Fluance Signature Series Speakers Preview

With their Signature Series, Fluance has added new models to the top of their speaker line.  With amazing high-end looks and features at unbelievably low prices, these are already on our list for "speakers we must hear this year."  Read on to see why we believe the Fluance Signature Series has the potential to be something really special.

Fluance HFF Tower Signature

I remember when Fluance first hit the scene in 1999.  I stumbled upon them in my search for Internet Direct Home Theater systems that would fit my tiny college-budget.  What struck me immediately was that, amidst the sea of plain, black boxes, Fluance might make the prettiest, low-cost speakers out there.  Fast forward 15 years, and Fluance is still making splashes in the budget space with 5-speaker systems starting at only $200, but what does the top of their line look like?

With Fluance’s recently released Signature Series, it looks mighty good, should sound great, and still keeps costs low-enough to peg the value meter at maximum. 

Fluance’s Signature Series includes:

• HFF:  3-way Tower with two 8” Polypropylene woofers, 5” Glass Fiber midrange, 1” Silk Dome tweeter, and two large rear ports.  $700/pair

• HFS: 2-way Surround/Bookshelf with 5” Glass Fiber mid/woofer, 1” Silk Dome tweeter, front ports and metal keyholes for easy wall mounting. $200/pair.

• HFC: 2-way Center with two 5” Glass Fiber mid/woofers, 1” Silk Dome tweeter, rear-ported. $150/each.

• HFBP: 2-way Bi-pole Surround with 5” Glass Fiber mid/woofer, two 1” Silk Dome tweeter, rear-ported.  $250/pair.

A 5-piece system with two HFF tower speakers, two HFS bookshelves, and a HFC center is only $999 and all purchases feature free shipping, a 30 day in-home trial, and paid return shipping.  Available in Natural Walnut or Black Ash vinyl veneer finishes with a Gloss Black front baffle.

Fluance HFF Tower Speaker From All Angles

Good Looking.

As these are new and we haven’t gotten ears on yet, let’s start with the looks of the speakers.  All the speakers feature a great looking black gloss front baffle.  Magnetic grills means there are no posts to mar that clean face, with the rest of the angled enclosure being finished in a dark Natural Walnut or Black Ash.  The yellow driver cones will be a matter of taste, but there are plenty of 5-figure speakers that do the same so the Fluance are in good company.  Alongside the gold-plated, 5-way binding posts, a cute little Canadian flag tag reminds you that these speakers hail from a country renowned for modern Hi-Fi design.

The HFF tower speaker feature some additional high-end bling in the form of metal outriggers with removable feet to add to the high-end look.  They feature dual binding posts which are much more substantial than the other models in the Signature Series and look similar to those I’ve seen in speakers costing 10 times as much.  The dual posts are shipped with a solid metal jumper that looks like a chunk of gold-plated allen wrench.

Fluance Signature Mid Driver with Phase Plug

Good Sounding?

Beyond the aesthetics, there are some clues given to indicate that these will be great sounding, as well as great looking speakers.  The midrange features what appears to be a phase plug, which traditionally guides the high-frequency waves out towards the listener, rather than allowing them to interact destructively near the driver.  Some phase plugs tend to be more for show rather than having an audible effect, but Fluance specifically calls out this feature indicating that they put as much thought into its function as they did its form.  The tweeters sit in a waveguide which should be designed to provide even off-axis response and proper directivity matching with the midrange for a more seamless blend.

Next is the weight; each HFF tower speaker tips the scales at over 60lbs, and even the HFS bookshelf clocks in at almost 10 lbs which is right inline with other quality speakers we’ve seen indicating solid cabinets and good driver magnet structures.  In fact, all model specs list cabinets that are acoustically inert and constructed with MDF, however the HFF towers take this a step further by noting that the front baffle is a whopping 1.4” thick to support those two 8” woofers.  Rigidity in the front baffle is paramount for improving cabinet stiffness and reducing unwanted resonances, especially since the drivers are countersunk.

Lastly, Fluance provides frequency response graphs that look just as they should.  Each speaker shows flat, extended response, especially in the critical mid/high bands.  Listed frequency response offers no tolerances, but based on the accompanying graphs, appears to be +/- 10dB.  That said, most of the audible range fits in a +/- 3dB listening window.

Fluance HFF Tower Frequency Response

Initial Impressions

Color us positively psyched to get ears on with the Fluance Signature Series speakers.  At prices that prompt double-takes, the high-end looks and high quality engineering features are going to draw prospective buyers like crazy.  With a Lifetime Guarantee and super generous 30 Day in-home trial with paid return shipping, there no risk in checking these out.  If they sound as good as they look, the Fluance Signature Series could be the new hot buy in the high-value mid-range today.   We like that Fluance in bringing their A game this year and other ID companies will surely take notice.  Be sure to check back soon as we plan on doing a full detailed review of the new Fluance Signature towers with measurements and inside pictures to see what makes these guys tick.

Unless otherwise indicated, this is a preview article for the featured product. A formal review may or may not follow in the future.