FiiO SA1 Active Speakers Review: A Compact Powerhouse

Pros:

1. Balanced, natural sound with slight warmth
2. Punchy bass with good layering and placement sensitivity
3. Well-detailed mids and treble, great for vocals and instruments
4. Extensive connectivity (analog, digital, wireless, subwoofer out)
5. Built-in phono preamp for turntable users
6. Solid build quality with intuitive controls

Cons: 

1. Bass can feel limited if not placed optimally
2. Slightly relaxed treble may lack sparkle for some users.

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 me

A compact, feature-packed, and well-tuned speaker system that’s hard to beat at this price.
Link : https://www.fiio.com/SA1