In this review, we will be comparing YU4 and HD4, 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 HD4 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Kanto YU4 | Audioengine HD4 |
|---|
| Brand | Kanto
Canada · founded 2007 | Audioengine
United States · founded 2005 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Built-in amplifier | 70-watt RMS (140-watt peak) | 60-watt RMS (120-watt peak) |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 0.75" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 4" Kevlar | 4" Aramid |
|---|
| Frequency response | 60-20k Hz | 60-22k Hz |
|---|
| Max depth / sample rate | 24-bit / 96 kHz | 24-bit / 48 kHz |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Built-in 4.0 | Built-in 5.0 |
|---|
| Weight | 2.50kg / 5.5lbs | 2.40kg / 5.3lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 8.7" x 5.5" x 7.5"
220.0 x 140.0 x 190.0mm | 9" x 5.5" x 6.5"
228.6 x 139.7 x 165.1mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both YU4 and HD4 are 2-way speakers.
Kanto YU4Audioengine HD4
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 HD4 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
0.75-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4-inch
|
1 x 4-inch
|
YU4 features a 1" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4" Kevlar Woofer. On the other hand, the HD4 features a 0.75" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4" Aramid Woofer.
Frequency Response
YU4 has a frequency range of 60-20k Hz whereas HD4 has a frequency range of 60-22k Hz.
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 HD4 has a front firing ports. Audioengine HD4'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 HD4'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 HD4 has external dimensions of 228.6 x 139.7 x 165.1mm (9 x 5.5 x 6.5inch).
Audioengine HD4 is 0.30000000000001mm narrower and 24.9mm less deeper than Kanto YU4 but it is also 8.6mm taller.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Kanto YU4 needs about 15% more floor or shelf area. Kanto YU4 is 25mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall.
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 HD4 is approximately 230.6cm2 / 35.7inch2. The YU4 requires 15% more surface area than the HD4 which gives it a small disadvantage 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 YU4 weighs 2.50kg / 5.5lbs and the Audioengine HD4 weighs 2.40kg / 5.3lbs. This makes the YU4 4% heavier than the HD4.
Here is a comparison of how YU4 and HD4'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 HD4?
Here are the items that come with the HD4:
- Powered speaker
- Passive speaker
- 2 Grilles (pre-installed)
- 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
- 6-feet Stereo RCA cable
- 2 Microfiber speaker bags
- 2 MIcrofiber cable bags
- Quickstart Guide
- Product Line Brochure
 Height |
220mm
vs
228mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 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 |
 Base Surface Area |
230cm2
vs
266cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
449USD
vs
450USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
|
USB Port |
microUSB
vs
No
|
USB port adds flexibility |
 Headphone Output |
3.5mm
vs
No
|
Connect your headphone |
| General |
Kanto YU4 |
Audioengine HD4 |
| Brand |
Kanto |
Audioengine |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
60-20k Hz |
60-22k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
70-watt RMS |
60-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
140-watt RMS |
120-watt RMS |
| Max Bit Depth |
24-bit |
24-bit |
| Max Sample Rate |
96 kHz |
48 kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
4" |
4" |
| Woofer Composition |
Kevlar |
Aramid |
| 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") |
228.6mm (9") |
| Width |
140.0mm (5.5") |
139.7mm (5.5") |
| Depth |
190.0mm (7.5") |
165.1mm (6.5") |
| Weight |
2.50kg (5.5lbs) |
2.40kg (5.3lbs) |
| Enclosure |
bass reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Black, Walnut |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| 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 |
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 | evenly matched | Much the same reach (60Hz vs 60Hz). |
| Built-in power | evenly matched | Similar onboard amplification (70W vs 60W RMS). |
| Connections | A | Kanto YU4 adds phono and digital inputs. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | Kanto YU4: a sub output; Audioengine HD4: a sub output. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($450 vs $449 a pair). |
A Kanto YU4 B Audioengine HD4
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?
Kanto YU4 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does.
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.