Product Review

Product=20 Review

Canton Vento 809 DC Floor-Standing, = 802=20 Bookshelf, and 805 CM Center Channel = Speakers

June,=20 2005

Piero = Gabucci

Specifications

Vento 809=20 DC Vento=20 802 Vento 805=20 CM

Floor-Standing Bookshelf Center=20 Channel

Price $2,500=20 each $1,000=20 each $1,500

Nom./Power=20 handling 180/340=20 watts 80/150=20 watts 110/160=20 watts

Efficiency 88.5=20 dB 87 = dB 87.9=20 dB

Frequency=20 Response 20-40,000=20 Hz 27-40,000=20 Hz 26-40,000=20 Hz

Nominal=20 Impedance 4-8=20 ohms 4-8=20 ohms 4-8=20 ohms

Size inches (W=20 x H x D) 9.8x44.1x13.8 8.7x14.2x12.2 20.7x8.7x12.2

Weight 63 = Pounds/Ea 19 = Pounds/Ea 29.5=20 Pounds

=20 LS 800 stands are $200 each

Canton=20 Loudspeakers

http://www.cantonusa.com/=20 =

Introduction

Upon reviewing the press material for the new = Canton Vento=20 line of speakers, I came across a phrase =93appearance follows = function=94=20 quoting chief designer Frank Gobl, in referring to Canton=92s = speaker design=20 philosophy. This widely used axiom was originally coined by noted = American=20 architect Louis Sullivan when describing the skin on his new = scheme for a=20 high rise building. His design was unlike the popular Beaux Art=20 architecture of the day where the skin of the building and the = structure=20 were one and the same.

Louis Sullivan defended ornamenting his steel = framed building=20 with a veneer, claiming just like the skin on your hand reveals = the bones=20 within, the veneer of his building reveals the function of the = structure.=20 Mr. Gobl=92s reference, although a derivative of the original, is = actually=20 quite interesting when speaking about the design of this new = speaker=20 series.

Vento, Italian for =93wind=94 is the latest = loudspeaker design=20 from the 32 year old German speaker manufacturer. Canton=92s = philosophy from=20 the early years still ring true today: speakers belong in the = living room,=20 and of course their =93furniture=94 speakers must, beyond their = task of high=20 fidelity, contribute to the aesthetic of the space. Vento is a = perfect=20 realization of that position.

Vento is a close relative to = Canton=92s Karat Reference line. In fact, if you=92re familiar = with Karat, it=20 shares much of the same technology. The company continues its = philosophy=20 that speaker design is an =93evolution, not a revolution=94. Hence = the design=20 goals at Canton were to give its engineers freedom to design a = line from=20 the ground up, learning from the early achievements in the Karat=20 design.

For this review, Canton sent me two Vento 809 DC=20 floor-standing speakers, a pair of 802 bookshelf units, a pair of = LS 800=20 stands for the 802s, and the 805 CM center channel. At this time, = no=20 subwoofer is available, however I=92m told that a 250 watt Vento = sub, named=20 the AS 800 DC should be out in the fall of 2005.

Vento is = available in cherry=20 veneer or silver lacquer, but there is no comparison in my book. = The=20 cherry veneer is stunning. Perfectly executed, the finish is = impeccable,=20 with a conservative sheen rather than a high gloss. My immediate=20 impression was they reminded me of a musical instrument, in finish = and=20 shape.

This is of course no accident. Canton likens the = speaker=20 design to a fine quality instrument such as a violin. To further = expound=20 on the beauty and simplicity of design, the speakers have no = modular=20 panels, no caps, or end pieces. The veneer is 100% from edge to = edge,=20 front, back, and on top. I can only describe the build quality as = having a=20 very high level of craftsmanship.

The departure for Canton = in=20 Vento is the tapered side walls. With a gentle curve from front to = back,=20 the tapered shape adds a distinct elegance to an otherwise simple=20 enclosure design. The more time I spent with the speakers, I = thought about=20 the shape of an acoustic guitar or violin, and the very complex = nature of=20 sound emanating

Six layers of wood, individually formed = and=20 laminated layer to layer, comprise the construction of the curved = sides=20 thereby creating a stiff =93monocoque=94 structure.

