coaster bass FR response (check:The Schroeder frequency).
WiiM Ultra is good if you are going to plug in a subwoofer because it has bass management functionality:
View attachment 485739

WiiM Pro does not have bass management functionality as far as I know.

Regarding Fyne Audio F5E. I haven't heard them but if you like them, buy them. There are of course other bookshelf speakers in about the same price range, which we also know how they measure (if that interests you?). I don't know how Fyne Audio F5E measures. If that doesn't interest you, then there is nothing to worry about.
Just keep in mind that a coppy FR can be a crush that quickly passes.

I'll buy the Wiim later, I want to focus on the speakers for the moment, but how do you do room correction without a microphone and testing software? You have to guess....

Yes, I'm obviously considering alternatives, especially since I don't replace speakers every six months, so before buying I want to carefully evaluate what's available on the current market. Don't be shy with suggestions.
PS: coppy??

 

[DanielT]

I'll buy the Wiim later, I want to focus on the speakers for the moment, but how do you do room correction without a microphone and testing software? You have to guess....

Yes, I'm obviously considering alternatives, especially since I don't replace speakers every six months, so before buying I want to carefully evaluate what's available on the current market. Don't be shy with suggestions.
PS: coppy??

I'll take up the automatic function now because it's the easiest to start with. You just follow the instructions. The PEQ settings are set automatically. You don't have to do that. Check here:

Optimizing Your Audio Experience: A Comprehensive Guide to RoomFit™ Room Correction

TABLE OF CONTENTS What's Room Correction The Benefits of Room Correction Room Correction vs. EQ Preparations for Room Correction Step-by-Step Guide to Room Correction Tips What's Room Correction Room correction is a process that inv...

faq.wiimhome.com

You do the measurement with the mobile phone's microphone. It works but it gets better with, for example, this one that you plug into your mobile phone:

Dayton Audio - iMM-6C iDevice USB-C Calibrated Microphone

iMM-6C iDevice USB-C Calibrated Microphone

www.daytonaudio.com

Dayton IMM-6 microphone setup and measurement

This is a reminder of the setup and measurement procedure of the Dayton Audio iMM-6 microphone used for WiiM Room Correction(RC). If RC supports IMM-6, this might be useful to someone. Please allow me to post in the request thread with the expectation of IMM-6 support. The IMM-6 series is...

forum.wiimhome.com

Yes, I'm obviously considering alternatives, especially since I don't replace speakers every six months, so before buying I want to carefully evaluate what's available on the current market. Don't be shy with suggestions.
PS: coppy??

Here are some suggestions:

Passive Speaker Recommendations for USA (by @sweetchaos)

I'm constantly asked which speakers to purchase...so, here you go! :D This guide is for PASSIVE speakers. For ACTIVE speakers go here. Click on the "Spoiler" buttons below to expand each section. Readme: Legend: Never Buy This Brand: Passive Bookshelf Speakers: Passive...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Here are two manufacturers that have popped up recently. Both have received good reviews for their speakers:

AsciLab F6Bs Speaker Review

This is a review, detailed measurements, EQ and listening test of AsciLab F6Bs bookshelf/surround speaker. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $575 [now $725 with shipping included] for a pair. This is an absolutely gorgeous design! It feels that way as well with a solid cabinet that...

www.audiosciencereview.com

+

Audio First Fidelia (Kit Speaker) Review

Audio First Fidelia Review

www.erinsaudiocorner.com

By the way. If you have any questions for the manufacturer of the Fidelia, Harry from Audio First Design is here from time to time:

Cadentia 3 Product Development thread / Audio First Designs

Hi everyone, some of you might have seen my replies in the Fidelia DIY kit thread about a new 3-way product Cadentia 3. I reckon it would be better to move the topic over here, put in a post specifically about it. Here is the very first prototype that went up to my Klippel NFS for the...

www.audiosciencereview.com

There is an instructional video on the website. If you feel like putting that kit together:

Fidelia (Kit) — Audio First Designs

audiofirstdesigns.uk

Active?:

Audio Smile LBM Monitor Review

This is a review, listening tests, EQ and detailed measurements of the Audio Smile Little British Monitor (LBM) Active Speaker (Monitor). It was sent to me by the company and costs £529.00 (VAT Excluded). Kit version is available for £349.00. As a woodworker, I appreciate how the baltic birch...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Marin]

I'd like to replace my Tesi 241s with something better. These speakers have a very high quality/price ratio, but after more than 10 years, I think it's time for an upgrade.
I had the opportunity to listen to the Fyne Audio F5Es in the store and was amazed by their overall balance and clarity. Clarity doesn't mean a lack of body and depth, but rather the ability to reproduce correctly all the instruments in the mix. The concentric design paired with a bass-reflex port aiming down seem like a very effective solution.

