Kanto TUK Powered Speaker with Bluetooth at Vinyl Sound Toronto Canada

The Kanto TUK is a premium powered bookshelf speaker system from Kanto Audio (Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada), available at Vinyl Sound in Toronto, Canada. Named after Tuktoyaktuk, a hamlet on the shores of Canada's Arctic Ocean famous for its Aurora Borealis displays, the TUK is Kanto's flagship speaker and a complete hi-fi system in a single pair of compact cabinets. It pairs high-performance AMT (Air Motion Transformer) tweeters with 5.25-inch aluminum cone woofers tuned by onboard DSP, and combines a dedicated phono preamp, RCA line input, Optical TOSLINK input, USB DAC with headphone amplifier, and Bluetooth 4.2 with aptX HD and AAC into one elegantly designed package. The active speaker houses a 130-watt Class D amplifier delivering 65 watts per channel, with an active 80Hz crossover that engages when a subwoofer is connected. Winner of the T3 Award for Bluetooth Speaker of the Year 2020 and Audiophile Apartment Product of the Year, the TUK is designed and engineered in Canada.

AMT Tweeters and Aluminum Woofers: A Driver Combination Above Its Class

The TUK's AMT tweeter is the technology choice that most clearly sets it apart from competing powered speakers. Air Motion Transformer technology, originally developed by Dr. Oskar Heil in the early 1970s, uses a pleated film diaphragm with conductive metal traces, giving the driver a surface area comparable to a much larger dynamic driver despite its compact footprint. The pleated diaphragm moves its air mass horizontally through opposing pairs of pleats, producing high-frequency sound through a squeezing motion rather than pistonic excursion. The result is a tweeter with extremely low mass, rapid acceleration and deceleration characteristics approaching those of an electrostatic driver, and very low distortion at high frequencies. Kanto implemented and tuned the AMT in the TUK with particular attention to horizontal dispersion, allowing the speakers to deliver consistent off-axis performance across a wide listening area. Beneath the AMT, the 5.25-inch aluminum cone woofer provides the high rigidity and low mass needed to play loudly with low distortion from a compact sealed-and-ported enclosure, and the onboard DSP is applied to optimize the handoff between the two drivers for a seamless, coherent frequency response across the full range.

A Complete System: Every Input You Need in One Pair of Speakers

The TUK eliminates the need for a separate amplifier, DAC, phono preamplifier, or Bluetooth receiver by integrating all of these into the active speaker cabinet. A dedicated moving-magnet phono input with a built-in phono preamp allows any turntable with an MM cartridge to be plugged in directly, alongside a separate line-level RCA input for CD players, streaming devices, or any analog source. An Optical TOSLINK input connects directly to a television for home theatre use, and a USB input provides a direct digital audio connection from a computer, bypassing the computer's onboard soundcard entirely via the TUK's built-in USB DAC. Bluetooth 4.2 with aptX HD supports 24-bit audio streaming at better-than-CD quality, with AAC also supported for improved compatibility with Apple devices. A 3.5mm headphone output with built-in headphone amplifier is integrated into the active speaker's front baffle. A subwoofer RCA output, combined with the DSP-controlled 80Hz active crossover, allows a subwoofer to be added and seamlessly integrated. The included remote provides source switching, volume control, bass and treble EQ adjustment, and a left-right channel swap function that allows the active speaker to be placed on either side without disrupting stereo imaging.

Key Features

• AMT Tweeter: High-performance Air Motion Transformer tweeter with a pleated film diaphragm, delivering exceptional speed, low distortion, and an expansive soundstage with good horizontal dispersion for wide off-axis listening.
• 5.25-Inch Aluminum Woofer: High-rigidity, low-mass aluminum cone driver optimized for extended bass output and low distortion at high output levels from a compact cabinet.
• 130-Watt Class D Amplifier: The active speaker houses a 65-watt-per-channel Class D stereo amplifier with ample headroom for realistic playback levels in any room.
• Onboard DSP: Integrated digital signal processing optimizes driver integration and frequency response, and controls the 80Hz active crossover when a subwoofer is connected.
• Dedicated Phono Input with Built-In Preamp: A separate moving-magnet phono input with integrated phono preamplifier allows direct connection of any MM turntable without an external phono stage.
• Separate Line-Level RCA Input: A dedicated RCA input for analog sources operates independently of the phono input, allowing both to remain connected simultaneously without switching.
• Optical TOSLINK Input: Digital optical connection for television, CD transport, or any digital source with an optical output, enabling high-fidelity home theatre use.
• USB DAC: A built-in USB DAC allows a direct digital audio connection from a computer, bypassing the computer's onboard audio hardware for a cleaner, interference-free signal.
• Built-In Headphone Amplifier: A 3.5mm headphone output with dedicated headphone amplifier is integrated into the active speaker's front baffle for private listening.
• Bluetooth 4.2 with aptX HD and AAC: Wireless streaming at up to 24-bit resolution via aptX HD, with AAC support for Apple devices, enabling high-quality wireless playback from any compatible smartphone or tablet.
• Active 80Hz Subwoofer Crossover: DSP-controlled crossover filters bass below 80Hz to the subwoofer output when a sub is connected, allowing the TUK to focus on midrange and treble for improved resolution at higher volumes.
• Left-Right Channel Swap: A remote-accessible channel swap function allows the active speaker to be placed on the right side without losing correct stereo imaging, solving a common placement challenge caused by power outlet location.
• Full-Function Remote Control: Included remote provides source switching, volume, bass and treble EQ, subwoofer toggle, and Bluetooth playback control.
• T3 Award, Bluetooth Speaker of the Year 2020: Named Bluetooth Speaker of the Year at the T3 Awards 2020.
• Audiophile Apartment Product of the Year: Awarded Product of the Year by Audiophile Apartment.
• Designed in Canada: Kanto Audio is founded and based in Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada, and all products are designed by the Canadian team.

