In this review, we will be comparing YU6 and HD6, two Powered Bookshelf speakers from Kanto and 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 Kanto YU6 and Audioengine HD6 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Kanto YU6 | Audioengine HD6 |
|---|
| Brand | Kanto
Canada · founded 2007 | Audioengine
United States · founded 2005 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Built-in amplifier | 100-watt RMS | 100-watt RMS (200-watt peak) |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.25" Kevlar | 5.5" Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 50-20k Hz | 50-22k Hz |
|---|
| Max depth / sample rate | 24-bit / 96 kHz | 24-bit / 192 kHz |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Built-in 4.0 | Built-in 5.0 |
|---|
| Weight | 4.00kg / 8.8lbs | 5.50kg / 12.1lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 10.7" x 6.9" x 8.1"
272.0 x 175.0 x 205.0mm | 12.375" x 7.1875" x 12.5"
314.3 x 182.6 x 317.5mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both YU6 and HD6 are 2-way speakers.
Kanto YU6Audioengine HD6
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Kanto YU6 |
Audioengine HD6 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 5.5-inch
|
YU6 features a 1" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Kevlar Woofer. On the other hand, the HD6 features a 1" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.5" Kevlar Woofer.
Frequency Response
YU6 has a frequency range of 50-20k Hz whereas HD6 has a frequency range of 50-22k Hz.
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 YU6 and HD6 have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
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 Kanto YU6's and Audioengine HD6's external dimensions. Kanto YU6 has external dimensions of 272.0 x 175.0 x 205.0mm (10.7 x 6.9 x 8.1inch) whereas Audioengine HD6 has external dimensions of 314.3 x 182.6 x 317.5mm (12.375 x 7.1875 x 12.5inch).
Audioengine HD6 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 7.6mm wider, 42.3mm taller and 112.5mm deeper than Kanto YU6.
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 62% more floor or shelf area. Audioengine HD6 is 113mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Audioengine HD6 is 42mm 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 Kanto YU6 is approximately 358.8cm2 / 55.6inch2 and base area of the Audioengine HD6 is approximately 579.8cm2 / 89.9inch2. The YU6 requires 38% less surface area than the HD6 which gives it a small advantage 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 Kanto YU6 weighs 4.00kg / 8.8lbs and the Audioengine HD6 weighs 5.50kg / 12.1lbs. This makes the HD6 38% heavier than the YU6.
Here is a comparison of how YU6 and HD6's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Kanto YU6?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of YU6:
- Remote with Batteries
- Power Cord
- Speaker Wire (16′)
- 3.5mm Auxiliary Cable (6.5′)
- 8 x Rubber Feet
- Manual
What's in the Box of Audioengine HD6?
Here are the items that come with the 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
 Height |
272mm
vs
314mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
358cm2
vs
579cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
540USD
vs
699USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 USB Port |
Charge only
vs
No
|
USB port adds flexibility |
 Phono Input |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connect your turntable directly |
 Woofer Size |
5.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
22k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
| General |
Kanto YU6 |
Audioengine HD6 |
| Brand |
Kanto |
Audioengine |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
50-20k Hz |
50-22k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
100-watt RMS |
100-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
n/a |
200-watt RMS |
| Max Bit Depth |
24-bit |
24-bit |
| Max Sample Rate |
96 kHz |
192 kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Kevlar |
Kevlar |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
272.0mm (10.7") |
314.3mm (12.4") |
| Width |
175.0mm (6.9") |
182.6mm (7.2") |
| Depth |
205.0mm (8.1") |
317.5mm (12.5") |
| Weight |
4.00kg (8.8lbs) |
5.50kg (12.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
bass reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Black, Walnut, White, Cherry Wood |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Aux Inputs |
3.5mm, RCA |
3.5mm, RCA |
| USB Port |
Charge only |
No |
| Phone Input |
Yes |
No |
| Subwoofer Output |
Wired |
Wired |
| Digital Input |
Optical (2) |
Optical |
| HDMI Input |
No |
No |
| Headphone Jack |
No |
No |
| Ethernet Port |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
2 Years |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
2 Years |
3 Years |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your sources and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | evenly matched | Much the same reach (50Hz vs 50Hz). |
| Built-in power | evenly matched | Similar onboard amplification (100W vs 100W RMS). |
| Connections | A | Kanto YU6 adds phono. |
| Size | depends | Kanto YU6 is easier to place; Audioengine HD6 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Kanto YU6: a sub output; Audioengine HD6: a sub output. |
| Price | A | Kanto YU6 is cheaper - $540 against $699, about 23% less. |
A Kanto YU6 B Audioengine HD6
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?
Kanto YU6 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. 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, Kanto YU6 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.