Yamaha HS8 Powered Studio Monitor (Matched Pair) Black 2022

These studio monitors have the iconic white woofers that other high-end Yamaha speakers are known for. They sound terrific and have larger speakers for that rich bass sound. These speakers are excellent and as far as my mixes sound flat with no distortion. They give me a true sound and they are my main monitors that I use for mixing because they give me an accurate representation of the low end that smaller monitors don't give me. When I play the mix in my car it sounds exactly like it sounds coming out of the monitor. Great job Yamaha! Thank you for making them easy to pay for American Musical!

As a producer of 20+ years, hiphop/rnb, the yamaha hs8s are amazing. I look for great highs, mids and solid lows and these live up to its name.AccuracyAs a sound designer, the clarity reaponse is so clear, it picks up sound id usually not hear with other speakers, I am able to create big sound such as realistic strings that sounds huge. Tweaking sounds is what I love, so tweaking frequencies with bass or 808s so they will not clash with other low end sounds, these speakers are perfect for that. Lots of producers have this issue, I highly recommend for aound clarity.BassIve owned lots of speakers, as I work with lots of bass and 808 sounds, the hs8s by far have amazed me, solid and tight kicks, 808s etc. All sound amazing and not muddy, not to loud and over ... MoreAs a producer of 20+ years, hiphop/rnb, the yamaha hs8s are amazing. I look for great highs, mids and solid lows and these live up to its name.AccuracyAs a sound designer, the clarity reaponse is so clear, it picks up sound id usually not hear with other speakers, I am able to create big sound such as realistic strings that sounds huge. Tweaking sounds is what I love, so tweaking frequencies with bass or 808s so they will not clash with other low end sounds, these speakers are perfect for that. Lots of producers have this issue, I highly recommend for aound clarity.BassIve owned lots of speakers, as I work with lots of bass and 808 sounds, the hs8s by far have amazed me, solid and tight kicks, 808s etc. All sound amazing and not muddy, not to loud and over bearing and not to soft. Perfect responses. The bass and kicks are so tight, id leave a beat I am creating on loop for hours because I be amazed on the clarity.OverallHighs, Mids, Lows are what my ears judge when it comes to speakers and Yamaha did a great job, id give this 10 stars.So if you take your sound serious like I do, get the yamaha hs8s, you will not be disappointed.

Ok so I auditioned the 6 different monitors, under 1k and 2 over 1k. The Yamaha HS8 were the best by far of all under 1k, including the Jbl 308 and the Krk rocket 8. I also tried the entry level Adams’s and liked these a lot more.as far as over over 1k in cost, I like the alpha 80’s (focal) more, especially in the mid range area, however they are 1100 dollars and slightly over what I was willing to spend. For the money there is no studio monitor, close to these period. I use these for gaming, movies and tv, but I also listen to a lot of music in hi-res. From the tv I use The optical out cable, to a small 30$ dac and presto I have full perfect sound. Couldn’t be happier with output and the quality of sound. Don’t need a sub with these unless you are a movie buff or ... MoreOk so I auditioned the 6 different monitors, under 1k and 2 over 1k. The Yamaha HS8 were the best by far of all under 1k, including the Jbl 308 and the Krk rocket 8. I also tried the entry level Adams’s and liked these a lot more.as far as over over 1k in cost, I like the alpha 80’s (focal) more, especially in the mid range area, however they are 1100 dollars and slightly over what I was willing to spend. For the money there is no studio monitor, close to these period. I use these for gaming, movies and tv, but I also listen to a lot of music in hi-res. From the tv I use The optical out cable, to a small 30$ dac and presto I have full perfect sound. Couldn’t be happier with output and the quality of sound. Don’t need a sub with these unless you are a movie buff or spend a lot of time mixing. ( allows for better separation. They are lively, even at low volumes and eliminate the issue of not hearing voices and having to crank them up. I keep these around volume 2 and it’s plenty to fill a 25x20 living room.I do help mix some and I use these to determine if the quality of the mix. It has made a huge difference in finished products as I am able to hear detailed information, and clean up muddy sounding recordings.In response the the person who keeps posting buy the Yamaha NS-6490, please stop. You are truly an idiot , and misleading people. I bought these and tried them and they are clean, loud, and very large speakers. They are actually about 1/2 larger than the HS8.they are also passive and not powered. They don’t sound half as good as the HS8’s, and they need at least 75 watts to get them going. They still only produce about half the sound of the HS8, but would make a great set of theater speakers with a high powered receiver. best speaker non-powered under 150$

