In this review, we will be comparing Ri71 and YU6, 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 Ri71 and Kanto YU6 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Fluance Ri71 | Kanto YU6 |
|---|
| Brand | Fluance
Canada · founded 1999 | Kanto
Canada · founded 2007 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Built-in amplifier | 120-watt RMS | 100-watt RMS |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.1" AMT | 1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.25" Glass fibre | 5.25" Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 46-30k Hz | 50-20k Hz |
|---|
| Power range | up to 120 watts | — |
|---|
| Max depth / sample rate | 24-bit / 192 kHz | 24-bit / 96 kHz |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Built-in 5.0 | Built-in 4.0 |
|---|
| Weight | 6.40kg / 14.1lbs | 4.00kg / 8.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 12-3/16" x 7-5/16" x 7-13/16"
310.0 x 185.0 x 199.0mm | 10.7" x 6.9" x 8.1"
272.0 x 175.0 x 205.0mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Ri71 and YU6 are 2-way speakers.
Fluance Ri71Kanto YU6
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 Ri71 |
Kanto YU6 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
Ri71 features a 1.1" Air Motion Transformer AMT Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Glass fibre Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2700Hz. On the other hand, the YU6 features a 1" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Kevlar Woofer.
Frequency Response
Ri71 has a frequency range of 46-30k Hz whereas YU6 has a frequency range of 50-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 46Hz, the Ri71 can go slightly deeper then the YU6's min frequency of 50Hz.
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.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Ri71 has a front firing port whereas YU6 has a rear firing ports. Fluance Ri71's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Kanto YU6 with its rear-firing port.
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 Ri71's and Kanto YU6's external dimensions. Fluance Ri71 has external dimensions of 310.0 x 185.0 x 199.0mm (12-3/16 x 7-5/16 x 7-13/16inch) whereas Kanto YU6 has external dimensions of 272.0 x 175.0 x 205.0mm (10.7 x 6.9 x 8.1inch).
Kanto YU6 is 10mm narrower and 38mm shorter than Fluance Ri71 but it is also 6mm deeper.
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.
Near-identical footprints. Fluance Ri71 is 38mm 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 Ri71 is approximately 368.2cm2 / 57.1inch2 and base area of the Kanto YU6 is approximately 358.8cm2 / 55.6inch2. The Ri71 requires 3% more surface area than the YU6 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 Ri71 weighs 6.40kg / 14.1lbs and the Kanto YU6 weighs 4.00kg / 8.8lbs. This makes the Ri71 60% heavier than the YU6.
Here is a comparison of how Ri71 and YU6's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Kanto YU6?
Here are the items that come with the YU6:
- Remote with Batteries
- Power Cord
- Speaker Wire (16′)
- 3.5mm Auxiliary Cable (6.5′)
- 8 x Rubber Feet
- Manual
 Low Frequency Response |
46 Hz
vs
50 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Price per pair* |
500USD
vs
540USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 HDMI Input |
ARC
vs
No
|
Connect HDMI sources directly |
 Height |
272mm
vs
310mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
358cm2
vs
368cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 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 |
 Digital Input |
Optical (2)
vs
No
|
Connect digital inputs directly |
| General |
Fluance Ri71 |
Kanto YU6 |
| Brand |
Fluance |
Kanto |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
46-30k Hz |
50-20k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
120-watt RMS |
100-watt RMS |
| Max Bit Depth |
24-bit |
24-bit |
| Max Sample Rate |
192 kHz |
96 kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Glass fibre |
Kevlar |
| Tweeter Size |
1.1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
AMT |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2700Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
front |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
310.0mm (12.2") |
272.0mm (10.7") |
| Width |
185.0mm (7.3") |
175.0mm (6.9") |
| Depth |
199.0mm (7.8") |
205.0mm (8.1") |
| Weight |
6.40kg (14.1lbs) |
4.00kg (8.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
bass reflex |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
No |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Aux Inputs |
RCA |
3.5mm, RCA |
| USB Port |
n/a |
Charge only |
| Phone Input |
No |
Yes |
| Subwoofer Output |
Wired |
Wired |
| Digital Input |
No |
Optical (2) |
| HDMI Input |
ARC |
No |
| Headphone Jack |
n/a |
No |
| Ethernet Port |
n/a |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
2 Years |
2 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
2 Years |
2 Years |
A generation apart: Fluance Ri71 is the newer design, against a 2017 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Fluance Ri71 digs deeper - 46Hz against 50Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Built-in power | evenly matched | Similar onboard amplification (120W vs 100W RMS). |
| Connections | B | Fluance Ri71 adds HDMI; Kanto YU6 adds phono and digital inputs. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | Fluance Ri71: a sub output; Kanto YU6: a sub output. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($500 vs $540 a pair). |
A Fluance Ri71 B Kanto YU6
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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it.
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.