Hedd Type 05 Mk 2 active speaker - some impressions

[MartinC]

For context, how far do you sit from the speakers and how large is your room? Any concerns over not going loud enough?

 

[triumph]

 

[triumph]

 

[KnightofCydonia]

Just checked. Both the AE and Hedd give off a very low volume hiss from the tweeters. It’s about the same and only barely audible to me from less than 40cm away. If you’ve got bat hearing, you might detect it from slightly further away. It’s never bothered me at all with the AEs (I sit about 2.5 m away) and it obviously doesn’t affect (mask) any detail as the Hedds in particular are extremely strong in revealing all.

Thanks for checking. A little hiss isn’t bad at all and expected. My Triangle powered speakers is about 35db from 1m away and while it’s not noticeable playing music irritates me as I’ve never had powered or active speakers hiss so loudly.

 

[MGTOW]

For what it is worth, my Adams which use their version of the AMT derived folded ribbon tweeter are close to silent. I need to get my ear to within 2 or 3 inches of the tweeter.

For context, they are driven from the analogue outs of my Node 2i, output is set to variable, the level controls on the speakers to 7 (out of 10).

 

[tuga]

I've never owned active speakers but I wouldn't expect hiss to be a problem in mid- to far-field listening. Is it?

 

[Pedro2]

I've never owned active speakers but I wouldn't expect hiss to be a problem in mid- to far-field listening. Is it?

Not to me (or anyone else in the household, one of which has much better ears than me!).

 

[MartinC]

I've never owned active speakers but I wouldn't expect hiss to be a problem in mid- to far-field listening. Is it?

Not on the Edifiers I have, or the ATC and Canton actives I've heard at shows.

As you allude to, I suspect that when there is a concern it's principally a nearfield one.

I think some are concerned that they hear hiss close to speakers and assume it's compromising qulity even if it's inaudible at the listening position even with no music playing. Lots of passive speaker systems have hiss close to tweeters too of course (if not most).

 

[Pedro2]

Just watched an interesting review of the Hedd 05s on YouTube.
It’s interesting in that the reviewer doesn’t normally like (or review) active monitors - in his words, they’re usually ‘flat’ and ‘boring’.
However, he was in for a pleasant surprise with the Hedds.
I also found his statement about audiophiles and monitors amusing - ‘audiophiles and studio monitors are like oil and water, they don’t mix’.