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Fluance Ri91: Two-minute review
The Fluance Ri91 floorstanding speakers are the third pair of Fluance’s line-up that I’ve reviewed here at TechRadar with each model sounding better than the last – I don’t mind sharing that this testing has turned me into a bit of a fan.
The Fluance Ri91 represent a modernized addition to the competitors for our list of the best stereo speakers – like the Fluance Ri71, they are a step up for the company since they include support for Bluetooth including aptX, plus an HDMI ARC input. Add in the reasonable price for what they are, and they’re very tempting indeed.
There are issues with the Fluance Ri91, but they’re minimal. Sure, the sound is a bit mid-focused, but most people looking for pleasing audio will appreciate this fact (and they sound great overall anyway). The lack of a phono preamp isn’t a dealbreaker, and is easily remedied if needed.
The only real concern I have is about build quality, because the original pair of these speakers I received had an issue with the HDMI port (quite a major one: it didn’t work).
That said, the Fluance Ri91 speakers come with a warranty, and the replacement pair the company sent presented no issue during review.
Considering how expensive floorstanding speakers can get, I think these speakers at $799 (about £640 / AU$1,270) are very easy to recommend for any music lover or budding audiophile.
Fluance Ri91 review: Price and release date
- $799 (about £640 / AU$1,270)
- Released in March 2025
Being the big brother of the Fluance Ri71 I recently reviewed, the Fluance Ri91 is appropriately a bit more expensive, but thoroughly reasonable at $799 (about £640 / AU$1,270).
While the Fluance Ri71 is available in both the US and UK, the Ri91 reviewed here seems to only be available in the US.
At least these floorstanding speakers are available through a number of retailers like Amazon, Macy’s, and Walmart, as well as directly from the brand itself.
Fluance Ri91 review: Specs
|
Dimensions |
41.73 x 8.5 x 10.24 inches / 106.0 x 21.6 x 26.0 cm |
|
Weight |
Active Speaker: 41.89 lb (19 kg) Passive Speaker: 40.79 lb (18.5 kg) |
|
Active or passive |
Active |
|
Subwoofer |
No (has sub out) |
|
Frequency response |
40Hz – 30kHz |
|
Dolby Atmos / DTS:X enabled |
No |
|
Maximum output |
150 watts |
Fluance Ri91 review: Features
- Comes with HDMI ARC input
- Bluetooth supports aptX HD
- Doesn’t come with phono preamp or Wi-Fi streaming
The feature set of these sorts of speakers – even active ones – is going to be pretty limited compared to what you find in the best soundbars, despite the addition of an HDMI port. But that’s because they’re not trying to do the same thing. The features here are focused on convenience and helping getting the best stereo sound possible.
Regarding convenience, it first should be noted that the Fluance Ri91 are an active set of floorstanding speakers, meaning that they don’t need an external receiver for power or connections. Also on the convenience front is the HDMI-ARC input, which is new for Fluance on the Ri91 and the Ri71 bookshelf speakers that were released at the same time.
There’s Bluetooth 5.0 and aptX HD support for wireless streaming, with the allowing transmission of higher-res audio. That’s greatly appreciated for those using hi-fi-level streaming services – but not that there’s no Wi-Fi, or for the highest-res support, except for wiring in the old-fashioned way.
These speakers pump out 150 watts of class D power using two 6.5-inch woven glass drivers and a 28x35mm AMT in place of a traditional tweeter. There’s no subwoofer, but there is a bass port at the bottom of each speaker cabinet.
All the connectivity is on the back of the active speaker, which is the right one by default, though you can hold the mute button down for three seconds and switch the configuration. Besides the ARC-supported HDMI port, there are also two RCA inputs, and a subwoofer out, along with the speaker wire hookups.
Lastly, while you can (and should) connect one of the best turntables to these speakers, the Fluance Ri91 do not come with a built-in phono preamp, so you’ll need to make sure your record player has one built in (or get an external one) to make sure the signal going to the speaker is loud enough.
Fluance Ri91 review: Sound quality
- Sound great when turned up and a little muffled when not
- Somewhat mid-focused
- Better for music than for movies
The Fluance Ri91 sound very good. And for any audiophiles out there, they sound like what you would expect from floorstanding speakers that cost about $800. They’re not going to wipe the floor with speakers that cost the price of a new car, but they’re good enough to blow away people that are not in the audiophile world, or are new to it.
I played all sorts of artists to test them, from John Coltrane to Kendrick Lamar to Smashing Pumpkins. I also listened to music from the ’60s and ’70s. After all my listening, a few things became clear.
First, as somewhat behemoth speakers, they don’t really come alive until you turn the volume up, in some instances even sounding a tiny bit muffled when lower. Also, when I was initially listening at lower volumes, I felt like I wasn’t getting a lot of low end. Turning them up fixed all these issues.
The sound was expansive when loud, with plenty of low-end, though you might want to add a sub if you listen to a lot of Hip Hop or EDM, as some songs didn’t translate as well. The high-end was clear and detailed, and the mid-range was rich, though it is a bit upfront.
Unfortunately, there’s no EQ for the mids, so you have to turn up the treble and bass a little if that bothers you (I prefer to cut the mids a bit when dealing with this problem, but obviously couldn’t here).
