Powered Bluetooth Speakers - Brand New Kanto YU

Powered Bluetooth Speakers - Brand New Kanto YU full review: audioadvice.io... | Chat with us online: www.audioadvic... | Call for sales and support: 888.899.8776 |
Kanto’s YU2, YU4, and YU6 have been extremely popular at Audio Advice with their multiple input choices and great sound. In mid-2019, Kanto had the idea of taking their very popular YU4 model and offering what we like to call a “Henry Ford” version. They felt not everyone needed all of the inputs and color choices, so they made something more basic to let music lovers on a tight budget get into really great sound. The Kanto YU is the new model that fulfills their goal and is the subject of today’s review. Build quality is first-rate and especially good considering their budget price. And with Kanto being a Canadian company, they have not been hit with any tariffs, so the YU is a very good value at a price, as of filming this video, of $249 a pair. On the front of the YU, you’ll find a round knob that serves as a source selector and volume control. You just click it to flip between Bluetooth and the analog inputs, turn it for volume, or push and hold to power the speaker on or off. In addition to this, the YU comes with a full-function remote control. We really like the fact it has bass, treble, and balance settings on the remote in addition to the standard controls. Kanto even gives you a reset button for each setting to take it back to neutral. To meet Kanto’s goal of a budget YU4, they eliminated the digital inputs and phono preamp. You do get an analog input, a subwoofer output, and most importantly, they come with Bluetooth 4.2 with Qualcomm® aptX™. This is a high-resolution type of Bluetooth that will give you the best sound when streaming from your smartphone. The speaker components used in the YU is one reason it sounds so good for the money. You’ll get speaker drivers typical of high-performance speakers. The tweeter is a 1-inch silk dome type and the 4-inch woofer is made of Kevlar. To increase efficiency, the YU, like all of the Kanto YU models, has a rear-firing port. This is pretty common on most powered speakers. It does mean that where you place them can impact the sound quite a bit. We would not recommend putting any rear-ported speaker right against a wall or in a corner as they will get a little boomy. Move them a bit out into the room and you’ll be pleased with the sound. Bluetooth connection was quick and easy for us, so we had music playing in a matter of seconds. The silk dome tweeter Kanto uses is just that, silky smooth. For its small cabinet size, the YU also produces pretty decent bass, although it is by no means the amount of bass energy you will get out of a larger cabinet with a bigger woofer. If you push the YU hard, the bass does get a little boomy compared to bigger speakers, but that is typical for speakers this size. What the YU does very well is present a big soundstage that allows you to separate out all the individual instruments and performers, especially on floor stands. Another thing that struck us is how pleasant they are to listen to at low volume levels which is good because we see these being used mostly for background music while working at your desk. The sound is very smooth and sweet so you’ll be able to play them for hours without any fatigue. Plus, the fact that you can fine-tune the YU to your music and/or room is pretty amazing in the price range. It sounds to us that Kanto made the decision to go for a pure, smooth sound, rather than create something capable of filling a big room with loud sound that might not be as pure. Within their limits, these are great sounding little speakers. Don’t get us wrong, the YU is not the end-all to speakers, but for the money, it is one heck of a performer. If you are just starting to put together your first audio system and are on a budget, these need to be on your list. Also, if you need a phono preamp and/or optical inputs, the YU4 will give you these options for just a bit more money.
At Audio Advice, we love bringing home technology to life and we have been doing so for over 40 years. We were named Best Specialty A/V Retailer in the United States by TWICE Magazine and have won the Bravo award from Metro magazine for “Best Place to Buy a Home Media System” each year since its creation.
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[@queercomputer]

Review begins at 1:45

[@WillHardison]

You can’t beat these for $250!

