In this review, we will be comparing YU2 and HD3, 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 HD3 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Kanto YU2 | Audioengine HD3 |
|---|
| Brand | Kanto
Canada · founded 2007 | Audioengine
United States · founded 2005 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Built-in amplifier | 50-watt RMS (100-watt peak) | 30-watt RMS (60-watt peak) |
|---|
| Tweeter | 0.75" Soft-Dome | 0.75" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 3" Kevlar | 2.75" Kevlar/Glass-Aramid Composite |
|---|
| Frequency response | 80-20k Hz | 65-22k Hz |
|---|
| Max depth / sample rate | 24-bit / 96 kHz | 24-bit / 48 kHz |
|---|
| Bluetooth | No | Built-in 5.0 |
|---|
| Weight | 1.30kg / 2.9lbs | 1.55kg / 3.4lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 5.90" x 3.9" x 5.3"
150.0 x 100.0 x 135.0mm | 7" x 4.25" x 5-1/2"
177.8 x 108.0 x 139.7mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both YU2 and HD3 are 2-way speakers.
Kanto YU2Audioengine HD3
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 YU2 |
Audioengine HD3 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.75-inch
|
0.75-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 3-inch
|
1 x 2.75-inch
|
YU2 features a 0.75" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 3" Kevlar Woofer. On the other hand, the HD3 features a 0.75" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 2.75" Kevlar/Glass-Aramid Composite Woofer.
Frequency Response
YU2 has a frequency range of 80-20k Hz whereas HD3 has a frequency range of 65-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 65Hz, the HD3 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the YU2's min frequency of 80Hz.
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
YU2 has a rear firing port whereas HD3 has a front firing ports. Audioengine HD3's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Kanto YU2 with its rear-firing port.
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 YU2's and Audioengine HD3'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 HD3 has external dimensions of 177.8 x 108.0 x 139.7mm (9.125 x 4.25 x 7.25inch).
Audioengine HD3 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 8mm wider, 27.8mm taller and 4.7mm deeper than Kanto YU2.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Kanto YU2 and Audioengine HD3 in scale.
Comparison image of Kanto YU2 and Audioengine HD3 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 YU2 is approximately 135.0cm2 / 20.9inch2 and base area of the Audioengine HD3 is approximately 150.9cm2 / 23.4inch2. The YU2 requires 11% less surface area than the HD3 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 YU2 and Audioengine HD3 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 YU2 weighs 1.30kg / 2.9lbs and the Audioengine HD3 weighs 1.55kg / 3.4lbs. This makes the HD3 19% heavier than the YU2.
Here is a comparison of how YU2 and HD3'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 HD3?
Here are the items that come with the HD3:
- Powered speaker
- Passive speaker
- 2 Grilles (pre-installed)
- AC power supply (attached 6-feet DC cord)
- 6-feet AC power cord
- Bluetooth antenna
- 5-feet microUSB-to-USB cable
- 6.5-feet Speaker cable (banana connectors on each end)
- 5-feet Stereo minijack cable
- 2 Microfiber speaker bags
- MIcrofiber cable bag
- Quickstart Guide
- Product Line Brochure
 Woofer Size |
3 inches
vs
2.75 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Height |
150mm
vs
177mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
135cm2
vs
150cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
240USD
vs
349USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
|
Low Frequency Response |
65 Hz
vs
80 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
22k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Handheld Remote |
Yes
vs
No
|
Control the speaker by the included RC |
 USB Port |
microUSB
vs
No
|
USB port adds flexibility |
 3.5mm Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via 3.5mm AUX input |
 RCA Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via RCA input |
 Headphone Output |
3.5mm
vs
No
|
Connect your headphone |
|
Subwoofer Output |
Wired
vs
No
|
Pair your speakers with external subwoofer |
| General |
Kanto YU2 |
Audioengine HD3 |
| Brand |
Kanto |
Audioengine |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
80-20k Hz |
65-22k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
50-watt RMS |
30-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
100-watt RMS |
60-watt RMS |
| Max Bit Depth |
24-bit |
24-bit |
| Max Sample Rate |
96 kHz |
48 kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
3" |
2.75" |
| Woofer Composition |
Kevlar |
Kevlar/Glass-Aramid Composite |
| Tweeter Size |
0.75" |
0.75" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
150.0mm (5.9") |
177.8mm (7") |
| Width |
100.0mm (3.9") |
108.0mm (4.3") |
| Depth |
135.0mm (5.3") |
139.7mm (5.5") |
| Weight |
1.30kg (2.9lbs) |
1.55kg (3.4lbs) |
| Enclosure |
bass reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Black, Walnut, White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Aux Inputs |
RCA |
3.5mm, RCA |
| USB Port |
No |
microUSB |
| Phone Input |
No |
No |
| Subwoofer Output |
No |
Wired |
| Digital Input |
No |
No |
| HDMI Input |
No |
No |
| Headphone Jack |
No |
3.5mm |
| Ethernet Port |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
2 Years |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
2 Years |
3 Years |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your sources and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Audioengine HD3 digs deeper - 65Hz against 80Hz. |
| Built-in power | A | Kanto YU2 has the bigger amplifier (50W vs 30W RMS). |
| Connections | B | Audioengine HD3 adds Bluetooth. |
| Size | depends | Kanto YU2 is easier to place; Audioengine HD3 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | B | Audioengine HD3: a sub output. |
| Price | A | Kanto YU2 is cheaper - $240 against $349, about 31% less. |
A Kanto YU2 B Audioengine HD3
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?
The usual trade-off: Audioengine HD3 measures better, Kanto YU2 costs about about 45% more% 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 80Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Kanto YU2 much easier to justify. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $109 saved by taking the cheaper pair would buy a subwoofer or a better amplifier, and either usually does more for the sound than the difference between these two.
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.