FiiO SA1 High Fidelity Desktop Active Speakers
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Small Speaker, Big Features
The FiiO SA1 Desktop Speaker is a feature-packed, budget-friendly solution for desktop audio. Available in two colors, I personally went for the white but the classic wood look with the brown is also very nice.It delivers an unexpected level of connectivity and for its size it delivers excellent performance. Its compact size makes it a perfect desktop companion, and when paired with a subwoofer, tuned some of the configurable onboard PEQ, it transforms into an excellent sounding system for a home working space or even a bedroom.
After a few weeks of intensive use, I think I can describe what is great about the SA1 and where it has some limitations. So hopefully this review will be able to give you some insights.
I would like to thank FiiO for providing the SA1 desktop speaker for the purposes of this review.
If you are interested in finding more information about this product, here
So first, let’s see what you get in the box.
Unboxing and Build Quality
The unboxing experience with the FiiO SA1 is straightforward but does come in a big box:
And the back of the box:
Opening the box you see some cables, the remote and the power supply:
Removing this top layer reveals the speakers underneath in their protective covers:
I specifically went for the white as I felt it would work better in a minimalist workspace setup and as you will see later I think it worked out nicely, but I did try it in a few different places around my house, I think my wife thought I was a bit crazy.
Upon opening, you find:
- Main Speaker
- Secondary Speaker
- Custom Infrared Remote Control (requires 2 AAA batteries)
- Power Adapter
- RCA to 3.5mm Audio Cable
- Main and Secondary Unit Connection Cable
- Quick Start Guide
If you set your expectations relative to its size, I think you will be ultimately be impressed, but there is only so much you can drive a tiny speaker without a little help but thankful FiiO does provide a few ways that you can decent sound from this speaker.
The Speaker itself
Driver setup:
- Woofer: A 3.5-inch wood fiber construction.
- Tweeter: A ¾ inch aluminum-magnesium alloy dome tweeter.
I do think it is a pity you cannot remove the grills easily- but I see those screws around each driver so will be possible to open this speaker up easily:
The right Speaker has the Volume which you can push to switch inputs, a bass boost dial and a power button:
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Bass boost dial
This bass boost dial is really just a simple way to boost the overall bass frequency, ultimately when pairing this with a subwoofer, I actually lowered this to the lowest possible value as I wanted to avoid pushing that tiny woofer too much and if you plan on playing this speaker even slightly loud without a subwoofer I would also lower this value as the bass does distort easily.But if you listen a lower volumes (especially in a small desktop setup) it will be ok to use dial to give the speaker a little bass boost and I do appreciate that this is a super simple way to give the sound a little bass boost without resorting to having to use the FiiO Control app to switch PEQ profiles.
The back and sides
The back of the Left side has nothing other than the cable connection from the right hand side:
The other sides mostly just have the very nice wooden finish:
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So you get an incredible extensive set of connections:
- Usb-c from a computer
- Optical input
- Coaxial input
- Phono or RCA (including a ground terminal) and a Photo/RCA switch
- Subwoofer output
- Aux input
DAC Input
When using it as a USB-c DAC options on my Macbook when using the SA1 you get a reasonable support with up to 24bit/96Khz:Specifically the supports up to 192Khz over coaxial:
- USB (Type-C, supporting up to 96kHz/32bit)
- Coaxial (supporting up to 192kHz/24bit)
- Optical / Toslink (supporting up to 96kHz/24bit)
Bluetooth support
You also get Bluetooth input you get LDAC from Android and AAC from IOS as well as the standard SBC protocol using Bluetooth 5.4. You can also control the SA1 over bluetooth from your mobile with the FiiO Control application, more on this application in a bit.Some setups
I thought it might be interesting to setup the SA1 in a couple of different ways:Small Working from Home - Desktop setup
This was why I picked the white colour as I felt it would go well in this room and I think it does and crucially both the SA1 and the JDS Element IV that was feeding it RCA output take very little space away from the desk:
It sounds great in this space, even without the subwoofer (which is hidden under the table) but especially with the subwoofer and some room correction PEQ configuration.
With some turntables
I thought I would test both the Phono and RCA inputs with 2 different turntables my old Audio Technica which is now in my converted garage space and the new FiiO TT13:
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With the TT13 in this much larger space, I definitely needed that subwoofer next to the table, but I did quiet a few measurements which I will present later in this setup.
