★ *REVIEWING: **amzn.to/2UQ420V** // NEED MORE INFO? ✔︎ THE ⬆︎DESCRIPTION⬆︎* ★ *QOTD: What is YOUR favorite powered loudspeaker?* ★ *COMMENT RULES:* - No outside URLs, UA-cam links or email addresses - Keep it civil. It’s okay to disagree, just don’t be a jerk about it.
That's the only reason I watch their videos. Most of the time I absolutely don't agree with Andrew. Especially regarding Klipsch. But the presentation is superb and the woman in the background who 'knows Shit about this hobby' (her words) is a most welcomed addition. 🥳
My apologies for not mentioning some others that I've recently listened to. Please look up the prices yourselves, but they all sounded great for the money being asked and facilities. So here goes... Swans m300 Audio Engine Acoustic Energy Elac Dutch and Dutch ATC Kii Three (these really are superb and very expensive)
Vanatoo vs TUK depends on your input. Vanatoo speakers use DSP, so digital input is optimal. Get the Vanatoo if your primary input is digital. Get the TUK if you are using an external DAC and that is important to you, and, the price differences aren't an issue.
From the review it sounded like Andrew thought the TUKs were better than the YU6 but in the comments he is clearly stating that the YU6 are better. I'm confused.
I had the YU6. They were great until I blew them listening to Tool too loud for too long. Bought these Tuks for my office. They are amazing for the price point. The mids and high are amazingly clear for the price.
Good to see it has the Toslink. It is underrated, I think; it eliminates any possibility of ground loops which is worthwhile in and of itself. And do I see that the sub out actually has a highpass filter on it so the speakers stop playing bass with a sub connected? About time! All in all, looks good. The question is just is it really $200 more good than a pair of Vanatoo Transparent One Encore?
Nobody talks about the fact that every pair of Kanto YU4 has a humming-beeping sound when Opt 1 or Optical 2 is activated. Kanto knows about it, and doesnt address it. These reviews neither. Will return mine. What are these reviews for if you are not actually going deep.
Love my new TUKs. I don't know about other Kanto remotes, but I like the two-tone because the white part makes it easier to locate. You're right as far as less-than-great source material! It will be apparent immediately. The TUKs cost me $500 through Amazon because the carton was dented.
Thanks for the review. I bought a pair of Kanto YU2's for my computer which replaced my 2003 Bose Companions which were finally not performing well. I did connect my Paradigm MilleniaSub to them, and they were a step up. However, I felt like I was still missing the quality that I desired, and stepped up to the TUKs. I love their simplicity, and over-all, they are great, especially with my sub. I spend a lot of time behind my computer and stream Spotify premium, and plenty of UA-cam. I bought them from Crutchfield, who's got great customer support. One challenge was that the optical cable that I bought didn't fit my Panasonic Verra, it did fit my LG OLED. This is definitely a quick and easy way to add speakers. Normally I run an AVP, Amp, and lots of subs, etc.
A question from one that is new to game. You said that you never used the YU6 - and therefore the TUKs - using digital inputs. May I ask why? I thought about buying a powered speaker set and connect it to the television via optical among other uses. I was sure that the dac in the speaker is better than the one in the television, am I missing something?
Hi Andrew, My YU sixes just arrived and i do love them, but i find the Bluetooth sound not nearly as loud as when i hook up tidal through optical on the TV. Am i doing something wrong?
If you are still having that issue, check the volume on the device that you are bluetoothing from, also check tidal settings and turn off auto normalization.
Thanks for the TUK review. I watched pretty much all of the TUK reviews from all of the usual suspects. I've been round and round with what I want to get for my small room, finally zeroed in on powered bookshelf and went round and round again, there's so many. Finally knew the Y6 is what I had to have and I love that walnut finish! But then the TUK reviews came along and that high pass filter that feeds everything below 80hz to a sub which I don't see on many other powered speakers and I thought well maybe I need to pay double and get the TUKs. Your review is the only one that made me realize that the YU6 is still the one for me and I won't be missing out on anyting as I listen to a wide range of genres from the 60s through the present with the vast majority just being Bluetooth through my phone on UA-cam Music. I would have wasted $400 more unnecessarily going with the TUKs instead of the YU6. So thanks Andrew!
What a beautiful review. Obviously the sound is of upmost importance but would have liked some higher definition video of different lighting on the aesthetic design of the black, trying to decide between white and black.
I have a Kanto 2.1 speaker system comprising a pair of YU2 speakers and a YURI down-firing subwoofer. They sound great! I believe in Kanto's speakers. I am planning on building my small home theater system with the TUK speakers.
If one were inclined to use a cable, that connects the two speakers, that would be a considerable upgrade over the supplied cable... what should I look for? Thank you.
Hi Andrew, thanks so much for the review. I also follow your review about Klipsch the Fives. Now, I really need your subjective inputs or comments, which one is better, Tuk or the Fives, if we want to get good speakers both for music and tv/movies?
thank for this review. I was in the market to replace my hand me down/bulky loudspeaker set up for all my entertainment needs and with the TUKS and I could not be happier.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews cheers thank you Andrew. I'll check it out right now. Apartment living I have to be careful about the base especially. Great set of videos I've been binging through.
@@simon7304 they seem to go on sale a few times a year. Just keep an eye out or set up a price reminder thing. I forget where I got them but honestly all the online prices match up within hours. For the sale price I highly recommend.
I think that there is room for active speakers at every price point. I also think that the future is active speakers, it will, however, take a long time to get there. I feel that more and more manufacturers will collaborate to bring their skills to this retail area (especially as DSP is getting so good). The best so far IMHO are the KEF efforts and NAIM as the synergy is there. The KEF LS50W may be considered the best hifi system in terms of performance per pound, as I've yet to find a better for £2k. AFAIK TUK is not available in the UK. BTW I get to listen to many different audio manufacturers as I am a studio engineer.
I got these speakers for my pc. It looks amazing in white but that's about where the good ends. Starting from a minor flaw, the grill which is attached with magnet did not fit on the slave unit. Turns out, the magnet inside the speaker was placed in the wrong way so the whole unit had to be sent in for a repair. But the bigger flaw for me is the sound. It is hard to explain but it made me uncomfortable listening to it. The mid and high didn't seem to mix well. The high was a bit too harsh while the mid sounded a bit muddy. I ended up returning it even though I got a really good deal.
A pair of these or the SVS ultra bookshelves for movies and music? I listen to hip-hop, radio hits, some southern rock, oldies, and Mexican music (Banda and norteno) and most of this from youtube music, or any other suggestion?
Color Map of the Sun is a fantastic record. Derek Vincent Smith is a mastermind. God I miss Pretty Lights. Haven’t seen a PL show sense Red Rocks 2018.
Hi, I'm watching this video because somehow I've damaged the usb connection on my Klipsch R-51's so I'm making sure there isn't something better that I should be looking at.
First of all, thanks for such articulate reviews, I really enjoy your take on things. That said, I’d like to know if you think the Klipsch TheFives has deeper bass than the Kanto TUK? I’ve watched both reviews, I just bought a pair of TUKS and I too am disappointed with the remote so much I’m considering picking up the Fives based on your review. I suppose I just want book shelf speakers that hit nicely (I listen to jazz, dub, hiphop, downtempo & Latin genres most) I appreciate good bass. For reference I loved my old powered Event 20/20s many moons ago. Thanks for your time. -best Clint
@@Usman012813 hey, I did not. I just stuck with the Kanto TUKS which I’m super happy with all around minus the remote. Not that it doesn’t work but it’s really a poor design in my opinion considering how nice the Klipsch ones are. Also… HDMI ARC would have been a nice touch / upgrade to the TUKs so I could just use my Samsung TV remote to control them; Then I wouldn’t have to see the subpar remote. That said I can’t say I have any issues with the sound. Do you have the TUKS as well? Good luck!
