magikamos

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.67 of 5, 3.00 votes

Price Paid:  $100.00 from Fluance.com on Ebay

Summary:
This is a good sized center channel speaker. If you are looking at this for a system, you need either large main speakers to cover the lows below about 180 Hz, a designated powered subwoofer, or both. Either way, you need a receiver that allows you to cut frequencies below their range to prevent damage. For anyone out there that might think a few of these will displace a big box for the low frequencies somewhere in the room, you are wrong. Then again, that is the case with any center or surround speaker and that is not their design in the first place. There is a quick audio buying education below.

I have built and designed many full home theater systems that ran into the several thousand dollar ranges on audio components alone. I get paid for my services. These systems have included Nakamichi, McIntosh, Krell, Velodyne, Definitive Technology, and the high-end components of Harmon Karden, Onkyo, Pioneer Elite, Yamaha, Klipsch, including many tube-amplified systems, just to name a few. Saying I am “picky” about audio is a gross understatement.

One might ask, “Why would he buy these for his own system?” It is a very valid question with a very valid answer: PRICE. These were part of my second home theater room. I originally bought these speakers as “disposables” that I could use temporarily until I got the money for others. After installing and adjusting them, I have no plans to replace them whatsoever. They sound far better than many of the bipolar speakers I have installed costing several hundred dollars a piece. This is an excellent center speaker and it is an UNPRECEDENTED bang for the buck.

I have pieced together and installed hundreds of home and car audio systems. I have not dealt with, nor will I deal with, crappy components. I always felt the end-result sound was a reflection on me, and I did not want that reflection to sound anything less than impressive. While many of my customers and friends have ridiculous money to invest in things like this, I allotted less my budget for financial and other reasons offered below. Over the 25+ years, I have come to realize many things. Here are some words of wisdom if you have the time.

MORE EXPENSIVE DOES NOT EQUATE TO BETTER. Often, manufacturers price an item way high and get away with it just because it is unique, not because it performs well. Listen to an “Acoustimess” system as a perfect example. If you think it sounds good, either you are impressed by the name, or you have never heard decent speakers. They are “neat”, but that is it. VERY tinny highs, lacking mids, and VERY limited bass. B0SE 901’s: yes; “Acoustimess”: no. There are countless other examples with other manufacturers. BTW: This crushes the sound of the “Acoustimess” cubes.

YOU WILL NEVER KEEP THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY. What may be “new and hot” at the time will turn into standard amenities a few months later. Decent receivers made two years ago exceed the needs for most buyers and have more features and functions than most people could ever hope to understand, or even need to understand. Buying a top-end component when it has been out for a few months saves from 20-60%. Having the coolest new thing quickly wears off, quality and money saved are permanent assets.

LOUD DOES NOT EQUAL BETTER. I have always tried to “overbuild” systems so that they could handle more power than the listener’s ear cared to endure. That is not to say that a system needs to be “earth rattling” loud; it just needs to sound clean at the maximum volume that the listener would need or want. If you live in an apartment or town home, save your money and do not buy a ‘mega-watt” system. If you ever turn it up to the limits, you will likely be looking for a new place to live. Another technical note: peak wattages should never be confused with RMS wattages. Speakers rated at 100 watts peak will sound like crap and distort terribly when you pump a genuine 100 watts RMS into them. Speakers rated at 100 watts RMS will produce an almost infinitely cleaner sound. Ignore peak values and go by RMS on amps and speakers unless you fully understand slew factors, headroom, and other technical parameters.

SUMMARY: Get the best bang for your buck. Sampling rates and features have far surpassed what most listeners could ever hear, let alone understand. Avoid the Superstores when possible. They have good deals on some components, but they will make up for it with pricing on cables and assorted other crap they push on the buyer. Need a good center channel speaker? Throw this at the top of your considerations if money is at all a factor. Buy it. You will not be disappointed and your wallet will be thrilled.

Another reviewer commented on the lack of highs. Without an adjustable system, that might be a problem. For me, it was not. I also do not care for the super crisp highs that became popular with the digital age. Life is analog and so are the sounds.

Strengths:
Excellent Sound Quality for any center channel speaker! Unsurpassed quality for any speaker near this price! Wattage capabilities well beyond most system requirements!

Weaknesses:
Requires a receiver with tuning capabilities to get the best sound.

Similar Products Used:
Nakamichi, McIntosh, Krell, Velodyne, Definitive Technology, Harmon Kardon, Onkyo, Pioneer Elite, Yamaha, Klipsch, etc.

abstracta

Overall Rating
 2 of 5

Value Rating
 2 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
1.67 of 5, 6.00 votes

Price Paid:  $80.00 from Accoustic Sound Desi

Summary:
I'll cut to the chase and describe this speaker with the following; muddy, inefficient, and lacking any dynamic detail. I've honestly heard computer based center channels that sounded better. I planned on matching the Fluance with my pair of Alesis Studio monitors that are your typical 1" silk / 6.5" mid. Given that most center channels speakers use metal domes I figured the fluance would be a better sonic match for my silk dome Alesis, but I was wrong. When I put the Fluance on top of my set and tried to balance it, I found it impossible, and the inbuilt speakers of my 5yr old Toshiba sounded better. The AV-SC is horribly inefficient (88db, and I consider that generous), has a non existent crossover slope, muddy sounding tweeter, and empty sounding mids. The speaker is otherwise built well, but it sounds bad. It honestly sounds like it's playing with a blanket over it next to my Alesis. I paid $200 for my monitors, and while the Alesis perform well outside their price class, I was expecting better from the Fluance. Maybe the chinese are tone deaf...I dunno.

