Canton Reference 3.2 DC

Canton showed off the first of its new flagship "Reference" line of high-end loudspeakers at CES. With the introduction of the Canton Reference 3.2 DC high performance full-range loudspeaker, the company also launched its first ceramic dome tweeter which is linear to 38.5kHz.

The new Canton Reference 3.2 DC is a large floor-standing three-way bass reflex system with excellent deep bass and an exceptionally smooth high frequency response. The enclosure is a two-chamber "monocoque" (single shell) structure with curved side panels formed of five pressure-laminated layers of acoustically inert fiber-board and a high quality veneer. The veneer is completed in black, white or silver piano lacquer, or a cherry wood veneer with a rich piano finish. Thanks to engineering advances in the driver suspensions, motor systems, and the new designed TCC (triple curved cone) diaphragms, the upgraded Reference series drivers exhibit improved power handling, greater bass extension, and a 6-9 dB increase in deep bass output compared to the extremely capable versions previously used in the company's floor-standing loudspeakers.

Among its key technical refinements, the Reference 3.2 features Canton's new ceramic dome tweeter, which replaces the company's high performance aluminum-manganese dome with one made of aluminum oxide - and the only substance harder than aluminum oxide is diamond. By incorporating this new material with Canton's well proven and powerful narrow-gap motor system, this driver can achieve high output and high frequencies without harshness or distortion.

The tweeter is complemented by a 7-inch aluminum midrange driver and a pair of 8-1/2 inch aluminum woofers. These powerful drivers employ the new Canton-developed TCC triple curved cone, which replaces the traditional flat-radius cone shape with a complex curved cross-sectional profile that shifts break-up modes to frequencies well above the speaker's operating range.

The Reference 3.2 DC employs a very high quality crossover network with electrical performance that is fully integrated with all the drivers and enclosure characteristics. The speaker also uses Canton's signature "DC" displacement control circuitry to limit uncontrolled driver excursions at infrasonic frequencies.

Canton engineers are able to use computer modeling to generate refined computer models of all physical, magnetic, and acoustic aspects of the loudspeaker design. These capabilities allow the company’s engineers to generate complete loudspeaker designs on a computer and predict nearly every aspect of their behavior and reproduction capabilities with a fair amount of precision. This allows the design team to freely experiment with new techniques and ideas with the confidence that the finished product will perform almost exactly as predicted by the computer model.

Each Canton Reference 3.2 DC loudspeaker is 45-3/8 inches tall, 11-5/8 inches wide, 15-7/8 inches deep, and weighs 99 pounds. This loudspeaker system is currently available at a suggested retail price of $16,000 per pair. Additional models in the Reference line will be announced in the coming months.

In addition, at CES, Canton teamed up with Parasound to put on a high-quality demonstration of its $16,000 per pair Reference 3.2 DC high-performance loudspeakers. The system was powered by a pair of John Curl designed Parasound Halo JC 1 400-watt monoblock power amplifiers and a Halo JC 2 preamplifier. We didn't get a chance to hear this setup but it wasn't for lack of trying. For more information please visit www.cantonusa.com.

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