In this review, we will be comparing ORA and YU2, two Powered Bookshelf speakers by 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 Kanto ORA and Kanto YU2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Kanto ORA Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 50-watt RMS( 100-watt Peak) Integrated Amplifier
- 0.75" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 3" Paper Woofer
- 70-22k Hz Frequency Response
- 24-bit Max Depth / 96 kHz Max Sample Rate
- Built-in 5.0 Bluetooth
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 177.0" x 3.9375" x 7.4375"( 177.0 x 101.0 x 189.0mm )
Kanto YU2 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 50-watt RMS( 100-watt Peak) Integrated Amplifier
- 0.75" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 3" Kevlar Woofer
- 80-20k Hz Frequency Response
- 24-bit Max Depth / 96 kHz Max Sample Rate
- No Bluetooth
- Weight:1.30kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 150.0" x 3.9" x 5.3"( 150.0 x 100.0 x 135.0mm )
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Kanto ORA and Kanto YU2 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 ORA and YU2 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Kanto ORA |
Kanto YU2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.75-inch
|
0.75-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 3-inch
|
1 x 3-inch
|
ORA features a 0.75" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 3" Paper Woofer . On the other hand, the YU2 features a 0.75" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 3" Kevlar Woofer .
Frequency Response
ORA has a frequency range of 70-22k Hz whereas YU2 has a frequency range of 80-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 70Hz, the ORA can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the YU2's min frequency of 80Hz.
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
Both ORA and YU2 have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
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 Kanto ORA's and Kanto YU2's external dimensions. Kanto ORA has external dimensions of 177.0 x 101.0 x 189.0mm ( 6.94inch x 3.94inch x 7.5inch ) whereas Kanto YU2 has external dimensions of 150.0 x 100.0 x 135.0mm ( 5.90 x 3.9 x 5.3inch) .
Kanto ORA is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 1mm wider, 27mm taller and 54mm deeper than Kanto YU2.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Kanto ORA and Kanto YU2 in scale.
Comparison image of Kanto ORA and Kanto YU2 Size and External Dimensions
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 Kanto ORA is approximately 190.9cm2 / 29.6inch2 and base area of the Kanto YU2 is approximately 135.0cm2 / 20.9inch2. The ORA requires 41% more surface area than the YU2 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is an another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Size Comparison image of Kanto ORA and Kanto YU2 on a Media Console
What's in the Box of Kanto ORA?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of ORA:
Powered speakerPassive speakerAC power adapter (attached 58
What's in the Box of Kanto YU2?
Here are the items that come with the YU2:
Power Cord Speaker Wire (10-feet) USB DAC Cable 3.5mm Auxiliary Cable (6.5-feet) 8 x Rubber Feet Manual
Low Frequency Response 
High Frequency Response 
USB Port 
RCA Connection 
Subwoofer Output 
Height 
Base Surface Area 
Price per pair*