Fyne Classic F704SP Loudspeaker Review: A Masterpiece in Point-Source Audio

Experience the commanding bass and refined clarity of the Fyne Classic F704SP loudspeaker, a true standout in point-source designs.

A Grand Arrival and Powerful Presence

When the Fyne Audio F704SP arrived at my doorstep, I was downright thrilled. Having already fallen for the smaller F703SP model, the prospect of testing out its bigger sibling—with a 12-inch woofer—felt like unwrapping a treasure. The F704SP isn’t exactly King Kong-sized, but its sheer presence in the sleek piano-gloss black finish demands respect. Weighing nearly as much as I do, these hefty speakers arrive with a high-density birch-ply cabinet that's heavily braced inside to keep vibrations in check. Moving them required a small team, a clear sign this was no ordinary loudspeaker.

The jump from a 10-inch to a 12-inch woofer might seem subtle on paper, but it’s a game-changer in how the speaker performs. The larger woofer boosts efficiency while requiring a bigger cabinet to unleash its full bass potential. Fyne’s floorstanding models, from the F500 series to the flagship F1, use a clever twin-cavity bass-reflex design. This dual-chamber system is tuned to widen the bass-reflex frequency range and reduce cone strain. One chamber handles the mid-bass, while the other dives an octave lower for deep bass extension. The chambers communicate internally, and the lower one connects to the floor through a Tractrix-shaped diffuser branded as BassTrax™.

The Innovation of BassTrax™ and Tractrix Horns

Here’s where it gets really cool: the Tractrix horn profile—originally developed by Paul Voight in the 1920s—makes an innovative appearance in the F704SP as a port diffuser. This design smooths out the airflow in the port, eliminating annoying "chuffing" sounds caused by turbulence. More impressively, it converts the vent’s energy into a spherical 360-degree wave, allowing the bass to blend more naturally with your room’s acoustics. The diffuser sits on a sturdy aluminum base with adjustable cone feet you can tweak from the top.

Listening tests proved the theory in practice. Fyne’s dual-chamber system delivered deep, distortion-free bass down to about 30Hz, with a smooth in-room response above 200Hz that was musical and authoritative.

Engineering Excellence: The Heart of the F704SP

Dr. Paul Mills, the visionary behind the Fyne speakers, aimed to elevate the F704 to a special-production level with touches borrowed from the elite F1 series. Central to its design is the 12-inch point-source concentric driver, powered by an immense neodymium magnet. This driver marries a bass/midrange cone with a 3-inch titanium-dome compression tweeter. Titanium makes perfect sense as a diaphragm material because it’s light yet stiff—ideal for capturing fast, dynamic transients.

The tweeter rides on a waveguide with a smaller throat diameter to create a compression effect, operating cleanly down to about 850Hz and delivering lightning-fast speed and dynamics. Complementing this is a second 12-inch woofer handling frequencies below 250Hz, extending the bottom end with power and control. Both woofers utilize a fluted surround designed via computer modeling, which minimizes reflected energy and improves transient response compared to traditional surrounds. That stiffness means you’ll need to break them in for at least 200 hours to get the full sonic benefits.

Even the crossover network got a serious upgrade with high-grade ClarityCap capacitors, Vishay resistors, and cryogenic treatment — plus bi-wiring capability via gold-plated WBT Nextgen 0703 binding posts.

Perfect Placement for a Room-Filling Experience

This speaker feels at home in a medium to large dedicated listening room. Give it at least five feet of breathing room from the walls to unlock its full soundstage potential. The F704SP constructs a genuinely three-dimensional soundstage with impressive width and depth, a hallmark of its IsoFlare concentric driver design. This driver is time-aligned for a wide sweet spot, so you and your friends can all enjoy an immersive experience.

But physics always has the final say — above 10kHz, the tweeter tends to beam a bit. Tweaking the toe-in angle helps dial in the best tonal balance. In my setup, aiming the tweeters right at the listening chair was the sweet spot.

A Family Sound With a Bold Upgrade

The F704SP shares a DNA link to the F703SP, but the differences are night and day. The most striking upgrade is the bass — deeper, fuller, and more authoritative. Listening to the Charlie Haden/Jim Hall 1990 live jazz set, the bass lines felt powerful and refined, showing why a 12-inch woofer is essential for this kind of music. As the saying goes, "You can’t send a boy woofer to do a man’s job."

The midrange gained a new level of clarity and cleanliness, with less distortion. The F704SP feels more polished, moving through complex orchestral passages with ease. Tonally, the upper midrange is a little more relaxed, leaning towards a natural neutrality.

A Soundstage That Opens Wide and Deep

Point-source designs often create a vast sense of space, and the F704SP is no exception. It conjured a wide, deep curtain of sound that revealed intricate layers within the music, especially with tube amplification like the PrimaLuna EVO 400 monoblocks. Image outlines were sharp with no blurring, offering precise localization of voices and instruments.

