Short answer: the Genelec 8361A for the higher ranking, the HEDD Type 20 MK2 for the lower price. The Genelec 8361A ranks #3 of 20 powered bookshelf speakers at $10900. The HEDD Type 20 MK2 ranks #5 at $4800, $6100 cheaper.
The case for the Genelec 8361A: Three-way coaxial design: 5” mid-range with an inset 1” metal dome tweeter. Set against that: Approximately $11,000 per pair.
What the HEDD Type 20 MK2 gets right: CEA2034 spinorama shows a nice flat on-axis response with a very smooth directivity index. Set against that: Horizontal beamwidth is asymmetric (+60/-80 degrees depending on reference point) and narrows above 10kHz.
Buy the Genelec 8361A if the ranking matters more than the price. Buy the HEDD Type 20 MK2 if the price matters more than the ranking.
Specifications Side By Side
| Genelec 8361A | HEDD Type 20 MK2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $10900 | $4800 |
| Ranked | #3 of 20 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #5 of 20 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 29Hz | 26Hz |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 34Hz | 32Hz |
| Dimensions | 22.5"H x 14"W x 13.6"D (571.5 x 355.6 x 345.4 mm) | 14.1"H x 11"W x 13.3"D (358.1 x 279.4 x 337.8 mm) |
| Inputs | XLR | XLR (Analog/AES) |
| Drivers | Dual 263 x 137 mm woofers, 5.1" coaxial with tweeter midrange, 1" (25mm) coaxial tweeter | 7" honeycomb composite woofer, 4" honeycomb composite midrange, HEDD AMT (Air Motion Transformer) tweeter |
| Weight | 70.3 lbs / 31.9 kg each | 34 lbs / 15.4 kg each |
| App | Yes (GLM) | Yes (HEDD CTRL) |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| DSP | Yes | Yes (96kHz/32-bit) |
| EQ | Yes (via GLM software) | Yes (Desk filter, shelf filters) |
| Frequency Response | 30Hz - 43kHz (±2dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 32Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Max SPL | 118dB @ 1m | 120dB @ 1m (per pair) |
| Output Power | 1000w Per Speaker | 900W (3x300W) |
| Outputs | - | XLR (AES pass-through) |
The Two Speakers In Full
Genelec 8361A: $10900 Bhphotovideo
Pros: Three-way coaxial design: 5” mid-range with an inset 1” metal dome tweeter, flanked symmetrically above and below by two 10” front-loaded woofers, giving nearly identical vertical response whether you’re sitting or standing. Wide, consistent horizontal radiation of about ±60°, very forgiving for multiple seats or a home-theater row. Distortion at both 86dB and 96dB/1m stays below roughly 1%, and multitone distortion is also under about 1% - among the cleanest speakers reviewed. Long-term compression is practically non-existent, with no woofer bottoming or audible intermodulation even driven to 90dB+ at 10 feet. In-room bass extension reaches down to about 35Hz without a subwoofer. Extensive back-panel tuning (bass rolloff, bass profile, treble profile, and a desk/console compensation switch) for boundary placement.
Cons: Approximately $11,000 per pair; Genelec’s GLM room-correction add-on (measurement mic plus software) is another ~$450 and wasn’t used in this review. Shows an on-axis dip around 200Hz that may be tied to some rear-panel radiation or resonance the reviewer couldn’t fully explain. In far-field listening there’s a mild upper-midrange/lower-treble rise (roughly 2-3kHz) that only smooths out with 5-10° of toe-out or closer near-field placement. Short-term compression testing shows some tweeter limiting, though it didn’t translate to audible issues in real-world listening. At about 70 lbs, awkward to lift onto a stand alone.
| App | Yes (GLM) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 29Hz |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 34Hz |
| Bluetooth | No |
| DSP | Yes |
| Dimensions | 22.5"H x 14"W x 13.6"D (571.5 x 355.6 x 345.4 mm) |
| Drivers | Dual 263 x 137 mm woofers, 5.1" coaxial with tweeter midrange, 1" (25mm) coaxial tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (via GLM software) |
| Frequency Response | 30Hz - 43kHz (±2dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | XLR |
| Max SPL | 118dB @ 1m |
| Output Power | 1000w Per Speaker |
| Weight | 70.3 lbs / 31.9 kg each |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Links
HEDD Type 20 MK2: $4800 Bhphotovideo
Pros: 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.
Cons: 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.
| App | Yes (HEDD CTRL) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 26Hz |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 32Hz |
| 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) |
| Max SPL | 120dB @ 1m (per pair) |
| Output Power | 900W (3x300W) |
| Outputs | XLR (AES pass-through) |
| Weight | 34 lbs / 15.4 kg each |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Links
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Product prices and availability were last checked August 9, 2026 at 6:57 AM UTC 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.