Short answer: the IK Multimedia iLoud MTM MKII. It ranks #20 of 58 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $799.99; the Audioengine HD6 ranks #41 and costs $817.44, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the IK Multimedia iLoud MTM MKII offers: Compact MTM layout (two 3.5” midwoofers flanking a 1” tweeter) powered monitor rated at 100W per speaker with XLR input, sold as a pair with an ARC room-correction microphone included. Well-suited to nearfield desktop use, with linearity good enough for mixing or mastering. The bundled auto room-correction mic is genuinely effective - in testing it resolved specific room resonance peaks around 150Hz and 220Hz, making the midrange sound noticeably more lifelike. Back-panel switches allow desktop vs. free-field placement plus treble and bass trim. Harmonic distortion is good at a moderate 86dB output, appropriate for a speaker of this size. Watch for: Native treble tuning still runs about 3dB hot on-axis; the back-panel -3dB treble switch overcorrects, and roughly -1.5dB via external EQ works better. Vertical MTM lobing means staying within about 20-25° of the tweeter axis, or the upper-midrange to treble transition suffers significant suckout - the speaker should never be laid on its side unless the tweeter is pointed directly at the listener, or comb filtering results. Bass falls off sharply below its F3 of 51Hz (F10 45Hz), so a subwoofer is needed for anything lower. Multitone distortion rises sharply at 96dB/1m, and the reviewer recommends not exceeding about 86dB for extended listening at any distance - broadband output for the pair tops out around 94dB at 1 meter, with dynamic range essentially collapsing approaching 102dB. Horizontal directivity narrows with frequency rather than staying constant. Adding a subwoofer with an 80Hz crossover doesn’t meaningfully improve the distortion headroom, even though it does extend the low end.
What the Audioengine HD6 offers: Watch for: A bit of an accentuated treble and bass. Slight dip in the midrange.
Buy the IK Multimedia iLoud MTM MKII. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Audioengine HD6 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| IK Multimedia iLoud MTM MKII | Audioengine HD6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $799.99 | $817.44 |
| Ranked | #20 of 58 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #41 of 58 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Dimensions | 10.4"H x 5.1"W x 6.3"D (264.2 x 129.5 x 160 mm) | 11.7"H x 7.2"W x 10"D (298.4 x 184.1 x 254 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 48 Hz - 28 kHz (±2dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 45Hz-40KHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 52.7Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 46.3Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Inputs | XLR | Bluetooth, Aux, RCA Input, Digital Optical |
| Drivers | 2x 3.5" (89mm) woofers, 1" silk dome tweeter | 5.5" (140mm) woofer |
| App | Yes (X-MONITOR speaker emulation) | No |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment) | No |
| Output Power | 100w Per Speaker | 50w RMS Per Speaker |
| Weight | 5.5 lbs / 2.5 kg (5.5 lbs) each | 17.4 lbs / 7.9 kg |
| Max SPL | 112.5dB peak | - |
| Outputs | - | RCA Output |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- IK Multimedia iLoud MTM vs Genelec 8320A
- Klipsch The Fives vs Dynaudio LYD 5
- IK Multimedia iLoud MTM vs Vanatoo Transparent One Encore Plus
- IK Multimedia iLoud MTM MKII vs IK Multimedia iLoud MTM
- IK Multimedia iLoud MTM MKII vs Genelec 8320A
Prices on this page were last checked August 24, 2026 at 6:53 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
IK Multimedia iLoud MTM MKII: $799.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: Compact MTM layout (two 3.5” midwoofers flanking a 1” tweeter) powered monitor rated at 100W per speaker with XLR input, sold as a pair with an ARC room-correction microphone included. Well-suited to nearfield desktop use, with linearity good enough for mixing or mastering. The bundled auto room-correction mic is genuinely effective - in testing it resolved specific room resonance peaks around 150Hz and 220Hz, making the midrange sound noticeably more lifelike. Back-panel switches allow desktop vs. free-field placement plus treble and bass trim. Harmonic distortion is good at a moderate 86dB output, appropriate for a speaker of this size.
Cons: Native treble tuning still runs about 3dB hot on-axis; the back-panel -3dB treble switch overcorrects, and roughly -1.5dB via external EQ works better. Vertical MTM lobing means staying within about 20-25° of the tweeter axis, or the upper-midrange to treble transition suffers significant suckout - the speaker should never be laid on its side unless the tweeter is pointed directly at the listener, or comb filtering results. Bass falls off sharply below its F3 of 51Hz (F10 45Hz), so a subwoofer is needed for anything lower. Multitone distortion rises sharply at 96dB/1m, and the reviewer recommends not exceeding about 86dB for extended listening at any distance - broadband output for the pair tops out around 94dB at 1 meter, with dynamic range essentially collapsing approaching 102dB. Horizontal directivity narrows with frequency rather than staying constant. Adding a subwoofer with an 80Hz crossover doesn’t meaningfully improve the distortion headroom, even though it does extend the low end.
Full IK Multimedia iLoud MTM MKII review and specifications →
| App | Yes (X-MONITOR speaker emulation) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 46.3Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 52.7Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Dimensions | 10.4"H x 5.1"W x 6.3"D (264.2 x 129.5 x 160 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 3.5" (89mm) woofers, 1" silk dome tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment) |
| Frequency Response | 48 Hz - 28 kHz (±2dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | XLR |
| Max SPL | 112.5dB peak |
| Output Power | 100w Per Speaker |
| Weight | 5.5 lbs / 2.5 kg (5.5 lbs) each |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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- IK Multimedia iLoud MTM MKII vs Airpulse A100
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Audioengine HD6: $817.44 Amazon eBay
Cons: A bit of an accentuated treble and bass. Slight dip in the midrange.
Full Audioengine HD6 review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Bluetooth | No |
| Dimensions | 11.7"H x 7.2"W x 10"D (298.4 x 184.1 x 254 mm) |
| Drivers | 5.5" (140mm) woofer |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 45Hz-40KHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, Aux, RCA Input, Digital Optical |
| Output Power | 50w RMS Per Speaker |
| Outputs | RCA Output |
| Weight | 17.4 lbs / 7.9 kg |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Audioengine HD6 vs Klipsch The Fives
- Audioengine HD6 vs Pioneer DJ VM-50
- Audioengine HD6 vs Vanatoo Transparent One Encore Plus
- Audioengine HD6 vs Kali Audio IN-UNF
- Audioengine HD6 vs KRK Classic 5
- Audioengine HD6 vs Edifier S2000MKIII
- Audioengine HD6 vs Dayton Audio M4
- Audioengine HD6 vs KEF LSX II LT
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