In this review, we will be comparing Kanta No.3 and Kanta No.2, two Passive Floor-standing speakers by Focal Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Focal Kanta No.3 and Focal Kanta No.2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Kanta No.3 and Kanta No.2 are members of Focal's Kanta series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Focal Kanta Series History
What size room are the Focal Kanta No.3 and Focal Kanta No.2 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Focal Kanta No.3 and Focal Kanta No.2 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both Kanta No.3 and Kanta No.2 are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
Focal Kanta No.3 |
Focal Kanta No.2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.1-inch
|
1.1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6.5-inch |
1 x 6.5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 8-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
Kanta No.3 features a 1.1" IAL3 Beryllium Hard-Dome Tweeter , a 6.5" Midrange and 2 x 8" Flax Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 250 Hz - 2500 Hz. On the other hand, the Kanta No.2 features a 1.1" IAL3 Beryllium Hard-Dome Tweeter , a 6.5" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Flax Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 260 Hz - 2700 Hz.
Frequency Response
Kanta No.3 has a frequency range of 33-40k Hz whereas Kanta No.2 has a frequency range of 35-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 33Hz, the Kanta No.3 can go slightly deeper then the Kanta No.2's min frequency of 35Hz.
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 Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing 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.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Kanta No.3 and Kanta No.2 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 91 dB.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. While using an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
Kanta No.3 can handle a max power of 400 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Kanta No.2 has a max power handling value of 300 watts RMS, 100 watts less than the Kanta No.3.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Kanta No.3 features Binding post type posts and Kanta No.2 has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Focal Kanta No.2's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Kanta No.3 and Kanta No.2 have Front firing ports.
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 Focal Kanta No.3's and Focal Kanta No.2's external dimensions. Focal Kanta No.3 has external dimensions of 1280.0 x 386.0 x 521.0mm ( 50-3/8inch x 15-3/16inch x 20-1/2inch ) whereas Focal Kanta No.2 has external dimensions of 1118.0 x 321.0 x 477.0mm ( 44inch x 12-5/8inch x 18-3/4inch ) .
Focal Kanta No.3 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 65mm wider, 162mm taller and 44mm deeper than Focal Kanta No.2.
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 Focal Kanta No.3 is approximately 2011.1cm2 / 311.7inch2 and base area of the Focal Kanta No.2 is approximately 1531.2cm2 / 237.3inch2. The Kanta No.3 requires 31% more surface area than the Kanta No.2 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 Focal Kanta No.3 weighs 46.09kg / 101.4lbs and the Focal Kanta No.2 weighs 35.09kg / 77.2lbs. This makes the Kanta No.3 31% heavier than the Kanta No.2.
Here is a comparison of how Kanta No.3 and Kanta No.2's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of Focal Kanta No.3?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Kanta No.3:
Floorstanding loudspeakerLarge grilleSmall grilleOutrigger feet4 Spikes4 Protective discsUser Manual
What's in the Box of Focal Kanta No.2?
Here are the items that come with the Kanta No.2:
Floorstanding loudspeakerLarge grilleSmall grilleOutrigger feet4 Spikes4 Protective discsUser Manual
 Max Input Power |
400 watts
vs
300 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
33 Hz
vs
35 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Price per pair* |
10998USD
vs
14998USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Minimum Impedance |
3.1 ohms
vs
3.0 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Height |
1118mm
vs
1280mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1531cm2 (321x477mm)
vs
2011cm2 (386x521mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Focal Kanta No.3 |
Focal Kanta No.2 |
| Brand |
Focal |
Focal |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
40-400 watts |
40-300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
91 dB |
91 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.0 ohms |
3.1 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
33-40k Hz |
35-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Flax |
Flax |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.1" |
1.1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
Hard-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
250 Hz - 2500 Hz |
260 Hz - 2700 Hz |
| Firing Direction |
Front |
Front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1280.0mm (50.4") |
1118.0mm (44") |
| Width |
386.0mm (15.2") |
321.0mm (12.6") |
| Depth |
521.0mm (20.5") |
477.0mm (18.8") |
| Weight |
46.09kg (101.4lbs) |
35.09kg (77.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Multi-ply/Polymer/Veneer |
Multi-ply/Polymer/Veneer |
| Available Colors |
High-Gloss Carrara White, High-Gloss Black/Deep Black, Matte Walnut/Dark Grey,Matte Walnut/Ivory |
High-Gloss Carrara White, High-Gloss Black/Deep Black, Matte Walnut/Dark Grey,Matte Walnut/Ivory |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |