Hi there friend and Welcome aboard!!
Before we get into the Yamaha HS5 vs. HS7, grab a snack, sit back, and relax because.
You’ve come to the right place!!
What I will bring you today
For the purposes of this article, I will compare and contrast the HS5 and 7, and then give a recommendation towards the end. 🙂
- Introduction
- Similarities & Differences
- Final Word
Now without further ado, let’s get rolling!!
Introduction
The Yamaha HS5 is an entry-level monitor that sounds very clean and pristine, with a clear mid-range but not a lot of bass to speak of. Because of this, it does very well for its intended purpose though some people may not like the lack of low-end. What are studio monitors?
That said, because they have virtually no bass, you might end up overcompensating and the mix could turn out muddy on other sources. We want to avoid that.
Because of this, you’ll probably need to pair them with the HS8S sub-woofer if you were to go this route. The problem is that it becomes pretty expensive to do that. We’ll get into the alternative towards the end. 🙂 For now:
How do the HS7s compare? Do they have more bass? Are they the better buy? Let’s find out!
Similarities & Differences
Similarities
- Both are meant for mixing.
- Both have 1″ tweeters.
- Both are rear-ported.
- Both have 1 XLR and a 1/4″ TS input. TRS vs. TS.
- What is XLR?
Differences
- The HS7 will provide more low-end than the HS5. The HS5 is going to roll off at around 54Hz, which isn’t nearly enough bass for most people’s needs. The last thing you want to be doing when it comes to bass is guessing.
- While the HS5 will need a sub, the HS7 does not. The HS7 provides what the 5 is missing.
- With the HS5s, there’s also a peak at around 1k that could make a mix sound hollowed out if you ended up under compensating.
- The HS5s have a 5″ woofer, the HS7s have a 6.5″ woofer.
- Total power. the HS5’s have 70W of power vs. 95 for the HS7.
- Frequency response. 43Hz-30kHz for the HS7 vs. 54Hz-30kHz. As mentioned before, the bass drops off considerably after 54Hz which will likely cause you to overcompensate in your mix.
- Weight. The HS5s are 11.7 lb.s vs. 18.1 for the HS7.
Considerations
- Room Size. Generally speaking, the smaller your room is, the smaller your monitor should be. The HS5s are most definitely meant for a smaller space with no treatment.
- Sound Treatment. In a smaller room, you can get away with not using any bass traps or acoustic panels, but it’s better to have them. In larger-sized rooms, you will most definitely need to employ some Acoustic Sound Treatment.
- Placement. Being that these are nearfield monitors, you’ll want them pretty close to you, but not so close that they’re suffocating. If you have a desk, try to situate them far enough away from the wall (especially since both are rear-ported), but close enough to you where you can actually hear what’s going on. This will ensure the sound doesn’t bounce off the wall too much. You get the idea. Just experiment a little as well. Also remember that they will sound best at around ear level, and should form an equilateral triangle towards your head.
Final Word
If you’re mixing in a smaller space, The HS5 would be a good option if not for the lack of bass.
What do I recommend?
Entry-level heaven.
Of course, I’m going to steer you in the direction of the JBL LSR 305. I’ve had them sitting in my studio since December 2014, and they’re absolute workhorses. They are much livelier and work better in treated as well as untreated rooms. The bass digs deeper, but it’s never too much. The sound is amazingly crisp, clear, and accurate for mixing. You won’t need a subwoofer, and they’re more affordable than an HS5. Interested in learning more?
While the 305 is the entry-level solution, the HS7 provides a nice upgrade. It’s got more bass than both an HS5 and 305 and should be sought after if you have a medium to larger-sized room, need a bit more treble/detail, need a bit better imaging, or simply need more power. Interested?
Well that’s about it for today my friend. I hope I’ve explained the differences between the Yamaha HS5 vs. HS7, and given you some newfound knowledge!
Questions? Comments? Requests? Did I miss the mark on something? Please leave me a comment below or Contact me!
Which of these monitors sounds like the better option for you? I would love to know..
All the best and God bless,
-Stu
6 comments
For some reason, here in Brazil the Jbl lsr305 is about the same price as the HS7. You compare the Jbl with the hs5 in another post, but how would you compare it with the hs7?
The HS7’s will be a bit more powerful, and will work a bit better for medium to somewhat larger rooms. Choosing one or the other isn’t going to be a life and death matter, but since they’re about the same price where you are, I would say give the HS7’s a go. The 305’s are incredible for the price however. Where I am they are basically a steal. How much where you are?
Nice. So based on your opinion what set should i go for, hs5 with sub or hs7 with sub? No problem with the money I just want the best set of monitors at this price range.
I would go with the HS7’s they just sound fuller with more body. You won’t really need a sub with the HS7 either. Let me know if that helps!
i find myself between the HS5 e HS7
a) i’m preety sure my room is small and HS5 should be ideal. Price is affordable. But I’m not willing to end up buying an HS5 and missing low frequencies;
b) on the other hand, I’m aware that HS7 an HS8 low frequencies may cause trouble in the definition of the sounds, if the room are not wide enough for the wave lenghts.
That said, what are your parameters of a short, a medium and a large rooms? Like, dimensions, really… What’s the ideal size of room for HS5, for HS7 and HS8, approximately?
Hey Olívia!
The average-sized room for HS5 would be something like 10 x 10 ft. or 11 x 12, and 14 x 16 for HS7 or HS8. That’s kind of a generalized recommendation, but I would never put an HS8 in a 10 x 10 or 11 x 12 if that makes sense. You could go with the LSR305 as a compromise. Perfect for small to medium-sized rooms and even large. They were my go to monitors for many years before I had to sell them in 2019 due to finances. I am looking to get another pair! Either those or HS7 are the ones I have my eye on. I would not feel comfortable mixing on an HS5 because of the bass.