Canton Smart Soundbar 10 S2, Black (Single)

The Canton Smart Soundbar 10 S2 is an active Dolby Atmos soundbar that creates its height channels via two upward-firing drivers and the ceiling.

Silky matte black, 99 centimeters wide, 300 watts of system power, network and Bluetooth built in from the factory. One cable to the TV, and the sound finally leaves the plane of the screen. Delivered as a single unit.

Why the Canton Smart Soundbar 10 S2?

The difference to the smaller 9 S2 sits in the ceiling. The 10 S2 is a 3-way bass reflex system whose four 79 mm aluminum woofers fire at an angle upward; two of them additionally carry the Atmos height channels and bounce the effects off the ceiling back to the sofa. Suddenly the helicopter sits above you instead of in front of you. In front of that work two 19 mm fabric tweeters and two 50 mm aluminum midrange drivers, a front-firing passive radiator handles the bass. Four Class D amplifier channels with a combined 300 watts of system power supply the energy. Three HDMI inputs accept players, the HDMI output supports eARC and thus pulls high-bitrate soundtracks back out of the TV too.

What you hear

The first thing you notice is that voices come from the middle of the picture again instead of a gap behind the panel. Then comes the width: the stage clearly extends beyond the 99 centimeters of the housing. And then, when the soundtrack allows it, height is added – rain, rotors, church reverb. The 10 S2 treats music maturely, it doesn't sound thin even at room volume. The height plane is a reflection trick, not a ceiling install, you should know that. But it's a trick that works once the ceiling plays along.

Who is the Canton Smart Soundbar 10 S2 suitable for?

Plain talk: The 10 S2 is for you if you want real surround sound including a height plane under a large TV, without building speakers into the ceiling. It's not the right choice if your living room has a high sloped or wood ceiling, because then the height channels lack a reflection surface and the premium over the 9 S2 fizzles out. Honestly: measure your ceiling height before deciding. If you want to physically feel deep bass, plan for an additional subwoofer.

Our verdict

The 10 S2 pulls off the trick of getting a credible height plane out of a 6.4-centimeter-flat housing, while staying a single device instead of a cable jungle. It has no automatic room calibration, but the app asks for the crucial measurements. We at HD Zürisee in Wädenswil assess in advance what your ceiling can actually deliver, instead of selling you a hope.

Technical data

• Type: Active Dolby Atmos soundbar with built-in Class D amplifier
• Acoustic principle: 3-way bass reflex system with front-firing passive radiator
• Audio channels: 7 (manufacturer spec), of which two height channels via upward-firing drivers
• Amplifier: 4 channels, Class D
• System power: 300 W total (Canton does not specify per-channel power)
• Drivers: 2× 19 mm fabric tweeter, 2× 50 mm aluminum midrange, 4× 79 mm aluminum woofer (angled upward, two of which carry the Atmos height channels), 1× passive radiator
• Frequency response: 40–23,000 Hz
• Crossover frequency: 3,000 Hz
• Decoders via HDMI: Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Digital, Dolby Surround, DTS-HD Master Audio, DTS-HD HRA, DTS Express, DTS Digital Surround, PCM (2–8 channels, 8–24 bit, 44.1–192 kHz)
• Decoders via S/PDIF: Dolby Digital, DTS Digital Surround, PCM 2-channel up to 24 bit/192 kHz
• HDMI: 3× input and 1× output, HDMI 2.0b, HDCP 2.2, 4K, 3D, HDR, CEC; output with eARC
• Further connections: 1× stereo RCA analog (max. 2 Vrms), 1× optical Toslink (max. 24 bit/96 kHz), 1× coaxial (max. 24 bit/96 kHz), 1× subwoofer output mono RCA (max. 2 Vrms), 1× LAN (RJ45), 1× USB-A (service only, no playback)
• Output level: No line or preamp output available; the only output is the mono subwoofer RCA at max. 2 Vrms, whose level follows the volume control
• Headphone output: Not present
• Network and streaming: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, AirPlay 2, Chromecast built-in, Spotify Connect, UPnP; multiroom via AirPlay 2 and Chromecast groups
• Bluetooth: Version 4.1 (A2DP 1.2, AVRCP 1.3, SBC)
• Room calibration: No automatic calibration; placement height, ceiling distance and listening distances are entered in the Canton Smart app
• File formats: MP3, HE-AAC, LC-AAC, OGG, WAV (LPCM), FLAC
• App: Canton Smart (iOS and Android), setup also via Google Home
• Expandability: Wirelessly with Canton Smart Sub and Canton Smart surround speakers
• Finish: Silky matte black (foil/lacquer), MDF housing
• Dimensions (W×H×D): 99 × 6.4 × 10 cm
• Weight: 5.7 kg
• Scope of delivery: Smart Soundbar 10 S2, remote control, power cable, HDMI cable (3 m), optical digital cable, coaxial digital cable, analog stereo audio cable, quick guide, 8 rubber feet

Frequently asked questions

Does the Canton Smart Soundbar 10 S2 create Dolby Atmos without ceiling speakers?

Yes. Four upward-angled woofers sit in the housing, two of which handle the Atmos height channels via ceiling reflection. The effect depends on the ceiling: flat and smooth reflects noticeably better than sloped, open, or with wood beams. In the Canton Smart app you enter placement height and ceiling distance so the calculation is correct.

What's the difference between the Soundbar 10 S2 and the Soundbar 9 S2?

The 10 S2 decodes Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio and has two height channels. Its HDMI output supports eARC and thus also transmits high-bitrate soundtracks. The 9 S2 works two-way, only knows Dolby Digital and DTS Digital Surround, has no height plane, and an ARC output.

Does the Soundbar 10 S2 have a headphone output?

No. The soundbar has no headphone jack, and there's also no adjustable line output. The only output is the mono subwoofer RCA with a maximum of 2 volts, whose level follows the volume control. It's meant for an active subwoofer, not headphones. So connect headphones directly to the TV.

Which streaming services work, and do I need a subscription?

The soundbar comes with AirPlay 2, Chromecast built-in, Spotify Connect and UPnP, plus Bluetooth 4.1. A subscription isn't required: internet radio, music files from network storage, and anything connected via HDMI, RCA, optical or coaxial play without ongoing costs.

Why buy the Canton Smart Soundbar 10 S2 from HD Zürisee?

Because an Atmos bar only shows its effect in the actual room. We assess in advance with you what your ceiling can deliver, sort out the connection to your TV, and plan the later expansion together. Our technician Mauri handles delivery, installation and setup on-site. Call us or write to us.

Goes well with

A subwoofer for the punch below 40 Hz, home cinema speakers as wireless rears, a clean HDMI cable for the eARC connection, and a look at the whole Canton range.