Yamaha HS7 vs HS8: Ultimate Comparison Guide

To produce quality music you need to have quality studio monitor set.

In this post, let me walk you through two popular choices on the market — the Yamaha HS7 vs HS8.

Yamaha is one of the most popular brands for music producers. Their HS7 and HS8 speakers particularly appeal to producers that loved the sound of the NS10.

But which option is better for YOU?

Take a look at this Yamaha HS7 vs HS8 buyer guide to find out.

Yamaha HS7

The Yamaha HS series has been a synonym for quality sound for decades. It all started in 1967 when they released the NS-20/NS-30. This was the first studio monitor system equipped with a giant flat unit for Electone use.

Nowadays the Yamaha HS series has become one of the most trusted studio monitors in the industry. Whether you’re a pro musician or someone who appreciates good sounds, these could be IDEAL for you.

When it comes to HS7, it is one of the most desired studio monitors in the HS series. Do note that this speaker is more suitable for small- to medium-sized rooms.

Design

Coming in two color options, black and white, the appearance of HS7 is sleek and clean— exactly what you’d want from a studio speaker.

The HS7 is classic in design and its timeless look makes it easy to fit into different environments.

The HS7 studio monitor speaker is on the smaller side at 14.4 x 12.6 x 19 inches and weighs 18 pounds.

Sound Quality

The sound comes from a 6.5-inch woofer and a 1-inch tweeter covered in a metal mesh screen for protection.

I love how the HS7 speaker delivers an honest mix, confirming why this unit is so popular among producers, DJs, and others. It truly does have amazing sound quality.

The room control switch and frequency response features provide accurate performance.

Additionally, HS7 delivers 60 watts via woofer as well as 35 watts through tweeter. The crossover frequency is 2kHz.

A useful thing to bear in mind is that the HS7 speaker is rear-ported (in case you’re wondering whether it’s possible to improve the bass).

Tech Specs

• Powered: Yes
• Power configuration: Bi-amped
• LF driver size: 6.5”
• LF driver type: Cone
• HF driver size: 1”
• HF driver type: Dome
• LF driver power amp: 60W
• HF driver power amp: 35W
• Total power: 95W
• Frequency range: 43Hz – 30kHz
• Crossover frequency: 2kHz
• Input types: 1 x XLR, 1 x ¼” TRS
• Enclosure type: Ported
• Height: 13.1”
• Width: 8.3”
• Depth: 11.2”
• Net weight: 18.1lbs

Yamaha HS7 Reviews

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Yamaha HS5 vs Yamaha HS7: The Main Differences?
Yamaha HS8 vs HS5: Which is Better For Home Recording?

From what I’ve seen, user reviews of Yamaha HS7 Vs HS8 are generally positive!

After all, what’s not to love about the accuracy and clarity these speakers provide?

Yet, while they are accurate and clear in the high and middle, the speakers LACK the low end.

Based on the customer experience, you’ll need to invest in a subwoofer if you plan to make bass-involved music.

In a nutshell, I’d say the HS7 is for a vast majority of customers looking for the best option for this price range.

Yamaha HS8

Yamaha HS8 is yet another model from Yamaha that will appeal to many producers and music lovers — especially the audio fans of the previous NS10.

In fact, I’ve found that it’s an excellent modern alternative to the discontinued speaker.

The speaker is suitable for different kinds of environments, but it’s IDEAL for middle to large room studios.

The HS8 tends to be more practical for bass-heavy sounds as opposed to hip-hop.

So if you’re looking for a quality speaker for bass-laden music, HS8 could do the trick!

Design

The HS8 sports a timeless design, and it’s available in black and white color options.

The speaker is on the larger side, but I assure you that it’s not massive enough to hijack the space in the room.

The HS8 studio monitor is 14 x 16 x 21 inches. Additionally, the HS8 weighs 22 pounds.

Sound Quality

The HS8 provides a well-defined sound on bottom-end output. 

This speaker features an 8-inch cone woofer that gives minimal distortion.

There’s also a 1-inch dome tweeter, which is efficient in providing CLARITY and CRISPNESS with high-end sound output.