@@deluxultra4177 appreciate the quick and detailed reply! I don’t have either but am a budding enthusiast looking to grab my first pair of powered bookshelves. There’s so much to choose from, seems like every other there’s something else to consider. Thanks again for your take!
so crazy question....i have the Klipsch ProMedia Heritage 2.1, is it possible to use the Sub from that with the Tuks? sorrry most likley a dumb question, Just new to this game and its a lot to learn lol thanks in advance!!
I had the older-style ProMedia 2.1 (Z623). That's a good question. I'm wondering if the sub can actually be separated from the rest of the system and used as such.
@@IvanJohnsonMedia I own both and yes it can be done, that little Promedia sub is something else-it provides 15hz lower bass than the Tuk's but the only reason I don't have my Tuk's hooked up to it is because my Tuk's are hooked up to a Paradigm sub that goes even lower and plays much louder
It might seem a minor point but I like how with the TUKs, I can swap the speakers over and have the active speaker on the right. You can’t do that with any of the YUs. This suits my set up much better. It was a deal breaker for me.
@@MaestroMvn I like them a lot. The main reason I went with the Fives was the HDMI-ARC input. One HDMI cable from them to my TV and I get sound for everything hooked to the TV. Love the quality for music and I have them paired with a Klipsch subwoofer. In terms of audio quality you probably can't go wrong with either one.
This was a great product Review. My old (then, very expensive) speakers and receiver which I'd had for nearly 18 years were starting to sound very rough. Because I have always had this silly notion that HiFi speakers should sound like *"music",* instead of sounding like a PA system, I felt the need to very carefully research my options for their replacement. I was looking seriously at the Kanto YU6, with all the great features and good reviews. But when I started looking further at the really highly rated audiophile reviews of great new speakers, I saw that although the Tuk was expensive, it was not nearly as expensive as other comparable AMT equipped self powered systems. $799 for a complete audiophile quality system... works for me! My eclectic taste and desire for emotionally rapturous musical experiences opens me towards Jazz, Blues, World and Classical music. Now, after listening critically to them for several months, I find that the Tuks honestly reveal the skill and passion of the artists, as well as the craft of the recording engineer in capturing the subtleties of acoustic instruments and voices in high fidelity recording. I am glad I paid the difference in price and got what I really wanted, instead of "settling" and then living for who knows how many years with a sad compromise. I feel the Tuks are worth every penny I paid for them. Disclosure: I am a huge fan and supporter of Live music. My S/O is a veteran studio session recording artist. Access to her collection of material and live music are my cherished treasures. It is tragic that so many people never attempt to experience Live music. I encourage everyone to seek out and enjoy local venues, especially small intimate venues, that provide Live music. Speakers are supposed to sound like... *"music"!* Please support the Arts and Culture. www. PatrioticMillionaires .org
I can’t disagree that the sound is impossible to comment on but there are some strong practical considerations I can offer insight on that may help. The first question is always do you watch more movies and shows or do you listen more to music in your system? If you do not listen mostly to music then the sound bar is almost certainly a better option. In particular because LG makes matching sound bars which, speaking from having on the older model LG sound bar with an LG TV, integrate very well with their televisions and work reliably and easily with a single remote etc. You will also get a surround channel for movies and shows which adds a lot to the experience. If you listen to more music it may be worth getting dedicated stereo speakers because that is something you’ll get more out of. In my case for example, I listen to a lot of to channel music and have a record player I play a lot. The record player sounded way better with two channel so I decided to go that route instead even though I still watch a lot of movies and shows. Whatever you decide I think the real choice is between the sound bar or the tux because at this point retail everywhere is dropped at 650 and at that point it is well worth the step up.
@@Guerilla_law3516 thank you - i listen to music almost as much as movies - i live in a small loft space with 12 foot ceilings - the living/dining area is about 20X8 - i was looking at the LG SY10 - but figured for the money i could have a true stereo setup with a phono hook-up. another factor is that atmos might not work that well with the high ceilings. i'm leaning towards the TUK pair and a Kanto subwoofer would do better for me - thank you for your input - take care!
Soundbars are for when you want something a step above your TV speaker, but you're still an absolute minimalist. Compared to a soundbar, even bookshelf speakers are twice as complicated. On the other hand, they're so much more versatile since you get to listen to all you TV programs, plus the added ability to enjoy your music as well.
Considering getting a pair of these. I would use them in my bedroom, but I would prefer them not to emit any light. Can you disable the front indicator lights?
@@OM_42 That's awesome, thanks. I couldn't find that in any of the product info. How do you like them? I would be replacing a pair of sonos play5's wit the tuks. I hate sonos but the speakers do sound good so hopefully its not a downgrade in sound quality...
Have you ever paired two of the passive speakers such as the Tuks/YU6 or other brands and used them with an amp to see how they sound that way? If so what was the result ?
Between these and the vanatoo t1e, in a living room scenario, which has more defined and prominent vocals? This is most important to me because they will be used often for TV shows and movies, and the fact that I won't have a center channel makes me really concerned about clear dialogue that stands out from other sound effects
I can't say either as I have neither, but currently am using the edifier s2000 pros in my living room and with vocal mode it's perfect for shows and movies. The aesthetic isn't to everyone's taste, but if you want to know more about the s2000s, feel free to hit me up.
They emit a very, very subtle hiss if you press your ear directly to the tweeter (but who listens like that!?), however from more than a few inches away the "hiss" is basically inaudible.
Hi Andrew, I love your reviews. I hope you don't mind but I have one question for you: Do you think the Bluesound Node 2i would sound better than say using the Tidal app on my smart TV with an optical cable to these speakers or just plain old bluetooth right into these speakers? I guess you could say I'm just trying to find an excuse to purchase the Bluesound Node 2i. I have a Sony 4K TV from 2015 with an optical cable to my Tuks, Project Debut Turntable and now possibly the Bluesound Node 2i. Thank you keep up your great work!
Thanks for the thorough review. I have been considering the YU6s based on your review and others, but have been waiting for the TUKs to come out and be reviewed to help determine if I should pony up the extra cash for them. Your’s is the second review that has mentioned the AMT tweeters brittleness with less than perfect recordings. I, like many people seem to be, am very sensitive to harsh sounding highs and pronounced sibilance. I still play CDs and have many early ones that really are far from perfect recordings. So I would probably regret purchasing the TUKs. Also with the YU6 I would be able to hook up both my Xbox and TV to the digital inputs, leaving the analog RCAs for my CD player and the 3.5mm for my ChromeCast audio and Spotify Premium playlists. Thanks again for the great review and helping me make up my mind.
Glad I was able to assist you. The TUK are great speakers when treated correctly but the YU6 (or YU line in general) are likely better all 'rounders for 99% of people.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews Why do you say this? I'm looking to buy my first pair of bookshelves and I'm a college student and I have heard from most early reviews that the Tuk's are really nice. I like how they come with a headphone amp as well and the built-in phono stage so I can easily use them as entry into headphones and vinyl. I know all preferences change by person but I don't want to pay that much if 99% of people are better off with the YU's.
@@brycevallie3545 If you need the headphone amp/connectivity than the TUK is a GREAT option, but for someone like yourself who may be on a stricter budget, are new(er) to the hobby, and may not need a headphone jack/amp, the YU6 is very good, and for a wide range of musical tastes, may be a better all around fit. The TUK is good, but it does require a bit more "effort" with respect to setup, and source material, whereas it is my experience that the YU6 (YU line in general) is less picky. Just my opinion.
Hello, my main usage would be for music via streaming youtube music via chromecast as well as hooking up to a television via optical cable in a living room 2.1 setup (i currently have a klipsch r-12sw sub). Obviously lower quality sources. However, can these Kanto Tuk's perform well in your opinion in that scenario?
I'm curious about this as well. Did you end up getting the Tuk's? I'm looking to replace my bulky 3.1 set up with powered monitors and a sub. My audio source will be bluetooth music and optical out from tv/roku. I'm debating between the Tuk's, YU6, Klipsch The Sixes, or Klipsch R51PM. Either way they will be paired with my BIC America F12 subwoofer. I like the 80 hz crossover of the Tuk's for this purpose, but I'm nervous about the tweeters sounding harsh.
