Short answer: the Mackie MR524. It ranks #33 of 108 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality (rated 4.0/5) at $379.98 and is still sold new; the Kanto YU6 ranks #41 (rated 3.9/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used. The Kanto YU6’s replacement, the Kanto YU6 G2, is rated 3.9/5 at $549.99.
The case for the Kanto YU6: A powered bookshelf pair with a phono input, optical, Bluetooth and a remote, a simple multi source system. The catch: Local response variation remains despite the mild overall tilt: the midrange span is 3.8dB and listening-window narrow-band deviation is 0.419.
The Mackie MR524 is the more accurate choice. A budget studio monitor with decent bass depth, an even midrange, and balanced and RCA inputs. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 5.11 against 4.28 for the Kanto YU6. Watch for: The measured response trends upward toward the treble by about 0.47dB per octave, which can lend a brighter balance.
Buy the Mackie MR524. It is rated higher for sound quality and still sold new, while the Kanto YU6 is discontinued.
Still deciding? The full Powered Home rankings cover every ranked option.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Kanto YU6 | Mackie MR524 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $380.00 per pair Discontinued | $379.98 per pair |
| Ranked | #41 of 108 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #33 of 108 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Enclosure | 2-way active, MDF cabinet | - |
| Drivers | 1” silk dome tweeter, 5.25” Kevlar woofer | 5-inch polypropylene woofer; 1-inch silk-dome tweeter |
| Dimensions | 6.9W x 8.1D x 10.7H in each | 11.1” x 7.1” x 8.7” (281 x 180 x 221 mm) (H x W x D) |
| Weight | 11.5 lbs (5.2 kg) (active), 8.6 lbs (3.9 kg) (passive) | 10.1 lbs (4.6 kg) |
| Amplifier Power | 200W peak Class D (100W RMS total) | 50W bi-amplified per speaker |
| Inputs | Bluetooth aptX, RCA phono preamp, 2x optical | Balanced XLR, balanced TRS, RCA |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, aptX | - |
| Country | Canada (design) | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.28 | 5.11 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.89 | 7.06 |
| Subwoofer Output | Yes | - |
| Outputs | Subwoofer | - |
| XLR Input | No | Yes |
| RCA Input | Yes | Yes |
| TRS Input | No | Yes |
| Optical Input | Yes | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.0 | - |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 45Hz-20kHz |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 46.2Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | approximately 38Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
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