Short answer: the Yamaha VXS1ML, though neither ranks well in its class. Both are rated 2.4/5 for sound quality (#21 and #23 of 26 surface-mount and background music speakers), and the Yamaha VXS1ML costs $96.99 against $878 for the Bose DesignMax DM8SE, so with nothing between them on sound quality, price settles it. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 26 surface-mount and background music speakers, so if sound quality matters, consider the JBL Control 24CT instead, ranked #1 at $350.
The case for the Bose DesignMax DM8SE: The outdoor-rated replacement for the measured Bose DesignMax DM8S, keeping its 8” woofer and center-firing coaxial 1” compression driver with 150W handling and a 52Hz to 20kHz range. Watch for: No independent measurements yet, so it can’t be compared with ranked PA speakers.
Why pick the Yamaha VXS1ML: The smallest of Yamaha’s VXS surface-mount speakers, a single 1.5” full-range driver with a neodymium magnet and very wide 170° dispersion, so a few units can cover a large room for background music. The catch: No independent measurements yet, so it can’t be compared with ranked PA speakers.
Buy the Yamaha VXS1ML. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $781.01 less than the Bose DesignMax DM8SE.
About the ratings: neither speaker has been measured yet, so both ratings are estimated from measured siblings and predecessors (likely ranges: Bose DesignMax DM8SE 2.1 to 2.7; Yamaha VXS1ML 2.0 to 2.8). Treat this verdict as provisional.
Want more options? Browse the full PA & Live Sound rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Bose DesignMax DM8SE | Yamaha VXS1ML | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $878.00 each Passive | $96.99 per pair Passive |
| Ranked | #23 of 26 in Surface-Mount and Background Music Speakers Estimated | #21 of 26 in Surface-Mount and Background Music Speakers Estimated |
| Weight | 22.7 lbs (10.3 kg) | 0.4 lbs (0.17 kg) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 60Hz (manufacturer specified) | - |
| Rigging | QuickHold U-bracket; 2 x M8 bracket inserts; M8 safety cable insert | Wall/ceiling bracket included |
| Maximum SPL | 121dB peak (manufacturer specified) | 92dB peak (manufacturer specified) |
| Passive | Yes | Yes |
| Configuration | Passive 2-way coaxial surface-mount speaker | Passive full-range surface-mount speaker |
| Drivers | 8” woofer, coaxial 1” compression driver | 1.5” full-range driver |
| Frequency Response | 52Hz - 20kHz (manufacturer specified) | - |
| Power Handling | 150W | - |
| IP Rating | IP55 | - |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| DSP | No (passive) | No (passive) |
| Amplifier Power | Passive speaker; requires external amplification | Passive speaker; requires external amplification |
| Coverage | - | 170° x 170° |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Yamaha VXS1ML compares with other leading options:
- JBL AC16 vs Yamaha VXS1ML
- Electro-Voice EVID-S8.2 vs Yamaha VXS1ML
- JBL AC25 vs Bose DesignMax DM8SE
- Bose DesignMax DM8SE vs Bose DesignMax DM5SE
- Bose DesignMax DM8SE vs Bose DesignMax DM6SE
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Bose DesignMax DM8SE: $878.00 each Passive Estimated Amazon eBay
Older model: the Bose DesignMax DM8S (ranked higher, rated 2.4/5). See every Bose DesignMax generation.
Same family: the Bose DesignMax DM5SE (smaller model, ranked lower, rated 2.2/5) and the Bose DesignMax DM6SE (smaller model, ranked lower, rated 2.2/5).
Pros: The outdoor-rated replacement for the measured Bose DesignMax DM8S, keeping its 8” woofer and center-firing coaxial 1” compression driver with 150W handling and a 52Hz to 20kHz range. It adds IP55 weather sealing, an aluminum grille with a rust-resistant finish and a sealed cover over the input terminals.
Cons: No independent measurements yet, so it can’t be compared with ranked PA speakers. The measured DM8S it is based on had an uneven response for its price, and it needs an external amplifier.
Full Bose DesignMax DM8SE review and specifications →
| Released | Mar 2025 (1 year ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | Passive speaker; requires external amplification |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 60Hz (manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Configuration | Passive 2-way coaxial surface-mount speaker |
| DSP | No (passive) |
| Drivers | 8” woofer, coaxial 1” compression driver |
| Frequency Response | 52Hz - 20kHz (manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP55 |
| Maximum SPL | 121dB peak (manufacturer specified) |
| Passive | Yes |
| Power Handling | 150W |
| Rigging | QuickHold U-bracket; 2 x M8 bracket inserts; M8 safety cable insert |
| Weight | 22.7 lbs (10.3 kg) |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Yamaha VXS1ML: $96.99 per pair Passive Estimated Amazon eBay
Same family: the Yamaha VXS3F (larger model, ranked higher, rated 2.6/5), the Yamaha VXS5 (larger model, ranked higher, rated 3/5) and the Yamaha VXS8 (larger model, ranked higher, estimated 3/5).
Pros: The smallest of Yamaha’s VXS surface-mount speakers, a single 1.5” full-range driver with a neodymium magnet and very wide 170° dispersion, so a few units can cover a large room for background music. It sits below the measured Yamaha VXS3F and is meant to pair with Yamaha’s VXS3S compact subwoofer.
Cons: No independent measurements yet, so it can’t be compared with ranked PA speakers. A 1.5” driver alone has little bass, so it needs a subwoofer for anything beyond background music and speech.
Full Yamaha VXS1ML review and specifications →
| Released | 2017 (9 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | Passive speaker; requires external amplification |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Configuration | Passive full-range surface-mount speaker |
| Coverage | 170° x 170° |
| DSP | No (passive) |
| Drivers | 1.5” full-range driver |
| Maximum SPL | 92dB peak (manufacturer specified) |
| Passive | Yes |
| Rigging | Wall/ceiling bracket included |
| Weight | 0.4 lbs (0.17 kg) |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons