Disclosure: I’d like to thank FiiO for sending me the SA1 for this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own, and FiiO had no say or input on the contents of this review.

Finding quality desktop speakers under $200 is honestly quite a challenge these days. Then FiiO released the FiiO SA1 for $199, and these compact active speakers deliver specs that are honestly quite surprising for the price. The SA1 includes Bluetooth 5.4 with LDAC codec support. Beyond wireless, you get a wealth of connection options: RCA/PHONO, AUX, USB Type-C, coaxial, and optical inputs. For those who like to do room EQ, the FiiO Control app offers a comprehensive 31-band parametric equalizer that provides extensive customization options.

At $200, these active speakers hope to hit a sweet spot between affordability and performance that’s rare in today’s market. The question is, do they deliver where it counts? Let’s get into it and find out.

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• FiiO SA1 speaker pair
• Remote control
• Power adapter
• RCA to 3.5mm cable
• Speaker connection cable
• Manual

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The FiiO SA1 speakers have a nice balance between minimalist design and quality materials that gives them a more premium feel than their price suggests. They use sturdy, high-density MDF cabinets with 12 mm-thick walls that do an excellent job of minimizing unwanted resonance. The sides feature attractive 9mm simulated wood veneer panels that add a touch of class to any desk setup. Both speakers have a nice heft to them when you pick them up. The main unit (Right speaker) weighs 1750 grams, and the secondary unit (Left speaker) comes in at 1660 grams. This substantial weight for their compact size helps keep them stable and reduces vibration during playback. FiiO offers two color options, Twilight Black and Cloud White, so you can match them to your desk aesthetic. I have the Twilight Black model for this review.

The front panel of both units has a thick gunmetal gray metal bezel that gives the SA1 an understated premium look. It’s an attractive design choice in my opinion, and also practically serves to protect the speaker drivers as well. The right speaker houses all of the physical controls and connections. Two physical control knobs and a power button on the right side of the unit, with one knob that handles volume and input selection while the other adjusts bass response, with the power button just below it. The volume/input selection knob has an RGB ring indicator that changes color based on input source and audio format. When using Bluetooth with LDAC, for instance, the indicator glows white, while standard SBC connections show blue. I was able to customize the RGB lighting brightness, style (constant, pulsing, or off), and color schemes through the FiiO Control app, which is a nice touch.

The Back of the right speaker houses all of the connections. The inputs include: Coaxial, Optical, USB, RCA/Phono (with a switch to select between the two modes), a 3.5mm AUX, and power. There’s also a SUB out to connect to a powered subwoofer, and the audio out connection to connect to the left speaker unit. The only connection on the left speaker is the audio input connection from the right speaker.

The included remote control makes the user experience much better. Though small, it handles most of the SA1’s functionality. I did notice some limitations, though, as the play/pause and track skip buttons only work in Bluetooth mode and USB mode. The remote saves you from having to reach for the speakers to make adjustments, which is particularly convenient for desk setups where reaching around monitors can be a pain, or if placed in a room, allowing you to control volume and input settings from the couch. Note that you will need to supply your own AAA batteries for it.

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Input Types: USB, Optical, Coaxial, RCA, AUX

Connectivity is definitely one of the SA1’s strongest assets. As previously mentioned, the back panel of the right speaker houses an impressive array of inputs that can handle pretty much any audio source you might own. The USB-C port supports high-resolution audio up to 96kHz/32-bit, while the coaxial input takes things even further with 192kHz/24-bit signals. If you prefer optical connections, the speakers accept audio up to 96kHz/24-bit without issue. FiiO hasn’t forgotten about analog options either, as you get standard RCA inputs plus a 3.5mm AUX port for quick connections to smartphones and digital audio players.

Bluetooth 5.4 with LDAC Support

Alongside all those wired connections, the SA1 excels in wireless audio reproduction thanks to Bluetooth 5.4 with impressive codec support. Most notably, it handles Sony’s LDAC codec, enabling streaming rates up to 990kbps. There’s also AAC support, which ensures optimal wireless performance with the majority of devices, and SBC. Throughout my testing, the Bluetooth connection remained stable, even with my phone in another room. The sound quality for LDAC and AAC is excellent, and I detected no background noise and encountered no stuttering or interference.

Built-in Phono Preamp for Turntables

One feature that genuinely surprised me is the integrated phono preamp. With a simple switch on the back panel, you can toggle between standard RCA line-in and PHONO mode. This lets you connect turntables without built-in preamps directly to the speakers with no additional equipment needed. The preamp uses standard RIAA equalization to ensure accurate vinyl reproduction. If your turntable already includes a preamp (like FiiO’s own TT13), you can simply use the standard RCA input mode instead. This kind of thoughtful inclusion isn’t common at this price point.

Subwoofer Output and 2.1 Expansion

The rear of the main speaker features a dedicated subwoofer output that transforms these compact speakers into a more capable 2.1 system. I currently don’t have a dedicated subwoofer to test with, but it’s greatly appreciated that FiiO included this output, especially given the price of the SA1.