Well, Elac Debut 6.2 reference or those? I already have a reciever amp. Mainly listening music. My guess isElac, but not sure and unable to go listen them before purchase.
There is always a hissing coming from the tweeter of active speakers. As this pair comes with an active and a passive box I would like to know if the master shows this hissing and the slave doesn’t ? Is this the case here ?
If you hear hissing from the speaker, the speaker has a crappy amp with a high noise floor. Probably a small, weak amp driven hard, that tends to cause them to hiss. It's not something that happens on powered speakers only, nor should it happen on a good pair. I can totally see it happening on a cheapo pair.
My Kanto YU6 tweeters do emit some hiss if I put my hear directly to the tweeter, however, seated at my desk with the tweeter almost 3 feet from my ear no hiss is audible. For what it is worth, I consider it a non-issue.
Andrew Robinson Dear Andrew, there is a question on this kind of active speakers with one active unit and one being passive I asked almost everybody I know and I would like to know your thoughts on this point. How would or does this pair, especially the passive speaker, sound with another cable than the one that is included? Can this really be a symmetrical pair of a stereo sound with one dsp-active speaker and one mechanical-crossover-passive speaker? So, can a pair with one speaker being active itself and the other being differently really sound exactly the same over both channels?? The work that the dsp correction has do would be to make the active speaker sound like the passive speaker because it can not make the passive one sound like the active one. Is this matching of sonic characteristics of both speakers only possible with the cable which the manufacturer tested and ships it with? Kind regards from Munich
Digital Philosophy Idk if this answers your question, but upgraded RCA cables and speaker wire brought a noticeable improvement in sound for me. As for one being passive and the other active, they both sound exactly the same to me. My ears may suck compared to yours though
Someone in the industry told me it's pronounced "TOOKS". Can anyone confirm? I don't want to be at the next cocktail party talking about Kanto and then say the model name wrong, I would get very weird looks from my peers and it would be a total embarrassment.
well just got my TUK's and my 8 inch subwoofer....hooked them up and OMFG i am in love...lol beyond words to express the quality....thx for your review that steered me this way...cheers
I have watched this review before the purchase and I am watching it again with the Kanto Tuk. I'm hearing much more detail and layers from his video production, but it's true in poorly recorded audio (even FLAC files) it will sound meh.
I tested the Fives against the TUKs in my home, both hooked to my sub. The TUKs won hands down. At least for my adult son and me, there was no comparison. Fuller sound. Less bright?
Andrew - very well articulated! Subbed, liked, and even bit that little bell. I’ve recently added a pair of Adam t7v’s to my ableton rig. I do like them. But the way you have expressed the convenience factor of the Tuk’s is very compelling for just easy access to listening. You did mention there is a subwoofer output on the Tuks. I’m new to the whole “amp” thing so this may be naive but - would a separate amp be needed for a subwoofer? Or is there an obvious plug and play choice to add a subwoofer to the Tuk? I do appreciate the clarity of your videos. I’m in danger of becoming an “audiophile” but love the idea of amazing sound that brings along convenience. Thank you!
There is a subwoofer output on the TUK (as well as the Kanto YU6/YU4 speakers), which allows you to connect a powered subwoofer directly to the speakers. If I were to pair a sub with the TUK or any other Kanto product, I'd likely go with their SUB8 or SUB6 models, which have amps built-in (just like their speakers). You can check them out here: amzn.to/2YJmo7S
16:25 Many people like the two-tone remote but it's really not a big deal either way nor is the input selector a big deal at all, I bet few people will rarely if ever even use the input selector feature, I know I never will. There there princess. My only minor issue with the remote is I wish it were smaller like my other credit card-sized remotes because comparatively it's huge
I pre-ordered my pair and plan on using my 10" sealed servo sub with these to avoid some of that punchiness for my preferences. Nicely done review. In my experience with Kanto, you might want to use a servo sub with them to avoid that muddiness sound that the Kanto brings forward because they are so "fast".
On the other hand, "muddiness" depends on a lot of things especially placement and room acoustics. Not to mention, albeit to a lesser extent, musical preferences.
Sorry Andrew, I was referring to the salt pot on the table of your setup. Maybe left over from lunchtime. Anyway, tempted to buy these over the Yu 6's for €200 more than Yu 6 price. Would this be worth the upgrade?
I posted a comment on your review of the Klipsch The Fives about how excited I was to get them. Well, I received them and they were broken so I had to return them :( I was wondering though, before I shell out the money for another pair, how would you compare the Tuks to The Fives? Would you prefer one over the other? I understand that everyone has their own preferences, but I was hoping you could give me some of your insight. I’d be using them for both TV viewing and eventually as desktop speakers for my computer. I generally listen to everything from acoustic to metal to electronic music; I also play video games. If anybody else wants to chime in, you’re more than welcome! Thanks in advance to anyone who chooses to respond!
I tested both the TUKs and the Fives in my home. For television it was a toss up. For music the TUKs were the clear winner for both me and my adult son. Much richer and fuller sound. Both hooked to a sub. Kind of wanted the Fives to win because I loved the looks, but sent them back and am enjoying the TUKs. Had to switch to Tidal Hifi to take full advantage of these speakers.
Also, the TUKs have a sub button on the remote which, when held down for 5 seconds, reverts back to just the speakers without the sub crossover. You cant do that with the Fives because the Fives crossover cant be over ridden. You have to unhook the sub with them. I find this to be a benefit I use a lot with my TUKs.
@@ericcollins1561 I was the same way lol I wanted SO bad to prefer The Fives. They just look so good! But after trying both pairs of speakers, I agree with you and I love my TUKs I appreciate the response!
I am considering either the Kanto Tuk's or the Klipsch Five's for my office that is about 14' x 18' and also play vinyl, stream, and connect to my computer. Which speakers would you go with between these 2?
Hey Andrew, I am a big listener of Hip-Hop music, both old school and new. I would love a powered speaker that offers a lot of bass, but also a good amount of clarity as I have begun monitoring video audio and music production. I listen to majority of music off of Spotify Premium and if on UA-cam it’ll be well produced Hip hop/ Trap music. However, I don’t tend to listen to music with a wide range of instruments (though I will probably widen my range of genres with the Tuks) which I know these speakers are great for. Would you recommend these for old and new school Hip hop lovers? Thank you
I think the YU line of speakers from Kanto have slightly better low-end extension and depth, might start there vs. TUK. Also, other products to consider would be Adam Audio, JBL 300 Series (very good option BTW), and if Emotiva's Stealth line or AirMotiv line is also available. YU will be the least expensive option compared to the other options, but all are worth checking out for Hip/Hop listening.
Andrew Robinson Thank you for the recommendations Andrew. I spoke to a few Sales advisers and they too advised the YU line for entry level, however, I have the budget of just under a thousand and wanted to purchase speakers for the long term which suit general use but will work for audio editing and music production. Knowing I have the budget and what I would use the speakers for in time, would you still recommend YUs over the TUKs? Thanks again
@@MorpheusLoopYMCMB For your purposes and genre of music, yes, I likely would. But you should definitely check out the other options too if you're thinking of making a purchase that is one and done. You owe it to yourself to hear as much as you can so you can make an informed decision.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews Thanks for your advice, I completely agree! I plan on ordering in a few of these speakers or testing in-store before making a final decision. I just felt that listening to the TUKs would allow me to discoverer parts of songs I've been missing, giving a foreign experience?
By the way, Kristi usually provides a list of some of the music and movies we use during a review period. You’ll find this in the “testing” section in the description.
They have great vocal clarity, I have them connected to my Sony Bravia TV and to my turntable, and the voice clarity is outstanding even at lower volumes, which I can't quite say about the TV's internal speakers.
I'm using the TUKs with a Kanto 8 sub and a Cambridge Audio DACMagic 100. Source is mostly a Macbook Pro via optical to the DM100-mainly iTunes ALAC/AAC and Amazon Music HD. This is not anywhere near my first rodeo with powereds, but it's the best ride to date. I was a bit taken aback at first by the AMT tweeters, but I now fully appreciate them. With a bit of a discount and a price match (post-sale), I paid well under the going price of 900 USD. I already owned the Kanto 8, (and SYD, and Kanto 6), so this was not a difficult call.
