Canton Reference 1 Review
After nearly forty tests, you might think you know a manufacturer inside out. But Canton once again manages to amaze us with the Reference 1.
The time has come, we have the Canton Reference 1 under review. After reviewing 39 test samples, we finally have the second-largest flagship of the new Reference collection from the traditional house of Canton in Weilrod.
Reference Standard
Canton received its first “Reference Class” award from us when the Reference 9 K brought “heaven on earth” to our colleague Erik Schober. The streamlined compact speaker in elegant black piano lacquer impressed not only with its high-class design but also with its dynamic and exceptional bass for its compact size.
Then, I was able to attest the same “Reference Class” to the Reference 3 K. The almost tangible precision of this monolithic floor-standing speaker remained unrivaled in its price range for a long time. Overall, the price-performance ratio of Canton speakers is always an attribute that is hard to compete with. On average, all the Canton devices we have tested cost just around $2,400! And that with an average test score of 9 out of 10. Truly phenomenal. Of the 21 test samples that crossed the 90 percent mark, we awarded seven of them the “Reference Class.”
Most recently, this was the new Reference 7 floor-standing speaker. Besides the excellent price-performance ratio, our editorial colleague Artur Evers was particularly impressed by the perfect tuning of the speaker and its almost three-dimensional sound.
With great joy, we have listened through all of Canton’s collections in the past 13 years. Karat, Vento, Ergo, Reference, and many more…
Canton Reference 1
At the reception of the Alte Handelsdruckerei in Leipzig, where our editorial team is based next to the Central German HiFi Days, a large pallet rolls onto the floor under the careful watch of the delivery team. On it: two man-sized boxes. They are marked with a promising label. Total weight: 175 kg. Wow! The first question that comes to mind is how on earth one would ever get these monumental speakers out of their boxes?
Fortunately, Canton has already considered this. The only real challenge is to lift the boxes individually off the pallet. Once that’s done, the speakers practically unpack themselves! Once the box lid is removed, the packaging can be taken apart around the standing speaker. It’s definitely not a job to attempt alone, but with a helping hand, it’s easily manageable.
What emerges is a speaker of a truly imposing figure. On one hand, its towering, almost bulky build with the very prominent and expansive front chassis exudes great confidence. On the other hand, the seamlessly crafted, curved cabinet made of multilayer laminate speaks a much more modest tone than many competitors in this class. Whether in matte white or black piano finish, as in our case, both versions are timelessly elegant and make a clear statement: Canton is all about the music, with self-presentation taking a back seat. Not to say that the Reference 1 isn’t photogenic, like its collection siblings.
Features
The Canton Reference 1’s appearance is enhanced by the five prominent drivers on the curved, 60-mm thick front panel. These drivers immediately indicate that the speaker operates as a 3-way system. In the bass range, it uses three 219 mm diameter drivers. These are set in very smooth surrounds and newly designed bass guides, allowing the Reference 1 to go down to an impressive 18 Hz.
This bass depth is supported by a down-firing bass reflex, which also allows for free-standing positioning of the speaker. An asymmetrical port design prevents oversaturation of the lower frequencies. A 174 mm midrange driver takes over at 170 Hz, mounted at the top of the cabinet, crafted from Canton’s revised material composition, now known as BCT (Black Ceramic Tungsten).
From 3,100 Hz up to the sky-high frequencies of 40 kHz, the tweeter, located between the woofer and midrange, takes over. Made of aluminum-ceramic oxide, it promises a room-filling sound due to its large waveguide. Like the other drivers, it uses polyoxymethylene (POM) material, known for its high internal damping.
All five drivers can be individually hidden behind round, slightly curved textile covers. A truly elegant decision by the product design team. Instead of a clunky grille, the individual protective covers blend seamlessly with the chassis, held in place magnetically.
Equally stylish and high-quality is the rear-mounted terminal of the Reference 1. The gold-plated, POM-coated connections make a premium impression, reflecting Canton’s high standards. The speaker can also be used in bi-wiring or bi-amping mode. Canton also offers minimal fine-tuning of the Reference 1 for the customer, with the ability to slightly adjust the levels of the midrange and tweeter.
Additionally, the Canton Reference 1 is quite powerful, handling up to 820 watts of musical power. You’ll need a robust amplifier to fully unleash its potential!
Simulated Presence
We’ll have to push Audionet’s stereo integrated amplifier WATT to its limits. First, we take it slow, streaming Schubert’s “Winterreise” from Qobuz. We expected it, but still, it amazes us how holographically and tangibly each note flows from the Reference 1’s drivers. The piano manifests clearly about two meters in front of us, with Fischer-Dieskau standing right in front of it. This is depth staging at its finest. Our room turns into a chamber music hall with subtle reverb. Unbelievable! Each detail of the complex overtones is brought out with the clarity we only know from live music.
Jumping ahead in time, we put on “The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady.” The snare and hi-hat set the stage, followed by a lush brass section that envelops us. The sound is pure immersion, making us feel like we’re part of the performance. Adjusting the mid-range slightly enhances the transient response, creating an almost out-of-body experience.
We could easily fill half a magazine discussing the auditory journey Canton’s Reference 1 takes us on. But words wouldn’t do justice to this speaker’s performance. Visit a dealer, and experience it for yourself!
The low-resonance surround of the woofers and midrange also serves as a waveguide, optimizing the driver’s performance
Midrange and woofers are made from Canton’s updated black ceramic-tungsten composition, offering quick response with minimal distortion
The gold-plated terminals, coated with POM, are of the highest quality and allow for fine-tuning of the high and mid frequencies
The crossover network operates in the Linkwitz/Riley style, with a slope of 24 dB per octave
Specifications
General Information
- Device Type: Floor-standing Speaker
- Price Category: Luxury Class
- Manufacturer: Canton
- Model: Reference 1
- Price (MSRP): $21,200 (per pair)
- Dimensions (W/H/D): 39 x 133 x 63 cm
- Weight: 81 kg
Technical Data (according to manufacturer)
- Design: 3-way, bass reflex
- Frequency Response: 18 Hz – 40 kHz
- Power: < 820 W
- Room Recommendation: from 20 m² to 60 m²
- Sound Tuning: 3-way, 2-band EQ
- Inputs: Bi-Amping, Bi-Wiring
Ratings
- Bass Response: 10/10
- Midrange Response: 10/10
- Treble Response: 10/10
- Spatial Sound: 10/10
- Sound Quality: 10/10
- Features/Build Quality: 10/10
- User-Friendliness: 9/10
- Advantages/Disadvantages: none
- Overall Score: 89 out of 90 points
- Price/Performance Ratio: good (8/10)
- Result: Reference Class, 97% rating
CONCLUSION
Canton reference 1 & AWM & Inakustik
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