Strengths:
Well built.

Weaknesses:
Muddy, lacks any dynamic range. Inefficient.

tomflynn

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Price Paid:  $120.00 from Fluance web site

Summary:
I added this center speaker along with the matching front left/right speakers to my new 7.1 Sony home theater system as replacements for lower end speakers. The voice and low and high frequencies are reproduced perfectly. The sound reproduction is spectacular! Highly recommended!

Strengths:
Near perfect reproduction of voices in the center speaker as well as the other center recorded high and low frequencies. Excellent price! Spectacular performance across the spectrum!

Weaknesses:
None

Similar Products Used:
Fluance matching front left and right tower speakers.

mpepeii

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
1.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Price Paid:  $69.00 from Fluance

Summary:
I like many were leery about purchasing audio equipment on-line with out being able to see & listen to it first. The purchase was made on reviews alone so I figured I’d add to the list of reviews now that I’ve had a few weeks to listen and evaluate. First the company, the experience was great from start to finish. I called to ask a few questions, got a live person after a few rings that was very helpful and informative. Shipping – as described, quick and the item was well packed. The product - quality design, solid build, strong wire posts, wood frame speaker grill with plastic knob prongs to secure to the speaker. The grill is flush with the cabinet and the cabinet is rounded in the front towards the grill. These details are difficult to see in the pictures (one of my only complaints – more pictures/info needed on their site). Sound quality is excellent. Coming from a small bookshelf, anything would be better but the mids have excellent punch, dialog is sharp and the highs are bright and crisp.

Strengths:
Price / Value / Sound / Quality

Weaknesses:
None

Price Paid:  $69.00 from fluance online

Summary:
I RECENTLY PURCHASED THE FLUANCE CENTER CHANNEL SPEAKER AT $69.00, ONE OF MY BEST DECISIONS. AS A GUY WHO OWNS TWO HIGH END SOUND SYSTEMS, BOTH IN THE OVER TWO THOUSAND DOLLAR RANGE, I AM INTIMATELY FAMILIAR WITH AUDIOPHILE GRADE SOUND QUALITY. AND AFTER LISTENING TO THE FLUANCE CENTER FOR ONLY A FEW HOURS (HARMON KARDON RECIEVER, 12 GUAGE FLUANCE SPEAKER WIRE-WELL WORTH 40.OO FOR 250 FT!), I CAN SAY WITH ASSURANCE THAT THESE SPEAKERS ARE IN MANY WAYS AUDIOPHILE GRADE. THE FIT AND FINISH ARE FIRST CLASS, AND THE SHEER SIZE OF THIS CENTER IS IMPRESSIVE. MORE IMPRESSIVE IS THE SOUND. I USED THE MOVIE "THE ITALIAN JOB", AS WELL AS THE FIFTH ELEMENT AS REFERENECE DVD'S, AS BOTH FILMS PRESENT A FULL SPECTRUM OF SOUND, AS WELL AS MUCH DEEP BASS MUSIC THROUGH THE CENTER. ALTHOUGH IN BREAKING IN THE SPEAKER, I HAVE KEPT THE VOLUME AT MEDIUM TO LOW LEVELS, I RAISED IT TO LOUD LEVELS TO CHECK THE POWER HANDELING CAPABILITIES, AND THE FLUANCE HANDLED IT WITH EASE. THINKING OF HOW IMPRESSED I AM WITH THE WAY THE SPEAKER WAS SO SECURELY PACKAGED WHEN I GOT IT, COUPLED WITH THE CLEAN LINES AND WARM, POWERFUL SOUND, AND THE FACT THAT IT IS SOOOO REASONABLY PRICED, HAS BROUGHT A SMILE TO MY FACE. I HAD A FEELING THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BE A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE, AND I AM REALLY HAPPY WITH MY PURCHASE. I WILL BE PURCHASING A COMPLETE SET OF FLUANCE SPEAKERS, AND I CAN'T WAIT TO COMPARE THEM TO MY HIGHER PRICED BRETHEREN. IF YOU'RE IN THE MARKET FOR A NEW SOUND, YOU NEED NOT SPEND AN ARM OR A LEG TO PUT TOGETHER A PHENOMINAL SYSTEM. RATHER THAN SPEND 4 TO 600.00 FOR ONE OF THOSE PRE-PACKAGED HOME THEATRE SYSTEMS THAT DO NOT REPRESENT AUDIOPHILE GRADE EQUIPMENT, SPEND A FEW HUNDRED ON THESE SPEAKERS, AND AS FOR RECEIVERS, I RECCOMMEND HARMON KARDON ALL THE WAY. BEST OF LUCK FLUANCE, THANKS:)

Strengths:
APPEARANCE, BUILD QUALITY, SOUND, VALUE

Weaknesses:
NO ADVERTISING, I ONLY STUMBLED UPON THEM FROM DOING SO MUCH RESEARCH ONLINE, AND I DON'T EVEN REMEMBER HOW I FOUND THEM

Similar Products Used:
B&W SPEAKERS, DEFINITIVE SPEAKERS