At CES 2024 earlier this year, Canadian speaker manufacturer Kanto Audio teased an upcoming active speaker with HDMI ARC. It was yet to be named at the time, but we know now that the speaker is called REN.
It’s a high-performance 100W active speaker with, as mentioned, HDMI ARC alongside Bluetooth 5.3, USB-C, optical inputs supporting 24-bit/96kHz, remote control, analogue RCA line-in, and a dedicated sub-out.
This speaker marks the first time Kanto Audio has integrated an HDMI ARC connection into one of its products, allowing for high-quality connection to a TV, controlled via the included IR remote. You can continue, however, to connect to sources wirelessly over Bluetooth 5.3 as well, or use the USB-C or optical inputs. With the USB-C connector, you can plug the speaker into devices like a PC or Mac, digital audio player, or even iPhone 15 and various Android mobile devices.
With the RCA line-in and 3.5mm mini jack, meanwhile, you can also connect to traditional analogue audio sources like record players with a built-in phono stage or even that old tape deck or boombox you have lying around. The dedicated sub-out, meanwhile, has a select crossover so you can easily integrate the speaker with a powered subwoofer; ideally a model like Kanto’s own SUB8.
The powerful active speaker is ideal for listening to all types of content, including music, movies, video games, and more. Kanto Audio promises “clear highs, detailed midrange, and impressively powerful bass” with the REN speakers.
Available in six colours (Black, White, Cream, Green, Brown, and Orange), the Kanto Audio REN speaker will be available starting in July for $799 in Canada.
We were given an early look at the Kanto Audio REN speakers, along with the new ORA4 speakers, at a private suite during CES 2024. At the time, the REN hadn’t yet been finalized nor named. But you can get a glimpse of an early iteration of this speaker and others in this video walk-through with Kanto Audio’s Brett Smalley.