Short answer: the Yamaha HS8. It ranks #36 of 119 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.4/5, at $797.98; the Focal Alpha 65 EVO ranks #81, rated 4.0/5, and costs $858, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
Our notes describe the Alpha 65 EVO as very neutral, with better soundstage and instrument definition than the HS8, just not quite matching the APS Klasik 2020 in the midrange. Its real quirks are trim dials without a center detent, meaning getting back to flat takes trial and error, plus a distortion spike one reviewer’s original sample showed that a second sample didn’t reproduce, likely a defective unit rather than a design flaw.
The HS8 stays the more conventional, higher-headroom choice, good for mixing with a neutral output, at the cost of a slight midrange boost and its price.
Buy the Alpha 65 EVO for the better ranking and the lower price. Buy the HS8 if you’d rather avoid the trim-dial fiddling.
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Studio monitors with useful bass for music, tone controls, and XLR, TRS and RCA inputs for easy studio setup.
Popular studio monitors with neutral sound and solid bass from an 8 inch woofer.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Focal Alpha 65 EVO | Yamaha HS8 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $858 per pair | $797.98 per pair |
| Ranked | #81 of 119 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #36 of 119 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 45Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 43.9Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 36Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 34.7Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 13.4”H x 10.3”W x 11.4”D (340.4 x 261.6 x 289.6 mm) | 15.4”H x 9.8”W x 13.1”D (391.2 x 248.9 x 332.7 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 40Hz - 22kHz (+-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 47Hz - 24kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | TRS, XLR, RCA | XLR |
| Weight | 16.8 lbs (7.6 kg) each | 22.5 lbs (10.2 kg) |
| Drivers | 6.5” (165mm) woofer | 8” woofer, 1” dome tweeter |
| App | No | No |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment) | Yes (Room adjustment) |
| DSP | No | No |
| Amplifier Power | 85w Per Speaker | 120w Per Speaker |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.71 | 5.85 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.59 | 7.58 |
| XLR Input | Yes | Yes |
| RCA Input | Yes | No |
| TRS Input | Yes | 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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