The triangular footprint is inherently much stiffer = than a=20 rectangular section, and the significant internal bracing prevents = distortion from the enclosure itself and therefore creating a = =93sonically=20 neutral enclosure=94. Monocoque describes the process by which the = skin=20 absorbs the stress of the internal structure. Secondly, with the = two side=20 walls not in parallel, Canton hopes to achieve a reduction in = standing=20 waves.

The 809 DC Floor-standing=20 Speaker

The 809 DC is a three-way design with an impressive = pair of=20 8=94 (200 mm) woofer drivers. At 7=94 (180 mm), the AM-180 = aluminum cone=20 midrange/woofer driver is found on all the Vento speakers. = Canton=92s ADT-25=20 dome tweeter, a 1=94 (25mm) aluminum and magnesium cone, is also = found=20 throughout the line. With a sensitivity of 88 dB, and impedance = from 4-8=20 Ohms, the 809 delivers frequencies from 20 Hz - 40,000 Hz. =

The 809=20 is front ported and weighs 63 pounds. On the rear, nicely placed = near the=20 base, are gold-plated bi-amp/bi-wire screw clamp speaker posts. = Although I=20 found the posts firm and solid, my banana clips interestingly = enough did=20 not fit snugly, but rather loosely, forcing me to use bare wire. I = never=20 got around to using spade connections, but those would have worked = fine.

The 809 loudspeaker sits firmly on a 2=94 base in = which Canton=20 places silicon shock absorbers, providing further isolation it = from the=20 floor. I very much like the hearty blunted steel spikes. They were = not=20 sharp, and this is a great advantage when positioning the speaker = on=20 carpeting.

The 802 Bookshelf=20 Speaker

The Vento 802 is a two-way shelf or = stand (which=20 I have) speaker. Once again, sporting the same AM-180 midrange and = ADT-25=20 tweeter, the 802 is rear ported. Similar to the 809 it has a = sensitivity=20 of 87 dB and is also capable of 4-8 Ohms impedance with a = frequency=20 response from 27 Hz - 40 kHz. The 802 is 14.2=94 high and 12.2=94 = deep. On the=20 stand provided, it sits about 40=94 high. My curiosity about the = capability=20 of this unit led me to audition them independently for two-channel = music.=20 More on those results later.

The black LS 800 stand is = sturdy and=20 mimics the shape of Vento gracefully. With a solid wide base, it = also has=20 the steel carpet spikes.

The 805 CM Center = Channel=20 Speaker

The center channel 805 CM is rather = large at=20 almost 21=94 across and 9=94 high. In the horizontal D=92Appolito = arrangement of=20 7=94 drivers flanking the 1=94 tweeter, the 805=92s shape is = perfectly=20 functional in that you can rotate it horizontally on the provided = black=20 stand plate to aim it at the sitting position. With an efficiency = of 87.9=20 dB and a frequency response between 26 Hz - 40 kHz, the nominal = impedance=20 is similarly 4-8 Ohms. It has dual rear ports, one behind each = midrange=20 driver.

The=20 Technology

Canton uses computers for a number of = aspects=20 in the design of the speakers; simulation and measuring are used = for not=20 only the cabinet enclosure but also the drivers. Canton states = that=20 hundreds of technical details all contribute to the sound quality = of the=20 Vento line. Mindful of quality control, Canton designs and builds = all of=20 its own drivers, crossovers, as well as the enclosures. =

Common to=20 all units, the ADT-25 is a 1=94 one-piece aluminum-manganese dome = tweeter=20 that is newly designed to boost efficiency, and the flared front = plane=20 aids in improving sound dispersion.

The 7=94 midrange = driver,=20 although large enough to move bass frequencies as well, is also = common=20 throughout the Vento line. Again through computer simulation, the = aluminum=20 cone and surround form a powerful magnetic system, original to the = predecessor Karat Reference line.