Currently I use the Adams T7V studio monitors for my home studio. Would you recommend these for listening to my mix downs? And if anything else has come out since these that I should check out in this price range or lower, let me know. Thanks alot.
I noticed no mention of midrange. Intentional I suspect. Metal drivers are great for bass but inherently lack the 'lightness' of paper cone drivers, which in the midrange conveys nuance and texture. So for some forms of music, such as rock and electronica, metal drivers are great. Much less so for music featuring acoustic instruments. Of course the reverse is true, every driver material has its strengths and weaknesses, so where we place our emphasis will determine overall our preferences. There's also the internal amp, undoubtedly class D whose strengths are bass and clarity. Generally, the weakness of class D is in conveying the music's emotional connection to the artist. Finally, there's the issue with powered speakers of 'putting all your eggs in one basket'. If the speaker's amp fails, say a 2 years after purchase (I've had 3 amps just stop working)... you're looking at being forced to buy a whole new set of powered speakers.
Actually, I'd say the grill dress them down since all the moving parts are covered. Anyway, very straight forward review without a lot of coloration. Since I tend to listen to a lot of classical music, but only have a meager budget, basically soundstage pretty much summed it up for me.
Andrew, thank you for your awesome reviews - very informative and I appreciate your focus on what is best for each person's needs. I've never had the budget to be a true audiophile, but I've always appreciated great speakers when I hear them. I'm looking for a solution that I hope you can help with. My first pair of "real" speakers were JBL L50s that I found for $10 at a garage sale. I paid $30 each to have them refoamed and proceeded to absolutely LOVE those speakers for almost 20 years. Eventually life forced me to sell them, and I have missed them ever since. I'm now on the hunt for powered speakers that will give me a comparable richness and sound quality for home use. I first tried a pair of Klipsch R-15PMs, which I found to be impressive at high volumes, but lacking in clarity and richness at lower volumes, so I sold them. I am strongly considering the Kanto YU6s or TUKs based on your reviews, however I am wondering if you can speak to how they will compare to my JBL L50s. I really miss the full rich sound that I got from them, and I'm just skeptical that anything with a 6" woofer can compare. Even with an accompanying sub, I often find that today's smaller speakers don't seem to give me that rich sound I became used to, though it's been a little while so maybe these will? I would love to hear your suggestions. Some people have suggested that I try the Yamaha HS8s, or another 8" studio monitor . . . which do you think will be a better fit if I'm looking to scratch my nostalgia for the L50s but in a more streamlined/contained powered speaker? My budget is hundreds, not thousands, otherwise I'd look into the B&W Formation Duos that you recently reviewed. Thank you so much!
I'd be more inclined if not go right out and buy if and when they include not just with Dirac for room correction. The Fives have a really nice DSP, however their new improved DSP controls are hinky, sadly. They sound great with just a slightly muddy bass response. All that said, how are their off axis response.
I see that Pretty Lights : Color Map of the Sun LP. You sir are a gentleman and a scholar whom has terrific taste in music. Man, I miss PL, Derek needs to tour again. Ohh yeah, solid review.
They look similar but not the same. TUK has an aluminum driver while the 5R has a more standard polypropylene cone. My guess is you'll get what you pay for...
Void who make outstanding pa audio equipment make a small speaker system called indigo. This can be paired with an indigo sub and apparantly sounds fantastic in a living space. Id love to see you have look at these
Firstly, I very much appreciate your videos. I'm learning a lot. I've been considering the TUK speakers for many of the reasons you pointed out, but I do listen to a lot of older music, 60s through 80s blues, rock and soul. Does the clarity of these speakers work with music that was recorded once upon a time or is it too unforgiving for those older recording methods?
Can you control treble and bass without the remote yu6 cannot my remote went out and they became useless. I did find a wire off. However I was unable to order the remote bye itself. I'd hate to spend 1000$ on speakers that sound can only be adjusted bye remote , when they don't sell replacement.
I am trying to decide if I should buy another set of Buchardt S400 or a pair of these to use in a different location. I know these will never be able to compare, but are they good enough?
★ *REVIEWING: **amzn.to/2UQ420V** // NEED MORE INFO? ✔︎ THE ⬆︎DESCRIPTION⬆︎*
★ *QOTD: What is YOUR favorite powered loudspeaker?*
★ *COMMENT RULES:*
- No outside URLs, UA-cam links or email addresses
- Keep it civil. It’s okay to disagree, just don’t be a jerk about it.
You could review an Oster blender and make it sound interesting! Great review.
I should try that just for fun.
That's the only reason I watch their videos.
Most of the time I absolutely don't agree with Andrew. Especially regarding Klipsch.
But the presentation is superb and the woman in the background who 'knows Shit about this hobby' (her words) is a most welcomed addition. 🥳
Hi Please do shootout with Tuck and Kef LSX Also do you find AMT tweeter reminds you of Infinity Emit tweeters ? - Thanks !
You'll have to let KEF know you'd like to see their product on the channel. We've made all the requests we can on our end.
My apologies for not mentioning some others that I've recently listened to. Please look up the prices yourselves, but they all sounded great for the money being asked and facilities. So here goes...
Swans m300
Audio Engine
Acoustic Energy
Elac
Dutch and Dutch
ATC
Kii Three (these really are superb and very expensive)
Could these speakers hook up to an audio interface? Also, does it have an aux connection?
It does not have a aux port on the speakers themselves but they come with a cable that is RCA - Aux!
Okay next review: HEDD Type 20's = TRUE 3-ways with the ribbon tweets.
Not worth the 800 to 900 bucks. Vanatoo blows them away. More power. No dedicated input buttons. Wtf. Vanatoo auto switch. 900 bucks!!!
Vanatoo vs TUK depends on your input. Vanatoo speakers use DSP, so digital input is optimal. Get the Vanatoo if your primary input is digital. Get the TUK if you are using an external DAC and that is important to you, and, the price differences aren't an issue.
From the review it sounded like Andrew thought the TUKs were better than the YU6 but in the comments he is clearly stating that the YU6 are better. I'm confused.
I watched this after zeos video glad to see you reviewing this too
Thanks for watching!
It'd be nice that headphone socket was the bigger kind. 😊
Should I get the YU6 or TUKs? Room size 12.5 X 15 feet.
I had the YU6. They were great until I blew them listening to Tool too loud for too long. Bought these Tuks for my office. They are amazing for the price point. The mids and high are amazingly clear for the price.
Good to see it has the Toslink. It is underrated, I think; it eliminates any possibility of ground loops which is worthwhile in and of itself. And do I see that the sub out actually has a highpass filter on it so the speakers stop playing bass with a sub connected? About time! All in all, looks good. The question is just is it really $200 more good than a pair of Vanatoo Transparent One Encore?
Nobody talks about the fact that every pair of Kanto YU4 has a humming-beeping sound when Opt 1 or Optical 2 is activated. Kanto knows about it, and doesnt address it. These reviews neither. Will return mine. What are these reviews for if you are not actually going deep.
Did you ever think the remote is black and white because those are the two colors the speakers come in?
Love my new TUKs. I don't know about other Kanto remotes, but I like the two-tone because the white part makes it easier to locate. You're right as far as less-than-great source material! It will be apparent immediately. The TUKs cost me $500 through Amazon because the carton was dented.
Thanks for the review. I bought a pair of Kanto YU2's for my computer which replaced my 2003 Bose Companions which were finally not performing well. I did connect my Paradigm MilleniaSub to them, and they were a step up. However, I felt like I was still missing the quality that I desired, and stepped up to the TUKs. I love their simplicity, and over-all, they are great, especially with my sub. I spend a lot of time behind my computer and stream Spotify premium, and plenty of UA-cam. I bought them from Crutchfield, who's got great customer support. One challenge was that the optical cable that I bought didn't fit my Panasonic Verra, it did fit my LG OLED. This is definitely a quick and easy way to add speakers. Normally I run an AVP, Amp, and lots of subs, etc.
