In this review, we will be comparing Ri71 and The Sevens, 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 Ri71 and Klipsch The Sevens first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Fluance Ri71 | Klipsch The Sevens |
|---|
| Brand | Fluance
Canada · founded 1999 | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Built-in amplifier | 120-watt RMS | 200-watt RMS (400-watt peak) |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.1" AMT | 1" Tractrix Horn |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.25" Glass fibre | 6.5" Fiber-composite |
|---|
| Frequency response | 46-30k Hz | 39-25k Hz |
|---|
| Power range | up to 120 watts | — |
|---|
| Max depth / sample rate | 24-bit / 192 kHz | 24-bit / 192 kHz |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Built-in 5.0 | Built-in 5.0 |
|---|
| App control | — | Yes |
|---|
| Weight | 6.40kg / 14.1lbs | 9.03kg / 19.9lbs |
|---|
| 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 | 16.375" x 8.125" x 13.1875"
416.0 x 207.0 x 335.0mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Ri71 and The Sevens are 2-way speakers.
Fluance Ri71Klipsch The Sevens
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 |
Klipsch The Sevens |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 6.5-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 Sevens features a 1" Titanium Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Fiber-composite Woofer.
Frequency Response
Ri71 has a frequency range of 46-30k Hz whereas The Sevens has a frequency range of 39-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 39Hz, The Sevens can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Ri71's min frequency of 46Hz.
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 The Sevens has a rear firing ports. Fluance Ri71's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Klipsch The Sevens 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 Klipsch The Sevens'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 Klipsch The Sevens has external dimensions of 416.0 x 207.0 x 335.0mm (16.375inch x 8.125inch x 13.1875inch).
Klipsch The Sevens is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 22mm wider, 106mm taller and 136mm deeper than Fluance Ri71.
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.
Klipsch The Sevens needs about 88% more floor or shelf area. Klipsch The Sevens is 136mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Klipsch The Sevens is 106mm 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 Klipsch The Sevens is approximately 693.5cm2 / 107.5inch2. The Ri71 requires 47% less surface area than The Sevens which gives it a small advantage 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 Klipsch The Sevens weighs 9.03kg / 19.9lbs. This makes The Sevens 41% heavier than the Ri71.
Here is a comparison of how Ri71 and The Sevens's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Klipsch The Sevens?
Here are the items that come with The Sevens:
- Powered speaker (Primary)
- Passive speaker (Secondary)
- 2 Grilles (pre-installed)
- 6.5-feet AC power cord
- 13-feet Proprietary speaker cable
- 6.5-feet Proprietary extension cable
- 58-inch HDMI cable
- 5-feet USB-B to USB-A cable
- Remote control
- 2 AAA batteries
- Instruction Booklet
- Need Help? Card
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Height |
310mm
vs
416mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
368cm2
vs
693cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
500USD
vs
1299USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 RCA Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via RCA input |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
39 Hz
vs
46 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 App-Based Control |
Apple iOS, Android
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
 3.5mm Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via 3.5mm AUX input |
 Phono Input |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connect your turntable directly |
 Digital Input |
Optical, HDMI
vs
No
|
Connect digital inputs directly |
| General |
Fluance Ri71 |
Klipsch The Sevens |
| Brand |
Fluance |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
46-30k Hz |
39-25k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
120-watt RMS |
200-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
n/a |
400-watt RMS |
| Max Bit Depth |
24-bit |
24-bit |
| Max Sample Rate |
192 kHz |
192 kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Glass fibre |
Fiber-composite |
| Tweeter Size |
1.1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
AMT |
Tractrix Horn |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2700Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
front |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
310.0mm (12.2") |
416.0mm (16.4") |
| Width |
185.0mm (7.3") |
207.0mm (8.1") |
| Depth |
199.0mm (7.8") |
335.0mm (13.2") |
| Weight |
6.40kg (14.1lbs) |
9.03kg (19.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF with genuine wood veneer |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Black,Walnut |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
No |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Aux Inputs |
RCA |
3.5mm |
| USB Port |
n/a |
USB-B |
| Phone Input |
No |
Yes |
| Subwoofer Output |
Wired |
mono-RCA |
| Digital Input |
No |
Optical, HDMI |
| HDMI Input |
ARC |
ARC |
| Headphone Jack |
n/a |
No |
| Ethernet Port |
n/a |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
2 Years |
1 Year |
| Labor Warranty |
2 Years |
1 Year |
These sit in different price classes - Klipsch The Sevens costs roughly 2.6x what Fluance Ri71 does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Klipsch The Sevens digs deeper - 39Hz against 46Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Built-in power | B | Klipsch The Sevens has the bigger amplifier (200W vs 120W RMS). |
| Connections | B | Klipsch The Sevens adds phono and digital inputs. |
| Size | depends | Fluance Ri71 is easier to place; Klipsch The Sevens is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Fluance Ri71: a sub output; Klipsch The Sevens: a sub output. |
| Price | A | Fluance Ri71 is cheaper - $500 against $1,299, about 62% less; arguably a different class. |
A Fluance Ri71 B Klipsch The Sevens
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: Klipsch The Sevens measures better, Fluance Ri71 costs about about 2.6x the price% 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 46Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Fluance Ri71 much easier to justify. In a large or open-plan room, Klipsch The Sevens has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Fluance Ri71 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.