Affordable Audio Bliss

AS A recording engineer, I've often pondered how soundbars could have become so popular, even though they typically sacrifice the sound quality and true stereo imaging attained by fullrange speakers.

- By Leslie Shapiro

I know the answer is because they're so convenient, usually self-powered, and easy to connect to a TV. But is there a solution with a more realistic soundstage that also provides the same features and connectivity? Enter the Fluance Ai81 floorstanding, powered speakers with a multitude of input options.

The Ai81 speakers, priced at $499 MSRP, offer an affordable option for bringing full stereo sound and convenience to any budget home theater or listening room. Each speaker, measuring 37.8" in height, 8.5" in width and 10.24" in depth, boasts two 6.5" woven fiber-glass drivers with butyl rubber surrounds and a 1" silk neodymium dome tweeter. Additionally, there is a down-firing bass port, and each speaker sits on four feet that raise it off the ground by about an inch. The speakers are powered by an internal 150-watt Class D amplifier with passive crossovers set at 2200 Hz that Fluance claims to be enhanced by DSP. The frequency response, also claimed to be DSP enhanced, ranges from 30 Hz to 20 kHz. Furthermore, there is a subwoofer output with a fixed low-pass 80 Hz crossover.

The speakers' MDF cabinets are internally braced and possess a subtle woodgrain appearance. The cabinets' top edge is rounded on two sides to enhance their appearance, and the speakers are sold without a speaker grille. They are offered in four finishes, namely Black Ash, Natural Walnut with a black front panel, Lucky Bamboo (with a white front panel), and White Walnut (also with a white front panel). It's worth noting that the drivers are black in all four color options.