Kanto REN Powered Speaker System

From the brand

Getting to Know REN:  
Features & Technology

When designing our next-gen bookshelf system, we didn’t just want to make a new speaker. We set out to create a complete solution that combines the simplicity of a soundbar with as few of their downsides as possible. REN obviously excels in the living room, but in true Kanto-fashion, we’ve thought-through their feature-set to make sure they work great on desktop, with network streamers, and connected to analog gear. Read on to learn about REN’s specs, features, and design goals.

The simplicity of a soundbar, the true sound of stereo

Despite their bad rap in audiophile circles, it’s undeniable that soundbars are the simplest and most user-friendly way for customers to get better sound. They integrate flawlessly with TVs, they have features to enhance quiet or poorly recorded dialogue, and they come in a space-saving, all-in-one form factor. But since they are aimed at average consumers, they have deficiencies that are deal breakers for audio enthusiasts like high distortion, peaky subwoofers with high crossover points, and gimmicky “surround” features. REN aims to give you all of the conveniences of a soundbar with the accuracy you’d expect from a DSP-controlled stereo system.

Stereo Sound: Soundbars rarely extend past your TV and rely on digital processing to simulate a wider soundstage. You can place REN as far apart as you like giving you a true wide soundstage with pinpoint precision of where the action is happening on the screen. Get real stereo sound and leave the gimmicks behind.

Sound Modes: REN is DSP-controlled, allowing for custom sound modes like Vocal Boost and Night Mode to improve quiet dialogue and soften loud sound effects when watching movies at night. Never miss a line of dialogue or accidentally wake up the neighbors again.

Seamless TV Integration: Featuring HDMI ARC with CEC, REN offers the same kind of seamless TV integration that an AV receiver or soundbar provides. REN automatically wakes when the TV is turned on and can be controlled with the TV remote. No need for multiple remotes or bulky gear to get premium sound from your TV.

Bass Management: When a sub is connected, a low pass filter automatically sends everything below 80 Hz to the subwoofer and a high pass filter sends anything above 80 Hz to the speakers. This frees up REN’s built-in amplifier to focus solely on the midrange and highs. Typically, you’d have to invest in an AV receiver to get this kind of functionality, but we’ve added it to REN to give you a home theater-like experience in one streamlined package.

Internal

REN’s drivers are powered by a 100 W RMS Class D amplifier, delivering 50 W RMS to each channel. We’ve utilized digital signal processing (DSP) within the signal path allowing us to fine-tune how the speakers sound. This also lets us deploy an active crossover between the speakers and an external subwoofer which enables automatically when a sub is plugged in.

REN has Bluetooth 5.3 onboard with the AAC codec for high quality streaming from any device. Bluetooth 5.3 introduced “Channel Classification Enhancement” which allows the device to choose the least congested sub-band to improve stability in denser areas like apartment buildings. Expect a great sounding, reliable wireless connection from REN.

External

Front Panel:

1. 1″ Silk Dome Tweeter
2. 5.25″ Aluminum Cone Woofer
3. Control Knob
4. LED
   Teal – AUX
   Green – RCA
   Purple – HDMI ARC
   Pink – Optical
   Yellow – USB
   Blue – Bluetooth Pairing (flashing)
   Bluetooth Paired (solid)
5. IR

Rear Panel:

1. Bass Reflex Port
2. USB Charge Port (5 V 1 A)
3. Subwoofer Output
4. Inputs: AUX, RCA, Optical, HDMI ARC, USB-C
5. Output Terminals for Passive Speaker Connection
6. AC Input Connection
7. On / Off Switch

Drivers

Silk dome tweeters provide smooth, detailed treble with minimal distortion resulting in fatigue-free listening sessions. They are positioned within a waveguide to enhance their dispersion giving them a broad sweet spot and ability to stay neutral in most rooms with their linear directivity.

Aluminum drivers are incredibly rigid, making them less prone to deformation when pushed to their limit. By preventing the driver from flexing, we reduce the amount of distortion the driver introduces to the audio being played.

I/O

REN is our first speaker with an HDMI ARC input. This input enables two-way communication with between the speaker and TV allowing them to turn on at the same time and use the TVs remote to control volume letting you ditch the included remote for most tasks.

We provide two analog inputs, RCA and AUX, to make sure you don’t have to unplug anything if you’re using a turntable and another piece of gear with analog outputs.