The large 809 DC (DC = stands for=20 Distortion Control) is a proprietary circuitry designed to aid in = bass=20 response and extension. Sporting large dual aluminum 8=94 woofers, = the=20 technology helps eliminate =93infrasonic oscillations, reduces = harmonic=20 distortion, and boosts low-end response=94.

The 805 CM = center channel=20 is a 2 1/2 =96way speaker and shares with all four models a = bass-reflex=20 design. Because of the inherent irregularities from horizontal = driver=20 layouts, Canton argues the sophisticated crossover design sends = both=20 drivers anything below 350 Hz, while midrange frequencies between = 350 Hz=20 to 3 kHz are routed to only one of them.

Setup

Canton=20 recommends that no toe-in is necessary. Remember that it=92s the = higher=20 frequencies that are directional, unlike lower bass frequencies. = Recall my=20 description of the 1=94 ADT-25 tweeter, the new mounting baffle = design is=20 =93transmission=94 styled, which gives greater heat = dispersion.

So, I did not toe them in, and found the claim to = be true.=20 Given that they are front ported, I wasn=92t worried about keeping = them too=20 far from the back and side walls, like I actually have much choice = in my=20 smallish listening room anyway.

I don't think enough effort = is=20 spent on the proper placement of speakers in a=20 listening environment. Perhaps lately not only have we = accepted=20 room EQ as the answer, but it has become a crutch, or an easy = fix. =20 After all speaker manufacturers like Canton, spend countless hours = and=20 enormous amounts of engineering to produce full-range = speakers. To=20 artificially alter some aspect of the frequency chain certainly = can affect=20 the performance.

It is completely understood that = most of us=20 hardly have a choice for placement, but for my evaluation, I made = a=20 tremendous effort to neutralize the equipment feeding the = speakers,=20 allowing them to perform to their maximum potential. Moving = the=20 speakers around, especially the fronts, either the 809s or the = 802s (as=20 mains), I found the best location about 3 feet from the rear wall = and=20 about 2 feet from the side walls. My room is about 12 feet = wide, and=20 I sat about 8 feet back.

I think it=92s important to = mention a=20 variety of sources were used on these speakers and in many modes, = both=20 two-channel and surround. I was fortunate to have the Denon = AVR-5805=20 receiver on hand while reviewing the Cantons. This allowed me to = take=20 advantage of the bi-amping capability that both the Vento 809 and = the=20 receiver offered. I also used my own Denon AVR-3805 and the Onix = Melody=20 SP3 two-channel tube amplifier from AV123 (review forthcoming). = For=20 interconnects and speaker wires I used Ethereal Elite cables.=20

Listening

Canton is as interested in = music=20 reproduction as they are in cinema. The Vento line is meant to be=20 attractive to the discerning audiophile for music and also bridge = the gap=20 to theater.

The promise I was most interested in was that = the 809=20 DC loudspeaker can deliver full deep bass. Although I imagine = Canton may=20 introduce a subwoofer for this line, as of this writing it = doesn=92t exist.=20 With the 809 sporting dual 8=94 woofer drivers, Canton is making a = statement.

Listening to the 809 first with two-channel = music - the=20 Denon 5805 pushing 170 WPC - I played a variety of CDs.=20

Off-axis differences are greatly reduced as a constant = walk-around=20 during playback revealed a substantial soundstage. Even beyond the = left=20 and right, I felt a sense that the music extended beyond the = narrow alley=20 between the speakers.

As I mentioned = earlier, the 802=20 stand-mounted units are substantial enough to merit a separate = audition.=20 Sporting a 7=94 aluminum cone woofer and 1=94 tweeter, four of = these could=20 easily become the basis for a serious surround package. Other than = a=20 slight loss in fullness, the 802 sounds very much like the larger = 809=20 floor-standing speakers. Overall, they share a sound surprising = similar,=20 but not quite as warm, to my reference Krix Symphonix speakers.=20

The very first serious audition came from watching = Discovery HD=20 Theater, enjoying a BBC production of Monteverdi=92s = L=92Orfeo from=20 Barcelona=92s Gran Teatre del Liccu. This stage production looked = awesome in=20 High Definition with rich scenes, stage sets, and costumes, and = the Vento=20 perfectly blended the visual and audio textures. Listening to this = opera=20 on the Cantons simply placed me amongst the attendees of the stage = performance.

