Fluance's AB40 sound base offers strong performance

[MUSIC] We don't get much call for sound bases these days. The reason? TV manufacturers have started putting feet on the end of the screens instead of the middle, to prevent them from tipping. But this design also means the sound base doesn't work as it should anymore. Nevertheless, you can still buy normal TV screens, and this is what the Fluance AB40 is designed for. This is a 26 inch wide sound box, constructed from wood, and featuring a black ash wrap and steel grill. Fluance says the sound bar is strong enough to hold a 150 lb television. But as the controls are set quite far back on the top, you don't want a TV space that's more than 12 inches deep. For a 42 inch or even a 50 inch TV, it should work great though. This sound base features four aluminum drivers, set at angles for a bigger sound And we found it really works. Movies and music sound really expansive, and yet still detailed. Despite lacking a sub-woofer, the company claims the unit can reach down to 30 Hertz, and as a result action movies sound suitably dynamic. For $250, you can't expect much in the way of connectivity. And the Fluance only has an analog input, an optical port, and Bluetooth. But for small bedroom setups, it should be more than enough.