The Yamaha HS8 is a two-way studio monitor featuring an 8-inch woofer (75 W) and a 1-inch tweeter (45 W), powered by a total of 120 watts in a bi-amped configuration. It includes a bass reflex system and offers a frequency range from 38 Hz to 30,000 Hz. Inputs are available via balanced XLR and 6.3 mm balanced jack, with adjustable input level, room control, and high trim response control. Its dimensions are 250 x 390 x 334 mm, and it weighs 10.2 kg. The HS8 delivers impressive performance even without an additional subwoofer!

The HS8 is noted for its solid build quality and professional appearance. It features a sleek, minimalist design with a white-coned woofer and a well-lit Yamaha logo.

When I began this review, my initial thoughts were to critique what the Yamaha HS8 might be lacking. However, I realized that focusing solely on its shortcomings would be unfair, especially considering its price range. Given my experience with Adam A7V speakers, it’s crucial to evaluate the HS8 within its own price category. So, let’s take a closer look.

Competitors

In its price range, the Yamaha HS8 competes with:

• Presonus Eris Studio 8
• Adam T8V
• Kali Audio LP-8 2nd Wave
• JBL 308P MKII
• KRK Rokit RP8 G5
• Tannoy Gold 8

Priced between $250 and $320 per speaker (thomann.de), the HS8 is positioned in a competitive market.

Recommendations

I would consider suggesting this speaker to a starting home studio producer. It’s overall a good product. If you have a small room (less than 20m²), go for the HS7. If you can manage a sub, the best option is to use an HS5 + HS8S sub combination. This way, you not only avoid forcing the small 5″ driver to handle frequencies lower than 80Hz (where I’d set the crossover), but you also get deep and clean bass from the 8″ woofer.

The all-in-one (HS8 style) is not preferable because it lacks midrange definition and is not as deep as the HS8S sub. It’s not just about how low the speaker can reach; the most important aspect is the definition of those lows. It’s a compromise that I personally don’t like. However, if you don’t want the hassle of a sub, then go for the HS8.

My Setup Consideration

I’m looking to add an NS10-style speaker to my setup (but I’m not going to spend $1,000 on a poorly sounding speaker just for mix-checking). So, my choice is leaning toward the HS5, which has a boost in the midrange and lacks bass. It’s definitely not ideal as a main monitor system (unless you have no budget and can add a sub), but it’s good as a reference speaker to pair with my Auratone mono speaker (review coming soon).

HS8 Placement Considerations

Coming back to the HS8s, there is another thing to consider: they aren’t nearfield monitors. From my point of view, if you listen from closer than 1.5 meters, you’ll notice the separation between the tweeter and woofer; they don’t sound cohesive. You need to position them at least 1.5 meters from your listening position to truly enjoy them. According to the manual, Yamaha advises positioning them equidistant from rear and side walls, also at least 1.5 meters away. Therefore, you would need a room longer than 8 meters to fully enjoy them (you aren’t going to sit in the center of the room, are you? That’s where all the nodal peaks will destroy your audio experience.). On the plus side, the tweeter has very good off-axis response; I could walk around my room and still hear the full frequency spectrum (unlike the Adams). Additionally, they are quite enjoyable from a distance of 4 meters. For me, the HS8s are a midfield option.

Sound Quality of the Yamaha HS 8

Now let’s talk about their quality. The tweeter is a bit harsh for my liking—kind of shiny but disturbing and fatiguing after a while. The woofer lacks definition in the low mids and doesn’t have much 3D depth and sub punch (the transient response is slow). They do look really nice with the Yamaha logo lighting up when turned on.

Drawbacks

The HS8 is sensitive to electromagnetic interference. Without audio playing, I noticed electrical noise when moving my wired mouse and interference during phone calls. Additionally, the tweeter produces a faint hiss that is audible from 20-30 cm away.

Genre Performance

One thing I don’t see in other reviews is the monitor’s ability to reproduce and let you enjoy specific genres of music. It might sound weird, but not all genres sound good on all monitors. Here’s my list:

• Electronic music: The HS8 performs admirably here, despite its lack of punch. At this price, it shows fewer weaknesses in electronic tracks compared to other genres.
• Cinematic music: In genres reliant on reverb and depth (e.g., M83’s Starwaves), the HS8 can feel flat and lacking in dimension.
• Hard rock: The HS8 handles hard rock decently but struggles with more intense genres like metal or industrial. Tracks from Marilyn Manson and Rammstein didn’t have the impact I would expect compared to the Adams.
• Classical music: The HS8 shines with classical music, delivering a pleasing piano sound—after all, Yamaha knows a thing or two about pianos, also the string section sounds really nice on this set.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, the Yamaha HS8 is a reliable speaker within its price range. While it has some limitations, particularly in midrange and sub-bass response, as per other speakers in this price range, it still offers good value for certain genres and setups. Definitely, it’s a good speaker for recording, producing music, and amateur mixing (as a main monitor). If your budget and space allow, pairing the HS8 with a subwoofer or choosing the smaller models HS7 / HS5 (paired with the HS8S) might provide a better overall listening experience.

Check this YouTube playlist by DSAUDIO.review that compares the Yamaha HS8 with other monitors in the same price and quality range.

Thank you for reading through to the end—I hope this review helps guide you in making the best decision for your studio needs. If you have any questions or feedback, feel free to reach out. Happy mixing!