FiiO Control App

The FiiO Control app is essentially an extended remote control with some serious audio tweaking capabilities. Its standout feature is the 31-band parametric equalizer that allows you to precisely tailor the sound across all input modes. You can create and save three custom EQ profiles, and the app includes eight preset sound curves for different music genres. I found these presets to be useful starting points before fine-tuning the sound to match my personal preferences and room acoustics.

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After setting up the FiiO SA1 on my desk, I have to say, their audio performance genuinely surprised me given their compact size. They are intended for near-field listening, so in my setup, I am sitting about 40cm (1.3 feet) from them. I never exceeded 30% volume when listening to them at my desk. Using angled risers to angle the speakers up, they sounded good and had a full sound with accurate imaging and a decent soundstage. When I used them with my Kanto S4 speaker stands, both imaging and soundstage sounded even better, but overall, the audio quality with and without angled stands is excellent. When testing them in my living room, they were able to fill the room quite well with me sitting on the couch about 2 meters from them. This gives the SA1 a lot of versatility, which is not something you expect from $200 desktop speakers.

Bass

I was initially skeptical about what kind of bass response the SA1 could deliver, but it manages impressive low-end that gives decent substance and impact. While physics naturally limits what’s possible from drivers this size, I found that strategic placement makes a huge difference – positioning them against a wall adds a bit of bass, which can be quite noticeable.

During my testing, the bass proved more than adequate for most music genres in nearfield listening situations. When playing my typical Grunge tracks from the likes of Alice in Chains and Nirvana, the speakers created a satisfying “wall of sound” effect. That said, for larger rooms or if you’re a bass enthusiast, the subwoofer output becomes essential, as it was hard to hear or feel any bass impact when listening in my living room.

The bass adjustment knob is somewhat useful, but the more you increase it the more boomy and bloated the bass sounds, to the point where it’s not really enjoyable to listen to. For my listening preferences (see my playlist linked above), I found the 9 o’clock position to give the best performance. At lower volumes, you can turn the bass up a bit more without getting the boomy effect, but at higher volumes it’s extremely noticeable.

Midrange

The midrange performance is where these speakers really shine. Vocals come through with excellent clarity and just a hint of warmth that adds dimension without unwanted coloration. While testing acoustic recordings, I was impressed by the instrument separation and transparency, allowing me to easily distinguish individual elements within complex mixes that often get muddied with other speakers in this price range.

The wood fiber diaphragm seems to really benefit vocal reproduction, providing rich, dense presentation that makes both music and dialogue engaging. This quality made the SA1 excellent for everything from podcasts to vocal-heavy music genres.

Treble

The aluminum-magnesium alloy dome tweeter handles high frequencies remarkably well. The treble extension is excellent without becoming harsh or fatiguing, even during long listening sessions. Rather than just adding sparkle, the tweeter reveals subtle details in recordings while maintaining a smooth, controlled presentation.

This balanced approach to high frequencies makes the SA1 suitable for pretty much any content you throw at it without causing listener fatigue. Even with bright recordings that can sound piercing on some systems, the SA1 remained pleasant while retaining detail.

All this being said, I did find that at louder volumes, the treble starts to get overshadowed by the midrange a bit. This is somewhat expected as these speakers are intended for moderate volume levels, and turning the volume way up exposes their limitations.

Soundstage and Imaging

For desktop speakers, the SA1 creates a surprisingly spacious soundstage. With proper placement, as I spoke to earlier, they produce very precise stereo imaging with clear left and right separation. While depth perception isn’t their strongest suit, the speakers excel at positioning instruments accurately across the horizontal plane, creating a convincing stereo image for their size and price point.

Gaming Performance

The FiiO SA1 works very well for the majority of game types. One thing I would not do with these speakers, or any other speakers for that matter, is play competitive FPS games such as PUBG and Call of Duty. Headphones and IEMs are simply more appropriate at revealing the subtle sound queues needed in those types of games.

Otherwise, single-player games sound absolutely fantastic with the SA1. Playing The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is a joy. The fantastical musical score and soundscape are accurately reproduced, and the midrange tuning of the SA1 does a great job of emphasizing dialogue without it taking over the mix.

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My testing of the FiiO SA1 speakers showed they perform way better than you’d expect from desktop speakers at this price point. They hit a sweet spot between size and sound quality, with remarkable clarity at all frequencies.

The sort of thing I love about these speakers is how versatile they are. You won’t find many $200 speakers that offer this amount of connectivity options, including a phono preamp and Bluetooth with LDAC. The option to upgrade to a 2.1 system means these speakers can grow with your audio needs.

The SA1’s bass output isn’t as powerful as larger bookshelf speakers, but it makes up for this with smart placement options and the ability to add a subwoofer. The midrange quality really shines, with natural-sounding vocals that work great for both music and non-competitive gaming.

These speakers may be compact, but they feel rock-solid. The build quality is excellent, and they also look great.

The FiiO SA1 is perfect for anyone who wants compact, versatile speakers that deliver excellent sound at a very attractive price point. They’ve earned their spot on my desk, whether I’m playing music from my computer or streaming Bluetooth from my phone.

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