vocalise this good should n’t come from aset of speakersthat you scarce recognise are there , but Kanto ’s diminutiveOra Reference Desktop speakersdefy that whimsey . Kanto is no stranger to squeezing with child speech sound from small packages , so it should storm no one that the Ora deliver some of the clear , fullest , and most immersive sound I ’ve ever heard from a set of screen background speakers , even if they are a bit pricey at $ 350 .
But the Kanto Oras are n’t just screen background speakers , they ’re credit speakers . For non - audiophiles , this means that they ’re plan to deliver euphony precisely as it was register , with an accurate , level frequency response and sound that is uncolored . While this makes them pure for things like sound mixing or video redaction , do n’t you worry , game and euphony can get imposingly loud and downright rumbly , especially when you add a subwoofer to the mix .
Sure , there ’s no spacial sound recording supporting , and if you want toEQ thing , you ’ll need to do it with an app or at your sound source if you’re able to , but with Bluetooth , RCA line level , and USB - degree Celsius stimulation , you’re able to connect just about anything you need to call on your desktop into an excellent speech sound station for your berth or minor room . I spend a few weeks with the Kanto Ora speakers , and here ’s what I recollect .
Kanto Ora: design and build
Taking the Kanto Oras out of their box was a bit shocking . Each speaker is about the size of a small-scale box set of book or DVDs , coming in at just around 7 inches tall , 4 inches wide , and 5.6 - inches deep . They ’re light , too , at just over 2 pounds each , and there ’s not much to them when looking at them . The plastic cabinetwork feel a bit chintzy , and it would have been nice if they came in a finish other than black , but honestly , once they were tuck in behind my computer monitor , they more or less disappeared anyway .
The circumspect design continues on the front face of each speaker , which feature a ¾-inch silk attic tweeter and a 3 - inch woofer . The primary speaker ( the veracious one ) has but a single volume dial on the front that also acts as an input signal chooser when pressed . The back of the master speaker houses all the inputs and outputs — an RCA line in for any analog devices you desire to plug into , such as a turntable(you’ll indigence aphono preampthough ) , a USB - ascorbic acid stimulus for connecting to a information processing system for up to16 - bit/48kHzplayback , and the subwoofer - out port . Here , you ’ll also recover the Bluetooth pairing button , as well as the DC power remark and a four - pin speaker connexion .
Kanto was kind enough to also broadcast over a duet sets of mini speaker stands , and there are also rearward , threaded mount holes for installing the utterer on the wall . I set the speakers up on the smaller , Kanto S2 desktop standshorizontally under and just behind my electronic computer monitor about three foot asunder , and other than adding to the hatful of telegram behind my desk , they did n’t clutter things up at all .
My only bitch is that the Oras do n’t add up with any cables other than the power and speaker - connection cable length , which is fine for me because I have drawers full of wire , but for most hoi polloi , and reckon the price , perchance Kanto could have ponied up for a solidifying of RCAs and a USB - C.
Kanto Ora: Sound quality
My first listen with the Kanto Oras was a textbook exercise in not label a Scripture by its covering fire . With 100 tip Class D watts under the toughie ( 50 watts of bi - amplified top executive per speaker system ) , they are mighty , even though they are small . I listened to the Oras through all connection choice via my MacBook Pro and my iPhone . I did n’t try them with a turntable , although I ’m sure it ’d be an OK match , I felt like there are much dear options if that ’s what you want to do . I do like that the speakers supported a high - res Bluetooth codec than the standard SBC , but the Oras still sounded keen , delivering a amazingly spacious and balanced sound for their sizing .
Everything from vocal to instruments were well defined , clean , and crisp with no distortion or clipping of any sort , even when giving them some volume and , make no mistake , they do have intensity . The Kanto Oras shine in the mids and treble , with first-class lucidness , item , and presence in guitar , vocals , piano , and bright cymbals that are n’t at all abrasive , even over extended listening session .
Sound separation and soundstaging is off the charts with the Oras , especially when listening to dynamically rich and atmospheric music such as Radiohead . The tracksReckonerandHow to Disappear all , with their cavernous vocals , glowering strings , and preciseness clinging of ride cymbal , press stud , and shakers that seem to be descend from everywhere , go almost as good from these diminutive speakers as they do from a determined ofquality headphonesor much larger speaker system .
On their own , the Oras exhibit the low end magnificently , finding its perfect place among the well - balanced and never harsh mids and highs . Butadd a subwoofer , andooh . With its automatic participating crossing , secure the RCA zep cable to the Oras automatically reduces the bass load on the speakers , shifting it to the sub to do all that bassy heavy lifting . It took a arcminute to find the right volume balance , but once I got it dialed in , the combination just tattle at any volume , was n’t boomy , and you could n’t tell there was a submarine under my desk at all .
My favorite test with the Oras was , as clichéd as it sounds , Phil Collins ’ 2015 remaster ofIn the Air Tonighton Tidal . I first did a go without the subwoofer , and while the little 3 - inch drivers did a remarkable occupation at treat all of Collins ’ nuanced rhythm section and reverberating vocal in the first two thirds of the track , with the sub connected , I was utterly blown by with the intensity and impact they managed to bring forth , specially whenthat parthits . You know the one .
With the volume nearly as far as it would go , my spot literally rumble . And while most of it was supplied by the sub , I was traumatise at how well the Oras observe up with it , as if it was coming from a cohesive unit .
Kanto Ora: bottom line
For$350 , the Kanto Orasmight , at first , seem too pricey for such a small set of background speakers . But their balanced mention speaker sound , clearness , and surprisingly big 100 James Watt of power in such a discerning package more than absolve the terms .
Are there alternatives ? Of course . TheAudioengine A2+are extremely rated , have like inputs , and featureaptX Bluetoothfor $ 80 less . But they ’re importantly less powerful . You could also check out the 90 - wattFluance Ai41powered , 5 - inch bookshelf Speaker that are $ 250 , add up with a remote and in a range of overnice destination , and have a digital optical input signal for connecting to a tv set , if you like . Kanto ’s own YU4s , while a bit more expensive at $ 420 , would also be a good choice .
The ravisher of the Kanto Ora source desktop speakers is that if you ’re looking to add up a set of speaker unit to your desktop setup , whether for professional video redaction or sound admixture , playing television games , ascertain YouTube or Netflix on your computer , or heed to music while you work out , they sound great and will not get in the way of life . But , if you want to go allIn the Air Tonighton the situation , it ’s only a few hundred dollar sign and a subwoofer aside .
