Полочная акустика — Kanto Audio REN

The REN is a pair of powered stereo speakers from Kanto Audio, the Canadian brand also known for its TUK, YU and ORA active speakers. Announced in 2024, it was the first Kanto speaker with an HDMI ARC connection, and it is designed to combine the convenience of a TV soundbar with the separation of a real stereo pair, while also serving desktop and small hi-fi systems. It is offered in six colours.

Key specs that matter

Every cabinet holds a 25mm (1-inch) silk-dome tweeter with a 133mm (5.25-inch) concave aluminium-cone woofer. The Class D amplifier delivers 100W RMS in total and 200W peak. Frequency response is 50Hz to 22kHz. Inputs are HDMI ARC with CEC, USB-C and optical (both up to 24-bit/96kHz), Bluetooth 5.3 with AAC, RCA line-in and a 3.5mm AUX input. Outputs are a subwoofer output and a 5V/1A USB charging port. Each speaker measures 17.8 x 21.5 x 27.7cm (W x D x H), and the active speaker weighs 4.5kg. Magnetic grilles, speaker cable and a remote control are supplied.

Engineering and use context

The REN is controlled by DSP, which divides the signal between tweeter and woofer and manages bass. When a subwoofer is connected, the DSP applies an automatic 80Hz crossover - a low-pass filter sends everything below 80Hz to the subwoofer, and a high-pass filter removes that range from the REN's own woofers. This bass management, normally found in AV receivers, relieves the woofers of the deepest bass, which limits cone travel when played loud and frees amplifier power for the midrange and treble. HDMI ARC with CEC means the speakers wake when the TV is switched on and respond to the TV remote. Because the two speakers can be placed well apart on either side of a screen, the REN gets its stereo separation from the physical distance between cabinets rather than from processing that widens a single bar. The USB-C input accepts audio directly from computers, phones and portable players, and the rear USB port can power a small network streamer or smart device. A continuous power mode keeps the speakers ready for instant casting from a connected streamer. The REN has no built-in phono stage, so turntables need one, either built into the deck or external.

Pairing

A single cable from a TV's ARC socket is enough for a television setup, and a streamer or computer can share the system through the digital inputs. Kanto's SUB8 subwoofer completes a 2.1 system. The REN suits desks, TV furniture and small to medium rooms.

Alternatives

Kanto Audio's own ORA is a smaller powered desktop speaker for nearfield listening beside a computer.