I would use them in a 2.1 home theater system with an 8" powered subwoofer, but I wouldn't rule out purchasing a network streamer soon (Wiim Pro or Wiim Ultra) to listen to streaming music.
Has anyone had a chance to listen to them or even own them? What do you think? I read that they are the successors to the Tannoy, bought by a Chinese holding company, but I've never owned Tannoy speakers so I can't make a direct comparison and say how much they remind me of old Tannoys.
Are there any good alternatives of the same type, i.e. compact bookshelf speakers with 4-5" woofer?

I wouldn't recommend this pair of speakers to a friend.
This is what the Poland magazine had to say about them
"the first place, there is a bright resonant sound, the tone is approximately 20 kHz.
Below 100 Hz there is a rapid drop in bass energy, which corresponds to the perceived experience. Declared 55 Hz at -6 dB, more like -12."
Here is some pictures

Red is coaxial speaker and green is "ports".
You can see that there is 4 holes in the bottom that doesn't do nothing.
They are not tuned to some frequency(usually around 40-80Herz range for this design) too extend the basse...
Instead they reproduce noice 15 db below primary sound

 

[Marin]

It's really hard to find good speakers in this price range....

 

[Defi]

It's really hard to find good speakers in this price range....

Measurements for speaker Genelec 8030C

www.spinorama.org

Measurements for speaker Dynaudio LYD 5

www.spinorama.org

Measurements for speaker Monitor Audio Silver 50 7g

www.spinorama.org

Measurements for speaker Ascend Acoustics Sierra 1 V2

www.spinorama.org

Measurements for speaker Neumann KH 80

www.spinorama.org

Measurements for speaker Klipsch RP-500M II

www.spinorama.org

Measurements for speaker Polk Audio Reserve R100

www.spinorama.org

 

[Marin]

I'll take up the automatic function now because it's the easiest to start with. You just follow the instructions. The PEQ settings are set automatically. You don't have to do that. Check here:

Optimizing Your Audio Experience: A Comprehensive Guide to RoomFit™ Room Correction

TABLE OF CONTENTS What's Room Correction The Benefits of Room Correction Room Correction vs. EQ Preparations for Room Correction Step-by-Step Guide to Room Correction Tips What's Room Correction Room correction is a process that inv...

faq.wiimhome.com

You do the measurement with the mobile phone's microphone. It works but it gets better with, for example, this one that you plug into your mobile phone:

Dayton Audio - iMM-6C iDevice USB-C Calibrated Microphone

iMM-6C iDevice USB-C Calibrated Microphone

www.daytonaudio.com

Dayton IMM-6 microphone setup and measurement

This is a reminder of the setup and measurement procedure of the Dayton Audio iMM-6 microphone used for WiiM Room Correction(RC). If RC supports IMM-6, this might be useful to someone. Please allow me to post in the request thread with the expectation of IMM-6 support. The IMM-6 series is...

forum.wiimhome.com

Here are some suggestions:
View attachment 485950View attachment 485951

Passive Speaker Recommendations for USA (by @sweetchaos)

I'm constantly asked which speakers to purchase...so, here you go! :D This guide is for PASSIVE speakers. For ACTIVE speakers go here. Click on the "Spoiler" buttons below to expand each section. Readme: Legend: Never Buy This Brand: Passive Bookshelf Speakers: Passive...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Here are two manufacturers that have popped up recently. Both have received good reviews for their speakers:

AsciLab F6Bs Speaker Review

This is a review, detailed measurements, EQ and listening test of AsciLab F6Bs bookshelf/surround speaker. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $575 [now $725 with shipping included] for a pair. This is an absolutely gorgeous design! It feels that way as well with a solid cabinet that...

www.audiosciencereview.com

+

Audio First Fidelia (Kit Speaker) Review

Audio First Fidelia Review

www.erinsaudiocorner.com

By the way. If you have any questions for the manufacturer of the Fidelia, Harry from Audio First Design is here from time to time:

Cadentia 3 Product Development thread / Audio First Designs

Hi everyone, some of you might have seen my replies in the Fidelia DIY kit thread about a new 3-way product Cadentia 3. I reckon it would be better to move the topic over here, put in a post specifically about it. Here is the very first prototype that went up to my Klippel NFS for the...

www.audiosciencereview.com

There is an instructional video on the website. If you feel like putting that kit together:

Fidelia (Kit) — Audio First Designs

audiofirstdesigns.uk

Active?:

Audio Smile LBM Monitor Review

This is a review, listening tests, EQ and detailed measurements of the Audio Smile Little British Monitor (LBM) Active Speaker (Monitor). It was sent to me by the company and costs £529.00 (VAT Excluded). Kit version is available for £349.00. As a woodworker, I appreciate how the baltic birch...

www.audiosciencereview.com

This is all either a DIY version or three times the money....