Great build, absolutely no lack of power and detail for days! I thought long and hard before buying these. I have poured over review after review on the HS lineup and they seem to have a reputation for an overly bright high end and slightly underpowered but tight low. I can honestly say, I have none of those criticisms. The highs are very detailed but not overly bright the mids are open accurate and fast and the lows are very punchy, dynamic and tightly controlled all the way down to 40Hz and below. Even with my less than optimal setup (about a foot away from the back wall), The HS8's present a fantastic soundstage and are resolving detail that I have never heard in my music before. From sub bass right through to the top end of my mixes, I'm hearing things in my ... MoreGreat build, absolutely no lack of power and detail for days! I thought long and hard before buying these. I have poured over review after review on the HS lineup and they seem to have a reputation for an overly bright high end and slightly underpowered but tight low. I can honestly say, I have none of those criticisms. The highs are very detailed but not overly bright the mids are open accurate and fast and the lows are very punchy, dynamic and tightly controlled all the way down to 40Hz and below. Even with my less than optimal setup (about a foot away from the back wall), The HS8's present a fantastic soundstage and are resolving detail that I have never heard in my music before. From sub bass right through to the top end of my mixes, I'm hearing things in my mixes that I never knew were even there before! I'm so glad I went for the HS8's rather than a smaller model as these things present bass with a weight and authority that is truly satisfying, plus there really is no need for a sub!

Blew my Mind!

First off, these things rule. The demo I was given for these in-store blew me away and they continue to do so every day. I can hear things in other people's mixes that definitely get lost on other systems and my own mixes have improved considerably. Listening to my old mixes on these was.....humbling. I think two of these is an important step up for any amateur or growing producer or engineer and can meld well with your existing setup by giving you a primary or secondary set of ears for your mixes. I produce everything from lofi/hifi beats, metal (stoner, hardcore, death metal/core), shoegaze, indie, etc. and I've noticed very particular things (hz spikes, leveling issues) in my DI tones, virtual drums, and re-amps that I now catch before pressing record (saving me ... MoreFirst off, these things rule. The demo I was given for these in-store blew me away and they continue to do so every day. I can hear things in other people's mixes that definitely get lost on other systems and my own mixes have improved considerably. Listening to my old mixes on these was.....humbling. I think two of these is an important step up for any amateur or growing producer or engineer and can meld well with your existing setup by giving you a primary or secondary set of ears for your mixes. I produce everything from lofi/hifi beats, metal (stoner, hardcore, death metal/core), shoegaze, indie, etc. and I've noticed very particular things (hz spikes, leveling issues) in my DI tones, virtual drums, and re-amps that I now catch before pressing record (saving me a lot of time down the line) all thanks to these monitors.Note about the optional sub:I did not purchase the sub with my pair but I believe it would fill in the gaps in the low end (I understand that these can't really do it all or else they wouldn't be as flat and clear as they are) but they give you a clear picture. My solution has been to use an auxiliary system (home theater, computer speakers with sub, car) for checking the 50-20hz response until I can afford the matching sub or an aftermarket alternative.

Forward March!

