HD6 Home Music System w/Bluetooth aptX-HD

- The process for replacing a volume encoder begins with pulling the volume knob straight back from the encoder shaft

- Make sure the rubber insert stays with the volume knob -

- The volume encoder shaft should look like so before proceeding -

- Using a thin-walled 10mm socket, remove the lock nut fastening the encoder to the front of the speaker cabinet -

Each Speaker is 11.25"H x 7"W x 10.5"D

All Optical audio is considered a "fixed" output, meaning volume will not attenuate from the TV remote. If you have an HD5/HD6 you can use the Audioengine remote for this. Fo

We take great pride in our products, and go through great lengths to ensure consistency and quality. For that reason, this item was randomly selected for an additional step of Quality Assurance.

You can do this using powered speakers like our A2+s, HD3s, HD4s, A5+s, and HD6s. For this, you'll connect the W3 sender to the RCA output on the left speaker, using a 3.5mm stereo-mini to RCA "Y" cable. Then connect the W3 Receiver to the input on your S8. You can either use a 3.5mm stereo-mini to stereo-mini cable for this, or another 3.5mm stereo-mini to RCA "Y" cable; either will work fine. Both W3 units will need to be powered from a USB port. You can use USB AC power adapters, or if the powered speaker you're using is our A5+ Classic model, you can use the USB port on it's rear panel for the W3 sender. The same would apply to the S8 subwoofer if you have our current 'Gen II' model that has a USB port on the rear panel.

The speakers we offer that are designed to have a remote control are the A5+ Classic, A5+ Wireless and HD6.

The following systems do NOT support a remote control: 512, A1, A1-MR, A2+, B2, HD3, HD4.

There can be only 1 active pairing at a time.

Yes! As long as your speakers have an analog output (either RCA outputs or a 3.5mm stereo mini output), you can absolutely connect the S6 to your powered speakers. With the exception of the B2, all of our powered speakers will have the outputs needed to connect the S6, this includes the original A2 and A5 models.

You can simply use RCA cables to connect the S6 to the A2+, HD3, HD4, A5+, A5+Wireless, and HD6 speaker models.

For the A1 and A1-MR speakers, you can use one side of your stereo RCA cables. Just use the left/white RCA cable, and leave the red RCA disconnected to prevent an accidental ground loop.

** Please note: a 3.5mm/stereo mini cable will not work with the ‘Subwoofer’ output on the back of your A1/A1-MR speakers. **

No, there are no firmware updates or special drivers needed unless you own our A1-MR multi-room speakers or our B-Fi multi-room wireless streaming device.

If a firmware update is released for the A1-MR or the B-Fi, you will be notified of the update the next time you open the Audioengine Control App. If an update is needed, simply click "update" on the DEVICES page next to the product that needs to have the firmware update applied. The app will handle the rest of the process from there!

Standard plug-n-play drivers that are provided by your computer's OS are utilized when using the USB input on our A2+, HD3, and HD4 speaker models.

And all of our Bluetooth speakers/products are compatible with any device that supports Bluetooth, and the A2DP profile for streaming stereo audio. This includes most smartphones, tablets, and computers. For computers that don't include Bluetooth support out of the box, you can simply add a USB Bluetooth adapter.

When using the optical input of the D1 DAC or the HD6 speakers, you'll need to make sure your TV's audio output is set to PCM (not Dolby, DTS, or 5.1/surround). Special hardware is needed to process Dolby audio signals. If your TV is set to Dolby, it's likely you'll hear some audio but it will be intermittent in nature with dropouts. Once the output is set to PCM, this should resolve the issue. Check with your TV manufacturer for directions on how to make this adjustment.

Applicable to our A2+, HD3, HD4, A5+, A5+Wireless, and HD6 speakers.

Start with power cycling your speakers by turning them off and then back on.  From there:

1. Determine if the distortion is due to your source by disconnecting all source devices from the speakers.
2. Please make sure all of your connector cables are in working order. Try different cables as well as a different source device.
3. Please try using each input available (mini-jack, RCA, USB, as well as Bluetooth), one at a time, to see how the speakers react. If the distortion is unique to one speaker, when testing via RCA switch the RCA jacks (red to white and white to red) to see if the issue remains in the same channel.
4. Make sure it is not a power issue by trying a power outlet that is on a different circuit.

