In this review, we will be comparing YU4 and A2+ 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 YU4 and Audioengine A2+ Wireless first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Kanto YU4 | Audioengine A2+ Wireless |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Built-in amplifier | 70-watt RMS (140-watt peak) | 30-watt RMS |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 0.75" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 4" Kevlar | 2.75" Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 60-20k Hz | 65-22k Hz |
|---|
| Max depth / sample rate | 24-bit / 96 kHz | 16-bit / 48 kHz |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Built-in 4.0 | Built-in 5.0 |
|---|
| Weight | 2.50kg / 5.5lbs | 1.40kg / 3.1lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 8.7" x 5.5" x 7.5"
220.0 x 140.0 x 190.0mm | 6.25" x 4.1875" x 6.625"
158.8 x 106.4 x 168.3mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
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Drivers
Both YU4 and A2+ Wireless are 2-way speakers.
Kanto YU4Audioengine A2+ 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 YU4 |
Audioengine A2+ Wireless |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
0.75-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4-inch
|
1 x 2.75-inch
|
YU4 features a 1" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4" Kevlar Woofer. On the other hand, the A2+ Wireless features a 0.75" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 2.75" Kevlar Woofer.
Frequency Response
YU4 has a frequency range of 60-20k Hz whereas A2+ Wireless has a frequency range of 65-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 60Hz, the YU4 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the A2+ Wireless's min frequency of 65Hz.
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
YU4 has a rear firing port whereas A2+ Wireless has a front firing ports. Audioengine A2+ Wireless's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Kanto YU4 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 YU4's and Audioengine A2+ Wireless's external dimensions. Kanto YU4 has external dimensions of 220.0 x 140.0 x 190.0mm (8.7 x 5.5 x 7.5inch) whereas Audioengine A2+ Wireless has external dimensions of 158.8 x 106.4 x 168.3mm (6.25 x 4.1875 x 6.625inch).
Kanto YU4 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 33.6mm wider, 61.2mm taller and 21.7mm deeper than Audioengine A2+ Wireless.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Kanto YU4 and Audioengine A2+ Wireless in scale.
Comparison image of Kanto YU4 and Audioengine A2+ 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 YU4 is approximately 266.0cm2 / 41.2inch2 and base area of the Audioengine A2+ Wireless is approximately 179.1cm2 / 27.8inch2. The YU4 requires 49% more surface area than the A2+ Wireless which gives it a small disadvantage 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 YU4 and Audioengine A2+ 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 YU4 weighs 2.50kg / 5.5lbs and the Audioengine A2+ Wireless weighs 1.40kg / 3.1lbs. This makes the YU4 79% heavier than the A2+ Wireless.
Here is a comparison of how YU4 and A2+ 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 YU4?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of YU4:
- Remote with Batteries
- Power Cord
- Speaker Wire (16′)
- 3.5mm Auxiliary Cable (6.5′)
- 8 x Rubber Feet
- Manual
What's in the Box of Audioengine A2+ Wireless?
Here are the items that come with the A2+ Wireless:
- Wireless powered left speaker
- Passive right speaker
- AC power supply (w/ attached 6-feet DC cord)
- 6-feet AC power cord
- 6.5-feet Length of 16 gauge speaker wire
- 5-feet microUSB-to-USB cable
- 6-feet Stereo minijack cable
- 2 Cloth drawstring speaker pouches
- 2 Cloth drawstring accessory pouches
- Quick Start Guide
- Audioengine product brochure
 Woofer Size |
4 inches
vs
2.75 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
60 Hz
vs
65 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Handheld Remote |
Yes
vs
No
|
Control the speaker by the included RC |
 USB Port |
Charge only
vs
No
|
USB port adds flexibility |
 Phono Input |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connect your turntable directly |
 Digital Input |
Optical (2)
vs
No
|
Connect digital inputs directly |
 High Frequency Response |
22k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Height |
158mm
vs
220mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
179cm2
vs
266cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
269USD
vs
450USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
|
USB Port |
microUSB
vs
No
|
USB port adds flexibility |
| General |
Kanto YU4 |
Audioengine A2+ Wireless |
| Brand |
Kanto |
Audioengine |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
60-20k Hz |
65-22k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
70-watt RMS |
30-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
140-watt RMS |
n/a |
| Max Bit Depth |
24-bit |
16-bit |
| Max Sample Rate |
96 kHz |
48 kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
4" |
2.75" |
| 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 |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
220.0mm (8.7") |
158.8mm (6.3") |
| Width |
140.0mm (5.5") |
106.4mm (4.2") |
| Depth |
190.0mm (7.5") |
168.3mm (6.6") |
| Weight |
2.50kg (5.5lbs) |
1.40kg (3.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
bass reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Aux Inputs |
3.5mm, RCA |
3.5mm, RCA |
| USB Port |
Charge only |
microUSB |
| Phone Input |
Yes |
No |
| Subwoofer Output |
Wired |
Wired |
| Digital Input |
Optical (2) |
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 - Kanto YU4 costs roughly 1.7x what Audioengine A2+ Wireless 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 |
A |
Kanto YU4 digs deeper - 60Hz against 65Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Built-in power |
A |
Kanto YU4 has the bigger amplifier (70W vs 30W RMS). |
| Connections |
A |
Kanto YU4 adds phono and digital inputs. |
| Size |
depends |
Audioengine A2+ Wireless is easier to place; Kanto YU4 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability |
depends |
Kanto YU4: a sub output; Audioengine A2+ Wireless: a sub output. |
| Price |
B |
Audioengine A2+ Wireless is cheaper - $269 against $450, about 40% less; arguably a different class. |
A Kanto YU4
B Audioengine A2+ 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: Kanto YU4 measures better, Audioengine A2+ Wireless 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 65Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Audioengine A2+ Wireless much easier to justify. In a large or open-plan room, Kanto YU4 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Audioengine A2+ Wireless 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.