Short answer: the d&b audiotechnik 44S. Both are rated 3.6/5 for sound quality (#10 and #11 of 39 compact 5 to 6.5-inch pa speakers), and the d&b audiotechnik 44S costs $1,500 against $5,540 for the Meyer Sound Ultra X20, with sound quality a draw, the lower price decides it.
What the d&b audiotechnik 44S does well: A small passive speech and fill speaker with dual 4.5 inch drivers and a rotatable horn, built for d&b amplifiers. Watch for: Bass reaches only about 122Hz (-3dB), so it works as a speech and fill box that needs a subwoofer for music.
The Meyer Sound Ultra X20 is the deeper-bass choice. A slim self-powered fill speaker with surprisingly deep bass for two 5 inch woofers and a built in amplifier. Its bass reaches about 69Hz before falling 3dB, against 122Hz for the d&b audiotechnik 44S. The tradeoff: Its standalone score trails its narrower-coverage Meyer Sound Ultra X22 sibling.
Buy the d&b audiotechnik 44S. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $4,040 less than the Meyer Sound Ultra X20.
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Prices on this page were last checked November 7, 2026 at 7:34 PM 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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Specifications Side By Side
| d&b audiotechnik 44S | Meyer Sound Ultra X20 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,500 Passive | $5,540 |
| Ranked | #10 of 39 in Compact 5 to 6.5-Inch PA Speakers | #11 of 39 in Compact 5 to 6.5-Inch PA Speakers |
| Rigging | 2 x M8 inserts on rear panel | 4 x M8 inserts; 4 x M6 wall-mount holes; optional pole adapter |
| Passive | Yes | No |
| Configuration | Passive 2-way compact PA speaker | Self-powered 2-way concentric compact loudspeaker |
| Drivers | Dual 4.5” neodymium woofers, dual 1.25” dome tweeters on a rotatable CD horn | 2x 5” cone woofers, concentric 2” compression driver |
| Frequency Response | 90Hz - 17kHz (-5dB, manufacturer specified) | - |
| Amplifier Power | Passive speaker; requires external amplification within the 150W RMS / 500W peak handling rating | 860W peak, 3-channel Class D |
| Power Handling | 150W RMS / 500W peak (manufacturer specified) | - |
| Maximum SPL | 123dB (manufacturer specified) | 123.5dB peak (M-Noise, manufacturer specified) |
| Coverage | Rotatable CD horn (measured 90° x 30°) | 110° x 50° (rotatable horn) |
| DSP | No (passive; used with d&b amplifiers for presets) | Yes |
| Weight | 7.9 lbs (3.6 kg) (13.7 lbs (6.2 kg) with backbox) | 27.1 lbs (12.3 kg) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 122Hz (measured, vendor Spinorama data) | 69Hz (measured, vendor Spinorama data) |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.14 | 2.88 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.61 | 5.68 |
| XLR Input | No | Yes |
| RCA Input | No | No |
| TRS Input | No | No |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Microphone Input | No | No |
| Guitar Input | No | No |
| Dimensions | - | 19.1”H x 7.5”W x 8.6”D (484 x 191 x 218 mm) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | about 61Hz (measured, vendor Spinorama data) |
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