If the issue persists, please click on the following link and then click on the dropdown to submit an email to our Support team:

Support Page

When doing so, please copy and paste the above troubleshooting steps along with the results of each and include this information when contacting us.

Applicable to our A1, A2+Wireless, B2, A5+Wireless, and HD6 speaker models

Turn on the speakers using the power switch located on the rear panel.  The speakers will automatically go into Bluetooth "pair mode" and the Pair button on the back panel should start flashing.

1. On your source device (phone, tablet, laptop, etc), turn on Bluetooth and go to Bluetooth preferences.
2. Select "Audioengine (your speaker model)" from the list of available devices to pair and connect.  The Pair indicator on the back panel should now be solid. Play your music and adjust the volume levels on the speakers and your device.

To add additional devices put the speakers back into pair mode by disconnecting them from your device or by pressing and holding the Pair button until the pair indicator starts flashing.

Our speakers can wirelessly connect to only one device at a time, however it will remember up to six different devices.

All digital audio sources will ultimately need to be converted to analog to provide sound through any speaker system. Any optical/Bluetooth input will pass the digital signal on to the HD6's internal digital-to-analog converter (DAC), while the RCA/3.5mm inputs are already analog and have been converted by the built-in DAC in your source. So it's a question of which DAC sounds best to you. We would recommend testing each input separately to see which one you prefer!

Applicable to our A1, A1-MR, A2+, HD3, HD4, A5+, and HD6 speaker models

If one of your speakers is not working (whether it be the left or right speaker), we would recommend the following troubleshooting steps:

Start by power cycling your speakers by turning them off and then back on.  From there:

1. Check to make sure the speaker wire connecting the left and right speakers is connected according to proper polarity (Red to Gold, Black to Silver) on both ends.
2. Please make sure all of your connector cables are in working order. Try different cables as well as a different source device.
3. If you are using any other devices in line with these speakers, please temporarily remove them from your setup and connect the source directly to the speakers
4. Please try using each available input, one at a time, to see how the speakers react. When testing via RCA swap the RCA jacks (red to white and white to red) to see if the issue remains in the same channel.

If the issue persists, please click on the following link and then click on the dropdown to submit an email to our Support team:

Support Page

When doing so, please copy and paste the above troubleshooting steps along with the results of each and include this information when contacting us.

Yes, you still need to connect the active/left speaker to the passive/right speaker via the included speaker wire. The passive right speaker has no power source of its own and relies on the amplified signal coming over the wire.

Once you have set up your HD6 speakers, turn them on using the power switch on the rear panel. The speakers will automatically enter their "pairing mode" when first turned on. The Bluetooth LED on the back of the powered speaker will blink during this time frame.

While the LED is flashing, go into your source device's Bluetooth menu and then search for nearby Bluetooth devices. Select the HD6's from the list of nearby devices to pair and connect with the speakers. Once your source device has been paired with the speakers, the LED light on the back should remain solid and on.

At this point, select your favorite tunes and hit play! Keep in mind that you can adjust the volume by using your source device's volume control along with the volume knob on the front of the speakers. If the volume seems too low, check to make sure the volume is set to an appropriate level with both your source and the speakers.

If you'd like to switch to another Bluetooth source, either press and hold the LED button on the back of the HD6's until it starts flashing OR go into the Bluetooth menu of your source device and disconnect from there. Once the LED on the HD6's begins to flash again, you can pair a new Bluetooth source to the speakers.

The Bluetooth 5.0 receiver found in the latest builds of the HD6's will support the following Bluetooth codecs: SBC, AAC, aptX, and aptX HD.

Though the HD6's are capable of 'remembering' up to 6 devices, you can only have 1 source device (phone, laptop, computer, etc) actively paired via Bluetooth with the HD6's at a time.

The HD6 Bluetooth LED light will blink and be discoverable for 5 minutes once powered on. If in that 5 minute window the speakers are paired to a Bluetooth source, the light will go solid. After the 5 minutes is up, the light will turn off and it will no longer be discoverable and able to pair to new sources, but it will still be on. If the LED is off, a previously connected device can still pair to it at any time from within their device's Bluetooth menu.

If you want to pair to to a new device, just tap the LED light once more and it will blink and be discoverable for another 5 minutes. If you're paired to something and want to disconnect from the HD6's, you can hold the button down the Bluetooth LED for a few seconds before it disconnects.

