Out of the box, the Reference 7K produced perhaps the widest soundstage I’ve heard in my small Greenwich Village penthouse pad. Tonally, the Canton bordered on lush, with a clear, refined treble and midrange and focused bass with ample weight. It’s a reasonably dynamic speaker, and it played all styles of music well, from classical and UK techno to contemporary R&B and jazz. The sound was dynamic, forceful, and direct.

The Cantons played jazz very well, reproducing the genre’s common acoustic instruments with handsome color and realistic dynamics riding on a generous bass foundation. They played music as a thoroughly human event, touchable textures and silky physicality joined to satisfying, juicy tonality. 

But their effortless way with jazz didn’t prepare me for the heft and wraparound sensuality they gave King Crimson’s prog rock masterpiece “In the Court of the Crimson King”. As I listened on Tidal, the Cantons brought me back to that catastrophic scene, with all its dread and terror. Drums, bass, and guitar were nearly full-sized and immediate. The Cantons presented a satisfyingly thick, detailed wall of thrilling prog rock.

The 7K’s gorgeous midrange and munificent lower bass made every record sound fat, liquid, and pleasurable. The 7Ks possessed a sweet, lustrous treble with well-recorded cymbals, strings, and percussion. Listening to music through the Canton Reference 7K loudspeaker was great, engrossing fun. If you have the cash and the space, these speakers are a must-hear.

Ken Micallef, Stereophile, March 2022, Class A Recommended Component

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