In this review, we will be comparing Ai61 and Ai41, two Powered Bookshelf speakers by Fluance 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 Ai61 and Fluance Ai41 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Ai61 and Ai41 are members of Fluance's Ai series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Fluance Ai61 and Fluance Ai41 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 Ai61 and Ai41 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Fluance Ai61 |
Fluance Ai41 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 5-inch
|
Ai61 features a 1" Silk Neodymium Ferrofluid Cooled Soft Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Woven, Glass Fiber Composite Woofer . On the other hand, the Ai41 features a 1" Silk Neodymium Ferrofluid Cooled Soft Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Woven, Glass Fiber Composite Woofer .
Frequency Response
Ai61 has a frequency range of 32-20k Hz whereas Ai41 has a frequency range of 35-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 32Hz, the Ai61 can go slightly deeper then the Ai41's min frequency of 35Hz.
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.
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. While using an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
Ai61 can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Ai41 has a max power handling value of 90 watts RMS, 30 watts less than the Ai61.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Ai61 and Ai41 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 Ai61's and Fluance Ai41's external dimensions. Fluance Ai61 has external dimensions of 33.3 x 19.8 x 23.4 cm ( 13.1 x 7.8 x 9.2 inches) whereas Fluance Ai41 has external dimensions of 27.7 x 16.5 x 19.3 cm ( 10.9 x 6.5 x 7.6 inches) .
Fluance Ai61 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 33mm wider, 56mm taller and 41mm deeper than Fluance Ai41.
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 Ai61 is approximately 463.0cm2 / 71.8inch2 and base area of the Fluance Ai41 is approximately 318.0cm2 / 49.3inch2. The Ai61 requires 46% more surface area than the Ai41 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 Ai61 weighs 5.96kg / 13.1lbs and the Fluance Ai41 weighs 3.37kg / 7.4lbs. This makes the Ai61 77% heavier than the Ai41.
Here is a comparison of how Ai61 and Ai41'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 Ai61?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Ai61:
Ai61 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 Fluance Ai41?
Here are the items that come with the 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
 Max Input Power |
120 watts
vs
90 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
32 Hz
vs
35 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 USB Port |
USB-C
vs
No
|
USB port adds flexibility |
 RCA Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via RCA input |
 Height |
277mm
vs
333mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
318cm2 (165x193mm)
vs
463cm2 (198x234mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
249USD
vs
299USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| RCA Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via RCA input |
| General |
Fluance Ai61 |
Fluance Ai41 |
| Brand |
Fluance |
Fluance |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Power Range |
up to 120 watts |
up to 90 watts |
| Frequency Response |
32-20k Hz |
35-20k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
120-watt RMS |
90-watt RMS |
| Max Bit Depth |
16-bit |
16-bit |
| Max Sample Rate |
48 kHz |
48 kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Woven, Glass Fiber Composite |
Woven, Glass Fiber Composite |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Butyl Rubber |
Butyl Rubber |
| 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 |
333.0mm (13.1") |
277.0mm (10.9") |
| Width |
198.0mm (7.8") |
165.0mm (6.5") |
| Depth |
234.0mm (9.2") |
193.0mm (7.6") |
| Weight |
5.96kg (13.1lbs) |
3.37kg (7.4lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF wood |
MDF wood |
| Available Colors |
Black Ash,Lucky Bamboo,White Walnut, Natural Walnut |
Black Ash,Lucky Bamboo,White Walnut, Natural Walnut |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Aux Inputs |
RCA |
RCA |
| USB Port |
USB-C |
No |
| Phone Input |
No |
No |
| Subwoofer Output |
Wired |
Wired |
| Digital Input |
Optical |
Optical |
| HDMI Input |
No |
No |
| Headphone Jack |
No |
No |
| Ethernet Port |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
|
| Labor Warranty |
|
|