 

[Marin]

Wow, I had no idea they cost this much.

Here are some specifications

The filter crossover frequency is at 1.8 kHz, the high-pass is 1st order, and the low-pass is 2nd order.
Physically, these are cabinets that are 17.4 cm wide, 27 cm high, and 22.8 cm deep, and each weighs a modest 3.9 kg.(No bracing)

 

[DanielT]

This is all either a DIY version or three times the money....

Slightly different price points. Audio First in price parity with Fyne Audio F5e though.

Not from scratch DIY, but DIY kit. Some of them are also available to buy pre-assembled.

If you want a little coax and are willing to spend about $200 more than what
Fyne Audio F5e costs, we have these:

Kali Audio IN-5 3-Way Studio Monitor Review

Kali Audio IN-5 3-Way Studio Monitor Review

www.erinsaudiocorner.com

Active speakers, so sell the amp that powers the Fyne Audio F5e in that case.

 

[Marin]

Yes Audio First Fidelia is a great two-way speaker and it's a real shame it's not produced in thousands like the Elac debut and Wharfdale Diamond,The price would probably go down a bit.
Same goes for Cadentia my favorite here produced in series of 25,no wonder they coast 5000 dollars....
I'm talking of course about built speakers.

 

[DanielT]

Yes Audio First Fidelia is a great two-way speaker and it's a real shame it's not produced in thousands like the Elac debut and Wharfdale Diamond,The price would probably go down a bit.
Same goes for Cadentia my favorite here produced in series of 25,no wonder they coast 5000 dollars....
I'm talking of course about built speakers.

Wharfdale is a favorite budget speaker brand for me.
I have a pair of Wharfdale 220 Diamond. They together with subwoofer are a superb budget solution.

I also like my vintage Tannoy T225 Mayfair. Speakers with 10 inch coax and passive radiator. They measure in my listening room better than Fyne F5E. A bit fascinating considering they are around 45 years old.
(serviced, re cap of the passive crossover done)

Which of the two , T225 , 220, is "best"?
I don't know. It depends on what mood I'm in what I would say are the best of the two.
220 Diamond has more even FR, but with WiiM RoomFit it evens out between them so to speak.

 

[Marin]

Yes, very well-measured speakers and extremely good value for money if you paired them with subwoofer.
I have Elac debut F5 and he also benefits of subwoofer.
I believe your pair design Karl Fink and mine Andrew Jones and that's why they measure and sound so good.Very talented gentlemen who know how to design a speaker for any price point....
It seems that after a certain amount of money it all comes down to how many bells and whistles you want, but that's just my opinion.
Yeah bro that Tannoy is old school and better than my old Sony pair which is made of chipboard lol and has soft dome tweater)))... but love thad old school sound they have...
I honestly don't like EQ, I think it kills dynamics, and these aren't speakers that need to be adjusted in my opinion.
Each has its own charms.
The Elac has a slightly warmer sound than the old Sony's.....
Since you posted pictures

 

[DanielT]

Yes, very well-measured speakers and extremely good value for money if you paired them with subwoofer.
I have Elac debut F5 and he also benefits of subwoofer.
I believe your pair design Karl Fink and mine Andrew Jones and that's why they measure and sound so good.Very talented gentlemen who know how to design a speaker for any price point....
It seems that after a certain amount of money it all comes down to how many bells and whistles you want, but that's just my opinion.
Yeah bro that Tannoy is old school and better than my old Sony pair which is made of chipboard lol and has soft dome tweater)))... but love thad old school sound they have...
I honestly don't like EQ, I think it kills dynamics, and these aren't speakers that need to be adjusted in my opinion.
Each has its own charms.
The Elac has a slightly warmer sound than the old Sony's.....
Since you posted picturesView attachment 510432View attachment 510433

Each has its own charms.
That's the fun of speakers.
Audible differences that is. Within reasonable limits. I'm mainly thinking of differences in dispersion then. Too wanky FR and/or too high audible distortion rarely makes many people happy, however.

I believe your pair design Karl Fink....
Karl Fink or Peter Comeau. I don't know. If you're interested in what Peter Comeau has to say about speaker design, check out page 27, #538 onwards:

Audio Note speakers

He speaks about feedback to correct the speaker response. This is a totally different subject and much harder to achieve, due to the reaction time of the speaker. Don't confuse it with feedback used within an amplifier. Speaking of speaker-amplifier interaction with associated feedback. If it...

www.audiosciencereview.com

My subjective experience is that with relatively low powered speakers it is better with:

Non-Boost Mode

This setting ensures that the sum of all correction values does not exceed 0 dB, preventing distortion and clipping caused by excessive boosting.

In Wiims RoomFit settings than boosting certain areas.