A question from one that is new to game.
You said that you never used the YU6 - and therefore the TUKs - using digital inputs.
May I ask why?
I thought about buying a powered speaker set and connect it to the television via optical among other uses. I was sure that the dac in the speaker is better than the one in the television, am I missing something?
Why do you keep a salt cellar on your desk?
When he started talking about the remote he turned into Jerry Seinfeld. 😂
Hi Andrew, My YU sixes just arrived and i do love them, but i find the Bluetooth sound not nearly as loud as when i hook up tidal through optical on the TV. Am i doing something wrong?
If you are still having that issue, check the volume on the device that you are bluetoothing from, also check tidal settings and turn off auto normalization.
why would you connect your tv via rca and not toslink?...my my two tv's dont even have rca output, but toslink, like most tv's
Thanks for the TUK review. I watched pretty much all of the TUK reviews from all of the usual suspects. I've been round and round with what I want to get for my small room, finally zeroed in on powered bookshelf and went round and round again, there's so many. Finally knew the Y6 is what I had to have and I love that walnut finish! But then the TUK reviews came along and that high pass filter that feeds everything below 80hz to a sub which I don't see on many other powered speakers and I thought well maybe I need to pay double and get the TUKs. Your review is the only one that made me realize that the YU6 is still the one for me and I won't be missing out on anyting as I listen to a wide range of genres from the 60s through the present with the vast majority just being Bluetooth through my phone on UA-cam Music. I would have wasted $400 more unnecessarily going with the TUKs instead of the YU6. So thanks Andrew!
What a beautiful review. Obviously the sound is of upmost importance but would have liked some higher definition video of different lighting on the aesthetic design of the black, trying to decide between white and black.
I have a Kanto 2.1 speaker system comprising a pair of YU2 speakers and a YURI down-firing subwoofer. They sound great! I believe in Kanto's speakers. I am planning on building my small home theater system with the TUK speakers.
I believe in them too, I love my YU6's
Could you compare the tuks with the kef lsx regarding sound quality please?
Would if I could, but have never heard the KEF speakers.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews haha good one!
If one were inclined to use a cable, that connects the two speakers, that would be a considerable upgrade over the supplied cable... what should I look for? Thank you.
Hi Andrew, thanks so much for the review.
I also follow your review about Klipsch the Fives.
Now, I really need your subjective inputs or comments, which one is better, Tuk or the Fives, if we want to get good speakers both for music and tv/movies?
bit.ly/3T2zcgW over Tuks. bit.ly/3IfdpAJ over the Fives.
I'm getting Edifier S3000 Pro for €699. Fuhgedaboudit
is this really the yu6 but just better in literally every way except for price?
Different materials used and sound signature.
They're definitely an upgrade sonically.
thank for this review. I was in the market to replace my hand me down/bulky loudspeaker set up for all my entertainment needs and with the TUKS and I could not be happier.
YU6 in Canada comes up on sale for around $320. Had never seen the TUKs for sale until i just saw today just over $700 cdn..
I should say i have the YU6s and really like them but thinking of upgrading to the TUKs or adding the sub to the 6s...
@@RainCity3rd Personally, I would stick with the YU6 speakers and add a sub. This sub from SVS bit.ly/svs1000A would pair nicely.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews cheers thank you Andrew. I'll check it out right now. Apartment living I have to be careful about the base especially. Great set of videos I've been binging through.
@@RainCity3rd hey dude where did you find the sale of Yu6? Is it from visions ?
@@simon7304 they seem to go on sale a few times a year. Just keep an eye out or set up a price reminder thing. I forget where I got them but honestly all the online prices match up within hours. For the sale price I highly recommend.
I think that there is room for active speakers at every price point. I also think that the future is active speakers, it will, however, take a long time to get there. I feel that more and more manufacturers will collaborate to bring their skills to this retail area (especially as DSP is getting so good).
The best so far IMHO are the KEF efforts and NAIM as the synergy is there. The KEF LS50W may be considered the best hifi system in terms of performance per pound, as I've yet to find a better for £2k.
AFAIK TUK is not available in the UK.
BTW I get to listen to many different audio manufacturers as I am a studio engineer.
I got these speakers for my pc. It looks amazing in white but that's about where the good ends. Starting from a minor flaw, the grill which is attached with magnet did not fit on the slave unit. Turns out, the magnet inside the speaker was placed in the wrong way so the whole unit had to be sent in for a repair. But the bigger flaw for me is the sound. It is hard to explain but it made me uncomfortable listening to it. The mid and high didn't seem to mix well. The high was a bit too harsh while the mid sounded a bit muddy. I ended up returning it even though I got a really good deal.
You do know that you can adjust the mids and the lows?
A pair of these or the SVS ultra bookshelves for movies and music? I listen to hip-hop, radio hits, some southern rock, oldies, and Mexican music (Banda and norteno) and most of this from youtube music, or any other suggestion?
You can sell anything! Great video
Color Map of the Sun is a fantastic record. Derek Vincent Smith is a mastermind. God I miss Pretty Lights. Haven’t seen a PL show sense Red Rocks 2018.
Hi, I'm watching this video because somehow I've damaged the usb connection on my Klipsch R-51's so I'm making sure there isn't something better that I should be looking at.
How do you prefer these to the vanatoo t1 encores? At 200 dollars cheaper they're on my list vs the Tuks
Hi have you tried the Kef LSX wireless? I’d love to know how you think these compare....
I'd love to see that comparison too.
they are just not in the same league ... better compar thos TuK with :
Klipsch the sixes
Edifire s3000Pro
etc ...
First of all, thanks for such articulate reviews, I really enjoy your take on things. That said, I’d like to know if you think the Klipsch TheFives has deeper bass than the Kanto TUK? I’ve watched both reviews, I just bought a pair of TUKS and I too am disappointed with the remote so much I’m considering picking up the Fives based on your review. I suppose I just want book shelf speakers that hit nicely (I listen to jazz, dub, hiphop, downtempo & Latin genres most) I appreciate good bass.
For reference I loved my old powered Event 20/20s many moons ago.
Thanks for your time.
-best
Clint
did you end up getting The Fives and if so how do they compare to the TUKS?
@@Usman012813 hey, I did not. I just stuck with the Kanto TUKS which I’m super happy with all around minus the remote. Not that it doesn’t work but it’s really a poor design in my opinion considering how nice the Klipsch ones are. Also… HDMI ARC would have been a nice touch / upgrade to the TUKs so I could just use my Samsung TV remote to control them; Then I wouldn’t have to see the subpar remote. That said I can’t say I have any issues with the sound. Do you have the TUKS as well? Good luck!
@@deluxultra4177 appreciate the quick and detailed reply! I don’t have either but am a budding enthusiast looking to grab my first pair of powered bookshelves. There’s so much to choose from, seems like every other there’s something else to consider. Thanks again for your take!
Please consider reviewing the Revel M126BE standmount speakers, ASR recommended this brand also.
so crazy question....i have the Klipsch ProMedia Heritage 2.1, is it possible to use the Sub from that with the Tuks? sorrry most likley a dumb question, Just new to this game and its a lot to learn lol thanks in advance!!
I had the older-style ProMedia 2.1 (Z623). That's a good question. I'm wondering if the sub can actually be separated from the rest of the system and used as such.
@@IvanJohnsonMedia I own both and yes it can be done, that little Promedia sub is something else-it provides 15hz lower bass than the Tuk's but the only reason I don't have my Tuk's hooked up to it is because my Tuk's are hooked up to a Paradigm sub that goes even lower and plays much louder
@carewser hi what is the subwoofer that you are using
It might seem a minor point but I like how with the TUKs, I can swap the speakers over and have the active speaker on the right. You can’t do that with any of the YUs. This suits my set up much better. It was a deal breaker for me.
Nice review. Decided to go with Klipsch Fives instead.
How are you liking them? I’m also trying to decide between the two!
