In this review, we will be comparing Ai61 and R-51PM, two Powered Bookshelf speakers from Fluance and Klipsch. 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 Klipsch R-51PM first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Fluance Ai61 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 120-watt RMS Integrated Amplifier
- 1" Soft Dome Tweeter
- 6.5" Woven, Glass Fiber Composite Woofer
- 32-20k Hz Frequency Response
- Power Range:up to 120watts
- 16-bit Max Depth / 48 kHz Max Sample Rate
- Built-in 5.0 Bluetooth
- Weight:5.96kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 333.0" x 7.8" x 9.2"( 33.3 x 19.8 x 23.4 cm )
Klipsch R-51PM Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 120-watt RMS( 240-watt Peak) Integrated Amplifier
- 1.0" Tractrix Horn Tweeter
- 5.25" Copper-spun IMG Woofer
- 68-21k Hz Frequency Response
- 24-bit Max Depth / 96 kHz Max Sample Rate
- Built-in 3.0 Bluetooth
- Weight:4.80kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 330.2" x 7.0625" x 10.25"( 330.2 x 179.4 x 260.3mm )
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Fluance Ai61 and Klipsch R-51PM 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 R-51PM are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Fluance Ai61 |
Klipsch R-51PM |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.0-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 5.25-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 R-51PM features a 1.0" Aluminum LTS Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Copper-spun IMG Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1663Hz.
Frequency Response
Ai61 has a frequency range of 32-20k Hz whereas R-51PM has a frequency range of 68-21k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 32Hz, the Ai61 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R-51PM's min frequency of 68Hz.
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 Ai61 and R-51PM 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 Klipsch R-51PM'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 Klipsch R-51PM has external dimensions of 330.2 x 179.4 x 260.3mm ( 13 x 7.0625 x 10.25inch) .
Klipsch R-51PM is 18.6mm narrower and 2.8mm shorter than Fluance Ai61 but it is also 26.3mm deeper.
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 Klipsch R-51PM is approximately 467.0cm2 / 72.4inch2. The Ai61 requires 1% less surface area than the R-51PM which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.