Yamaha HS80M Studio Reference Monitor

by Yamaha

Product Features

• 8" white polypropylene cone
• 1" dome tweeter
• 120-watt biamplified power LF:75W@4ohms HF:45W@8ohms
• XLR and 1/4" connectors
• Room control and frequency response switches

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 16.4 x 14.2 x 21.5 inches ; 24.9 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 29.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B000QPHCB4
• Item model number: HS80M
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,004 in Musical Instruments (See Top 100 in Musical Instruments)
  • #3 in Musical Instruments > Recording Equipment > Studio Monitors
• Date first available at Amazon.com: October 2, 2001

Product Description

The new HS Series powered monitors were designed to be true studio reference monitors in the tradition of the famous NS10Ms. When choosing your next pair of near field reference monitors, remember it's not just important that they sound good; they have to be an honest reference for your mix. The new HS Series of reference monitors were designed to give you exceptionally flat response so you can really trust what you hear. That means that mixes that sound good on Yamaha HS speakers will sound good on anything. In fact, that's the ultimate test of a reference monitor. Even better than that, HS series speakers not only sound good, they look great, too.HS Series cabinets look as great as they sound. Enclosures are constructed of high-quality MDF material and a multiple layer finish that minimizes resonance. Design elements include a black finish and lighted Yamaha tuning fork logo. White polypropylene woofer cones recall the look of the classic Yamaha NS10M, and include low-damping rubber surrounds and full magnetic shielding.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

55 of 59 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Entry Level Monitors August 5, 2008

By Greg A. Tirevold VINE™ VOICE

The HS80M monitor gives you built in power, room adjustment gain controls and good sound. While monitors are probably the most subjective thing you buy for your home or project studio. You usually don't have the option of actually bringing home 2 or 3 pairs of monitors and picking the one that performs best in your space so reputation plays a large role in the decision. These are excellent entry level monitors that will not disappoint you if you really understand what monitors are supposed to do.

I have mine mounted on a set of Auralex MoPad absorbers on top of 36" monitor stands and the absorbers make a big difference. Remember that the room you are listening in plays as big, if not bigger role in what you hear than the monitors you are using. Look into getting some basic acoustic treatments to tame the pumped up bass and harsh treble reflections you can get in most house sized rooms. Put yourself in an equilateral triangle with your head at one apex and the speakers at the other two, with tweeters at ear level facing in at you for the proper stereo image. When you get it right the sound seems to hang in midair about 4-5 feet in front of you and you can't seem to hear anything coming from either speaker unless the music is panned hard left or right.

These monitors have MORE than enough power to set your ears ringing if your not careful so don't treat them like your computer's multimedia speakers and dial up the volume. Start low and remember 83db is the "standard" intensity for monitoring.

So if your in the market for excellent quality, entry level monitors then these would be a fine choice. Also look in into KRK Rockits, Wharfedale Diamond 8.2 and Adam A5 monitors for others of quality you may like.

33 of 35 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Can't be beat for under $500 more February 11, 2010

By Frater asomatous

I am absolutely amazed at these monitors. I had a pair of the original NS10's but after 2 recones they were difficult to have repaired. I thought the NS10's had to much bass and I hear the same stigma at times attached to these monitors. It's not true, the HS80M's are flat but heave really good clarity. You can hear everything but it's flat! I don't know about you but that's what I want in a near field.

I have mixed 2 hip hop CD's, a metal CD, two Rock CD's and a straight blues CD on these and they sound the same as the mix in anything I've played them on from car radios to ghetto blasters. I've use the KRK's and the Mackie HR's in the same room, to my ears they don't sound as flat or have the clarity the HS80M's do. I've been doing this for going on 20 years now. Granted I'm mixing in a tuned room so this has as much to do IMO with the sound of the HS80s as the monitors themselves.

The only Set that I've heard at that would be a step up from these are the Genelec's and I don't consider those in the same class of monitor as the HS80M. Plus you're looking at at least $500 more in cost. I know peoples perceptions and tastes vary, I hope this review was helpful to you.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing... I have no more words. October 20, 2011

By Aurelle

Amazon Verified Purchase

If you're wanting to know whether all the 5-star reviews are really true to their word; they are. Every single one of them. In fact, I'll go as far as to say that they're nearly underselling the product, but if you want to know my story, read further.

I'm a freelance composer and sound artist and most of my work comes from independent game developers. I write 10-20 musical pieces week-in, week out. Before I purchased these monitors my mixes relied on a pair of headphones. While they were good (MDR 7506), there was always something missing in my mixes and headphones weren't cutting it anymore. Getting a pair of monitors were inevitable.

Along with the the purchase I began research a lot into acoustics and for building a future home studio. I was really worried that my room was going to create a big mess of standing waves, resonance, comb-filters and whatnot have you. I purchases the KRK Ergo so I could be prepared solving the low frequency issues.

When I got these babies I fired them up and I must say, the clarity and detail these monitors produce is really mind-boggling at first. The wicked definition of the stereo image/center image, the precision of the depth, and very very smooth, un-exaggerated bass. I was blown away to bits, but my concern was whether I was getting "the real deal", "The true reference."

I made tests with my KRK ERGO and with 95% room knowledge the ergo could not correct anything. The uncorrected and corrected signals were so identical, even if it made a difference it was inaudible. I was baffled, to say the least, but I had to be sure. I brought in a GoldLine Realtime analyzer in order to see if there any problems in the room. To my surprise bursting out a constant pink noise and analyzing my room in my mix position, the response is flat as a pancake. How it's possible in a bed room, I don't know, but till this day I am trying to prove the readings wrong.

I've mixed over 20+ of my compositions on these and I've managed to properly balance the tracks, create a bigger image, add more color, dynamics, and power to them. They all sound much much more professional now. These speakers EASILY pointed out all the shortcomings of my headphones mixes, with no problem, every track, EVERY time. I love knowing these speakers can punish me for not paying attention to what it's telling me; if there's something wrong in the mix it's gonna be wrong everywhere else.

Best $450(pair) I've ever spent.