In this review, we will be comparing Ai41 and YU, two Powered Bookshelf speakers from Fluance and Kanto. Being Powered speakers, they both have built-in amplifiers so you don't need an external power amp or an integrated amp to power them. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Fluance Ai41 and Kanto YU first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Fluance Ai41 and Kanto YU compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
Both Ai41 and YU are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Fluance Ai41 |
Kanto YU |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5-inch
|
1 x 4-inch
|
Ai41 features a 1" Silk Neodymium Ferrofluid Cooled Soft Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Woven, Glass Fiber Composite Woofer . On the other hand, the YU features a 1" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4" Kevlar Woofer .
Frequency Response
Ai41 has a frequency range of 35-20k Hz whereas YU has a frequency range of 60-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 35Hz, the Ai41 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the YU's min frequency of 60Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Ai41 and YU have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Fluance Ai41's and Kanto YU's external dimensions. Fluance Ai41 has external dimensions of 27.7 x 16.5 x 19.3 cm ( 10.9 x 6.5 x 7.6 inches) whereas Kanto YU has external dimensions of 220.0 x 140.0 x 190.0mm ( 8.7 x 5.5 x 7.5inch) .
Fluance Ai41 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 25mm wider, 57mm taller and 3mm deeper than Kanto YU.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the Fluance Ai41 is approximately 318.0cm2 / 49.3inch2 and base area of the Kanto YU is approximately 266.0cm2 / 41.2inch2. The Ai41 requires 20% more surface area than the YU which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The Fluance Ai41 weighs 3.37kg / 7.4lbs and the Kanto YU weighs 2.40kg / 5.3lbs. This makes the Ai41 40% heavier than the YU.
Here is a comparison of how Ai41 and YU's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Fluance Ai41?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Ai41:
Ai41 Powered Bookshelf Speakers (pair)Remote Control1x CR2032 Battery6ft Power Cable8ft 18 Gauge Speaker WireQuick Start GuideFluance CatalogLifetime Customer Support2 Year Manufacturer’s Warranty
What's in the Box of Kanto YU?
Here are the items that come with the YU:
Remote with Batteries Power Cord Speaker Wire (16-feet) 8 x Rubber Feet Manual
 Woofer Size |
5 inches
vs
4 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
35 Hz
vs
60 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Price per pair* |
249USD
vs
300USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 RCA Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via RCA input |
 Digital Input |
Optical
vs
No
|
Connect digital inputs directly |
 Height |
220mm
vs
277mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
266cm2 (140x190mm)
vs
318cm2 (165x193mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
| RCA Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via RCA input |
| General |
Fluance Ai41 |
Kanto YU |
| Brand |
Fluance |
Kanto |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
35-20k Hz |
60-20k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
90-watt RMS |
70-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
n/a |
140-watt RMS |
| Max Bit Depth |
16-bit |
24-bit |
| Max Sample Rate |
48 kHz |
192 kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
4" |
| Woofer Composition |
Woven, Glass Fiber Composite |
Kevlar |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Butyl Rubber |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft Dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
277.0mm (10.9") |
220.0mm (8.7") |
| Width |
165.0mm (6.5") |
140.0mm (5.5") |
| Depth |
193.0mm (7.6") |
190.0mm (7.5") |
| Weight |
3.37kg (7.4lbs) |
2.40kg (5.3lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
bass reflex |
| Finish |
MDF wood |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Black Ash,Lucky Bamboo,White Walnut, Natural Walnut |
n/a |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Aux Inputs |
RCA |
RCA |
| USB Port |
No |
No |
| Phone Input |
No |
No |
| Subwoofer Output |
Wired |
Wired |
| Digital Input |
Optical |
No |
| HDMI Input |
No |
No |
| Headphone Jack |
No |
No |
| Ethernet Port |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
2 years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
2 years |