@@MaestroMvn I like them a lot. The main reason I went with the Fives was the HDMI-ARC input. One HDMI cable from them to my TV and I get sound for everything hooked to the TV. Love the quality for music and I have them paired with a Klipsch subwoofer.
In terms of audio quality you probably can't go wrong with either one.
The Kanto lineup is great! I got the kanto yumi for my setup, got my turntable and tv running through them...love them!...these TUK look killer!
Great, thorough review. Will look for them at RMAF in T minus 20 days and counting. :)
i'm trying to decide between these, the YU6 or a soundbar for a LG C8 TV. Very limited space... What would you suggest? Thanks!
I cannot possibly make that decision for you as all 3 options would represent dramatically different sounds. Sorry.
This was a great product Review.
My old (then, very expensive) speakers and receiver which I'd had for nearly 18 years were starting to sound very rough. Because I have always had this silly notion that HiFi speakers should sound like *"music",* instead of sounding like a PA system, I felt the need to very carefully research my options for their replacement. I was looking seriously at the Kanto YU6, with all the great features and good reviews. But when I started looking further at the really highly rated audiophile reviews of great new speakers, I saw that although the Tuk was expensive, it was not nearly as expensive as other comparable AMT equipped self powered systems. $799 for a complete audiophile quality system... works for me!
My eclectic taste and desire for emotionally rapturous musical experiences opens me towards Jazz, Blues, World and Classical music.
Now, after listening critically to them for several months, I find that the Tuks honestly reveal the skill and passion of the artists, as well as the craft of the recording engineer in capturing the subtleties of acoustic instruments and voices in high fidelity recording. I am glad I paid the difference in price and got what I really wanted, instead of "settling" and then living for who knows how many years with a sad compromise. I feel the Tuks are worth every penny I paid for them.
Disclosure: I am a huge fan and supporter of Live music. My S/O is a veteran studio session recording artist. Access to her collection of material and live music are my cherished treasures. It is tragic that so many people never attempt to experience Live music. I encourage everyone to seek out and enjoy local venues, especially small intimate venues, that provide Live music. Speakers are supposed to sound like... *"music"!*
Please support the Arts and Culture. www. PatrioticMillionaires .org
I can’t disagree that the sound is impossible to comment on but there are some strong practical considerations I can offer insight on that may help. The first question is always do you watch more movies and shows or do you listen more to music in your system? If you do not listen mostly to music then the sound bar is almost certainly a better option. In particular because LG makes matching sound bars which, speaking from having on the older model LG sound bar with an LG TV, integrate very well with their televisions and work reliably and easily with a single remote etc. You will also get a surround channel for movies and shows which adds a lot to the experience. If you listen to more music it may be worth getting dedicated stereo speakers because that is something you’ll get more out of. In my case for example, I listen to a lot of to channel music and have a record player I play a lot. The record player sounded way better with two channel so I decided to go that route instead even though I still watch a lot of movies and shows. Whatever you decide I think the real choice is between the sound bar or the tux because at this point retail everywhere is dropped at 650 and at that point it is well worth the step up.
@@Guerilla_law3516 thank you - i listen to music almost as much as movies - i live in a small loft space with 12 foot ceilings - the living/dining area is about 20X8 - i was looking at the LG SY10 - but figured for the money i could have a true stereo setup with a phono hook-up. another factor is that atmos might not work that well with the high ceilings. i'm leaning towards the TUK pair and a Kanto subwoofer would do better for me - thank you for your input - take care!
Soundbars are for when you want something a step above your TV speaker, but you're still an absolute minimalist. Compared to a soundbar, even bookshelf speakers are twice as complicated. On the other hand, they're so much more versatile since you get to listen to all you TV programs, plus the added ability to enjoy your music as well.
Considering getting a pair of these. I would use them in my bedroom, but I would prefer them not to emit any light. Can you disable the front indicator lights?
Yes you can disable the lights I just bought them today
@@OM_42 That's awesome, thanks. I couldn't find that in any of the product info. How do you like them? I would be replacing a pair of sonos play5's wit the tuks. I hate sonos but the speakers do sound good so hopefully its not a downgrade in sound quality...
@Joe Shmoe I love the tuks they sound great lots of detail and bass without a subwoofer.
As a senior, my hearing rolls off at around 10K. Would the AMT tweeter likely be wasted on me?
Nope! It’ll be fine!
I am 75. I'm good a bit beyond 10k but not that much....last check was around 12k, IIRC. AMTs not the least bit wasted.
Have you ever paired two of the passive speakers such as the Tuks/YU6 or other brands and used them with an amp to see how they sound that way? If so what was the result ?
Between these and the vanatoo t1e, in a living room scenario, which has more defined and prominent vocals?
This is most important to me because they will be used often for TV shows and movies, and the fact that I won't have a center channel makes me really concerned about clear dialogue that stands out from other sound effects
I don't know anything about the Vanatoo T1E, so I cannot help you with your question. Sorry.
I can't say either as I have neither, but currently am using the edifier s2000 pros in my living room and with vocal mode it's perfect for shows and movies. The aesthetic isn't to everyone's taste, but if you want to know more about the s2000s, feel free to hit me up.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews Also, slightly off topic, but your voice bears a resemblance to Bryan Cranston's 😜
High praise as he is a great actor, one of my favorites actually. Thanks for watching!
Do they Hiss if you put your ear next to them? (Optical input)
They emit a very, very subtle hiss if you press your ear directly to the tweeter (but who listens like that!?), however from more than a few inches away the "hiss" is basically inaudible.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews Thanks
How good is the headphone amp? How are these for playing games?
Hi Andrew, I love your reviews. I hope you don't mind but I have one question for you: Do you think the Bluesound Node 2i would sound better than say using the Tidal app on my smart TV with an optical cable to these speakers or just plain old bluetooth right into these speakers? I guess you could say I'm just trying to find an excuse to purchase the Bluesound Node 2i. I have a Sony 4K TV from 2015 with an optical cable to my Tuks, Project Debut Turntable and now possibly the Bluesound Node 2i. Thank you keep up your great work!
I use my LG Tv's as my streamers, just use the optical out to my DACS, no need for a Bluesound node.
Thanks for the thorough review. I have been considering the YU6s based on your review and others, but have been waiting for the TUKs to come out and be reviewed to help determine if I should pony up the extra cash for them. Your’s is the second review that has mentioned the AMT tweeters brittleness with less than perfect recordings. I, like many people seem to be, am very sensitive to harsh sounding highs and pronounced sibilance. I still play CDs and have many early ones that really are far from perfect recordings. So I would probably regret purchasing the TUKs. Also with the YU6 I would be able to hook up both my Xbox and TV to the digital inputs, leaving the analog RCAs for my CD player and the 3.5mm for my ChromeCast audio and Spotify Premium playlists. Thanks again for the great review and helping me make up my mind.
Glad I was able to assist you. The TUK are great speakers when treated correctly but the YU6 (or YU line in general) are likely better all 'rounders for 99% of people.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews Why do you say this? I'm looking to buy my first pair of bookshelves and I'm a college student and I have heard from most early reviews that the Tuk's are really nice. I like how they come with a headphone amp as well and the built-in phono stage so I can easily use them as entry into headphones and vinyl. I know all preferences change by person but I don't want to pay that much if 99% of people are better off with the YU's.
@@brycevallie3545 If you need the headphone amp/connectivity than the TUK is a GREAT option, but for someone like yourself who may be on a stricter budget, are new(er) to the hobby, and may not need a headphone jack/amp, the YU6 is very good, and for a wide range of musical tastes, may be a better all around fit. The TUK is good, but it does require a bit more "effort" with respect to setup, and source material, whereas it is my experience that the YU6 (YU line in general) is less picky. Just my opinion.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews Thank you, that helps a lot!
Hello, my main usage would be for music via streaming youtube music via chromecast as well as hooking up to a television via optical cable in a living room 2.1 setup (i currently have a klipsch r-12sw sub). Obviously lower quality sources. However, can these Kanto Tuk's perform well in your opinion in that scenario?
I should think they would do well in that scenario, yes.
