Fyne Audio F57SP-6 Centre Channel Speaker

The F57SP-6 is Fyne Audio's SP Series centre channel speaker — designed to sit at the front of a cinema system alongside the F500SP standmount, the F501SP floorstander, or the F700 Series. It uses the same 150mm IsoFlare driver and the same crossover frequencies as the F500SP and F501SP, which means the timbre across the front three channels is matched in the way that a well-designed cinema system should be. Built at Fyne's UK factory to the same standard as the rest of the SP range, it includes adjustable electromagnetic damping on the Auxiliary Bass Radiator — a practical feature that allows the bass balance to be optimised for the speaker's installed position.

The F500 SP — Special Production Series

The Special Production concept distils some of the very best components and engineering from across Fyne Audio's high-end series into more affordable loudspeaker designs. Designed and tuned by Technical Director Dr Paul Mills, and hand-built at Fyne's UK factory, the F500 SP Series brings much of the driver, crossover, and bass tuning expertise from the F700 and F1 Series into the more compact F500 Series cabinet design. The F57SP-6 carries that engineering into a horizontal centre channel enclosure, finished in Piano Gloss Black, Piano Gloss Walnut, or Piano Gloss White — matching the F500SP and F501SP finish options.

IsoFlare Driver Technology

The IsoFlare driver is the central engineering decision in every Fyne Audio loudspeaker. It places the bass/midrange cone and the high-frequency compression tweeter on a shared axis — the tweeter fires from the centre of the cone — so both drivers radiate sound from a single point in space. This point-source behaviour means the frequency response off-axis is far more consistent than a conventional design, and the time relationship between frequencies does not change as the listener moves across the seating area.

In the F57SP-6, the IsoFlare driver is a 150mm multi-fibre cone with FyneFlute surround, with a 25mm magnesium dome compression tweeter at its centre. A second 150mm bass driver (multi-fibre cone) is mounted alongside to form a 2.5-way system. An Auxiliary Bass Radiator — a 150mm multi-fibre cone unit — handles the bass loading passively without a port.

Auxiliary Bass Radiator

An Auxiliary Bass Radiator (ABR) is a passive radiating cone — it looks like a driver but has no voice coil or magnet. It is tuned to move in sympathy with the bass pressure inside the cabinet, extending low-frequency output without a port tube. The practical advantage in a centre channel application is that there is no port opening to position relative to a wall or equipment rack — bass loading is determined by the ABR's tuning, not by where the speaker is placed.

Adjustable Electromagnetic Damping

The F57SP-6 crossover includes electromagnetic damping on the ABR, with two selectable settings: free-space and boundary. This is a practical feature that genuinely affects bass balance depending on how the speaker is installed.

In free-space mode, the ABR is tuned for a speaker sitting on an open stand or shelf away from walls — the bass response is calibrated for an environment where there is no reinforcement from nearby surfaces.

In boundary mode, the ABR damping is adjusted for a speaker placed close to a wall, on a low equipment rack, or directly under a projection screen. In this position, the wall behind the speaker reinforces bass frequencies; the boundary setting compensates by reducing ABR output slightly, keeping the tonal balance consistent with the main speakers.

The adjustment is made at the crossover — a simple switch rather than an analogue control, and worth taking the time to compare in situ. The difference is audible and takes seconds to evaluate.

Crossover and Connections

The crossover divides at 250Hz and 1.7kHz — identical to the F500SP and F501SP. The filter topology is 2nd order low-pass and 1st order high-pass. It is a bi-wired passive low-loss design with Cryo-Lite treatment applied to the crossover components. The electromagnetically damped free-space and boundary settings are part of the crossover assembly.

Technical Specifications

Who Is It For?

The F57SP-6 is for the buyer building a Fyne Audio cinema system who wants the centre channel to match the front left and right properly — same driver technology, same crossover points, same voicing. It is compatible with the F500SP, F501SP, and F700 Series as front speakers, and the adjustable ABR damping makes it practical for the range of real-world installation positions a centre channel ends up in.

It is not a budget centre channel pressed into service. It is an SP Series component, built and priced as such, and the sonic difference between this and a mismatched centre is significant when dialogue is the reference. Those considering the F57SP-6 should compare it with the F502E LCR — a less expensive option suited to the E Series front speakers — and the F5E LCR for buyers building around the F5E standmount. The Fyne Audio SuperTrax super tweeter is a natural complement to any SP Series cinema system, and the F704SP represents the upper end of the SP range for those building the most ambitious systems.

Buying from Martins Hi-Fi

Martins Hi-Fi has been in Norwich since 1968. Elizabeth Gould runs the business today, and we stock only brands we have heard properly and stand behind. The F57SP-6 is available to discuss and hear in our Norwich showroom — call ahead and we will set up a relevant system for you. Dave and Chris can advise on matching, placement, and the right damping setting for your room.

Contact us at info@martinshifi.co.uk, call 01603 627010, or WhatsApp on 07554 687137. You can read more about how we work on our Why Martins Hi-Fi page. We are at 85–91 Ber Street, Norwich, NR1 3EY.