Short answer: the Focal Solo6 ST6 for better sound quality, the Yamaha HS8 for the lower price. The Focal Solo6 ST6 ranks #23 of 48 powered bookshelf speakers at $1499. The Yamaha HS8 ranks #26 at $678.28, $820.72 cheaper.
What the Focal Solo6 ST6 offers: Beryllium inverted-dome tweeter over a 6.5” ‘W’ composite sandwich-cone woofer - a low-mass, low-distortion driver combination rarely found below far pricier monitors. Set against that: Bass alignment Q is on the higher side, which can correlate with a touch of extra bass fullness/looseness versus a more critically-damped alignment.
On the Yamaha HS8 side: Good for mixing and anything needing a neutral output. The catch: Slight midrange boost. Quite expensive.
Buy the Focal Solo6 ST6 if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Yamaha HS8 if the price matters more than sound quality.
Specifications Side By Side
| Focal Solo6 ST6 | Yamaha HS8 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,499.00 | $678.28 |
| Ranked | #23 of 48 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #26 of 48 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 46.9Hz (measured, spinorama.org) | 43.9Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38.1Hz (measured, spinorama.org) | 34.7Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Maximum Output | 110dB peak at 1m | - |
| Amplification | 130W total, bi-amped (80W Class G LF + 50W Class AB HF) | - |
| Drivers | 1" Beryllium inverted-dome tweeter, 6.5" "W" composite sandwich-cone woofer | 8" woofer, 1" dome tweeter |
| Dimensions | 24.6 x 33.4 x 29.5cm (9.7 x 13.1 x 11.6 in) each, 13kg (28.6 lb) each | 15.4"H x 9.8"W x 13.1"D (391.2 x 248.9 x 332.7 mm) |
| Frequency Response | - | 47Hz - 24kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | - | XLR |
| Weight | - | 22.5 lbs / 10.2 kg |
| App | - | No |
| Bluetooth | - | No |
| EQ | - | Yes (Room adjustment) |
| DSP | - | No |
| Output Power | - | 120w Per Speaker |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- JBL 4305P vs Kali Audio LP-8
- Kali Audio LP-8 vs Focal Twin6 Be
- JBL 308P MKII vs Klipsch The Nines
- Yamaha HS8 vs Klipsch The Nines
- Focal Alpha 65 EVO vs Focal Solo6 ST6
The Two Speakers In Full
Focal Solo6 ST6: $1,499.00 B&H Photo Sweetwater
Pros: Beryllium inverted-dome tweeter over a 6.5” ‘W’ composite sandwich-cone woofer - a low-mass, low-distortion driver combination rarely found below far pricier monitors. Directivity control is the tightest of this entire batch (directivity_spdi_stddev 2.87), and the listening-window response is smooth (smoothness_listening_window 0.380). Bi-amped 130W total (80W Class G woofer + 50W Class AB tweeter), each driver on its own amplifier. ‘Focus Mode’ switches the cabinet to a single-driver full-range reference signature for a second mix-translation check without extra hardware. Bass reaches 46.9Hz at -3dB / 38.1Hz at -10dB, solid for a 6.5” driver.
Cons: Bass alignment Q (lfq 0.826) is on the higher side, which can correlate with a touch of extra bass fullness/looseness versus a more critically-damped alignment. XLR-only balanced input, no unbalanced/TRS or digital connectivity. No automatic DSP room correction - tuning is limited to fixed analog shelving/high-pass switches. At $1,499 each ($2,998/pair), it’s a meaningful step up from typical prosumer active monitors.
Full Focal Solo6 ST6 review and specifications →
| Amplification | 130W total, bi-amped (80W Class G LF + 50W Class AB HF) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38.1Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 46.9Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Dimensions | 24.6 x 33.4 x 29.5cm (9.7 x 13.1 x 11.6 in) each, 13kg (28.6 lb) each |
| Drivers | 1" Beryllium inverted-dome tweeter, 6.5" "W" composite sandwich-cone woofer |
| Maximum Output | 110dB peak at 1m |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Yamaha HS8: $678.28 Amazon
Pros: Good for mixing and anything needing a neutral output.
Cons: Slight midrange boost. Quite expensive.
Full Yamaha HS8 review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 34.7Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 43.9Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| DSP | No |
| Dimensions | 15.4"H x 9.8"W x 13.1"D (391.2 x 248.9 x 332.7 mm) |
| Drivers | 8" woofer, 1" dome tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment) |
| Frequency Response | 47Hz - 24kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | XLR |
| Output Power | 120w Per Speaker |
| Weight | 22.5 lbs / 10.2 kg |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Sercan Solmaz: Adam Audio T8V vs Yamaha HS8 vs KRK Rokit 8 (STUDIO SPEAKER SOUND TEST)
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review Edifier R2850DB vs Yamaha HS8 sound.DEMO
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review Adam Audio A7X vs Yamaha HS8 sound.DEMO
- DSAUDIO.review: Yamaha HS7 vs Yamaha HS8 Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: Yamaha HS8 vs Yamaha HS5 Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: Genelec 8020D vs Yamaha HS8 Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review APS Klasik 2020 vs Yamaha HS8 sound.DEMO
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review Focal Alpha 65 EVO vs Yamaha HS8 sound.DEMO
- DSAUDIO.review: Yamaha HS8 vs PreSonus Eris E8 XT Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: Yamaha HS8 vs Kali Audio LP-8 Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: KRK Rokit 8 G4 RP8G4 vs Yamaha HS8 Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: Neumann KH80 DSP vs Yamaha HS8 Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: Yamaha HS8 vs IK Multimedia iLoud MTM Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- Audio Science Review Measurements (spinorama.org)
- Reddit Search for Yamaha HS8 Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons