Article: KANTO TUK vs. AIRPULSE A100

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9 hours ago, mstulken said:

Thanks for attempting this comparison review. I was wondering for a while what the state of the art is for desk top speakers. I have an ifi micro i-dsd so I'm not too concerned about a built in dac. But wondering if there are other desktop alternatives that were not covered? 

There are ! You have plenty of options in almost every price range.
Imho. you can only get through that jungle of options by defining your personal needs.
You may have notice that I have used the iFi DAC as well, and if I'd use this DAC in a desktop system only, I'd personally look for some more pure active monitors like the Audio Energy AE1, or powered speakers from JBL, Klipsch, Ruark, Dali, Dynaudio, Wharfedale, Audio Engine, Yamaha, Kef   ... That's why I narrowed it down to the models under review. 😉
 

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8 hours ago, PeterG said:

Lots of great info here.  But it makes me uncomfortable from a journalistic perspective that this is billed as a comparison when the author had only one set of speakers to hear.  Kind of makes it feel like DT and AS are flipping the bird to Kanto.

 

It makes me even more uncomfortable that there's an extensive hurry up and buy now come on at the end of what purports to be an objective review.

@PeterG Thank you for commenting !
I feel sorry for you that the review makes you feel uncomfortable. However, I am unsure why this happened and what would be the requirements to journalism to make you feel comfortable?

From my journalistic perspective, that review has started with the TUK and I did invest thoroughly in preparing everything for the best possible outcome. I have had communications with KANTO about the situation all over and subsequently about that precise form of comparison I'd do about the TUK for the last 2 month.
- While the review process started with the TUK on offer by Kanto, I looked for a competitor - found it with the A100 - and I put in place a comprehensive research process about both products. In fact, I had arranged the review period of the A100 to be matched with the then newly announced availability of the TUKs for February/March 2020, in order to listen to both side-by-side, when I could have had them in already November last year. Eventually, there had been the point to call it a day and proceed.
- From my pov, I can't see any malcontented information about the TUK in that review, whereby I pushed hard to distill all the favorable details of the product in order to provide a balanced view and accurate product information. As we are in the field of consumer products, there seem to be always some shortcomings open for indication. I couldn't name them for TUK's acoustic performance, thus I pointed them out for the A100.

Your 2nd point had been interesting, too!
It was something I have discussed with the editor in advance, starting early April when I noticed KANTO's April promotion, a week before the review changed hands. To my notice that wasn't an established standard for Audiophile Style, but the C19 reality was striking most of us quite hard at that moment, if I remember correctly. As a reaction to these particular hard times for both, manufacturer and consumer, Chris exceptionally accepted the presence of that information. There had been no financial interest, neither for AS nor for me, in providing it. My personal intention was all about our reader's advantages.

Both manufacturers were having great offers during April, the TUK i.e. were 18 % down at 649$. Unfortunately the production schedule did not allow the review to be published earlier, so both were contacted about that issue in April and asked if their promotion would be continued into May. Hence AIRPULSE decided to continue with their special offer, Kanto didn't react to that request, but thanked me anyway for the review yesterday.
Regards, Tom

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7 hours ago, blaven said:

Thanks so much for the fun read

 

@blaven Wow, I looked at your signature  ... stunning ...
I may have my doubts you'd be happy with what you'll find in the standard desktop class of speakers.

I have heard the ABACUS C3 (5'x6', only available in Europe), which match your space requirement but they would demand a DAC for their analogue only input. I liked them a lot. Going down to 35hz, you may pass on the sw.

Thus, finding some i.e. 6x6 inchactive speakers with all digital inputs and excellent sound seems to be quite a task. Audio-Engine would come to mind. Or Genelec, though they lack the connectivity.
If it's about minimal footprint AMT speakers, the ML's (2i/4i) are imho the best deal, perhaps in connection with a NAD D3045 digital amp?
Cheers, Tom

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3 hours ago, mourip said:

I hope that you will consider having a Part Two where you complete the proposed comparison with Kantos in hand for listening This will allow you to still continue "with the comparison until the end".

Yes, agreed, I may owe you that ;-)

Thank you for showing interest for the test and confidence in me doing it.

I'll check out later with Kanto how are the odds to get some review units this year ... 😇

 

[DuckToller]

16 minutes ago, DuckToller said:

I'll check out later with Kanto how are the odds to get some review units this year

Kanto reacted within minutes and confirmed that possibility ...

[DuckToller]

Hi all, @mourip & @PeterG
I have received the Kanto TUK. Their looks are really nice !
My initial impressions had been ok, punchier, but less clear than the A100. I'll have critical listening scheduled for the end of upcoming week
Today I made a couple of measurements in the nearfield, 80 cm to the mic, 1 m distance between the speaker (midth of tweeter), minimal toe'd in. Full explanation about the testing setup & results will come as an addendum to the original article with more detailed impressions using the critical listening playlist in near and midfield.
Here's a pre-view:

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The A80 arrived ...