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Canton has a great record with soundbases, combining excellent sound quality with ease of use in one nicely built and affordable box. And it keeps getting better.
The Canton DM55 replaces the much-praised, a five-star performer at £400. The addition of a glass top, some sonic tweaks, and a price drop make this good-looking and capable unit even more appealing than before. Sound Fire up the Blu-ray of, and you’ll immediately hear the throaty rumble of roaring engines, the crisp crackle of windshields and glass smashing against the pavement and clear, warm voices.
It’s a rich, meaty sound. Sound effects are spaced out nicely, with each explosion and ricocheting bullet having the right amount of solid punch and excitement to keep you drawn into the film’s crazy action sequences. Bass digs deep – very deep – but stops just short of overpowering all the other frequencies.
It’s not all about the brawn, though. The DM55 also manages to be agile and subtle amidst that full-bodied performance.
As Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham try to out do each other on who has the manliest voice, the DM55 is talented enough to distinguish the various nuances and textures of each stony-faced growl. Even the few quieter moments are handled with a mature degree of control. The Canton’s talents translate neatly over to music, news and daytime TV too. As an upgrade to your TV’s sound, it adds a layer of depth, richness and atmosphere that really draws you into whatever content you’re watching. Features and connectivity In terms of features and connectivity, the DM55 scores highly. It’s easy to use thanks to the large LED display and well-designed remote control. Unlike the flimsy credit-card types we see a lot with rivals, Canton supplies a chunky and solid remote with clearly-labelled buttons that make it intuitive to use.
Connections on the DM55 remain the same as before: you get two digital inputs (optical and coaxial), a pair of RCA analogue inputs, and a subwoofer output. Bluetooth aptX lets you stream music from any smartphone or tablet. There’s still no sign of HDMI inputs, but we don’t feel that’s a huge miss as the optical input works perfectly well. It's worth noting that newer soundbases, such as the Sonos Playbase and the Q Acoustics M2, do include HDMI connectivity. While we wouldn’t mess with the bass and treble levels much (the Canton sounds well balanced as it is), it’s worth switching between the Surround and Stereo modes. Stereo keeps everything solid and tightly focused, while Surround opens up the soundfield without, crucially, affecting midrange fidelity too much. It’s a subtle difference, but worth trying if you want a bit more atmosphere when watching films.
Build and design The Canton DM55 remains an impeccably built soundbase. The structure is sturdy, and feels even classier than before thanks to that sleek glass top. There are metal feet underneath that not only add to the DM55’s air of class, but also add enough of a gap to allow the two downward-firing woofers underneath the base to work properly. The DM55 is a hefty thing, and can support TVs weighing up to 40kg. That should be fine for most flatscreen TVs, but we’d make sure your TV’s stand fits on top of the DM55. If not, you can simply tuck the DM55 on the rack underneath.
Verdict If you’re after a soundbase that both looks good and performs brilliantly, this Canton DM55 is definitely one you need to audition. It’s lovely to use, it looks classier than its price tag would suggest, and the sound quality is the best of its kind. The drop in price from the older model (the DM50 was £400) also makes this 2016 Award-winner an unexpected gem of a bargain. It’s an exciting, involving performer. See all our. See all our.
Make sure you have (or have the budget for) a big enough TV rack to support the soundbase While the DM 50 is best suited to 40in or smaller tellies, the 73cm-wide DM75 is less restricted and can cater for almost any size. TV weight won’t be a deciding factor either – Canton claims both models can take up to 40kg, which should allow you plenty of choice. Canton also allows you colour options of black, silver or white, which is refreshing in a sea of black boxes. It’s a smart, if modest, design with a textured matt chassis and a metal front grille that hides two 5cm midrange drivers and two 25mm tweeters. Underneath the unit you’ll find four 10cm woofers, double that on the DM50, while on the front panel there’s a welcome blue LED display that’ll only light up when you use the remote. The Canton has several connections but lacks HDMI inputs It displays basic information, such as volume level and input, and makes controlling the DM75 quick and easy. Speaking of the remote, Canton’s effort is better than many of its competitors, suitably chunky and well made, plus the buttons are well labelled and nicely laid out for ease of use.
All good news then, but if there’s anything we’d like more from at this price, it’s inputs. You’ll get optical and coaxial inputs alongside a pair of analogues, but there are no HDMIs for those who need them.
There is a subwoofer output to add more bass to proceedings, but we wouldn’t have thought you’d need it, plus there’s aptX Bluetooth on board for streaming music to the DM75. Four 10cm downward-firing drivers add plenty of weight to the sound We fire up to put the DM75 through its paces, and that Canton family sound is immediately evident – it’s rich, balanced and full of insight.
It’s a big, room-filling sound that’s also open and airy, offering more space to a movie soundtrack than the would allow. This brings with it both strengths and weaknesses, delivering a more expressive midrange that’s great for insight, but at the expense of a little solidity. That’s not to say the bass isn’t impressive – it is.
Take the skydive scene in After Earth, and there’s a satisfyingly weighty rumble as Kitai swoops past rock edges, with plenty of punch to it when required too. Consider the DM 75 if you have a large TV and want a considerable boost in power, pace and weight When Kitai dives into the waterfall to avoid becoming eagle prey, the sound of falling water is crisp and enveloping, with plenty of fine detail to give it depth and texture rather than being one mass of sound. Highs are clear and sharp, but amid new competition can teeter on the edge of brightness at volume. It’s not uncomfortable, but it does add to the slight feeling of fragility when compared to the likes of the Solo 15 and Geneva Model Cinema. Action movies are most at home on the DM75, with plenty of attack and expression here to deliver excitement and pace in spades. It’s a masterclass in dynamics, making sense of any soundtrack you throw at it, and dialogue proves just as successful, cutting through action-packed scenes with plenty of clarity – if not as richly as the Geneva.
Verdict There’s no doubting the Canton DM75 is an excellent soundbase – we gave it an Award after all – but with the introduction of some fresh new rivals, there are now some things that put its fifth star on shaky ground. While we love its open and expressive nature, the sense of fragility it brings to the midrange as a result makes us crave the solidity of the Geneva Model Cinema, which is available, alongside other improvements, for £100 more.