FiiO SP3 BT review

If you haven’t heard of them, FiiO is a Chinese audio brand best known for producing amazing hi-fi equipment. Their modern SP3 BT speakers are diminutive, powerful and affordable, while still offering sublime sound and connectivity, making them a fantastic pair for PCs. What’s more, everything at an attractive price.

While you could call the SP3 BT a set of “gaming speakers,” they have a lot more personality and purpose than the established canon of desktop speakers with flashing lights and noticeably mediocre sound. Instead, because we approached them from the perspective of a company known for developing great audio speakers that can be used for general listening and gaming, it has an impact on the end result.

The end result is a set of speakers that sound sublime. They’re crisp and clear, with plenty of substance and power for a smaller set of desktop speakers compared to the monsters of other hi-fi giants like KEF. “Roundabout” by Yes, “Money For Nothing” by Dire Straits and “Get On Your Feet” by Gloria Estefan showed the extraordinary power of the speakers and the excellent soundstage, even if they were separated only by the 27-inch monitor on my 120-cm desk.

Roundabout also allowed the SP3 BT to flex its low-end muscles, with Chris Squire’s iconic, punchy bassline resounding beautifully with plenty of power, while the slow-building intro to Dire Straits’ Money For Nothing offered plenty of power with the song’s percussion and meaty riff Mark Knopfler.

While the low end isn’t as pronounced as other units, the SP3 BT still provided plenty of immersion in the gunfights of Counter Strike 2 or the cinematic goodness of Los Santos in Grand Theft Auto V. In fact, turning off the in-game radio and letting the hilarity of Los Santos happen flowing past me while I was sitting in traffic in GTA Online is one of my favorite things to do, and the SP3 BT captured it beautifully, especially with its excellent separation.

Of course, this only happened when I wasn’t involved in stupid shootouts with other players, and that’s when the FiiO speakers managed to demonstrate their immersion with bullets flying towards me.

However, where FiiO’s diminutive desktop speakers really shine is at the front-mid and high-end. Softer and simpler songs like Jimmy Buffett’s Migration and James Taylor’s September Grass showcased how well he handled vocals as well as the tone of the acoustic guitar present on both songs. It’s energetic listening, as if SP3 BT was supposed to be a pleasure. The minuscule cymbal sounds in Donald Fagen’s wonderful IGY were presented with precision, while Fagen’s brass section, synth and vocals were wealthy and velvety.

Moving on to audio, the SP3 BT offers excellent connectivity with a wide range of options including USB-C, 3.5mm line-in, optical, coaxial, and RCA. Since it’s a Bluetooth model, the FiiO desktop also features Bluetooth 5.0, while also supporting a wide range of wireless audio codecs with SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD, aptX LL, aptX Adaptive, and LDAC, all within the SP3 BT.

They worked flawlessly over a cable with my desktop gaming PC, or wirelessly with my Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, 16-inch MacBook Pro, as well as with high-resolution DAPs like the Shanling M0 Pro and FiiO’s own M11S. There’s also app control via the FiiO Control app, which lets you control EQ settings and install firmware updates, for example, although you can’t control the SP3 BT’s volume level. Volume is controlled via a diminutive knob on the back of the right speaker, and if you prefer more bass, there’s also a bass knob.

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They are also really well built and have an all-metal frame, which puts comparable models from more popular brands in the shade. The SP3 BT is made of die-cast aluminum and its units weigh 1.95 kg and 1.66 kg respectively. This adds up to a total weight of 3.61kg, which means they’re quite dense for a set of speakers with a capacity of just 2.5L.

Their ribbed front and side panels are tastefully reminiscent of much higher-priced cabinets, while rubber bases assist reduce vibration and keep the SP3 BT protected on your desk. The diminutive RGB lighting at the base is also tasteful. By default, it switches between different color combinations, although it also helps identify when the SP3 BT is in pairing mode or which wireless audio codec is being used when using the speakers wirelessly.

Then of course there is the price. SP3 BT $349/319 poundsThe starting price of €379 makes them more pricey than comparable models such as the SteelSeries Arena 7, while choosing without a subwoofer compared to the SteelSeries choice. However, I would argue that the FiiO sounds better with a more precise and clear sound, while its controls are much more accessible since they are on the unit itself rather than hidden in the subwoofer. They are also generally smaller and fit well on gigantic and diminutive desks.

The FiiO SP3 BT may not be a set of speakers you would initially consider for operate as computer speakers for gaming and music, but all things considered, these are great speakers at a reasonable price. They look great, offer correct and pleasant sound, and are versatile, with the welcome addition of Bluetooth connectivity compared to their siblings.

If you’re looking for a set of great little desktop speakers at an equally great price, the SP3 BT is simply wonderful.