The HD6's do not come with a dedicated headphone out. If you wanted to use headphones with our HD6 speakers, you'd want to incorporate a headphone amp, like our D1 24-bit DAC/Headphone Amp, into your set up. When using a device like this, the audio would be cut off to your speakers when your headphones are plugged in, allowing you to enjoy the audio coming through the headphones without any interruption from your speakers.

View the short video below to see one of our quality control technicians connect the HD6 left and right channels.

In countries such as the US, Canada, and Japan the fuse is a 110-120V AC power is a 5mm x 20mm 3.15 amp @ 250 - slow blow fuse. If you are outside those mentioned countries, please use a 220-240v is a 5mm x 20mm 1.6 amp @250 - slow blow fuse.

Absolutely!  You can connect any Audioengine speaker with an analog output to any Sonos product that has the Line-In feature.  You can also connect any Audioengine passive speakers into an existing Sonos system using the Sonos Amp.

Absolutely! To do so:

• Open the Alexa App on your smartphone or tablet (Apple link | Google Play Link)
• Tap the “Devices” icon and select the Echo/Alexa device you want to connect to speakers
• Select “Bluetooth Devices”
• Select “Pair New Device”
• Find your Audioengine wireless speaker on the list of available Bluetooth devices, and select it

Your Bluetooth connection works by projecting the sound from your phone. So, if your ringtone volume is on, that sound will come through Bluetooth too. This is a simple fix by changing the phone's ringtone settings to either vibrate or silent.

This sometimes happens when the speakers and turntable share the same surface. The vibrations from the speakers playing feedback into the turntables stylus, causing unwanted noise. The best way to mitigate this would be to place the speakers on a different surface. If that's not an option, we'd recommend trying out some isolation stands. For larger speakers like A5+ and HD6, the ones made by Isoacoustics work well.

Yes! We incorporate all the relevant functions and features from Bluetooth 5.0 that apply to our products! These features include; extended range, low latency (so that video and audio sync properly), as well as higher level aptX-HD, aptX, and AAC codecs (with the exception of our 512 portable speaker which supports SBC only). Keep in mind that the capability of the source is what controls the Bluetooth experience.

All turntables require a phono preamp stage before connecting to Audioengine speakers. Many turntables have this built-in , while others do not and would require an external phono preamp. Check the turntable manufacturer’s website or user manual. Some turntables may even include Bluetooth, in which case you can pair and connect them to the speakers wirelessly!

If the left speaker is in an easy to reach location, you can certainly use the physical knob to set volume. If not though, it's perfectly fine to set the speakers to a good volume and then adjust from your source moving forward. Every setup is different, so some experimentation will be necessary to find your preferred settings.

Though overall latency can be affected by some external factors (including things like signal strength, how well the source device's manufacturer has implemented it's Bluetooth, and even simply from being physically further away from the speakers) Audioengine Bluetooth products have very low latency when compared to most Bluetooth receivers, 30ms or less.

Here are some tips you can use to minimize any latency issues you may run into with your Bluetooth setup:

1) Try restarting both your device as well as the speakers (by switching them off, and back on, with the power switch on the rear of the speakers).

2) Check to make sure your source device is running the most up to date version of software available.

3) Try disconnecting from and forgetting the your Bluetooth speaker or device through your source’s Bluetooth settings, and then re-pair to your Bluetooth speaker/device.

4) If you have multiple apps or windows open when the delay occurs, try closing all of the apps that are not currently in use.  The more multitasking your system is having to do, the greater the potential delay in audio when using Bluetooth -- this would apply to both your smart phone and computer.

5) When using your iPhone, we've found that resetting your network settings can help improve the overall functionality of Bluetooth with your device -- including the latency.

For starters, you will need to use a powered subwoofer with analog inputs (either RCA or 3.5mm). Simply connect the subwoofer to the RCA outputs found on the back of the HD6 speakers. If your subwoofer only has a 3.5mm input, you could pick up a 3.5mm to 2-Male RCA Adapter cable to bridge the connection between your subwoofer and the HD6 speakers.

Please refer to the image below, using our S8 as a reference:

Yes! An AC wall outlet near the HD6 is all you need to power the W3 wireless receiver.

