Audioengine HD6 Powered Speakers (Satin Black)

motocommando's review is spot on, very clean and smooth sounding overall. They are missing the lowest bass frequencies, but they are punchy and will play loud if you ask them to. Build quality is very high, you can tell they are a well engineered product with overall high QC.I'm using them as my A/V "soundbar", feeding the optical input of the speakers from my TV, which has the usual cable, Apple TV 4K streamer, and Bluray hookup via HDMI. Playing lossless music from the Apple TV (Music app) sounds pretty excellent, I'm quite pleased with the speakers.A couple of things to be aware of: the warranty is only 30 day Drop, as they are not an authorized dealer. So that kinda sucks. Also, mine were missing 1 speaker grill, and Drop offered me a small refund or the ... Moremotocommando's review is spot on, very clean and smooth sounding overall. They are missing the lowest bass frequencies, but they are punchy and will play loud if you ask them to. Build quality is very high, you can tell they are a well engineered product with overall high QC.I'm using them as my A/V "soundbar", feeding the optical input of the speakers from my TV, which has the usual cable, Apple TV 4K streamer, and Bluray hookup via HDMI. Playing lossless music from the Apple TV (Music app) sounds pretty excellent, I'm quite pleased with the speakers.A couple of things to be aware of: the warranty is only 30 day Drop, as they are not an authorized dealer. So that kinda sucks. Also, mine were missing 1 speaker grill, and Drop offered me a small refund or the option of returning them, but they had no more available. So I took the refund, and Audioengine support kindly sent me a replacement grill when I explained the situation to them. So kudos to their support, my hope is that they would help out if I ever need additional warranty support... Buy direct from them and you get the full 3 years. We'll see, so far no problems after almost 6 months since purchase.

So I ordered these in late July and there was a shipping delay. No big deal as I've been dealing with this same thing at work(shipping delays, back ordered parts, etc.). They arrived yesterday and I set them up. And they are pretty much what I expected, as I own a set of HDP6's in Walnut. These are in the Cherry finish. Not disappointed one bit in anything so far. Packaging was great, speakers are perfect. I've been running them since yesterday to burn them in, so far so good. I'm not expecting any drama with these, just good sound. And yes, for those who are a bit skeptical, they really do need a good 20 to 50 hours of use before they are at their best.So, some have made comments on a lack of bass. Folks, these have 5 and half inch woofers and smallish, ported ... MoreSo I ordered these in late July and there was a shipping delay. No big deal as I've been dealing with this same thing at work(shipping delays, back ordered parts, etc.). They arrived yesterday and I set them up. And they are pretty much what I expected, as I own a set of HDP6's in Walnut. These are in the Cherry finish. Not disappointed one bit in anything so far. Packaging was great, speakers are perfect. I've been running them since yesterday to burn them in, so far so good. I'm not expecting any drama with these, just good sound. And yes, for those who are a bit skeptical, they really do need a good 20 to 50 hours of use before they are at their best.So, some have made comments on a lack of bass. Folks, these have 5 and half inch woofers and smallish, ported box. There is a sub out for a reason. In a small room, on a desktop, they are great. I've got mine in a roughly 11 x 12 room with a small 8 inch sub(Polk) and they are just a bigger better version of my HD3's. I'm probably a bit biased here(this is my fourth pair of Audioengine speakers), so, there's that.But, nice bass, detailed mids, smooth highs. These remind me so much of the "East Coast" sounds, KLH, Cambridge Soundworks, Advent, etc. Not fatiguing at all, just nice sound.And the Cherry is gorgeous, as much as the Walnut is.The bluetooth set up is a breeze and works and sound great. I tried all the inputs and they pretty much do exactly what the HD3's do, work well. The DAC is just as good as the other DAC's I've got, both in receivers, speakers and my separate DAC's. The magnetic grill is a nice touch and the little remote is built like a tank. It's solid aluminum, has a simple and useful design. The touch pad is held on by magnets, much like the grills, and pops off via a small hole on the back. Use a paper clip, punch it out, and change your battery.The internal switching is really quite simple and works well.So there you have it.Get some, you won't be disappointed.

Beautiful and Versatile Speakers

My HD6 speakers in Walnut are so beautiful and so powerful. You would never know they aren't new because there are no cosmetic flaws, and Audioengine perform the same quality control checks on the refurbished speakers as they do on brand-new speakers to get them ready for sale. Also, their refurbished stock comes only from customer returns within the 30-day return period. They have been a wonderful addition to my home theater set-up, but in aesthetics and sound they also perfectly complement my U-Turn Orbit Special in Walnut. They are simple to set up out of the box, and pairing them with your Bluetooth devices is straightforward. The walnut casing adds warmth and elegance that is at home with all kinds of interior design. All in all, a superlative and versatile ... MoreMy HD6 speakers in Walnut are so beautiful and so powerful. You would never know they aren't new because there are no cosmetic flaws, and Audioengine perform the same quality control checks on the refurbished speakers as they do on brand-new speakers to get them ready for sale. Also, their refurbished stock comes only from customer returns within the 30-day return period. They have been a wonderful addition to my home theater set-up, but in aesthetics and sound they also perfectly complement my U-Turn Orbit Special in Walnut. They are simple to set up out of the box, and pairing them with your Bluetooth devices is straightforward. The walnut casing adds warmth and elegance that is at home with all kinds of interior design. All in all, a superlative and versatile pair of speakers for your TV, turntable, and Bluetooth devices.