Sometimes, multi-track recordings feel flat and artificial, but this speaker even managed to bring depth to those, revealing more than I’ve heard before.

Amplifier Pairing: Tubes or Solid-State?

The F704SP is happily flexible, pairing well with both tube and solid-state amplifiers. I tested it with two solid-state amps from designer Nelson Pass' lineup: the classic Threshold 400A and the boutique First Watt F8. The 400A brought remarkable bass punch, but I fell for the F8’s exquisite textural purity. Despite its modest 25-watt rating into 8 ohms, the Fyne’s 96dB sensitivity and friendly impedance made for a harmonious match.

Changing preamps with the F8 let me nudge the sonic flavor. A tube-rectified 6SN7 preamp emphasized 3D imaging and rich tonal colors. For the classic jazz album A Night in Tunisia by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, the Classé DR-6L paired perfectly, capturing fiery solos without harshness.

Detail Lovers Rejoice

If you’re a fan of catching every whisper and nuance in your music, the F704SP is a dream come true. It reveals details naturally without exaggerating highs or making transients harsh. The titanium compression tweeter’s speed and control bring out subtle textures, and you can feel the difference when swapping front-end components.

Recently, I compared two DACs—the Gustard A26 and Geshelli Labs J3 Pro, both using the latest AKM chipset—against my trusted Denafrips Terminator R2R. The F704SP showcased their differences clearly, lifting faint details that often hide in mixes.

Why the F704SP Stands Out

If you thought the F703SP was impressive, the F704SP takes it to another level. Both share a refined soundstage, impeccable transient response, and subtle microdynamic expression, thanks to their shared titanium tweeter tech. Yet, the F704SP’s enhanced bass authority and dynamic contrast make it truly compelling.

At its core, this speaker breathes life into music, stirring emotions and inspiring listeners. I loved the F703SP, but the F704SP has me absolutely ecstatic. Hands down, it’s the finest point-source speaker I’ve had the pleasure to audition.

Specifications & Pricing

• Type: 2.5-way, downward-firing port with BassTrax™ Tractrix diffuser, twin-cavity loading
• Sensitivity: 96dB (2.83V/1m)
• Nominal impedance: 8 ohms
• Frequency response: 22Hz–26kHz (–6dB typical in room)
• Drivers (Neodymium magnet system): HF: 75mm titanium-dome compression tweeter; 11.8” (300mm) IsoFlare point-source concentric driver; 11.8” (300mm) multi-fiber bass/midrange cone with FyneFlute™ surround
• Crossover frequencies: 250Hz, 850Hz
• Crossover type: Bi-wired, second-order low pass, first-order high pass
• Dimensions: 22.8″ x 53.3″ x 22.4″
• Weight: 157.6 lbs.
• Price: $25,999

Associated Equipment Used in Review

• Phono front-end: Kuzma Reference turntable with 313 VTA tonearm and Clearaudio da Vinci V2 mc phono cartridge; Revox B795 turntable with Audio Technica 440MLa mm cartridge
• Phonostage: PrimaLuna EVO 100 V2, Tritschler Precision Engineering Model 2200
• Line preamplifiers: Audio Research LS25 MkII, Pass Labs XP-12, Classé DR-6L, Klyne Audio Arts 6LE-4.3, Tektron Heritage custom 6SN7
• Digital front-end: Denafrips Terminator, Gustard A26, Geshelli Labs J3 Pro DAC
• Digital source: Qobuz streaming via Audirvana Studio software
• Power amplifiers: PrimaLuna EVO 400 monoblocks, Audio Research VS115, Threshold 400A, First Watt F8
• Cables: Kimber Select KS1016 & KCAG interconnects; 8N OFC speaker cable
• Accessories: Sound Application CF-X & TT-7 power line conditioners, Ideon Audio 3R Renaissance mk2 Black Star USB regenerator/reclocker

Final Thoughts: Ready to Elevate Your Listening?

The Fyne Classic F704SP isn’t just another speaker — it’s a statement of what point-source design can achieve. If you cherish a wide, deep soundstage, commanding bass, and razor-sharp detail without fatigue, this is the speaker to consider.

• What room size suits the F704SP best?
  Medium to large dedicated listening rooms work best, with at least five feet from the back wall for optimal soundstage depth.
• How long is the break-in period?
  Expect at least 200 hours to reach peak woofer performance due to the stiff fluted surround.
• Can it work well with solid-state amps?
  Absolutely. It pairs brilliantly with both tube and solid-state amps, including low-wattage designs thanks to its 96dB sensitivity.
• Does the bass really extend down to 22Hz?
  Yes, the twin-cavity loading and BassTrax™ diffuser enable clean, deep bass response down to about 22Hz (–6dB typical).
• Is bi-wiring necessary?
  Bi-wiring is supported and can enhance sound detail, but it’s not mandatory for great performance.

If you want to bring the breathtaking presence of the F704SP into your home, why not start by adorning your space with stunning album cover posters? Shop your favorite music artwork at our store here—a perfect complement to your sonic sanctuary.