Short answer: the Yamaha HS5. It ranks #13 of 60 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $339.98; the HEDD Type 05 A-CORE ranks #23 and costs $699, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Yamaha HS5 offers: Very neutral. Excellent for mixing and anything needing a neutral output. Watch for: Not quite as deep of bass as some of the others in this size class. Slight midrange boost.
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 Yamaha HS5. It ranks higher for sound quality than the HEDD Type 05 A-CORE and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| Yamaha HS5 | HEDD Type 05 A-CORE | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $339.98 | $699 |
| Ranked | #13 of 60 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #23 of 60 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 88Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 43.9Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 68Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 37.1Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Dimensions | 11.2"H x 6.7"W x 8.7"D (284.5 x 170.2 x 221 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 | 58Hz - 24kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 43Hz - 50kHz |
| Inputs | XLR | RCA unbalanced, XLR/TRS combo balanced |
| Weight | 12.1 lbs / 5.5 kg each | 13.7 lbs / 6.2 kg (13.7 lb) each |
| Drivers | 5" (127mm) woofer | AMT (Air Motion Transformer) tweeter, 5" Honeycomb-compound woofer |
| App | No | None (analog-only, no DSP) |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment) | Yes, analog High/Low shelving, ±6dB continuous |
| Output Power | 45w Per Speaker | 200W total, bi-amped (2x100W ICEpower Class D) |
| Max SPL | - | 112dB per pair at 1m |
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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
Yamaha HS5: $339.98 Amazon eBay
Pros: Very neutral. Excellent for mixing and anything needing a neutral output.
Cons: Not quite as deep of bass as some of the others in this size class. Slight midrange boost.
Full Yamaha HS5 review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 68Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 88Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Dimensions | 11.2"H x 6.7"W x 8.7"D (284.5 x 170.2 x 221 mm) |
| Drivers | 5" (127mm) woofer |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment) |
| Frequency Response | 58Hz - 24kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | XLR |
| Output Power | 45w Per Speaker |
| Weight | 12.1 lbs / 5.5 kg each |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Audio Science Review Measurements More from Audio Science Review →
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review KRK Classic 5 CL5G3 vs Yamaha HS5 sound.DEMO More from DSAUDIOreview →
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- DSAUDIO.review: Genelec 8020D vs Yamaha HS5 Soun & Frequency Response Comparison
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- DSAUDIO.review: Adam Audio T5V vs Yamaha HS5 5 Track Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: Yamaha HS5 vs Presonus Eris E5 Sound Demo
- DSAUDIO.review: KRK Rokit 5 G4 RP5G4 vs Yamaha HS5 Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: New PreSonus E5 XT and Yamaha HS5 could not sound any more different! SOUND AND RESPONSE COMPARISON
- DSAUDIO.review: Yamaha HS8 vs Yamaha HS5 Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: Genelec 8010A (Genelec G One) vs Yamaha HS5 Sound Demo w/ Bass Test
- Audio Science Review Measurements (spinorama.org)
- Reddit Search for Yamaha HS5 Review
- Head-to-Head 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