If you thought that the Kanto YU2 that I reviewed in the previous audio series video with TechX was great, then I’ve got news for you! And yes it is pronounced “U2” and not “Y.U.2” how silly of me. Well yes, I was impressed with the Kanto YU2 due to its compact size and price point, but there were some trade-offs especially from a lower-end sound perspective, especially if you are not looking to add a sub.
So if you are looking for a more functional, bigger sound and more connectivity options, then the Kanto YU4 may be what you need.
Unboxing
Now the unboxing process was similar to the Kanto YU2, other than the speakers:
- There is the Manuals
- Remote with Batteries
- The 3-Pin Power Cord
- The Speaker wires
- A 3.5mm AUX cable
- And 8 rubber feet stickers
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Design and build
The Kanto YU4 has a similar build and design language as its entry-level sibling. And by that, I mean that it’s well-built with a minimalist and pleasing enclosure design.
It looks and feels premium and comes in a similar variety of colors and finishes to the Kanto YU2, and here in Malaysia under TechX’s website there is Matte Black, White and Grey, Gloss Black, Red, and White, then there is the similar Bamboo finish that I reviewed the Kanto YU2 with and the one that I have my hands on is in Gloss Teal.
From the front, the left and right speakers look identical aside from the control knob and a black circle that houses a sensor and LED indicator light on the right speaker.
The speakers feature a 4-inch (102mm) kevlar mid-woofer at the bottom and a 1-inch (25mm) silk dome tweeter at the top.
Each speaker spans 4cm x 19cm x 22cm, which is still considered compact and weighs 3.2 kilos and 2.5 kilos for the active and passive speaker, respectively.
Though bigger than the Kanto YU2, the Kanto YU4 is still compact enough to be placed on a desk. Now, you may want to consider getting a pair of speaker stands for more optimal height placement and angle. You can pick up the Kanto S4 Desktop Stand for RM265, or the SP9 Desktop Speaker Stands which come with nice cable management in the stand as well, which is priced at RM350. (All product links are at the end of this article)
Although any compatible stand that fits will do just fine BUT these stands look sweet, don’t they?
Hardware & Connectivity
As you know, the Kanto YU4 is a powered speaker, integrating a Class D amp that kicks out a sizable 70 watts of total RMS power or 140 watts of peak power.
It has a frequency response of 60 Hertz to 20 KiloHertz, plus-minus 6 decibels. So yes, this surely has a better dynamic range than its entry-level sibling and there’s also a rear-firing bass reflex port for better bass response.
What’s cool about the Kanto YU4 compared to the Kanto YU2 is that it offers Bluetooth connectivity via Bluetooth 4.0 with Qualcomm aptX. It also has a phono pre-amp built-in, which means you can plug in a turntable without adding complexity to your audio setup.
Around the back, you’ll find a plethora of connectivity options:
- There’s a 3.5mm mini-jack, which you can use the included cable in the box from Kanto but I have used the RCA to AUX Cable from the brand called SYNCWIRE which is also available on TechX’s website.
- Then there is the RCA Left and Right port above the AUX port
- A Sub Out to output to an external subwoofer
- A Phono and Line RCA switcher
- Then towards the right, you’ll find a pair of Digital Audio Input or TOSLINK sockets that support up to 24bit/96kHz input.
- Down there, you’ll find the Right Channel Out for the speaker wires and a USB Type-A 5V/1A charging port.
Unlike the YU2 though, there’s no built-in DAC nor USB input for devices, so if you’re looking to plug-and-play from a smartphone, you’ll have to do it via Bluetooth instead.
Also different from the YU2, the control knob, as mentioned earlier, is now at the front. It’s definitely more intuitive and accessible.
The knob acts as a source/volume/stand-by selector which can be rotated as well as pushed in for selecting sources: RCA, AUX, Opt1, Opt2, and Bluetooth.
Alternatively, the included remote gives you CD-player-type controls including tone control without having to fiddle with the speaker itself.
Performance
Like its smaller sibling, the Kanto KU4 impresses in the audio department. Its soundstage is fairly wide and informative, and will nicely fill a room, bedroom, or small studio. Things get even better if you use them as near-field speakers on your desk. Place them optimally, especially with a stand and you’ll be rewarded with a nice stereo image that is well-defined and centered.
In terms of sound signature, the Kanto YU4 is fairly neutral, reminiscent of the YU2, but of course not a studio monitor neutral-sounding type of way.
The biggest strength of the speaker lives in the mid-range, where it’s well-saturated and tends to be on the warm side. It also does a great job at separating frequencies and is fairly consistent, especially in the upper mids or treble.
So it will sound good in a wide array of music genres, except for perhaps bass-heavy, thumpy tracks, where it is very audible and still sounded way better than the Kanto YU2.
It’s not to say that its low frequencies are non-existent. But they tend to be more at the upper end. So once again, I’d recommend adding the SUB8 subwoofer or any compatible subwoofer if you really need that added punch in lower bass response but it was totally fine with me. (All product links are at the end of this article)
In terms of Bluetooth playback, it was pretty straightforward. I tested this on my iPhone and Android devices. In general, keeping in mind the lower quality of a Bluetooth connection, I found performance still very level-headed.
Now, I’ve said it before and I reiterate: Audio is subjective. What I like may not be what you like. So, selecting audio gear will depend on individual taste, the genre of music you listen to, and your listening environment, to name a few but you can’t escape from:
✔ clarity
✔ detail
✔ dynamic range
✔ separation between frequencies
✔ soundstage
and this Kanto YU4, has very well checked all of the boxes in those categories.
Now while this still is not the best way to hear how good the speakers are, check out a quick sound test in my YouTube video, which I have recorded using a condenser mic and preamp as well so grab your best headphones.
Conclusion
So in conclusion, the Kanto YU4 is a great pair of powered bookshelf speakers that is surely a step up from the entry-level YU2, bringing Bluetooth connectivity, bigger, better sound, phono preamp built-in as well as a pleasing design and build.
As usual, I do love and appreciate the minimalistic design even with the control knob in front, which adds a more convenient function when controlling these speakers. The build quality was excellent, and most importantly the wide soundstage and punchy mid-range.
Overall, a great pair of speakers to improve your audio experience for your desk setup and room but do let me know – are you considering Kanto YU2 or YU4?
Now since this is the usual monthly audio series collaboration with the great guys from TechX, so yes you can get the Kanto YU4 over there.
Speaking of Kanto YU2, do check out my review of that over here and also some cool budget Bluetooth speakers available from TechX over here as well and I will see you in my next review!
Get the Kanto YU4 at the link below:-
https://www.techx.com.my/products/kanto-yu4-built-in-phono-preamp-active-wireless-speakersTechX’s Official Website:-
https://www.techx.com.my/Relevant products mentioned in the video:
Kanto YU2 – https://www.techx.com.my/products/kanto-yu2-powered-computer-speakers-malaysia
Kanto YU6 – https://www.techx.com.my/products/kanto-yu6-best-wireless-turntable-speakers-malaysia
Kanto S4 Computer Speaker Stands – https://www.techx.com.my/products/kanto-yu4-desktop-speaker-stands
Kanto SP 9” Desktop Speaker Stands – https://www.techx.com.my/products/best-hifi-powered-speakers-hivi-d200-1-1-1-1
Kanto SUB8 Subwoofer – https://www.techx.com.my/products/best-compact-powered-subwoofer-kanto-sub8