Combined 120-watt amplification makes HS8 a powerful and high-response bi-amplification system.

Thanks to the impressive frequency range of 38Hz–30kHz, it helps me achieve high accuracy and reproduction.

It’s useful to know you DON’T NEED a subwoofer for the Yamaha HS8 due to the two-way bass reflex system.

Of course, if you plan to set it up in super huge rooms, I’d recommend adding a subwoofer.

Tech Specs

• Powered: Yes
• Power configuration: Bi-amped
• LF driver size: 8”
• LF driver type: Cone
• HF driver size: 1”
• HF driver type: Dome
• LF driver power amp: 75W
• HF driver power amp: 45W
• Total power: 120W
• Frequency range: 38Hz – 30kHz
• Crossover frequency: 2kHz
• Input types: 1 x XLR, 1 x ¼” TRS
• Enclosure type: Ported
• Height: 15.4”
• Width: 9.8”
• Depth: 13.1”
• Net weight: 22.5 lbs

Yamaha HS8 Reviews

Yamaha HS8 vs JBL LSR308: Which Brand is Better?

The HS8 lives up to the hype thanks to the clean system that provides accurate and precise sound.

The HS8 studio monitor allows users to mix and master, which is particularly important for beginner producers who are on a tight budget.

Have a look at an in-depth review of the HS8! OR see how it compares to the Yamaha HS80M.

Yamaha HS7 vs HS8: Features Face-to-Face

This Yamaha HS7 vs HS8 review only confirms that the NS10 has worthy modern alternatives that all nostalgic fans are bound to appreciate.

But let me dig deeper and show you how these studio monitors compare with each other, face to face.

Tech Specs

A simple glance at the tech specs of Yamaha HS7 vs HS8 is enough to conclude these units have a lot of similarities.

The driver types are the same, although the HS8 is more potent than its counterpart.

When it comes to the specs, I’d say there is no clear winner here.

The reason is down to a lot of similarities and the fact that each of these units is suitable for a specific purpose.

The choice of the best depends on your needs.

Design

Speakers and similar systems tend to look similar. But usually, when we compare them,

Speakers and similar systems tend to look almost the same.

But usually, when comparing them, there are certain design differences. In this case, I’d say there aren’t any.

Both the Yamaha HS7 vs HS8 look almost identical, with size being the only major difference.

Size and Weight

The Yamaha HS8 is BIGGER than the Yamaha HS7, which is why it’s more suitable for bigger areas.

This is as opposed to the HS7, which you would need to set up in a smaller room.

The HS8 is also heavier than the HS7, but the difference in weight isn’t too dramatic.

Even the color options, the elegant lines, and the curved edges are the same in both HS7 and HS8.

Design Features

When talking about design features, I should mention a subtle difference between the Yamaha HS7 vs HS8. 

Although it’s not easy to notice at first glance, HS7 has a mesh grille protecting the tweeter.

The legendary NS10 had it, too! The ported design of HS7 is for studio monitoring.

Both HS7 and HS8 come with XLR and ¼-inch TRS balanced jacks for input.

The good news is that you power both studio monitors with international generic cable. At the back, you can find the on/off switch that allows you to control it.

Volume and tuning controls are similar in both models. Plus, both HS7 and HS8 have ported backs. As a result, the sounds they produce tend to bounce off the walls. 

I found that this is especially the case if you mount the studio monitor at the corners or next to the walls.

In that case, you can expect reinforcement of bass frequencies that make bass sounds seem off. The room control switch can help avoid this problem.

There is no clear winner for design. As you can guess, the reason is the almost identical appearance of both studio monitors.

Because of that, I’d highly recommend considering the size of the room where you plan to mount the monitor. That way, you’ll immediately know which option is better for you.

Amplifier Unit

With a total of 95W power amplification, the HS7 is ideal for small- to medium-sized rooms.

On the flip side, HS8 produces enough volume output for larger rooms. Who would win this round?

If you’re looking for amplification power, I’d say the HS8 is the victor here. But if you’re looking for a better fit in a small room, then HS7 is your pick.

Build Quality

Both speakers are sturdy and durable. 