As I played a = variety of CDs,=20 what was becoming abundantly clear was my enjoyment of any = material with=20 acoustic guitar, and any wood instrument for that matter, because = the=20 Vento was most transparent in the midrange.

Mark = Knopfler=92s steel=20 guitar sounded rich and soulful on the fourth track "Fade to = Black" from=20 Dire Straits CD On Every Street. Airy and full sounding, = the track=20 "You and Your Friend" revealed so much detail, that I almost = wished they=20 had turned down the reverb in Knopfler=92s voice.

One of my = first=20 DVD-Audio purchases was The Doobie Brothers, The Captain and = Me.=20 The rangy mix of Cajun and southern rock music never, ever sounded = better.=20 The very short but sweet guitar rich "Busted Down Around" sounded = like a=20 gem. In "South City Midnight Lady", the dual 8=94 drivers = delivered a=20 polished deep bass.

Further, in = multi-channel audio,=20 the quintet Ventos came alive and despite no subwoofer for the = playback,=20 they delivered seamless tight bass; in Roxy Music=92s title track = "Avalon",=20 the prominence of bass guitar is almost disturbingly brought to = the=20 forefront along with Bryan Ferry=92s voice. Don=92t get me wrong, = this took=20 some getting used to, but once I did, I realized that all the = instruments=20 had more definition.

With the aid of my own subwoofer, Dr. = Chesky=92s=20 5.1 Surround Show is an excellent test for surround sound. = Delicate=20 bells and the wonderful harmony of voices from track 8, were = simply=20 splendid. Flute or sitar, percussions and bass guitar, Vento is a = very=20 musical speaker. Track after track, the swing of sounds from low = to high=20 was handled easily, and I sensed a limitless top end.

Having the Canton = Vento speakers=20 for several months, I was able to watch some old favorite DVDs. = Recently=20 replacing my old version of Amadeus with the new = Director=92s Cut, I=20 intensely watched my favorite scene early in the movie where = Salieri=20 speaks about the first time he hears Mozart=92s music. Waving his = finger in=20 the air, he passionately describes the transition from a single = unwavering=20 flute note high, hanging slowly taken over by an obo. The Vento = was there,=20 I glanced at the ceiling, the sound was exactly as he described, = and as=20 magical. Mozart=92s and Salieri=92s music are superb, from the = warm violins to=20 the heavy bass voices in the operas.

The DVD = Independence=20 Day is bass-intensive. The individual ships separating from = the main=20 mother ship roar to life; the Vento 809 dual woofers powerfully = reproduced=20 the disembarking ships. The 802 surround speakers were remarkably = detailed=20 as the aircrafts whirled and whizzed around me.

The 805 CM center = channel had its=20 own high points, as dialogue from movies was warm, natural, and = well=20 defined.

Conclusions

The gripe=20 that I mentioned - my banana plugs not fitting - is minor.

These are not economical speakers with the entire = package=20 running a cool MSRP $8,500 (without a subwoofer mind you). Please = notice I=20 mentioned no complaints about what I heard, so I reiterate these = gripes=20 are minor.

I wouldn=92t be afraid to suggest four of the = Vento 802s=20 with the center 805 CM for a surround package, sub issue aside. If = two-channel music is your passion, I=92d highly recommend = auditioning the=20 tower 809 DC for your music room. They more than deliver their = promise for=20 deep bass. I do hope Canton is developing a subwoofer for this = series, for=20 I wouldn=92t completely rely on the floor speakers for bass = exclusively for=20 cinema. Besides, I=92m sure a Vento sub would probably be awesome=20 considering its pedigree.

Vento is an elegant name. Canton = has=20 masterfully coordinated the name with a line of speakers that = lives up to=20 that philosophy of evolution. What you see on the outside is = simply=20 foreshadowing. If form follows function, the exterior beauty of = these=20 speakers surely represents the substantial performance from=20 within.

- Piero Gabucci -

=A9 = Copyright 2005=20 Secrets of Home Theater & High Fidelity

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