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Stuart Charles here, HomeStudioBasics.com helping YOU make sound decisions, so…
For many years, I relied on the JBL LSR305 studio monitors as my trusted companions in the world of music production.
These monitors served me well and were my go-to choice for critical listening tasks, thanks to their remarkable performance and affordability.
And while they aren’t entirely neutral, they did work very well all things considered.
However, as my skills and aspirations grew, I found myself yearning for an upgrade, something that could take my monitoring capabilities to the next level.
That’s when I made the leap to the Yamaha HS7 studio monitors after a short time with the Presonus Eris e3.5; another great budget monitor.
Now, the question arises: Is the HS7 truly better for monitoring, or was my loyalty to the LSR305 well-founded?
Let’s explore this crucial question and see how the Yamaha HS7 stacks up against my previous studio monitor choice.
Yamaha HS7
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In The Box
Yamaha HS7 Powered Studio Monitor
Limited 1-Year Manufacturer Warranty
2x Power Cables
Specifications
- System Type: 2-Way Bi-Amped Powered Studio Monitor
- Frequency Response: 43Hz – 30kHz
- Crossover Frequency: 2kHz
- Transducer: LF: 6.5″ (127mm) Cone, HF: 1″ (25mm) Dome
- Output Power: Total: 95W, LF, 60W, HF: 35W
- Input Sensitivity: -10 dBu / 10kΩ
- Inputs: 1x Balanced XLR3-31 Type, 1x 1/4″ (6.35mm) Balanced TRS
- Controls: Level Control (+4dB/Center Click), EQ: High Trim Switch (+/- 2dB @ HF), Room Control Switch (0,-2,-4dB under 500Hz
- Indicators: 1x Power On White LED
- Power Consumption: 55W
- Enclosure: Type: Bass-Reflex, Material: MDF
- Dimensions (WxHxD): 8.3 x 13.1 x 11.2″ (210 x 332 x 284 mm)
- Weight: 18.1 lb (8.2kg)
The Yamaha HS7 is a remarkable studio monitor that has earned a reputation for its exceptional performance and precision.
Let’s delve into the details and understand why it’s a favorite among audio professionals.
Build and Size
The HS7 is solidly built and exudes durability. It boasts a sleek, minimalist design that fits seamlessly into any studio setup.
With dimensions of 13.1 x 8.3 x 11.2 inches, they’re most certainly substantial enough to provide a full, rich sound.
In addition, they’re very heavy and feel more robust than any monitor I’ve tried to date.
Coming in at a whopping 18.1 lbs. (8.2kg), as soon as you cradle one of these in your arms…
YOU’LL KNOW WHERE YOUR MONEY WENT.
So yeah, if you need to break out of a psychiatric ward, the HS7 is more than up for the task.
In all seriousness, I would make sure you have enough space for these monsters.
They are much larger than I anticipated and I can’t imagine, given my experience with the HS7, how massive the HS8 is.
Connections and Knobs
Flipping to the back of the HS7 reveals its array of connections and controls.
To start, there’s a level knob on the upper right. I calibrated both to around the middle at +4dB. This ensures I don’t have to jack up the volume on my interface and strikes a nice balance.
Speaking of balanced, below the level knob you’ll find the XLR and TRS inputs for use with an audio interface like the Universal Audio Volt 2.
Towards the bottom, note your I/O switch and AC power input. Yamaha provides 2 power cables in the package.
The real gems, however, are the room control and high-trim switches.
Room Control
The room control switch is an essential tool for tailoring the monitor’s response to your specific room acoustics.
Flat Position (0dB)
Start in the flat or 0dB position.
This setting is appropriate for rooms with good acoustic treatment and minimal issues with low-frequency reflections, providing a neutral and uncolored sound.
-2dB or -4dB Position
If you find that your room has excessive bass buildup or low-frequency resonances, try switching to the -2dB or -4dB positions.
These settings reduce the low-frequency response, which can help mitigate issues caused by room acoustics.
Experiment with both positions to see which one offers a more balanced sound.
High Trim
The high trim control fine-tunes the high-frequency response, offering further customization to cater to your specific mixing environment.
Flat (0dB)
Start with the high trim control in the flat position (0dB). This is the default setting and provides a neutral high-frequency response.
