Short answer: the HEDD Type 20 MK2 if sound quality matters most, the Adam Audio T8V if price matters most. The HEDD Type 20 MK2 ranks #18 of 67 powered bookshelf speakers at $4800. The Adam Audio T8V ranks #53 at $349.99, $4450.01 cheaper.
What the Adam Audio T8V offers: Quite balanced and neutral, very close to the Yamaha HS8. Deeper bass than the HS8 Watch for: A crossover-region notch around 4.6kHz where tweeter and woofer interact, and a hole in the vertical response below the tweeter axis - keep the tweeter at or above ear height. Distortion is well controlled at 86dB SPL but gets messier at 96dB.
What the HEDD Type 20 MK2 offers: CEA2034 spinorama shows a nice flat on-axis response with a very smooth directivity index, plus an intentional boost at 40-50Hz for extra bass warmth. Predicted in-room response is nice and smooth. Early reflections integrate very cleanly with the direct sound, rated “very nice” by the reviewer. Distortion at 86dB SPL/1m is very good, staying well below the reviewer’s audibility threshold across the range. Its open-port configuration measures notably lower bass distortion than the same speaker run in closed-port mode. Watch for: Horizontal beamwidth is asymmetric (+60/-80 degrees depending on reference point) and narrows above 10kHz. Vertical directivity means listening position needs to stay at or below the reference axis for accurate tonal balance. At 96dB SPL/1m, distortion rises broadly across the spectrum, exceeding the reviewer’s audibility threshold over a wide frequency range - a notably worse result than at 86dB. Cumulative spectral decay (waterfall) shows resonances lingering in the 500Hz-2kHz region. Switching to closed-port mode increases bass distortion further, so the open-port configuration is preferable.
Buy the Adam Audio T8V if the price is the priority over sound quality, or the HEDD Type 20 MK2 if sound quality is the priority over the price.
The Adam Audio T8V is not a sound-quality pick. It sits near the bottom of the 67 powered bookshelf speakers; there are better options higher up.
Still deciding? The full Powered Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Adam Audio T8V | HEDD Type 20 MK2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $699.98 per pair | $4800 per pair |
| Ranked | #53 of 67 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #18 of 67 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 45Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 32Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 26Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 15.8"H x 9.8"W x 13.2"D (401.3 x 248.9 x 335.3 mm) | 14.1"H x 11"W x 13.3"D (358.1 x 279.4 x 337.8 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 33Hz - 25kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 32Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | XLR, RCA | XLR (Analog/AES) |
| Weight | 21.6 lbs (9.8 kg) | 34 lbs (15.4 kg) each |
| Drivers | 8" (203mm) woofer | 7" honeycomb composite woofer, 4" honeycomb composite midrange, HEDD AMT (Air Motion Transformer) tweeter |
| App | No | Yes (HEDD CTRL) |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment) | Yes (Desk filter, shelf filters) |
| DSP | No | Yes (96kHz/32-bit) |
| Amplifier Power | 90w Per Speaker | 900W (3x300W) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.77 | 5.34 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.42 | 6.92 |
| Outputs | - | XLR (AES pass-through) |
| Maximum SPL | - | 120dB @ 1m (per pair) (manufacturer specified) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to HEDD Type 20 MK2:
- Genelec 8351B vs HEDD Type 20 MK2
- Genelec 8361A vs HEDD Type 20 MK2
- HEDD Type 20 MK2 vs Buchardt A10
- HEDD Type 20 MK2 vs Buchardt A500
- Yamaha HS8 vs HEDD Type 20 MK2
Prices on this page were last checked September 16, 2026 at 12:41 AM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Adam Audio T8V: $699.98 per pair Amazon eBay
Pros: Measured -3dB extension of 39.6Hz gives useful bass depth for an affordable large monitor. Analog inputs and basic shelf controls offer uncomplicated studio integration. Measured bass extension of 45Hz (-3dB).
Cons: The 5.42 ideal-subwoofer score and 3.0dB response span from 300Hz to 5kHz show less even tonal balance than stronger budget alternatives. Treble emphasis and crossover-region vertical cancellation make listening height important. Deep bass and an AMT tweeter do not by themselves imply accurate sound.
Full Adam Audio T8V review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 90w Per Speaker |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 45Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| DSP | No |
| Dimensions | 15.8"H x 9.8"W x 13.2"D (401.3 x 248.9 x 335.3 mm) |
| Drivers | 8" (203mm) woofer |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment) |
| Frequency Response | 33Hz - 25kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | XLR, RCA |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.77 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.42 |
| Weight | 21.6 lbs (9.8 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Audio Science Review Measurements More from Audio Science Review →
- Sercan Solmaz: Adam Audio T8V vs Yamaha HS8 vs KRK Rokit 8 (STUDIO SPEAKER SOUND TEST)
- DSAUDIO.review: Adam Audio T8V vs KRK Rokit 8 G4 Sound & Frequency Response Comparison More from DSAUDIOreview →
- Audio Science Review Measurements (spinorama.org)
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HEDD Type 20 MK2: $4800 per pair B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: The measured ported configuration reaches 35.2Hz at -3dB and scores 6.92 with an ideal subwoofer. A 2.4dB response span from 300Hz to 5kHz supports broadly balanced mids, while ported operation reduces deep-bass strain compared with the sealed setting in the review. Measured bass extension of 32Hz (-3dB).
Cons: These results are for ported operation, not every bass or phase setting. Horizontal asymmetry and vertical crossover behavior make orientation and listening position important. Distortion rises at higher output, and linear-phase processing can add latency for live monitoring.
Full HEDD Type 20 MK2 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 900W (3x300W) |
|---|---|
| App | Yes (HEDD CTRL) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 26Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 32Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| DSP | Yes (96kHz/32-bit) |
| Dimensions | 14.1"H x 11"W x 13.3"D (358.1 x 279.4 x 337.8 mm) |
| Drivers | 7" honeycomb composite woofer, 4" honeycomb composite midrange, HEDD AMT (Air Motion Transformer) tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (Desk filter, shelf filters) |
| Frequency Response | 32Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | XLR (Analog/AES) |
| Maximum SPL | 120dB @ 1m (per pair) (manufacturer specified) |
| Outputs | XLR (AES pass-through) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.34 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.92 |
| Weight | 34 lbs (15.4 kg) each |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons