In this review, we will be comparing M20 HD and HD6, two Powered Bookshelf speakers from Q Acoustics 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 Q Acoustics M20 HD and Audioengine HD6 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Q Acoustics M20 HD | Audioengine HD6 |
|---|
| Brand | Q Acoustics
United Kingdom · founded 2006 | Audioengine
United States · founded 2005 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Built-in amplifier | 128-watt RMS | 100-watt RMS (200-watt peak) |
|---|
| Tweeter | 0.875" Dome | 1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5" | 5.5" Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 55-22k Hz | 50-22k Hz |
|---|
| Max depth / sample rate | 24-bit / 192 kHz | 24-bit / 192 kHz |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Built-in 5.0 | Built-in 5.0 |
|---|
| Weight | 5.10kg / 11.2lbs | 5.50kg / 12.1lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 10-15/16" x 6-11/16" x 12-3/16"
278.0 x 170.0 x 310.0mm | 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 M20 HD and HD6 are 2-way speakers.
Q Acoustics M20 HDAudioengine 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 |
Q Acoustics M20 HD |
Audioengine HD6 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.875-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5-inch
|
1 x 5.5-inch
|
M20 HD features a 0.875" Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Woofer. On the other hand, the HD6 features a 1" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.5" Kevlar Woofer.
Frequency Response
M20 HD has a frequency range of 55-22k Hz whereas HD6 has a frequency range of 50-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the HD6 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the M20 HD's min frequency of 55Hz.
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 M20 HD 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 Q Acoustics M20 HD's and Audioengine HD6's external dimensions. Q Acoustics M20 HD has external dimensions of 278.0 x 170.0 x 310.0mm (10-15/16 x 6-11/16 x 12-3/16inch) 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 12.6mm wider, 36.3mm taller and 7.5mm deeper than Q Acoustics M20 HD.
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 10% more floor or shelf area. Audioengine HD6 is 36mm 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 Q Acoustics M20 HD is approximately 527.0cm2 / 81.7inch2 and base area of the Audioengine HD6 is approximately 579.8cm2 / 89.9inch2. The M20 HD requires 9% 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 Q Acoustics M20 HD weighs 5.10kg / 11.2lbs and the Audioengine HD6 weighs 5.50kg / 12.1lbs. This makes the HD6 8% heavier than the M20 HD.
Here is a comparison of how M20 HD 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 Q Acoustics M20 HD?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of M20 HD:
- Powered speaker
- Passive speaker
- 6-feet AC power cord
- Remote control
- 2 AAA batteries
- 13-feet Speaker wire
- 59-inch Optical digital cable
- 2 Foam port plugs
- Owners 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 |
278mm
vs
314mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
527cm2
vs
579cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
599USD
vs
699USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 USB Port |
USB-B
vs
No
|
USB port adds flexibility |
 Woofer Size |
5.5 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
55 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
Q Acoustics M20 HD Wireless Music System |
Audioengine HD6 |
| Brand |
Q Acoustics |
Audioengine |
| Speaker Type |
Powered stereo speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
55-22k Hz |
50-22k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
128-watt RMS |
100-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
n/a |
200-watt RMS |
| Max Bit Depth |
24-bit |
24-bit |
| Max Sample Rate |
192 kHz |
192 kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
5.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Kevlar |
| Tweeter Size |
0.875" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
278.0mm (10.9") |
314.3mm (12.4") |
| Width |
170.0mm (6.7") |
182.6mm (7.2") |
| Depth |
310.0mm (12.2") |
317.5mm (12.5") |
| Weight |
5.10kg (11.2lbs) |
5.50kg (12.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Black, White, Walnut |
Black, Walnut, White, Cherry Wood |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Aux Inputs |
3.5mm, Stereo RCA |
3.5mm, RCA |
| USB Port |
USB-B |
No |
| Phone Input |
No |
No |
| Subwoofer Output |
mono-RCA |
Wired |
| Digital Input |
Optical |
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 |
A generation apart: Q Acoustics M20 HD is the newer design, against a 2016 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Audioengine HD6 digs deeper - 50Hz against 55Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Built-in power | A | Q Acoustics M20 HD has the bigger amplifier (128W vs 100W RMS). |
| Connections | A | Q Acoustics M20 HD adds streaming. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | Q Acoustics M20 HD: a sub output; Audioengine HD6: a sub output. |
| Price | A | Q Acoustics M20 HD is cheaper - $599 against $699, about 14% less. |
A Q Acoustics M20 HD 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?
Q Acoustics M20 HD has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 55Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Q Acoustics M20 HD much easier to justify.
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.