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Here, Audioengine has crafted another flexible speaker system that works great on a computer desk or a tabletop — but what really sets this one apart is the size and the price. For less than $500, the new HD4 sits perfectly in-between the HD3 and the HD6. The HD4’s enclosure stands 9 inches tall, 5 ½ inches wide and 6 ½ inches deep. This is substantially smaller than its bigger brother, the HD6, which stands 11 ¾ inches tall, and about 7 inches wide by 10 inches deep — and that one sells for almost $250 more than the HD4. For comparison, the HD3 is the smallest in the series, standing 3 inches shorter than the HD4, and 4 ¼ inches wide by 5 ½ inches deep. his one sells for the under-400-dollar price point. But for less than $500, I think the new HD4 will be a great compact solution for anyone who has restricted space but still wants the better performance of a larger compact speaker.

The HD4 is constructed with custom-designed components designed at the company’s facility in Austin, Texas. The built-in analog power amps are housed inside cabinets that are precisely tuned. A black grille magnetically attaches to the front of the speaker cabinet just above the brushed metal plate. Removing the grill provides a view of the woofer and the tweeter for a professional studio monitor look. The speaker consists of a 4 inch Aramid fiber woofer complemented with a ¾ inch silk dome tweeter.

As bookshelf speakers, there’s no argument these are designed to sound the best when listening up close. However, the HD4 performed a lot better than I anticipated as a tabletop setup in a medium-sized living-room. I used a Pro-Ject T1 Turntable, which is a great turntable for the money. It has a phono-stage already built-in, so I used this to playback a vinyl-pressing of “Warrior,” which was recorded in 1984 by the classic rock band, Scandal. When I cranked up the volume up to about 75%, the room was filled with great sound that made me want to sing along to this mega anthem. Overall, the HD4 packs a warm musical “punch” in an open-room setting that was very easy to get lost in.

The HD4 was designed for anyone looking for a powered bookshelf speaker system with upgraded analog amps and the convenience of USB and aptX HD. It sits right in between the HD3 and the HD6 in terms of size and it’s price point. I think Audioengine’s use of analog amplifiers is a true testament to the brand’s dedication of inspiring more people to enjoy music with better sound. With a turntable or a computer positioned in-between these, I think you’ll have a professional looking studio monitor setup with modern functionality that’s ready to take on the digital world — plus this let’s you dip your toes into the world of analog for less than $500! If the HD3 is a little too small for your needs, and the HD6 is either too large — or more than you're looking to spend, then strongly consider the HD4. Adding a subwoofer to the HD4 here will present more bottom end weight. We recommend the Audioengine S8 subwoofer because it’s an excellent addition to this system that will also add more immersion for bass-heavy songs. Even without a sub, the HD4 still presents good bottom end weight that will complement a medium sized room using a TV, a turntable, your phone, or a tablet as the source.