Technical Specifications

Awards and Critical Recognition

• T3 Award, Bluetooth Speaker of the Year, 2020
• Audiophile Apartment Product of the Year

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Kanto TUK?

The Kanto TUK is a premium powered bookshelf speaker system designed and engineered by Kanto Audio in Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada. It is Kanto's flagship speaker and combines an AMT tweeter and 5.25-inch aluminum woofer per cabinet with a 130-watt Class D amplifier, onboard DSP, built-in MM phono preamp, USB DAC, headphone amplifier, Optical TOSLINK input, RCA line input, and Bluetooth 4.2 with aptX HD and AAC. The TUK is a complete hi-fi system in a pair of compact bookshelf-sized cabinets, available at Vinyl Sound in Toronto, Canada.

How does the Kanto TUK compare to the Audioengine HD6 or the KEF LSX II?

The Kanto TUK, the Audioengine HD6, and the KEF LSX II are all premium powered bookshelf systems aimed at listeners who want a complete, amplifier-free setup. The TUK is the only one of the three to use an AMT tweeter, which provides a meaningfully different high-frequency character compared to the conventional dome tweeters in the HD6 and the KEF Uni-Q coaxial driver in the LSX II. The TUK also uniquely offers both a dedicated phono input with built-in preamp and a separate RCA line input simultaneously, while the LSX II adds Wi-Fi and Apple AirPlay connectivity that the TUK does not have. For listeners who prioritize turntable connectivity, headphone output, and USB DAC in a single system, the TUK offers a more complete wired integration than either competitor.

Can I connect a turntable to the Kanto TUK without an external phono preamp?

Yes. The TUK includes a built-in moving-magnet phono preamplifier accessible through its dedicated phono input on the rear of the active speaker. Any turntable with a moving-magnet or high-output moving-coil cartridge can be connected directly without any additional equipment. A separate RCA line-level input is also available simultaneously, so a phono source and a line-level source such as a CD player or streaming device can both remain connected at the same time and be switched between using the front-panel knob or the included remote.

What is an AMT tweeter and why does Kanto use one in the TUK?

An AMT, or Air Motion Transformer, is a tweeter technology originally developed by Dr. Oskar Heil in the early 1970s. Instead of a conventional dome that moves in and out, an AMT uses a pleated conductive film diaphragm whose pleats compress and expand, squeezing air through the gaps at high velocity with very little diaphragm movement. This gives the AMT driver a very large effective radiating surface area in a small physical footprint, combined with extremely low moving mass and rapid transient response. Kanto chose AMT tweeters for the TUK specifically for their low distortion, wide soundstage presentation, and ability to handle the upper frequency range with greater speed and clarity than a conventional dome tweeter of similar size and cost.

Can I use the Kanto TUK with a subwoofer?

Yes. The TUK includes a dedicated RCA subwoofer output and an onboard DSP-controlled 80Hz active crossover. When a subwoofer is connected and the sub crossover is activated via the remote, the TUK's DSP filters out frequencies below 80Hz and routes them to the subwoofer output, allowing the TUK's woofers to focus on the midrange and upper bass for improved clarity and lower distortion at higher volumes. Kanto recommends pairing the TUK with the Kanto sub6 or sub8, though any subwoofer with an RCA line input is compatible.

Where can I buy the Kanto TUK in Toronto or Canada?

Vinyl Sound in Toronto, Ontario carries the Kanto TUK powered speaker system. Vinyl Sound Canada offers in-store demonstrations and full support for the TUK alongside the broader Kanto Audio product range. Contact Vinyl Sound Toronto to check current availability in Black or White finishes.

Does the Kanto TUK have a headphone output?

Yes. The TUK includes a 3.5mm headphone output with a built-in headphone amplifier integrated into the front baffle of the active speaker. Plugging in headphones mutes the speaker outputs, allowing for private listening from any of the TUK's connected inputs including phono, RCA, Optical TOSLINK, USB, and Bluetooth.

What does the aptX HD codec mean for Bluetooth streaming quality?

aptX HD is a Bluetooth audio codec that supports streaming at up to 24-bit resolution, which exceeds standard CD quality. When the TUK is paired with a Bluetooth source device that also supports aptX HD, such as many current Android smartphones, the audio signal is transmitted at higher bit depth than the standard aptX or SBC codecs, preserving more dynamic range and reducing compression artifacts compared to standard Bluetooth audio. AAC is also supported for improved compatibility and audio quality with Apple devices including iPhones and iPads, which prioritize the AAC codec over aptX in Bluetooth streaming.