Canton Reference 3 white (pack of 2)

Fifty years of loudspeaker manufacturing in Weilrod, in Germany’s Taunus region: it’s on this technical foundation that Canton has built its Reference 2023 range. The Reference 3, the second-largest floorstander in this series after the Reference 2, incorporates all the brand’s in-house technologies in a 109 cm-tall format. Weighing 42 kg per speaker, it makes as much of a physical as an acoustic statement in medium to large rooms.

Black cones via molecular transformation

The BCT (Black Ceramic Tungsten) acronym refers to the process applied to the bass and midrange drivers. Canton converts 25% of the molecular structure of an aluminium cone into ceramic, then enriches the material with tungsten and metallic particles. The result: a cone that turns black during production and combines low mass with high rigidity.

The two 192 mm woofers and the 174 mm midrange driver use this technology. The midrange benefits from an additional treatment called TCC (Triple Curved Cone), a cone geometry designed to stabilise the diaphragm and push resonance frequencies outside the useful band. The 25 mm tweeter, called BC, uses a black aluminium oxide ceramic dome.

The crossover frequency between bass and midrange is set at 180 Hz, and between midrange and treble at 3000 Hz. This distribution gives the midrange an extended frequency band, covering the critical area for the localisation of voices and instruments.

An edgeless cabinet, machined on a 5-axis milling machine

The Reference 2023 breaks with the angular design of the previous K series. The cabinets feature curved side panels, a rounded top, and a front baffle with no sharp edges. This shape reduces the acoustic diffractions that usually colour the sound of rectangular-box speakers.

Canton machines the front baffles on a dedicated 5-axis CNC milling machine. The thickness of the front panel reaches 81 mm on some models in the range. The walls are made from multilayer laminate, reinforced by an internal bracing system calculated using computer simulation to eliminate standing waves.

Three finishes are available: piano black lacquer (12 coats of varnish, sanded and polished), satin matt white, and real walnut treated with a special sanding technique and a matt varnish.

The Bass-Guide integrated into the plinth

The plinth of the Reference 3 is more than just a mechanical support. It incorporates Canton’s Bass-Guide system, a downward-firing bass-reflex port that distributes low-frequency energy equally to the front and rear of the speaker.

This design has two practical consequences. It makes placement near rear walls easier (as the port is not directly facing them) and it produces a more homogeneous bass dispersion in the room. The plinth rests on CNC-machined feet with PVD coating, decoupled from the cabinet by a “floating” construction.

The stated frequency response extends down to 20 Hz. The sensitivity of 88 dB for 2.83 V at 1 m, combined with a nominal impedance of 4 ohms, calls for an amplifier capable of delivering current. Canton specifies a continuous power handling of 300 W and 500 W peak.

Room Compensation tuning and WBT terminals

On the rear, the terminal block integrates the Room Compensation (RC) function. Two switches allow adjustment of the midrange and treble levels by ±1.5 dB in 1.5 dB steps. This function compensates for the acoustic characteristics of the listening room or adapts to personal preferences: slightly more treble for a very absorbent room, a little less if the walls are reflective.

The WBT nextgen terminals support bi-wiring and bi-amping. Gold-plated copper jumpers are supplied for single wiring. The quality of these connectors, manufactured by German specialist WBT in Essen, remains an asset for systems where contact quality matters.

Individual magnetic grilles

Each driver has its own acoustically neutral fabric grille, attached by magnets. The asymmetrical mounting rings surrounding the drivers act as waveguides and help with sound dispersion in the midrange and treble. These rings allow the drivers to be flush-mounted into the front baffle, with no visible screws.

Positioning within the Reference range

The Reference 2023 series includes eight models: four floorstanders (Reference 2, 3, 5 and 7, from largest to smallest), a compact speaker (Reference 9), a centre speaker (Reference Center), a passive subwoofer (Reference Sub), and the limited-edition Reference GS at the top of the range.

The Reference 3 occupies the second tier. It shares BCT technologies, the Bass-Guide and WBT terminals with its larger sisters, but in a smaller cabinet volume than the Reference 2 (which uses 219 mm woofers). Compared with the Reference 5, it gains two larger woofers (192 mm versus 174 mm) and a larger cabinet volume.

Technical specifications

Acoustic design

• Type: 3-way passive floorstanding speaker, bass-reflex
• Architecture: bass-reflex system with Bass-Guide technology ensuring even dispersion of low frequencies
• Drivers:
  • 2 x 192 mm woofers with BCT (Black Ceramic Tungsten) cone
  • 1 x 174 mm BCT midrange
  • 1 x 25 mm BC tweeter with asymmetrical waveguide
• Cone technology: new-generation BCT offering maximum rigidity and minimal distortion
• Crossover frequencies: 180 Hz / 3000 Hz

Acoustic performance

• Frequency response: 20 Hz – 40000 Hz
• Power handling:
  • Nominal: 300 W
  • Music: 500 W
• Nominal impedance: 4 ohms
• Sensitivity: 88 dB (2.83 V / 1 m)

Technologies and construction

• BCT (Black Ceramic Tungsten) cones combining extreme rigidity and low mass
• Reinforced multi-layer cabinet effectively limiting resonance and coloration
• Curved cabinet shape optimizing sound dispersion and stereo imaging
• Internal bracing optimized by computer simulation
• Wave Surround 3.0 technology ensuring precise control of driver excursion
• Room Compensation adjustment: fine-tuning of midrange and treble levels (± 1.5 dB) according to room acoustics

Connectivity

• High-end WBT-nextgen™ binding posts
• Compatible with bi-wiring / bi-amping
• Binding posts optimized for lossless signal transmission

Mechanical construction

• Decoupled plinth with floating design
• CNC feet with PVD coating
• Protective grille:
  • Magnetic attachment
  • Acoustically neutral fabric

Dimensions and weight

• Dimensions with plinth (W × H × D): 32 × 109 × 49 cm
• Dimensions without plinth:
  • Width: 29 cm
  • Depth: 46 cm
• Weight: 42 kg