In this review, we will be comparing Kanto REN and LSX II LT, 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 LT first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Kanto REN Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 100-watt RMS( 200-watt Peak) Integrated Amplifier
- 1" soft-dome Tweeter
- 5.25" aluminum Woofer
- 50-22k Frequency Response
- 24-bit Max Depth / 96 kHz Max Sample Rate
- Built-in 5.3 Bluetooth
- App Control Feature
- Weight:3.90kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 222.0" x 5.5" x 7.5"( 222.25 x 139.7 x 190.5mm )
KEF LSX II LT Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 200-watt RMS Integrated Amplifier
- 11th Generation Uni-Q Driver
- 0.75" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 4.5" Magnesium/Aluminium alloy Woofer
- 54-28k Hz Frequency Response
- 24-bit Max Depth / 384 kHz Max Sample Rate
- Built-in 5.0 Bluetooth
- App Control Feature
- Weight:3.60kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 240.0" x 6.1" x 7.1"( 240 × 155 × 180 mm )
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Kanto REN and KEF LSX II LT 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 Kanto REN and LSX II LT are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Kanto REN |
KEF LSX II LT |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
0.75-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 4.5-inch
|
Kanto REN features a 1" silk soft-dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" aluminum Woofer . On the other hand, the LSX II LT features a 0.75" Aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" Magnesium/Aluminium alloy Woofer .
Frequency Response
Kanto REN has a frequency range of 50-22k whereas LSX II LT has a frequency range of 54-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the Kanto REN can go slightly deeper then the LSX II LT's min frequency of 54Hz.
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 Kanto REN and LSX II LT 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 REN's and KEF LSX II LT'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 LT 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 LT but it is also 10mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Kanto REN and KEF LSX II LT in scale.
Comparison image of Kanto REN and KEF LSX II LT 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 LT is approximately 279.0cm2 / 43.2inch2. The Kanto REN requires 5% less surface area than the LSX II LT which gives it a small advantage 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 REN and KEF LSX II LT on a Media Console