The HD6 is not officially supported by any universal remotes. However, you can use a learning remote to copy the signals being sent by the HD6's remote. Check with the manufacturer of your remote to find out if it supports learning IR codes.

- Both analog (3.5mm mini-jack and RCA) inputs are "open" or active, so you can leave 2 audio sources plugged in at the same time.

- The USB (Optical for HD6) and the Bluetooth module share the same DAC (Digital to Analog Converter) If connected to both, the Bluetooth connection will take precedence. If you're using USB (Optical for HD6) for example, and start using Bluetooth, USB (Optical for HD6) will mute and Bluetooth will take over. If you pause or disconnect from Bluetooth the speakers will automatically switch back to USB (Optical for HD6) after a few seconds.

*Please note, if you have a digital (Bluetooth, USB or Optical) and or multiple analog sources connected and streaming you are able to hear the input sources if they play simultaneously.

Bluetooth has a delay of about 30ms (milliseconds) so you can watch videos from Youtube, for example, and stream the audio through your HD6 without any noticeable lag between the video and audio.

The HD6 are capable of  providing audio playback for any and all audio that your source device is capable of playing.  Your source device would be the device your speakers are currently connected to either via the analog inputs, Bluetooth, or the optical cable.  They will play back audio from any streaming service including but not limited to:

• Tidal
• Spotify
• Pandora
• iTunes/Apple Music
• Amazon Music
• YouTube
• Sirius XM
• Qobuz

Possibly, it depends on the computer's operating system, sound capabilities and connection type. If your computer is capable of doing so, our speakers will not prevent this type of use in any way.

For example, if you have a Mac running Snow Leopard or later, you can create a multiple output device to accomplish this. See the link below for how-to instructions on Apple’s site:

Creating a Multi-Output Device

• If it's on and solid, this means the HD6 is powered on, and currently connected to a Bluetooth-enabled device.
• If your source is currently sending the HD6 an aptX signal, the LED indicator on the rear panel will illuminate orange instead of white.
• If it's on and blinking, this means the HD6 is powered on but not currently connected to a device.
• If it's off (and HD6 is powered on), this means Bluetooth is in standby and not connected to a device. The HD6, however, is still visible to your device, so simply connect using your device and the HD6 will automatically wake up.

You can absolutely still use the HD6 and it will sound great! AptX is a high-quality Bluetooth audio codec that works really well. In addition to mandatory support for SBC, Bluetooth also includes optional support for many other codecs, like MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, and AAC, all of which have their own advantages, and some of which sound very close to AptX.

No extra software or drivers are needed. The HD6 is compatible with any device that supports Bluetooth, and the A2DP profile for streaming stereo audio. This includes most smartphones, tablets, and computers.

Once your HD6 is paired and connected, then open any app (iTunes, Spotify, Amarra, etc.) - or online players such as Youtube - and it will automatically play your music through Bluetooth once you've selected what you want to hear.

It's pretty easy! Our powered speakers are an all-in-one solution with no extra amps or components needed! All you need to do is unpack the speakers, place them where you want, and then plug in the AC cord. Next, connect the powered speaker to the right passive speaker using the included upgraded speaker wire with banana plug tips. Finally, plug in your music (cell phone, turntable, computer, laptop, etc.) with the supplied cables or via Bluetooth and you're ready to go!

Here is a quick video that can be used as a reference.

HD6 Setup Video

(Please note - there is no audio associated with the video.)

Yes they do! They are equipped with a power-saving circuit that turns off the speaker's final stage amp. This idle mode activates right after you stop playing music. Due to this power-saving function, it's perfectly fine for the speakers to stay on all the time!

Audioengine speakers can be easily connected to your TV set as long as there are analog outputs available. Any of our speakers will provide a greatly enhanced TV audio experience with a wider soundstage and better imaging than most sound bars.

Setting up your Bluetooth turntable with your Bluetooth-ready Audioengine speakers/components should be simple! First, you would also need to make sure your Audioengine Bluetooth device is on, in pair mode (LED light flashing), and near the turntable. Next, you would need to use the pairing button to send the turntable into pairing mode. Depending on the turntable, you will need to either press and release the turntable's pair button or press and hold it; for example, on the Audio Technica AT-LP60-BT you would need to hold the turntable's pairing button for about two seconds, until the light flashes different colors. Once the turntable is in pairing mode, it will search and connect to the nearest available Bluetooth device. Once the turntable if paired and connected to your Audioengine Bluetooth device, the pair light on the receiver should turn solid.

