Short answer: the Yamaha HS5. It ranks #11 of 42 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $339.98; the IK Multimedia iLoud MTM MKII ranks #16 and costs $799.99, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Yamaha HS5 gets right: Very neutral. The catch: Not quite as deep of bass as some of the others in this size class.
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. 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.
Buy the Yamaha HS5. It ranks higher for sound quality than the IK Multimedia iLoud MTM MKII and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| Yamaha HS5 | IK Multimedia iLoud MTM MKII | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $339.98 | $799.99 |
| Ranked | #11 of 42 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #16 of 42 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 88Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 68Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | - |
| Dimensions | 11.2"H x 6.7"W x 8.7"D (284.5 x 170.2 x 221 mm) | 10.4"H x 5.1"W x 6.3"D (264.2 x 129.5 x 160 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 58Hz - 24kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 48 Hz - 28 kHz (±2dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | XLR | XLR |
| Weight | 12.1 lbs / 5.5 kg each | 5.5 lbs / 2.5 kg (5.5 lbs) each |
| Drivers | 5" (127mm) woofer | 2x 3.5" (89mm) woofers, 1" silk dome tweeter |
| App | No | Yes (X-MONITOR speaker emulation) |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment) | Yes (Room adjustment) |
| Output Power | 45w Per Speaker | 100w Per Speaker |
| Max SPL | - | 112.5dB peak |
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The Two Speakers In Full
Yamaha HS5: $339.98 Amazon
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 |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
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- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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- Head-to-Head Comparisons
IK Multimedia iLoud MTM MKII: $799.99 Amazon
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) |
|---|---|
| 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 |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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