In this review, we will be comparing YU and YU2, 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 YU and Kanto YU2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
YU and YU2 are members of Kanto's YU Powered series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Kanto YU and Kanto YU2 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 YU and YU2 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Kanto YU |
Kanto YU2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
0.75-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4-inch
|
1 x 3-inch
|
YU features a 1" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4" Kevlar Woofer . On the other hand, the YU2 features a 0.75" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 3" Kevlar Woofer .
Frequency Response
YU has a frequency range of 60-20k Hz whereas YU2 has a frequency range of 80-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 60Hz, the YU can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the YU2's min frequency of 80Hz.
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 YU and YU2 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's and Kanto YU2'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 Kanto YU2 has external dimensions of 150.0 x 100.0 x 135.0mm ( 5.90 x 3.9 x 5.3inch) .
Kanto YU is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 40mm wider, 70mm taller and 55mm deeper than Kanto YU2.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Kanto YU and Kanto YU2 in scale.
Comparison image of Kanto YU and Kanto YU2 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 Kanto YU2 is approximately 135.0cm2 / 20.9inch2. The YU requires 97% more surface area than the YU2 which gives it a small disadvantage 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 and Kanto YU2 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 Kanto YU2 weighs 1.30kg / 2.9lbs. This makes the YU 85% heavier than the YU2.
Here is a comparison of how YU and YU2'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 Kanto YU2?
Here are the items that come with the YU2:
Power Cord Speaker Wire (10-feet) USB DAC Cable 3.5mm Auxiliary Cable (6.5-feet) 8 x Rubber Feet Manual
 Woofer Size |
4 inches
vs
3 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
60 Hz
vs
80 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Handheld Remote |
Yes
vs
No
|
Control the speaker by the included RC |
 RCA Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via RCA input |
 Subwoofer Output |
Wired
vs
No
|
Pair your speakers with external subwoofer |
 Height |
150mm
vs
220mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
135cm2 (100x135mm)
vs
266cm2 (140x190mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
240USD
vs
300USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| RCA Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via RCA input |
| General |
Kanto YU |
Kanto YU2 |
| Brand |
Kanto |
Kanto |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
60-20k Hz |
80-20k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
70-watt RMS |
50-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
140-watt RMS |
100-watt RMS |
| Max Bit Depth |
24-bit |
24-bit |
| Max Sample Rate |
192 kHz |
96 kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
4" |
3" |
| 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") |
150.0mm (5.9") |
| Width |
140.0mm (5.5") |
100.0mm (3.9") |
| Depth |
190.0mm (7.5") |
135.0mm (5.3") |
| Weight |
2.40kg (5.3lbs) |
1.30kg (2.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
bass reflex |
bass reflex |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Aux Inputs |
RCA |
RCA |
| USB Port |
No |
No |
| Phone Input |
No |
No |
| Subwoofer Output |
Wired |
No |
| Digital Input |
No |
No |
| HDMI Input |
No |
No |
| Headphone Jack |
No |
No |
| Ethernet Port |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
2 years |
2 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
2 years |
2 Years |