This review delves into the FSY SP601 bookshelf speakers, scrutinizing their performance and sound quality through rigorous testing and analysis. Initial listening impressions were overwhelmingly negative, revealing a disjointed and muddy soundscape that defied easy diagnosis. The reviewer's attempts to optimize placement and eliminate wiring issues proved fruitless, leading to a deeper investigation using measurement data.This data unveiled significant flaws in the speaker's frequency response, including a mid-range cut, a boosted upper mid-range, and an extremely pronounced peak in the high frequencies. These inconsistencies, confirmed through equalization attempts, resulted in a harsh, sibilant, and unnatural sound signature. The review examines the speaker's specifications, including its drivers and power handling, and provides a detailed breakdown of the identified issues, exploring potential causes and limitations in correction through equalization. Ultimately, it assesses the speaker's overall performance and offers recommendations for potential buyers.
Pros And Cons
- Dog-friendly
- Effective at cleaning ears
- Helps with ear infection issues
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Initial Impressions and Listening Experience
Upon receiving the FSY SP601 bookshelf speakers, I was eager to test them. My initial setup involved placing them near the wall, then experimenting with different positions and angles. Despite my efforts in optimizing placement, I found myself consistently dissatisfied with the sound quality.
The sound was perplexing. Unlike typical speaker listening experiences where I can readily identify specific issues, here I was struggling to pinpoint exactly what felt off. It wasn't a simple matter of a few minor flaws.
This unusual listening experience left me questioning if there might be a problem with my setup or the speakers themselves. The audio presented itself as disjointed and muddy rather than a harmonious soundscape.
Troubleshooting and Measurement Results
To rule out any wiring issues, I meticulously checked the speaker connections, even reversing the polarity of one wire. This didn't resolve the problem, in fact, it worsened the sound stage significantly which confirmed the sound issue wasn't caused by improper wiring.
The mystery persisted until I reviewed the speaker's measurement data. The measurements provided a clear explanation for my initial negative listening experience. Various flaws became evident upon review of the data, including a mid-range cut, a dip in the upper mid-range, and an extremely boosted high frequency response.
This high-frequency boost around the 4-6kHz region accounted for the harshness and sibilance that I noticed initially. These combined issues contributed to the distorted, unnatural sound signature.
EQ Adjustments and Subsequent Listening
I attempted to rectify the speaker's deficiencies through equalization. I added a boost around 400Hz, and reduced the high-frequency response at approximately 4kHz. The process of trying different combinations of EQ settings proved itself an arduous task.
Despite the EQ adjustments, the speaker remained imperfect. The equalization, however, did reveal that the issues identified in the measurement data were indeed the source of the flawed sound signature. The EQ process highlighted and confirmed the issues.
The improved, albeit not perfect, sound confirmed that the issues found in the measurement data were, in fact, problematic. However, it also confirmed the limitations in fully correcting the speaker's inherent flaws.
Speaker Specifications and Sound Clips
The FSY SP601 is a two-way bookshelf speaker with a 6.5-inch paper/aluminum woofer and a 1.5-inch silk dome tweeter. Its specifications include an 80-watt RMS power handling, 4-ohm nominal impedance, and 85dB sensitivity.
Sound clips included pink noise to provide a baseline comparison against a modified pink noise that reflects the speaker's frequency response. The greater the deviation from the original pink noise, the more distortion and colorization present in the speaker.
These tests help listeners better understand the character of the speaker's sound, independent of the listener's own sound system.
Detailed Measurement Analysis and Comparison
The measurement data revealed several issues: a significant mid-range dip, a boosted upper mid-range, and a substantial peak in the high-frequency region (4-7kHz). These inconsistencies led to the speaker's flawed sound profile.
The speaker’s response fluctuated significantly from around 100Hz to 10kHz, resulting in an unnatural and disjointed audio experience. The comparison with the Triangle Borea BR03 (a model the reviewer disliked for similar reasons) was relevant.
The irregularities are most noticeable in the midrange, upper-midrange and higher frequency ranges. The inconsistencies make the sound unnatural.
Addressing the Issues and Conclusion
The primary issues with the FSY SP601 are its inconsistent frequency response and significant resonance within the enclosure. While EQ can partially mitigate the frequency issues, the resonance appears more deeply rooted.
Panel absorption techniques may be necessary to correct the resonance caused by the speaker's interaction with its surroundings. Furthermore, the speaker's distortion characteristics suggest potential problems with the tweeter and mid-woofer drivers, possibly compounded by crossover saturation.
The FSY SP601 exhibits several significant flaws that prevent it from delivering a truly enjoyable listening experience. While equalization can offer partial improvements, these improvements are limited. For those looking for bookshelf speakers with a balanced and clear sound, more robust options should be considered.