Canton returns to the Greek market and the first taste we get is the largest base speaker of the new Townus series. The result is worthy of the international reputation of the German manufacturer and whets our appetite for even more “big” tests.
This return is completely welcome as it concerns the return of Canton speakers to the Greek market. Although perhaps not so well known in our area, the German manufacturer is now in its fifth decade of life, starting in 1972. It all started in Weilrod, a small municipality in the state of Hesse, by four Hi-Fi funs that aimed to make “the best speakers for every taste and every budget” according to the company. Canton was one of the first companies that launch the 2.1 concept back in 1979 with a system consisting of two satellites and a subwoofer. Also, one of the first with THX certification in surround system in 1998, use of ceramic tweeters in 2009 and combination of ceramic materials with tungsten for low and medium frequency cones in 2014. It seems that the Germans do not stand still introducing the new series “Townus” ”Which replaces the “Chrono” and consists of all types of speakers (floor, base, central, subwoofer, wall/ceiling and Atmos) to meet the needs of music and home cinema lovers. In our hands we have the Townus 30 which are the largest base speakers of the series, and we convey our impressions to you.
New kid in town …
Canton’s new little ones, like the whole series, borrow the name “Townus” from the Taunus mountain-range in the state of Hesse and the English word “town” which means city. The combination is by no means accidental as the company was inspired by the roots of its creators in the quiet, rural area of Taunus but at the same time wants to emphasize the urban lifestyle and the “wants” of today’s residents of the largest urban centers. How does he achieve this on a practical level? The whole series follows the modern and elegant design that today’s “Homo Urbanus” is looking for, offering at the same time high quality materials and a sound identity that many would also characterize as modern (more on that in a moment).
The cabin of the Townus 30 comes in 3 colors (matt white lacquer, glossy black lacquer, walnut) with beautiful, rounded edges, dimensions 210x360x280 and weight 8.1 kg. After the magnetic covers are removed, the waffle with a 6.8-inch diameter titanium cone stands out in the buffalo. This material offers a good mass/stiffness ratio and is surrounded by an aluminum ring that adds to the appearance of the speaker, if used without protectors. The same ring is used by the tweeter, which is based on an inch dome of ceramic material, protected by a metal grid and complemented by a waveguide that -according to the company- ensures ideal dispersion up to 40 kHz.
The two-way implementation is based on a filter with a cross frequency at 3000 Hz with the overall response ranging from 38 Hz, low, up to 40 kHz, a performance that is, of course, enviable. The woofer is charged with a bass reflex with the expansion taking place through the hole in the back, where we find the pair of terminals for connection to the amplifier. The terminals are of good quality, which goes hand in hand with the whole speaker, which is neat and -really- combines a modern aesthetic with elements of substance such as the reduction of the diffractions caused by the curved edges of the cabin.
Modern in appearance and sound!
The speaker sounded well balanced and what we got was modern sound, sleek look and functionality that does not require exaggeration in space and cost. Although Canton does not officially mention anything about Townus sensitivity and its reference to their resistance is quite general (4-8Ω) it turned out that the 75W per channel of the N25AMP (Cocktail combo that we also had for testing) was enough to drive the speakers satisfactorily without any audible compression signal to the desired high levels. Certainly, the small Canton will not complain about larger amplifiers especially if they are asked to cover areas larger than 25 square meters for which they are probably intended.
Their placement in the space proved to be relatively easy following some classic principles such as their placement on a base and at about half a meter from the walls, especially due to the bass reflexes at the back. In any case, we would say that -because of their character- the Townus 30 are very flexible speakers in this regard, as their low was quite clean and fast without exaggeration or bloating. So, perhaps those who want to emphasize the low area should try to bring the speakers a little closer to the wall. In any case, the result was quite impressive when the recording required it, with good volume, always taking into account the size of the speaker.
The medium frequencies appeared extremely clear, tonally neutral to the slightly dry without tendencies … of romance. The path followed is that of balance and high fidelity whenever pleasant, “warm” colors like those in the mid-low area are absent. On the contrary, the Townus 30 will probably let the accompaniments and the material influence the result more, something that can be seen in the upper part of the spectrum, which is rendered with a good sense of energy, highlighting the details, the air and the … problems of some recordings. Their positive elements, however, such as the clear spatial distances of the instruments will be sufficiently articulated with the ability of the speakers to disappear in space and present a scene with large dimensions, inside the listening space. We can safely say that Canton speakers will respond worthily to a variety of music genres and highly modern ones that require speed and intense dynamics.
In conclusion, if the Townus 30 is a first sample, then Canton’s return to the Greek market is considered dynamic. With their elegant appearance, their reasonable requirements in amplification and space with their relatively neutral and dynamic sound, we found a package that left us with positive impressions. This is a remarkable proposal that deserves your attention.
Overview
Description: Shelf / stand speaker
Ways / Loudspeakers: 2/2
Loudspeakers: 1x inch ceramic dome tweeter, 1x 6.8-inch titanium cone woofer
Cross frequency: 3kHz
Charging: Bass reflex (rear)
Rated resistance: 4 … 8Ω
Frequency response: 38Hz-40kHz
Recommended amplifiers: 90-140W
Other possibilities: Protectors with magnetic support.
Dimensions: 210x360x280 (mm, wxhxd)
Weight: 8.1kg
Price: € 1,089 (pair)
info: Anquan AV, tel .: 210-613.3441, https://www.anquan-av.com/
