Important Specs Overview
Speaker type: passive, 2-way, front double ported
Continuous power handling: 36 W*
Peak power handling: 120 W*
Impedance: 8 ohms
Sensitivity: 85 dB/W/m
Frequency response range: 60 – 20k Hz
Driver size: 5 in
Unit weight: 10 lbs
Cabinet dimensions: 8 x 8 x 13 in (width x depth x height)
Warranty: lifetime
*When nominal/RMS power isn’t specified by manufacturer, we use an approximation of ~30% of the specified peak/dynamic power for comparison purposes.
Review And Discussion
Fluance’s Signature Series is their most recent and highest end complete home theater system line up. It includes an eponymous, otherwise unnamed pair of 2-way bookshelf speakers which we’re reviewing herein.
The speakers have pretty middle of the line power specs for entry level bookshelf speakers. The efficiency rating is comparatively not that great. This isn’t necessarily bad for sound quality, but it does mean these speakers might be insufficient as main speakers in a full sized home theater system. Fluance does state these are intended as side/behind surround speakers, while the tower speakers in the series are presumably intended to be the main front speakers. The bookshelf speakers would be fine in a near/mid-field desktop setting, though they would probably sound best if paired with a subwoofer – while its great that Fluance is one of the few company that actually publishes their own response curve tests, you can see from it that the volume starts to drop off considerably well above 60 Hz. This is honestly a fairly common limitation with 2-way bookshelf speakers. Fluance does make a 12 inch powered subwoofer that’s both part of the same Signature Series and sold separately (review forthcoming). Also check out the links at the end for some of our recommendations for inexpensive subwoofers.
The tweeter is a standard 1 inch metallic dome, made out of neodymium. The woofer is a woven cloth blend made with glass fiber thread – it’s a higher end material that has the sensitivity and warmth of paper drivers but is also stiffer, lighter, and less prone to wear and tear. It’s a proprietary design that we haven’t seen on any other bookshelf speaker we’ve reviewed, and a good choice if these are to be used at closer range.
The cabinet is an otherwise pretty boiler plate wood washed MDF with polygonal sides. The sheen piano front plate contrasts nicely with the uniquely yellow drivers. The all around black looks a lot better than the brown walnut in our opinion. You can also choose to protect the drivers with included foam-grill front covers. The backs have small keyhole brackets if you wish to mount them. They run a bit on the large and heavy side for the specs, but not exorbitantly so.
One great thing that distinguishes Fluance’s passive speakers is that, as of 2009, they offer a lifetime warranty which is pretty amazing for budget-tier speakers.
Our Overall Take, As Compared To The Competition
Fluance makes solid speakers and the lifetime warranty is certainly amazing, but for the time being their Signature Series bookshelf speakers are comparatively overpriced. You can get significantly more performant speakers for the same price. See the links below for some such recommendations. Or, if you really like the warranty, consider their significantly cheaper SX6 bookshelf speakers (reviewed here) – the specs are about the same, arguably superior maybe even, and they too have the same lifetime warranty. The Signature Series lineup is still pretty new, so there’s a good chance they’ll become discounted eventually.
Get the Fluance Signature Series bookshelf speakers on Amazon (affiliate link)
See our current picks for the overall best budget bookshelf speakers
