Short answer: the HiVi Swan X3. It ranks #10 of 48 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality (rated 3.9/5) at $179 and is still sold new; the Kanto YU4 ranks #23 (rated 3.3/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used. The Kanto YU4’s replacement, the Kanto YU4 G2, is rated 3.6/5 at $449.99.
The HiVi Swan X3 is the more accurate choice. An affordable small coaxial desktop pair with fairly balanced sound for the money. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 4.04 against 2.89 for the Kanto YU4. The tradeoff: Not a flat reference monitor: the response spans 5.0dB from 300Hz to 5kHz and trends upward toward the treble.
What the Kanto YU4 does well: A compact powered pair with phono, optical and Bluetooth inputs, a remote and a subwoofer output. It keeps a wired aux input, which the HiVi Swan X3 lacks. The tradeoff: Standalone preference is only 2.89, with a -3dB point around 86Hz and a 4.2dB midrange response span.
Buy the HiVi Swan X3. It is rated higher for sound quality and still sold new, while the Kanto YU4 is discontinued.
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Specifications Side By Side
| HiVi Swan X3 | Kanto YU4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $179.00 per pair | $479.99 per pair Discontinued |
| Ranked | #10 of 48 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #23 of 48 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Enclosure | Active coaxial, rear-ported | Powered 2-way, rear-ported |
| Drivers | 3-inch coaxial woofer and tweeter | 1” silk-dome tweeter, 4” Kevlar woofer |
| Bass Extension (-6dB) | 71Hz (measured, Spinorama) | - |
| Inputs | RCA | Bluetooth, optical, RCA/phono, 3.5mm |
| Configuration | Powered desktop monitor | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.04 | 2.89 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.03 | 5.83 |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| RCA Input | Yes | Yes |
| TRS Input | No | No |
| Optical Input | No | Yes |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Amplifier Power | 28W RMS Per Speaker | 70W RMS / 140W peak per pair |
| Bluetooth | No | Yes |
| Dimensions | 5” x 4.8” x 7.1” (128 x 123 x 181 mm) (W x D x H) | 8.7H x 5.5W x 7.5D in |
| Frequency Response | 75Hz - 20kHz (±2.5dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 60Hz-20kHz |
| Weight | 3.5 lbs (1.6 kg) each | 6.8 lbs (3.1 kg) powered / 5.5 lbs (2.5 kg) passive |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC, aptX |
| Outputs | - | Subwoofer |
| Subwoofer Output | - | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 4.0 |
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