Kanto REN 200W Powered Bookshelf Speakers - Pair
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Overview
The High Notes
Plug ‘N Play Simplicity
Bass Management Onboard
Authentic Stereo Sound
This article is about the new Kanto REN powered speakers. We will discuss the features, sound quality, and design of these great small speakers and if they will work in your home.
Company History
Kanto was founded in 2007 and is based in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia. Kanto has made its name by designing and building OEM products for other manufacturers. Throughout their time making OEM products, they have garnered the passion and understanding they needed to create their new brand of audio products. Today, with the full force of dedicated audio engineers, they are producing some of the best small-scale speaker products available. Their small speakers perform well above their size and price and offer users great quality sound whether they want to upgrade their television sound or want a high-quality small speaker system with large speaker performance.
Features & Technology
The Kanto REN is the newest member of their powered speaker line and represents their years of experience designing and building small-scale, high-performance powered, and passive speaker systems. Like the Kanto TUK, the REN is intended to be a step up in performance from their other powered speakers.
Good Looks, Easy Integration
The Kanto REN is a small speaker measuring 7” W x 8.5” D x 10.9” H, which allows it to fit into locations not many other types of speakers can. It is an elegant design that is simple but effective. The drivers are mounted into the front baffle into waveguides, allowing some directivity to the sound. This helps mitigate room, floor, and ceiling reflections and direct the sound toward you. The front panel also has adjustable indicator LEDs as well as an easy-to-use integrated volume knob. The back panel on the main speaker has the amplifier and connections on the back panel, with a speaker cable output to run to the other speaker for stereo operation. A bass port on the rear of the speaker rounds out the rear panel and keeps the REN speaker's theme clean and straightforward. The REN comes in 5 colors black, gray, orange, blue, and white. All these colors are matte, so they will not reflect light or be distracting when watching TV or using them with a computer.
Your TV Sound, Made Easier
One of the most anticipated features of the Kanto REN is the new HDMI ARC input. This input will accept the connection from your television using one HDMI cable. This cable will send the audio from your TV to the REN and enable you to control the volume of the REN with the TV remote control. This new feature gives the REN even more adaptability for folks wanting to add a high-quality TV sound experience, along with the other great options REN offers.
Plenty Of Connections, Plenty Of Options
Other inputs include USB C for computer or phone use, Bluetooth 5.3, Toslink Digital, USB A power output for accessories, RCA analog audio, and a 3.5 analog audio input. Unlike the TUK, the REN does not have a built-in phono preamp, which means the connecting turntable must either have one built in or you will have to add one between the turntable and speaker. While the TUK and REN share many attributes, their intended purpose is slightly catering to a different crowd. The TUK is the better option if you will run a turntable to the speaker and want a moving magnet phono preamp as part of the package. The REN is the better option for folks wishing to incorporate their television sound into the experience or those tired of the limited performance of most soundbars available today. Both are great speakers, and it will ultimately depend on your use case which one will be better for your needs.
Small Enough For Any Room, Large Sound To Fill It
The REN is designed with a powerful 100-watt(200-watt peak) class D amplifier that is efficient but more than powerful enough to get the most out of the design. This amplifier powers four drivers (2 in each speaker) specifically designed for this speaker line. The 5.25” aluminum cone woofer is taken directly from the TUK speaker and is Kanto’s highest-quality bass driver to date. This ensures the bass from the specified 50Hz and up is clean and powerful, and the midrange is smooth and natural. The tweeter is a one-inch silk dome tweeter, much like the one in the Kanto YU4-powered speaker. Kanto loves the AMT tweeter found in the TUK but also knows that some people prefer a soft dome tweeter's smoother and more forgiving presentation. We think this is a good move by Kanto seeing that some television broadcasts can have pretty harsh and bright treble that could be too much for folks with the more detailed AMT tweeter of the TUK. With a specified frequency response of 50Hz - 22kHZ, the Kanto REN is equipped to handle any music or movie soundtracks you throw at it, as long as you realize that these speakers are meant for smaller rooms or use with a subwoofer if ultra-low frequency reproduction is your goal.
Adding A Subwoofer Just Got Easier
Another one of Kanto’s signature options is its subwoofer output. This subwoofer outputs all of the bass under 80Hz to the subwoofer, while a selectable built-in crossover allows you to set the REN's crossover to 80Hz. This allows better subwoofer integration and enables the REN to concentrate on frequencies above 80Hz for better clarity and lower distortion. This is an excellent option as it will enable you to add a subwoofer for larger rooms or for users who like a hardier, more capable bass performance. The subwoofer output also has a remote-activated mute function for times when a subwoofer is not wanted or needed.
Listening At Night? Or Want a Vocal Boost? No Problem!
Another hallmark feature of the Kanto REN is the remote's ability to select night mode. Since the REN is DSP-controlled, the DSP cuts some of the high-frequency information and shuts off the subwoofer for nighttime watching. Also, a small amount of compression is added to compress loud passages, allowing you to still enjoy your content without the chance of keeping others up or bothering neighbors in your apartment. Also, with the vocal boost option, users can boost the midrange frequencies found in the human voice to make dialog more legible. This will be extremely helpful for late-night news or when watching content that focuses on voices.
Full-Featured Remote Control
Some people take remote controls for granted, but controlling these options from your listening position is beneficial for a product with so many inputs and options. That is why Kanto included a full-featured remote control that lets you control all of the options with the remote. While this remote is full-featured, it is well laid out and easy to use. There are options for Bass and treble, subwoofer on/off, and input buttons for every input. The ability to change all of these settings while in the listening position gives the Kanto REN a huge convenience advantage in the market, and we agree.
