Kanto YU - Powered Speaker Manual

Introduction

Thank you for choosing YU Powered Speakers, designed by Kanto in Canada. YU outputs 140W peak power into 4 Ohm speakers, for remarkably bold and clean sound. Excellent sensitivity and frequency response provide deep thumping lows and clear, scintillating highs. YU is an amazingly flexible speaker system that can accept two input sources and connect to a subwoofer for enhanced low frequency response. Additionally, it is equipped with the high quality aptX™ Bluetooth^® codec. YU has a universal input power supply and can be used worldwide from 100 Vac to 240 Vac.

We recommend you read all instructions carefully before using the system and keep them for future reference. Kanto cannot be liable for damage or injury caused by incorrect setup or use of this product.

This powered speaker system was carefully tested and inspected during production, and before packaging and shipping. After unpacking, please check for any damage. It is rare that a unit is damaged during shipping, but if this happens contact your retailer immediately. You can also contact Kanto directly using one of the methods below.

Email: support@kantoliving.com
Toll Free: 1-888-848-2643

What's In the Box?

Front & Rear Panels

FRONT PANEL

1. 1" Silk Dome Tweeter
2. 4" Kevlar^® Woofer
3. LED

White - Power on / Playback Mode

Yellow

Standby (solid)
Mute (flashing)

Blue

Discover Mode (flashing)
Paired (solid)

4. Volume / Input Select / Standby / Wake-up

REAR PANEL

5. RCA L/R Input
6. Subwoofer Output
7. Right Channel Output Terminals (+ and −) for Passive Speaker Connection
8. ON / OFF Switch
9. AC Input Connection (100 V - 240 V)

Volume / Input Select Knob

YU's volume knob functions as an input select knob as well.

Push the knob to toggle the input source between RCA and Bluetooth^®, depending on what input was most recently used.

Push and hold the knob to enter standby or wake up from standby.

Remote Control

Install two supplied AAA batteries in the back of your YU remote. Remote Control functions are listed below.

1. Standby Button - press to enter Standby Mode or return to PlaybackMode
2. RCA Input Select
3. Bluetooth^® Input Select
4. Bluetooth^® Reset
5. Increase Volume
6. Decrease Volume
7. Increase Bass Output
8. Decrease Bass Output
9. Reset Bass Output
10. Increase Treble Output
11. Decrease Treble Output
12. Reset Treble Output
13. Mute
14. Balance Control Left Channel
15. Balance Control Right Channel
16. Reset Balance (Left and Right Channels)
17. Previous Track (Bluetooth^® Operation)
18. Next Track (Bluetooth^® Operation)
19. Play / Pause (Bluetooth^® Operation)

Setting Up Your Speakers

The YU powered speaker system is designed for either bookshelf or stand mounting. The stands should be of rigid construction. We recommend the Kanto SP26PL and SP32PL floor stands, or Kanto S4 and SP9 desktop stands to go with your YU.

The space between the two speakers and the distance from the listener is important. If the speakers are positioned too close or too far apart, stereo imaging will not be fully developed.

YU is designed to perform optimally positioned at least 8" from the rear wall in an average listening room. However, it may not be possible to install the speakers in this position and since rooms vary in shape, size, and furnishing, a certain amount of experimentation is necessary to determine the most suitable position.

Moving the speakers very close to the rear wall will enhance the bass frequencies but will tend to reduce soundstage depth, while moving the speakers away from the rear wall will tend to have the opposite effect. Avoid positioning the speakers close to or in the corners of the room, as this will excite undesirable room coupling in the low and middle frequencies. If the width of the rear wall is limited then toe-in the speakers slightly to reduce reflections. Room characteristics and positioning have a profound effect on the performance of the speakers, so time and effort devoted to achieving the optimum positions will be rewarded.

Ensure that the ON/OFF Switch is in the OFF position.

Connect the two speakers together as shown below using the supplied speaker cable. Connect the RED (+) and BLACK (−) terminals from the active speaker (left channel) to the corresponding terminals on the passive speaker (right channel). If you wish to place your speakers farther apart than the supplied cable will reach, we recommend that you purchase a heavier gauge of speaker cable to minimize signal loss.

Follow the instructions on the ensuing pages to connect your audio sources to YU.

Connect the power cord from YU's active speaker to the wall outlet.