Can lightning strike twice at Audioengine?

For 10 or 12 years, one of the joys of my existence has been a lovely pair of A-2s (in the long discontinued Gloss Black) at the head of my bed, connected to an internet radio tuned to WQXR. I have bought all of the subsequent A-2 models to use in various other locations or as gifts. All the new A-2 models possessed the same magic that the original still has for me. I hesitated to buy a larger model for fear that lightning might not strike twice in the same place. But finally I decided to try the HD6, and I am happy to report Audioengine has technology that is sufficiently advanced, so as to appear as magic. They didn't need a lucky second lightning strike.The HD6 is clean, uncolored, and neutral sounding, with a tight bass and smooth mid-range and treble. Since ... MoreFor 10 or 12 years, one of the joys of my existence has been a lovely pair of A-2s (in the long discontinued Gloss Black) at the head of my bed, connected to an internet radio tuned to WQXR. I have bought all of the subsequent A-2 models to use in various other locations or as gifts. All the new A-2 models possessed the same magic that the original still has for me. I hesitated to buy a larger model for fear that lightning might not strike twice in the same place. But finally I decided to try the HD6, and I am happy to report Audioengine has technology that is sufficiently advanced, so as to appear as magic. They didn't need a lucky second lightning strike.The HD6 is clean, uncolored, and neutral sounding, with a tight bass and smooth mid-range and treble. Since these are rear ported, mine are on stands about 3 feet away from the nearest wall, giving me a slightly warm bass end. Silibants and announcer proximity effects are reproduced accurately (as they were recorded). It is easy to add 1 or 2 subwoofers crossing over around 45 Hz. The HD6 would make excellent monitors. They tell it like it is. They cherry veneer is perfectly installed and gorgeous. I leave the grille cloths off to reduce diffraction effects. The sound stage is a larger scale model of an orchestra than the sound stage of the A-2, Voices and instruments sound very realistic. Well recorded hi-res music sources sound great, just as well recorded 44/16 sources do.

Even better than I expected!

I just bought a pair of HD6 speakers for my living room after about 6 years of using a pair of A5+. I've only got about 30 hours on them so far, so they are still breaking in, but they are sounding better each day and truly did sound amazing right out of the box. As much as I still love my pair of A5+ speakers (I moved them to the bedroom upstairs), the difference between the HD6 and them is night & day. I'm blown away by the clarity, warmth, and richness of the HD6 speakers, especially while listening to vinyl. The bass response is far superior. They're also a world better when watching a movie. As far as aesthetics go, they're beautiful...I love the walnut finish. My only regret is not having bought a pair of HD6s sooner.

Five stars aren't enough

I got a set of HD6 about a year ago, but I've delayed my review pending longevity. I now can safely say these are some of the finest loudspeakers on the planet. Whether in their class or not, they sound bigger than many tower speakers I've heard, and owned. These two smallish speakers will fill just about any size room with loud, and especially clear, stereophonic sound. I've had a chance to become familiar with HD6 over the last 13 months. Using them sometimes 12-14 hrs a day for a year has shown me they are not only loud and clear, they're reliable. They've been thumping out all types of music and never a distorted note or driver breakup. The HD6 says "bring it". I had no idea that 50W RMS could be so powerful! If you want a set of speakers that sound amazing, are ... MoreI got a set of HD6 about a year ago, but I've delayed my review pending longevity. I now can safely say these are some of the finest loudspeakers on the planet. Whether in their class or not, they sound bigger than many tower speakers I've heard, and owned. These two smallish speakers will fill just about any size room with loud, and especially clear, stereophonic sound. I've had a chance to become familiar with HD6 over the last 13 months. Using them sometimes 12-14 hrs a day for a year has shown me they are not only loud and clear, they're reliable. They've been thumping out all types of music and never a distorted note or driver breakup. The HD6 says "bring it". I had no idea that 50W RMS could be so powerful! If you want a set of speakers that sound amazing, are of great quality and will last for years, look no further than the Audioengine HD6 powered loudspeakers. I added a sub-woofer but really don't need it for music. Once I mounted my HD6 on Sanus stands, it sounded like they extended all the way down to the 55Hz at which they're rated. Can't do that on a wooden desk. These speakers may be the last I'll ever need. They sound better today than when I got them. Specifications aside, what really matters is how they sound. High end is crystal clear and resolving. Mids are where the HD6 stands out: forward yet balanced and quite immediate. Lows are most impressive for a 5.5" woofer, neighbors can attest to it's power. The innovative engineering and quality of the components is unique to Audioengine and gives HD6 it's overall balanced tonality. Simple to use but provides world-class audio. Figure in all the different inputs/analog outputs and you have a complete sound system in just two boxes that will give you many years of uncompromising sound quality.

Great Speakers

I'm impressed with these speakers. The speakers are very quality and all associated parts and packaging was very nice. For my ears, they need to be paired with a subwoofer, but I think all speakers need subwoofers. I have them in a large living area and they fill the space very well. You don't have the sound tuning options available with a traditional amp setup, but the convenience of the wireless streaming and simplicity of the system is very nice. Overall, the sound is very good, but I noticed that the placement of the speakers is very important to get the most from them. They need to be on stands or high enough to clearly hear full range in a large room. Happy to support an American company and very grateful for the military discount. This company has many clever ... MoreI'm impressed with these speakers. The speakers are very quality and all associated parts and packaging was very nice. For my ears, they need to be paired with a subwoofer, but I think all speakers need subwoofers. I have them in a large living area and they fill the space very well. You don't have the sound tuning options available with a traditional amp setup, but the convenience of the wireless streaming and simplicity of the system is very nice. Overall, the sound is very good, but I noticed that the placement of the speakers is very important to get the most from them. They need to be on stands or high enough to clearly hear full range in a large room. Happy to support an American company and very grateful for the military discount. This company has many clever and innovative product options that aren't unrealistically expensive.

Not buying the hype

Bought a pair of HD6 May 2022. Had to return them in August for a bad dome tweeter which was rattling on the left active speaker. Audioengine is prompt with their responses on Warranty claims, so I will give them that. Got a new pair (that was supposedly field tested at Audioengine HQ) August 2022.Try this track (sourced from CD/DVD/Ultra HD streaming): Cornfield Chase from Interstellar soundtrack. The level of distortion/clipping that occurs at 50 % source volume and 50 % Amp volume towards the crescendo at the end is preposterous and disappointing. They do not know how to build a proper dome tweeter (particularly for movie soundtrack applications). Strings at higher octaves sound harsh and causes the dome tweeter to resonate adding extra noise (same album, ... MoreBought a pair of HD6 May 2022. Had to return them in August for a bad dome tweeter which was rattling on the left active speaker. Audioengine is prompt with their responses on Warranty claims, so I will give them that. Got a new pair (that was supposedly field tested at Audioengine HQ) August 2022.Try this track (sourced from CD/DVD/Ultra HD streaming): Cornfield Chase from Interstellar soundtrack. The level of distortion/clipping that occurs at 50 % source volume and 50 % Amp volume towards the crescendo at the end is preposterous and disappointing. They do not know how to build a proper dome tweeter (particularly for movie soundtrack applications). Strings at higher octaves sound harsh and causes the dome tweeter to resonate adding extra noise (same album, multiple tracks). The A5+ pair I own pretty much suffers from the same issues although seemingly not to the same amount in the tweeter.Maybe I just outgrew AudioEngine at this point. Please take these off my hands if you can, willing to resell at 50% off listed price. Unit is currently brand spanking new (less than 30 days, non smoking environment). if your genre is mainly rock, metal, pop etc. these will suffice. But if you are looking for accurate imaging particularly of OST albums, don't go with Audieongine. Never buy speakers based on internet reviews to begin with.At this point, I suppose all I can really do is to give an honest review. Trying to sell these off to upgrade to some nice JBL 4305P's (heard them in person, same tracks, incredible accuracy and reproduction).

Two Years and Lots of Smiles

I've owned the HD6 Wireless speakers for just over two years now. They were a COVID-19 purchase since we were home most of the time. They were good at the beginning, but I honestly think they sound even better now. We have a large room and the walnut finish on the speakers makes them almost disappear in the room. We did add a subwoofer since the room is so large and that really improved the sound and filled up the room. The highs, mid range and deep bass all sound good and the subwoofer doesn't drown out the HD6 speakers. We're happy listeners. People are amazed at the quality of sound we get in our room and are doubly amazed to see the size of the speakers producing the sound. I think Audioengine makes quality products and is a terrific value.

had high expectations

descriptions and reviews made these sound awesome but that has not been my experience. I've heard bluetooth boomboxes that sound better. The high end is buried under boomy, muddy bass and glaring midrange. I've moved them around, tried the 10ft equilateral triangle, upgraded my music streaming from Spotify to Tidal for the supposed CD quality but still dissatisfied in the sound. Looks like they are going back