Fyne Audio F57SP-8 Centre Channel Speaker

The F57SP-8 is Fyne Audio's largest and most capable centre channel speaker — a 2.5-way design built around an 8" (200mm) IsoFlare point-source driver with a 25mm magnesium dome compression tweeter, a second 200mm bass driver, and an electromagnetically damped 200mm Auxiliary Bass Radiator (ABR). Frequency response extends from 42Hz to 34kHz, sensitivity is 92dB, and recommended amplifier power is 30–200W. It is designed to pair with the F502SP floorstanders and the larger F700 Series loudspeakers, where a centre channel of equivalent driver size and dynamic capability is required to match the front left and right. Available in Piano Gloss Black, Walnut, and White, it is sold as a single unit.

The distinction between the F57SP-6 and the F57SP-8 is the IsoFlare driver size — 150mm in the F57SP-6, 200mm in the F57SP-8. The larger driver gives the F57SP-8 its 92dB sensitivity (versus 91dB in the F57SP-6), a lower bass extension of 42Hz (versus 47Hz), and the dynamic authority to match a larger pair of front speakers without strain. If the front left and right speakers use 200mm or larger IsoFlare drivers, the F57SP-8 is the correct centre channel choice.

IsoFlare Driver Technology

The IsoFlare driver combines the bass/midrange cone and the high-frequency compression tweeter on a shared axis — the tweeter fires from the centre of the bass/midrange cone — so both drivers radiate sound from the same point in space. In a centre channel, where listeners are spread across a wide angle relative to the speaker, point-source behaviour is particularly valuable — the frequency response stays consistent off-axis in a way that a conventional arrangement with a physically separated tweeter cannot replicate, and the time relationship between frequencies does not shift as the listening position changes.

In the F57SP-8, the IsoFlare driver is a 200mm multi-fibre cone unit with FyneFlute surround, with a 25mm magnesium dome compression tweeter at its centre. A second 200mm bass driver (multi-fibre cone) is mounted alongside to form the 2.5-way configuration, and a 200mm ABR handles low-frequency loading without a port.

Auxiliary Bass Radiator and Electromagnetic Damping

An Auxiliary Bass Radiator (ABR) is a passive radiating cone — it has no voice coil or magnet, but is tuned to move in sympathy with the bass pressure inside the cabinet. It extends low-frequency output without a port tube. The F57SP-8's ABR includes adjustable electromagnetic damping, with selectable free-space and boundary settings — the same practical feature as the F57SP-6.

In free-space mode, the ABR is tuned for a speaker sitting away from walls and reflective surfaces. In boundary mode, the damping compensates for the bass reinforcement that occurs when the speaker is placed close to a wall, below a projection screen, or on a low equipment rack. The adjustment is a simple switch at the crossover and the difference is immediately audible in situ.

Crossover and Construction

The crossover divides at 250Hz and 1.7kHz — identical to the F502SP and F700 Series — which is why the F57SP-8 integrates tonally with those speakers. The cabinet is high-density MDF with internal bracing, measuring 270 × 760 × 340mm and weighing 19.8kg. The finish options — Piano Gloss Black, Walnut, and White — match the available finishes across the SP and F700 Series ranges.

Technical Specifications

Who Is It For?

The F57SP-8 is for the buyer building a large-format Fyne Audio cinema system — specifically one where the front left and right speakers use 200mm or larger IsoFlare drivers. It is the correct centre channel match for the F502S, the F502SP, and the F700 Series floorstanders. The 92dB sensitivity and 100W RMS continuous power handling give it the dynamic headroom to keep up with high-efficiency main speakers at cinema listening levels.

Those whose systems use 150mm IsoFlare front speakers should consider the F57SP-6 instead — which uses a matched 150mm IsoFlare driver and is the correct centre channel for the F500SP and F501SP. For those building with the F704SP or the F1-8 series, the F57SP-8 is the most capable Fyne Audio centre channel available at this time. The Fyne Audio SuperTrax super tweeter is a natural complement for those seeking extended HF performance across the full cinema system.

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-8 is available to discuss and hear in our Norwich showroom — call ahead and we will arrange a relevant system demonstration. Dave and Chris can advise on matching, placement, and the right ABR damping setting for your installation.

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.