Short answer: the Yamaha HS8. It ranks #36 of 119 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.4/5, at $797.98. The Yamaha HS5 ranks #66, rated 3.6/5, at $399.98, $398 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
The case for the Yamaha HS5: Very neutral. Set against that: Not quite as deep of bass as some of the others in this size class.
What the Yamaha HS8 gets right: Good for mixing and anything needing a neutral output. The catch: Quite expensive.
Buy the Yamaha HS8. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $398 with the Yamaha HS5 does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Powered Home rankings.
A popular 5 inch studio monitor with balanced inputs and room placement controls for a home studio.
Popular studio monitors with neutral sound and solid bass from an 8 inch woofer.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Yamaha HS5 | Yamaha HS8 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $399.98 per pair | $797.98 per pair |
| Ranked | #66 of 108 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #36 of 119 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 88Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 43.9Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 68Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 34.7Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 11.2”H x 6.7”W x 8.7”D (284.5 x 170.2 x 221 mm) | 15.4”H x 9.8”W x 13.1”D (391.2 x 248.9 x 332.7 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 58Hz - 24kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 47Hz - 24kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | XLR | XLR |
| Weight | 12.1 lbs (5.5 kg) each | 22.5 lbs (10.2 kg) |
| Drivers | 5” (127mm) woofer | 8” woofer, 1” dome tweeter |
| App | No | No |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment) | Yes (Room adjustment) |
| Amplifier Power | 45w Per Speaker | 120w Per Speaker |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.70 | 5.85 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.32 | 7.58 |
| XLR Input | Yes | Yes |
| RCA Input | No | No |
| TRS Input | No | 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 |
| DSP | - | No |
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