In this review, we will be comparing YU and A5+ Wireless, two Powered Bookshelf speakers from Kanto and Audioengine. 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 YU and Audioengine A5+ Wireless first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Kanto YU | Audioengine A5+ Wireless |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Built-in amplifier | 70-watt RMS (140-watt peak) | 100-watt RMS |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 0.75" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 4" Kevlar | 5" Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 60-20k Hz | 50-22k Hz |
|---|
| Max depth / sample rate | 24-bit / 192 kHz | 24-bit / 44.1 kHz |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Built-in 4.2 | Built-in 4.0 |
|---|
| Weight | 2.40kg / 5.3lbs | 4.40kg / 9.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 8.7" x 5.5" x 7.5"
220.0 x 140.0 x 190.0mm | 10.875" x 7.1875" x 9.75"
276.2 x 182.6 x 247.6mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
**This post contains affiliate links, and we will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both YU and A5+ Wireless are 2-way speakers.
Kanto YUAudioengine A5+ Wireless
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 |
Audioengine A5+ Wireless |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
0.75-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4-inch
|
1 x 5-inch
|
YU features a 1" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4" Kevlar Woofer. On the other hand, the A5+ Wireless features a 0.75" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Kevlar Woofer.
Frequency Response
YU has a frequency range of 60-20k Hz whereas A5+ Wireless has a frequency range of 50-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the A5+ Wireless can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the YU's min frequency of 60Hz.
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 YU and A5+ Wireless 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.
New
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's and Audioengine A5+ Wireless's external dimensions. Kanto YU has external dimensions of 220.0 x 140.0 x 190.0mm (8.7 x 5.5 x 7.5inch) whereas Audioengine A5+ Wireless has external dimensions of 276.2 x 182.6 x 247.6mm (10.875 x 7.1875 x 9.75inch).
Audioengine A5+ Wireless is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 42.6mm wider, 56.2mm taller and 57.6mm deeper than Kanto YU.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Kanto YU and Audioengine A5+ Wireless in scale.
Comparison image of Kanto YU and Audioengine A5+ Wireless 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 is approximately 266.0cm2 / 41.2inch2 and base area of the Audioengine A5+ Wireless is approximately 452.1cm2 / 70.1inch2. The YU requires 41% less surface area than the A5+ Wireless which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
New4
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 and Audioengine A5+ Wireless 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 weighs 2.40kg / 5.3lbs and the Audioengine A5+ Wireless weighs 4.40kg / 9.7lbs. This makes the A5+ Wireless 83% heavier than the YU.
Here is a comparison of how YU and A5+ Wireless'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 YU?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of YU:
- Remote with Batteries
- Power Cord
- Speaker Wire (16-feet)
- 8 x Rubber Feet
- Manual
What's in the Box of Audioengine A5+ Wireless?
Here are the items that come with the A5+ Wireless:
- Powered left speaker
- Passive right speaker
- 6-feet AC power cord
- Remote control (with installed CR2025 battery)
- Antenna
- 12.5-feet Length of 16 gauge speaker wire
- 6.5-feet Stereo minijack cable
- 6-feet Stereo RCA cable
- Cloth drawstring cable bag
- 2 Cloth drawstring speaker bags
- Setup guide
- Audioengine product brochure
 Height |
220mm
vs
276mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
266cm2
vs
452cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
300USD
vs
499USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Woofer Size |
5 inches
vs
4 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
60 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
22k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 3.5mm Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via 3.5mm AUX input |
 RCA Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via RCA input |
| General |
Kanto YU |
Audioengine A5+ Wireless |
| Brand |
Kanto |
Audioengine |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
60-20k Hz |
50-22k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
70-watt RMS |
100-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
140-watt RMS |
n/a |
| Max Bit Depth |
24-bit |
24-bit |
| Max Sample Rate |
192 kHz |
44.1 kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
4" |
5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Kevlar |
Kevlar |
| 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 |
220.0mm (8.7") |
276.2mm (10.9") |
| Width |
140.0mm (5.5") |
182.6mm (7.2") |
| Depth |
190.0mm (7.5") |
247.6mm (9.7") |
| Weight |
2.40kg (5.3lbs) |
4.40kg (9.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
bass reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Black, Bamboo, White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Aux Inputs |
RCA |
3.5mm, RCA |
| USB Port |
No |
No |
| Phone Input |
No |
No |
| Subwoofer Output |
Wired |
Wired |
| Digital Input |
No |
No |
| HDMI Input |
No |
No |
| Headphone Jack |
No |
No |
| Ethernet Port |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
2 years |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
2 years |
3 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Audioengine A5+ Wireless costs roughly 1.7x what Kanto YU 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 |
B |
Audioengine A5+ Wireless digs deeper - 50Hz against 60Hz. |
| Built-in power |
B |
Audioengine A5+ Wireless has the bigger amplifier (100W vs 70W RMS). |
| Connections |
evenly matched |
The same set of inputs and streaming options. |
| Size |
depends |
Kanto YU is easier to place; Audioengine A5+ Wireless is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability |
depends |
Kanto YU: a sub output; Audioengine A5+ Wireless: a sub output. |
| Price |
A |
Kanto YU is cheaper - $300 against $499, about 40% less; arguably a different class. |
A Kanto YU
B Audioengine A5+ Wireless
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, placement 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: Audioengine A5+ Wireless measures better, Kanto YU costs about 40% 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 60Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Kanto YU much easier to justify. In a large or open-plan room, Audioengine A5+ Wireless has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Kanto YU 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.