This is the biggest active speaker model under the Kanto YU series, even so, it would not be large enough to deliver satisfactory sub-bass responses. You will need the support of a subwoofer and we will be making a list for you. This list will contain the best matching subwoofers which you can choose to go for and partner up with your Kanto YU6 active speakers.
Before we start, let us learn more about the Kanto YU6 sonic characteristics and strengths.
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Sound Characteristics and Strengths of Kanto YU6
The Kanto YU6 may be the largest model in the series but they only have 5.25″ Kevlar drivers for their mids/bass reproductions. Still, it is quite impressive they have a frequency response of 50Hz to 20kHz. You probably may think that is enough for most music genres, if the bass performance of the YU6 weren’t this lightweight then it would be true. It is not as impactful as expected for active speakers of this size and price, and we were also expecting more meat in the midrange.
The bass performance of the Kanto YU6 still has its merits, it is tight and agile, blending in nicely with the upper registers. It’s just that the powered speakers don’t go deep enough into the bass extension and it feels like something is missing. This is where a subwoofer would help and how deep you need the sub to produce the low frequencies will depend on your preference. If your budget allows and you have the available room space, you should get a powered subwoofer that could reach below 30Hz or down to 20Hz bass extension.
Kanto YU6 has amazing midrange clarity and overall we find them better for music playbacks than other usages such as gaming or home theater use. They have a smooth and slight warmish sonic delivery where it is easy on the ears. The Kanto YU6 has good stereo imaging and separation, providing us with a highly defined and detailed music presentation. The soundstage is spacious enough at a nearfield listening distance. YU6 speakers have high accuracy and don’t sound overly analytical.
More Details of Kanto YU6 at Amazon
It has a well-balanced sound and is not harsh sounding, we find a sealed cabinet subwoofer would be an ideal choice for these active speakers. Since the Kanto YU6 are more musically inclined, the sealed subwoofers would be able to keep pace with them without intruding/overwhelming their sound reproduction. Unless you are using the YU6 speakers for other entertainment usages such as watching movies or TV shows then a ported subwoofer may be an ideal choice for you.
The Kanto YU6 speakers have an elegant design and come with a built-in Class D amplifier which provides a peak power of 200 Watts. This does give ample headroom for music peaks and you can turn them up to high volume levels. Their overall sound reproduction is clean with a hint of warmth and matches well with their minimalistic design. All in all, the Kanto YU6 are good active speakers and worth the asking price but we do find integrating a subwoofer into the mix will make your stereo system sound better. You should have a look at the potential subwoofers which we will be sharing with you now and you can choose to match with your Kanto YU6 active speakers, the price points of these subs have been taken into account.
Kanto YU6 Specifications
- RMS Power Output: 100 Watts
- Drivers: 1″ (25mm) Silk Dome Tweeters, 5.25″ Kevlar Drivers
- Frequency Response: 50Hz-20kHz
- Wireless: Bluetooth 4.0 with Qualcomm aptX
- Audio Inputs: AUX, 2x Optical, Phono
- Audio Outputs: Subwoofer
Best Matching Subwoofers for your Kanto YU6
Sealed cabinet subwoofers would be the ideal type to go with the Kanto YU6 and the SVS SB-1000 Pro is an excellent choice to go for. This is the upgraded version of the SB-1000 and together they have garnered plenty of accolades due to their high sonic performance and modest pricing. The SVS SB-1000 Pro is able to deliver tight and articulate deep bass frequencies down to 20Hz bass extension, way below what the Kanto YU6 could deliver. It can be used as part of the home theater system too.
More Details of SVS SB-1000 Sealed Subwoofer at Amazon
The Rythmik Audio L12 is another amazing sealed cabinet subwoofer that can be used for both music and home theater use. The Direct Servo technology which the L12 is using gives the subwoofer the speed to keep pace with the Kanto YU6 speakers. The taut bass delivery and the articulate performance of the Rythmik Audio L12 will fit in nicely with the clear and rich sound reproduction of the YU6 speakers. It has a Class D amplifier that pumps out 300 Watts of RMS power and is high enough to handle most music peaks.
Kanto SUB8 will be an exceptional choice to match up with the Kanto YU6 speakers for seamless full-range sound reproduction, thanks to their similar sound signatures. The upgraded Kanto SUB8 can now go up to 300 Watts of Peak power and as a sealed cabinet subwoofer, it could provide us with highly accurate bass performance. Like the Kanto YU6 speakers, the SUB8 bass delivery is tight and clean, but it doesn’t dig deep enough like the above-mentioned sealed subwoofers.
More Information on Kanto SUB8 on Amazon
If you prefer ported subwoofer with an affordable price tag then the Klipsch R-12SW will be a terrific choice to go for and partner it up with your Kanto YU6 powered speakers. The R-12SW has received plenty of positive ratings from its users and is capable of delivering clean deep bass frequencies. It uses a 12″ front-firing woofer to add weight and presence to the music delivery without sounding bloated. It has rather high amplifier power for a very modestly priced ported subwoofer, the Klipsch R-12SW could go up to 400W peak.
More Information on Klipsch R-12SW Ported Subwoofer at Amazon
Even though the Klipsch R-12SW is very highly rated but it doesn’t go as deep as the SVS PB-1000 ported subwoofer. With only a 10″ driver and a front-firing bass port, the PB-1000 could dig down to 19Hz bass extension which is deeper than the R-12SW. This entry-level SVS ported subwoofer is an exceptional subwoofer partner for your Kanto YU6 speakers and is ideal for listeners who watch more movies than listen to music. The high bass output and subterranean bass delivery make it a solid sub for an HT system.
More Info on SVS PB-1000 at Amazon
If your listening room has limited space or you simply want a compact subwoofer to be placed under your desktop, you might want to check out Kanto SUB6. This is a very compact subwoofer with just a 6″ bass driver and it could still reach down to 35Hz bass frequencies. Since it is made by the same company as your Kanto YU6, both of them should integrate seamlessly together. The Kanto SUB6 will be more suited for music playbacks as well as for small-sized listening rooms.
More Information on Kanto SUB6 on Amazon
To Sum It Up
Sealed cabinet subwoofers are still good for home theater use even though they have lower bass outputs and SPL than ported subs. So you might want to stick with sealed subs even if you use Kanto YU6 for both music and movie playbacks. Unless you are really into bass then a ported subwoofer will be more suited for your case. You should audition them first before making any decision though as you wouldn’t know which subwoofer you prefer only after you have listened to them.
