Fluance Ri71 Reference Powered Bookshelf Speakers

Anyone who reads my articles knows that I am a fan of Fluance. They are proving themselves a disruptor in the “audiophile” circles by offering products that outperform their rivals, and leave lots of money in your wallet. Well, Fluance has done it again and updated their Ai41 powered speakers with the Fluance Ri71 Reference powered bookshelf speakers. At $399, they offer more power, more connection options, and an updated AMT (air motion transfer) tweeter! Let’s discuss.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Integrated 120W Class D amplifier (60W per channel)
• Bluetooth 5.0 aptX HD support for HiRes wireless streaming
• HDMI ARC, RCA, and subwoofer outputs
• Separate tone controls for bass/treble
• 1.1 x 1.3-inch AMT tweeter
• 5.25-inch woven glass fiber midrange driver
• MDF cabinets with front-firing bass ports
• Compact size suitable for various room setups.

Cons:

• No speaker grilles included, potentially exposing drivers to damage
• No dedicated app for remote control or settings adjustment (not a deal breaker)
• No built-in phono preamp for direct turntable connection

What’s Included in the Box

Upon unboxing the Fluance Ri71 speakers, users will find:

• Two powered bookshelf speakers (one active, one passive).
• A remote control with batteries
• A 6-foot power cable
• An 8-foot 18-gauge speaker wire
• A quick start guide for easy setup
• Lifetime customer support
• A 2-year manufacturer’s warranty

Specs

Build Quality

The Fluance Ri71 Reference powered bookshelf speakers look good, full stop. They are offered in three colors, black ash, walnut, and white, allowing them to blend into nearly any decor. Each features a white 5″ mid-range driver, MDF cabinets, and a front-firing port. The new AMT tweeter is nestled into a decidedly horn-like waveguide. There is no speaker grille available, so you are now a speaker grille off kinda person!

The back of the right speaker houses all the controls and connections. This includes the 120w amplifier, 5-way binding posts, separate bass treble controls, Bluetooth connect, HDMI ARC, RCA, volume/source select knob, and a subwoofer pre-out! Fluance did away with the optical input, but I will argue that the HDMI ARC port gives you more versatility. And since it is Fluance, there is a turntable ground lug in case you have one of their RT81 turntables with a built-in preamp!

As I mentioned, the cabinets are made from MDF, so they are solidly made and have a nice, inert thud when you knock on them. This means that they should be relatively resonance-free. Plus, the front-firing port allows for versatility in placement. If you are pressed for space, you can get them closer to a wall without worrying about perfect placement.

I keep forgetting that these are a $399 speaker when I look at them. The fit and finish is superb, and they truly punch well above their weight. Fluance really is setting the bar for products that outperform their much more expensive rivals.

Connections And Controls

The Fluance Ri71 Reference powered bookshelf speakers give you numerous options for connecting your devices. Most folk’s primary connection will be the Bluetooth 5 connection. It offers aptX HD support, which allows the highest quality bitrates from your source. Connecting the device is a snap and consists of selecting the Bluetooth input, pressing the connect button, and finding it on your device. I judge every product on if I need to read the directions to make it work. Spoiler alert, I haven’t looked at it. It’s dead simple.

RCA is as simple as connecting red and white inputs and using the remote or knob on top to cycle to the right source. There is no phono pre-amp built into the speaker, but you can only expect so much for $399. Most folks either have a turntable with a built-in phono stage or have their own.

The included HDMI ARC port makes the Fluance Ri71 Reference powered bookshelf speakers a viable soundbar killer. As long as your TV supports ARC, you are good. I hooked it up to my LG B9 (it supports ARC and eARC) and it did all the magic for me. On our older Samsung TV, I had to tinker with the settings to get it to output to ARC. The major gripe I always have with soundbars is the lack of separation. In my opinion, a soundbar is essentially a single mono speaker. With the Fluance Ri71, you can get true stereo separation in a 2.0 or 2.1 configuration.

The inclusion of physical controls and a remote is a welcome change. The main knob gets triple duty. Holding it down turns the unit on/off. A single press changes sources, and turning it adjusts the volume up/down. The tone knobs allow for +/- 6dB of gain for treble and bass. The remote allows you to do all that, plus a mute function.

