Canton - Germany Reference 1
The Canton Reference 1 brings low-level musical engagement and scalable dynamics to a formidable flagship floorstander. Stereophile found it expressive without requiring high volume, yet increasingly open with powerful amplification. Its 81kg three-way architecture, three woofers, room adjustment and premium WBT terminals complete a seriously engineered high-end proposition.
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Nicely Roasted
Sound Quality
82/100
Build Quality
88/100
Value for Money
85/100
Pros
Remains musically engaging at modest listening levels rather than needing high volume to come alive.
Rewards more powerful amplification with greater openness and dynamic expression.
Reviewers describe exceptionally broad all-round capability.
Cons
Its performance opens up further with substantial amplifier power, so modest electronics may not reveal its full potential.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 82/100
The available listening report finds the Reference 1 musically alive even at modest levels, rather than requiring high volume to come to life. It also responds clearly to additional amplifier power, but the supplied review evidence offers little direct coverage of its tonal balance, imaging, or bass performance.
Bass
80/100
The supplied review does not directly assess bass depth, control, texture, or room interaction. Its substantial three-woofer configuration is documented, but there is no reviewer listening evidence here to establish how that translates into low-frequency performance.
Mid
80/100
Reviewers provide no direct comments on vocal realism, instrumental timbre, midrange openness, or crossover integration. The available evidence therefore leaves the speaker's midband character largely undocumented.
Treble
80/100
There are no supplied listening comments concerning treble air, detail, smoothness, or brightness. The review evidence does not indicate whether the top end leans toward sweetness, neutrality, or a more forward presentation.
Soundstage Imaging
80/100
The available review excerpt does not discuss stage width, depth, image specificity, or placement sensitivity. Listeners seeking detailed guidance on spatial performance will need fuller audition reports.
Dynamics
90/100
Stereophile found that the speaker did not need to be played loudly before it began to sing, suggesting satisfying low-level expression. The reviewer also reports that it opened up with more amplifier power, pointing to worthwhile dynamic headroom with suitably capable amplification.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
88/100
The Reference 1 is a very substantial 81kg loudspeaker with a multilayer cabinet, piano-finish exterior, adjustable feet, spike provision, and WBT connection hardware. Canton also specifies room adjustment, tweeter-level adjustment, magnetic grilles, and a ten-year warranty, although the supplied review does not comment on long-term durability or cabinet resonance in use.
Value for Money
85/100
At an indicated price of roughly 22,000-24,000, the Reference 1 sits in a demanding high-end market where buyers will reasonably compare it with many established premium alternatives. The supplied review does not directly judge value, price justification, or performance against competing speakers.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
Online Reviews & Mentions
YouTube Reviews
Forum Mentions
No forum mentions found yet
Specifications
- Item no.
- 04394
- Shipping
- Pallet
- Warranty period
- 10 years
- weight
- 81 kg
- Dimensions (WxHxD)
- 39 x 133 x 63 (B x H x T mit Sockel) cm
- Acoustic principle
- 3-way Bass reflex system
- Principle passive resonator
- Bass reflex
- Radiation direction resonator
- Downfire
- Tweeter quantity
- 1
- Tweeter size
- 25 mm
- Tweeter material
- Aluminum ceramic oxyd
- Midrange driver quantity
- 1
- Midrange driver size
- 174 mm
- Midrange driver material
- Black ceramic tungsten (Wave surround)
- Woofer quantity
- 3
- woofer size
- 219 mm
- woofer material
- Black ceramic tungsten
- Nominal load capacity
- 450 watts
- Music load capacity
- 820 watts
- Transmission range
- 18...40.000 Hz
- Crossover frequencies
- 170 / 3.100 Hz
- Impedance
- 4...8 ohm
- Level adjustment
- yes
- Efficiency 2.83V/1m
- 88 db
- Connections
- WBT-Connector terminal with level adjustment
- Woofer Wave surround
- yes
- Midrange Wave Bead
- yes
- Front cover material
- fabric
- Level adjustment tweeter
- yes
- Double Cone
- yes
- Transmission Front Plate
- yes
- DC switch technology
- yes
- Bass Guide
- yes
- Unit socket included
- yes
- Size supplement (WxDxH)
- 4x4x12 cm
- Unit feet
- yes
- Height-adjustable unit feet
- yes
- Preparation spikes
- yes
- Bi-Wiring / Amping Terminal
- yes
- Cabinet material
- Mehrschichtlaminat
- Cabinet surface
- Piano Finish
- Terminal contact material
- golden
- TCC
- yes
- Mounting type front cover
- magnetic
- Terminal banana plug suitable
- yes
- Room adjustment
- yes
Manufacturer's Description — Canton - Germany
Informations
- 3-way bass reflex system
- Black Ceramic tungsten technology
- 820 watts
- 39 x 133 x 63 cm (W x H x D)
Iconic Sound
The new Reference 1
Imposing, powerful and true to their shape - that's the new Reference 1. Equipped with the most modern technology we have to offer in loudspeaker construction, it sets the standard for the future. This powerful sound artist is a masterpiece of engineering and meets perfection in craftsmanship with its new design. The flawless surface finish combined with our best speaker drivers make them a true musical statement.
