In this review, we will be comparing YU Passive 5.25-inch and R-51M, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Kanto and Klipsch.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Kanto YU Passive 5.25-inch and Klipsch R-51M first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Kanto YU Passive 5.25-inch Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 5.25" kevlar Woofer
- 50-20k Hz Frequency Response
- 89 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 6ohms
- Weight:4.00kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 272.0" x 6.9" x 8.1"( 272.0 x 175.0 x 205.0mm )
Klipsch R-51M Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Tractrix Horn Tweeter
- 5.25" Copper-spun IMG Woofer
- 62-21k Hz Frequency Response
- 93 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:Up to 85watts
- Weight:5.00kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 338.0" x 7.0" x 8.4"( 338.0 x 178.0 x 215.0mm )
What size room are the Kanto YU Passive 5.25-inch and Klipsch R-51M 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 5.25-inch |
Klipsch R-51M |
| Near-field |
Average |
Average |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
Bad |
(* 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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Kanto YU Passive 5.25-inch and Klipsch R-51M compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both YU Passive 5.25-inch and R-51M are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Kanto YU Passive 5.25-inch |
Klipsch R-51M |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
YU Passive 5.25-inch features a 1" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" kevlar Woofer . On the other hand, the R-51M features a 1" Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Copper-spun IMG Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1660Hz.
Frequency Response
YU Passive 5.25-inch has a frequency range of 50-20k Hz whereas R-51M has a frequency range of 62-21k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the YU Passive 5.25-inch can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R-51M's min frequency of 62Hz.
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
Kanto YU Passive 5.25-inch
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.
Impedance and Sensitivity
YU Passive 5.25-inch is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the R-51M which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. YU Passive 5.25-inch sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the R-51M's is rated at 93 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Klipsch R-51M a more sensitive speaker compared to Kanto YU Passive 5.25-inch, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
YU Passive 5.25-inch features Single Gold Plated Binding Posts - 5-way type posts and R-51M has a Single Gold Plated Binding Posts - 5-way type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Klipsch R-51M's Single Gold Plated Binding Posts - 5-way terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both YU Passive 5.25-inch and R-51M 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 YU Passive 5.25-inch's and Klipsch R-51M's external dimensions. Kanto YU Passive 5.25-inch has external dimensions of 272.0 x 175.0 x 205.0mm ( 10.7 x 6.9 x 8.1inch) whereas Klipsch R-51M has external dimensions of 338.0 x 178.0 x 215.0mm ( 13.3 x 7.0 x 8.4inch) .
Klipsch R-51M is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 3mm wider, 66mm taller and 10mm deeper than Kanto YU Passive 5.25-inch.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Kanto YU Passive 5.25-inch and Klipsch R-51M in scale.
Comparison image of Kanto YU Passive 5.25-inch and Klipsch R-51M 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 5.25-inch is approximately 358.8cm2 / 55.6inch2 and base area of the Klipsch R-51M is approximately 382.7cm2 / 59.3inch2. The YU Passive 5.25-inch requires 6% less surface area than the R-51M 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 YU Passive 5.25-inch and Klipsch R-51M 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 5.25-inch weighs 4.00kg / 8.8lbs and the Klipsch R-51M weighs 5.00kg / 11lbs. This makes the R-51M 25% heavier than the YU Passive 5.25-inch.
Here is a comparison of how YU Passive 5.25-inch and R-51M's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Kanto YU Passive 5.25-inch
What's in the Box of Kanto YU Passive 5.25-inch?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of YU Passive 5.25-inch:
8 x Rubber Feet Manual
What's in the Box of Klipsch R-51M?
Here are the items that come with the R-51M:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers 2 Grilles (installed) 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet Quick Setup Guide Important Safety Instructions Warranty Information
 Max Input Power |
100 watts
vs
85 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
62 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
272mm
vs
338mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
358cm2
vs
382cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
240USD
vs
359USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Sensitivity |
93 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 High Frequency Response |
21k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
| General |
Kanto YU Passive 5.25-inch |
Klipsch Reference R-51M |
| Brand |
Kanto |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
93 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
50-20k Hz |
62-21k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5.25" |
| 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 |
1660Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
272.0mm (10.7") |
338.0mm (13.3") |
| Width |
175.0mm (6.9") |
178.0mm (7") |
| Depth |
205.0mm (8.1") |
215.0mm (8.5") |
| Weight |
4.00kg (8.8lbs) |
5.00kg (11lbs) |
| Enclosure |
bass reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black,White |
Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
24-28" |
| 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 |