This is a review and detailed measurements of the HEDD Audio Type 20 MK2 DSP studio monitor (active speaker). It was sent to me by the company and costs US $2,399 (each):
As you see, this is a ported 3-way design using an AMT tweeter. You also get the option to close the port using an extremely tight fitting insert and flipping the CoP control in the back to that configuration:
Being a DSP speaker, you also get nice features like AES digital input and pass through. You also have a choice of activating the FIR filter using the "Lineariser" control.
Speaker is incredibly heavy and stout for its size, imparting a feeling of quality.
I guess at the reference point (from memory, a point between the three drivers). I tested the speaker twice: once in open configuration and then closed. The former is complete measurements and latter is limited to frequency response and directivity.
HEDD Type 20 MK2 Open Port Measurements
As usual, we start with our family of anechoic frequency response measurements and directivity indices: (actual playback level 86 dBSPL)
Other than a hump around 40 to 50 Hz, the response is basically flat with some localized variations. Some of that is likely due to small amount of port/cabinet interference:
Nice early window directivity index (blue above) foretells that early window response is going to be good and it is:
This results in predicted (simulated) far-field room response to be smooth and close to ideal:
With respect to distortion, performance is very good at 86 dBSPL but suffers some at 96:
Beamwidth is generally wider than other pro monitors which is good:
Vertically you want to stay at or slightly below the bottom of the tweeter:
And here is the step and CSD/waterfall responses:
HEDD Type 20 MK2 Closed Port Measurements
I did my best to close the port but I don't think I quite got there. There was a tiny bit of air leak still but I could not muster more energy to push the plug in farther:
I had to run this sweep at much lower level as there was strong audible response close to start of the sweep. Company warns about this in the manual. Still, I was surprised that for its weight and size, it couldn't handle 86 dBSPL.
EDIT: here is a comparison of closed vs open port at 96 dBSPL:
Elimination of the port reduces the slight jaggedness in the 300 to 700 Hz region. This shows up as smoother beam width in the same region:
We also have slight less bass emphasis now:
Vertical directivity did not change:
HEDD Type 20 MK2 Listening Tests & Equalization
I started listening with the port closed as that was where I left off in measurements. My first female track sounded stunningly good! Not only was the tonality on the mark, it has a level of detail and presence which was a delight. I switched the linearizer on and off and the latter effect definitely diminished with it off.
As good as the sound was, there was not a lot of volume to be had. It was easy to get both the tweeter and woofer to distort, if not the mid-range as well. Sub-bass response was poor as a result. Even solo guitar would distort at sufficiently high levels. So I took the port out.
Now I could get more volume but I lost some of that delightful response I hade with it closed. Mind you, the sound was still very good and tonality on the mark. Just that once you listened to the closed port version, the open port results were half to full step down. I took at shot at improving the situation with a quick filter for the bass boost:
The immediate effect was quite positive. Level of distortion went down and the sound become more open. I did not miss the extra bass either. The bass hump is intentional by the company and as a result of their listening tests. Would be good to perform some blind tests across multiple listeners to verify its efficacy. Alas, it may be hard to do as the room response heavily impacts this region so the results will not translate well to other situations. Fortunately dialing that one filter is simple enough.
Conclusions
With the port closed, the Type 20 MK2 brings a delightful experience to the party. Not only is it tonally accurate, it also sounds "pretty" and "hi fi" for lack of a better word. There is extra resolution, detail and openness that I can't explain but enjoyed having. Yes, I know, you want a third measurement with that active vs not. But there is only so much time I have to test a single speaker so you have to settle for my subjective impressions.
The heft and size of the monitor makes you think it can play very loud but it cannot. Its main woofer is not that large and other drivers are also not too happy to play along. As a person who values dynamics a lot, I had no choice but to deduct a point especially in closed mode which is my favorite mode of listening to this speaker.
I should say the support from the company has been incredible. They reached out to me to offer the speaker for testing -- something that I have yet to see other companies do. And I was give full access to designer and other staff. I couldn't have asked for more.
I am happy to put the HEDD Type 20 MK2 on my recommended studio monito list.
-------
As always, questions, comments, recommendations, etc. are welcome.