I also used the Fluance Ri91 for some movie watching and gaming. The sound quality is there, but being a more traditional stereo setup makes this not as ideal for the immersive home theater experience.
With music, I can feel the wide stereo soundstage with accurate imaging when the speakers are correctly set up. With movies, it can feel a little one dimensional, especially at lower volumes.
Now, that’s not to detract from the Fluance Ri91, as they shine for a more traditional listening experience, and that’s what they’re really meant for. They do work well enough for movies and gaming, but using them right after testing a surround-sound system really highlights that these are speakers for listening to music first.
- Sound quality score: 4 / 5
Fluance Ri91 review: Design
- Tall and hefty as floorstanders
- Good connections and controls on one speaker
- Has EQ controls on remote
The Fluance Ri91 are fairly imposing, standing at just under 42 inches tall. And with a weight of about 40 lbs per speaker, they’re hefty as well. It’s a good thing that they look good (available in walnut, black, or white) since these aren’t the kind of speakers you can tuck away discreetly.
There’s a Bluetooth pairing button on the back, and two additional controls on the active speaker, one being the power switch. The other is a volume dial that sits atop the back of the speaker that can also be pressed in to change inputs.
But you’re more likely to use the included remote for any adjusting. The remote is pretty straight forward with all the usual stuff like volume controls, power, input, etc. But it also includes a Treble and Bass Boost and Cut that’s helpful for fine tuning the audio a little bit.
My only real issue with the Fluance Ri91 are some concerns about quality assurance. Not only were the styrofoam packing the speakers came in disintegrating, but the HDMI input didn’t work in my first pair, so I had to request another test unit.
The speakers were promptly replaced for me, and come with a two-year warranty for regular buyers.
Fluance Ri91 review: Setup and usability
- Setup is simple and straightforward
- Positioning the speakers takes some time but is worth it
- Using them is fairly intuitive
The functional setup of the Fluance Ri91 is very straightforward. Take each speaker out of the box, connect the active one to power, and connect the two speakers together with the included speaker wire. Then pop in the batteries for the remote and connect whatever sources you want. Flip the power switch and you’re good to go.
Of course, you should correctly set up the speakers to get the best sound and that can take a little time (and a measuring tape) – I found that you needed to be careful with positioning them next to walls. But it doesn’t take that long and it’s worth it.
Using the Fluance Ri91 is just as simple. The included remote is not all that complicated, and the color-coded LED indicator on the active speaker not only lets me know what source I’m on, but will flash when certain settings are reached, such as the mid, low, or high point for EQ settings.
- Setup and usability score: 5 / 5
Fluance Ri91 review: Value
- These are Fluance’s most expensive speakers
- Some other quality options at the same price
- The Ri91 are more feature-heavy than the competition
It’s interesting to compare the Fluance Ri91 with the company’s previous floorstanding entry, the Ai81, which is a little cheaper at $599, versus to $799 for the Ri91. The Ri91 replaces the silk dome tweeter of the Ai81 with an AMT one, not to mention also includes an HDMI port.
Interestingly, the Ai81 reaches down to 30Hz instead of 40Hz like the Ri91, so does have a little more bass without adding a subwoofer. On the flipside, the Ri91’s 30kHz upper range is more impressive than the 20kHz of the Ai81 and is something I value more than the deeper bass.
Since Fluance generally fits into that budget-premium range, the Fluance Ri91’s price tag is about what one would expect. They’re not in the thousands like most boutique audio brands, but have some competition at the same price, such as the Q Acoustics M40 HD. The Q Acoustics were a little more expensive when released in 2024, but go for the same amount now, not to mention are also available in the UK and Australia.
Plus, the two products stack up fairly well against each other, though the Fluance Ri91 do include an HDMI port, 50 more watts of power, and a wider frequency response, probably thanks in part to those AMT tweeters.
Should I buy the Fluance Ri91 speakers?
|
Attributes |
Notes |
Rating |
|---|---|---|
|
Features |
The feature set is pretty good for this type of speaker, including aptX. No, phono preamp or Wi-Fi streaming, though. |
4.5 / 5 |
|
Sound quality |
While not ideal for TV, these speakers sound great, particularly when turned up. |
4 / 5 |
|
Design |
Good port selection and imposing look only held back by build quality concerns. |
4 / 5 |
|
Setup and Usability |
Easy to set up and use, though one should make sure to spend some time on speaker placement. |
5 / 5 |
|
Value |
The price is very good for floorstanders, especially considering the feature set. |
4.5 / 5 |
Buy them if…
Don’t buy them if…
Fluance Ri91 review: Also consider
How I tested the Fluance Ri91
- Used regularly for a few weeks
- Listened to all kinds of audio
- Tested the various controls and ports
I used the Fluance Ri91 for a few weeks at home, listening to all sorts of genres of music – Hip Hop, EDM, Top 40 Pop, Rock, Jazz, and Folk, among others – to get a better feel for these speakers. They were also tested with some TV and computer games. I tested the various controls and ports as well.
I’ve tested a lot of tech gear over the years from laptops to keyboards and speakers, and so have been able to use my expertise towards giving an honest and fair opinion, not to mention a critical eye, to any product I test.
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space2occupy@gmail.com (James Holland)