New material
The benchmark is the new BCT cones used in the midrange and bass. These BCT drivers are the result of years of development and guarantee highly dynamic and highly accurate performance. For exceptional precision and clarity in the treble, the new tweeters feature BC cones made of black alumina ceramic. The Reference 1 speakers' cabinets have been acoustically optimised and feature a seamless design that ensures an edgeless connection between the baffles, rear panels and side panels. This design sets new standards in terms of dispersion, stability and low resonance.
Design and technology
A great deal of focus is placed on the craftsmanship of the handmade Reference 1 speakers. The cabinets are divided into three chambers that are perfectly matched to the different parts of the 3-way speaker construction. This allows each of the five drivers to develop its sonic qualities to the full. The bass is produced by three 219 mm woofers with ceramic tungsten cones. These, together with the newly designed bass guide, provide clear and dynamic low frequency reproduction down to 18 Hertz. The 174 mm midrange driver uses the same cone material as the woofers, providing seamless midrange dynamics. The midrange driver is deliberately placed in the upper part of the speaker and contributes significantly to the authentic reproduction of voices and stage presence. The drivers are recessed into the round baffle and are complemented by special ASW (Asymmetric Waveguide) cover rings made of POM material. These rings act as waveguides in the tweeter and midrange to optimise dispersion.
Pure power
To control the dynamics that our Reference 1 can unleash, the curved side panels, as well as the back and tops, are constructed from multi-layer laminate. The 60-millimetre-thick baffle is milled from the solid. Thanks to elaborate internal reinforcements and precisely defined damping of the cabinet, we create ideal conditions for perfect sound development of the newly developed Reference loudspeaker drivers. The new cover rings, as well as the high-end connection terminals, are made of polyoxymethylene (POM), an extremely strong and rigid plastic with high density, excellent internal damping and best mouldability. The fine-pored, silk-matt surface covered with a thin layer of lacquer provides a noble appearance and also makes the material even more resistant.
Bass Guide
Canton's unique bass reflex system with bass guide has been redesigned along with many other elements. With this system, the bass reflex port is integrated into the cabinet and works on the principle of combined frontfire and backfire. The air is controlled via a channel in the base plate and directed to both the front and the back of the cabinet. This produces a remarkably stable bass response, regardless of the position in the room.
Bass Guide
Canton's unique bass reflex system with bass guide has been redesigned along with many other elements. With this system, the bass reflex port is integrated into the cabinet and works on the principle of combined frontfire and backfire. The air is controlled via a channel in the base plate and directed to both the front and the back of the cabinet. This produces a remarkably stable bass response, regardless of the position in the room.
Verified Dealers
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Authorized dealers for Canton - Germany Reference 1
- The Music Room — online and in-store — Erie, Colorado, United States (website)
- à la carte productions — in-store — Palm Coast, Florida, United States (website)
- A Tube High Fidelity — online and in-store — Almere, Flevoland, Netherlands (website)
- Acoustic Sounds — online and in-store — Salina, Kansas, United States (website)
- Alta Fedelta — online and in-store — Lombardia, Italy (website)
- Anquan — online and in-store — Glika Nera, Greece (website)
- Audio Excellence (CH) — Switzerland (website)
- Audio Magic - EU — online and in-store — Wola, Województwo mazowieckie, Poland (website)
- Audio Video Integration — in-store — San Rafael, California, United States (website)
- Audio Vinyl — online and in-store — Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland (website)
and 33 more verified dealers