Short answer: the Yamaha NS-SW100. Both are rated 3.0/5 for sound quality (#54 and #55 of 73 subwoofers), and the Yamaha NS-SW100 costs $269.95 against $499.99 for the Yamaha HS8S, with sound quality a draw, the lower price decides it.
What the Yamaha NS-SW100 does well: An affordable compact ported 10 inch subwoofer with a 100 watt amp and a stylish cabinet. Watch for: There is no crossover control and no polarity switch, which makes it harder to blend with main speakers.
Why pick the Yamaha HS8S: A ported 8 inch studio subwoofer with balanced XLR and TRS inputs, a compact way to add bass to studio monitors. The tradeoff: Without a published 20 Hz output result, deep-bass capability is less certain than its midbass figure.
Buy the Yamaha NS-SW100. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $230.04 less than the Yamaha HS8S.
Still deciding? The full Subwoofers rankings cover every ranked option.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Yamaha NS-SW100 | Yamaha HS8S | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $269.95 | $499.99 |
| Ranked | #54 of 73 in Small Home Subwoofers (Under 30 lbs) | #55 of 73 in Small Home Subwoofers (Under 30 lbs) |
| Enclosure | ported, side | ported, front |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 97.4 dB | 100.7 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 103.2 dB | 104.9 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 108.6 dB | 106.3 dB |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | 110.7 dB | 107.2 dB |
| Output SPL at 100 Hz | 109.7 dB | 105.7 dB |
| Output SPL at 125 Hz | 107.8 dB | - |
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 105.0 dB | 104.8 dB |
| Dimensions | 13.9”H x 13.9”W x 16.1”D (352.3 x 352.3 x 409.4 mm) | 13.7”H x 11.8”W x 15.3”D (349.2 x 300.0 x 388.9 mm) |
| Weight | 26.5 lbs (12.0 kg) | 22.5 lbs (10.2 kg) |
| Warranty | 2 | 2 |
| Cabinet Color | black | black |
| Country | Japan | Japan |
| Measurement Source | ErinsAudioCorner | ErinsAudioCorner |
| Drivers | 10” (254mm) driver | 8” (203mm) driver |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | - | 90.8 dB |
| Inputs | - | XLR (2), TRS (2, balanced) |
| XLR Input | - | Yes |
| RCA Input | - | No |
| TRS Input | - | Yes |
| Optical Input | - | No |
| Coaxial Input | - | No |
| USB Input | - | No |
| HDMI Input | - | No |
| AES Input | - | No |
| Aux Input | - | No |
Where the Ratings Come From
- Yamaha NS-SW100: reviews by Erin’s Audio Corner.
- Yamaha HS8S: reviews by Erin’s Audio Corner.
This comparison is generated from the ratings, specifications and measurements on each product’s own page, and it updates when that data changes. How we rank explains how each rating is decided.
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