In this review, we will be comparing Reference 7 2023 and Reference 5 2023, two Passive Floor-standing speakers by Canton.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Canton Reference 7 2023 and Canton Reference 5 2023 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Canton Reference 7 2023 | Canton Reference 5 2023 |
|---|
| Brand | Canton
Germany · founded 1972 | Canton
Germany · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" | 1" |
|---|
| Midrange | 6.85" | 6.85" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6.85" Aluminum ceramic tungsten (Wave-surround) | 2 x 8.66" Black ceramic tungsten |
|---|
| Frequency response | 23-40k Hz | 21-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | — | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 160-320 watts | 200-370 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 33.11kg / 72.8lbs | 35.92kg / 79lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 38.5" x 11" x 17"
977.9 x 279.4 x 431.8mm | 40" x 11.8" x 18"
1016.0 x 299.7 x 457.2mm |
|---|
What size room are the Canton Reference 7 2023 and Canton Reference 5 2023 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 7 2023 |
Canton Reference 5 2023 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
(* 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 7 2023 and Reference 5 2023 are 3-way speakers.
Canton Reference 7 2023Canton Reference 5 2023
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 7 2023 |
Canton Reference 5 2023 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6.85-inch |
1 x 6.85-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.85-inch
|
2 x 8.66-inch
|
Reference 7 2023 features a 1" Aluminum oxyd ceramic Tweeter, a 6.85" Midrange and 2 x 6.85" Aluminum ceramic tungsten (Wave-surround) Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 190 / 3200 Hz. On the other hand, the Reference 5 2023 features a 1" Aluminum oxyd ceramic Tweeter, a 6.85" Midrange and 2 x 8.66" Black ceramic tungsten Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 170 / 3000 Hz.
Frequency Response
Reference 7 2023 has a frequency range of 23-40k Hz whereas Reference 5 2023 has a frequency range of 21-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 21Hz, the Reference 5 2023 can go slightly deeper then the Reference 7 2023'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
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
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 5 2023 can handle a max power of 370 watts RMS, whereas Reference 7 2023 has a max power handling value of 320 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the Reference 5 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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Reference 7 2023 features Binding post type posts and Reference 5 2023 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 7 2023's and Canton Reference 5 2023's external dimensions. Canton Reference 7 2023 has external dimensions of 977.9 x 279.4 x 431.8mm (38.5 x 11 x 17inch) whereas Canton Reference 5 2023 has external dimensions of 1016.0 x 299.7 x 457.2mm (40 x 11.8 x 18inch).
Canton Reference 5 2023 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 20.3mm wider, 38.1mm taller and 25.4mm deeper than Canton Reference 7 2023.
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 5 2023 needs about 14% more floor or shelf area. Canton Reference 5 2023 is 25mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Canton Reference 5 2023 is 38mm 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 7 2023 is approximately 1206.4cm2 / 187.0inch2 and base area of the Canton Reference 5 2023 is approximately 1370.2cm2 / 212.4inch2. The Reference 7 2023 requires 12% less surface area than the Reference 5 2023 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 7 2023 weighs 33.11kg / 72.8lbs and the Canton Reference 5 2023 weighs 35.92kg / 79lbs. This makes the Reference 5 2023 8% heavier than the Reference 7 2023.
Here is a comparison of how Reference 7 2023 and Reference 5 2023's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
 Height |
977mm
vs
1016mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1206cm2
vs
1370cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
11000USD
vs
13000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
370 watts
vs
320 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
8.66 inches
vs
6.85 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
21 Hz
vs
23 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
Canton Reference 7 2023 |
Canton Reference 5 2023 |
| Brand |
Canton |
Canton |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
160-320 watts |
200-370 watts |
| Sensitivity |
n/a |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
23-40k Hz |
21-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.85" |
8.66" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminum ceramic tungsten (Wave-surround) |
Black ceramic tungsten |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6.85" |
6.85" |
| Crossover Frequency |
190 / 3200 Hz |
170 / 3000 Hz |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
977.9mm (38.5") |
1016.0mm (40") |
| Width |
279.4mm (11") |
299.7mm (11.8") |
| Depth |
431.8mm (17") |
457.2mm (18") |
| Weight |
33.11kg (72.8lbs) |
35.92kg (79lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
|
| Labor Warranty |
|
|
Both are Canton, from different ranges - so the house sound is shared and the differences are mostly in scale, engineering and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | evenly matched | Much the same reach (23Hz vs 21Hz). |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (320W vs 370W). |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Price | A | Canton Reference 7 2023 is cheaper - $11,000 against $13,000, about 15% less. |
A Canton Reference 7 2023 B Canton Reference 5 2023
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.
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.