In this review, we will be comparing ORA4 and ORA, 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 ORA4 and Kanto ORA first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Kanto ORA4 | Kanto ORA |
|---|
| Brand | Kanto
Canada · founded 2007 | Kanto
Canada · founded 2007 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Built-in amplifier | 70-watt RMS (140-watt peak) | 50-watt RMS (100-watt peak) |
|---|
| Tweeter | 0.75" Soft-Dome | 0.75" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 4" Aluminum | 3" Paper |
|---|
| Frequency response | 60-22k Hz | 70-22k Hz |
|---|
| Max depth / sample rate | 24-bit / 96 kHz | 24-bit / 96 kHz |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Built-in 5.0 | Built-in 5.0 |
|---|
| Weight | 1.80kg / 4lbs | 1.00kg / 2.2lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 8.3" x 4.7" x 7.2"
210.82 x 119.38 x 182.88mm | 6.9375" x 3.9375" x 7.4375"
177.0 x 101.0 x 189.0mm |
|---|
ORA4 and ORA are members of Kanto's ORA series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Kanto ORA Series
History
|
Model |
Body |
Frequency |
Watts RMS | Max Depth / Sample Rate | Woofer |
 |
Kanto ORA
|
Bookshelf |
70-22k Hz |
50-watt | 24-bit/96 kHzΩ |
1 x 3"
|
 |
Kanto ORA4
|
Bookshelf |
60-22k Hz |
70-watt | 24-bit/96 kHzΩ |
1 x 4"
|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both ORA4 and ORA are 2-way speakers.
Kanto ORA4Kanto ORA
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Kanto ORA4 |
Kanto ORA |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.75-inch
|
0.75-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4-inch
|
1 x 3-inch
|
ORA4 features a 0.75" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4" Aluminum Woofer. On the other hand, the ORA features a 0.75" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 3" Paper Woofer.
Frequency Response
ORA4 has a frequency range of 60-22k Hz whereas ORA has a frequency range of 70-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 60Hz, the ORA4 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the ORA's min frequency of 70Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf 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.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both ORA4 and ORA 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
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 Kanto ORA4's and Kanto ORA's external dimensions. Kanto ORA4 has external dimensions of 210.82 x 119.38 x 182.88mm (8.3inch x 4.7inch x 7.2inch) whereas Kanto ORA has external dimensions of 177.0 x 101.0 x 189.0mm (6.94inch x 3.94inch x 7.5inch).
Kanto ORA is 18mm narrower and 34mm shorter than Kanto ORA4 but it is also 6mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Kanto ORA4 and Kanto ORA in scale.
Comparison image of Kanto ORA4 and Kanto ORA 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 ORA4 is approximately 217.8cm2 / 33.8inch2 and base area of the Kanto ORA is approximately 190.9cm2 / 29.6inch2. The ORA4 requires 14% more surface area than the ORA which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is 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 ORA4 and Kanto ORA on a Media Console
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 Kanto ORA4 weighs 1.80kg / 4lbs and the Kanto ORA weighs 1.00kg / 2.2lbs. This makes the ORA4 80% heavier than the ORA.
Here is a comparison of how ORA4 and ORA's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Kanto ORA4?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of ORA4:
- 4-pin Speaker Connector (6’)
- Power Cord
- 8 x Rubber Feet
- Quick Start Guide
What's in the Box of Kanto ORA?
Here are the items that come with the ORA:
- Powered speaker
- Passive speaker
- AC power adapter (attached 58
 Woofer Size |
4 inches
vs
3 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
60 Hz
vs
70 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 USB Port |
USB-C
vs
No
|
USB port adds flexibility |
 RCA Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via RCA input |
 Height |
177mm
vs
211mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
190cm2
vs
217cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
349USD
vs
399USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
|
USB Port |
USB-C
vs
No
|
USB port adds flexibility |
|
RCA Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via RCA input |
| General |
Kanto ORA4 |
Kanto ORA |
| Brand |
Kanto |
Kanto |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
60-22k Hz |
70-22k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
70-watt RMS |
50-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
140-watt RMS |
100-watt RMS |
| Max Bit Depth |
24-bit |
24-bit |
| Max Sample Rate |
96 kHz |
96 kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
4" |
3" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminum |
Paper |
| Tweeter Size |
0.75" |
0.75" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
211.0mm (8.3") |
177.0mm (7") |
| Width |
119.0mm (4.7") |
101.0mm (4") |
| Depth |
183.0mm (7.2") |
189.0mm (7.4") |
| Weight |
1.80kg (4lbs) |
1.00kg (2.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Matte Black,Matte White |
Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Grille |
n/a |
No |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Aux Inputs |
RCA |
RCA |
| USB Port |
USB-C |
USB-C |
| Phone Input |
No |
No |
| Subwoofer Output |
mono-RCA |
mono-RCA |
| Digital Input |
No |
No |
| HDMI Input |
No |
No |
| Headphone Jack |
No |
No |
| Ethernet Port |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
2 Years |
2 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
2 Years |
2 Years |
Siblings in Kanto's ORA series, so they share a family sound. It comes down to size, output and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Kanto ORA4 digs deeper - 60Hz against 70Hz. |
| Built-in power | A | Kanto ORA4 has the bigger amplifier (70W vs 50W RMS). |
| Connections | evenly matched | The same set of inputs and streaming options. |
| Size | depends | Kanto ORA is easier to place; Kanto ORA4 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Kanto ORA4: a sub output; Kanto ORA: a sub output. |
| Price | B | Kanto ORA is cheaper - $349 against $399, about 13% less. |
A Kanto ORA4 B Kanto ORA
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?
The usual trade-off: Kanto ORA4 measures better, Kanto ORA costs about about 14% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 70Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Kanto ORA much easier to justify.
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.