Short answer: the Yamaha VXL1-8, though neither ranks well in its class. Both are rated 2.6/5 for sound quality (#21 and #22 of 23 column and line array PA speakers), and the Yamaha VXL1-8 costs $444.99 against $807.99 for the Yamaha VXL1-16, so with nothing between them on sound quality, price settles it. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 23 column and line array PA speakers, so if sound quality matters, consider the JBL COL800 instead, ranked #11 at $577.
Why pick the Yamaha VXL1-16: The middle model of Yamaha’s VXL slim line arrays, with sixteen 1.5” full-range drivers in a 54mm wide column between the measured Yamaha VXL1-8 and Yamaha VXL1-24. The tradeoff: No independent measurements yet, so it can’t be compared with ranked PA speakers.
Why pick the Yamaha VXL1-8: A slim column speaker for commercial installations with eight 1.5” drivers in a line array. The tradeoff: Bass is very limited, so it needs a subwoofer, and the on-axis response is very uneven (2.37 average deviation).
Buy the Yamaha VXL1-8. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $363 less than the Yamaha VXL1-16.
Worth knowing: the Yamaha VXL1-16 has not been measured yet. Its rating is estimated from related models, with a likely range of 2.2 to 3.0, so treat this verdict as provisional.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete PA & Live Sound rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Yamaha VXL1-16 | Yamaha VXL1-8 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $807.99 each Passive | $444.99 each Passive |
| Ranked | #22 of 23 in Column and Line Array PA Speakers Estimated | #21 of 23 in Column and Line Array PA Speakers |
| Weight | 8.6 lbs (3.9 kg) | 4.6 lbs (2.1 kg) |
| Rigging | Wall mount bracket included | Wall mount bracket included |
| Maximum SPL | 116dB peak (manufacturer specified) | 111dB peak (manufacturer specified) |
| Passive | Yes | Yes |
| Configuration | Passive slim line array column | - |
| Drivers | 16x 1.5” full-range drivers | 8x 1.5” full-range drivers (line array) |
| Coverage | Switchable 20° or 30° vertical | - |
| Power Handling | 80W | - |
| XLR Input | No | - |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| DSP | No (passive) | - |
| Amplifier Power | Passive speaker; requires external amplification | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | - | -0.38 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | - | 4.48 |
| DIY Kit | - | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Yamaha VXL1-8:
- JBL COL600 vs Yamaha VXL1-8
- JBL CBT 50LA-1 vs Yamaha VXL1-8
- JBL CBT 50LA-1 vs Yamaha VXL1-16
- JBL CBT 100LA-1 vs Yamaha VXL1-16
- JBL COL800 vs Coda Audio CoRay4
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 VXL1-16: $807.99 each Passive Estimated Full Compass eBay
Same family: the Yamaha VXL1-8 (smaller model, ranked higher, rated 2.6/5) and the Yamaha VXL1-24 (larger model, ranked lower, rated 2.5/5).
Pros: The middle model of Yamaha’s VXL slim line arrays, with sixteen 1.5” full-range drivers in a 54mm wide column between the measured Yamaha VXL1-8 and Yamaha VXL1-24. A rear switch picks 20° or 30° vertical coverage, which helps speech intelligibility in reflective rooms.
Cons: No independent measurements yet, so it can’t be compared with ranked PA speakers. Small full-range drivers limit bass and output, so it is built for speech and background music, and it needs an external amplifier.
Full Yamaha VXL1-16 review and specifications →
| Released | Jun 2017 (9 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | Passive speaker; requires external amplification |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Configuration | Passive slim line array column |
| Coverage | Switchable 20° or 30° vertical |
| DSP | No (passive) |
| Drivers | 16x 1.5” full-range drivers |
| Maximum SPL | 116dB peak (manufacturer specified) |
| Passive | Yes |
| Power Handling | 80W |
| Rigging | Wall mount bracket included |
| Weight | 8.6 lbs (3.9 kg) |
| XLR Input | No |
- 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
Yamaha VXL1-8: $444.99 each Passive Amazon eBay
Same family: the Yamaha VXL1-16 (larger model, ranked lower, estimated 2.6/5) and the Yamaha VXL1-24 (larger model, ranked lower, rated 2.5/5).
Pros: A slim column speaker for commercial installations with eight 1.5” drivers in a line array. Yamaha’s measurements show a preference score of -0.38 that reaches 4.48 with an ideal subwoofer, with 0.69 listening window deviation.
Cons: Bass is very limited, so it needs a subwoofer, and the on-axis response is very uneven (2.37 average deviation). The data comes from Yamaha.
Full Yamaha VXL1-8 review and specifications →
| Released | Jun 2017 (9 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Bluetooth | No |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Drivers | 8x 1.5” full-range drivers (line array) |
| Maximum SPL | 111dB peak (manufacturer specified) |
| Passive | Yes |
| Rigging | Wall mount bracket included |
| Spinorama Preference Score | -0.38 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 4.48 |
| Weight | 4.6 lbs (2.1 kg) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons