Fluance XL8S is a 2-way Passive Bass Reflex Bookshelf speaker by Fluance. It was released in August 2020. It features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Glass fibre Woofer.
The Reference bookshelf: 5.25 inch woven glass-fibre cone, 1 inch neodymium silk dome, vented cabinet, wall-mount keyholes built in.
The speaker has a frequency range of 50-20k Hz and a sensitivity of 85 dB. Fluance XL8S has an MSRP of 180$ per pair.
Room Size Suitability
The size of the room where you plan to use the Fluance XL8S is a crucial factor in your decision. We have assessed its suitability for various room sizes based on its dimensions and maximum power output:
| Listening Environment* |
Suitability |
| Near-field | Good |
| Small Room | Good |
| Mid-size Room | Average |
| Large Room | Poor |
| Very Large Room | 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.)
Fluance's Reference Series of Loudspeakers
XL8S is a member of Fluance's Reference series of Passive speakers. Below you can see the main specs of these speakers.
Fluance Reference Series Speakers
**This post contains affiliate links, and we will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Frequency Response of the Fluance XL8S Speaker
Fluance XL8S has a Frequency response range of 50-20k Hz at ±3dB and Power Range of 40-80 watts. With a minimum frequency of 50 Hz, XL8S delivers moderate bass depth so depending on your use case, you might want to consider adding a subwoofer to your system.
Here we have a comparison of how XL8S's Low frequency value compares with the average, max and min Low frequency values in its class.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Thinking about a subwoofer for the Fluance XL8S?
Crossover frequency of the Fluance XL8S?
The Crossover frequency of the XL8S is set to 3100Hz. This is the threshold frequency where the higher frequency signals over this level are sent to the tweeter and the lower-frequency signals are sent to the woofer by the crossover component.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Fluance XL8S's nominal impedance level is
8 ohms and has a sensitivity of
85 dB.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
8 Ohms is pretty much the standard nominal impedance amongst stereo speakers and amplifiers so Fluance XL8S is not considered a difficult to drive speaker from nominal Impedance perspective.
Sensitivity
With a sensitivity level of only 85 dB, Fluance XL8S is a difficult to drive speaker from Sensitivity perspective, make sure to choose an amplifier with a high output if you like listening to your music at high volume levels. You may especially have a hard time using Tube amplifiers which are traditionally very low power compared to Class A/B or Class D amps. Work out how loud the Fluance XL8S plays in your room →
What amplifier does the Fluance XL8S need?
At normal listening levels in a medium room, about
24–80 W
per channel into 8 ohms.
Set your own conditions and we will rank every amplifier we cover.
Prefer to browse? Integrated amplifiers under $300, or every amplifier we cover.
Input Type
XL8S features Binding post type connectors. Bi-amping and Bi-wiring are not possible.
Work out what gauge speaker cable this run needs →
Fluance XL8S External Dimensions and Weight
Fluance XL8S has external dimensions of (Height x Width x Depth) 11-7/16 x 8-1/8 x 9inch (290.0 x 206.0 x 229.0mm ).
Base Surface Area
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base area of Fluance XL8S is approximately 471.7cm2 / 73.1inch2.
Find speakers that fit your shelf or alcove → · Work out where they should sit in the room →
WeightThe Fluance XL8S weighs 5.15kg / 11.3lbs per piece. Here is a comparison of how XL8S's weight compares with the average, max and min weights in its class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Weight
Bookshelf Speakers under $300
Cabinet type and Materials
Fluance XL8S has a
Bass Reflex type cabinet. Bass Reflex type loudspeakers (aka Ported, Vented or Reflex Port) have enclosures that uses a port, hole or vent cut into the cabinet. Ported designs are generally more efficient than the Sealed designs.
Port Position
Fluance XL8S is a rear-firing port speaker so you have to make sure you leave enough space between the back of the speaker and wall or bookshelf so that it has room to breathe.
Wall Mounting
XL8S doesn't sport any built-in mounting bracket, so you need an external structure to mount it on walls.
Does the Fluance XL8S come with a Grille?
XL8S comes with grilles. The purpose of the grille is to protect the delicate driver elements from external impacts while still allowing the sound to pass as clearly as possible.
Recommended Accessories
Here is a list of accessories that we think you may need for the Fluance XL8S.
- Speaker Cable and Connectors
- Vibration Isolators: IsoAcoustics isolators are our favorite isolators but you may find more affordable options too.
- Acoustic Panels and Treatments: Your room is as important as your stereo equipment so acoustic treatments goes a long way in improving the overall performance.
- Speaker Stands: Stands bring your bookshelf speakers to ideal height (rule of thumb is to have the tweeter level with your ear in your listening position), helps stability and acoustical isolation.
Official Product Page
Official manufacturer's product page for the Fluance XL8S speaker can be found below:
Official Product Page for Fluance XL8S
Warranty
Lifetime of parts warranty and Lifetime of labor warranty is generally provided by the manufacturer.