Kanto ORA 100W Powered Reference Desktop Computer Speakers with Bluetooth 5.0 and USB-C Input | Bi-Amplified | 100 Hz Automatic Crossover | Reference Quality Sound | Pair | Black

The Kanto ORA is a really good pair of desktop speakers. They have a pretty flat and laid-back sound. The bass with the unit itself sounds good, but it still doesn't produce much sub-bass (as expected of a speaker this size). If you don’t listen to a lot of bass-centered tracks, then you would not necessarily need a subwoofer with this. Connecting a subwoofer (I used a Kanto Sub8) activates the crossover (at 100Hz), allowing the ORA to focus its power on the mids and highs, producing a well-rounded, full-range sound. I bought this to replace my KEF Q100 + Pioneer SW-8MK2 + SMSL AD18 DAC/AMP setup, which was taking up a lot of space on my desk. Using a passive speaker also meant adding an amplifier and all the additional wires required, making the desk a mess. The ORAs are tiny in comparison and are powered, simplifying the setup considerably. One huge quality-of-life improvement for me with the ORA is that I can change its volume at the OS level (via keyboard) like an analog connection, even when connected via USB. I do this hundreds of times a day and don’t have to take my hands off the keyboard now. It is still a little confusing as the speaker volume (controlled via knob) and system volume are independent, and I am not sure how it’s affecting the subwoofer volume (it was at 50% with the SMSL, but I had to reduce it to 25% with the ORA). It took me a day or two of tinkering to get the volumes at a balanced state. @Kanto, if you are reading this, I hope you can share a guide on how to balance system, speaker, and subwoofer volumes, especially within the Kanto ecosystem. After dialing in the ORA and the Sub8, I compared it to the larger KEF system, and it was a tough one. The KEF, thanks to its coaxial drivers, sounded more magical than the Kanto. The imaging on certain tracks is out of this world, but on the flip side, they do sound thin and fatiguing with other songs (even though they are not bright speakers). The Kanto, on the other hand, sounded more laid back and neutral, which makes it a bit boring but more consistent across the range of songs I tried. At the end of the day, I prefer and am keeping the kanto setup for the desk, due to its size, laid-back neutral sound, simplicity, and other convenience features. The ORA feels well-tuned and optimized for the desk. If you want a speaker that you would like to move from the desk to the living room when needed, there are many other excellent (but larger) speakers at this price point that might serve you better. If this was priced around $249, it would have been a no-brainer recommendation.

I tried out various computer sound options with my new setup and was really skeptical that the Kanto Oras would sound any good considering their size... but I'm blown away by how great they sound! First impressions: these speakers are smaller and lighter than expected. The case might be made out of a plastic material - build quality looked fine. I did not have high hopes. I plugged them into my computer and started playing some music, and wow - I love the sound. The audio is crisp with a satisfying amount of bass - more than enough for home office/computer use. The audio is very clear and pleasant - much better than a previous set of Edifier 12800DBs, which were very muddled and bland. The trebles are similar to a set of Logitech Pebbles but with a much fuller lower end. The speakers sound good at mid-volumes - but even at this volume, it should be more than enough to fill a room 15 x 20. The second speaker is wired with a proprietary cable that is a bit hard to find. I would have much preferred if the speaker used standard speaker wires, which would allow me to make my own custom length cables. The secondary speaker cable is also a bit thick and stiff. If you need a longer cable, Kanto will actually recommend you purchase the 4-pin mini cable from Edifier - AliExpress also has these cables for cheaper too. The volume control is a digital knob, but I think it does remember the volume upon start-up. There are no markings on the knob, so it's hard to tell what volume level it's set to. Overall, very happy - finally found a small set of computer speakers that are powerful enough yet provide a nice balance in sound.

Para ser unas bocinas de escritorio quedé impresionado por su rendimiento. A pesar de su tamaño compacto, estas bocinas ofrecen una calidad de sonido excepcional que supera todas las expectativas. Lo más destacado es su capacidad para producir un sonido claro y robusto, una proeza notable para bocinas de su tamaño. Uno de los aspectos más impresionantes de las Kanto ORA es su respuesta en graves (consideremos el tamaño de sus driver, obviamente). Para bocinas tan pequeñas, es sorprendente cómo manejan las frecuencias bajas sin comprometer la claridad y el detalle. Este equilibrio en el rendimiento de graves es algo que rara vez se ve en bocinas de este calibre. En comparación con sus predecesoras, las YU2, las Kanto ORA representan una evolución significativa. Se nota una mejora palpable en términos de calidad de sonido y rendimiento general. La compañía ha logrado hacer ajustes y mejoras que realmente elevan la experiencia auditiva a un nivel superior. Otro punto a destacar es la excelente separación instrumental y la representación de la escena sonora. Las ORA tienen una manera impresionante de dispersar el sonido, creando una experiencia inmersiva que te hace sentir como si estuvieras en medio de una actuación en vivo. Ya sea para escuchar música, ver películas o jugar videojuegos, estas bocinas crean una atmósfera sonora rica y envolvente. Para aquellos que buscan lo mejor, conectar las Kanto ORA a un subwoofer es una recomendación que no puedo dejar de hacer. Esta combinación mejora aún más la experiencia, amplificando la profundidad y la riqueza de los graves, y llevando la calidad de sonido a un nivel excepcional. En términos generales, las recomiendo muchísimo. Quizá el precio… esté algo elevado.

Have had these for 3 months now. Daily use in addition to the Kanto sub that they recommend for these speakers. They sound just as great as when I first bought them. The sub is awesome. The speakers have good bass without the sub. I love a litter floor vibration and more impact so the sub was a great purchase for me. I use these speakers for gaming, music, and content consumption. The bluetooth, usb-c connection, and general features have all worked without any hitches. Quite happy with them and hoping the quality thus far lasts for years to come.

Sorprendido por la calidad de audio de unos altavoces tan pequeños. Al principio pensé que les faltaría ese "punch" (ya que te venden el subwoofer por separado) pero de verdad que no se extraña ya que hacen un excelente trabajo manejando los graves. Lo único malo es el precio, la verdad son carísimas... Y aún así no me arrepiento de comprarlas, estoy más que feliz con ellas.