Short answer: the HEDD Type 05 A-CORE. It ranks #25 of 108 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality (rated 4.2/5) at $1,398 and is still sold new; the Kanto YU6 ranks #41 (rated 3.9/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used. The Kanto YU6’s replacement, the Kanto YU6 G2, is rated 3.9/5 at $549.99.
What the Kanto YU6 does well: A powered bookshelf pair with a phono input, optical, Bluetooth and a remote, a simple multi source system. The tradeoff: Local response variation remains despite the mild overall tilt: the midrange span is 3.8dB and listening-window narrow-band deviation is 0.419.
The HEDD Type 05 A-CORE is the more accurate choice. A balanced, all round studio monitor with an AMT tweeter, an analog signal path and good bass for its size. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 5.35 against 4.28 for the Kanto YU6. The catch: The 2.7dB midrange span and listening-window narrow-band deviation of 0.404 trail the most linear monitors here.
Buy the HEDD Type 05 A-CORE. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the Kanto YU6 is discontinued, so it is only available used.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Powered Home rankings.
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
| Kanto YU6 | HEDD Type 05 A-CORE | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $380.00 per pair Discontinued | $1,398 per pair |
| Ranked | #41 of 108 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #25 of 108 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Enclosure | 2-way active, MDF cabinet | - |
| Drivers | 1” silk dome tweeter, 5.25” Kevlar woofer | AMT (Air Motion Transformer) tweeter, 5” Honeycomb-compound woofer |
| Dimensions | 6.9W x 8.1D x 10.7H in each | 12.1” x 7.1” x 9.6” (308 x 180 x 245 mm) each |
| Weight | 11.5 lbs (5.2 kg) (active), 8.6 lbs (3.9 kg) (passive) | 13.7 lbs (6.2 kg) each |
| Amplifier Power | 200W peak Class D (100W RMS total) | 200W total, bi-amped (2x100W ICEpower Class D) |
| Inputs | Bluetooth aptX, RCA phono preamp, 2x optical | RCA unbalanced, XLR/TRS combo balanced |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, aptX | - |
| Country | Canada (design) | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.28 | 5.35 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.89 | 7.23 |
| Subwoofer Output | Yes | - |
| Outputs | Subwoofer | - |
| XLR Input | No | Yes |
| RCA Input | Yes | Yes |
| TRS Input | No | Yes |
| Optical Input | Yes | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.0 | - |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 43Hz - 50kHz |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 37.1Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 43.9Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| App | - | None (analog-only, no DSP) |
| EQ | - | Yes, analog High/Low shelving, ±6dB continuous |
| Maximum SPL | - | 112dB per pair at 1m (manufacturer specified) |
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