One of my favorite small speaker brands has just announced the launch of a new pair of speakers that can connect to a wide range of sources, including a TV. The latest pair of speakers from Canadian brand Kanto Audio is the innovative new REN active speakers.
Earlier this year, I reviewed the superb Kanto ORA4 and was impressed with how they sounded, so it will be interesting to hear what Kanto’s designers have done with the 100W REN. These new speakers are small enough to place on a desk or bookshelf, plus they are can connect to a wide range of audio sources.
Kanto Audio says the REN is its first speakers to include an HDMI ARC input for seamless connection to modern TVs. Volume levels, muting and power controls to be activated using the supplied remote or by using the TV’s remote control.
In addition to the HDMI ARC input, the REN speakers have Bluetooth 5.3 built-in, a USB-C port, plus an optical digital TOSLink input that can handle audio files up to 24-bit/96kHz. The USB Type-C port lets users connect the REN speakers to an iPhone 15, Android devices, digital audio players, PCs, Macs and almost any device that supports USB audio.
The REN active speakers also have RCA line-in and 3.5mm stereo mini-jack inputs, enabling connection with a selection of traditional analog sources, such as a tape deck or record player with a built-in phono-stage. In addition, the Kanto Audio REN has an output for connecting a sub-woofer to give it even more bass response. The sub-out has a selectable crossover, ensuring easy integration with a powered subwoofers such as Kanto Audio’s SUB8.
With the new REN speakers, Kanto Audio claims it has engineered a pair of high-performance and powerful active speakers that are perfect for listening to music, watching movies or playing video games. If the REN speakers are anything like the ORA4 I reviewed, they have a clean treble, forward midrange and a mighty bass.
Pricing & Availability: The Kanto Audio REN Active Speakers will be available from July and priced at $599 / £499 / €579 in a choice of six colorways: black, white, cream, green, brown, and orange. If you are in the UK over the weekend of Friday 23 to Sunday 25 February, you can hear the Kanto Audio REN at the Bristol Hi-Fi Show.
More info: www.kantoaudio.com
Tech Specs:
- Tweeter: 1-inch silk dome.
- Woofer: 5.25-inch aluminum concave cone.
- Amplifier: Class D.
- Power output: 100W RMS (200W Peak Power).
- Frequency response: 50Hz – 22kHz.
- High/Low-Pass filter: 80Hz (selectable).
- Inputs: 1 x HDMI ARC with CEC, 1 x USB-C (Supports up to 24-bit/96kHz), 1 x Optical (TOSLink) (Supports up to 24-bit/96kHz), 1 x Bluetooth 5.3, 1 x RCA (L + R), 1 x 3.5mm Mini-Jack.
- Outputs: 1 x Sub-out, 1 x USB Charge (5V / 1A)
- Bluetooth: Version 5.3.
- Audio codec support: SBC / AAC.
- Sound modes: Vocal Boost and Night Mode.
- Speaker terminals: Active-to-passive knurled five-way binding post
- Bottom Mounting Hole
- Auto power down: Yes (Can be disabled).
- Auto power on: Yes (Can be disabled).
- Remote control: Yes.
- Removable grilles: Yes.
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