I'm curious about this as well. Did you end up getting the Tuk's? I'm looking to replace my bulky 3.1 set up with powered monitors and a sub. My audio source will be bluetooth music and optical out from tv/roku. I'm debating between the Tuk's, YU6, Klipsch The Sixes, or Klipsch R51PM. Either way they will be paired with my BIC America F12 subwoofer. I like the 80 hz crossover of the Tuk's for this purpose, but I'm nervous about the tweeters sounding harsh.
Well, Elac Debut 6.2 reference or those? I already have a reciever amp. Mainly listening music. My guess isElac, but not sure and unable to go listen them before purchase.
Neither. Not after having these - bit.ly/fivesUS
@@andrewrobinsonreviews Thank You :)
There is always a hissing coming from the tweeter of active speakers. As this pair comes with an active and a passive box I would like to know if the master shows this hissing and the slave doesn’t ? Is this the case here ?
If you hear hissing from the speaker, the speaker has a crappy amp with a high noise floor. Probably a small, weak amp driven hard, that tends to cause them to hiss. It's not something that happens on powered speakers only, nor should it happen on a good pair. I can totally see it happening on a cheapo pair.
Croft Thank you. I hear this hissing always on active speakers, unfortunately from expensive ones too.
My Kanto YU6 tweeters do emit some hiss if I put my hear directly to the tweeter, however, seated at my desk with the tweeter almost 3 feet from my ear no hiss is audible. For what it is worth, I consider it a non-issue.
Andrew Robinson
Dear Andrew, there is a question on this kind of active speakers with one active unit and one being passive I asked almost everybody I know and I would like to know your thoughts on this point. How would or does this pair, especially the passive speaker, sound with another cable than the one that is included? Can this really be a symmetrical pair of a stereo sound with one dsp-active speaker and one mechanical-crossover-passive speaker? So, can a pair with one speaker being active itself and the other being differently really sound exactly the same over both channels?? The work that the dsp correction has do would be to make the active speaker sound like the passive speaker because it can not make the passive one sound like the active one.
Is this matching of sonic characteristics of both speakers only possible with the cable which the manufacturer tested and ships it with?
Kind regards from Munich
Digital Philosophy Idk if this answers your question, but upgraded RCA cables and speaker wire brought a noticeable improvement in sound for me. As for one being passive and the other active, they both sound exactly the same to me. My ears may suck compared to yours though
Someone in the industry told me it's pronounced "TOOKS". Can anyone confirm? I don't want to be at the next cocktail party talking about Kanto and then say the model name wrong, I would get very weird looks from my peers and it would be a total embarrassment.
tuktoyaktuk
How about KEF LSX 2 where do they stand among these are they good are they worth buying
well just got my TUK's and my 8 inch subwoofer....hooked them up and OMFG i am in love...lol beyond words to express the quality....thx for your review that steered me this way...cheers
Glad you're enjoying them!
I have watched this review before the purchase and I am watching it again with the Kanto Tuk. I'm hearing much more detail and layers from his video production, but it's true in poorly recorded audio (even FLAC files) it will sound meh.
Hey Andrew, this Tuk or the fives? The tuk looks so sexy lol. The fives seem to have lot more tech builded in.
I prefer the Fives or the YU6 to the TUK.
Andrew Robinson YU6 over Tuk? You must really hate the remote 😂
I tested the Fives against the TUKs in my home, both hooked to my sub. The TUKs won hands down. At least for my adult son and me, there was no comparison. Fuller sound. Less bright?
@@ericcollins1561 I end up getting the Tuk for the design and it was on sale during the holiday. It does sound great! very punchy
@@xz86 i am getting myself a TUK for my pc, do u think i need a kanto sub8 ? in ur opinion
Andrew - very well articulated! Subbed, liked, and even bit that little bell. I’ve recently added a pair of Adam t7v’s to my ableton rig. I do like them. But the way you have expressed the convenience factor of the Tuk’s is very compelling for just easy access to listening. You did mention there is a subwoofer output on the Tuks. I’m new to the whole “amp” thing so this may be naive but - would a separate amp be needed for a subwoofer? Or is there an obvious plug and play choice to add a subwoofer to the Tuk? I do appreciate the clarity of your videos. I’m in danger of becoming an “audiophile” but love the idea of amazing sound that brings along convenience. Thank you!
There is a subwoofer output on the TUK (as well as the Kanto YU6/YU4 speakers), which allows you to connect a powered subwoofer directly to the speakers. If I were to pair a sub with the TUK or any other Kanto product, I'd likely go with their SUB8 or SUB6 models, which have amps built-in (just like their speakers). You can check them out here: amzn.to/2YJmo7S
The Kanto Tuk, paired with the SUB6 or SUB8, lets you control the crossover frequency, which is nice.
Andrew Robinson thank you!!
16:25 Many people like the two-tone remote but it's really not a big deal either way nor is the input selector a big deal at all, I bet few people will rarely if ever even use the input selector feature, I know I never will. There there princess. My only minor issue with the remote is I wish it were smaller like my other credit card-sized remotes because comparatively it's huge
Yeah, but it's really solid and heavy which is awesome!
@@ericcollins1561 It's like a typical A/V remote but it's bigger than my Audioengine, Edifier and M-Audio remotes put together
I pre-ordered my pair and plan on using my 10" sealed servo sub with these to avoid some of that punchiness for my preferences. Nicely done review. In my experience with Kanto, you might want to use a servo sub with them to avoid that muddiness sound that the Kanto brings forward because they are so "fast".
Jason Whitehurst - based on this review I may order a pair also - curious which “sealed servo sub” you plan to use with yours?
What’s a servo sub
On the other hand, "muddiness" depends on a lot of things especially placement and room acoustics. Not to mention, albeit to a lesser extent, musical preferences.
I'll take your review with a pinch of salt.
I prefer paprika myself. But you do you.
Sorry Andrew, I was referring to the salt pot on the table of your setup.
Maybe left over from lunchtime.
Anyway, tempted to buy these over the Yu 6's for €200 more than Yu 6 price. Would this be worth the upgrade?
YU6 > TUK
@@andrewrobinsonreviews what. Yu 6 > Tuk? I consider getting tuk or yu 6 myself
I posted a comment on your review of the Klipsch The Fives about how excited I was to get them. Well, I received them and they were broken so I had to return them :(
I was wondering though, before I shell out the money for another pair, how would you compare the Tuks to The Fives? Would you prefer one over the other? I understand that everyone has their own preferences, but I was hoping you could give me some of your insight. I’d be using them for both TV viewing and eventually as desktop speakers for my computer. I generally listen to everything from acoustic to metal to electronic music; I also play video games.
If anybody else wants to chime in, you’re more than welcome!
Thanks in advance to anyone who chooses to respond!
I prefer the Fives.
I tested both the TUKs and the Fives in my home. For television it was a toss up. For music the TUKs were the clear winner for both me and my adult son. Much richer and fuller sound. Both hooked to a sub. Kind of wanted the Fives to win because I loved the looks, but sent them back and am enjoying the TUKs. Had to switch to Tidal Hifi to take full advantage of these speakers.
Also, the TUKs have a sub button on the remote which, when held down for 5 seconds, reverts back to just the speakers without the sub crossover. You cant do that with the Fives because the Fives crossover cant be over ridden. You have to unhook the sub with them. I find this to be a benefit I use a lot with my TUKs.
@@ericcollins1561 I was the same way lol
I wanted SO bad to prefer The Fives. They just look so good! But after trying both pairs of speakers, I agree with you and I love my TUKs
I appreciate the response!
I am considering either the Kanto Tuk's or the Klipsch Five's for my office that is about 14' x 18' and also play vinyl, stream, and connect to my computer. Which speakers would you go with between these 2?
I would go Fives, but that's just me.
I went with the five's - can't wait!
@@andrewrobinsonreviews That's funny after watching your review.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews Really…huh. Would you elaborate? Thanks! Love your channel!
@@andrewffay Dude how are the five's?!
