![]() Kanto plans on selling the YU2 at an MSRP of $229. I think this is where a lot of people are going to be shocked. An easier to reach knob or some inconspicuous buttons would be a welcome change. This is inconvenient when the speakers are being used on a desktop, but imagine if you had to do this with the speakers on a bookshelf. ![]() There’s only one real knock I have with the design, and it’s that the volume/power knob is located on the back and it’s kind of tough to turn without pulling the speaker toward you and flipping it over. It’s quick to set up - I’d say you could be listening to some tunes within five minutes. From the front, you don’t see a single knob, button or port at all. The back of the left speaker serves as the location for the power jack, volume/power knob and USB port (for USB audio) as well as the aux-in port, the sub out port and the connection for the right speaker. There isn’t a center receiver-type box for the speakers to plug into and there isn’t a little “remote” to control volume and bass level. DesignĪs far as design goes, Kanto went really simple here. It’s something you’ll have to come to terms with if you pick these up, though the YU2 does a nice job everywhere else. It’s very noticeable on cheaper desktop speakers and it’s noticeable on the YU2 speakers, though not as much. You won’t find anything in between, so the mid-range feels a little thin. What you’ll find with a lot of desktop speakers is that there are tweeters and woofers to cover the highs and lows and that’s it. In terms of sound, I think most will be pleased with what the YU2 set has to offer - that is, if they’re after a set of premium desktop speakers. It all comes together in a set that would look right home on a bookshelf, though thanks to their size and the lack of a dedicated subwoofer, you could put them just about anywhere. The speaker cabinets are made of MDF acoustic board with the woofers and tweeters utilizing Kevlar and silk, respectively. The line comes in various pastels - my review units were blue - and the exterior features rounded corners and a minimalist feel. ![]() The first thing you’ll notice about the Kanto YU2s is that they look good. If the rest of Kanto’s product line follows that same Apple-like philosophy - quality materials, good looks - the company could make a play for the high-end accessories market. But the speakers are high quality, not to mention pretty. There is a design choice I don’t necessarily agree with, and the price tag may turn some folks off. My time with the YU2 speakers has convinced me that Kanto has a shot. So it won’t be long before we see some Kanto products out in the wild. and Canada in 2-3 weeks, and big box stores in Canada will start carrying the product soon. But the company assures me that the YU2s will be shipping to both the U.S. The company is in the midst of tweaking its marketing and distribution, and the YU2 speakers I reviewed were pre-production models. Heck, at the time this post is being published, you can’t even buy Kanto products from Kanto itself. You won’t find Kanto products in a Best Buy yet. One such competitor is Kanto, a Canadian manufacturer of computer accessories like speakers and adapters. These companies have their fingers in everything, and the sprawl of their product lines can make it easy to forget about their smaller, more focused competitors. When you think of consumer electronics companies, there are some well-known giants that might spring to mind.
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