In this review, we will be comparing Reference 2 2023 and Aspen FR20, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Canton and PS Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Canton Reference 2 2023 and PS Audio Aspen FR20 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Canton Reference 2 2023 | PS Audio Aspen FR20 |
|---|
| Brand | Canton
Germany · founded 1972 | PS Audio
United States · founded 1973 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" | 2.5" Planar Magnetic |
|---|
| Midrange | 6.85" | 10" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 8.62" Black ceramic tungsten | 2 x 8" Composite sandwich |
|---|
| Frequency response | 19-40k Hz | 23-20k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 370-630 watts | 50-300 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 61.69kg / 135.7lbs | 60.30kg / 132.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 45.6" x 13.7" x 20.9"
1158.2 x 348.0 x 530.9mm | 50-1/2" x 16" x 18-3/4"
1283.0 x 406.0 x 476.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Canton Reference 2 2023 and PS Audio Aspen FR20 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 |
PS Audio Aspen FR20 |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
Average |
(* 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 Aspen FR20 are 3-way speakers.
Canton Reference 2 2023PS Audio Aspen FR20
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 |
PS Audio Aspen FR20 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
2.5-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6.85-inch |
1 x 10-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 Aspen FR20 features a 2.5" Teonex planar magnetic Planar Magnetic Tweeter, a 10" Midrange and 2 x 8" Composite sandwich Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 400 Hz, 2500 Hz – Linkwitz-Riley 4th order acoustic.
Frequency Response
Reference 2 2023 has a frequency range of 19-40k Hz whereas Aspen FR20 has a frequency range of 23-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 19Hz, the Reference 2 2023 can go slightly deeper then the Aspen FR20's min frequency of 23Hz.
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 and Aspen FR20 have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Reference 2 2023 sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the Aspen FR20's is at 87 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Canton Reference 2 2023 a more sensitive speaker compared to PS Audio Aspen FR20, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
One thing to keep in mind that the lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit comared to higher impedance speakers especially at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Reference 2 2023 and the Reference 2 2023 can provide this impedance level.
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 Aspen FR20 has a max power handling value of 300 watts RMS, 330 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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Reference 2 2023 features Binding post type posts and Aspen FR20 has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
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 PS Audio Aspen FR20'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 PS Audio Aspen FR20 has external dimensions of 1283.0 x 406.0 x 476.0mm (50-1/2 x 16 x 18-3/4inch).
Canton Reference 2 2023 is 58mm narrower and 124.8mm shorter than PS Audio Aspen FR20 but it is also 54.9mm deeper.
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.
Near-identical footprints. Canton Reference 2 2023 is 55mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. PS Audio Aspen FR20 is 125mm 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 PS Audio Aspen FR20 is approximately 1932.6cm2 / 299.6inch2. The Reference 2 2023 requires 4% less surface area than the Aspen FR20 which gives it a small advantage 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 PS Audio Aspen FR20 weighs 60.30kg / 132.7lbs. This makes the Reference 2 2023 2% heavier than the Aspen FR20.
Here is a comparison of how Reference 2 2023 and Aspen FR20'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
300 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
8.62 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
19 Hz
vs
23 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
1158mm
vs
1283mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1847cm2
vs
1932cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Passive Radiator |
two, 10" side-firing passive radiators
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
 Price per pair* |
22999USD
vs
23000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Canton Reference 2 2023 |
PS Audio Aspen FR20 |
| Brand |
Canton |
PS Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
370-630 watts |
50-300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
19-40k Hz |
23-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
8.62" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Black ceramic tungsten |
Composite sandwich |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
2.5" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
Planar Magnetic |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6.85" |
10" |
| Crossover Frequency |
160 / 3000 Hz |
400 Hz, 2500 Hz – Linkwitz-Riley 4th order acoustic |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1158.2mm (45.6") |
1283.0mm (50.5") |
| Width |
348.0mm (13.7") |
406.0mm (16") |
| Depth |
530.9mm (20.9") |
476.0mm (18.7") |
| Weight |
61.69kg (135.7lbs) |
60.30kg (132.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Passive Radiator |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
|
| Labor Warranty |
|
|
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Canton Reference 2 2023 digs deeper - 19Hz against 23Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (88dB vs 87dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | A | Canton Reference 2 2023 takes more power (630W vs 300W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Cabinet | depends | Ported vs Passive Radiator. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($23,000 vs $22,999 a pair). |
A Canton Reference 2 2023 B PS Audio Aspen FR20
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?
Canton Reference 2 2023 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does.
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.