There’s no doubt that Yamaha HS5 and HS8 studio monitors are incredibly popular. Many consumers struggle to determine which of these monitors is better, so we’ve carried out extensive research to make your decision easier.
Overall, we’ve found Yamaha HS8 monitors to be the best out of the Yamaha HS series. It’s designed for a more professional setup and will definitely upgrade your music experience.
Even so, this doesn’t mean there’s no value in buying Yamaha HS5 monitors. Both obviously have great sound quality.
Continue reading this complete Yamaha HS5 vs HS8 showdown to learn exactly what each speaker has to offer.
Yamaha HS5 Vs HS8: Comparison Review
Yamaha HS5
READ MORE: Yamaha HS5: Complete Review for Beginners
Yamaha is a Japanese multinational, producing various products across many industries, but with an excellent grasp on the music industry.
In the Yamaha HS5 vs HS8 comparison, the Yamaha HS5 is more suited for small rooms and studios. Its compact nature makes it portable and have excellent room control. The sound quality is perfectly compatible with small spaces.
Beginners, the relevant customer segment, are unlikely to have large studio spaces, so Yamaha HS5 monitors from the Yamaha HS series is ideal for them.
If you’re delving onto basic music production and nothing too technical, this set is for you.
Pros
- Accurate sound quality for the price
- Impressive frequency range
- Bi-amp design driver for great mid and high frequencies
- Room Control feature to optimize sound quality
Cons
- Performance at bass frequencies is poor
- Compromised performance when placed against a wall
Specifications
- Powered: 100 to 240 VAC
- Power Configuration: 70W (Lower Frequency: 45W, Higher Frequency: 25W)
- LF Driver Size: 5 inches
- LF Driver Type: Cone
- HF Driver Size: 1 inch
- HF Driver Type: Dome
- LF Driver Amp: Full-range amplifier
- Frequency Response: 54Hz to 30kHz
- Crossover Frequency: 2kHz
- Maximum Peak SPL: 90dB
- Input Types: XLR3-31; phone
- Enclosure Type: Active 2-way
- Height: 11.25 inches
- Width: 6.69 inches
- Depth: 8.75 inches
- Weight: 12.1 pounds
Yamaha HS8
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Yamaha HS8 vs HS7: The Better Yamaha Studio Monitor?
When comparing the Yamaha HS5 vs HS8, the Yamaha HS8 is better for professionals, especially with treated sound production rooms.
Those who want to take their music to the next level will enjoy Yamaha HS8 monitors a lot more than Yamaha HS5 monitors. It offers better sound quality: the type that the pros seek.
While Yamaha is usually associated with cheaper products, most people don’t know that it’s adept at making high-end monitors, with the Yamaha HS8 being a classic example.
The Yamaha HS8 is more expensive than its counterpart, and the sound quality is great across all frequency ranges. You’ll feel as though you’re seated in a studio when you’re at home. In addition, the woofer produces low distortion and avoids interference.
Have a look at an in-depth review of the HS8!
Pros
- Excellent for professionals
- Highly accurate sound
- Impressive low-frequency sound
- No need for a separate subwoofer
Cons
- About twice as expensive as the HS5
- Poor value for beginners
Specifications
- Powered: 100 to 240 VAC
- Power Configuration: 120W (Lower Frequency: 75W; Higher Frequency: 45W)
- LF Driver Size: 8 inches
- LF Driver Type: Cone
- HF Driver Size: 1 inch
- HF Driver Type: Dome
- LF Driver Amp: Full-range amplifier
- Frequency Response: 38Hz to 30kHz
- Crossover Frequency: 2kHz
- Maximum Peak SPL: 100dB
- Input Types: XLR3-3; phone
- Enclosure Type: Active 2-way
- Height: 15.4 inches
- Width: 9.8 inches
- Depth: 13.1 inches
- Weight: 22.5 pounds
Yamaha HS5 vs HS8: Features Comparison
Overall, the Yamaha HS8 is our winner tech-wise, but check out our detailed breakdown of the Yamaha HS5 vs HS8 below to see why.
Powered
Both Yamaha HS5 and HS8 monitors are the same in this regard, working with 100 to 240V. This isn’t surprising considering how close the products are, and both being Yamaha monitors.
Winner: Draw
Power Configuration
Yamaha HS8 monitors have an impressive power output of 120 Watts. This is responsible for the better sound quality the product has.
The 120 Watts splits into 75 Watts for the low-frequency driver and 45 Watts for the high frequency.
Both drives perform better than those found on the Yamaha HS5. This means the bass sounds and high pitches sound better on Yamaha HS8 monitors. The speaker costs two to three times more than the HS5, so this performance is no surprise.