If the Bluetooth LED is illuminated orange that means you are streaming in aptX HD which is a higher grade of Bluetooth signal.

Yes! We've been notified that the Android App ZappIR supports the A5+s, so if you have a phone with an IR blaster like the HTC One or the Samsung Galaxy S4 you can use the App to raise or lower the volume of your A5+s or HD6s with your phone!

If you’ve connected your turntable to your speakers and the volume is low, one of two situations may be happening:

If you have a turntable with a built-in phono preamp, such as the Audio-Technica ATLP120 or the Music Hall USB-1, the output may be in the wrong setting. Double check and make sure the switch is set to “line” instead of “phono.” Be careful to keep the volume of your speakers low as it can be quite loud if you had to switch it to "line".

Your turntable could also not include a built-in phono preamp, such as older turntables. If your turntable does not include a built-in preamp, you will need to add an external preamp to bring the signal up to a line level signal. We don’t have any recommendations on a particular brand or model preamp to use with this setup.

There do exist USB-to-optical converters that should work in a setup like this, though a product like this isn't very widespread. We don't really have any recommendations on a specific brand or model to use, but a quick Google/Amazon search should yield results.

Another solution is to use an external DAC, like our D1 24-bit DAC, connected to the USB port on your computer and plug it into either of the analog inputs of your HD6s.

The HD6s are slightly too big for our DS1 desktop stand, so we wouldn't really recommend them with the speakers. We've been using the IsoAcoustics as desktop stands for the HD6 and they've been working pretty well.  Here's some information about them:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008GOP79G?keywords=isoacoustics&qid=1453940727&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hC4wBi7T0Rw

Even though the HD6 has a built-in Bluetooth receiver, the HD6 are extremely versatile and can be used with a number of different devices, both digital and analog. There two analog inputs, a mini-stereo and RCA input, on the rear panel so you can directly connect any product with a line-level/preamp audio output, such as a turntable. The HD6s also have an optical input that utilizes the speakers' built-in DAC, so any source that has a digital optical output can be used directly with the speakers, such as the optical output of your television or computer.

Both analog inputs are "open" or active, so you can leave 2 audio sources plugged in at the same time with no need to flip any switches! Both the optical input and the bluetooth module share the same DAC so using the optical input on the HD6 as well as streaming to the speakers via bluetooth would utilize the built-in DAC. This means that the HD6's bluetooth receiver takes priority, so if you start playing audio over Bluetooth the optical input will mute; optical will resume automatically a few seconds after Bluetooth is paused or disconnected.

To replace the battery in your HD Series remote, you'll need a paperclip or similar.

1. Insert the paperclip into the hole on the back of the remote and push. The battery/button assembly of the remote will pop out.
2. Use the paperclip to push the battery out of the battery clip. Note the orientation of the battery when removing it.
3. Slide the new CR2025 battery into the battery clip. The positive (+) side of the battery should face away from the PCB.
4. The battery/button assembly is held in place with magnets, so once you've replaced the battery, slide it back into place.

The HD6 include some pretty significant upgrades over the A5+s.  Among these are:

• Larger redesigned woofer with die-cast aluminum frame for extended bass response with fast dynamics
• New larger custom 1” tweeter for an open and realistic high end and an extraordinary soundstage
• Thicker, low-resonance cabinet
• Upgraded crossover components

In addition to the performance related upgrades, the HD6s also feature:

• Bluetooth aptX and digital optical inputs
• Real wood-veneer cabinet finish options
• Removable magnetic grills
• Solid aluminum remote control

You may have a loose volume pot.  This can happen when the nut that holds the volume pot in place becomes loose.  This can be easily accessed and tightened without opening the speakers up.  Try this:

1) Pull the plastic volume knob off the volume pot.  Depending on how tight it's on, you might be able to pull it off with just your fingers. If not, you may need to cover the knob with a soft cloth and pull out with pliers.

2) Use a deep well 10mm socket (or socket driver) to tighten the nut around the volume pots shaft.

3) Press the plastic volume knob back over the volume pot's shaft, and retest.