I purchased the HS8s for Home Audio listening and not for Mixing or Studio purposes. Many reviews state that these powered speakers present a truthful sound when creating/mixing initial performances in studio. For better or worse. Some say they are brutally honest, some say they present a necessary accuracy needed to create an appropriate mix. Bright, forward, real bass. I have for many years now discovered powered studio monitors have provided me with an affordable path toward audio bliss. Currently I have several pairs of M-Audio studio monitors. Easily driven by the Cambridge Audio Dacmagic 200M or the Emotiva DC-1 Stealth DACs. Total cost of a complete system under $1500. I decided to try the HS8s as they have different tonal characteristics than the M-Audios. ... MoreI purchased the HS8s for Home Audio listening and not for Mixing or Studio purposes. Many reviews state that these powered speakers present a truthful sound when creating/mixing initial performances in studio. For better or worse. Some say they are brutally honest, some say they present a necessary accuracy needed to create an appropriate mix. Bright, forward, real bass. I have for many years now discovered powered studio monitors have provided me with an affordable path toward audio bliss. Currently I have several pairs of M-Audio studio monitors. Easily driven by the Cambridge Audio Dacmagic 200M or the Emotiva DC-1 Stealth DACs. Total cost of a complete system under $1500. I decided to try the HS8s as they have different tonal characteristics than the M-Audios. After breaking in the HS8s after a month, I came to the following conclusions: The HS8s are forward and bright. Accurate and detailed. I agree they are more honest presenting what ever media is played through them. The M-Audios are laid back. Warmer sounding. Still presenting much of the detail. The HS8s surprise you by making you aware of details not previously noticed. I hear more decay from the HS8s. The M-Audios draw you in with a pleasant, warm presentation not giving up tonal accuracy but with bit less bass articulation. The M-Audios can be a warm blanket with some media. Always enjoyable and inviting. The HS8s challenge you. They tell you to wake up and listen! They can change perceived instrument location in the sound field compared to the M-Audios. The bass is more articulate and still able to dig fairly deep depending on the media. The good news is I have two different sounding presentations yet both able to provide pleasing sound reproduction, once again, depending upon the media. I have mostly conquered speaker hiss by plugging all devices into a Panamax 5100 power conditioner, upgrading power cables and XLR interconnects. I stopped turning the powered monitors off with their own power switches. Power on, power off controlled by the Panamax for all devices. This may or may not help you as there are many variables in the audio chain.

Replacements

I was in the market for replacing my EV MS-802's , I've had for many , many,many, years . Yea it was time to retire them. Great moments with them. So my son has a pair of the Yamaha's HS-8's , so I did a test drive with them, and to say the least I was very impressed. Naturally the next thing for me was to pick up a pair, which I did . I'm glad I did , next for me would be to add the sub, ( I'm a D.J.. whose been deaf in one ear since childhood) so I need to feel the bass more , so my mixing can feel seamless to me. Great monitors, yes I would recommend them to everyone in the market for a pair of monitors. Thanks Frank AKA DJFUSION63

Top of the line

I upgraded from the JBL 5" speakers and wow. I dont even need my sub anymore. This are the best mixing and sounding monitors in this range that I have ever heard. If you are a professional or mix and produce at home these are the best option out there IMO. I've used them for all types of music, Rap, Country, R&B, acoustic guitar, rock bands, it took the mixes to the next level because they are true to sound. Yamaha knows how to make a quality product!

Yamaha HS8 Studio Monitors

The Yamaha HS8 studio monitors are dollar for dollar one of the best buys you could make. They are strong, clear and offer plenty of power. The sound field they deliver is more than adequate for near field use, and they can be used as mid field monitors very well. Set up for a distance of 6-12 feet they deliver a great flat non-colored sound. I also have a pair of Yamaha HS5s and a pair of Genelec 8030cs. If I had to pick one pair to use, of the 3 sets, I would pick the HS8s. In a small room, they could almost be too powerful, but they give you a full range and even at lower volumes perform very well.

You;ll hear the subtle nuances.

Reviews tell you that the HS8 are top contenders for best value for the buck. My opinion I also agree. My personal reasoning for choosing them is that the speakers offer more detail. My analogy is that among other details they get into the singers mouth closer than other reference monitors. I want to hear the subtle differences.