Performance
As Kanto designed the REN to be plug ‘n play, we were impressed with the unboxing and setup procedure. We took the speakers out of the well-packaged box, which contained the speakers, an AC power cord, remote, magnetic grills, eight adhesive rubber feet, and a speaker cable for connecting the other speaker. Product manuals were also in the box, which helped us get started. Connecting the REN to our system was as easy as connecting an HDMI cable from our television, a digital cable from our streamer, and an analog cable from the Victrola Stream Sapphire Turntable. From there, we power up a component and let the auto-on feature turn the REN speakers on by detecting an audio signal. Another excellent option to save power is turning on or off the REN speakers when detecting a signal. Even the HDMI ARC input has a switch feature allowing the REN to automatically switch to the HDMI input when it senses the TV coming on. Our testing found this feature was well-implemented and quick to switch once the TV was detected.
We started our testing in TV mode and were impressed with the performance. Whether we were watching a sporting event or streaming a movie, the sound was clean, clear, and much more dynamic than you would think speakers this size would be. We also connected the Kanto SUB8V subwoofer to test how well it would integrate with a subwoofer using the internal crossover. We were shocked at how much more dynamic the sound was once we got it hooked up and enabled the built-in 80Hz crossover. Taking the bass burden off of the 5.25” woofer allowed it to produce better and cleaner midbass and midrange. Detail and realism, as did the overall bass performance, took a step up. Having this built-in crossover is an excellent idea as it helps integrate a subwoofer, which happens to be one of the main areas people don’t get right. We get it; subwoofer integration can be challenging to perfect, and anything that can help with that process is welcome. With the SUB8V fully integrated, we could fully hear why this is a better way to go than a soundbar. Proper stereo separation, actual imaging that is not DSP fabricated, and the ability to switch over to music listening and be satisfied. Which is our next test.
Using the connected Victrola turntable, we tested both the RCA inputs and the Bluetooth since this turntable can deliver both. Playing The Doors LA Woman LP allowed us to hear just how well this combination could perform. Users of the new Victrola Turntable should note that this pairing is excellent with Bluetooth or line-level connections. The instrument tone was good, with guitars sounding realistic and vocals having just the right amount of bite and soul without going into sibilance. The Soundstage and imaging were great for a system in this price range, with the wired connection being slightly better than Bluetooth. Turning on the subwoofer allowed us to hear deeper into the midrange with better detail and an overall more effortless character. Bass depth improved, taking the overall package closer to a floor-standing speaker system sound. Putting things into perspective, you can get much better performance if you move up to a dedicated integrated amplifier and set of high-end speakers. However, that system would no doubt be heavier and more complex without the ease of use of the REN. The REN speakers did have a smoother, slightly less detailed presentation than the Kanto TUK speakers with their AMT tweeters. But the sound was more forgiving, allowing us to listen to less-than-stellar recordings without fatigue. Kanto has said that the REN will appeal to folks who love the TUK but want a soft dome tweeter's smoother and more forgiving nature. And we feel that the REN is precisely that. Also, the REN trades the integrated phono input on the TUK for the HDMI ARC connection, giving the REN more adaptability for multimedia use.
Overall, we were impressed with the Kanto REN's music and movie performance and feel that it is an excellent option for someone wanting a compact, easy-to-use powered speaker system for a small living room or second system. And did we mention that it was designed and built in North America?
Overall Recommendation
We were solidly impressed with the Kanto REN. It offers excellent sound and is adaptable to different systems and uses. We liked the internal crossover for subwoofer use, the HDMI ARC connection, and all of the available connections. We understand there are many products in the REN’s price class, but to find a product that offers this level of features, aesthetic design, and sound quality in a North American-designed and built product is special. All the connections worked flawlessly and allowed us to enjoy our sources. If you want a small-scale, high-performing speaker system and are tired of trying all of the recommended sound bars out there(and being disappointed), you must hear the Kanto REN speaker system! If you are in the market for a speaker system like the REN, call, email, or chat with us here at Audio Advice to see if the Kanto REN will fit your needs in a high-performance powered speaker.
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Details & Specs
Seamless TV Integration
Featuring HDMI ARC with CEC, REN offers the same kind of seamless TV integration that an AV receiver or soundbar provides. REN automatically wakes when the TV is turned on and can be controlled with the TV remote. No need for multiple remotes or bulky gear to get premium sound from your TV.
True Stereo Sound
Soundbars rarely extend past your TV and rely on digital processing to simulate a wider soundstage. You can place REN as far apart as you like giving you a true wide soundstage with pinpoint precision of where the action is happening on the screen. Achieve true stereo sound and leave the gimmicks behind.
Vocal Boost & Night Mode
REN is DSP-controlled, allowing for custom sound modes like Vocal Boost and Night Mode to improve quiet dialogue and soften loud sound effects when watching movies at night. Never miss a line of dialogue or accidentally wake up the neighbors again.
Bass Management
When a subwoofer is plugged into REN’s sub output, REN automatically sends all frequencies below 80 Hz to the sub letting the speakers focus on what they do best while reducing distortion at higher volume levels. Expand your system when you’re ready and get even better sound.
Plug ‘n Play
REN has nearly every connection option available from USB-C for desktop use, Bluetooth 5.3 for mobile devices, optical for digital media, to RCA and AUX for analog gear. The connectivity and versatility to work with any piece of gear, in any scenario, past, present, or future.
Full Control
REN’s remote can swap the left and right channels, disable auto power-down, dim the front LED, mute an attached sub, control USB or Bluetooth playback, and adjust tone to dial in bass and treble.
