Kanto YU Passive 4-inch is a 2-way Passive bass reflex Bookshelf speaker by Kanto. It was released in 2019. It features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4" Kevlar Woofer. The speaker has a frequency range of 60-20k Hz and a sensitivity of 86 dB. Kanto YU Passive 4-inch has an MSRP of 200$ per pair.
Room Size Suitability
The size of the room where you plan to use the Kanto YU Passive 4-inch is a crucial factor in your decision. We have assessed its suitability for various room sizes based on its dimensions and maximum power output:
| Listening Environment* |
Suitability |
| Near-field | Good |
| Small Room | Good |
| Mid-size Room | Average |
| Large Room | Poor |
| Very Large Room | No way |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2, Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: > 400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening position, speaker locations, etc.)
Kanto's YU Passive Series of Loudspeakers
YU Passive 4-inch is a member of Kanto's YU Passive series of Passive speakers. The YU Passive range are Kanto's affordable passive bookshelf speakers. Below you can see the main specs of these speakers.
Kanto YU Passive Series Speakers
Frequency Response of the Kanto YU Passive 4-inch Speaker
Kanto YU Passive 4-inch has a Frequency response range of 60-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 60 Hz, YU Passive 4-inch delivers moderate bass depth so depending on your use case, you might want to consider adding a subwoofer to your system.
Here we have a comparison of how YU Passive 4-inch's Low frequency value compares with the average, max and min Low frequency values in its class.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Thinking about a subwoofer for the Kanto YU Passive 4-inch?
Impedance and Sensitivity
Kanto YU Passive 4-inch's nominal impedance level is
4 ohms and has a sensitivity of
86 dB.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Nominal Impedance of the 4 Ohms means that the Kanto YU Passive 4-inch is a difficult to drive speaker from nominal Impedance perspective, make sure that you choose an amplifier than can provide 4 Ohms for this speaker.
Many AVRs (audio/video receiver) in the market may have difficulty when the speakers dip below the 4 Ohms levels (this may cause clipping or even physical damage), so we recommend to not pair the Kanto YU Passive 4-inch with an AVR but use an Integrated Amplifier instead.
Sensitivity
With a sensitivity level of only 86 dB, Kanto YU Passive 4-inch is a difficult to drive speaker from Sensitivity perspective, make sure to choose an amplifier with a high output if you like listening to your music at high volume levels. You may especially have a hard time using Tube amplifiers which are traditionally very low power compared to Class A/B or Class D amps. Work out how loud the Kanto YU Passive 4-inch plays in your room →
Running more than one pair from a single amplifier? Check the load it would present →
What amplifier does the Kanto YU Passive 4-inch need?
At normal listening levels in a medium room, about
38–70 W
per channel into 4 ohms.
Set your own conditions and we will rank every amplifier we cover.
Prefer to browse? Integrated amplifiers under $300, or every amplifier we cover.
Input Type
YU Passive 4-inch features post type connectors.
Work out what gauge speaker cable this run needs →
Kanto YU Passive 4-inch External Dimensions and Weight
Kanto YU Passive 4-inch has external dimensions of (Height x Width x Depth) 8.7 x 5.5 x 7.5inch (220.0 x 140.0 x 190.0mm ).
Base Surface Area
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base area of Kanto YU Passive 4-inch is approximately 266.0cm2 / 41.2inch2.
To get a better perspective on the real life size of Kanto YU Passive 4-inch, let's compare it with a standard size Compact Disc which has a diameter of 4.7inch (120mm).
Kanto YU Passive 4-inch Speaker Size Compared to a Compact Disc
Here we place the Kanto YU Passive 4-inch virtually next to a standard width amplifier and turntable on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet to get a better idea about the size.
Kanto YU Passive 4-inch Speaker next to an amplifier and turntable
Find speakers that fit your shelf or alcove → · Work out where they should sit in the room →
WeightThe Kanto YU Passive 4-inch weighs 2.50kg / 5.5lbs per piece. Here is a comparison of how YU Passive 4-inch's weight compares with the average, max and min weights in its class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Weight
Bookshelf Speakers under $300
How does the Kanto YU Passive 4-inch compare to the Kanto YU Passive 5.25-inch?
One of the natural alternative to the Kanto YU Passive 4-inch is the YU Passive 5.25-inch which is located one step higher in Kanto's Passive Bookshelf selection.
Here is a scaled size comparison of these two speakers to give you an idea how their external dimensions compare:
Comparison image of Kanto YU Passive 4-inch and Kanto YU Passive 5.25-inch Size and External Dimensions
Check the Detailed Comparison of Kanto YU Passive 4-inch vs YU Passive 5.25-inch for more details.
Cabinet type and Materials
Kanto YU Passive 4-inch has a
bass reflex type cabinet.
Speaker Feet
Kanto YU Passive 4-inch comes with 8 x Rubber Feet which you can use to secure your loudspeaker on the surface that you are putting on.
It is always recommended to use some kind of feet under all types of speakers. Besides limiting the movement of the speakers, it also compensates for non-flat surfaces and limits the contact surface area of the speaker. Rubber based feet also help isolating the vibrations within certain frequency ranges.
Port Position
Kanto YU Passive 4-inch is a rear-firing port speaker so you have to make sure you leave enough space between the back of the speaker and wall or bookshelf so that it has room to breathe.
Available colors
Kanto YU Passive 4-inch is available in Black and White.
Wall Mounting
YU Passive 4-inch doesn't sport any built-in mounting bracket, so you need an external structure to mount it on walls.
What's in the Box of Kanto YU Passive 4-inch?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of YU Passive 4-inch:
Recommended Accessories
Here is a list of accessories that we think you may need for the Kanto YU Passive 4-inch.
- Speaker Cable and Connectors
- Vibration Isolators: IsoAcoustics isolators are our favorite isolators but you may find more affordable options too.
- Acoustic Panels and Treatments: Your room is as important as your stereo equipment so acoustic treatments goes a long way in improving the overall performance.
- Speaker Stands: Stands bring your bookshelf speakers to ideal height (rule of thumb is to have the tweeter level with your ear in your listening position), helps stability and acoustical isolation.
User's Manual
For more information about how to setup, use and maintain the Kanto YU Passive 4-inch, use the direct link below to download the official manual document:
Download User Manual for Kanto YU Passive 4-inch
Official Product Page
Official manufacturer's product page for the Kanto YU Passive 4-inch speaker can be found below:
Official Product Page for Kanto YU Passive 4-inch
Warranty
2 years of parts warranty and 2 years of labor warranty is generally provided by the manufacturer.