Hey Andrew, I am a big listener of Hip-Hop music, both old school and new. I would love a powered speaker that offers a lot of bass, but also a good amount of clarity as I have begun monitoring video audio and music production. I listen to majority of music off of Spotify Premium and if on UA-cam it’ll be well produced Hip hop/ Trap music. However, I don’t tend to listen to music with a wide range of instruments (though I will probably widen my range of genres with the Tuks) which I know these speakers are great for. Would you recommend these for old and new school Hip hop lovers? Thank you
I think the YU line of speakers from Kanto have slightly better low-end extension and depth, might start there vs. TUK. Also, other products to consider would be Adam Audio, JBL 300 Series (very good option BTW), and if Emotiva's Stealth line or AirMotiv line is also available. YU will be the least expensive option compared to the other options, but all are worth checking out for Hip/Hop listening.
Andrew Robinson Thank you for the recommendations Andrew. I spoke to a few Sales advisers and they too advised the YU line for entry level, however, I have the budget of just under a thousand and wanted to purchase speakers for the long term which suit general use but will work for audio editing and music production. Knowing I have the budget and what I would use the speakers for in time, would you still recommend YUs over the TUKs?
Thanks again
@@MorpheusLoopYMCMB For your purposes and genre of music, yes, I likely would. But you should definitely check out the other options too if you're thinking of making a purchase that is one and done. You owe it to yourself to hear as much as you can so you can make an informed decision.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews Thanks for your advice, I completely agree! I plan on ordering in a few of these speakers or testing in-store before making a final decision. I just felt that listening to the TUKs would allow me to discoverer parts of songs I've been missing, giving a foreign experience?
me listen this video with my kanto tuk they are amazing
Hi @AndrewRobinson . So many nice review of speakers...what kind of music do you listen to?
A little bit of everything really with a heavy rotation of pop, electronica and 90s music.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews thanks !
By the way, Kristi usually provides a list of some of the music and movies we use during a review period. You’ll find this in the “testing” section in the description.
I'm thinking of getting these for my TV. Do you have good vocal clarity. ? That is my top priority.
They have great vocal clarity, I have them connected to my Sony Bravia TV and to my turntable, and the voice clarity is outstanding even at lower volumes, which I can't quite say about the TV's internal speakers.
@@RaineWilder Thank you kindly for your answer.
Kanto Tuk's just landed for guest room 🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯
I'm using the TUKs with a Kanto 8 sub and a Cambridge Audio DACMagic 100. Source is mostly a Macbook Pro via optical to the DM100-mainly iTunes ALAC/AAC and Amazon Music HD. This is not anywhere near my first rodeo with powereds, but it's the best ride to date. I was a bit taken aback at first by the AMT tweeters, but I now fully appreciate them. With a bit of a discount and a price match (post-sale), I paid well under the going price of 900 USD. I already owned the Kanto 8, (and SYD, and Kanto 6), so this was not a difficult call.
Currently I use the Adams T7V studio monitors for my home studio. Would you recommend these for listening to my mix downs? And if anything else has come out since these that I should check out in this price range or lower, let me know. Thanks alot.
I noticed no mention of midrange. Intentional I suspect. Metal drivers are great for bass but inherently lack the 'lightness' of paper cone drivers, which in the midrange conveys nuance and texture. So for some forms of music, such as rock and electronica, metal drivers are great. Much less so for music featuring acoustic instruments. Of course the reverse is true, every driver material has its strengths and weaknesses, so where we place our emphasis will determine overall our preferences. There's also the internal amp, undoubtedly class D whose strengths are bass and clarity. Generally, the weakness of class D is in conveying the music's emotional connection to the artist. Finally, there's the issue with powered speakers of 'putting all your eggs in one basket'. If the speaker's amp fails, say a 2 years after purchase (I've had 3 amps just stop working)... you're looking at being forced to buy a whole new set of powered speakers.
Actually, I'd say the grill dress them down since all the moving parts are covered. Anyway, very straight forward review without a lot of coloration. Since I tend to listen to a lot of classical music, but only have a meager budget, basically soundstage pretty much summed it up for me.
Andrew, thank you for your awesome reviews - very informative and I appreciate your focus on what is best for each person's needs. I've never had the budget to be a true audiophile, but I've always appreciated great speakers when I hear them. I'm looking for a solution that I hope you can help with.
My first pair of "real" speakers were JBL L50s that I found for $10 at a garage sale. I paid $30 each to have them refoamed and proceeded to absolutely LOVE those speakers for almost 20 years.
Eventually life forced me to sell them, and I have missed them ever since.
I'm now on the hunt for powered speakers that will give me a comparable richness and sound quality for home use. I first tried a pair of Klipsch R-15PMs, which I found to be impressive at high volumes, but lacking in clarity and richness at lower volumes, so I sold them. I am strongly considering the Kanto YU6s or TUKs based on your reviews, however I am wondering if you can speak to how they will compare to my JBL L50s. I really miss the full rich sound that I got from them, and I'm just skeptical that anything with a 6" woofer can compare. Even with an accompanying sub, I often find that today's smaller speakers don't seem to give me that rich sound I became used to, though it's been a little while so maybe these will?
I would love to hear your suggestions. Some people have suggested that I try the Yamaha HS8s, or another 8" studio monitor . . . which do you think will be a better fit if I'm looking to scratch my nostalgia for the L50s but in a more streamlined/contained powered speaker?
My budget is hundreds, not thousands, otherwise I'd look into the B&W Formation Duos that you recently reviewed.
Thank you so much!
I'd be more inclined if not go right out and buy if and when they include not just with Dirac for room correction. The Fives have a really nice DSP, however their new improved DSP controls are hinky, sadly. They sound great with just a slightly muddy bass response. All that said, how are their off axis response.
I see that Pretty Lights : Color Map of the Sun LP. You sir are a gentleman and a scholar whom has terrific taste in music. Man, I miss PL, Derek needs to tour again. Ohh yeah, solid review.
How do Monolith by Monoprice MM-5R compare they look the same just half fhe price
They look similar but not the same. TUK has an aluminum driver while the 5R has a more standard polypropylene cone. My guess is you'll get what you pay for...
Void who make outstanding pa audio equipment make a small speaker system called indigo. This can be paired with an indigo sub and apparantly sounds fantastic in a living space. Id love to see you have look at these
Firstly, I very much appreciate your videos. I'm learning a lot.
I've been considering the TUK speakers for many of the reasons you pointed out, but I do listen to a lot of older music, 60s through 80s blues, rock and soul. Does the clarity of these speakers work with music that was recorded once upon a time or is it too unforgiving for those older recording methods?
Hi Andrew, may I ask how much we should toe-in desktop speakers?
Can you control treble and bass without the remote yu6 cannot my remote went out and they became useless. I did find a wire off. However I was unable to order the remote bye itself. I'd hate to spend 1000$ on speakers that sound can only be adjusted bye remote , when they don't sell replacement.
cool, how does it compare to the ELAC's Navis ARB-51?
Too bad I can't find this anywhere in the EU (Belgium).
Pair them with a ESS DAC. See how long you can last.
How do these compared to the Kef LSX? They seem in a similar price point.
Good Review Andrew, what about the quality of the DAC ? and how good is the phono stage ?
Andrew never likes the remote, but that's only because the remote always sucks. What's wrong with companies and remotes?
They need to make an app.
A sound demo clip of 2-3 genres spanning 25s each to accompany your review wd have be great
My reference speakers are ML Motion 40s, so I feel like these will be a great pair for my office.
(What's the Story) Morning Glory?
Thanks for yet another great video. I'd like to get your take on the Elac NAVIS before making a purchasing decision.
I have no direct experience with the NAVIS, sorry.
Any chance we can get a review on the ORA’s?
Let me him tuk 🤩🔊👽🎧
I am trying to decide if I should buy another set of Buchardt S400 or a pair of these to use in a different location. I know these will never be able to compare, but are they good enough?
I looked up the cost and immediately stopped watching and listening.
exactly same boat lmao
The cost is decent because you get EVERY input!
you make the money back in a week of work though