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.
| Key Specs | Fluance Ai61 | Fluance Ai41 |
|---|
| Brand | Fluance
Canada · founded 1999 | Fluance
Canada · founded 1999 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Built-in amplifier | 120-watt RMS | 90-watt RMS |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft Dome | 1" Soft Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Woven, Glass Fiber Composite | 5" Woven, Glass Fiber Composite |
|---|
| Frequency response | 32-20k Hz | 35-20k Hz |
|---|
| Power range | up to 120 watts | up to 90 watts |
|---|
| Max depth / sample rate | 16-bit / 48 kHz | 16-bit / 48 kHz |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Built-in 5.0 | Built-in 5.0 |
|---|
| Weight | 5.96kg / 13.1lbs | 3.37kg / 7.4lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 13.1" x 7.8" x 9.2"
33.3 x 19.8 x 23.4 cm | 10.9" x 6.5" x 7.6"
27.7 x 16.5 x 19.3 cm |
|---|
Ai61 and Ai41 are members of Fluance's Ai series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
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Drivers
Both Ai61 and Ai41 are 2-way speakers.
Fluance Ai61Fluance Ai41
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 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.
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
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.
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Ai61 can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS, whereas Ai41 has a max power handling value of 90 watts RMS, 30 watts less than the Ai61.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
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
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 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 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 Fluance Ai41?
Here are the items that come with the 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
 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
vs
463cm2
|
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 |
|
|
Siblings in Fluance's Ai series, so they share a family sound. It comes down to size, output and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Fluance Ai61 digs deeper - 32Hz against 35Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Built-in power | A | Fluance Ai61 has the bigger amplifier (120W vs 90W RMS). |
| Connections | evenly matched | The same set of inputs and streaming options. |
| Size | depends | Fluance Ai41 is easier to place; Fluance Ai61 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Fluance Ai61: a sub output; Fluance Ai41: a sub output. |
| Price | B | Fluance Ai41 is cheaper - $249 against $299, about 17% less. |
A Fluance Ai61 B Fluance Ai41
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?
The usual trade-off: Fluance Ai61 measures better, Fluance Ai41 costs about about 20% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. In a large or open-plan room, Fluance Ai61 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Fluance Ai41 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.