Short answer: the Definitive Technology Demand D11, because the Yamaha NS-800A’s tuning is the bigger flaw. The NS-800A has an exceptionally well-built cabinet with no internal resonance issues, but a wide scoop from roughly 2kHz-10kHz gives it a laidback, low-attack character that the reviewer found notably worse than an Audio First Fidelia. The D11 measures mostly flat with just a narrow ~600Hz jaggy, and costs $999 against $4,999.90.
Buy the Yamaha NS-800A new; the Definitive Technology Demand D11 is no longer sold new, so it only makes sense as a used find.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Yamaha NS-800A | Definitive Technology Demand D11 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4,999.90 per pair | $999 per pair Discontinued |
| Ranked | #58 of 134 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #59 of 134 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 46.3Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 68Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 60.1Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal, 4.3 ohms minimum (measured above 80Hz, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 8 ohms nominal |
| Sensitivity | 84.9dB (measured average 300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner; 86.5dB manufacturer specified) | 87dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Drivers | 1.25” dome tweeter, 6.5” mid-woofer | 6.5” BDSS polypropylene woofer, 1” aluminum dome tweeter (offset), 6x10” oval passive radiator |
| Weight | 28.7 lbs (13.0 kg) each | 17 lbs (7.7 kg) each |
| Dimensions | 16.5”H x 9.1”W x 14.1”D (419.1 x 231.8 x 358.8 mm) | 13H x 7.25W x 12.5D in |
| Woofer Cabinet | Bass reflex | passive radiator |
| Crossover Frequency | 2600Hz | - |
| Power Handling | 40W nominal, 120W max | 20-200W recommended |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.66 | 4.12 (spinorama.org) |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.43 | 6.48 (spinorama.org) |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Frequency Response | - | 48Hz - 24kHz (61Hz - 22kHz -3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
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Prices on this page were last checked October 2, 2026 at 10:18 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 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 →
| 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 ELAC DBR62
- Yamaha NS-800A vs Technics SB-C700
- 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
- Yamaha NS-800A vs Infinity Reference R162
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Definitive Technology Demand D11: $999 per pair Discontinued Amazon eBay
Pros: CEA2034 spinorama shows a mostly flat, well-controlled response: close to class-leading if not for one narrow resonance. Distortion is well controlled and the deep cabinet lets it play loud without bottoming out except on the deepest bass content. Cabinet construction and finish are a clear step above budget speakers. Measured bass extension of 60.1Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 87dB.
Cons: A narrow but real ~600Hz jaggy shows up consistently in on-axis and off-axis measurements. Horizontal directivity is uneven because of the offset tweeter position, giving the left and right channels slightly different off-axis energy. There’s a low-frequency rattle/noise at very deep bass levels the reviewer called “horrendous.” Discontinued; the Demand series has moved on to newer models.
Full Definitive Technology Demand D11 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 46.3Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 60.1Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 13H x 7.25W x 12.5D in |
| Drivers | 6.5” BDSS polypropylene woofer, 1” aluminum dome tweeter (offset), 6x10” oval passive radiator |
| Frequency Response | 48Hz - 24kHz (61Hz - 22kHz -3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal |
| Power Handling | 20-200W recommended |
| Sensitivity | 87dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.12 (spinorama.org) |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.48 (spinorama.org) |
| Weight | 17 lbs (7.7 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | passive radiator |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Definitive Technology Demand D11 vs Technics SB-C700
- Definitive Technology Demand D11 vs ELAC DBR62
- Definitive Technology Demand D11 vs Dynaudio Contour 20i
- Definitive Technology Demand D11 vs ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UBR62
- Definitive Technology Demand D11 vs SVS Ultra Bookshelf
- Definitive Technology Demand D11 vs Revel Concerta2 M16
- Definitive Technology Demand D11 vs Infinity Reference R162
- Definitive Technology Demand D11 vs JBL HDI-1600
- See all 12 comparisons