In this review, we will be comparing HFF and Concord, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Fluance and KLH.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Fluance HFF and KLH Concord first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Fluance HFF | KLH Concord |
|---|
| Brand | Fluance
Canada · founded 1999 | KLH
United States · founded 1957 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 1" |
|---|
| Midrange | 5" | — |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 8" Polypropylene | 2 x 6.5" Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 35-20k Hz | 28-23k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89 dB | 94 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 90-200 watts | up to 225 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 28.30kg / 62.3lbs | 20.45kg / 45lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 47-5/16" x 10-7/8" x 15-3/8"
1201.0 x 277.0 x 391.0mm | 40-3/8" x 8-5/16" x 14-15/16"
1026.0 x 212.0 x 380.0mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that HFF is a 3-way design whereas the Concord is a 2-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
Fluance HFFKLH Concord
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Fluance HFF |
KLH Concord |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 8-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
HFF features a 1" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter, a 5" Midrange and 2 x 8" Polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 530Hz and 2600Hz. On the other hand, the Concord features a 1" anodized aluminum Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Kevlar Woofer.
Frequency Response
HFF has a frequency range of 35-20k Hz whereas Concord has a frequency range of 28-23k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 28Hz, the Concord can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the HFF'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 Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing 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.
Impedance and Sensitivity
HFF and Concord have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. HFF sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the Concord's is at 94 dB. This 5 dB difference makes the KLH Concord a more sensitive speaker compared to Fluance HFF, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
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.
Concord can handle a max power of 225 watts RMS, whereas HFF has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS, 25 watts less than the Concord.
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.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
HFF features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Concord has a 5-Way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
KLH Concord's 5-Way post terminals
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 HFF's and KLH Concord's external dimensions. Fluance HFF has external dimensions of 1201.0 x 277.0 x 391.0mm (47-5/16 x 10-7/8 x 15-3/8inch) whereas KLH Concord has external dimensions of 1026.0 x 212.0 x 380.0mm (40-3/8 x 8-5/16 x 14-15/16inch).
Fluance HFF is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 65mm wider, 175mm taller and 11mm deeper than KLH Concord.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Fluance HFF needs about 34% more floor or shelf area. Fluance HFF is 175mm taller.
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 HFF is approximately 1083.1cm2 / 167.9inch2 and base area of the KLH Concord is approximately 805.6cm2 / 124.9inch2. The HFF requires 34% more surface area than the Concord 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 HFF weighs 28.30kg / 62.3lbs and the KLH Concord weighs 20.45kg / 45lbs. This makes the HFF 38% heavier than the Concord.
Here is a comparison of how HFF and Concord's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of KLH Concord?
Here are the items that come with the Concord:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille
- 4 Spike feet (w/ locking nut attached)
- 4 Protective discs
- 4 Rubber feet
- Port plug
- Manual
- ATTENTION! note
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Price per pair* |
800USD
vs
1000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
225 watts
vs
200 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
94 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
|
Low Frequency Response |
28 Hz
vs
35 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
23k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
1026mm
vs
1201mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
805cm2
vs
1083cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Fluance HFF |
KLH Concord |
| Brand |
Fluance |
KLH |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
90-200 watts |
up to 225 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
94 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
35-20k Hz |
28-23k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene |
Kevlar |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Butyl Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5" |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
530Hz and 2600Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1201.0mm (47.3") |
1026.0mm (40.4") |
| Width |
277.0mm (10.9") |
212.0mm (8.3") |
| Depth |
391.0mm (15.4") |
380.0mm (15") |
| Weight |
28.30kg (62.3lbs) |
20.45kg (45lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
Lifetime |
10 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
Lifetime |
10 Years |
A generation apart: KLH Concord is the newer design, against a 2016 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | KLH Concord digs deeper - 28Hz against 35Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | B | KLH Concord is more sensitive (94dB vs 89dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (200W vs 225W). |
| Size | depends | KLH Concord is easier to place; Fluance HFF is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | A | Fluance HFF: bi-amping. |
| Price | A | Fluance HFF is cheaper - $800 against $1,000, about 20% less. |
A Fluance HFF B KLH Concord
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: KLH Concord measures better, Fluance HFF costs about about 25% 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. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 35Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Fluance HFF much easier to justify. In a large or open-plan room, Fluance HFF has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, KLH Concord 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.