Short answer: the Dynaudio LYD 5 on measured sound quality, the Kanto YU on price. The Dynaudio LYD 5 ranks #6 of 65 powered bookshelf speakers at $1000. The Kanto YU ranks #39 at $349.99, $650.01 cheaper.
What the Kanto YU offers: RCA and Bluetooth inputs, remote control, tone adjustment and a subwoofer output make this compact pair simple to use. ASR’s measurements show a 2.9dB midrange span and a 5.51 preference score with an ideal subwoofer, supporting moderate desktop use with bass assistance. Watch for: Standalone preference is 2.59 and the -3dB point is about 85Hz, so it lacks low-bass weight. The response trends upward toward the treble and retains local irregularities across the listening window. A subwoofer adds bandwidth but does not make the speaker neutral. Connectivity is basic compared with models offering USB, optical or HDMI.
What the Dynaudio LYD 5 offers: ASR’s Klippel data is substantially stronger than a low ranking suggests: 4.72 standalone and 7.38 with an ideal subwoofer, with a 1.9dB span from 300Hz to 5kHz. Low listening-window narrow-band deviation of 0.242 supports relatively uncolored midrange reproduction. It is particularly competitive when used with a subwoofer rather than judged only by bass reach. Watch for: Bass reaches -3dB around 72Hz, so it gives up low-frequency weight to deeper-reaching monitors. The existing review identifies a dip near 1.6kHz, upper-bass emphasis and uneven crossover-region dispersion. These issues and limited deep-bass capability keep it below the leading all-rounders despite its strong bass-normalized score. A subwoofer does not correct upper-frequency directivity errors.
Buy the Kanto YU if the price matters more than sound quality. Buy the Dynaudio LYD 5 if sound quality matters more than the price.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Kanto YU | Dynaudio LYD 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $349.99 per pair | $1000 per pair |
| Ranked | #39 of 65 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #6 of 65 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Enclosure | 2-way powered, rear-ported MDF | - |
| Drivers | 1" silk-dome tweeter, 4" Kevlar woofer | 5" woofer, 28mm soft dome tweeter |
| Dimensions | 8.7H x 5.5W x 7.5D in | 10.2"H x 6.7"W x 8.3"D (260 x 170 x 211 mm) |
| Weight | 6.2 lbs (2.8 kg) active, 5.3 lbs (2.4 kg) passive | 11.9 lbs (5.4 kg) each |
| Amplifier Power | 70W RMS / 140W peak per pair | 100W total (50W LF, 50W HF) |
| Inputs | RCA and Bluetooth 4.2 aptX | - |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, aptX | - |
| Country | Canada (design) | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 2.59 | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.51 | - |
| Subwoofer Output | Yes | - |
| Outputs | Subwoofer | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 68Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 50Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Frequency Response | - | 50Hz - 21kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| App | - | No |
| EQ | - | No |
| DSP | - | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Dynaudio LYD 5 compares with other leading options:
- Dynaudio LYD 5 vs Genelec 8331A
- Neumann KH120 MKII vs Dynaudio LYD 5
- Genelec 8030C vs Dynaudio LYD 5
- Neumann KH80 DSP vs Dynaudio LYD 5
- Dynaudio LYD 5 vs Genelec 8330A
Prices on this page were last checked September 16, 2026 at 12:41 AM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Kanto YU: $349.99 per pair Kanto Audio eBay
Pros: RCA and Bluetooth inputs, remote control, tone adjustment and a subwoofer output make this compact pair simple to use. ASR’s measurements show a 2.9dB midrange span and a 5.51 preference score with an ideal subwoofer, supporting moderate desktop use with bass assistance.
Cons: Standalone preference is 2.59 and the -3dB point is about 85Hz, so it lacks low-bass weight. The response trends upward toward the treble and retains local irregularities across the listening window. A subwoofer adds bandwidth but does not make the speaker neutral. Connectivity is basic compared with models offering USB, optical or HDMI.
Full Kanto YU review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 70W RMS / 140W peak per pair |
|---|---|
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, aptX |
| Country | Canada (design) |
| Dimensions | 8.7H x 5.5W x 7.5D in |
| Drivers | 1" silk-dome tweeter, 4" Kevlar woofer |
| Enclosure | 2-way powered, rear-ported MDF |
| Inputs | RCA and Bluetooth 4.2 aptX |
| Outputs | Subwoofer |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 2.59 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.51 |
| Subwoofer Output | Yes |
| Weight | 6.2 lbs (2.8 kg) active, 5.3 lbs (2.4 kg) passive |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Dynaudio LYD 5: $1000 per pair B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: ASR’s Klippel data is substantially stronger than a low ranking suggests: 4.72 standalone and 7.38 with an ideal subwoofer, with a 1.9dB span from 300Hz to 5kHz. Low listening-window narrow-band deviation of 0.242 supports relatively uncolored midrange reproduction. It is particularly competitive when used with a subwoofer rather than judged only by bass reach. Measured bass extension of 68Hz (-3dB).
Cons: Bass reaches -3dB around 72Hz, so it gives up low-frequency weight to deeper-reaching monitors. The existing review identifies a dip near 1.6kHz, upper-bass emphasis and uneven crossover-region dispersion. These issues and limited deep-bass capability keep it below the leading all-rounders despite its strong bass-normalized score. A subwoofer does not correct upper-frequency directivity errors.
Full Dynaudio LYD 5 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 100W total (50W LF, 50W HF) |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 50Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 68Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| DSP | No |
| Dimensions | 10.2"H x 6.7"W x 8.3"D (260 x 170 x 211 mm) |
| Drivers | 5" woofer, 28mm soft dome tweeter |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 21kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 11.9 lbs (5.4 kg) each |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons