In this review, we will be comparing YU2 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 YU2 and Audioengine A5+ Wireless first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Kanto YU2 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 50-watt RMS( 100-watt Peak) Integrated Amplifier
- 0.75" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 3" Kevlar Woofer
- 80-20k Hz Frequency Response
- 24-bit Max Depth / 96 kHz Max Sample Rate
- Weight:1.30kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 150.0" x 3.9" x 5.3"( 150.0 x 100.0 x 135.0mm )
Audioengine A5+ Wireless Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 100-watt RMS Integrated Amplifier
- 0.75" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 5" Kevlar Woofer
- 50-22k Hz Frequency Response
- 24-bit Max Depth / 44.1 kHz Max Sample Rate
- Weight:4.40kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 276.2" x 7.1875" x 9.75"( 276.2 x 182.6 x 247.6mm )
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Kanto YU2 and Audioengine A5+ Wireless 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 YU2 and A5+ Wireless are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Kanto YU2 |
Audioengine A5+ Wireless |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.75-inch
|
0.75-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 3-inch
|
1 x 5-inch
|
YU2 features a 0.75" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 3" 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
YU2 has a frequency range of 80-20k 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 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 YU2 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.
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 YU2's and Audioengine A5+ Wireless's external dimensions. Kanto YU2 has external dimensions of 150.0 x 100.0 x 135.0mm ( 5.90 x 3.9 x 5.3inch) 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 82.6mm wider, 126.2mm taller and 112.6mm deeper than Kanto YU2.
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 YU2 is approximately 135.0cm2 / 20.9inch2 and base area of the Audioengine A5+ Wireless is approximately 452.1cm2 / 70.1inch2. The YU2 requires 70% less surface area than the A5+ Wireless which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
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 YU2 weighs 1.30kg / 2.9lbs and the Audioengine A5+ Wireless weighs 4.40kg / 9.7lbs. This makes the A5+ Wireless 238% heavier than the YU2.
Here is a comparison of how YU2 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 YU2?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of YU2:
Power Cord Speaker Wire (10-feet) USB DAC Cable 3.5mm Auxiliary Cable (6.5-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 speakerPassive right speaker6-feet AC power cordRemote control (with installed CR2025 battery)Antenna12.5-feet Length of 16 gauge speaker wire6.5-feet Stereo minijack cable6-feet Stereo RCA cableCloth drawstring cable bag2 Cloth drawstring speaker bagsSetup guideAudioengine product brochure