In this review, we will be comparing REN 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 REN and Kanto ORA first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Kanto REN | Kanto ORA |
|---|
| Brand | Kanto
Canada · founded 2007 | Kanto
Canada · founded 2007 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Built-in amplifier | 100-watt RMS (200-watt peak) | 50-watt RMS (100-watt peak) |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" soft-dome | 0.75" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.25" aluminum | 3" Paper |
|---|
| Frequency response | 50-22k Hz | 70-22k Hz |
|---|
| Max depth / sample rate | 24-bit / 96 kHz | 24-bit / 96 kHz |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Built-in 5.3 | Built-in 5.0 |
|---|
| Weight | 3.90kg / 8.6lbs | 1.00kg / 2.2lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 8.75" x 5.5" x 7.5"
222.25 x 139.7 x 190.5mm | 6.9375" x 3.9375" x 7.4375"
177.0 x 101.0 x 189.0mm |
|---|
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 ORA are 2-way speakers.
Kanto RENKanto 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 REN |
Kanto ORA |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
0.75-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 3-inch
|
REN features a 1" silk soft-dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" aluminum Woofer. On the other hand, the ORA features a 0.75" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 3" Paper Woofer.
Frequency Response
REN has a frequency range of 50-22k Hz whereas ORA has a frequency range of 70-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the REN 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 REN 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 REN's and Kanto ORA'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 Kanto ORA has external dimensions of 177.0 x 101.0 x 189.0mm (6.94inch x 3.94inch x 7.5inch).
Kanto REN is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 39mm wider, 45mm taller and 1mm deeper than Kanto ORA.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Kanto REN and Kanto ORA in scale.
Comparison image of Kanto REN 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 REN is approximately 266.0cm2 / 41.2inch2 and base area of the Kanto ORA is approximately 190.9cm2 / 29.6inch2. The REN requires 39% 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 REN 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 REN weighs 3.90kg / 8.6lbs and the Kanto ORA weighs 1.00kg / 2.2lbs. This makes the REN 290% heavier than the ORA.
Here is a comparison of how REN 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 ORA?
Here are the items that come with the ORA:
- Powered speaker
- Passive speaker
- AC power adapter (attached 58
 Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
3 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
70 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Handheld Remote |
Yes
vs
No
|
Control the speaker by the included RC |
 USB Port |
USB-C
vs
No
|
USB port adds flexibility |
 3.5mm Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via 3.5mm AUX input |
 RCA Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via RCA input |
 Digital Input |
Optical
vs
No
|
Connect digital inputs directly |
 HDMI Input |
ARC
vs
No
|
Connect HDMI sources directly |
 Height |
177mm
vs
222mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
190cm2
vs
266cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
349USD
vs
599USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
|
USB Port |
USB-C
vs
No
|
USB port adds flexibility |
| General |
Kanto REN |
Kanto ORA |
| Brand |
Kanto |
Kanto |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
50-22k Hz |
70-22k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
100-watt RMS |
50-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
200-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 |
5.25" |
3" |
| Woofer Composition |
aluminum |
Paper |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
0.75" |
| Tweeter Type |
soft-dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
222.0mm (8.7") |
177.0mm (7") |
| Width |
140.0mm (5.5") |
101.0mm (4") |
| Depth |
190.0mm (7.5") |
189.0mm (7.4") |
| Weight |
3.90kg (8.6lbs) |
1.00kg (2.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Matte Black,Matte Grey,Matte Orange,Matte Blue,Matte White |
Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Grille |
n/a |
No |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Aux Inputs |
3.5mm, RCA |
RCA |
| USB Port |
USB-C |
USB-C |
| Phone Input |
No |
No |
| Subwoofer Output |
mono-RCA |
mono-RCA |
| Digital Input |
Optical |
No |
| HDMI Input |
ARC |
No |
| Headphone Jack |
No |
No |
| Ethernet Port |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
2 years |
2 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
2 years |
2 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Kanto REN costs roughly 1.7x what Kanto ORA 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 70Hz. |
| Built-in power | A | Kanto REN has the bigger amplifier (100W vs 50W RMS). |
| Connections | A | Kanto REN adds HDMI and digital inputs. |
| Size | depends | Kanto ORA is easier to place; Kanto REN is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Kanto REN: a sub output; Kanto ORA: a sub output. |
| Price | B | Kanto ORA is cheaper - $349 against $599, about 42% less; arguably a different class. |
A Kanto REN 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 REN measures better, Kanto ORA costs about about 72% 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. In a large or open-plan room, Kanto REN has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Kanto ORA is the easier speaker to get right.
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.