Fyne Audio Classic X walnut (pack of 2)

The Classic X from Fyne Audio is a floorstanding speaker that blends a 1970s-inspired design with contemporary acoustic technologies. It features a 250 mm coaxial driver and a solid walnut cabinet. The speaker’s design incorporates patented acoustic solutions intended to optimize sound performance within its class.

A design that transcends eras without sacrificing performance

The Classic X adopts a decisively wide and shallow silhouette that breaks with today’s convention of narrow, slender floorstanders. Its generous dimensions of 918 mm in height, 450 mm in width, and 381 mm in depth create a strong physical presence reminiscent of 1970s studio monitors. This particular geometry isn’t just a stylistic flourish: the wide baffle promotes controlled dispersion of midrange frequencies and a naturally expansive projection that fills the listening space.

The real walnut finish, the only option available for this model, brings an organic warmth that contrasts with the matte black baffle. The gold adjustment dials on the front instantly evoke vintage hi-fi gear, yet their function extends far beyond nostalgic ornamentation. These rotary controls allow precise tuning of high-frequency energy (1.8 to 26 kHz) and presence (2.5 to 5 kHz), each offering a ±3 dB range. This fine-tuning capability lets you compensate for your room’s acoustics or tailor the sound to personal preferences without degrading the signal.

The cabinet, built from high-density MDF with extensive internal bracing, reflects a modern approach to acoustic construction. Unlike many 1970s speakers often made from low-density particleboard prone to resonance, the Classic X benefits from thick panels and a carefully calculated internal bracing system to minimize coloration. The removable front grille, held by invisible magnets, can be stored on the back of the speaker when not in use—a practical detail that reveals the attention paid to everyday user experience.

IsoFlare technology: a refined coaxial approach

At the heart of the Classic X is the 250 mm IsoFlare driver, the embodiment of decades of research into point-source acoustics. This technology, developed by Dr. Paul Mills and his team, goes far beyond a simple coaxial setup where the tweeter is merely positioned at the center of the mid-bass driver. The 75 mm titanium-alloy dome tweeter, featuring a ferrite magnet system and Cryo-Lite treatment, is deeply integrated into the structure of the main driver.

This configuration offers several fundamental acoustic advantages. With the acoustic centers of the tweeter and woofer occupying exactly the same point in space, all frequencies arrive simultaneously at the listener’s ears, regardless of position in the room. This temporal coherence preserves the harmonic relationships of musical instruments and maintains precise stereo imaging even outside the traditional central “sweet spot.” The main driver’s cone acts as a natural waveguide for the tweeter, progressively and uniformly controlling its dispersion.

The particularly low 750 Hz crossover point is a remarkable technical achievement. Most conventional speakers cross drivers around 2 to 3 kHz, right in the critical midrange where the human ear is most sensitive. By lowering this transition to 750 Hz, Fyne Audio preserves the integrity of the upper midrange, a crucial zone for the perception of voices and many instruments. The bi-wireable passive crossover uses a second-order topology with low-loss components, ensuring a seamless transition between the two drivers.

The BassTrax system: a patented innovation for omnidirectional bass

One of the Classic X’s most distinctive innovations lies in its BassTrax Tractrix bass-reflex system. Instead of using a conventional front- or rear-firing port, the speaker employs a vertical port venting beneath the cabinet, facing a mathematically optimized tractrix-profile diffuser. This particular geometry, patented by Fyne Audio, converts the plane wave exiting the port into a spherical wavefront propagating 360 degrees.

The tractrix profile maintains a 90-degree angle at each intersection with the expanding wavefront, thereby avoiding parasitic reflections that could color the bass. Low-frequency energy is evenly dispersed throughout the room via openings concealed on all four sides of the cabinet and covered with matching fabric. This omnidirectional bass dispersion offers a significant practical advantage: the speaker becomes much less sensitive to room placement. Unlike rear-ported speakers that require ample space behind them, or front-ported designs that can generate problematic standing waves, the Classic X can be placed relatively close to walls without significantly compromising bass performance.

The system uses a dual-cavity configuration with a tuned coupling that broadens the tuning bandwidth while reducing cone excursion at the lowest frequencies. This sophisticated loading technique also acts as a mechanical damper, blocking standing-wave resonances that could arise between internal cavities. The result is bass extension down to 28 Hz (-6 dB in real-world conditions), a remarkable performance for a single 250 mm driver.

FyneFlute: mastering peripheral resonances

The perimeter of the IsoFlare driver features a distinctive ribbed surround called FyneFlute. This technology, developed specifically by Fyne Audio, uses a computer-calculated variable geometry to create a non-homogeneous interface between the cone and the chassis. The transverse grooves, spaced at regular intervals on the synthetic rubber surround, create differentiated damping points that effectively absorb energy from the moving cone.

In a conventional surround, unabsorbed energy is reflected back into the cone, creating resonances and audible coloration at certain frequencies. The FyneFlute system eliminates these “mis-termination” effects by progressively dissipating energy through its complex structure. This innovation contributes to the Classic X’s exceptional midrange clarity and precise transient response. The multi-fiber cone itself uses a proprietary blend of treated paper fibers, offering the rigidity needed for low frequencies while retaining sufficient internal damping for controlled behavior in the midrange.

Compatibility with S-Trax and SuperTrax super tweeters

The Classic X has been designed to accept the optional addition of Fyne Audio’s S-Trax or SuperTrax super tweeters. These patented omnidirectional devices extend frequency response up to 60 kHz, well beyond the human hearing limit. The mounting positions have been precisely calculated: the S-Trax should be positioned 106 mm from the front edge of the cabinet, while the SuperTrax is placed at 82 mm, ensuring perfect time alignment with the IsoFlare driver’s acoustic center.

Adding a super tweeter isn’t just about reproducing inaudible frequencies. Research has shown that musical instruments emit energy well above 50 kHz, and while these ultrasonic frequencies aren’t directly perceptible, they influence our overall perception of sound. The 360-degree omnidirectional dispersion system of Fyne’s super tweeters ensures that reflected energy in the room retains the same harmonic structure as the direct energy, creating an enhanced sense of air, space, and musical realism.

Technical Specifications

System Configuration

• Type: 2-way, downward-firing port, BassTrax Tractrix diffuser
• Driver complement:
  • 1 x 250 mm IsoFlare point source, multi-fiber bass/midrange cone
  • 75 mm titanium-alloy dome tweeter, ferrite magnet system, Cryo-Lite treatment

Electrical Characteristics

• Recommended power (RMS): 20 – 280 W
• Maximum power: 560 W
• Continuous power (RMS): 140 W
• Sensitivity (2.83 V @ 1 m): 94 dB
• Nominal impedance: 8 Ω

Acoustic Response

• Frequency response (-6 dB typical in-room): 28 Hz – 26 kHz
• Crossover frequency: 750 Hz
• Crossover type: low-loss passive bi-wired, 2nd-order low-pass and 2nd-order high-pass
• System adjustments:
  • High-frequency energy (1.8 – 26 kHz): ± 3 dB
  • Presence (2.5 – 5 kHz): ± 3 dB

Dimensions and Construction

• Dimensions: 918 x 450 x 381 mm (H x W x D)
• Net weight: 45.2 kg
• Finishes: walnut
• Cabinet construction: high-density MDF with extensive internal bracing
• S-Trax and SuperTrax positions:
  • S-Trax: 106 mm from the front edge of the cabinet
  • SuperTrax: 82 mm from the front edge of the cabinet