Features
I thought it might be worthwhile to just pick up some of the many features of the SA1 that I think are important so lets start with the amplifier used:Internal Amplifier
The speaker is powered by two Texas Instruments TPA3118 class D digital amplifiers, delivering 20W2 for the woofer and 5W2 for the tweeter. I have seen this class D used in many class D amplifiers from companies like Fosi Audio and Aiyima, and it is reasonable good class D chip (though not as good or powerful as the TPA3255) but given you get 2, one in each speaker it is easily adequate for driving the SA1.FiiO Control and PEQ Capabilities
One amazing feature for a speaker at this price it comes with both a built-in DSP and a companion application. FiiO have nicely integrated the same application with many of their devices including the recent K17 and the SA1:
You get reasonable useful remote control of the SA1 from your mobile (over Bluetooth):
Including switching inputs:
But the best feature for me (and one that is very rare in a powered speaker at this price) is the ability to configure a 31-band high-precision PEQ using this the FIIO Control app. So you get some built-in sound presets (pop, jazz, classical, R&B, dance, and a monitoring-style curve):
And then ability to save three custom PEQ setups which I think is fantastic feature especially if you understand a little about room correction and have access to a measurement microphone like a Umik-1:
Note: As you can see above as a test I lower a bit of “room mode” bass and the midrange need a bit of adjustment to get a more neutral response, I will show the effect later on in the measurement section.
Remote
I also like that the speakers come with a useful remote to change the inputs and the volume:
Note: As someone with lots of similar remotes I really appreciate FiiO have started to put the device name on the remote, it is a nice simple touch.
Standby support
I also like that there is automatic standby and wake-up time is pretty fast.Subwoofer support
The inclusion of an RCA subwoofer output I think is crucial. And ultimately how I rated this speaker. Without it, I feel it will the SA1 will be limited the places where it is only used near field, where do not need to push the woofer too much.But with the inclusion of a subwoofer you can now use these tiny speaker in many more setups, while it doesn’t suddenly transform the SA1 into a “home theatre” killer, it does allow you, when paired even with a cheap subwoofer to get decent “full range” sound in smaller rooms and even worked well for me in my medium size converted garage space.
Sound Impressions
For its size the FiiO SA1 delivers a well-balanced and dynamic sound, though due to its size the bass does roll off significant and if boosted too much it will distort, but ultimately pair it with a subwoofer, do a little room correction using the PEQ filters, and then it became a different speaker, one that can compete with much more expensive setups.Here’s how it performs across the key audio elements:
Bass
While its compact design naturally limits deep bass output, the 3.5-inch woofer produces a rich and warm low end. When paired with a subwoofer, the bass extension down well below 65Hz and really comes to life, making for a satisfying low-frequency performance during movie nights or bass-heavy tracks.Mids
The midrange is clear and detailed, ensuring vocals and instruments are rendered with natural warmth and precision. The customizable DSP and PEQ settings allow you to fine-tune the mids to suit any genre, from classical arrangements to modern pop.Treble
The SA1’s ¾ inch tweeter provides crisp and articulate highs without sounding overly bright or harsh. The result is a smooth treble that adds sparkle and clarity, bringing out the finer details in your music. I did find you can tune the treble a little by either toeing it in towards you ( a bit brighter) or toeing out ( a bit darker ).Soundstage and Imaging
Despite its small footprint, the SA1 manages to produce a surprisingly spacious soundstage. Its imaging allows you to pinpoint individual elements within a mix, making for an immersive listening experience even on a desktop.Specifications and Measurements
| Specification | Details |
| Woofer | 3.5-inch wood fiber woofer |
| Tweeter | ¾ inch aluminum-magnesium alloy dome tweeter |
| Amplifier | TI TPA3118 Class D digital amplifiers |
| Power Output | 20W2 (woofer) + 5W2 (tweeter) |
| Analog Inputs | RCA/Phono, 3.5mm AUX |
| Digital Inputs | USB (Type-C, up to 96kHz/32bit), Coaxial (up to 192kHz/24bit), Optical Toslink (up to 96kHz/24bit) |
| Bluetooth | High-res LDAC, Bluetooth 5.4 |
| PEQ | 31-band high-precision lossless PEQ (with FIIO Control app support) |
| Additional Features | Built-in phono preamp, built-in DSP, custom remote control, RGB status indicator, TF card support |
| Cabinet | High-density MDF with 9mm imitation solid wood veneer |
| Subwoofer Output | Yes (for 2.1 system integration) |
Measurements
So, I used my Minidsp UMIK-1 setup on a tripod to measure (as best I could) the performance of the SA1, setup on a desktop (as per the pictures earlier).Frequency Response in Room:
So first I thought it was interesting to see the difference of the bass boost button and when the bass boost and a subwoofer is blended (yellow) into the sound:
So, obviously you get a much lower bass response with the subwoofer, but the crucial difference is the level of distortion between these 3 measurements, as you can see below - the (yellow) measurement has the least distortion and especially with the bass boosted the SA1 is generating a lot of distortion:
I then looked at applying some PEQ and measuring the overall frequency response I got at roughly 80dbSPL:
Note: I only used 2 PEQ adjustments for this I could easily use some of the other 29 PEQ filters to get a much smoother FR, but I thought this REQ equaliser recommendation showed how well it can measure (and sound) with a little EQ and a subwoofer blended.