Then, aside from the similar design, HS7 and HS8 also have a similar setup and build quality. Both monitors are made of the same material — MDF.

MDF stands for medium-density fibreboard, which is considered to be one of the best speaker enclosure materials. The material is a composite of real wood fibers and dense resin.

What makes MDF the best enclosure for speakers is the fact it damps out unwanted vibration. This is why these monitors can produce their great sound. 

The speaker magnets are heavy and also contribute to the durability of the units. However, a problem here is that I encounter radio frequency and electromagnetic interferences.

Because of that, I DON’T recommend using the phone while listening to music in the same room as the speaker.

Why is that?

You may notice interruptions or a frustrating sound when you’re receiving a text message.

Another plus is that setting up the monitors is easy. You don’t have to be an expert to mount it where you want.

In fact, you can generally place the HS7 pretty much wherever you want.

On the other hand, the HS8 requires a bit of careful planning because it’s bigger and heavier.

Although the build of both speakers is of the same material and they are easy to set up, I’d say the winner is the HS7 because it offers more flexibility.

Sound Quality

Yamaha’s HS7 and HS8 are known and loved for the quality of sound they produce.

These speakers take the listening experience to a whole new level with their clarity and attention to detail.

I’ll break this part down further into subcategories so you can get a clearer picture of how these two compare:

Frequencies

HS7 has a low-frequency response because of the smaller subwoofer size inside.

For most music genres, I noticed that this sound output is decent. So for music where the bass isn’t punchy and pronounced, HS7 is a good option.

On the flip side, HS7 doesn’t do well with bass-heavy types of music, such as EDM. In this case, you will need to install another subwoofer.

This is also the solution if you plan to set up HS7 in a larger room. 

Don’t forget that HS7 is ideal for small rooms, and bigger areas may dampen the audio quality.

Volume Output

When it comes to audio quality, HS7 and HS8 do have some notable differences. While both speakers provide clear and precise sounds, HS8 delivers a high-volume output.

Also, HS8 reproduces bass even if you listen to the punchy bass sounds found in EDM.

The HS8 can reproduce these sounds without inconveniences and interruptions — unlike the HS7, which needs a subwoofer for bass-heavy music and larger rooms.

The winner of this round is HS8 for its great bass reproduction and not needing a subwoofer.

Price

Cost is yet another point where these two monitors are different. You see, the HS7 is more affordable than HS8.

The winner in affordability here is clearly the HS7.

That being said, I won’t rule out Yamaha HS8 just because it’s more expensive. After all, this speaker has a higher output and better bass. 

In other words, both speakers are valid choices despite their price tags. It all comes down to your budget i.e., how much you are willing to invest in a speaker.

Check our review on the Best Studio Monitors Under $200.

For some people, it may not be practical to buy HS7 and then pay for a subwoofer later on when they can have it all in HS8. 

But, for other producers, especially those who don’t need bass-heavy sounds, the HS7 is more than good for smaller rooms.

You wouldn’t need to buy an extra subwoofer, and this speaker could be a great investment for you.

Take a few moments to think about your needs and budget and decide whether the costs are acceptable to you or not.

Standout Features

Yamaha HS7 vs HS8: Conclusion

Yamaha does not disappoint, and their speakers are the industry standard.

The HS7 and HS8 have a lot of similarities but also important differences.

It would be tricky to pinpoint a clear winner, but I would say the HS8 does provide more power for the price.

Use Yamaha HS7 If…

• You’re looking for affordable, yet high-quality speakers
• You plan to set it up in a smaller room
• You don’t need it for bass-heavy music
• You need it for home studio set
• it’s not important where you place the speaker in the room
• You want a unit that isn’t enormous

Use Yamaha HS8 If…

• You’re looking for a speaker with more power and output
• You need it for bass-heavy music and other types of music
• You plan to set it up in a bigger room (but not close to walls and corners)
• You’re looking for a unit with the best quality and bigger power for the price
• You want a more massive unit

If you’re looking for other alternatives, the Yamaha HS5 might be a good one for you.

Check out our studio monitor buying guide! OR check out the best monitors for hip-hop production.