In this review, we will be comparing Reference 2 2023 and Vestia No4, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Canton and Focal.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Canton Reference 2 2023 and Focal Vestia No4 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Canton Reference 2 2023 | Focal Vestia No4 |
|---|
| Brand | Canton
Germany · founded 1972 | Focal
France · founded 1979 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" | 1" inverted dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 6.85" | 6.5" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 8.62" Black ceramic tungsten | 2 x 8" Slatefiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 19-40k Hz | 40-30k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 92 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 370-630 watts | 40-350 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 61.69kg / 135.7lbs | 31.50kg / 69.3lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 45.6" x 13.7" x 20.9"
1158.2 x 348.0 x 530.9mm | 44-3/8" x 12" x 16-7/8"
1128.0 x 305.0 x 429.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Canton Reference 2 2023 and Focal Vestia No4 speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
Canton Reference 2 2023 |
Focal Vestia No4 |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Are you nuts? |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
Good |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Reference 2 2023 and Vestia No4 are 3-way speakers.
Canton Reference 2 2023Focal Vestia No4
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Canton Reference 2 2023 |
Focal Vestia No4 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6.85-inch |
1 x 6.5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 8.62-inch
|
2 x 8-inch
|
Reference 2 2023 features a 1" Aluminum oxyd ceramic Tweeter, a 6.85" Midrange and 2 x 8.62" Black ceramic tungsten Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 160 / 3000 Hz. On the other hand, the Vestia No4 features a 1" Al/Mg inverted dome Tweeter, a 6.5" Midrange and 2 x 8" Slatefiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 280Hz and 2800Hz.
Frequency Response
Reference 2 2023 has a frequency range of 19-40k Hz whereas Vestia No4 has a frequency range of 40-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 19Hz, the Reference 2 2023 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Vestia No4's min frequency of 40Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
Impedance and Sensitivity
Reference 2 2023 is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Vestia No4 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Reference 2 2023 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Reference 2 2023 sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the Vestia No4's is rated at 92 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Focal Vestia No4 a more sensitive speaker compared to Canton Reference 2 2023, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Reference 2 2023 can handle a max power of 630 watts RMS, whereas Vestia No4 has a max power handling value of 350 watts RMS, 280 watts less than the Reference 2 2023.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Canton Reference 2 2023's and Focal Vestia No4's external dimensions. Canton Reference 2 2023 has external dimensions of 1158.2 x 348.0 x 530.9mm (45.6 x 13.7 x 20.9inch) whereas Focal Vestia No4 has external dimensions of 1128.0 x 305.0 x 429.0mm (44-3/8-inch x 12-inch x 16-7/8-inch).
Canton Reference 2 2023 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 43mm wider, 30.2mm taller and 101.9mm deeper than Focal Vestia No4.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Canton Reference 2 2023 needs about 41% more floor or shelf area. Canton Reference 2 2023 is 102mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Canton Reference 2 2023 is 30mm taller.
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 Canton Reference 2 2023 is approximately 1847.5cm2 / 286.4inch2 and base area of the Focal Vestia No4 is approximately 1308.5cm2 / 202.8inch2. The Reference 2 2023 requires 41% more surface area than the Vestia No4 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The Canton Reference 2 2023 weighs 61.69kg / 135.7lbs and the Focal Vestia No4 weighs 31.50kg / 69.3lbs. This makes the Reference 2 2023 96% heavier than the Vestia No4.
Here is a comparison of how Reference 2 2023 and Vestia No4's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
 Max Input Power |
630 watts
vs
350 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
8.62 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
19 Hz
vs
40 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
30k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Sensitivity |
92 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Height |
1128mm
vs
1158mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1308cm2
vs
1847cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
4398USD
vs
23000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Canton Reference 2 2023 |
Focal Vestia No4 |
| Brand |
Canton |
Focal |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
370-630 watts |
40-350 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
92 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
2.6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
19-40k Hz |
40-30k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
8.62" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Black ceramic tungsten |
Slatefiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
inverted dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6.85" |
6.5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
160 / 3000 Hz |
280Hz and 2800Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1158.2mm (45.6") |
1128.0mm (44.4") |
| Width |
348.0mm (13.7") |
305.0mm (12") |
| Depth |
530.9mm (20.9") |
429.0mm (16.9") |
| Weight |
61.69kg (135.7lbs) |
31.50kg (69.3lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Black High Gloss, Dark Wood, Light Wood |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
|
| Labor Warranty |
|
|
These sit in different price classes - Canton Reference 2 2023 costs roughly 5.2x what Focal Vestia No4 does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Canton Reference 2 2023 digs deeper - 19Hz against 40Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Focal Vestia No4 is more sensitive (92dB vs 88dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | Focal Vestia No4 is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | A | Canton Reference 2 2023 takes more power (630W vs 350W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Focal Vestia No4 is easier to place; Canton Reference 2 2023 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | B | Focal Vestia No4 is cheaper - $4,398 against $23,000, about 81% less; arguably a different class. |
A Canton Reference 2 2023 B Focal Vestia No4
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 40Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Focal Vestia No4 much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate Focal Vestia No4 the better fit for a very large room; elsewhere the two are rated the same.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.