In this review, we will be comparing YU Passive 4-inch and R-41M, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Kanto and Klipsch.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Kanto YU Passive 4-inch and Klipsch R-41M first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Kanto YU Passive 4-inch | Klipsch R-41M |
|---|
| Brand | Kanto
Canada · founded 2007 | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 1" Tractrix Horn |
|---|
| Woofer | 4" Kevlar | 4" Copper-spun IMG |
|---|
| Frequency response | 60-20k Hz | 68-21k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | — | 50 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 2.50kg / 5.5lbs | 3.20kg / 7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 8.7" x 5.5" x 7.5"
220.0 x 140.0 x 190.0mm | 11.2" x 5.7" x 7.8"
287.0 x 146.0 x 200.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Kanto YU Passive 4-inch and Klipsch R-41M speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
Kanto YU Passive 4-inch |
Klipsch R-41M |
| Near-field |
Good |
Good |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
No way |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both YU Passive 4-inch and R-41M are 2-way speakers.
Kanto YU Passive 4-inchKlipsch R-41M
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 YU Passive 4-inch |
Klipsch R-41M |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4-inch
|
1 x 4-inch
|
YU Passive 4-inch features a 1" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4" Kevlar Woofer. On the other hand, the R-41M features a 1" Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 1 x 4" Copper-spun IMG Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1730Hz.
Frequency Response
YU Passive 4-inch has a frequency range of 60-20k Hz whereas R-41M has a frequency range of 68-21k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 60Hz, the YU Passive 4-inch can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R-41M's min frequency of 68Hz.
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.
Impedance and Sensitivity
YU Passive 4-inch is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the R-41M which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the YU Passive 4-inch can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. YU Passive 4-inch sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the R-41M's is rated at 90 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Klipsch R-41M a more sensitive speaker compared to Kanto YU Passive 4-inch, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
YU Passive 4-inch features Single Gold Plated Binding Posts type posts and R-41M has a Single Gold Plated Binding Posts type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Klipsch R-41M's Single Gold Plated Binding Posts terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both YU Passive 4-inch and R-41M 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 YU Passive 4-inch's and Klipsch R-41M's external dimensions. Kanto YU Passive 4-inch has external dimensions of 220.0 x 140.0 x 190.0mm (8.7 x 5.5 x 7.5inch) whereas Klipsch R-41M has external dimensions of 287.0 x 146.0 x 200.0mm (11.2 x 5.7 x 7.8inch).
Klipsch R-41M is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 6mm wider, 67mm taller and 10mm deeper than Kanto YU Passive 4-inch.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Kanto YU Passive 4-inch and Klipsch R-41M in scale.
Comparison image of Kanto YU Passive 4-inch and Klipsch R-41M 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 YU Passive 4-inch is approximately 266.0cm2 / 41.2inch2 and base area of the Klipsch R-41M is approximately 292.0cm2 / 45.3inch2. The YU Passive 4-inch requires 9% less surface area than the R-41M 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 YU Passive 4-inch and Klipsch R-41M 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 YU Passive 4-inch weighs 2.50kg / 5.5lbs and the Klipsch R-41M weighs 3.20kg / 7lbs. This makes the R-41M 28% heavier than the YU Passive 4-inch.
Here is a comparison of how YU Passive 4-inch and R-41M's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Kanto YU Passive 4-inch?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of YU Passive 4-inch:
What's in the Box of Klipsch R-41M?
Here are the items that come with the R-41M:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles (installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Quick Setup Guide
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Information
 Max Input Power |
70 watts
vs
50 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Low Frequency Response |
60 Hz
vs
68 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
220mm
vs
287mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
266cm2
vs
292cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
200USD
vs
229USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 High Frequency Response |
21k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Mounting Bracket |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows mounting on walls |
| General |
Kanto YU Passive 4-inch |
Klipsch Reference R-41M |
| Brand |
Kanto |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
60-20k Hz |
68-21k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
4" |
4" |
| Woofer Composition |
Kevlar |
Copper-spun IMG |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Tractrix Horn |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
1730Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
220.0mm (8.7") |
287.0mm (11.3") |
| Width |
140.0mm (5.5") |
146.0mm (5.7") |
| Depth |
190.0mm (7.5") |
200.0mm (7.9") |
| Weight |
2.50kg (5.5lbs) |
3.20kg (7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
bass reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black,White |
Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
Keyhole |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
26-31" |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
2 years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
2 years |
5 Years |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Kanto YU Passive 4-inch digs deeper - 60Hz against 68Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Klipsch R-41M is more sensitive (90dB vs 86dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | Klipsch R-41M is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | A | Kanto YU Passive 4-inch takes more power (70W vs 50W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Kanto YU Passive 4-inch is easier to place; Klipsch R-41M is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. Klipsch R-41M sits in a wider range (5 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | Kanto YU Passive 4-inch is cheaper - $200 against $229, about 13% less. |
A Kanto YU Passive 4-inch B Klipsch R-41M
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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 68Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. In a large or open-plan room, Klipsch R-41M has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Kanto YU Passive 4-inch 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.