Loudspeakers

Canton's hard (ceramic-coated) treble dome offers a fine 43kHz extension (-6dB re. 10kHz) and with the energy of the primary 25kHz mode at least partially distributed across resonances at 14kHz and 38kHz [seen on the CSD waterfall, Graph 2]. This manifests in the slightly shallow midrange and brighter response above ~5kHz [see Graph 1], the latter tamed by toeing the speakers inwards by 10-15o. The three-way response adjustment bars located at the speaker rear [see pic, left] offer a subtle maximum ±0.6dB shelf adjustment from ~100-400Hz and 4kHz20kHz [orange and green traces, Graph 1] - comparable to the 0.7dB pair matching of the speakers themselves and well within the Reference 7's tight 2.6dB/2.7dB response errors, respectively (all re. 200Hz-15kHz). Pair matching is a 'looser' 1.6dB >15kHz just as the (treble) grille is best avoided [blue trace, Graph 1].

Sensitivity is 87.1dB/1kHz (or 86.7dB averaged over 500Hz8kHz) - Canton's rated '87.5dB 2.83V/1m efficiency' confuses efficiency with sensitivity (they are absolutely not the same thing) but we know what it means... Neither does Canton offer any meaningful measure of impedance, but the Reference 7s are an easy enough drive provided you are not a bass freak - the impedance modulus dropping to 3.2ohm/46Hz before rising to 20ohm at 5Hz, mitigating the deepest swing in phase angle of -61o/15Hz. Nevertheless, the minimum 1.3ohm/29Hz EPDR (equivalent peak dissipation resistance) is still tough, especially with deep bass-heavy music. Bass extension is creditable, the 96Hz peak in woofer output supplemented by the low 37Hz port tuning to deliver a useful 38Hz (-6dB re. 200Hz). PM

Above: Response inc. nearfield summed drivers/port [green], freefield corrected to 1m at 2.83V [yellow], ultrasonic [pink]. Left, black; right, red; grilles, blue

ABOVE: Cabinet, bass and midrange driver modes are mild, leaving the tweeter breakup more ‘visible’