[@mobilepsycho]

Great review. Just got these YUs today. Listening to the sound for this video through them in fact. Not the most remarkable you will ever hear. However they do provide a solid choice for your desktop or bookshelf needs. Best for 'near field' use, and the louder the better. Make sure to punch up the bass as high as possible using the remote or any in app EQ you can configure. They respond well however it needs 'work' to get the bass out. A note here that based on other reviewers who have evaluated the YU or YU4 by adding the Sub6 you have very powerful bass and it changes the sound stage significantly. I had Bose Companion 2 prior to these for about 8 years. The Kanto's blow them out of the water. I paid them $240 US. I have the YU4 set up with my HiFi. Not that I need the extra ports or connections but you never know. Those were about $300 or so. I regret buying Samsung and Bose sound bars for my TVs. These Kantos (especially the YU4 with optical input) would be so much better.

[@dn3043]

hi how do i connect these with my computer?

[@nick18223]

Awesome review. These will be great for a turntable with a built-in phono preamp!

[@mikechriston9349]

Great review. I definitely need to come in and hear these speakers. These would be great for my office.

[@NWGR]

I had no idea they released these! Nice job Kanto! I have the YU4s at my desk with a dayton sub1000 and am very impressed with the sound.

[@dealspeed6756]

Don't know if you'll see this but hopefully you do. I have a Dayton sub1200 and I'm running BestBuys in house active Bluetooth bookshelf speakers, what I don't like is when changing the volume on the bookshelf speakers it doesn't change the sub volume, do the Yu4 control the sub volume?

[@NWGR]

@@dealspeed6756 Yes, it does with the YU4s. You set master volume on the back of the sub, and when you adjust the volume on the speakers, the volume of the sub will stay consistent with the level of the speakers.

[@dealspeed6756]

@@NWGR that's exactly what I'm looking for. Thank you so much I appreciate it.

[@NWGR]

@@dealspeed6756 No problem . :-)

[@NJM1948]

Great review. I was ready to go for the YU4's but these are an excellent choice for me. I don't need a turntable input as I will only use for connecting to PC and lisening to music on something that has a bit of sound quality. You mentioned they should not be place against a wall - as I will be on a desk how far away from the wall is OK? If we are talking a few feet then I'll have to think again. My set up will allow maybe 12inches clearance.....is that enough?

[@dystoniaify]

Good question. I'm ij the same situation, except I'm connecting to a tv.

[@dn3043]

hi how do i connect these with my computer?

[@b.j.thomas3264]

2.0 music system, small room, have done lots of research on active speakers but am confused. just don't know which to go with . good video, helped some.

[@AudioAdvice]

Glad it was helpful, thanks

[@shaunfoo6784]

Soundwave just called. He wants his body armor back.

[@Masterpeace0_0]

Great video,great explanation👍

[@taylorrasmus1905]

Wow - insane they could get the price so low!

[@bxrokk]

Would I be able to use these as front speakers with a receiver?

[@booya2k]

How does this sound for gaming?

[@GomuGomu4]

This sounds better and louder than yu2? Would I have problem plugging it in a pc?

[@mrdavester]

these have no built in DAC so you're at the mercy of your PC sound output

[@Lidrien]

How would these connect to a desktop?

[@AudioAdvice]

There are two ways you could do it. The easiest is to use Bluetooth if you desktop has it. You can also connect a 3.5mm mini headphone to RCA cable between the headphone jack of your computer to the RCA inputs of these.

[@Lidrien]

@@AudioAdvice oh okay great! Thank you for the quick reply.

[@dn3043]

@@AudioAdvice what can i do if my headphones already use the jack ?

[@davidboyle5763]

Can you use this with an audio technicia lp60 without an amp? Thanks in advance

[@AudioAdvice]

Yes, that will work

[@davidboyle5763]

@@AudioAdvice thanks for the response, much appreciated!

[@unhygienix1970]

Just grabbed a used pair. Little beauties. If ya need some thump add a sub. Otherwise feed em. Plug em in. Enjoy

[@mrdavester]

No 3.5mm aux in? No alexa

[@Umat165]

👍🏽🔥🔥👍🏽

[@AudioAdvice]

Thanks!