Напольная акустика — Focal KANTA N°3

The Kanta N°3 is the reference model of Focal's Kanta line, the French manufacturer's upper-tier hi-fi range positioned above Aria and below Sopra. It was the result of three years of research and brought together, for the first time in one range, Focal's pure beryllium tweeter technology and its flax-sandwich cones, with all drivers developed and manufactured in France. Its 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 with two 21cm (8-inch) flax bass drivers with NIC motors, a 16.5cm (6.5-inch) flax midrange with TMD suspension and NIC motor, and a 27mm IAL3 pure beryllium inverted-dome tweeter. Crossover points are 250Hz and 2.5kHz. Frequency response is 33Hz to 40kHz (+/-3dB), with a -6dB point of 26Hz. Sensitivity is 91dB at 2.83V/1m, nominal impedance 8 ohms and minimum impedance 3 ohms, with amplifiers of 40 to 400W recommended. Each speaker measures 1,280 x 386 x 520mm high, wide and deep, at 46kg. Focal recommends rooms of 40 to 80 m2.

Engineering and use context

Beryllium is extremely light and stiff, so its dome resonance falls far above the audible band, and the IAL3 (Infinite Acoustic Loading, third generation) tweeter combines features of Focal's IAL and IHL designs to absorb the rear wave behind the dome, lowering the tweeter's resonant frequency so it can be crossed over comfortably at 2.5kHz. The midrange and bass drivers use Focal's flax sandwich cone, in which a layer of flax fibre sits between glass-fibre skins, giving lightness, rigidity and damping. The midrange adds TMD (Tuned Mass Damper) suspension to control surround resonances, while the NIC (Neutral Inductance Circuit) motor stabilises the magnetic field around the voice coil to lower distortion. The front panel is made of high-density polymer, which Focal states is 70% denser than MDF, 15% stiffer and 25% better damped, and because it is a single piece, it avoids diffraction from panel joins. The cabinet body is moulded multi-ply wood, and the Focus Time geometry sets the drivers at the correct distance from the ear to align their arrival times. Focal's Powerflow multi-port system vents through ports on the front and rear faces, sharing the airflow to limit bass compression. The Zamac base with spikes and cups gives stability from a small footprint.

Pairing

The Kanta N°3 is easy to drive in terms of level, though an amplifier that stays stable when the impedance drops is advisable. With a Kanta Center and Sub 1000 F, it forms the front of a home cinema system.

Alternatives

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