Sound Quality

With a new speaker and new AMT tweeter, I expected a lot from these speakers. However, before I begin, let’s get this out of the way. What is an AMT tweeter and why should I care?

Well, instead of using a traditional cone, like in regular tweeters, an AMT tweeter uses a thin, folded diaphragm that moves air in a way that allows it to produce a clear, fast response and detailed sound. In theory, the AMT tweeter “should” be less shrill than a traditional tweeter at all volumes. But was that the reality?

AMT Tweeter

I can confirm that the AMT tweeter in the new Fluance Ri71 Reference powered bookshelf speakers is FAR more detailed than the Fluance Ai81 powered tower speakers I tested last year. The 1.1 x 1.3-inch AMT tweeter delivered high-frequency clarity and wider off-axis dispersion. It is by far the standout feature of these new speakers!

I’ve mentioned this in many of my reviews, but I am particularly sensitive to high frequencies, and an overly “bright” speaker (exaggerated high frequencies) makes me tap out quickly! I spent many evenings listening to these and didn’t get a hint of listener fatigue.

One of my favorite test songs for tweeters is Adagio For Strings by Samuel Barber. It’s a combo of sweeping tones that can stress out a tweeter and make the stringed instruments sound shrill. Not the case with the AMT tweeters. Smooth as silk, no matter the volume. And my beloved jazz? I am happy to report that all of my jazz standards like Take Five By The Dave Brubeck Quartet, or anything by Miles Davis are superb.  

No matter the genre I threw at the Fluance Ri71 Reference powered bookshelf speakers, they handled it with ease. I’d never say something pedantic like “It was as if a veil was removed…”, but I am a fan of how this AMT tweeter was implemented. It is an improvement over the old tweeter.

Mid-Range/Bass

Complementing the AMT tweeter are the 5-inch woven glass fiber midrange drivers. These drivers provide detailed midrange frequencies, balancing nicely with the AMT tweeter. The front-facing port means that even close to a wall, the bass is not bloated.

The Fluance Ri71 Reference powered bookshelf speakers ARE NOT bass monsters. Do not expect them to kick you in the chest. However, because Fluance included a subwoofer pre-out, I easily connected my SVS PB1000 Pro, and very quickly added some low-end. I did a quick sweep with my trusty frequency sweep and while it did start to produce bass around 50Hz as advertised, it became more substantial closer to 60Hz onward. For TV and music, perfectly acceptable. But I would suggest you add a subwoofer for that truly cinematic experience.

Don’t get me wrong, the bass is not anemic by any means, but there is only so much bass that a speaker with 5″ woofers can produce. I found that even without a subwoofer, the bass was detailed and crisp and I would be satisfied running these as part of a 2.0 setup all day, every day!

Imaging and Stereo Separation

I hate to sound like a broken record here, but the Fluance Ri71 Reference powered bookshelf speakers have great stereo imaging and separation. I use Everything In It’s Right Place by Radiohead, to test imaging and separation. It pans back and forth and is a wild mix of instrumentals and vocals.

The Fluance Ri71 speakers produced one of the most cohesive, yet expansive soundstages I have heard with this song. To put this in perspective, I have played that particular song on everything I have reviewed. I can confidently say I have listened to it hundreds of times and the Fluance bookshelf speakers are in the top 5. All this from a set of $399 speakers. Take that audiophiles!

Our Take

Priced at $399.99, the Fluance Ri71 Reference Powered Bookshelf Speakers offer exceptional value for their performance and feature set. The inclusion of a 120W amplifier, Bluetooth aptX HD support, and versatile connectivity options make them a compelling choice for those seeking high-quality audio without the need for additional equipment.

The AMT tweeter sets the Ri71 speakers apart from many competitors in the same price range (and higher), providing high-frequency clarity and an immersive listening experience. The solid build quality and design further contribute to the speakers’ appeal.

While there are some minor drawbacks, such as the lack of speaker grilles, these do not overshadow the speakers’ strengths. Overall, the Fluance Ri71 speakers deliver a premium audio experience at an accessible price point, making them a worthy consideration for anyone in the market for powered bookshelf speakers.