If you haven’t heard of them yet, FiiO is a Chinese audio brand best known for making amazing hi-fi gear. Their new SP3 BT speakers are small, powerful, and reasonably priced, while offering sublime audio and connectivity, making them a fantastic pairing for PCs. Plus, all for an attractive price.
As much as you could argue the SP3 BT is a set of ‘gaming speakers’, they have far more personality and purpose than the traditional canon of desktop speakers with flashy lights and noticeably mediocre audio. Instead, it makes a difference to the end result that these are being approached from the perspective of a company known for making great speakers for developing audio that can be used for general listening and gaming.
And the end result is a pair of speakers that sound sublime. They’re bright and clear with plenty of body and punch for a smaller set of desktop speakers compared to the monsters from other hi-fi giants such as KEF. Yes’ Roundabout, Dire Straits’ Money For Nothing and Gloria Estefan’s Get On Your Feet demonstrated the speakers’ remarkable power and excellent imaging, even though they were separated only by a 27-inch monitor on my 120cm desk.
Roundabout also allowed the SP3 BT to flex its muscles with its low end, thanks to Chris Squire’s iconic, prominent bassline, which came through wonderfully with quite a bit of power, while the slow-building intro to Dire Straits’ Money For Nothing delivered big . plenty of punch with the song’s drums and Mark Knopfler’s meaty riff.
SP3 BT specifications
Frequency: 65 – 20,000 Hz
Drivers: 3.5-inch carbon fiber midwoofer with 1-inch silk tweeter
Weight: 3.61kg
Connectivity: USB-C, 3.5mm, optical, coaxial, RCA line in, Bluetooth 5.0
Relief: Addressable on the bottom of the speakers
Price: $349/£319/€379
While the bass isn’t as prominent as other units, the SP3 BT still provided plenty of immersion in gunplay in Counter Strike 2, or the cinematic goodness of Los Santos in Grand Theft Auto V. To be fair: The radio Turning off the game and letting the hilarity of Los Santos float past me while sitting in traffic in GTA Online is one of my favorite things to do, and the SP3 BT captured this beautifully, especially with its brilliant separation.
Of course, that was only at times when I wasn’t engaged in stupid firefights against other players, at which point FiiO’s speakers managed to demonstrate its immersion with bullets flying in my general direction.
However, it’s at the front midrange and top end where FiiO’s small desktop speakers really shine. Softer and simpler songs like Jimmy Buffett’s Migration or James Taylor’s September Grass showcased its ability to handle vocals, as well as the acoustic guitar tonality present in both songs. It’s an energetic listen, as if the SP3 wants to please BT. The little cymbal inflections on Donald Fagen’s beautiful IGY were presented with precision, while the brass section, synth and Fagen’s vocals were rich and smooth.
Going beyond audio, the SP3 BT offers excellent connectivity with a wide range of choices including USB-C, 3.5mm, optical, coaxial and RCA line input. Being the Bluetooth model, FiiO’s desktop wonder also supports Bluetooth 5.0, while managing to support a host of wireless audio codecs with SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD, aptX LL, aptX Adaptive and LDAC, all within the range of the SP3 BT.
They worked flawlessly over wired connections to my desktop gaming PC or over wireless connections to my Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, 16-inch MacBook Pro, and also with hi-res DAPs like the Shanling M0 Pro and FiiO’s own M11S. App control is also available with the FiiO Control app which allows you to do things like control EQ settings and install firmware updates, although you can’t control the SP3 BT’s volume level. Volume control is controlled by a small dial on the back of the right speaker, while there’s also a bass dial if you want a little more low-end.
These are also seriously well built with an all-metal frame that puts comparable choices from more mainstream brands in the shade. The SP3 BT is made of die-cast aluminum and weighs 1.95 kg and 1.66 kg respectively. Combined, that is a mass of 3.61 kg, which makes them quite compact for a set of speakers with a volume of only 2.5 liters.
Buy as…
✅ You want rich audio: the SP3 BT shines regardless of the content, whether it’s heavy rock music, singer-songwriter tracks or cinematic games with rich, detailed audio.
Don’t buy if…
❌ You want more low-end: As much as the SP3 BT offers a lot of detail, they lack a little bit of low-end compared to more typical gaming speakers, which might be more your problem.
Their ribbed front and side panels are tasteful, echo-like cabinets with a much higher price tag, while the rubber feet help reduce vibration and keep the SP3 BT safe and sound on your desk. The small RGB lighting at the base is also tasteful. It switches between different color combinations by default, although it also helps indicate 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. The SP3 BT’s $349/£319/€379 asking price makes it more expensive than comparable choices like the SteelSeries Arena 7, while it opts to go without a subwoofer compared to the SteelSeries choice. However, I would argue that FiiOs sound better with a more precise and clearer sound, while the controls are a lot more accessible as they are on the unit itself rather than hidden on a subwoofer. They are also generally smaller and fit well on desks large and small.
FiiO’s SP3 BT may not be a set of speakers you’d initially consider for use as PC speakers with both games and music, but they’re great performance for a reasonable price, all things considered. They look fantastic, offer accurate and enjoyable audio and are versatile too, with the welcome addition of Bluetooth connectivity compared to their siblings.
If you’re looking for a set of gorgeous little desktop speakers at an equally excellent price, the SP3 BT is simply great.