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 VXS8 ranks #9, rated 3.0/5, and costs $662.98, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
Why pick 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 tradeoff: No independent measurements yet, so it can’t be compared with ranked PA speakers.
What the Yamaha VXS8 does well: The 8-inch model of Yamaha’s VXS surface-mount range, a larger sibling of the measured Yamaha VXS5 with an 8” woofer and a 1” soft dome tweeter. The tradeoff: No independent measurements yet, so it can’t be compared with ranked PA speakers.
Buy the Martin Audio CDD6. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Yamaha VXS8 and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
About the ratings: neither speaker has been measured yet, so both ratings are estimated from measured siblings and predecessors (likely ranges: Martin Audio CDD6 2.7 to 3.5; Yamaha VXS8 2.6 to 3.4). Treat this verdict as provisional.
Still deciding? The full PA & Live Sound rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Martin Audio CDD6 | Yamaha VXS8 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $550.00 each Passive | $662.98 per pair Passive |
| Ranked | #7 of 26 in Surface-Mount and Background Music Speakers Estimated | #9 of 26 in Surface-Mount and Background Music Speakers Estimated |
| Weight | 12.5 lbs (5.69 kg) | 18.1 lbs (8.2 kg) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 80Hz (manufacturer specified) | - |
| Rigging | 4 x M6 inserts for wall/ceiling brackets | Wall/ceiling mount bracket included |
| Maximum SPL | 119dB peak (manufacturer specified) | 117dB (calculated, manufacturer specified) |
| Passive | Yes | Yes |
| Configuration | Passive 2-way coaxial installation speaker | Passive 2-way surface-mount speaker |
| Drivers | 6.5” woofer with coaxial 1” HF driver | 8” woofer, 1” soft dome tweeter |
| Power Handling | 150W AES | 90W noise / 180W program |
| Frequency Response | 80Hz - 20kHz (±3dB), 70Hz (-10dB) (manufacturer specified) | 51Hz - 20kHz (-10dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms | - |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| DSP | No (passive) | No (passive) |
| Amplifier Power | Passive speaker; requires external amplification | Passive speaker; requires external amplification |
| Sensitivity | - | 91dB |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Martin Audio CDD6:
- Electro-Voice EVID-S5.2X vs Martin Audio CDD6
- Martin Audio CDD6 vs Yamaha VXS5
- Martin Audio CDD6 vs Martin Audio CDD5
- Electro-Voice EVID-S5.2X vs Yamaha VXS8
- Yamaha VXS8 vs JBL AC16
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 VXS8: $662.98 per pair Passive Estimated B&H Photo Video 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 VXS5 (smaller model, ranked higher, rated 3/5).
Pros: The 8-inch model of Yamaha’s VXS surface-mount range, a larger sibling of the measured Yamaha VXS5 with an 8” woofer and a 1” soft dome tweeter. Yamaha rates it at 91dB sensitivity and 117dB maximum SPL with bass to 51Hz (-10dB), so it reaches lower than the 5.25” model, and a transformer tap lets it run on 70V/100V lines or at low impedance.
Cons: No independent measurements yet, so it can’t be compared with ranked PA speakers. It is an installation speaker sold in pairs, with no built-in amplifier and a dome tweeter that limits output compared with horn-loaded PA boxes.
Full Yamaha VXS8 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | Passive speaker; requires external amplification |
|---|---|
| Bluetooth | No |
| Configuration | Passive 2-way surface-mount speaker |
| DSP | No (passive) |
| Drivers | 8” woofer, 1” soft dome tweeter |
| Frequency Response | 51Hz - 20kHz (-10dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Maximum SPL | 117dB (calculated, manufacturer specified) |
| Passive | Yes |
| Power Handling | 90W noise / 180W program |
| Rigging | Wall/ceiling mount bracket included |
| Sensitivity | 91dB |
| Weight | 18.1 lbs (8.2 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