Summary – Audioengine HD6 Review
When it comes to bookshelf speakers, I have to confess that the Audioengine HD6s have some of the best sound I have ever heard. They are essentially bookshelf speakers like the KEF LS50, and are powered speakers with an integrated DAC system for high performance audio reproduction. The HD6 Bluetooth speakers built-in analog power amplifiers and are also equipped with an aptX HD Bluetooth codec with a 100 foot range and 24-bit DAC which allow you to bypass low-quality sound cards in your laptop or PC devices for premium sound performance. They are wireless and work with all your smartphone devices and apps, and requires no additional network setups. It delivers high-end sound wrapped in hand-built wood cabinets without any receiver required. The HD6 speaker supports aptX HD Bluetooth codec, subwoofer connections and even has a remote control to go with it.
Technical Specifications
Most importantly, the Audioengine HD6 works with turntable and built-in external pre-amps so that you can get the best sound quality out of these speakers. They are also TV supported with analog outputs and RCA output connectivity.
The HD6 speakers have a 150W peak total power (50W RMS, 75W peak per channel). They come with 5.5” aramid fiber woofers and 1” silk dome tweeters for crystal clear sound performance. The speakers support Bluetooth 5.0 for high-quality music streaming with an input bit depth of 24-bits up-sampled.
How do these speakers sound?
You’ll fall in love with the sound quality of the Audioengine HD6 speakers. They produce some of the best sound I have heard in a long time, with tonal clarity, maximum depth and superb soundstage. The level of depth that these speakers can go is out of this world – you’ll hear things in your music which you have never heard before through these speakers. Vocal performances sound natural and very well-amplified, giving you a sense of where the vocalist is standing in the room. The highs and midranges are phenomenal – they sound detailed in almost every respect with presence and authority. The treble and midbass is well-articulated and balanced; they are strong enough for you to forego a dedicated subwoofer when using these speakers.
Listening to classical and instrumental music with these speakers was a very satisfying experience. You must use a turntable together with these speakers to appreciate how good these speakers actually are in terms of detail. Forget the wireless Bluetooth connection from your smartphone as this wouldn’t do justice to these speakers. Mozart and Beethoven sounded spectacular on these bookshelf speakers, giving you a sense of where each instrument is originating from with refined precision.
Design & Construction
The HD6 speakers come with custom 5.5” Kelvar woofers with die cast aluminium woofer baskets, and a custom 1” silk tweeter with neodymium magnets and ferrofluid-cooled voice coils. They are housed in hand-built cabinets with furniture-grade finishes and detachable magnetic speaker grills. It also has threated inserts to secure the speakers to stands. There are also passive crossovers with upgraded components for crystal clear sound distribution.
The Verdict?
The Audioengine HD6s are primarily designed for audiophiles who want high-fidelity sound in a bookshelf setting. These are highly versatile speaker with multiple connectivity options including optical, Bluetooth, RCA, analog and turntable connections. We also liked how good these speakers sounded, with crystal clear highs, very detailed midranges, midbass and deep bass performance. The sound quality from these speakers is near-perfect – everything sounds realistic and detailed with absolutely stunning soundstage. There’s also plenty of detail and depth in the music that makes these speakers stand out. If you are looking for a thoroughly satisfying audio experience, definitely go for the Audioengine HD6 speakers.