Short answer: the Genelec 8030C. It ranks #3 of 108 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.6/5, at $1,750. The HEDD Type 05 A-CORE ranks #25, rated 4.2/5, at $1,398, $352 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
The Genelec 8030C is the better-sounding pick. A highly accurate compact studio monitor with smooth, even sound across a wide desk, a long time reference choice. The tradeoff: A dip around 2-3kHz remains, and vertical placement is less forgiving than the horizontal coverage suggests.
The HEDD Type 05 A-CORE is the deeper-bass option. A balanced, all round studio monitor with an AMT tweeter, an analog signal path and good bass for its size. Its bass reaches about 43.9Hz before falling 3dB, against 59Hz for the Genelec 8030C. Watch for: The 2.7dB midrange span and listening-window narrow-band deviation of 0.404 trail the most linear monitors here.
Buy the Genelec 8030C. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $352 with the HEDD Type 05 A-CORE does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Powered Home rankings.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Genelec 8030C | HEDD Type 05 A-CORE | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,750 per pair | $1,398 per pair |
| Ranked | #3 of 108 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #25 of 108 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 47Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 37.1Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 59Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 43.9Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Dimensions | 11.7”H x 7.4”W x 7”D (297.2 x 188 x 177.8 mm) | 12.1” x 7.1” x 9.6” (308 x 180 x 245 mm) each |
| Inputs | XLR | RCA unbalanced, XLR/TRS combo balanced |
| Weight | 11 lbs (5 kg) each | 13.7 lbs (6.2 kg) each |
| Drivers | 5.1” woofer, 0.75” metal dome tweeter | AMT (Air Motion Transformer) tweeter, 5” Honeycomb-compound woofer |
| App | No | None (analog-only, no DSP) |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| EQ | Yes (Bass tilt, treble tilt, room response) | Yes, analog High/Low shelving, ±6dB continuous |
| Frequency Response | 54Hz - 20kHz (±2.5dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 43Hz - 50kHz |
| Amplifier Power | 100W (50W woofer + 50W tweeter) | 200W total, bi-amped (2x100W ICEpower Class D) |
| Maximum SPL | 110dB @ 1m (manufacturer specified) | 112dB per pair at 1m (manufacturer specified) |
| XLR Input | Yes | Yes |
| RCA Input | No | Yes |
| TRS Input | No | Yes |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Spinorama Preference Score | - | 5.35 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | - | 7.23 |
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