# Yamaha HS8: specs and price

**Price (US):** $398.99 at usa.yamaha.com (each, Sweetwater), as of 2026-06-27. A sourced, dated price of record — other retailers (incl. Amazon) may be lower. Among the 12 studio monitors we track it is the most expensive; category median $200.
**Brand:** Yamaha
**Released:** 2013
**Deskmark:** Silver Deskmark — pay-blind category standing 46/100, #4 of 12 in class (independent, computed from sourced data, never for sale).
**Price tracked since:** June 2026

## Specifications

| Spec | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Price (US) | $398.99 |
| Brand | Yamaha |
| Released | 2013 |
| Woofer size (in) | 8 in |
| Tweeter type | 1 in dome |
| Power (W) | 120 |
| Frequency response | 38 Hz – 30 kHz (-10 dB) |
| Inputs | XLR balanced, TRS balanced |
| Sold as | each |
| Type | active |

## Where it stands

At $399, the Yamaha HS8 is the most expensive of the 12 studio monitors we track, where the median is $200. On the spec sheet, its woofer size of 8 in is the highest of the 12, its release of 2013 is the lowest of the 12, and its power of 120 W is above the median of the 12. By release date, it is the oldest of the 12 we date.

## What reviewers say

Only one whitelisted tester covers the HS8: MusicRadar's HS-series review (HS5/HS7/HS8), which rated the line highly but did its dedicated side-by-side listening on the smaller HS7. No whitelisted tester lab-measured the HS8. (Based on 1 review, 2013-10-16.)

Praised: Well-balanced frequency response, voiced like the classic NS10M but with deeper bass; Switchable rear-panel EQ (high-trim / Room Control) and improved, resonance-damped cabinet; Improved performance judged well-suited to modern studios.
Flagged: No whitelisted tester critically auditioned or lab-measured the HS8 itself; MusicRadar's hands-on listening used the 6.5-inch HS7, so the 8-inch HS8's larger woofer and bass were not directly evaluated.
Disagreement: Single-source, so no cross-tester comparison is possible. The main caveat is internal: MusicRadar's positive verdict is a series-level assessment whose only critical listening was on the HS7, not the HS8.
Sources: MusicRadar (2013-10-16, musicradar.com)

## Frequently asked questions

**What do reviewers say about the Yamaha HS8?**

Only one whitelisted tester covers the HS8: MusicRadar's HS-series review (HS5/HS7/HS8), which rated the line highly but did its dedicated side-by-side listening on the smaller HS7. No whitelisted tester lab-measured the HS8. Praised: Well-balanced frequency response, voiced like the classic NS10M but with deeper bass; Switchable rear-panel EQ (high-trim / Room Control) and improved, resonance-damped cabinet; Improved performance judged well-suited to modern studios. Flagged: No whitelisted tester critically auditioned or lab-measured the HS8 itself; MusicRadar's hands-on listening used the 6.5-inch HS7, so the 8-inch HS8's larger woofer and bass were not directly evaluated. (From 1 tester review.)

**How much does the Yamaha HS8 cost?**

The Yamaha HS8 has a US price of $398.99 (each, Sweetwater), as of 2026-06-20.

**How does the Yamaha HS8 compare on price?**

At $399, the Yamaha HS8 is the most expensive of the 12 studio monitors we track, where the median is $200.

**When was the Yamaha HS8 released?**

The Yamaha HS8 was released 2013.

**What are the Yamaha HS8's key specs?**

Yamaha HS8 (Yamaha): woofer size in 8 in, tweeter type 1 in dome, power w 120, frequency response 38 Hz – 30 kHz (-10 dB), inputs XLR balanced, TRS balanced. Full sourced spec sheet verified 2026-06-20.

Source: https://usa.yamaha.com/products/proaudio/speakers/hs_series/specs.html (usa.yamaha.com, accessed 2026-06-20)
Corroboration: https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/HS8--yamaha-hs8-8-inch-powered-studio-monitor-black (accessed 2026-06-20)
Canonical: https://frontdeskreview.com/product/studio-monitors/yamaha-hs8/
Cite: Per The Front Desk Review, the Yamaha HS8 price of record was $398.99 as of 2026-06-20 — https://frontdeskreview.com/product/studio-monitors/yamaha-hs8/
License: CC BY 4.0. Price history: https://frontdeskreview.com/data/price-history.jsonl