In this review, we will be comparing SXBP2 and SX6, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Fluance.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Fluance SXBP2 and Fluance SX6 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Fluance SXBP2 | Fluance SX6 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Dome | 1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 4" Polymer treated | 5" Polymer treated |
|---|
| Frequency response | 130-20k Hz | 60-20k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-100 watts | 30-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 3.40kg / 7.5lbs | 5.10kg / 11.2lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 10-3/8" x 11-7/16" x 6"
264.0 x 290.0 x 152.0mm | 12-11/16" x 8-3/8" x 9-3/4"
322.0 x 213.0 x 248.0mm |
|---|
SXBP2 and SX6 are members of Fluance's Elite series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Fluance Elite Series
History
|
Model |
Body |
Frequency |
Sensitivity | Impedance | Woofer |
 |
Fluance SX6
|
Bookshelf |
60-20k Hz |
89 dB | 8Ω |
1 x 5"
|
 |
Fluance SXBP2
|
Bookshelf |
130-20k Hz |
88 dB | 8Ω |
2 x 4"
|
What size room are the Fluance SXBP2 and Fluance SX6 speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
Fluance SXBP2 |
Fluance SX6 |
| Near-field |
Good |
Good |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
No way |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
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 SXBP2 and SX6 are 2-way speakers.
Fluance SXBP2Fluance SX6
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 SXBP2 |
Fluance SX6 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 4-inch
|
1 x 5-inch
|
SXBP2 features a 1" Fabric Dome Tweeter and 2 x 4" Polymer treated Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 4000Hz. On the other hand, the SX6 features a 1" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Polymer treated Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3500Hz.
Frequency Response
SXBP2 has a frequency range of 130-20k Hz whereas SX6 has a frequency range of 60-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 60Hz, the SX6 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the SXBP2's min frequency of 130Hz.
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.
Impedance and Sensitivity
SXBP2 and SX6 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. SXBP2 sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the SX6's is at 89 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Fluance SX6 a more sensitive speaker compared to Fluance SXBP2, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf 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.
Both handle the same maximum of 100 watts RMS, though SXBP2 is rated 20-100 watts and SX6 30-100 watts.
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
SXBP2 features Binding post type posts and SX6 has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
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 SXBP2's and Fluance SX6's external dimensions. Fluance SXBP2 has external dimensions of 264.0 x 290.0 x 152.0mm (10-3/8 x 11-7/16 x 6inch) whereas Fluance SX6 has external dimensions of 322.0 x 213.0 x 248.0mm (12-11/16 x 8-3/8 x 9-3/4inch).
Fluance SXBP2 is 58mm shorter and 96mm less deeper than Fluance SX6 but it is also 77mm wider.
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 SXBP2 is approximately 440.8cm2 / 68.3inch2 and base area of the Fluance SX6 is approximately 528.2cm2 / 81.9inch2. The SXBP2 requires 17% less surface area than the SX6 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 SXBP2 weighs 3.40kg / 7.5lbs and the Fluance SX6 weighs 5.10kg / 11.2lbs. This makes the SX6 50% heavier than the SXBP2.
Here is a comparison of how SXBP2 and SX6's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
 Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
 Height |
264mm
vs
322mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
440cm2
vs
528cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
|
Woofer Size |
5 inches
vs
4 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
60 Hz
vs
130 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
Fluance SXBP2 |
Fluance SX6 |
| Brand |
Fluance |
Fluance |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
20-100 watts |
30-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
130-20k Hz |
60-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
4" |
5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polymer treated |
Polymer treated |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
4000Hz |
3500Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
264.0mm (10.4") |
322.0mm (12.7") |
| Width |
290.0mm (11.4") |
213.0mm (8.4") |
| Depth |
152.0mm (6") |
248.0mm (9.8") |
| Weight |
3.40kg (7.5lbs) |
5.10kg (11.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Bass Reflex |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
|
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
Lifetime |
Lifetime |
| Labor Warranty |
Lifetime |
Lifetime |
Siblings in Fluance's Elite series, so they share a family sound. It comes down to size, output and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass |
B |
Fluance SX6 digs deeper - 60Hz against 130Hz. |
| Amplifier needs |
evenly matched |
Similar sensitivity (88dB vs 89dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom |
evenly matched |
Similar power handling (100W vs 100W). |
| Size |
depends |
Fluance SXBP2 is easier to place; Fluance SX6 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Cabinet |
depends |
Sealed vs Ported. Sealed is tighter and happier near a wall; ported digs lower but wants space behind it. |
| Price |
evenly matched |
Much the same money ($150 vs $150 a pair). |
A Fluance SXBP2
B Fluance SX6
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, placement 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?
Fluance SX6 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 130Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. In a large or open-plan room, Fluance SX6 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Fluance SXBP2 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.