Fyne Audio’s premium F700 series, side by side. Here is the massive F701 standmount, sitting squarely between the compact F700 monitor and the F702 floorstander.

The F701 is an uncompromising, large-format standmount loudspeaker that brings the commanding presence of a traditional tower into a monitor profile. Designed and manufactured in the UK, it takes the advanced IsoFlare driver architecture and cryogenically treated crossover components of the flagship F1 series and pairs them with a massive 200mm cone. By venting its low frequencies downward through Fyne’s proprietary BassTrax diffuser, the F701 effortlessly pressurizes a large room without the placement headaches typically associated with large rear-ported monitors.

Brief product overview

A premium, UK-built two-way standmount loudspeaker built around a heavy-duty 200mm (8-inch) IsoFlare point-source driver. This array features a multi-fibre mid/bass cone with a 25mm magnesium dome compression tweeter located at its exact acoustic centre. Low frequencies vent downward through a twin-cavity tuned enclosure into a machined aluminium plinth housing the BassTrax Tractrix diffuser, extending the bass response to a subterranean 35Hz. The crossover features deeply cryogenically treated components. Sensitivity is a highly efficient 91dB with an 8-ohm nominal impedance, handling up to 100 watts continuous power. The cabinet features radiused edges to minimize standing waves and is finished in high-gloss piano lacquer, measuring 465 x 278 x 389mm and weighing 13.6kg per speaker.

How it sounds

The F701 is effortless, authoritative, and holographically precise. The leap to an 8-inch driver provides a dramatic increase in mid-bass slam and low-frequency extension compared to the smaller F700; it reaches down to 35Hz, delivering the physical chest-thumping impact of a kick drum that makes a subwoofer entirely redundant for stereo listening. Despite this immense low-end weight, the BassTrax diffuser ensures the bass rolls out smoothly and evenly. Because the magnesium tweeter sits deep inside the massive midrange cone, the soundstage remains remarkably cohesive and focused, locking vocals dead-centre while pushing instruments wide into the room. It is a studio-grade monitor scaled up for serious physical impact.

What we’d partner it with T

o harness the speed and scale of an 8-inch point-source driver, you need amplification with massive power reserves and a natural, organic tonal balance. The Moonriver Audio 404 Reference is a masterful pairing. Designed in Sweden, this Class AB integrated amplifier delivers 50 watts per channel, but relies on a hugely over-engineered power supply that exerts total, iron-fisted control over the Fyne’s large woofers. It possesses a slightly warm, remarkably liquid midrange that pairs beautifully with the highly revealing magnesium tweeters. Good alternatives from brands we carry include high-quality, high-current integrated amplifiers from Rega, Pass Labs, and McIntosh.

For digital playback, the Eversolo DMP-A8 Gen 2 serves as a reference-level streaming front end. Its dual AKM DAC architecture and ultra-low noise power supply provide a pristine, highly resolving analog signal into the Moonriver’s line inputs, controlled seamlessly via its large touchscreen.

For analogue playback, the Pro-Ject The Classic Evo turntable offers a superb mechanical foundation. Its suspended sub-chassis and heavy aluminium platter extract exceptional rhythmic timing from the groove. Because we are specifying the Moonriver 404 Reference with its optional MM/MC phono stage module installed, the Pro-Ject plugs straight into the amplifier for a pure, zero-fuss analog signal path.

Who shouldn’t buy it

If you want a discreet, unobtrusive bookshelf speaker, this is not it; the F701 is physically massive and demands heavy, dedicated speaker stands to function properly. If your listening room is very small, the sheer volume of low-frequency energy generated by the 8-inch driver will likely overload the space and cause severe bass boom—the smaller F700 is the correct choice there. Finally, this is a ruthlessly transparent loudspeaker; if you feed it poor-quality streaming files or bright, clinical amplification, it will highlight every flaw without hesitation.

The F701 is far too large and heavy for a standard bookshelf or media console; it must be placed on rigid, mass-loaded speaker stands (such as the Fyne Audio FS8) to ensure the downward-firing BassTrax plinth operates at the correct distance from the floor. While the diffuser makes them more forgiving of rear wall boundaries than traditional rear-ported monitors, you should still leave at least 30 to 40cm of breathing room. Utilize the fifth grounding terminal on the speaker’s rear panel—running a wire from this post to the Moonriver’s chassis ground shields the driver from radio frequency interference. The Moonriver 404 Reference generates moderate heat from its Class AB output stage, so ensure it has an open shelf for ventilation. For the turntable, ensure the Moonriver’s optional phono module is correctly configured (internally set by your dealer) to match either the MM or MC cartridge fitted to your Pro-Ject The Classic Evo.