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 HS7 ranks #93, rated 3.9/5, at $699.98, $98 cheaper, a saving that is not big enough to make up the sound-quality gap.
What the Yamaha HS7 does well: A simple, well known 6.5 inch studio monitor with balanced inputs and controls to adjust for wall placement and treble. Watch for: Its uneven bass response crosses -3dB around 87.9Hz in the normalized measurement, so quoting the 41Hz low-frequency score input as flat bass extension is misleading.
The Yamaha HS8 is the more accurate pick. Popular studio monitors with neutral sound and solid bass from an 8 inch woofer. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 5.85 against 4.54 for the Yamaha HS7. Watch for: Its response and off-axis behavior are not as refined as the leading monitors.
Buy the Yamaha HS8. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $98 you would save on the Yamaha HS7 does not close the gap.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Powered Home rankings.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Yamaha HS7 | Yamaha HS8 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $699.98 per pair | $797.98 per pair |
| Ranked | #93 of 119 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #36 of 119 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Enclosure | 2-way active, rear-ported | - |
| Drivers | 1” dome tweeter, 6.5” cone woofer | 8” woofer, 1” dome tweeter |
| Dimensions | 13.1H x 8.3W x 11.2D in | 15.4”H x 9.8”W x 13.1”D (391.2 x 248.9 x 332.7 mm) |
| Weight | 18.1 lbs (8.2 kg) each | 22.5 lbs (10.2 kg) |
| Amplifier Power | 95W each (60W LF, 35W HF) | 120w Per Speaker |
| Inputs | Balanced XLR and 1/4” TRS | XLR |
| Country | Japan (design) | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.54 | 5.85 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.48 | 7.58 |
| XLR Input | Yes | Yes |
| RCA Input | No | No |
| TRS Input | Yes | 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 |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| Frequency Response | 43Hz - 30kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 47Hz - 24kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 43.9Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 34.7Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| App | - | No |
| EQ | - | Yes (Room adjustment) |
| DSP | - | No |
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