Next, I thought I would just compare the default sound without PEQ or the subwoofer with those simple changes and you can see below the sub-bass extension goes way down and this subwoofer isn’t anything special it just happended to be one that I was not using, it is a Yamaha SW050:
Distortion with and without the Subwoofer
Specifically focusing on the distortion as speakers this small (really woofers in speakers in small) will struggle when pushed and the difference when I removed the bass from SA1 by lowering the Bass boost and tuning the bass with the PEQ. So the orange distortion measurement here shows how well you can lower the distortion by offloading all bass to the subwoofer:
And again as I mentioned above the least distortion and the most balanced sound:
So in summary, on its own the SA1 will struggle playing even at 80dbSPL but lower the bass and add a subwoofer and you get a pretty good sounding yet tiny desktop speaker setup for very little money.
Rating
I feel the FiiO SA1 without its extra features would be a fairly average tiny desktop speaker, but it hassome outstanding features and some of those features, like the subwoofer and the 31 band PEQ can make a real difference to the sound you get. Other features like the remote and the ability to use a companion mobile app really set this speaker apart from the competition at this price.
So, I am giving the FiiO SA1 a very pragmatic rating of 5 due to these features. I feel this speaker makes a very nice desktop or small bedroom speaker and when paired with a subwoofer and some PEQ configuration applied to remove some “bassy” room modes, you can get some outstanding quality at a very reasonable price.
I also think this would make an excellent first speaker for someone to tinker with and start to understand audio, maybe paired with their first turntable and with all its input and the various controls available in the FiiO Control app this could really be a “gateway” speaker into the whole home audio hobbie.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the FiiO SA1 Desktop Speaker is a shining example of smart design and value in the budget audio market. Its rich feature set—including multiple input options, advanced digital processing, and intuitive control—ensures that it stands out among similarly priced competitors. While its compact size makes it best suited for desktop use, pairing it with a subwoofer unlocks an expansive, immersive sound experience.If you’re looking for a desktop speaker or small bedroom setup that doesn’t compromise on connectivity or performance, the SA1 is certainly worth considering.
FiiO sent over a big, heavy brown box, and inside were the FiiO SA1 active bookshelf speakers along with the RR11 FM radio. After a brief wrestling match with the packaging (seriously, FiiO packs these things like they’re shipping fine china), I finally got them unboxed and set up for a quick test.
First impressions? These speakers feel rock solid. The build quality is reassuringly hefty, and they offer a surprising amount of versatility when it comes to connectivity. But what really caught my attention was the sound—despite their compact size, the SA1 delivers a full-range presentation with impressive clarity and depth. The two-driver configuration works harmoniously to produce a well-balanced sound, and for a speaker of this size, they have a remarkable presence.
One thing to note: the SA1 is back-ported, meaning bass response is influenced by placement. Position them near a wall, and you’ll get a noticeable boost in the low-end. This can be a good thing if you want extra warmth, but it might require some fine-tuning depending on your room acoustics.
Of course, a quick test isn’t enough to do these justice. This is actually my first time reviewing a set of speakers, so I’m excited to dive deep into their performance across different setups and genres. Let’s break it all down and see what the SA1 can really do.
Whats in the box? here is a quick unboxing video of the Fiio SA1.
Build and Design
The FiiO SA1 boasts a clean, modern aesthetic with a high-density MDF cabinet (12mm thick) and wood side panels i am not sure what kind of wood they use but i assume its the same one they use on the FT1 closed back headphones. The design helps reduce unwanted resonance and keeps vibrations under control. Each speaker has a reassuring weight, with the main unit at 1.7kg and the secondary at 1.6kg, quite heavy for its compact size but has a premium feel and looks.
One of my favorite design elements is the front panel, a simple yet classy look with a thick gunmetal gray metal bezel, It doesn’t scream for attention, but it has that understated, timeless vibe that blends well with different setups.