Any donations are much appreciated using: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-support-audio-science-review.8150/
As you see, this is a ported 3-way design using an AMT tweeter. You also get the option to close the port using an extremely tight fitting insert and flipping the CoP control in the back to that configuration:
Being a DSP speaker, you also get nice features like AES digital input and pass through. You also have a choice of activating the FIR filter using the "Lineariser" control.
Speaker is incredibly heavy and stout for its size, imparting a feeling of quality.
I guess at the reference point (from memory, a point between the three drivers). I tested the speaker twice: once in open configuration and then closed. The former is complete measurements and latter is limited to frequency response and directivity.
HEDD Type 20 MK2 Open Port Measurements
As usual, we start with our family of anechoic frequency response measurements and directivity indices: (actual playback level 86 dBSPL)
Other than a hump around 40 to 50 Hz, the response is basically flat with some localized variations. Some of that is likely due to small amount of port/cabinet interference:
Nice early window directivity index (blue above) foretells that early window response is going to be good and it is:
This results in predicted (simulated) far-field room response to be smooth and close to ideal:
With respect to distortion, performance is very good at 86 dBSPL but suffers some at 96:
Beamwidth is generally wider than other pro monitors which is good:
Vertically you want to stay at or slightly below the bottom of the tweeter:
And here is the step and CSD/waterfall responses:
HEDD Type 20 MK2 Closed Port Measurements
I did my best to close the port but I don't think I quite got there. There was a tiny bit of air leak still but I could not muster more energy to push the plug in farther:
I had to run this sweep at much lower level as there was strong audible response close to start of the sweep. Company warns about this in the manual. Still, I was surprised that for its weight and size, it couldn't handle 86 dBSPL.
EDIT: here is a comparison of closed vs open port at 96 dBSPL:
Elimination of the port reduces the slight jaggedness in the 300 to 700 Hz region. This shows up as smoother beam width in the same region:
We also have slight less bass emphasis now:
Vertical directivity did not change:
HEDD Type 20 MK2 Listening Tests & Equalization
I started listening with the port closed as that was where I left off in measurements. My first female track sounded stunningly good! Not only was the tonality on the mark, it has a level of detail and presence which was a delight. I switched the linearizer on and off and the latter effect definitely diminished with it off.
As good as the sound was, there was not a lot of volume to be had. It was easy to get both the tweeter and woofer to distort, if not the mid-range as well. Sub-bass response was poor as a result. Even solo guitar would distort at sufficiently high levels. So I took the port out.
Now I could get more volume but I lost some of that delightful response I hade with it closed. Mind you, the sound was still very good and tonality on the mark. Just that once you listened to the closed port version, the open port results were half to full step down. I took at shot at improving the situation with a quick filter for the bass boost:
The immediate effect was quite positive. Level of distortion went down and the sound become more open. I did not miss the extra bass either. The bass hump is intentional by the company and as a result of their listening tests. Would be good to perform some blind tests across multiple listeners to verify its efficacy. Alas, it may be hard to do as the room response heavily impacts this region so the results will not translate well to other situations. Fortunately dialing that one filter is simple enough.
Conclusions
With the port closed, the Type 20 MK2 brings a delightful experience to the party. Not only is it tonally accurate, it also sounds "pretty" and "hi fi" for lack of a better word. There is extra resolution, detail and openness that I can't explain but enjoyed having. Yes, I know, you want a third measurement with that active vs not. But there is only so much time I have to test a single speaker so you have to settle for my subjective impressions.
The heft and size of the monitor makes you think it can play very loud but it cannot. Its main woofer is not that large and other drivers are also not too happy to play along. As a person who values dynamics a lot, I had no choice but to deduct a point especially in closed mode which is my favorite mode of listening to this speaker.
I should say the support from the company has been incredible. They reached out to me to offer the speaker for testing -- something that I have yet to see other companies do. And I was give full access to designer and other staff. I couldn't have asked for more.
I am happy to put the HEDD Type 20 MK2 on my recommended studio monito list.
-------
As always, questions, comments, recommendations, etc. are welcome.
Any donations are much appreciated using: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-support-audio-science-review.8150/
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