Short answer: the Yamaha HS8. It ranks #36 of 119 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.4/5, at $797.98. The ADAM Audio T8V ranks #94, rated 3.9/5, at $719.98, $78 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
Our notes describe the T8V as quite balanced and neutral, very close to the HS8, with deeper bass than it. Its real quirks are a crossover-region notch around 4.6kHz where the tweeter and woofer interact, and a hole in the vertical response below the tweeter axis, so keeping the tweeter at or above ear height matters.
The HS8 stays the more conventional reference, good for mixing with a neutral output, at the cost of a slight midrange boost and its considerably higher price.
Buy the Yamaha HS8. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $78 saving on the ADAM Audio T8V is not enough to make up the difference.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Powered Home rankings.
An affordable 8 inch studio monitor with real bass depth and straightforward analog inputs.
Popular studio monitors with neutral sound and solid bass from an 8 inch woofer.
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Specifications Side By Side
| ADAM Audio T8V | Yamaha HS8 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $719.98 per pair | $797.98 per pair |
| Ranked | #94 of 119 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #36 of 119 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 39.6Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 43.9Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 33.2Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) | 34.7Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 15.8”H x 9.8”W x 13.2”D (401.3 x 248.9 x 335.3 mm) | 15.4”H x 9.8”W x 13.1”D (391.2 x 248.9 x 332.7 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 33Hz - 25kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 47Hz - 24kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | XLR, RCA | XLR |
| Weight | 21.6 lbs (9.8 kg) | 22.5 lbs (10.2 kg) |
| Drivers | 8” (203mm) woofer | 8” woofer, 1” dome tweeter |
| App | No | No |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment) | Yes (Room adjustment) |
| DSP | No | No |
| Amplifier Power | 90w Per Speaker | 120w Per Speaker |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.65 | 5.85 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.31 | 7.58 |
| XLR Input | Yes | Yes |
| RCA Input | Yes | No |
| TRS Input | No | No |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | No |
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