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  1. Home
  2. Powered Stereo Speakers
  3. Fluance Ai41 vs Kanto YU4

Fluance Ai41 vs Kanto YU4 Comparison

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Fluance Ai41

Powered Bookshelf | 35-20k Hz

Fluance Ai41
Check price atAmazon›
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Kanto YU4

Powered Bookshelf | 60-20k Hz

Kanto YU4
Check price atAmazon›
Fluance Ai41 Fluance Ai41
Check price atAmazon›
Kanto YU4 Kanto YU4
Check price atAmazon›
Fluance Ai41
See at AMAZON
Kanto YU4
See at AMAZON

Fluance Ai41 vs Kanto YU4 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing Ai41 and YU4, 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 YU4 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Key SpecsFluance Ai41Kanto YU4
BrandFluance
Canada · founded 1999
Kanto
Canada · founded 2007
Design2-way2-way
Built-in amplifier90-watt RMS70-watt RMS (140-watt peak)
Tweeter1" Soft Dome1" Soft-Dome
Woofer5" Woven, Glass Fiber Composite4" Kevlar
Frequency response35-20k Hz60-20k Hz
Power rangeup to 90 watts—
Max depth / sample rate16-bit / 48 kHz24-bit / 96 kHz
BluetoothBuilt-in 5.0Built-in 4.0
Weight3.37kg / 7.4lbs2.50kg / 5.5lbs
Dimensions (H x W x D)10.9" x 6.5" x 7.6"
27.7 x 16.5 x 19.3 cm
8.7" x 5.5" x 7.5"
220.0 x 140.0 x 190.0mm

The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.


**This post contains affiliate links, and we will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.


Drivers

Both Ai41 and YU4 are 2-way speakers.

Tweeter - 1 inchWoofer - 5 inch
Fluance Ai41
Tweeter - 1 inchWoofer - 4 inch
Kanto YU4

TweeterWoofer

Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.

Driver Fluance Ai41 Kanto YU4
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 YU4 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 YU4 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 YU4's min frequency of 60Hz.

The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.

Low Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

Ai41
YU4
Min
Average
Median

Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.

Cabinet Type and Port Position

Both Ai41 and YU4 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

The size of a speaker can sometimes be 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 YU4'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 YU4 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 YU4.

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 YU4 is approximately 266.0cm2 / 41.2inch2. The Ai41 requires 20% more surface area than the YU4 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 YU4 weighs 2.50kg / 5.5lbs. This makes the Ai41 35% heavier than the YU4.

Here is a comparison of how Ai41 and YU4's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Bookshelf class.

Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Fluance Ai41
Kanto YU4
Min
Average
Max

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 Control
  • 1x CR2032 Battery
  • 6ft Power Cable
  • 8ft 18 Gauge Speaker Wire
  • Quick Start Guide
  • Fluance Catalog
  • Lifetime Customer Support
  • 2 Year Manufacturer’s Warranty

What's in the Box of Kanto YU4?

Here are the items that come with the YU4:
  • Remote with Batteries
  • Power Cord
  • Speaker Wire (16′)
  • 3.5mm Auxiliary Cable (6.5′)
  • 8 x Rubber Feet
  • Manual


Reasons to choose Fluance Ai41 over Kanto YU4

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 450USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

Reasons to choose Kanto YU4 over Fluance Ai41

Height 220mm vs 277mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
Base Surface Area 266cm2 vs 318cm2 Takes less floor space
USB Port Charge only vs No USB port adds flexibility
3.5mm Connection Yes vs No Connection via 3.5mm AUX input
RCA Connection Yes vs No Connection via RCA input
Phono Input Yes vs No Connect your turntable directly

Fluance Ai41 vs Kanto YU4 Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications
General Fluance Ai41 Kanto YU4
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 96 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) 2.50kg (5.5lbs)
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 3.5mm, RCA
USB Port No Charge only
Phone Input No Yes
Subwoofer Output Wired Wired
Digital Input Optical Optical (2)
HDMI Input No No
Headphone Jack No No
Ethernet Port No No
Other
Parts Warranty 2 Years
Labor Warranty 2 Years

Verdict

These sit in different price classes - Kanto YU4 costs roughly 1.8x what Fluance Ai41 does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.

AreaBetterWhy
BassAFluance Ai41 digs deeper - 35Hz against 60Hz.
Built-in powerAFluance Ai41 has the bigger amplifier (90W vs 70W RMS).
ConnectionsBKanto YU4 adds phono.
SizedependsKanto YU4 is easier to place; Fluance Ai41 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides.
ExpandabilitydependsFluance Ai41: a sub output; Kanto YU4: a sub output.
PriceAFluance Ai41 is cheaper - $249 against $450, about 45% less; arguably a different class.

A Fluance Ai41  B Kanto YU4
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.

Which should you choose?

Fluance Ai41 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 60Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. In a large or open-plan room, Fluance Ai41 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Kanto YU4 is the easier speaker to get right.

And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.


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