In this review, we will be comparing REN and LSX II, two Powered Bookshelf speakers from Kanto and KEF. 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 REN and KEF LSX II first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Kanto REN | KEF LSX II |
|---|
| Brand | Kanto
Canada · founded 2007 | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Built-in amplifier | 100-watt RMS (200-watt peak) | 200-watt RMS |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | — | 11th Generation Uni-Q |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" soft-dome | 0.75" Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.25" aluminum | 4.5" Magnesium/Aluminium alloy |
|---|
| Frequency response | 50-22k Hz | 54-28k Hz |
|---|
| Max depth / sample rate | 24-bit / 96 kHz | 24-bit / 384 kHz |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Built-in 5.3 | Built-in 4.2 |
|---|
| App control | — | Yes |
|---|
| Weight | 3.90kg / 8.6lbs | 3.60kg / 7.9lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 8.75" x 5.5" x 7.5"
222.25 x 139.7 x 190.5mm | 9.5" x 6.1" x 7.1"
240 × 155 × 180 mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
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Drivers
Both REN and LSX II are 2-way speakers.
Kanto RENKEF LSX II
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 REN |
KEF LSX II |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
0.75-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 4.5-inch
|
REN features a 1" silk soft-dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" aluminum Woofer. On the other hand, the LSX II features a 0.75" Aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" Magnesium/Aluminium alloy Woofer.
Frequency Response
REN has a frequency range of 50-22k Hz whereas LSX II has a frequency range of 54-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the REN can go slightly deeper then the LSX II's min frequency of 54Hz.
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 REN and LSX II 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.
KEF LSX II Port
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 REN's and KEF LSX II's external dimensions. Kanto REN has external dimensions of 222.25 x 139.7 x 190.5mm (8.75inch x 5.5inch x 7.5inch) whereas KEF LSX II has external dimensions of 240 × 155 × 180 mm (9.5 × 6.1 × 7.1 inch).
Kanto REN is 15mm narrower and 18mm shorter than KEF LSX II but it is also 10mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Kanto REN and KEF LSX II in scale.
Comparison image of Kanto REN and KEF LSX II 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 REN is approximately 266.0cm2 / 41.2inch2 and base area of the KEF LSX II is approximately 279.0cm2 / 43.2inch2. The REN requires 5% less surface area than the LSX II which gives it a small advantage 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 REN and KEF LSX II 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 REN weighs 3.90kg / 8.6lbs and the KEF LSX II weighs 3.60kg / 7.9lbs. This makes the REN 8% heavier than the LSX II.
Here is a comparison of how REN and LSX II's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of KEF LSX II?
Here are the items that come with the LSX II:
- 2 Wireless powered speakers
- Two 6.5-feet AC power cords
- 10-feet Cat-6 interconnect speaker cable
- Remote control
- 2 AAA batteries
- Quick Start Guide
- Important Safety Information
- Warranty Information
- Maintenance Guide
 Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
4.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
54 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
222mm
vs
240mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
266cm2
vs
279cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
599USD
vs
1299USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 RCA Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via RCA input |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 App-Based Control |
Apple iOS, Android
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
 Ethernet Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
High quality streaming over Ethernet |
 USB Port |
USB-C (connects to your computer)
vs
No
|
USB port adds flexibility |
| General |
Kanto REN |
KEF LSX II |
| Brand |
Kanto |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
50-22k Hz |
54-28k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
100-watt RMS |
200-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
200-watt RMS |
n/a |
| Max Bit Depth |
24-bit |
24-bit |
| Max Sample Rate |
96 kHz |
384 kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
4.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
aluminum |
Magnesium/Aluminium alloy |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
0.75" |
| Tweeter Type |
soft-dome |
Hard-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
222.0mm (8.7") |
240.0mm (9.4") |
| Width |
140.0mm (5.5") |
155.0mm (6.1") |
| Depth |
190.0mm (7.5") |
180.0mm (7.1") |
| Weight |
3.90kg (8.6lbs) |
3.60kg (7.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Matte Black,Matte Grey,Matte Orange,Matte Blue,Matte White |
Carbon Black, Mineral White, Cobalt Blue, Lava Red, and Soundwave |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Aux Inputs |
3.5mm, RCA |
3.5mm |
| USB Port |
USB-C |
USB-C (connects to your computer) |
| Phone Input |
No |
No |
| Subwoofer Output |
mono-RCA |
Wired |
| Digital Input |
Optical |
Optical |
| HDMI Input |
ARC |
ARC |
| Headphone Jack |
No |
No |
| Ethernet Port |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
2 years |
1 Year |
| Labor Warranty |
2 years |
1 Year |
These sit in different price classes - KEF LSX II costs roughly 2.2x what Kanto REN does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Kanto REN digs deeper - 50Hz against 54Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Built-in power | B | KEF LSX II has the bigger amplifier (200W vs 100W RMS). |
| Connections | B | KEF LSX II adds Wi-Fi and streaming. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | Kanto REN: a sub output; KEF LSX II: a sub output. |
| Price | A | Kanto REN is cheaper - $599 against $1,299, about 54% less; arguably a different class. |
A Kanto REN B KEF LSX II
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?
KEF LSX II is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 117% more. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - Kanto REN looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the KEF LSX II appeals to you. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $700 saved by taking the cheaper pair would buy a subwoofer or a better amplifier, and either usually does more for the sound than the difference between these two.
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.