On right speaker, you get two physical control knobs and one power button—one for volume and input selection and one for bass, along with an RGB status indicator that provides visual feedback for different modes. The included remote control is a nice touch, making it easy to tweak settings without getting up from your chair but some controls on the remote works only when you are on bluetooth mode like the play/pause and track skip etc..
Specifications and Features
Under the hood, the SA1 is packed with high-quality components considering its budget friendly price.
• Drivers: 3.5-inch wood fiber mid-bass driver.3/4-inch aluminum-magnesium alloy dome tweeter.
• Amplification: Built-in Texas Instruments TPA3118 digital amplifier
• 20W per mid-bass driver, 5W per tweeter (independent four-channel power output)
• Frequency Response: 65Hz – 20kHz
• Inputs & Outputs:
• RCA/PHONO inputs (with a built-in LP phono preamp) for turntables
• 3.5mm AUX input
• USB Type-C (supports 96kHz/32-bit decoding)
• Coaxial input (up to 192kHz/24-bit)
• Optical input (supports 96kHz/24-bit audio)
• Bluetooth 5.4 (with LDAC, AAC, and SBC support)
• Dedicated subwoofer output (SUB OUT) for easy 2.1 expansion
Vinyl Turntable Compatibility
One of the more thoughtful additions to this device is its built-in phono preamp, making it easy to hook up a turntable without needing an external preamp. This is a great convenience, especially for those who enjoy the warm, nostalgic sound of vinyl but don’t want to deal with extra components cluttering their setup.
However, if your turntable already has a built-in preamp like the FiiO TT13 you’ll want to be mindful of your connection settings. In this case, be sure to switch the device to RCA input mode. Otherwise, you’ll be running a preamp into another preamp, which can lead to an ear-splitting jump in volume and potentially damage your speakers. Think of it like shouting into a megaphone that’s pointed at another megaphone things will escalate quickly, and not in a good way so double check and make sure it on RCA Mode when your turntable has a built-in preamp.
Sound Performance
I tested the SA1 across different music genres, from jazz and classical to rock and electronic, all in a flat EQ setting.
Bass
The SA1 delivers punchy, layered bass with good extension, especially considering its size. Placement is key here—put them near a wall, and the bass gets a natural boost. It’s tight and controlled rather than boomy, which is great for detailed low-end reproduction also at the back there is a rca out for an active subwoofer if you want that extra rumble.
Midrange
The SA1 delivers a natural, rich, and well-balanced midrange, striking that sweet spot between warmth and clarity. Vocals feel lively and engaging, with a slight warmth that adds depth without making them sound overly colored. Both male and female vocals are well-positioned in the mix neither too recessed nor too forward creating a presentation that feels open and natural. Guitars, pianos, and string instruments benefit from this as well, with clear articulation and accurate timbre, making them sound detailed and smooth. You can hear the subtle variances, like the delicate decay of piano notes or the crisp pluck of a guitar string, all without harshness or artificial sharpness.
Overall, the midrange feels effortless and immersive, making these speakers an excellent choice for vocal-centric music, acoustic recordings, or even movie dialogue where clarity and tonal accuracy are essential.
Treble
The highs are well-extended but not harsh. They strike a balance between detail and smoothness, ensuring you get plenty of resolution without fatigue. Cymbals, strings, and high-frequency details shine through without becoming piercing.
Overall, right out of the box the SA1 has a neutral and well-balanced sound with just a hint of warmth, making it easy to enjoy across different genres. Vocals are reproduced beautifully, coming through with clarity and natural tonality, which adds to the speaker’s engaging character. And despite the compact driver size, the bass still packs a punch, offering a satisfying low-end that remains tight and controlled rather than boomy. It’s a well-rounded sound that works just as well for music as it does for movies and gaming.
One thing that really stood out to me about the SA1 is how well it scales with volume. As you crank it up, the sound doesn’t just get louder—it actually improves. The dynamics become more engaging, the frequency response feels more extended, and the overall presentation gains a sense of fullness and depth.
The upper midrange, in particular, comes alive at higher volumes, revealing more micro-details and nuances that might be subdued at lower levels. Vocals sound more textured, instruments gain a greater sense of presence, and the treble gets a nice boost in energy without becoming harsh or fatiguing. It’s the kind of performance that makes you want to keep turning the dial up—just make sure your ears (and neighbors) are ready for it! hehe
(This are my sound impression without using the EQ or the 30 band PEQ, you can always tweak the sound when you connect the SA1 to the FiiO Control App via bluetooth.)
Soundstage & Imaging
I placed the SA1 on my desk, about two inches from the wall, and used my 3D-printed risers to angle them just right for an optimal listening experience. Right away, I noticed how precise the stereo imaging is—more focused on left and right separation rather than front-to-back depth. However, it still has a wide enough stage to give each instrument a distinct place in the mix.
