In this review, we will be comparing HD4 Next Gen and HD3, two Powered Bookshelf speakers by Audioengine. Being Powered speakers, they both have built-in amplifiers so you don't need an external power amp or an integrated amp to power them.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Audioengine HD4 Next Gen and Audioengine HD3 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Audioengine HD4 Next Gen | Audioengine HD3 |
|---|
| Brand | Audioengine
United States · founded 2005 | Audioengine
United States · founded 2005 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Built-in amplifier | 60-watt RMS (120-watt peak) | 30-watt RMS (60-watt peak) |
|---|
| Tweeter | 0.75" Soft-Dome | 0.75" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 4" Aramid | 2.75" Kevlar/Glass-Aramid Composite |
|---|
| Frequency response | 60-22k Hz | 65-22k Hz |
|---|
| Max depth / sample rate | 24-bit / 96 kHz | 24-bit / 48 kHz |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Built-in 5.3 | Built-in 5.0 |
|---|
| Weight | 2.40kg / 5.3lbs | 1.55kg / 3.4lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 9" x 5.5" x 6.5"
228.6 x 139.7 x 165.1mm | 7" x 4.25" x 5-1/2"
177.8 x 108.0 x 139.7mm |
|---|
HD4 Next Gen and HD3 are members of Audioengine's HD series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Audioengine HD Series
History
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both HD4 Next Gen and HD3 are 2-way speakers.
Audioengine HD4 Next GenAudioengine HD3
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Audioengine HD4 Next Gen |
Audioengine HD3 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.75-inch
|
0.75-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4-inch
|
1 x 2.75-inch
|
HD4 Next Gen features a 0.75" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4" Aramid Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3000Hz. On the other hand, the HD3 features a 0.75" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 2.75" Kevlar/Glass-Aramid Composite Woofer.
Frequency Response
HD4 Next Gen has a frequency range of 60-22k Hz whereas HD3 has a frequency range of 65-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 60Hz, the HD4 Next Gen can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the HD3's min frequency of 65Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both HD4 Next Gen and HD3 have front firing ports. front ported speakers offers more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls&surfaces compared to rear ported speakers.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Audioengine HD4 Next Gen's and Audioengine HD3's external dimensions. Audioengine HD4 Next Gen has external dimensions of 228.6 x 139.7 x 165.1mm (9 x 5.5 x 6.5inch) whereas Audioengine HD3 has external dimensions of 177.8 x 108.0 x 139.7mm (9.125 x 4.25 x 7.25inch).
Audioengine HD4 Next Gen is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 31.7mm wider, 50.8mm taller and 25.4mm deeper than Audioengine HD3.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Audioengine HD4 Next Gen needs about 53% more floor or shelf area. Audioengine HD4 Next Gen is 25mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Audioengine HD4 Next Gen is 51mm taller.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the Audioengine HD4 Next Gen is approximately 230.6cm2 / 35.7inch2 and base area of the Audioengine HD3 is approximately 150.9cm2 / 23.4inch2. The HD4 Next Gen requires 53% more surface area than the HD3 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The Audioengine HD4 Next Gen weighs 2.40kg / 5.3lbs and the Audioengine HD3 weighs 1.55kg / 3.4lbs. This makes the HD4 Next Gen 55% heavier than the HD3.
Here is a comparison of how HD4 Next Gen and HD3's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Audioengine HD4 Next Gen?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of HD4 Next Gen:
- Powered left speaker
- Passive right speaker
- Bluetooth antenna
- Banana plug speaker cable
- AC power cord
- USB-C cable
- Mini-jack audio cable
- RCA audio cable
- 2 microfiber speaker bags
- 2 microfiber cable bags
- Setup guide
What's in the Box of Audioengine HD3?
Here are the items that come with the HD3:
- Powered speaker
- Passive speaker
- 2 Grilles (pre-installed)
- AC power supply (attached 6-feet DC cord)
- 6-feet AC power cord
- Bluetooth antenna
- 5-feet microUSB-to-USB cable
- 6.5-feet Speaker cable (banana connectors on each end)
- 5-feet Stereo minijack cable
- 2 Microfiber speaker bags
- MIcrofiber cable bag
- Quickstart Guide
- Product Line Brochure
 Woofer Size |
4 inches
vs
2.75 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
60 Hz
vs
65 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 USB Port |
USB-C
vs
No
|
USB port adds flexibility |
 Handheld Remote |
Yes
vs
No
|
Control the speaker by the included RC |
 Height |
177mm
vs
228mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
150cm2
vs
230cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
349USD
vs
429USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
|
USB Port |
microUSB
vs
No
|
USB port adds flexibility |
| General |
Audioengine HD4 Next Gen |
Audioengine HD3 |
| Brand |
Audioengine |
Audioengine |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
60-22k Hz |
65-22k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
60-watt RMS |
30-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
120-watt RMS |
60-watt RMS |
| Max Bit Depth |
24-bit |
24-bit |
| Max Sample Rate |
96 kHz |
48 kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
4" |
2.75" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aramid |
Kevlar/Glass-Aramid Composite |
| Tweeter Size |
0.75" |
0.75" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
3000Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
228.6mm (9") |
177.8mm (7") |
| Width |
139.7mm (5.5") |
108.0mm (4.3") |
| Depth |
165.1mm (6.5") |
139.7mm (5.5") |
| Weight |
2.40kg (5.3lbs) |
1.55kg (3.4lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Satin Black, Walnut, Hi-Gloss Piano White |
Black, Walnut, White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Aux Inputs |
3.5mm, RCA |
3.5mm, RCA |
| USB Port |
USB-C |
microUSB |
| Phone Input |
No |
No |
| Subwoofer Output |
RCA variable line-out |
Wired |
| Digital Input |
No |
No |
| HDMI Input |
No |
No |
| Headphone Jack |
3.5mm |
3.5mm |
| Ethernet Port |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
3 Years |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
3 Years |
3 Years |
Siblings in Audioengine's HD series, so they share a family sound. It comes down to size, output and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Audioengine HD4 Next Gen digs deeper - 60Hz against 65Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Built-in power | A | Audioengine HD4 Next Gen has the bigger amplifier (60W vs 30W RMS). |
| Connections | evenly matched | The same set of inputs and streaming options. |
| Size | depends | Audioengine HD3 is easier to place; Audioengine HD4 Next Gen is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Audioengine HD4 Next Gen: a sub output; Audioengine HD3: a sub output. |
| Price | B | Audioengine HD3 is cheaper - $349 against $429, about 19% less. |
A Audioengine HD4 Next Gen B Audioengine HD3
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
The usual trade-off: Audioengine HD4 Next Gen measures better, Audioengine HD3 costs about about 23% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 65Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Audioengine HD3 much easier to justify. In a large or open-plan room, Audioengine HD4 Next Gen has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Audioengine HD3 is the easier speaker to get right.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.