Focal’s Kanta No1 greatly impressed me in two ways. First, I liked its looks a lot. It’s beautiful, and its styling and build quality are things you’d be proud to display. Second, in terms of being transparent to the music signal fed it, other than the No1’s inability to reproduce the bottommost octave of the audioband, it’s the most accurate and revealing Focal speaker I’ve reviewed, while retaining a touch of that liveliness the brand is known for.

Its mixture of smoothness, insight and rhythmic dexterity makes it an essential audition for any audiophile looking for an able all-rounder for duty in a bijou listening space.

That is Focal’s latest powerful speaker, the Kanta series. It undoubtedly carries the high hopes of the manufacturer and will become the backbone of the product line. It allows us to see fashion and hear brilliance!

The Kanta No2 continues to emphasise my belief that this model range is the sweet spot in the Focal family.

The Kanta No2 continues to emphasise my belief that this model range is the sweet spot in the Focal family.

Focal has the facilities to create and manufacture all of its own drivers and it builds all of its cabinets as well. With that size and success has not come complacency. The company continues to strive and innovate, and the new Kanta N°2 as the progenitor of a new line proves. If you cannot afford or accommodate the flagship Utopia’s, if the Sopra’s are a touch too far, you can now rest easy. The Kanta N°2’s will provide.

The defining characteristic of the Focal Kanta No. 2 was largely its dynamic punch. This speaker slams hard and fast. On my first listen I almost interpreted this as a slight v-shape in the frequency response, but on further auditioning this wasn’t the case. It was merely the speed and dynamic capability of the speaker revealing itself.

It’s clear you’re paying for the design as much as the sound, but these did more to quell my ‘upgraditis’ than any other speaker I’ve tested to date. With great sound and looks, the Kanta No 3 isn’t just as a temporary diversion until the Next Big Thing. Like a grand piano, it’s both functional and beautiful – the type of investment you could cherish for decades to come.

If you’ve read this far, you know I’m a big Focal fan, and the new Kanta exceeds all expectation. They combine sound and build quality with fantastic dealer service and support, world wide. If you’ve enjoyed the sound of the bigger Focal speakers, but desire these sonic attributes in a slightly smaller package, the Kanta is for you.

Focal’s Kanta N°1 is without doubt a fine standmount loudspeaker.

While the Kantas are not Sopras or Utopias, Focal has finessed the challenge of providing a significant slice of the performance of their top speakers at a more accessible cost. If you have a loudspeaker budget of $10k—and the right amplifier—the Kanta N°2 ought to be on your list of products to hear.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Focal is one of the most technically advanced speaker makers in the world, and the Kanta No.2 has benefited from that expertise, with drive-units designed and made in-house and the applications of other proprietary technologies.

If you own any of the Kanta speakers, even the largest Kanta No. 3's, the Kanta Center makes a seamless sonic match that will not compromise itself when faced with dynamic scenes at high volume.

Focal Kanta No. 3 will definitely make your ears stand out from your head, and the vibrations from the bass region will massage you while your senses are lubricated by the most delicious nuances.