ATTENTION
When connecting audio cables the ON/OFF Switch must be turned OFF. After connecting all cables, the unit can be turned ON.
When the volume is high, this system can produce noise levels that could permanently damage your hearing. YU is a self-powered speaker system. Do not connect the speaker terminals to the speaker inputs of a stereo amplifier. Damage may occur. Use only the power cord provided with the speakers.

Connecting Audio Sources

YU supports Bluetooth^® 4.2 with Qualcomm® aptX™ technology.
Use the appropriate audio cable to connect your audio source components to the RCA connectors on the back of the active speaker.

Connecting a Subwoofer

YU is equipped with an RCA connector to provide output signal to a powered subwoofer. Simply connect a single RCA cable from the SUB OUT connection on the YU to the audio input on your subwoofer. If your subwoofer has a stereo L/R RCA input, either input will work.

We recommend the Kanto sub8 powered subwoofer with crossover and volume controls. Most quality subwoofers offer these controls, which allow you to customize the amount of bass you will experience.

Look for details on the Kanto website at: www.kantoaudio.com

Auto Power-up (APU) / Auto Power-down (APD)

The YU is designed to save power when not in use. When no audio signal has been detected for 15 minutes, the YU Amp will put itself into stand-by mode (APD). If the audio signal returns via the same input that the YU was playing when it entered standby, the YU will wake up and resume playing (APU). It can also be woken up manually by:

• Pressing the Standby Button on the Remote
• Pressing the Control knob on the speaker

If you do not find the APU feature useful, you can disable it by pressing the Balance Reset button on the remote and holding it for 5 seconds. The Status LED will blink once to indicate that you have disabled the APU feature. To enable the APU if you have disabled it, simply press and hold the Balance Reset button again for 5 seconds. The Status LED will blink twice to indicate that you have enabled the APU.

If you do not find the APD feature useful, you can disable it by pressing the Bass Reset button on the remote and holding it for 5 seconds. The Input LED will blink once to indicate that you have disabled the APD feature. To enable APD if you have disabled it, simply press and hold the Bass Reset button again for 5 seconds. The Input LED will blink twice to indicate that you have enabled APD.

These settings will revert to factory defaults if the power switch is turned off or the unit is unplugged.

Bluetooth^® Pairing

YU features Bluetooth^® 4.2 with Qualcomm® aptX™ technology. YU can be paired with many devices for wireless audio playback from your phone, MP3 player or tablet. Pairing is easy.

1. Press the Bluetooth^® button ( ) on YU's remote to select it as the input source. The Bluetooth LED (blue) will flash to indicate that YU is in pairing mode.
2. Enable your Bluetooth^® device to search for a new device to pair with. Select 'YU by Kanto' from the list of Bluetooth devices available for pairing.
3. If pairing is successful, the Bluetooth^® LED (blue) will remain solid. You will not need to pair the same Bluetooth device again - 'YU by Kanto' will remain on your device list until the YU is paired with a different Bluetooth^® device.
4. If the device does not pair with YU, turn the speaker's ON/OFF Switch to the OFF position. Turn the speakers back on, then repeat steps 1 to 3. Alternatively, you can press the Bluetooth^® reset button () on the remote or turn off Bluetooth^® on your device and turn it back on again.

Bluetooth^® Operation

1. We recommend keeping a maximum distance of less than 10 meters (33 ft) between the speaker and your device. The best signal fidelity is within this range.
2. You can stream audio from your device to the speaker using either the player control buttons of your device or the control buttons of the remote control (see diagram of Remote Control of this manual – buttons #17, #18, and #19).
3. Take note of the following behavior and functionality during Bluetooth^® operation. When you are successfully connected, the Blue LED will be lit solid, and your device will show as connected to 'YU by Kanto'.
   • The connection between speaker and device remains active even if input source has changed. For instance, you can switch to the RCA input source and return to Bluetooth^® operation without losing signal connection and, therefore, do not need to pair with the device again.
   • When the speaker is put in Standby mode or powered OFF, Bluetooth^® connection with the device is lost. When the speaker returns to Playback mode, the Bluetooth^® connection between the speaker and device is re-established. However, you may notice a choppy playback signal for approximately 30 seconds after reconnection. It will normalize.
   • While the speaker can be paired with more than one device, only one device can play and transmit audio signal at a time.
4. The YU remote control features a Bluetooth^® Reset button to quickly disconnect a paired device and allow a second device to pair with the speaker (button #4 on the Remote Control diagram.
   • Press Bluetooth^® Reset button to disconnect a paired device.
   • Follow the pairing instructions to pair another device.
   • The same behavior and functionality apply to the second device.