PC onboard audio is notoriously noisy and prone to electromagnetic interference. The USB-C input, which supports up to 24 bit/96 kHz, gives you a solid digital connection to your PC without the need for an external DAC.
The optical input, which also supports up to 24 bit/96 kHz, gives you a flexible digital connection that can be utilized with network streamers, digital transports, or digital audio players.

The USB charge port on the rear of REN outputs 1 A and can power a network streamer or smart home device without additional cabling. REN can be toggled to stay awake continuously for on-the-fly casting with no delays.

As mentioned earlier in this post, REN’s sub-out features a crossover network at 80 Hz that is enabled automatically when a sub is plugged in. Quick, dynamic transients have more impact and accuracy, and REN can play louder without introducing additional distortion.

Remote

Most of the buttons on REN’s remote are self-explanatory, but there are some hidden functions that make REN easier to live with.

Channel Swap – You can swap the L / R stereo output on REN. This allows you to ensure your speakers are set up to deliver the stereo experience that the recording engineers intended. The active speaker is set to the left channel by default. To make the right speaker be your active speaker, press and hold the Next Track button for 5 seconds. To switch back to default, and have the active speaker on the left, press and hold the Previous Track button for 5 seconds.

Automatic Power-Up (APU) / Automatic Power-Down (APD) – If you don’t want the speakers to go into standby, or don’t want them to wake up after they’ve gone into standby, you can easily deactivate either setting. Hold the “Treble Reset” button for five seconds to disable APU or hold the “Bass Reset” button for five seconds to disable APD.

Toggle Crossover – The crossover is automatically enabled when a subwoofer cable is connected to the sub out. If the Sub Mute function is activated, the high-pass filter on the REN will become inactive. If the “Sub” button is pressed and held for more than 5 seconds, the state of the high-pass filter will invert effectively letting you toggle it on or off.

Use Cases

LIVING ROOM: REN was primarily developed for the living room, offering the simplicity of a soundbar with the superior audio quality of a HiFi speaker. The HDMI ARC input with CEC allows REN to seamlessly integrate with modern TVs, eliminating the need for multiple remotes and providing easy control. It's true stereo design delivers a wider, more realistic soundstage compared to soundbars that rely on processing to simulate width. REN’s vocal boost and night mode features ensure clear dialogue and balanced audio levels, making it perfect for both day and night viewing without disturbing others. A sub-out with an automatic high-pass and low-pass filter takes a cue from the home-theatre world to ensure flawless subwoofer integration. To ensure proper alignment with your ears, REN can be paired with any of our floor-standing speaker stands to extract everything REN is capable of.

PHYSICAL MEDIA: REN excels with physical media, offering a wide range of analog and digital inputs. The RCA and AUX inputs support traditional audio devices like turntables, radios, and cassette players, making it a versatile addition to any home audio setup. While REN does not include a phono preamp, it is compatible with modern turntables that feature built-in preamps or used with external preamps.

NETWORK STREAMING: REN features an optical input that accepts high-resolution audio from network streamers and a USB charge port capable of powering these devices, ensuring a seamless and high-quality streaming experience. REN can stay awake continuously for on-the-fly casting, eliminating delays and making it ideal for spontaneous music sessions or multi-room audio setups. Whether you’re using a WiFi streamer or smart home device, REN’s compatibility and ease of use make streaming a breeze.

DESKTOP: REN offers exceptional performance on desktop. Its bookshelf design makes it compact enough for most workspaces, and it’s compatible with our many desktop stand options. The USB-C input ensures a high-quality connection to PC or Mac with a maximum bit depth and sample rate of 24-bit/96 kHz. While the Vocal Boost sound mode was designed for living room use, it’s particularly useful for enhancing clarity during conference calls. The ability to turn off the automatic power-down feature allows the speakers to stay on at all times ensures you never miss a notification or have to wait for the speakers to boot up. REN’s ability to swap channels ensures that right and left-handed users have access to the front controls within easy reach.

Summary

REN powered speaker system combines the ease of a soundbar with the audio quality of a true stereo setup. With seamless TV integration via HDMI ARC, custom sound modes for better viewing experiences, and an automatic crossover for tight sub integration, it’s the ideal choice for living room setups. It’s no slouch when used on desktop, with network streamers, or paired with analog gear with its various inputs – RCA, AUX, USB-C, optical, and Bluetooth 5.3 for wireless audio. REN is the perfect all-in-one package to deliver a home theater-like experience.