In this review, we will be comparing A1-MR and YU, two Powered Bookshelf speakers from Audioengine and Kanto. Being Powered speakers, they both have built-in amplifiers so you don't need an external power amp or an integrated amp to power them.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Audioengine A1-MR and Kanto YU first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Audioengine A1-MR Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 30-watt RMS Integrated Amplifier
- 0.75" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 2.75" Aramid Fiber Woofer
- 65-22k Hz Frequency Response
- 16-bit Max Depth / 48 kHz Max Sample Rate
- Built-in 5.0 Bluetooth
- App Control Feature
- Weight:1.10kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 158.8" x 4.1875" x 7.125"( 158.8 x 106.4 x 181.0mm )
Kanto YU Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 70-watt RMS( 140-watt Peak) Integrated Amplifier
- 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 4" Kevlar Woofer
- 60-20k Hz Frequency Response
- 24-bit Max Depth / 192 kHz Max Sample Rate
- Built-in 4.2 Bluetooth
- Weight:2.40kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 220.0" x 5.5" x 7.5"( 220.0 x 140.0 x 190.0mm )
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Audioengine A1-MR and Kanto YU compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
Both A1-MR and YU are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Audioengine A1-MR |
Kanto YU |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.75-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 2.75-inch
|
1 x 4-inch
|
A1-MR features a 0.75" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 2.75" Aramid Fiber Woofer . On the other hand, the YU features a 1" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4" Kevlar Woofer .
Frequency Response
A1-MR has a frequency range of 65-22k Hz whereas YU has a frequency range of 60-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 60Hz, the YU can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the A1-MR's min frequency of 65Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
A1-MR has a front firing port whereas YU has a rear firing ports. Audioengine A1-MR's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Kanto YU with its rear-firing port.
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Audioengine A1-MR's and Kanto YU's external dimensions. Audioengine A1-MR has external dimensions of 158.8 x 106.4 x 181.0mm ( 6.25 x 4.1875 x 7.125inch) whereas Kanto YU has external dimensions of 220.0 x 140.0 x 190.0mm ( 8.7 x 5.5 x 7.5inch) .
Kanto YU is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 33.6mm wider, 61.2mm taller and 9mm deeper than Audioengine A1-MR.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the Audioengine A1-MR is approximately 192.6cm2 / 29.9inch2 and base area of the Kanto YU is approximately 266.0cm2 / 41.2inch2. The A1-MR requires 28% less surface area than the YU which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.