Yamaha HS-8

Time for improvements

Acoustics Yamaha HS-8 is the older model of active near-field monitors of the HS series. Keep in mind that this series was updated in 2013. The two monitors HS50M and HS80M have been replaced by three new models HS-5, HS-7 and HS-8. The most interesting thing in the new series is the use of completely different dynamic heads, which made it possible to equalize the frequency response and get more feedback at low frequencies.

Yamaha Signature Design

The diffusers of the traditional white woofers are made of polypropylene. A fabric dome tweeter is used as a tweeter, protected by a metal grill from mechanical damage. The phase inverter is brought to the back side, so it is undesirable to install them near the wall. Although, the process of arrangement itself is how much simplified by a simple acoustic correction system and a high-pass filter. The power of one monitor is 120 watts, of which 75 watts are dedicated to the diffuser, and 45 watts to the tweeter. Frequency characteristics are played in the range from 47 to 24000 Hz.

Smooth, clean and accurate sound

The entire HS series delivers smooth, clean, accurate, and as portable as possible. The upper frequencies are well developed here, the mid frequencies sound detailed and without dips, and the low frequencies do not have a pronounced spurious colour or resonances. Here thanks to the well-calculated phase inverter. The character of the Yamaha HS-8 is restrained and, one might say, neutral. The sound has no colour at all. Thanks to this and a flat frequency response, they are perfect precisely as monitors — any jambs during recording and mixing noticeably crawl out of the mix, so that you can’t give up on them. Plus, if the younger models with a 5 and 6-inch cone lack some pressure at low frequencies, then the HS-8 bass is just right.

Successor to the iconic Yamaha NS-10

However, Yamaha's honesty has a downside, if you use monitors for studio jamming and recording rather than mixing or mastering, then their dryness can be tiring. They play beautifully — this is definitely not about Yamaha. Apparently, this has been going on since the days of the iconic Yamaha NS-10, which were specialists in catching recording errors. Therefore, before buying the HS-8, we strongly recommend that you listen and compare them with other models like Mackie MR824, JBL 308 and Kali Audio LP-8.