Short answer: the Paradigm Persona B on measured sound quality, the Yamaha NS-800A on price. The Paradigm Persona B ranks #77 of 214 bookshelf speakers, rated 4.1/5, at $10,499.98. The Yamaha NS-800A ranks #81, rated 4.0/5, at $4,999.90, $5,500.08 cheaper.
Why pick the Paradigm Persona B: The standmount of the Paradigm Persona 3F family, with a 1” beryllium dome tweeter and a 7” beryllium mid/bass driver, rated from 60Hz to 45kHz (±2dB on axis). The tradeoff: No independent measurements yet, so its tonal balance and directivity can’t be compared with ranked speakers.
The case for the Yamaha NS-800A: Exceptionally well-built cabinet with no internal resonance issues at all: confirmed clean in both burst decay and impedance measurements. Watch for: A wide, roughly 2kHz-10kHz scoop in the upper-midrange/lower-treble gives it a laidback, soft, low-attack character: notably worse than the reviewer’s Audio First Fidelia reference in an A/B comparison.
Buy the Paradigm Persona B when sound quality outweighs the price for you, and the Yamaha NS-800A when the price outweighs sound quality instead.
Worth knowing: the Paradigm Persona B has not been measured yet. Its rating is estimated from related models, with a likely range of 3.7 to 4.5, so treat this verdict as provisional.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Paradigm Persona B | Yamaha NS-800A | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $10,499.98 per pair | $4,999.90 per pair |
| Ranked | #77 of 214 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers Estimated | #81 of 214 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Drivers | 1x 1” beryllium dome tweeter, 1x 7” beryllium mid/bass driver | 1.25” dome tweeter, 6.5” mid-woofer |
| Sensitivity | 92dB room / 89dB anechoic (manufacturer specified) | 84.9dB (measured average 300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner; 86.5dB manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms compatible (manufacturer specified) | 6 ohms nominal, 4.3 ohms minimum (measured above 80Hz, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 45kHz (±2dB on-axis, manufacturer specified) | - |
| Dimensions | 17.1”H x 8.9”W x 13”D (435 x 225 x 330 mm) | 16.5”H x 9.1”W x 14.1”D (419.1 x 231.8 x 358.8 mm) |
| Weight | 30.9 lbs (14 kg) | 28.7 lbs (13.0 kg) each |
| Enclosure | Bass reflex | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 35Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 68Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Woofer Cabinet | - | Bass reflex |
| Crossover Frequency | - | 2600Hz |
| Power Handling | - | 40W nominal, 120W max |
| Spinorama Preference Score | - | 4.66 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | - | 6.43 |
| DIY Kit | - | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
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- Paradigm Persona B vs Focal Sopra N°1
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- Focal Sopra N°1 vs Yamaha NS-800A
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- Revel M126Be vs Yamaha NS-800A
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
Paradigm Persona B: $10,499.98 per pair Estimated Paradigm eBay
Same family: the Paradigm Persona 3F (smallest floorstanding, estimated 4.2/5), the Paradigm Persona 5F (floorstanding, estimated 4.3/5), the Paradigm Persona 7F (floorstanding, estimated 4.4/5), the Paradigm Persona 9H (largest floorstanding, estimated 4.4/5), the Paradigm Persona C (center, estimated 4.2/5) and the Paradigm Persona SUB (subwoofer, estimated 4.2/5).
Pros: The standmount of the Paradigm Persona 3F family, with a 1” beryllium dome tweeter and a 7” beryllium mid/bass driver, rated from 60Hz to 45kHz (±2dB on axis).
Cons: No independent measurements yet, so its tonal balance and directivity can’t be compared with ranked speakers. Bass is limited compared with the Persona towers, so a subwoofer helps for full range listening.
Full Paradigm Persona B review and specifications →
| Dimensions | 17.1”H x 8.9”W x 13”D (435 x 225 x 330 mm) |
|---|---|
| Drivers | 1x 1” beryllium dome tweeter, 1x 7” beryllium mid/bass driver |
| Enclosure | Bass reflex |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 45kHz (±2dB on-axis, manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms compatible (manufacturer specified) |
| Sensitivity | 92dB room / 89dB anechoic (manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 30.9 lbs (14 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Yamaha NS-800A: $4,999.90 per pair The Music Room eBay
Pros: Exceptionally well-built cabinet with no internal resonance issues at all: confirmed clean in both burst decay and impedance measurements. Good, wide directivity (~75 degrees horizontal) that stays consistent enough to EQ successfully. Distortion is low, staying under 3% at 96dB, and dynamic range holds up well until right near its 102dB limit. A shallower, higher-frequency bass rolloff profile (F3 68Hz, F10 35Hz) means it can be placed closer to the wall (about a foot) without turning boomy, actually gaining bass presence rather than losing it. Measured bass extension of 68Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 84.9dB.
Cons: A wide, roughly 2kHz-10kHz scoop in the upper-midrange/lower-treble gives it a laidback, soft, low-attack character: notably worse than the reviewer’s Audio First Fidelia reference in an A/B comparison. On top of that, treble breaks up badly above 10kHz, swinging up as much as 8dB: a significant, named flaw. Sounds inconsistently voiced as a result (bright on some material like cymbals and shakers, dull/laidback on vocals and instrument attack) until corrected with real parametric EQ (the reviewer needed a +2dB boost around 4.5kHz at Q0.5 plus taming the treble spike to bring it to life) combined with near-wall placement and 30-degree toe-out. Without that combination, it’s a tough sale for a $5000 bookshelf speaker.
Full Yamaha NS-800A review and specifications →
| Released | 2024 (2 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 68Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Crossover Frequency | 2600Hz |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 16.5”H x 9.1”W x 14.1”D (419.1 x 231.8 x 358.8 mm) |
| Drivers | 1.25” dome tweeter, 6.5” mid-woofer |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal, 4.3 ohms minimum (measured above 80Hz, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Power Handling | 40W nominal, 120W max |
| Sensitivity | 84.9dB (measured average 300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner; 86.5dB manufacturer specified) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.66 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.43 |
| Weight | 28.7 lbs (13.0 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | Bass reflex |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Yamaha NS-800A vs Definitive Technology Demand D11
- Yamaha NS-800A vs ELAC DBR62
- Yamaha NS-800A vs Technics SB-C700
- Yamaha NS-800A vs Focal Sopra N°1
- Yamaha NS-800A vs Dynaudio Contour 20i
- Yamaha NS-800A vs ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UBR62
- Yamaha NS-800A vs SVS Ultra Bookshelf
- Yamaha NS-800A vs Revel Concerta2 M16
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