Audio Troubleshooting Guide

Frequently asked questions about Kanto's YU speakers.

None of the lights on the front panel are illuminated.

• Make sure the power cable is connected to the speaker and power outlet.
• Ensure that the power outlet is providing power.
• Verify that the power switch on the rear of the speaker is in the "On" position.

The white light on the front panel is illuminated but there's no audio playing.

• Make sure the correct input is selected. Click the knob on the front of the speakers to cycle through the two different inputs or use the remote to choose the correct input.
• Set the volume of the source to its highest level. Ensure audio source is playing audio.
• Check that the audio cable connected to and from the source is firmly connected. Test another audio cable if available.
• Verify that the volume of the speaker is not at its minimum level. Turn the volume up using the knob on the front or the volume controls on the remote.

Audio is only playing through one speaker.

• Reconnect the speaker wire between the active speaker and passive speaker and ensure the ends of the speaker wire are fastened securely through the binding posts.
• Check that the audio cable connected to and from the source is firmly seated. Try a different cable or source to isolate the issue.
• Ensure that the balance setting on the source is centered. Some sources may not have an adjustable balance setting.
• Ensure that the balance setting on the speakers is centered by using the balance reset button on the remote.

Your remote is not functioning correctly.

• Ensure there is a clear line of sight from the remote to the speakers. Aim the remote at the speakers.
• Check battery compartment of remote to make sure the batteries are installed and aligned correctly.
• Replace batteries.

Speakers are going into standby while listening to audio.

• Set the volume of the source to its highest level. Low source volume can inadvertently trigger standby mode.

6. You are experiencing poor audio quality.

• Set the volume of the source to its highest level. Low source volume can negatively affect dynamic range.
• Verify that the speaker wire is connected to the same color terminals on the active speaker and passive speaker.
• Ensure that the rear of the speaker is spaced away from the wall by at least 8 inches, allowing the rear port function to be left unimpeded.
• Set the bass and treble levels to the default setting by pressing the Bass/ /Treble Rreset button on the remote.
• Test a different song or source to isolate the issue.

The source will not connect to Bluetooth^®.

• Ensure the speakers are in Bluetooth^® mode by clicking the Bluetooth^® button on the remote or cycle through the inputs by clicking the knob on the front of the speakers until the blue light on the front panel of the speakers starts flashing.
• Make sure the blue light on the front panel of the speakers is flashing, indicating the speakers are in pairing mode. If the blue light is solidly lit, click the Bluetooth reset button on the remote to unpair a previously used device.
• On the source, turn Bluetooth^® off and on again.
• If the speakers cannot be found while searching for devices on the source, turn off the speakers using the power switch on the rear of the speaker. Switch them back on and try these steps again.

You are experiencing buzzing, hissing or distortion.

• Verify if the noise is coming from the source by removing all sources from the speakers.
• Make sure it is not a power issue by trying a power outlet that is on a different circuit.
• Check that the audio cable connected to and from the source is firmly seated. Try a different cable or source to isolate the issue.

There's no audio coming from an attached subwoofer.

• Check that the RCA cable connected to and from the subwoofer is firmly seated. Try a different cable or source to isolate the issue.
• Make sure the subwoofer is connected to a power outlet and is set to "On" or "Auto".
• Increase the volume of the subwoofer.

Specifications

NOTICE: The Bluetooth^® word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by Bluetooth^® SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by Kanto Living Inc. is under license.

NOTICE: Qualcomm aptX™ is a product of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries.
Qualcomm is a trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated, registered in the United States and other countries. aptX™ is a trademark of Qualcomm Technologies International, Ltd., registered in the United States and other countries.

NOTICE: This appliance is labeled in accordance with European Directive 2002/96/EC concerning waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). This label indicates that this product should not be disposed of with household waste. It should be deposited at an appropriate facility to enable recovery and recycling.

MANUFACTURER AND IMPORTER:
Kanto Living Inc., 9136 196A Street, Langley, BC, Canada V1M 3B4

Documents / Resources

References

• Kanto Audio | Immerse Yourself in Sound

Download manual

Here you can download full pdf version of manual, it may contain additional safety instructions, warranty information, FCC rules, etc.

Download Kanto YU - Powered Speaker Manual