Floorstanding loudspeakers — Focal KANTA N°3

The Focal Kanta N°3 is the reference model of the Kanta line, the French manufacturer's upper-tier hi-fi range placed above Aria and below Sopra. Three years of research went into the line, which was the first Focal range to combine pure beryllium tweeters with flax-sandwich cones, and all of its drivers are developed and manufactured in France. The styling is deliberately bold, with a one-piece front panel offered in eight gloss and matt finishes, a glass-covered top and a Zamac base.

Key specs that matter

The Kanta N°3 is a three-way bass-reflex floorstander. Two 21cm (8-inch) flax woofers with NIC motors handle the bass, a 16.5cm (6.5-inch) flax midrange with TMD suspension and an NIC motor covers the middle, and a 27mm IAL3 pure beryllium inverted-dome tweeter takes the top. The drivers cross over at 250Hz and 2.5kHz. Frequency response is 33Hz to 40kHz (+/-3dB), with the -6dB point at 26Hz. Sensitivity is 91dB at 2.83V/1m, impedance is 8 ohms nominal and 3 ohms minimum, and Focal advises amplifiers of 40 to 400W. Each speaker stands 1,280mm high, 386mm wide and 520mm deep and weighs 46kg. Focal recommends rooms of 40 to 80 m2.

Engineering and use context

Beryllium is extremely light and stiff, which puts the dome's resonance far above the audible band. The IAL3 (Infinite Acoustic Loading, third generation) tweeter combines elements of Focal's IAL and IHL designs to absorb the wave behind the dome, which lowers the tweeter's resonant frequency and lets it be crossed over comfortably at 2.5kHz. In the flax cones of the midrange and bass units, a layer of flax fibre lies between glass-fibre skins for lightness, rigidity and damping. TMD (Tuned Mass Damper) suspension on the midrange controls resonances in the surround, and the NIC (Neutral Inductance Circuit) motor stabilises the magnetic field around the voice coil to lower distortion. The front panel is high-density polymer that Focal states is 70% denser than MDF, 15% stiffer and 25% better damped, and as a single piece it avoids diffraction from panel joins. The cabinet body is moulded multi-ply wood. Focus Time geometry positions the drivers to align the arrival times of their output at the listener's ear. Powerflow ports on the front and rear faces share the airflow to limit bass compression, and the Zamac base with spikes and cups keeps the speaker stable on a small footprint.

Pairing

Reaching high levels takes little power, though the amplifier should remain stable when the impedance drops. Together with a Kanta Center and a Sub 1000 F, the Kanta N°3 forms the front of a home cinema system.

Alternatives

Focal's Kanta N°2 is the smaller floorstander of the line, suited to medium-sized rooms.