Short answer: the Yamaha NS-800A for better sound quality, the McIntosh XR50 for the lower price. The Yamaha NS-800A ranks #42 of 84 bookshelf speakers at $4800. The McIntosh XR50 ranks #55 at $4000, $800 cheaper.
What the Yamaha NS-800A offers: 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.
What the McIntosh XR50 offers: The compact XR50 produces unexpectedly authoritative bass: Erin measured F3 at 43Hz and praised its low-end weight. Watch for: Erin measured roughly 80–81dB sensitivity, making the XR50 exceptionally power hungry despite its nominal eight-ohm rating.
Buy the Yamaha NS-800A if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the McIntosh XR50 if the price matters more than sound quality.
Specifications Side By Side
| Yamaha NS-800A | McIntosh XR50 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4800 | $4,000/pair |
| Ranked | #42 of 84 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #55 of 84 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 68Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 43Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| 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) | ~81dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 1.25" dome tweeter, 6.5" mid-woofer | 6-inch woofer; dual 2-inch inverted-dome mids; 0.75-inch titanium dome |
| Weight | 28.7 lbs / 13.0 kg (28.7 lbs) each | 19.5lb each |
| Dimensions | 16.5"H x 9.1"W x 14.1"D (419.1 x 231.8 x 358.8 mm) | 17H x 8W x 11.75D inches |
| Woofer Cabinet | Bass reflex | - |
| Crossover Frequency | 2600Hz | - |
| Output Power | 40W nominal, 120W max | - |
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The Two Speakers In Full
Yamaha NS-800A: $4800 The Music Room
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.
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 $4,800 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 |
| 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) |
| Output Power | 40W nominal, 120W max |
| Sensitivity | 84.9dB (measured average 300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, Erin's Audio Corner; 86.5dB manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 28.7 lbs / 13.0 kg (28.7 lbs) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | Bass reflex |
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McIntosh XR50: $4,000/pair Audio Advice
Pros: The compact XR50 produces unexpectedly authoritative bass: Erin measured F3 at 43Hz and praised its low-end weight. Horizontal radiation is exceptionally wide, and the four-driver three-way layout holds distortion and compression together reasonably well through the midband. The sealed-back 2-inch inverted-dome midranges isolate vocals from woofer pressure, while the heavily braced nonparallel cabinet, premium terminals and five-year warranty are genuinely high-grade.
Cons: Erin measured roughly 80–81dB sensitivity, making the XR50 exceptionally power hungry despite its nominal eight-ohm rating. A broad treble excess sounds bright and sibilant on-axis; at least 20° toe-out or EQ is needed, but toe-out increases reflected energy and trades away image focus. Direct and reflected responses diverge through parts of the treble, limiting perfect EQ correction. At $4,000/pair, its tonal flaws and low efficiency are hard to excuse as merely the cost of premium construction.
Full McIntosh XR50 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 43Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 17H x 8W x 11.75D inches |
| Drivers | 6-inch woofer; dual 2-inch inverted-dome mids; 0.75-inch titanium dome |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal |
| Sensitivity | ~81dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 19.5lb each |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons