In this review, we will be comparing XL8S and HFS, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Fluance.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Fluance XL8S and Fluance HFS first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Fluance XL8S | Fluance HFS |
|---|
| Brand | Fluance
Canada · founded 1999 | Fluance
Canada · founded 1999 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.25" Glass fibre | 5" Glass fibre |
|---|
| Frequency response | 50-20k Hz | 60-20k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 85 dB | 85 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 40-80 watts | 30-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 5.15kg / 11.3lbs | 4.40kg / 9.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 11-7/16" x 8-1/8" x 9"
290.0 x 206.0 x 229.0mm | 12-13/16" x 7-7/8" x 8-1/4"
325.0 x 200.0 x 209.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Fluance XL8S and Fluance HFS 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 XL8S |
Fluance HFS |
| 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.
Drivers
Both XL8S and HFS are 2-way speakers.
Fluance XL8SFluance HFS
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 XL8S |
Fluance HFS |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 5-inch
|
XL8S features a 1" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Glass fibre Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3100Hz. On the other hand, the HFS features a 1" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Glass fibre Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2300Hz.
Frequency Response
XL8S has a frequency range of 50-20k Hz whereas HFS has a frequency range of 60-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the XL8S can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the HFS's min frequency of 60Hz.
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
XL8S and HFS have the same Impedance of 8 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 85 dB.
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.
HFS can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS, whereas XL8S has a max power handling value of 80 watts RMS, 40 watts less than the HFS.
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
XL8S features Binding post type posts and HFS has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
XL8S has a rear firing port whereas HFS has a front firing ports. Fluance HFS's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Fluance XL8S 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 XL8S's and Fluance HFS's external dimensions. Fluance XL8S has external dimensions of 290.0 x 206.0 x 229.0mm (11-7/16 x 8-1/8 x 9inch) whereas Fluance HFS has external dimensions of 325.0 x 200.0 x 209.0mm (12-13/16 x 7-7/8 x 8-1/4inch).
Fluance HFS is 6mm narrower and 20mm less deeper than Fluance XL8S but it is also 35mm taller.
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 XL8S needs about 13% more floor or shelf area. Fluance XL8S is 20mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Fluance HFS is 35mm 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 XL8S is approximately 471.7cm2 / 73.1inch2 and base area of the Fluance HFS is approximately 418.0cm2 / 64.8inch2. The XL8S requires 13% more surface area than the HFS 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 XL8S weighs 5.15kg / 11.3lbs and the Fluance HFS weighs 4.40kg / 9.7lbs. This makes the XL8S 17% heavier than the HFS.
Here is a comparison of how XL8S and HFS's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
 Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
60 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
290mm
vs
325mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
180USD
vs
200USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
120 watts
vs
80 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Base Surface Area |
418cm2
vs
471cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Fluance XL8S |
Fluance HFS |
| Brand |
Fluance |
Fluance |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
40-80 watts |
30-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
85 dB |
85 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
50-20k Hz |
60-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Glass fibre |
Glass fibre |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
3100Hz |
2300Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
290.0mm (11.4") |
325.0mm (12.8") |
| Width |
206.0mm (8.1") |
200.0mm (7.9") |
| Depth |
229.0mm (9") |
209.0mm (8.2") |
| Weight |
5.15kg (11.3lbs) |
4.40kg (9.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
|
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
Lifetime |
Lifetime |
| Labor Warranty |
Lifetime |
Lifetime |
A generation apart: Fluance XL8S 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 | A | Fluance XL8S digs deeper - 50Hz against 60Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (85dB vs 85dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | B | Fluance HFS takes more power (120W vs 80W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Price | A | Fluance XL8S is cheaper - $180 against $200, about 10% less. |
A Fluance XL8S B Fluance HFS
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. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 60Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead.
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.