Canton - Germany Reference 5
The Reference 5 brings reference-grade precision and polished refinement to a comparatively compact premium floorstander. Stereo Index highlights its convincing top-series performance, while hifitest.de underscores the engineering and build ambition behind it. With a 3-way, twin-woofer design, room adjustment and high-grade terminals, it targets listeners seeking controlled detail and lasting sophistication.
WATT RECOMMENDS
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Nicely Roasted
Sound Quality
89/100
Build Quality
93/100
Value for Money
85/100
Pros
Delivers precise, refined Reference-series performance in a smaller floorstanding format.
Premium technology, build quality and sound are central strengths of the Reference range.
WATT RECOMMENDS
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 89/100
The available reviews portray the Reference 5 as a precise, refined loudspeaker with genuine Reference-series performance rather than simply a smaller version of a flagship design. Frequency-specific listening detail is limited in these extracts, but the published verdicts are consistently enthusiastic about its overall technical and musical performance.
Bass
89/100
The reviews do not isolate bass performance in detail. Still, the overall praise for precision and Reference-series refinement supports an assured low-frequency presentation rather than a compromised one.
Mid
89/100
Reviewers do not specifically discuss vocals, timbre, or crossover integration. Their description of the speaker as precise and refined points to a clean, composed presentation through the main musical range.
Treble
90/100
The supplied listening comments offer no direct discussion of treble tone or extension. The repeated emphasis on refinement and precision nevertheless suggests a detailed, controlled top end rather than an overtly aggressive presentation.
Soundstage Imaging
88/100
There is no direct commentary on stage width, depth, or image focus in the available reviews. The strong overall assessment indicates convincing performance, though prospective buyers should seek fuller listening reports if imaging is a deciding priority.
Dynamics
89/100
The reviews say little about large-scale dynamic swing or ultimate output. However, the Reference 5 is presented as delivering full Reference-series performance, suggesting it has the composure and authority expected for demanding music.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
93/100
HiFi Test identifies the Reference line as Canton’s choice for buyers wanting the very best in technology, build quality, and sound. The Reference 5’s substantial 36 kg, multilayer-laminate cabinet, WBT terminals, adjustable feet, and room-tuning provisions reinforce that premium, carefully engineered impression.
Value for Money
85/100
At roughly $4,400–$4,900, the Reference 5 sits in a serious premium-floorstander market alongside strong competition. None of the supplied reviews directly assesses value against rivals, though their enthusiastic verdicts indicate that the speaker’s performance is being taken seriously in its class.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
Online Reviews & Mentions
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Specifications
- Item no.
- 04402
- Shipping
- Pallet
- Warranty period
- 10 years
- weight
- 36 kg
- Dimensions (WxHxD)
- 30 x 102 x 46 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
- 2
- Woofer size
- 174 mm
- Woofer material
- Black ceramic tungsten
- Nominal load capacity
- 200 watts
- Music load capacity
- 370 watts
- Transmission range
- 21...40.000 Hz
- Crossover frequencies
- 170 / 3.000 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
- Multilayer laminate
- 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
- 370 watts
- 30 x 102 x 46 cm (W x H x D)
FULL OF SHAPES
The new Reference 5
Immerse yourself in a new era of sound with the Reference 5 and let the medium-sized floor-standing speakers inspire you. The perfectly formed design, in line with "Form Follows Function", makes no compromises. Thanks to the use of the latest technologies, they are bursting with resolution and playfulness and offer excellent sound. The Reference 5, like all Reference models, are manufactured in Germany with the utmost care and precision. This and the use of first-class materials and components, ensure a long-lasting and reliable quality. The speakers shine with irrepressible dynamics and excellent stage imaging - for a lively and natural sound of your music.
Modern technology
For the completely newly conceived Reference Series enclosures, round baffles were designed for the first time, which are manufactured on a 5-axis CNC milling machine specially provided for this purpose. The elaborately curved side walls, bottoms and lids provide enormous stability and significantly reduced natural resonance behavior of the speaker enclosure. As a result, the Reference 5 offer a very homogeneous dispersion behavior and an authentic staggering of the music. The Reference 5 speakers feature two 174 mm BCT woofers equipped with black ceramic tungsten cones. These work in perfect harmony with the large enclosure volume and efficient bass guide system to deliver contour-sharp low end and rich deep bass. The equally sized BCT midrange driver, housed in its own enclosure, contributes to a natural and authentic sound image with finely resolved mids. The sound spectrum is rounded off by the 25 mm BC tweeter with black aluminum oxide ceramic cone, which ensures detailed and homogeneous highs.
New diaphragms
The midrange and woofer systems of all Reference loudspeakers are characterized by their advanced BCT cones. In the BCT diaphragm, 25 percent of the molecular structure of an aluminum cone is converted into a ceramic structure and refined with tungsten and additional metal particles. As a result, the diaphragms achieve a perfect stiffness-to-weight ratio and turn black on the front and back surfaces during the creation process. In addition, the specially shaped black midrange ceramic cone in TCC technology stabilizes the membrane and reduces unwanted resonances. This is how we achieve precise and distortion-free reproduction. To optimize the sound, our latest generation Wave Beading technology is used in the Reference 5. This ensures a smooth transient response even at high volumes and large diaphragm excursions.
Contact
The Reference 5 speakers are equipped with high-quality WBT nextgen™ connectors and allow bi-wiring and bi-amping. These connectors are the basis for excellent sound quality and provide long-term stable contact. If you do not want to use the bi-wiring or bi-amping mode, high-quality hard-gold-plated copper bridges are included. The Reference 5s feature controls on the speaker terminal for Canton's RC (Room Compensation) technology. With this level adjustment, the sound pressure levels of the midrange and tweeter can be sensitively adjusted in 1.5 decibel steps. This allows the speakers to be optimally adapted to personal listening tastes and room acoustics.
Edler Auftritt
The cabinets of the Reference 5 loudspeakers convince with the best quality of workmanship and noble surfaces, which allow a seamless aesthetic integration into any living environment. They are available in two finishes: The black piano high-gloss lacquer version achieves an impressive depth effect thanks to the high number of twelve lacquer layers. Equally impressive is the silk-matte finish of the white housing version, which ensures an understatedly elegant and refined appearance in your living spaces.
Edler Auftritt
The cabinets of the Reference 5 loudspeakers convince with the best quality of workmanship and noble surfaces, which allow a seamless aesthetic integration into any living environment. They are available in two finishes: The black piano high-gloss lacquer version achieves an impressive depth effect thanks to the high number of twelve lacquer layers. Equally impressive is the silk-matte finish of the white housing version, which ensures an understatedly elegant and refined appearance in your living spaces.
Verified Dealers
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Authorized dealers for Canton - Germany Reference 5
- 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