German lautsprecher maker Canton has updated their entry level line of GLE loudspeakers with six freshened models sporting a curved front baffle, improved efficiency, and extended top end.

 

Notable among the updated models are the Canton GLE 490 floorstanding loudspeaker, the GLE 470 floorstanding loudspeaker, the GLE 455 center channel, and the GLE 430 bookshelf loudspeaker. The Canton GLE 490 is a 3 way speaker utilizing two 8" aluminum woofers mated with a 7" aluminum midrange and Canton's redesigned 1" silk dome tweeter. The GLE 490 has an approximate impedance of 6 ohms, better than average sensitivity of 90.5dB and a frequency range of 54-24k Hz. At $1399 a pair MSRP that is a lot of loudspeaker.  The 490's little brother, the Canton GLE 470, is an MTM design. The 2 1/2 way 470 uses two 7" drivers and the same 1" silk dome. Canton claims improved off-axis for this MTM from a redesign that sends midrange to the top 7" only. For only $499 more the Canton GLE 455 center channel makes this array 5.1-friendly. The 2 1/2 way GLE 455 utilizes two 6 1/4" aluminum drivers mated with the 1" silk dome.

 

While the boxy, vinyl clad Canton GLE series may not have the sex appeal of some of the competition, the big German floorstanders produce an extraordinarily big, rich sound that is pleasing as well as forgiving of less than stellar source material. I've auditioned the predecessors of these new Canton's, and I can heartily recommend a sitting with them if you're in the market for new loudspeakers at this price point.