Fyne Audio Cubitt 5 Review: A High-Fidelity Leap into Active Speakers with Minor Compromises

Fyne Audio Cubitt 5 Review: A High-Fidelity Leap into Active Speakers with Minor Compromises

It has taken Scottish loudspeaker manufacturer Fyne Audio less than a decade to carve out a formidable reputation in the hi-fi industry. Known primarily for engineering exceptional passive loudspeakers across a wide pricing spectrum, the company has steadily expanded its market footprint since its founding in 2017 by a team of industry veterans formerly associated with Tannoy. Until recently, however, the brand’s catalog remained strictly confined to passive designs that required external amplification. The introduction of the Fyne Audio Cubitt 5 marks a pivotal corporate milestone: the company’s very first pair of active, wireless stereo speakers.

Priced competitively at $749 in the United States, £549 in the United Kingdom, and AU$1,499 in Australia, the Cubitt 5 enters a fiercely contested sub-$750 active speaker market. It faces robust competition from established category leaders like Cambridge Audio, Ruark, and KEF. To carve out a distinct identity, Fyne Audio has drawn heavily from the advanced acoustic engineering principles seen in its considerably more expensive passive lineups, aiming to deliver high-end audiophile performance within a compact, accessible form factor.

Engineering Heritage and Key Specifications

The standout feature of the Cubitt 5 is its deployment of Fyne Audio’s proprietary "IsoFlare" driver technology. While the concept of placing a high-frequency tweeter at the acoustic center of a larger mid/bass driver is not entirely new—most famously championed by Tannoy’s Dual Concentric drivers—it remains a relative rarity in modern compact bookshelf systems.

In the Cubitt 5, this setup utilizes a 19mm titanium dome tweeter positioned precisely in the throat of a 127mm multi-fiber mid/bass driver. This configuration is engineered to create a true point-source of sound, ensuring that high and low frequencies arrive at the listener’s ear simultaneously for optimal time-alignment, superior phase coherence, and wide, uniform dispersion. Furthermore, the mid/bass driver is encircled by Fyne Audio’s signature "FyneFlute" roll surround, a fluted geometric pattern designed to effectively terminate cone energy and eliminate unwanted resonances that typically plague standard pistonic drivers.

Powering the system is a robust quad-amplifier configuration. Each individual driver is driven by its own dedicated 60-watt Class D amplifier, resulting in a formidable total system output of 240 watts. This power is housed within a rigid, beautifully crafted acoustic cabinet reinforced by a front-firing bass reflex slot. Fyne Audio claims this comprehensive electro-acoustic architecture yields a frequency response spanning from 43Hz to 34kHz, an ambitious target for a cabinet measuring just 260 x 165 x 215mm (HxWxD).

Connectivity and Physical Design

Connectivity options on the Cubitt 5 are comprehensive, centralized primarily on the back panel of the primary (left) speaker. Wireless streaming is handled via Bluetooth 5.0 with support for high-resolution aptX HD audio codecs. For physical sources, the speaker features a versatile array of inputs, including a moving magnet (MM) phono stage accessed via stereo RCA inputs for direct turntable integration, a standard line-level analog RCA input, a digital optical port for TVs or digital transports, and an HDMI ARC connection to seamlessly interface with modern flat-screen displays. All incoming digital signals are processed by an internal DAC capable of handling high-resolution audio up to 24-bit/96kHz.

Physically, the Cubitt 5 balances a discreet footprint with striking industrial design. It is available in a sophisticated palette of five distinct matte finishes: Olive Green, Arctic White, Midnight Black, Pearl Titanium, and Pebble Gray. The enclosure features gracefully curved cabinet corners and seamless construction coated in a flawless soft-touch paint. The lack of standard fabric grilles emphasizes the unique visual appeal of the brightwork surrounding the IsoFlare driver array and the sculpted front-firing bass port.