While the soundstage isn’t the widest I’ve encountered in speakers of this size, it still creates a satisfying sense of space, especially in a nearfield setup. The sound remains well-defined and immersive, with enough separation to let each element breathe. There’s no artificial exaggeration, just a natural and cohesive presentation that pulls you into the music without feeling overly constricted.
Wireless & Digital Performance
LDAC Bluetooth & Hi-Res Audio
Pairing the SA1 with a phone via Bluetooth 5.4 (using LDAC) The high-bitrate streaming (up to 990kbps) means that lossless files sound almost as good as wired connections, making Bluetooth a viable option for hi-res playback and also practical when you want to place the SA1 on a diffrent place far from the source, so no unsightly wires to worry about.
I paired the SA1 with my FiiO TT13 turntable and set the speakers on a separate table about five meters away. Placing them on the same surface wasn’t an option—doing so could introduce unwanted vibrations, causing the turntable stylus to pick up resonance from the speakers and create a bass loop.
Pairing the SA1 and TT13 via Bluetooth was quick and hassle-free, and the connection remained stable throughout my listening sessions. That said, it’s a bit disappointing that the TT13 doesn’t support LDAC, especially since the SA1 does. It would have been nice to take full advantage of higher-resolution Bluetooth streaming, but the standard codec still delivered a solid listening experience.
USB, Coaxial, and Optical Inputs
The wired digital inputs on the SA1 offer clean, distortion and interference free audio, making them ideal for connecting to a variety of sources like PCs, gaming consoles, and external DACs. If you are into streaming music, gaming, or watching movies, these inputs ensure a stable and high-quality signal path without the interference or compression that can sometimes come with wireless connections.
The USB Type-C input supports 96kHz/32-bit decoding, allowing for high-resolution playback from modern digital sources. This means you can plug in your laptop, smartphone, or DAP and enjoy detailed, high-fidelity sound with excellent clarity and dynamics.
Pairing with the FiiO K11 R2R and FiiO JM21
One of the most enjoyable setups I tested was pairing the SA1 with the FiiO K11 R2R DAC via its RCA line-out, using the FiiO JM21 as my source DAP. Out of all the combinations I tried, this one stood out as my clear favorite—and for good reason.
The SA1’s monitor-like tuning pairs beautifully with the K11’s R2R architecture, allowing its distinct musicality and technical finesse to shine. There’s an undeniable organic warmth in the mids, giving instruments and vocals a more natural, lifelike quality. The soundstage feels deep and immersive, with an almost analog-like smoothness that softens harsh edges without sacrificing detail.
What makes this pairing so special is that the SA1 doesn’t impose too much of its own character on the sound. It maintains clarity, resolution, and excellent separation, allowing the K11’s rich tonal balance and nuanced dynamics to take center stage. It’s a perfect blend of accuracy and musicality, clean and revealing, yet effortlessly engaging.
Final Verdict
The FiiO SA1 active bookshelf speakers offer a well-rounded, high-resolution audio experience, making them a fantastic choice for music lovers, gamers, and casual listeners alike. They deliver detailed, well-balanced sound that is both engaging and easy to listen to, striking a nice balance between clarity and warmth.
What sets the SA1 apart is its versatile connectivity—it supports Bluetooth with LDAC, a built-in phono preamp for vinyl enthusiasts, and DSP with 30 Band PEQ for precise sound tuning via the FiiO Control App. These extra features allow you to tailor the sound to your preferences, making them even more adaptable to different listening environments.
Despite their compact size, the SA1 is surprisingly powerful and can easily fill a decent-sized room with rich, dynamic sound. They punch well above their 3.3kg weight
in terms of performance, delivering an audio experience that feels premium for the price. If you listening to hi-res files, streaming wirelessly, spinning vinyl, or gaming, the SA1 provides an excellent, refined and enjoyable listening experience. Considering the performance you get for the price, they stand out as one of the best choices in their category. The FiiO SA1 is an easy recommendation from meA compact, feature-packed, and well-tuned speaker system that’s hard to beat at this price.
Link : https://www.fiio.com/SA1
Example: when a salesman show you a apartment he can call that the appartment is spacious but when you actually visit the site it's not.
Wouldn't it be much easier if the salesman give the perspective like the apartment is spacious than tipical dorm room in japan which gives you enough idea that flat is not spacious as per your need.
But true why would that saleman put a axe on his own leg.
So, yeah good review anyways. Thanks