In this review, we will be comparing HD6 and HD4 Next Gen, 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 HD6 and Audioengine HD4 Next Gen first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Audioengine HD6 | Audioengine HD4 Next Gen |
|---|
| Brand | Audioengine
United States · founded 2005 | Audioengine
United States · founded 2005 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Built-in amplifier | 100-watt RMS (200-watt peak) | 60-watt RMS (120-watt peak) |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 0.75" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.5" Kevlar | 4" Aramid |
|---|
| Frequency response | 50-22k Hz | 60-22k Hz |
|---|
| Max depth / sample rate | 24-bit / 192 kHz | 24-bit / 96 kHz |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Built-in 5.0 | Built-in 5.3 |
|---|
| Weight | 5.50kg / 12.1lbs | 2.40kg / 5.3lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 12.375" x 7.1875" x 12.5"
314.3 x 182.6 x 317.5mm | 9" x 5.5" x 6.5"
228.6 x 139.7 x 165.1mm |
|---|
HD6 and HD4 Next Gen 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 HD6 and HD4 Next Gen are 2-way speakers.
Audioengine HD6Audioengine HD4 Next Gen
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 HD6 |
Audioengine HD4 Next Gen |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
0.75-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.5-inch
|
1 x 4-inch
|
HD6 features a 1" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.5" Kevlar Woofer. On the other hand, the HD4 Next Gen features a 0.75" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4" Aramid Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3000Hz.
Frequency Response
HD6 has a frequency range of 50-22k Hz whereas HD4 Next Gen has a frequency range of 60-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the HD6 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the HD4 Next Gen's min frequency of 60Hz.
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
HD6 has a rear firing port whereas HD4 Next Gen has a front firing ports. Audioengine HD4 Next Gen's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Audioengine HD6 with its rear-firing port.
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 HD6's and Audioengine HD4 Next Gen's external dimensions. Audioengine HD6 has external dimensions of 314.3 x 182.6 x 317.5mm (12.375 x 7.1875 x 12.5inch) whereas Audioengine HD4 Next Gen has external dimensions of 228.6 x 139.7 x 165.1mm (9 x 5.5 x 6.5inch).
Audioengine HD6 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 42.9mm wider, 85.7mm taller and 152.4mm deeper than Audioengine HD4 Next Gen.
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 HD6 needs about 151% more floor or shelf area. Audioengine HD6 is 152mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Audioengine HD6 is 86mm 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 HD6 is approximately 579.8cm2 / 89.9inch2 and base area of the Audioengine HD4 Next Gen is approximately 230.6cm2 / 35.7inch2. The HD6 requires 151% more surface area than the HD4 Next Gen 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 HD6 weighs 5.50kg / 12.1lbs and the Audioengine HD4 Next Gen weighs 2.40kg / 5.3lbs. This makes the HD6 129% heavier than the HD4 Next Gen.
Here is a comparison of how HD6 and HD4 Next Gen'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 HD6?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of HD6:
- Powered speaker
- Passive speaker
- 2 Grilles (pre-installed)
- 6-feet AC power cord
- Bluetooth antenna
- Remote control
- 13-feet Speaker cable (w/ banana connectors on each end)
- 6.5-feet Stereo minijack cable
- 2 Microfiber speaker bags
- MIcrofiber cable bag
- Quickstart Guide
- Product Line Brochure
What's in the Box of Audioengine HD4 Next Gen?
Here are the items that come with the 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
 Woofer Size |
5.5 inches
vs
4 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
60 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Handheld Remote |
Yes
vs
No
|
Control the speaker by the included RC |
 Digital Input |
Optical
vs
No
|
Connect digital inputs directly |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Height |
228mm
vs
314mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
230cm2
vs
579cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
429USD
vs
699USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 USB Port |
USB-C
vs
No
|
USB port adds flexibility |
 Headphone Output |
3.5mm
vs
No
|
Connect your headphone |
| General |
Audioengine HD6 |
Audioengine HD4 Next Gen |
| Brand |
Audioengine |
Audioengine |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
50-22k Hz |
60-22k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
100-watt RMS |
60-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
200-watt RMS |
120-watt RMS |
| Max Bit Depth |
24-bit |
24-bit |
| Max Sample Rate |
192 kHz |
96 kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.5" |
4" |
| Woofer Composition |
Kevlar |
Aramid |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
0.75" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
3000Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
314.3mm (12.4") |
228.6mm (9") |
| Width |
182.6mm (7.2") |
139.7mm (5.5") |
| Depth |
317.5mm (12.5") |
165.1mm (6.5") |
| Weight |
5.50kg (12.1lbs) |
2.40kg (5.3lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Black, Walnut, White, Cherry Wood |
Satin Black, Walnut, Hi-Gloss Piano White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Aux Inputs |
3.5mm, RCA |
3.5mm, RCA |
| USB Port |
No |
USB-C |
| Phone Input |
No |
No |
| Subwoofer Output |
Wired |
RCA variable line-out |
| Digital Input |
Optical |
No |
| HDMI Input |
No |
No |
| Headphone Jack |
No |
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 HD6 digs deeper - 50Hz against 60Hz. |
| Built-in power | A | Audioengine HD6 has the bigger amplifier (100W vs 60W RMS). |
| Connections | A | Audioengine HD6 adds digital inputs. |
| Size | depends | Audioengine HD4 Next Gen is easier to place; Audioengine HD6 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Audioengine HD6: a sub output; Audioengine HD4 Next Gen: a sub output. |
| Price | B | Audioengine HD4 Next Gen is cheaper - $429 against $699, about 39% less; arguably a different class. |
A Audioengine HD6 B Audioengine HD4 Next Gen
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 HD6 measures better, Audioengine HD4 Next Gen costs about about 63% 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 60Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Audioengine HD4 Next Gen much easier to justify. In a large or open-plan room, Audioengine HD6 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Audioengine HD4 Next Gen 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.