Usability, Setup, and Control Interface

Setting up the system is refreshingly straightforward, though it deviates slightly from traditional active wireless designs. While the system is active, only the primary speaker requires a direct connection to mains power. Data and power for the secondary speaker are transmitted via a supplied four-core umbilical cable that securely fastens to the rear terminals of both cabinets.

Despite this streamlined physical installation, the user experience reveals notable compromises. Unlike many modern competitors, the Cubitt 5 lacks built-in Wi-Fi streaming capabilities, omitting companion control apps or multi-room integration features. More critically, neither speaker features physical on-unit controls for volume adjustment or source switching.

Consequently, users are entirely dependent on the included remote control handset. Reviewers and industry analysts have noted that the supplied remote feels noticeably unrefined and cost-effective, contrasting sharply with the luxurious aesthetic of the speakers themselves. Furthermore, the system lacks any visual display or LED indicator matrix on the cabinets to confirm the currently selected input source or the precise volume level, forcing users to rely entirely on trial and error during playback.

Audio Performance and Listening Impressions

Once operational, the Fyne Audio Cubitt 5 delivers a sonic performance that largely justifies its ambitious engineering pedigree, though it is not without minor quirks.

Upon powering on the system—prior to playing any audio source—listeners will notice a subtle, consistent low-level hiss emanating from both speaker cabinets. While completely inaudible once music begins playing, this baseline electrical noise is a disappointing characteristic, particularly for those considering near-field or desktop placement where listening distances are minimal.

When fed actual audio content, however, the Cubitt 5 transforms into an exceptionally accomplished performer. Evaluated using a diverse range of sources—including high-resolution digital players, vinyl turntables via the integrated phono stage, and optical digital feeds—the speakers exhibit remarkable detail retrieval and expansive soundstaging.

Playing complex material, such as Julian Cope’s Peggy Suicide on vinyl, highlights the system’s ability to untangle intricate mixes without sacrificing musical cohesion. The soundstage projects significantly wider and deeper than the physical dimensions of the cabinets suggest. The midrange is particularly articulate and sweet-toned, rendering vocal performances with high levels of natural warmth and communicative authority.

At the frequency extremes, the performance is similarly compelling. While the specification sheet’s claim of a 43Hz low-frequency extension is slightly optimistic in practice, the Cubitt 5 digs considerably deeper and hits harder than expected for its compact size, maintaining strict control over transient bass hits and natural rhythmic timing. The high-end titanium tweeter delivers crisp, highly detailed highs; however, its assertive presentation can occasionally make high-frequency sibilance or plosives sound slightly forward, though it rarely crosses into outright harshness or fatigue.

Crucially, the Cubitt 5 maintains its composure under high playback volumes. Dynamic headroom is generous, allowing the system to handle sudden orchestral or electronic swells without compressing the soundstage or altering its tonal balance. Switching between a high-res phono input and a compressed wireless Bluetooth stream reveals an admirably neutral amplifier architecture that refuses to mask the character of different source components.

Market Positioning and Broader Implications

The launch of the Fyne Audio Cubitt 5 represents a critical strategic pivot for the brand. By successfully translating its passive acoustic expertise into an active, all-in-one wireless package, Fyne Audio has demonstrated its capacity to adapt to shifting consumer preferences favoring streamlined, minimalist audio solutions.

When judged purely on acoustic merit, build quality, and aesthetic execution, the Cubitt 5 easily ranks among the most capable pound-for-pound stereo speaker systems available under $750. Its ability to deliver room-filling scale, precise imaging, and robust connectivity makes it a formidable contender for living rooms, dens, and secondary audio spaces.

However, the user experience exposes lingering growing pains in Fyne Audio’s transition to active electronics. The omission of on-unit controls, the reliance on a sub-par remote control, and the presence of a baseline electrical hiss prevent the system from achieving absolute perfection. For prospective buyers prioritizing pure sonic fidelity and sophisticated design over advanced app integration or flawless control interfaces, the Fyne Audio Cubitt 5 remains an alluring, highly competent entry into the active speaker landscape.