Yamaha HS Studio Monitor Comparison

11th Apr 2022

Yamaha HS Studio Monitor Comparison

Guide & Comparison To Yamaha's Popular HS Series Studio Monitor Range Featuring HS5, HS7, HS8 & HS8S.

Ever since the 1970's the iconic white woofer and signature sound of Yamaha's nearfield reference monitors have become a genuine industry standard for a reason - their accuracy. Unlike studio monitors with added bass or treble frequencies which may sound more flattering at first, HS Series speakers were designed to give you the most honest, precise reference possible, providing an ideal sonic platform to build on throughout the mixing process.

By combining acquired knowledge and expertise with state-of-the-art sound technologies, Yamaha's speaker engineering team have examined, then optimized, every aspect that has contributed to making these monitors the most trusted in the business. The second generation HS Series also adds a new 6.5" model to the lineup, bringing its exceptional accuracy to an even greater variety of recording environments.

Yamaha HS Range
HS5 HS7 HS8 HS8S
Frequency. response (-10dB) 54Hz - 30kHz 43Hz - 30kHz
38Hz - 30kHz
22Hz - 160Hz
Components LF 5" Cone 6.5" Cone
8" Cone
8" Cone
Components HF 1" Dome 1" Dome
1" Dome
-
Output Power 70W 95W
120W
150W
Dimensions WxHxD (cm) 17 x 28.5 x 22.2 21 x 33.2 x 28.4 25 x 39 x 33.4
30 x 35 x 38.9
Net Weight 5.3kg 8.2kg 10.2kg 12.5kg
Yamaha Studio Monitor Legacy
Yamaha HS Studio Monitors Modern
Yamaha HS Transducer
Yamaha HS Enclosure

Controls and Connectivity

There is one unaviodable fact, your room will color and change the sound coming out of your speakers. Your listening position in your room will color and shape how you hear what is coming out of your speakers. Luckily the HS Series offers a number of controls to adapt the speakers to the surface acoustics of rooms of varying shape and size.

Controls on the HS5, HS7 and HS8

  • Room Control - attenuate the unnatural, exaggerated low-end that can often occur when speakers are placed next to walls
  • High Trim -  flexible control of high frequency response

Controls on the HS8S subwoofer

  • High Cut - sets the cutoff frequency of subwoofer output high-frequency attenuation from 80Hz to 120Hz
  • Phase - adjusts the phase of the subwoofer output
  • Low Cut - enables attenuation of low frequencies for output between 80Hz and 120Hz
Yamaha HS Controls

Yamaha HS5 - Small Room? No problem!

Measuring only 170mm x 285mm x 222mm (WxHxD) and weighing only  5.3 Kg, the HS5 accommodates the smallest of control rooms. The Room Control filters compensate for speaker-boundary effects that would otherwise muddy low-frequency response when the monitor is placed near a wall.  Combined with Isolation Pads which minimise the transfer of kinetic energy (i.e. vibrations) from the speakers to whatever they are sitting on, the HS5s sound fantastic with tight upper-bass and open low-midrange reproduction.

If at some point in the future you work on a project that requires more focus on low end frequencies then you can add the Yamaha HS8S subwoofer to your HS5's to make a powerful 2.1 system. The 8 inch bass-reflex powered subwoofer delivers low frequencies down to 22Hz which makes it the perfect partner for the HS5s.

  • High-performance drivers and mounting system
  • 5" cone woofer, 1" dome tweeter
  • Large magnets in an Advanced Magnetic Circuit design
  • Built-in bi-amplification: 45W LF, 25W HF
  • Connections: Balanced XLR and 6.3mm Jack

Yamaha HS7 - If you need more bass

Weighing in at 8.2kg and measuring 210mm x 332mm x 284mm (WxDxH) the HS7 is perfect for an average sized room.  Its larger woofer provides detailed, smooth, and accurate low end. You can listen to the HS7s all day without risk of ear fatigue. Due to the rear ported design it is recommended to mount the speakers a minimum of 1.5 meters from the back and side walls.  If this is not possible then you can use the Room Control switch to compensate for the inevitable increase in low frequencies.

  • High-performance drivers and mounting system
  • 6.5" cone woofer, 1" dome tweeter
  • Large magnets in an Advanced Magnetic Circuit design
  • Built-in bi-amplification: 60W LF, 35W HF
  • Connections: Balanced XLR and 6.3mm Jack

Yamaha HS8 - Perfect for a Large Room

Measuring 250mm x 390mm x 334mm (WxHxD) and weighing 10.2 Kg The HS8 is the largest monitor in the range.  Again offering superb transient response, imaging and depth and tight bass reproduction but with enough power and a big enough woofer to provide great low end in the largest of control rooms.

  • High-performance drivers and mounting system
  • 8" cone woofer, 1" dome tweeter
  • Impressive 38Hz to 30kHz frequency response
  • Large magnets in an Advanced Magnetic Circuit design
  • Built-in bi-amplification: 75W LF, 45W HF
  • Connections: Balanced XLR and 6.3mm Jack

Yamaha HS8S - Add Depth To Your Mix

The Yamaha HS8S 8" bass-reflex powered subwoofer serves up accurate low frequencies down to 22Hz, so you hear everything that's on your recording. The good, the bad, the awesome. Yamaha has engineered the HS8S with a beefy 150W amplifier purpose-built for low frequencies.

The ideal match for Yamaha's HS series full-range monitors, the HS8S is your affordable, compact solution for extended-range monitoring in your studio. And if your projects take you on the road, this 27.6-pound bass monster makes a perfect travel companion. Feel the low end - all of it - with the Yamaha HS8S.

  • 8" bass-reflex powered subwoofer delivers low frequencies down to 22Hz
  • 22Hz - 150Hz frequency response
  • High-power 150W amplifier exclusively designed for low frequencies
  • LOW CUT switch, LOW CUT control (80-120Hz) HIGH CUT control (80-120 Hz)
  • PHASE switch allow users to set up a subwoofer system with simple connections and no additional equipment
  • XLR and TRS phone for inputs and XLR for outputs