If you are a performer who works at home, home studio monitors must be one of the tools you need the most. They are useful for enhancing the listening experience overall and they are needed the most for gigs and performances.
Yamaha HS7 and Yamaha HS8 are some of the best home studio monitor speakers in the market right now. For that reason, they have been getting the attention of many people. If you are one of them, you must have the question of which one is the right studio monitor speaker for you in your mind.
Since we have been also getting some questions about this topic, we decided to write this Yamaha HS7 vs HS8 review for you. Home studio monitors are actually one of the devices that can represent the actual quality of music you are producing.
If you are a professional in the music industry, you probably needed one of these studio monitors for your performances to listen to music or mix it, and for other music-related work you might have.
We know that many companies are producing studio monitor speakers, however, Yamaha is the one that can provide them at an affordable price without giving up on quality.
It is true that Yamaha is one of the most popular brands that are manufacturing studio monitors these days. In this Yamaha HS7 vs HS8 review, we will look at these two models and emphasize their similarities and differences.
If you are interested, keep reading our Yamaha HS7 vs HS8 review for more information below.
Yamaha HS7 Review
Features: The Yamaha HS7 is a studio monitor that belongs to Yamaha’s entry-level line. It offers an invaluable choice for both beginner and professional music producers.
The Yamaha HS7 provides excellent sound quality in a budget-friendly kit. Both the structure and the functionality are simple and utilitarian. A perfect alternative for beginners who do not want to spend money on a subwoofer since it can produce very loud sound output.
Another outstanding quality of Yamaha HS7 is its audio quality. The low-end of this studio monitor speaker is robust and well-balanced. In most cases, you can get away without using a subwoofer in your system. In addition to that, there are no rough tones in the mids.
The only problem with Yamaha HS7 can be that it is not as precise as other higher-priced monitors. However, they outperform when you consider other speakers at this price range. Without interference, the highs are crisp and transparent. This is especially useful for critical listening because there is no roughness in the sound.
The frequency response is also excellent. There is not a single frequency that takes the center stage. This is just what you need from a studio monitor speaker. Yamaha truly excelled in vocal and acoustic expression.
Yamaha HS8 Review
Features: Yamaha HS8 is an excellent studio monitor speaker that comes with a lot of features. Here we will list some of the best ones for you.
Yamaha HS8 comes with an 8’’ cone woofer that will give you minimal distortion and well-defined sound. Its 1’’ dome tweeter is really efficient and it can give you clear sounds on high-end output.
Yamaha HS8 is combined with 120-watt amplification and it is considered really powerful for the price. The frequency range of Yamaha HS8 is 38Hz – 30kHz, which means that you can literally hear every detail in the music you are producing.
Since it comes with a two-way bass reflex system, Yamaha HS8 does not require a subwoofer. It also has room control features to eliminate the issues you might face when placing the speakers near walls.
Yamaha HS8 is ideal for producers searching for a recording monitor because every detail is clearly replicated and enhanced with this device. Since you can hear everything, you will be able to correct the mix and deliver outstanding music.
Yamaha HS8 is a combination of the 8-inch woofer and the 2-way bass reflex system. This means that the low-end frequencies are so powerful and you would not need any other equipment to deliver good music.
Room control and high trim control features of Yamaha HS8 mean that the speaker is perfectly adaptable to whatever room or studio you will be using it in.
Comparison of Yamaha HS7 vs HS8
The first thing that will catch your eye when you compare Yamaha HS7 vs HS8 is their design. These two look very similar to each other and they both have a ported design. But it does not mean that they look identical, because there are some differences, too.
The first one is the mesh grille protecting the tweeter of HS7 which we cannot see in HS8. HS7’s ported design makes it a perfect fit for studio monitoring. On the other hand, HS8 is much bigger and heavier than HS7.
The reason why HS8 is heavier is that it was produced to provide heavy bass outputs and that requires a speaker to be bigger.
When we omit these, they have a very similar design with XLR and 1/4 inch TRS balanced jacks for input. If you have been wondering how these two work, they have been powered with a generic table at the back that is controlled with a switch.
Probably the most important part of a monitor speaker is its volume control buttons. HS7 and HS8 have a volume control knob in a circular shape. Turning it left to right should to the trick.
Another important feature when buying any kind of instrument or speaker is the materials it has been made. The build quality of Yamaha HS7 and Yamaha HS8 is perfect, as expected from a Yamaha product.
Since the speaker magnets are made from heavy materials, we can assume these speakers are made to last for a very long time. The only problem can be that it is easy to induce electromagnetic and radiofrequency energy into these.
If you use your phone near these speakers, you can hear an interference sound coming from your studio monitor because of that.
If you are going to set your speakers up by yourself, you should not face many problems because it is really easy to get Yamaha HS7 and HS8 working if you are familiar with speakers.
When it comes to building quality, both HS7 and HS8 have identical systems. We are sure that Yamaha HS7 and HS8 will last a very long time thanks to the materials used to construct them. You just need to pick one, and you will have a speaker that you can use at least for ten years.
Another question that might pop up in your head is the issue of sound quality when it comes to speakers. Luckily, both HS7 and HS8 have amazing sound quality. They produce clear sounds and you can hear every detail in the music you have created.
HS8 is enough to fill a medium room by itself because it has a high-volume output. However, if the purpose you are planning to buy a speaker is filling a large room, you might need to buy a subwoofer for that.
Even though both of these studio monitor speakers are good for using in small to medium rooms, you will definitely need a subwoofer for HS7 since it is smaller than HS8. But do not forget that you do not need it for any of these speakers for small rooms since they can cover a range of 43Hz to 30Hz.
HS7 comes with a good low-frequency response which is almost perfect for any genre of music. The bass of this speaker is very direct and clear. If you are planning to purchase a speaker because you are working on a project that requires heavy bass, HS7 will not be enough for you.
If that is your purpose, then HS8 is your cure. Yamaha HS8 is known for its exceptionally good bass output. This is because it has a larger woofer than HS7 and it enables this speaker to push more sound waves. If you want to get good bass without a subwoofer, HS8 is perfect for you.
Another important point you need to consider is the place you are going to use these speakers. If you are planning to use Yamaha HS8 or HS7 in a small room, HS8 might not be the right choice to go for. HS7 is a better option since the sound it produces will not bounce off the walls.
But we cannot say the same for HS8. We do not recommend HS8 for small rooms because the sound will surely get distorted and echo. However, if you have a medium to large room, you can still consider both options.
HS8 shines the best in a large room because it is bigger and it produces louder sound. It surely can give you one of the best feelings ever.
HS7 can work in a large room, too, however you might get the assistance of a subwoofer. For that reason, the room you are going to use these studio monitor speakers should be a critical factor for your decision.
HS7 sells at a lower price point than HS8 and that is for a good reason. First of all, HS8 is bigger and better when it comes to sound output and filling a large room. So, HS definitely deserves the money.
According to the little research we did before writing this Yamaha HS7 vs HS8 review, HS7 seems to be more popular on the net. If you are convinced to buy HS7 and have a little more to spend, consider your decision again.
If you have the money, HS8 is a better option. Just think of it as HS7’s upgraded version which is bigger and better.
Overall, both speakers are fine and it is really hard to pick a winner in this Yamaha HS7 vs HS8 review. Both have similar designs and they have no effect in the sound output, so it should not be a major game-changer for you. We can say the same for both of their constructions and setup.
The only things that might affect your decision are Yamaha HS7’s and HS8’s price and sound output. The difference between the price might be small, but definitely worth paying extra for HS8.
Conclusion: Yamaha HS7 vs HS8 (2021 Review)
Yamaha is a good brand that produces studio monitors. Their HS series is probably one of the best series we have ever seen in this department. Their most popular products from this HS series are Yamaha HS7 and HS8, which encouraged us to write this Yamaha HS7 vs HS8 review.
The main difference between these two studio monitors is their size. And because of that difference, the sounds they can give out are different. Even though Yamaha HS7 and HS8 might look similar to the eye, they have many differences.
Each one of these studio speakers has its own purposes for different situations and genres. That is probably why people are getting indecisive when it comes to picking one to buy.
In this Yamaha HS7 vs HS8 review, we tried to explore their features and differences to help you buy the right one for your needs. We hope you liked our Yamaha HS7 vs HS8 review and it was helpful.