When the Canvas L was introduced, and declared itself the “world’s first audiophile soundbar”, the TechRadar Slack lit up. The likes of KEF and Bang & Olufsen would certainly dispute that declare — and is that this upstart firm actually going to beat them at their very own recreation?
Effectively, I bought to take heed to the brand new Canvas L in motion on the Excessive Finish Vienna 2026 hi-fi present, and my skepticism is gone. Different corporations have produced completely glorious-sounding soundbar-shaped audio system, however the Canvas L is fairly astounding even in that context.
It isn’t attempting to be like soundbars that apply 50 drivers to create a extremely massive sound that works with Dolby Atmos spatial audio in all instructions. It is fairly clear whenever you see the speaker association that that is following a extra conventional stereo speaker setup, simply transplanted right into a form that is extra like soundbar, and that sits beneath a TV.
All sides of the soundbar has an association with a 29mm SB Acoustics ring radiator tweeter, a four-inch mid-range driver custom-built by Scan-Communicate, and an eight-inch Scan-Communicate woofer, the latter of which is paired with an identical eight-inch passive radiator.
In order that’s a fairly basic three-way system (plus a radiator), simply in a crafty disguise. It requires a fairly sturdy quantity of bracing, and the cupboard right here definitely appears to be like extra like what you’d anticipate from hi-fi than from a soundbar. And the hefty dimension means it is designed to mount to the again of your TV, moderately than sit on a floor.
In fact, regardless that that is mainly a pair of floorstanding audio system in a crafty horizontal disguise, all of the amplification is on board, and there is a hefty 1,500W of peak energy. Specifially, there’s 300W per woofer, 200W per mid-range driver, and 50W per tweeter, all class D.
Canvas Hifi says the frequency response is a large 25Hz to 40,000kHz — and that brings me the juicy half: the way it sounds.
Let’s begin with the truth that I can simply consider these massive frequency vary claims, as a result of there’s simply wildly deep bass that resonates convincingly proper by your stomach, in a good way.
The low finish is simply gloriously meaty, providing you with one thing to essentially grip onto and movement with within the music, and that may wake you up with guttural punch if it must.
I felt that have been was only a barely boomy edge to it when digging to the deepest depths, which would not essentially be shocking for one thing with two large radiators, however it might have simply been an artefact of the cobbled-together listening rooms now we have to make use of at commerce exhibits.
Even when it it is a part of the bar’s sound, I would nonetheless don’t have any actual complaints if I needed a strong system with no sub — you simply would not want one, and it had no downside dispersing bass thoughout the room, as you’d need.
The sense of energy goes past simply the bass — it has no downside filling the entire room in entrance of me with a wall of sound that is filled with texture, and brings convincing realism to each delicate factor in vocals.
It is so dynamic and impactful, with wonderful musical timing, in a means that simply offers it engrossing rhythmic vitality. I may have fortunately sat floating in its sound the remainder of my day on the present.
I’ve talked concerning the energy quite a bit, as a result of it is what stands out most. It may be actually light-touch when it must be, which means that it actually does really feel like an elite hi-fi expertise in soundbar kind, as a result of it has the flexibility that I affiliate with really wonderful giant audio system — after which the flexibility kick you want a horse when the track calls for it.
My overarching takeaway from the experiences was only for agency and 3D the devices really feel in music, even with out the total separating you’d usually have for a stereo soundstage.
This is the factor, although: I solely bought to listen to it with music. Finally, that is continues to be a soundbar, and the way nicely it really works with films is an enormous deal. I’ve little question it will deal with the dynamic scale of an incredible soundtrack simply, however I would positively need to hear it with dialogue earlier than arriving at any definitive conclusion.
Oh, and the opposite factor is the value. The Canvas L will reportedly begin from $5,999 for the bottom mannequin, which incorporates fixings to connect it to your TV, and it will work as a stand in your TV as nicely. That may have a entrance panel for the speaker as nicely, after all.
That is about $6,880 / £5,150 / AU$9,760 — and it is for the smallest dimension. (The dimensions of the audio system will not change at bigger sizes, however you may get a unique entrance panel and fixtures.)
However bass as little as 25Hz is basically exhausting for something that is not a devoted subwoofer to hit. I had a search for stereo audio system that may match it, and also you’re taking a look at one thing just like the Monitor Audio Gold 500 6G — which cost the same as this without amplification — or the Bowers & Wilkins 803 D4, which cost about $20k.
So relatively speaking, the Canvas L is a bargain? Sure, why not.
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