The Yamaha HS5 has a 70 Watt output, distributed as follows: 45 Watts for low frequency and 25 Watts for high frequency. This doesn’t compare well to the HS8, but it’s still better than most speakers at this price range.
Despite the strong competition offered by its competitor, the HS5 is still a good speaker.
Winner: Yamaha HS8
LF Driver Size
The 8-inch LF driver size in the HS8 ensures the speaker performs well at low frequencies. This gives it its great-sounding bass.
Its counterpart, the Yamaha HS5, only has a 5-inch LF driver. Consequently, the bass sounds aren’t impressive. You’ll need an additional subwoofer if you purchase the HS5.
The LF driver in the Yamaha HS5 is smaller and delivers less power. These specifications are no match for our winner.
Winner: Yamaha HS8
HF Driver Size
Both speakers have the same-sized HF driver. This is surprising since the Yamaha HS8’s HF driver delivers more power and is in a much bigger device, so we’d expect the HF driver to be bigger.
The driver size is similar to that found on the much smaller and less powerful Yamaha HS5. Despite this similarity, the HS8’s HF driver sounds better — it offers richer sounds that most professionals would love.
Winner: Draw
Frequency Response
Yamaha HS Series studio monitors have impressive frequency ranges — even the lower-end ones — which is the case for this Yamaha HS5 vs HS8 showdown.
Despite the disparity in price, the performance is similar in this regard. It’s hard to beat a frequency range of 54 Hz to 30 kHz.
But, Yamaha HS8 monitors have a slight edge over the Yamaha HS5. It extends its range to include frequencies as low as 30 Hertz. This contributes to the great bass sounds offered by this speaker.
The Yamaha HS8 has edged its counterpart here, but the HS5 still has an impressive frequency range that most speakers at its price range will struggle to beat.
Winner: Yamaha HS8
Crossover Frequency
A crossover frequency is a frequency that the filters use to determine which output is better. For both monitors, the crossover frequency is 2 kHz. This is quite high compared to other speakers, which means the LF driver performs really well.
Crossover filters separate a musical input into one or more outputs. They decide which speaker is better, depending on the sound frequency produced. Such components are important in a bi-amp speaker design found in both Yamaha HS5 and HS8 monitors.
Winner: Draw
Maximum SPL Peak
SPL (sound pressure level) measures how efficient and sensitive a speaker is. Louder speakers have a higher SPL.
Yamaha HS8 monitors have an SPL of 100 decibels, which is over 10% more than the HS5 monitors at 90dB.
It’s a clear winner for this category between the Yamaha HS5 vs HS8.
Winner: Yamaha HS8
Design
Companies are paying more attention to design, and there are serious advantages for doing so. For the consumer, a well-designed monitor adds to the studio’s look and feel, with some customers preferred design over technical features.
In terms of design and build quality between the Yamaha HS5 vs HS8, they look very similar, which is a running theme of the HS series. At a glance, it’s hard to differentiate between the two speakers, but we can make some comparisons.
Some like the HS5’s practical nature:
- The edges are straight and have smooth curves on corners
- It’s a well-shaped, rectangular box with a tweeter and woofer
- There also isn’t a great deal of branding, which is a breath of fresh air
Unbridled consumerism has encouraged companies to put their company logo on everything, but this can be visually exhausting.
A clean, simple design like this makes the product look premium. The natural colors —black, white, and silver — are very versatile. This makes them suitable for any desktop setup.
The Yamaha HS8 doesn’t offer anything different besides its size — it’s a bigger “box.” Many people would expect a product that costs twice as much to have a different design, especially if both products are from the same company. But, that’s not the case. And for those who are value-driven, that’s great news!
Note that the price difference isn’t a matter of using more expensive materials, but more of a reflection on the manufacturing cost. This ensures you’re getting more value for your money since the price is in the technical ability rather than superficial features.
Even so, the HS8 doesn’t aesthetically offer anything above the HS5. So, in terms of design, you get more value from the HS5.
Winner: Yamaha HS5
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Standout Features of the Yamaha HS5 vs HS8
In the battle between the Yamaha HS5 vs HS8, there are no standout features the HS5 has that our winner doesn’t.
What the HS8 monitor speaker has over its counterpart is:
- 75W LF plus 45W HF bi-amp system: This configuration allows for clear and crisp sound.
- Ultra-wide frequency range: 38Hz to 30kHz is ideal for content creation. It offers versatility for a wide range of multimedia.
Yamaha HS5 vs HS8: Final Verdict
Use the Yamaha HS8 if you:
- Are a professional content creator
- Need daily accurate and rich sounds
- Have a treated room that functions as a studio
- Have a little more to spend
Use the Yamaha HS5 if you:
- Need sound quality on a budget
- Consider yourself a beginner
- Have no interest in music production
If you want to look for more options, check out our studio monitor buying guide!
