Short answer: the Martin Audio CDD6. It ranks #7 of 26 surface-mount and background music speakers by sound quality, rated 3.1/5, at $550. The Yamaha VXS5 ranks #8, rated 3.0/5, at $392.98, $157.02 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
The case for the Martin Audio CDD6: A passive Coaxial Differential Dispersion speaker from the same Martin Audio CDD line as the measured Martin Audio CDD8 and Martin Audio CDD10: a 6.5” coaxial driver in a cabinet small enough for discreet installs. The catch: No independent measurements yet, so it can’t be compared with ranked PA speakers.
The case for the Yamaha VXS5: A compact surface-mount speaker for commercial installations with a 5.25” woofer and a dome tweeter, weather-resistant for covered outdoor use. Watch for: Bass is limited, so it needs a subwoofer for full-range music, and the on-axis response is uneven (0.95 average deviation).
Buy the Martin Audio CDD6. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $157.02 with the Yamaha VXS5 does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Worth knowing: the Martin Audio CDD6 has not been measured yet. Its rating is estimated from related models, with a likely range of 2.7 to 3.5, so treat this verdict as provisional.
Want more options? Browse the full PA & Live Sound rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Martin Audio CDD6 | Yamaha VXS5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $550.00 each Passive | $392.98 per pair Passive |
| Ranked | #7 of 26 in Surface-Mount and Background Music Speakers Estimated | #8 of 26 in Surface-Mount and Background Music Speakers |
| Weight | 12.5 lbs (5.69 kg) | 7.9 lbs (3.6 kg) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 80Hz (manufacturer specified) | 95.0Hz (measured, manufacturer data via spinorama.org) |
| Rigging | 4 x M6 inserts for wall/ceiling brackets | Wall/ceiling mount bracket included |
| Maximum SPL | 119dB peak (manufacturer specified) | 114dB peak (manufacturer specified) |
| Passive | Yes | Yes |
| Configuration | Passive 2-way coaxial installation speaker | - |
| Drivers | 6.5” woofer with coaxial 1” HF driver | 5.25” woofer, dome tweeter |
| Power Handling | 150W AES | - |
| Frequency Response | 80Hz - 20kHz (±3dB), 70Hz (-10dB) (manufacturer specified) | - |
| Impedance | 8 ohms | - |
| XLR Input | No | - |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| DSP | No (passive) | - |
| Amplifier Power | Passive speaker; requires external amplification | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | about 69.5Hz (measured, manufacturer data via spinorama.org) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | - | 1.86 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | - | 5.17 |
| DIY Kit | - | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to Martin Audio CDD6:
- Electro-Voice EVID-S5.2X vs Martin Audio CDD6
- Martin Audio CDD6 vs Yamaha VXS8
- Martin Audio CDD6 vs Martin Audio CDD5
- Electro-Voice EVID-S5.2X vs Yamaha VXS5
- JBL Control 24CT vs Yamaha VXS5
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
Martin Audio CDD6: $550.00 each Passive Estimated Full Compass eBay
Same family: the Martin Audio CDD-LIVE 8 (smallest powered model, estimated 3.4/5), the Martin Audio CDD-LIVE 12 (powered model, estimated 3.1/5), the Martin Audio CDD-LIVE 15 (largest powered model, estimated 3.5/5), the Martin Audio CDD5 (smaller passive model, ranked lower, estimated 3/5), the Martin Audio CDD8 (larger passive model, rated 3.2/5), the Martin Audio CDD10 (larger passive model, rated 3.1/5), the Martin Audio CDD12 (larger passive model, rated 2.9/5) and the Martin Audio CDD15 (larger passive model, rated 3.3/5).
Pros: A passive Coaxial Differential Dispersion speaker from the same Martin Audio CDD line as the measured Martin Audio CDD8 and Martin Audio CDD10: a 6.5” coaxial driver in a cabinet small enough for discreet installs. CDD widens the horizontal pattern close to the speaker and narrows it with distance, which keeps level more even from front to back of a room.
Cons: No independent measurements yet, so it can’t be compared with ranked PA speakers. It needs an external amplifier, and its small woofer limits bass and output, so larger rooms need a subwoofer or bigger CDD models.
Full Martin Audio CDD6 review and specifications →
| Released | Jun 2015 (11 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | Passive speaker; requires external amplification |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 80Hz (manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Configuration | Passive 2-way coaxial installation speaker |
| DSP | No (passive) |
| Drivers | 6.5” woofer with coaxial 1” HF driver |
| Frequency Response | 80Hz - 20kHz (±3dB), 70Hz (-10dB) (manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms |
| Maximum SPL | 119dB peak (manufacturer specified) |
| Passive | Yes |
| Power Handling | 150W AES |
| Rigging | 4 x M6 inserts for wall/ceiling brackets |
| Weight | 12.5 lbs (5.69 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 VXS5: $392.98 per pair Passive Amazon eBay
Same family: the Yamaha VXS1ML (smaller model, ranked lower, estimated 2.4/5), the Yamaha VXS3F (smaller model, ranked lower, rated 2.6/5) and the Yamaha VXS8 (larger model, ranked lower, estimated 3/5).
Pros: A compact surface-mount speaker for commercial installations with a 5.25” woofer and a dome tweeter, weather-resistant for covered outdoor use. Yamaha’s measurements show a preference score of 1.86 that reaches 5.17 with an ideal subwoofer, with 0.59 listening window deviation.
Cons: Bass is limited, so it needs a subwoofer for full-range music, and the on-axis response is uneven (0.95 average deviation). The data comes from Yamaha. Bass reaches 95.0Hz (-3dB) and about 70Hz (-10dB).
Full Yamaha VXS5 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | about 69.5Hz (measured, manufacturer data via spinorama.org) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 95.0Hz (measured, manufacturer data via spinorama.org) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Drivers | 5.25” woofer, dome tweeter |
| Maximum SPL | 114dB peak (manufacturer specified) |
| Passive | Yes |
| Rigging | Wall/ceiling mount bracket included |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 1.86 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.17 |
| Weight | 7.9 lbs (3.6 kg) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons