KANTO ORA | DESKTOP SPEAKERS

ORA is our long-awaited next-generation desktop speaker developed with a single goal in mind – deliver reference-quality sound in a tiny package. ORA straddles the line between a computer speaker and a studio monitor and has all the modern features you’ve come to expect from Kanto. This blog post serves as a technical deep-dive into our latest speaker highlighting the design goals we had in mind for creators, gamers, musicians, and audio enthusiasts.

Instead of a traditional amplifier design which splits the signal between the left and right channels, ORA is bi-amplified. This design splits the 50 W RMS class-D amplifier into four separate channels, sending 9 W to each tweeter and 16 W to each woofer.

A traditional crossover splits the high frequencies going to the tweeter and low frequencies going to the woofer with analog electrical components. ORA has full DSP (digital signal processing) on board to create its crossover points digitally. This allows us to control the frequency range being sent to each driver with more precision than a passive design.

DSP control also extends to the sub-out port which automatically filters out any frequencies below 100 Hz with a steep 24 dB/octave slope when a sub is connected. A complimentary high-pass filter frees up ORA’s 3” woofers to focus on midrange which reduces distortion and allows ORA to play louder and handle loud transients with greater precision.

An RCA input is included for use with older gaming consoles or analog gear like turntables or cassette players. A USB-C input lets you bypass the generally poor sounding onboard audio on PC or Mac for a solid connection that supports up to 16 bit/48 kHz. Finally, Bluetooth® 5.0 lets you connect an iPhone, Android, or smart home device to round out the comprehensive input section.

The LED on the front switches between Green for RCA, Yellow for USB, and Blue for Bluetooth® based on whichever input you’ve selected. The knob on the front of the speaker switches between inputs when pressed inward, adjusts volume when twisted, turns the speaker off with a long press, and powers then back on again when pressed. At the rear of the speaker, you will find a ¼”-20 hole to mount ORA to a wall or compatible speaker stand.

ORA is the embodiment of our quest for reference-grade sound in a small package. As our first active speaker, it uses modern tech like bi-amplification and DSP tuning to deliver almost unbelievable sound and shockingly deep bass. With the ability to give studio monitors a run for their money, ORA lets creators and musicians focus on their craft even if it’s on-the-go. With plenty of connectivity options and magnetically shielded drivers, ORA feels just as at home paired with a battlestation as it does with a console from the golden age of gaming. Audio enthusiasts will be impressed with ORA’s capabilities especially when a sub is added and the crossover network kicks in. We hope you love ORA as much as we loved designing them!