Short answer: the Yamaha HS8. It ranks #36 of 118 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.4/5, at $797.98; the HEDD Type 07 A-Core ranks #68, rated 4.2/5, and costs $1,598, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
What the Yamaha HS8 does well: ASR measurements support broadly neutral sound: a 2.3dB response span from 300Hz to 5kHz and 7.58 ideal-subwoofer score. Watch for: Its response and off-axis behavior are not as refined as the leading monitors.
Why pick the HEDD Type 07 A-Core: The larger A-Core monitor, pairing HEDD’s Air Motion Transformer tweeter with a 7” honeycomb-sandwich woofer and two 100W Class D amplifiers. The catch: No independent measurements yet, so its tonal balance and directivity can’t be compared directly with measured speakers; the rating is estimated from the measured HEDD Type 05 A-CORE.
Buy the Yamaha HS8. It is rated higher for sound quality than the HEDD Type 07 A-Core and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
About the ratings: the HEDD Type 07 A-Core’s rating is estimated from measured siblings and predecessors rather than its own measurements, with a likely range of 3.9 to 4.5, so this verdict could change once it is measured.
Still deciding? The full Powered Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Yamaha HS8 | HEDD Type 07 A-Core | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $797.98 per pair | $1,598 per pair |
| Ranked | #36 of 118 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #68 of 118 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers Estimated |
| Dimensions | 15.4”H x 9.8”W x 13.1”D (391.2 x 248.9 x 332.7 mm) | 14.6”H x 8.7”W x 11.8”D (370 x 220 x 300 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 47Hz - 24kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 43.9Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 34.7Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | - |
| Inputs | XLR | Balanced XLR, RCA |
| Weight | 22.5 lbs (10.2 kg) | 21.4 lbs (9.7 kg) |
| Drivers | 8” woofer, 1” dome tweeter | Air Motion Transformer tweeter, 7” honeycomb-sandwich woofer |
| App | No | - |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment) | - |
| DSP | No | No (analog crossover) |
| Amplifier Power | 120w Per Speaker | 200W (2x 100W Class D) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.85 | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.58 | - |
| XLR Input | Yes | Yes |
| RCA Input | No | Yes |
| 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 |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Yamaha HS8:
- Yamaha HS8 vs AsciLab C8C
- Yamaha HS8 vs Mesanovic CDM65
- Yamaha HS8 vs Kii THREE
- Yamaha HS8 vs Genelec 8351B
- Yamaha HS8 vs Neumann KH420
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
Yamaha HS8: $797.98 per pair Amazon eBay
Same family: the Yamaha HS3 (smaller bookshelf, estimated 2.9/5), the Yamaha HS4 (smaller bookshelf, estimated 3.1/5), the Yamaha HS5 (smaller bookshelf, rated 3.6/5), the Yamaha HS7 (smaller bookshelf, ranked lower, rated 3.9/5) and the Yamaha HS8S (subwoofer, rated 3/5).
Pros: ASR measurements support broadly neutral sound: a 2.3dB response span from 300Hz to 5kHz and 7.58 ideal-subwoofer score. Measured -3dB bass extension of 43.9Hz gives useful weight for music, with straightforward analog connections and room-adjustment controls. Measured bass extension of 43.9Hz (-3dB).
Cons: Its response and off-axis behavior are not as refined as the leading monitors. Vertical positioning around the crossover matters, and a subwoofer remains useful for deep bass. Basic rear-panel controls do not replace measured room correction.
Full Yamaha HS8 review and specifications →
| Released | Apr 2013 (13 years ago) |
|---|---|
| AES Input | No |
| Amplifier Power | 120w Per Speaker |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 34.7Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 43.9Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| DSP | No |
| Dimensions | 15.4”H x 9.8”W x 13.1”D (391.2 x 248.9 x 332.7 mm) |
| Drivers | 8” woofer, 1” dome tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment) |
| Frequency Response | 47Hz - 24kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | XLR |
| Optical Input | No |
| RCA Input | No |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.85 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.58 |
| TRS Input | No |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 22.5 lbs (10.2 kg) |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Audio Science Review: Yamaha HS8 Studio Monitor Review More from Audio Science Review →
- Sercan Solmaz: Adam Audio T8V vs Yamaha HS8 vs KRK Rokit 8 (STUDIO SPEAKER SOUND TEST)
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review Edifier R2850DB vs Yamaha HS8 sound.DEMO More from DSAUDIOreview →
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review Adam Audio A7X vs Yamaha HS8 sound.DEMO
- DSAUDIO.review: Yamaha HS7 vs Yamaha HS8 Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: Yamaha HS8 vs Yamaha HS5 Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: Genelec 8020D vs Yamaha HS8 Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review APS Klasik 2020 vs Yamaha HS8 sound.DEMO
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review Focal Alpha 65 EVO vs Yamaha HS8 sound.DEMO
- DSAUDIO.review: Yamaha HS8 vs PreSonus Eris E8 XT Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: Yamaha HS8 vs Kali Audio LP-8 Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: KRK Rokit 8 G4 RP8G4 vs Yamaha HS8 Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: Neumann KH80 DSP vs Yamaha HS8 Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: Yamaha HS8 vs IK Multimedia iLoud MTM Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- Audio Science Review Measurements (spinorama.org)
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
HEDD Type 07 A-Core: $1,598 per pair Estimated B&H Photo Video eBay
Same family: the HEDD Type 05 A-CORE (smaller bookshelf, rated 4.2/5).
Pros: The larger A-Core monitor, pairing HEDD’s Air Motion Transformer tweeter with a 7” honeycomb-sandwich woofer and two 100W Class D amplifiers. The crossover is fully analog, so there is no added conversion or DSP latency between source and speaker. The 7” woofer gives it more bass reach and output than the HEDD Type 05 A-CORE, and it accepts balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA.
Cons: No independent measurements yet, so its tonal balance and directivity can’t be compared directly with measured speakers; the rating is estimated from the measured HEDD Type 05 A-CORE. The analog design drops the DSP room correction of HEDD’s MK2 models, leaving only basic tone switches.
Full HEDD Type 07 A-Core review and specifications →
| Released | Jul 2025 (1 year ago) |
|---|---|
| AES Input | No |
| Amplifier Power | 200W (2x 100W Class D) |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| DSP | No (analog crossover) |
| Dimensions | 14.6”H x 8.7”W x 11.8”D (370 x 220 x 300 mm) |
| Drivers | Air Motion Transformer tweeter, 7” honeycomb-sandwich woofer |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | Balanced XLR, RCA |
| Optical Input | No |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| TRS Input | No |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 21.4 lbs (9.7 kg) |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- 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