Introducing RoomFit™ Settings

TABLE OF CONTENTS Target Curve Frequency Range Max Gain Min Gain Max Q Non-Boost Mode Built-in Mic Compensation External Mic Calibration Subwoofer Calibration Moving Mic Measurement (Beta) Smoothing Multiple Measurements (Beta) Ti...

faq.wiimhome.com

Without a doubt, that is the case with my 60 watt Tannoy T225 Mayfair.Fortunately, I rarely push them particularly hard (consideration for neighbors and all that).

Without a doubt, it is good to have a lot of power headroom , especially for the bass area, on the amp and speakers/sub if you are going to EQ and then play at a relatively high volume.

Edit:
By the way the new Diamond series are now available for purchase:

New Wharfedale diamond series out soon!

New Wharfedale diamond series out soon! https://www.wharfedaleusa.com/collections/diamond-12i Looks like minor changes with binding posts, crossover, finishes, and bass port for the main alterations.

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Chanur]

Each has its own charms.
That's the fun of speakers.
Audible differences that is. Within reasonable limits. I'm mainly thinking of differences in dispersion then. Too wanky FR and/or too high audible distortion rarely makes many people happy, however.

I believe your pair design Karl Fink....
Karl Fink or Peter Comeau. I don't know. If you're interested in what Peter Comeau has to say about speaker design, check out page 27, #538 onwards:

View attachment 510454

Audio Note speakers

He speaks about feedback to correct the speaker response. This is a totally different subject and much harder to achieve, due to the reaction time of the speaker. Don't confuse it with feedback used within an amplifier. Speaking of speaker-amplifier interaction with associated feedback. If it...

www.audiosciencereview.com

My subjective experience is that with relatively low powered speakers it is better with:

Non-Boost Mode

This setting ensures that the sum of all correction values does not exceed 0 dB, preventing distortion and clipping caused by excessive boosting.

In Wiims RoomFit settings than boosting certain areas.

Introducing RoomFit™ Settings

TABLE OF CONTENTS Target Curve Frequency Range Max Gain Min Gain Max Q Non-Boost Mode Built-in Mic Compensation External Mic Calibration Subwoofer Calibration Moving Mic Measurement (Beta) Smoothing Multiple Measurements (Beta) Ti...

faq.wiimhome.com

Without a doubt, that is the case with my 60 watt Tannoy T225 Mayfair.Fortunately, I rarely push them particularly hard (consideration for neighbors and all that).

Without a doubt, it is good to have a lot of power headroom , especially for the bass area, on the amp and speakers/sub if you are going to EQ and then play at a relatively high volume.

Edit:
By the way the new Diamond series are now available for purchase:

New Wharfedale diamond series out soon!

New Wharfedale diamond series out soon! https://www.wharfedaleusa.com/collections/diamond-12i Looks like minor changes with binding posts, crossover, finishes, and bass port for the main alterations.

www.audiosciencereview.com

What kind of volume do the diamonds get for home theater use with a sub? It seems like they are rated way lower than KEF Q series. Makes me wonder if one is rated with out distortion and the other isn't. If not that's really pushing me towards KEFs for a budget tv set up and I've never been a big fan.

 

[Marin]

It would be good to know the speaker model you are interested in.
Otherwise Diamonds are quite well constructed and robust for such an entry-level speaker series.
You'll have no problem reaching ear-bleeding sound levels if you pair them with subwoofer.
KEF's are three times more expensive and they need to be given a lot of attention.
I ruined mine just by cleaning the membranes
Otherwise, both KEF and Wharfdale prefer a nice flat frequency curve so that the response in the room has a flat descending shape.
You have to know that the Olive rating does not take into account the sensitivity of the speakers, their robustness and certainly not the distortion levels.

 

[DanielT]

What kind of volume do the diamonds get for home theater use with a sub? It seems like they are rated way lower than KEF Q series. Makes me wonder if one is rated with out distortion and the other isn't. If not that's really pushing me towards KEFs for a budget tv set up and I've never been a big fan.

With sub and Wharfdale 220 Diamond together with LP-HP filter set at 80 Hz I can blast pretty well.
So does Amir with the same type of setup:

And my usual high pass filter to get rid of extreme lows that just add distortion and not much more.

The 220 could also play very loud. The only problem is that the port makes very obnoxious rattling sound that doesn't come out of the woofer. This only happens at very high volumes and you only hear it if you are close to the speaker.

Wharfedale Diamond 220 Budget Speaker Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Diamond 220 from the British speaker company, Wharfedale. I purchased the set for this review from Amazon for US $199 including free shipping. The 220 comes with inset covers for each driver, giving it a classy look despite its low cost. Here...

www.audiosciencereview.com

I don't know if Amir used a sub in that listening session, though. I suspect he did, even though small bookshelf speakers and sub combos aren't really his thing, if I remember correctly.

I don't know anything about other models in the Diamond series but you can guess that they are roughly the same, observe I guess now.