Fluance Fi20 review: Easily worth more than the US$149.99 they’re asking for it

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Here we are with yet another Bluetooth speaker review. Yes, I just finished one up and honestly, sometimes I’m testing two or three out at a time. But not all Bluetooth speakers are created equal, and the Fluance Fi20 is certainly a diamond in the rough.

First off, sound and design are both very subjective, so what tickles my fancy may not hit you the same way. That being said, the Fluance Fi20 hit me in all the right places, especially for its price point. This speaker not only looks more expensive than its US$149.99 price, but it also sounds more expensive. This is not to say that it sounds better than speakers that are more expensive, but it certainly sounds better than most of the speakers priced at the same or a similar price.

I rarely do this, but the tl;dr for this review is if you like a nice modern design paired with great sound and an amazing price, then the Fluance Fi20 is a must buy. As of this review, you can get the Fi20 for US$99.99 on Amazon, which makes it an even better deal. Now, on to the full review of the Fluance Fi20.

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Specifications

The Fluance Fi20 has the following features and specifications:

  • Speaker Configuration: Omnidirectional Up-firing Bluetooth Music System
  • Bluetooth: Yes, 4.0 with aptX
  • Woofer: 3” Linen Fiber Driver with HD Foam Surround
  • Amplifier Power: Class D, 15 Watts Continuous Average Output
  • Frequency Response: 70 Hz – 20,000 Hz (DSP Virtual Sound)
  • Internal Lead Wire: 20-Gauge Internal Lead Wire
  • Power: Input: 100-240V, 1.5A; Output: 15V, 1.8A
  • Battery Life: 24 hours (at moderate volume)
  • Battery Type: Lithium-ion (11V, 2200mAh)
  • Lamp LED: Yes (Warm White, 3000K)
  • Enclosure: Tuned Port Bass Reflex Cabinet
  • Dimensions: 12″ x 6″ x 5.5″
  • Speaker Weight: 3 lbs
  • Battery Charge Time: 3.5 hours
  • Leather carrying handle
  • AUX port

What’s In The Box

  • Fluance Fi20
  • Power cable
  • Manual and documentation
Fluance Fi20
The Natural Oak color is the best looking, IMO.

Design

I like a good design to go with my sound and the Fluance Fi20 delivers that in spades. Our review unit came in the Black Ash color, which was nice, but I have to say that the Natural Walnut looks even better. The cabinet on this speaker is made from real wood, the carrying handle is leather and the speaker grill is metal. The materials used here are all premium at a price that’s insane.

I love the triangular shape of the Fluance Fi20 because it’s something different and unique. The company did this so they could achieve a 360-degree sound with the speaker at the top of the cabinet. The back spine of the speaker has the power input, which is a barrel style, and comes with a proper power adapter. No USB charging here. The AUX input and the reset button are also on the back. Nothing is on the sides or bottom.

The top of the unit is where the touch controls are housed. There is a lamp on/off button…yes, this speaker does have ambient lighting included which gives it a classy touch…a speakerphone button, as well as track back, play/pause, track forward, volume down, and volume up buttons. There is also a power button that doubles as a battery check button.

Overall, I really love the look and design of this speaker. It’s probably not for everyone, but it hits almost all of my requirements and likes.

Fluance Fi20
The soft LED light is a nice touch.

Ease of Use

I sound like a broken record, but seriously, Bluetooth speakers are very simple to use. The Fluance Fi20 is super simple to get paired up to. Just hold the power button down for 2-seconds and the speaker goes into pairing mode. Find it in your device’s Bluetooth settings and pair up to it. Boom, you’re done.

Using the touch controls is simple as well, just a light touch will activate the button you’re touching. Overall, there is nothing to operating this speaker at all.

Sound

First off, let me be clear. No, this speaker is likely not going to outperform speakers that cost twice as much or more. I’m judging the Fluance Fi20 sound against other speakers in its price range.

That being said, this speaker sounds amazing for the price you’re going to pay. Its soundstage is exactly what I like in a speaker, a neutral and mostly flat EQ with a slight bump in the bass and mids, but ever so slight, nothing extreme.

No, it doesn’t get loud enough to be a party speaker, and honestly, most speakers in this price range don’t. This speaker gets loud enough to enjoy your music in comfort in a living room, bedroom, kitchen or something similar.

It has more low-end than many other speakers I’ve used in this price range, including recently reviewed ones. But things like vocals and strings are nice and clear.

Overall, given the price, the Fluance Fi20 is easily one of the best sounding speakers in this price point.

Fluance Fi20
Love the look and that leather carrying handle.

Battery Life

Fluance claims 24-hours of battery life and a charging time of 3.5 hours. I didn’t do a full 24-hour straight battery test, but I can say it took a few weeks for this thing to hit empty for me. That was with an hour or two per day of use with volume at around 40%.

I like that it comes with a proper full-size power adapter instead of a USB port for charging. Although the disadvantage to that is if you lose the adapter, you’ll have to find a proper replacement. But I still like it better. I will confirm that the unit will charge from empty to 100% within 3.5 hours.

Overall, I think the Fluance Fi20 has excellent battery life and I like the power adapter included. Some of you may not.

Price/Value

Priced at US$149.99 I think the Fluance Fi20 is a great value for money investment. You can get it on Amazon, as of this review, for an insane US$99.99. That’s almost impulse buy territory for some of us.

Wrap Up

The Flaunce Fi20 design is beautiful and modern. The company used great premium materials throughout and it shows. It isn’t waterproof, it can’t pair to more than one device at a time and it won’t pair to another unit. It may not have some of these features others have, but what it does have that makes it a winner for me is a beautiful design and superior sound for a rock bottom price.

*We received a review unit of the Fluance Fi20 for the purposes of this review.

Last Updated on February 3, 2021.

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