Short answer: the IK Multimedia iLoud MTM MKII for better sound quality, the HEDD Type 05 A-CORE for the lower price. The IK Multimedia iLoud MTM MKII ranks #20 of 64 powered bookshelf speakers at $799.99. The HEDD Type 05 A-CORE ranks #23 at $699, $100.99 cheaper.
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 HEDD Type 05 A-CORE offers: AMT (Air Motion Transformer) tweeter paired with a 5” Honeycomb-compound woofer, hand-assembled and individually tested in Berlin. Pure-analog signal path with no ADC/DAC or DSP dependency, so there’s zero digital latency and no firmware to keep updated. Deepest measured bass extension relative to size in this whole batch: 43.9Hz at -3dB / 37.1Hz at -10dB. Bi-amped 200W total (2x100W ICEpower Class D). 5-year warranty after registration. Watch for: On-axis deviation is the roughest of this batch (aad_on_axis 0.658), and both nbd_on_axis (0.456) and nbd_listening_window (0.404) trail most other speakers added here - a comparatively less linear response than its stablemates. The analog-only design means no room-correction DSP or digital I/O, a deliberate tradeoff versus HEDD’s pricier DSP-based Type 05 MK2 sibling. Sold individually at $714/unit ($1,428/pair).
Buy the IK Multimedia iLoud MTM MKII if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the HEDD Type 05 A-CORE if the price matters more than sound quality.
Specifications Side By Side
| IK Multimedia iLoud MTM MKII | HEDD Type 05 A-CORE | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $799.99 | $699 |
| Ranked | #20 of 64 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #23 of 64 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) | 12.1" x 7.1" x 9.6" (308 x 180 x 245 mm) (12.1 x 7.1 x 9.7 in) each |
| Frequency Response | 48 Hz - 28 kHz (±2dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 43Hz - 50kHz |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 52.7Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 43.9Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 46.3Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 37.1Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Inputs | XLR | RCA unbalanced, XLR/TRS combo balanced |
| Drivers | 2x 3.5" (89mm) woofers, 1" silk dome tweeter | AMT (Air Motion Transformer) tweeter, 5" Honeycomb-compound woofer |
| App | Yes (X-MONITOR speaker emulation) | None (analog-only, no DSP) |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment) | Yes, analog High/Low shelving, ±6dB continuous |
| Output Power | 100w Per Speaker | 200W total, bi-amped (2x100W ICEpower Class D) |
| Weight | 5.5 lbs / 2.5 kg (5.5 lbs) each | 13.7 lbs / 6.2 kg (13.7 lb) each |
| Max SPL | 112.5dB peak | 112dB per pair at 1m |
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- IK Multimedia iLoud MTM vs Kali Audio IN-UNF
- IK Multimedia iLoud MTM vs Edifier S2000MKIII
- IK Multimedia iLoud MTM MKII vs Klipsch The Fives
- IK Multimedia iLoud MTM MKII vs Kali Audio IN-UNF
Prices on this page were last checked August 25, 2026 at 6:19 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
- IK Multimedia iLoud MTM MKII vs IK Multimedia iLoud MTM
- IK Multimedia iLoud MTM MKII vs Presonus Eris E5 XT
- IK Multimedia iLoud MTM MKII vs KRK Rokit 5 G4
- IK Multimedia iLoud MTM MKII vs JBL 705P
- IK Multimedia iLoud MTM MKII vs Airpulse A100
- IK Multimedia iLoud MTM MKII vs KEF LS50 Wireless II
- IK Multimedia iLoud MTM MKII vs Sigberg Audio SBS Gen 2
- IK Multimedia iLoud MTM MKII vs Kali Audio IN-5
- See all 62 comparisons
HEDD Type 05 A-CORE: $699 Bhphotovideo eBay
Pros: AMT (Air Motion Transformer) tweeter paired with a 5” Honeycomb-compound woofer, hand-assembled and individually tested in Berlin. Pure-analog signal path with no ADC/DAC or DSP dependency, so there’s zero digital latency and no firmware to keep updated. Deepest measured bass extension relative to size in this whole batch: 43.9Hz at -3dB / 37.1Hz at -10dB. Bi-amped 200W total (2x100W ICEpower Class D). 5-year warranty after registration.
Cons: On-axis deviation is the roughest of this batch (aad_on_axis 0.658), and both nbd_on_axis (0.456) and nbd_listening_window (0.404) trail most other speakers added here - a comparatively less linear response than its stablemates. The analog-only design means no room-correction DSP or digital I/O, a deliberate tradeoff versus HEDD’s pricier DSP-based Type 05 MK2 sibling. Sold individually at $714/unit ($1,428/pair).
Full HEDD Type 05 A-CORE review and specifications →
| App | None (analog-only, no DSP) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 37.1Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 43.9Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Dimensions | 12.1" x 7.1" x 9.6" (308 x 180 x 245 mm) (12.1 x 7.1 x 9.7 in) each |
| Drivers | AMT (Air Motion Transformer) tweeter, 5" Honeycomb-compound woofer |
| EQ | Yes, analog High/Low shelving, ±6dB continuous |
| Frequency Response | 43Hz - 50kHz |
| Inputs | RCA unbalanced, XLR/TRS combo balanced |
| Max SPL | 112dB per pair at 1m |
| Output Power | 200W total, bi-amped (2x100W ICEpower Class D) |
| Weight | 13.7 lbs / 6.2 kg (13.7 lb) each |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- HEDD Type 05 A-CORE vs JBL 705P
- HEDD Type 05 A-CORE vs IK Multimedia iLoud MTM
- HEDD Type 05 A-CORE vs KEF LSX II LT
- HEDD Type 05 A-CORE vs Edifier S2000MKIII
- HEDD Type 05 A-CORE vs KRK Classic 5
- HEDD Type 05 A-CORE vs Kali Audio IN-5
- HEDD Type 05 A-CORE vs Vanatoo Transparent Zero Plus
- HEDD Type 05 A-CORE vs Yamaha HS5
- See all 15 comparisons