+2dB Position
If you find that the high frequencies are too subdued or if your room has overly dampened acoustics, you can try the +2dB position.
This setting will introduce a slight boost to the high frequencies, making the sound more prominent and detailed.
-2dB Position
Conversely, if your room has bright acoustics or you prefer a more subdued high-frequency response, you can set the high trim control to -2dB.
This will attenuate the high frequencies slightly for a warmer sound.
The key is to listen carefully to your music and make adjustments based on your room’s acoustics and your personal preferences.
Experiment with the different high-trim settings and choose the one that provides the most accurate and pleasing high-frequency response for your specific setup.
Hooking Them Up
Nearly all active monitors on the market today come with a balanced XLR and/or TRS input.
“Active” simply means there’s no need for separate amplification. The amp is inside.
All you need is something like an audio interface to connect to your PC/Laptop. This takes care of the digital-to-analog conversion.
You’d simply purchase 2 sets of balanced XLR to TRS cables.
In my studio, I have the Volt 2 mentioned above which connects to my Yamaha HS7s via these cables. You can also use these.
Just match the XLR end with whatever your speaker has (male or female).
Both of the balanced TRS cables go into the back of my Volt 2, while the XLR ends plug into each of the monitors.
Even though you have to use balanced cables with the HS7, I tend to prefer them more often than not because they use 2 signal wires plus a ground wire, in effect reversing the polarity and canceling out any noise.
- Related: Balanced vs. Unbalanced Audio Cables
Sound
The heart of the Yamaha HS7 lies in its excellent sound.
These monitors are not for the casual listener – unless, of course, you prefer listening to your music in its most raw and transparent state.
If that’s the case, then the HS7 is perfect for you as well.
In any event, these are studio monitors, engineered for critical listening tasks such as mixing and mastering.
- Recommended: What are Studio Monitors?
The HS7 delivers a flat, transparent, and mostly uncolored sound, which is precisely what you need when striving for audio perfection.
The 6.5-inch cone woofer and 1-inch dome tweeter provide a balanced and articulate sound that reveals every detail in your audio.
Bass
One of the striking differences I noticed when transitioning from the LSR305 to the HS7 was in how the HS7 handled bass frequencies.
Being a studio monitor designed for critical listening, it doesn’t sugarcoat anything.
It’s transparent and ruthlessly honest about the audio it reproduces.
This honesty becomes evident when you listen to music from streaming platforms like Spotify or Tidal.
With the HS7, you can immediately tell if there’s too much bass in a track; a common issue in many commercially produced songs today.
If a track has excessive bass, the HS7 will reveal it.
This can be a bit jarring at first, especially if you’re accustomed to more consumer-oriented speakers that might hype or mask certain frequencies.
However, this is, in fact, a good thing; it’s a testament to the HS7’s commitment to accuracy.
These monitors won’t trick your ears by artificially boosting or coloring the sound.
They are designed to reproduce audio as it truly is, which is essential for making informed mixing and mastering decisions.
So if you’re just casually listening to music, I’m not going to say you’ll be disappointed, but you will get a true sense of how your favorite music actually sounds vs. the way that other products attempt to make it sound.
This ensures that what you hear on the HS7 is a faithful representation of the music’s actual character, allowing you to identify any flaws or imbalances that need correction.
If you can get your mix to sound good and proper on these, it will translate extremely well to everything else.
Mid-Range
In addition to its revealing bass performance, the Yamaha HS7 also shines when it comes to the mid-range.
One noticeable characteristic in its response is a subtle rise in the presence regions.
This rise may not seem like a big deal, but it has a profound impact on the clarity of the audio you’re working with – especially in the context of music production where the mid-range is paramount.
The mids are where the core elements of a song reside – vocals, guitars, keyboards, and various other instrumental details that define a track’s character.
Getting this area right is often the most critical aspect of music production, and the HS7’s slight emphasis on the presence regions aids in achieving this.
This subtle boost helps to bring out the fine nuances and intricate details, making it easier to distinguish individual elements in a mix and identify problem areas.
So, while the HS7 may not be as forgiving as some consumer-oriented speakers, it’s a priceless asset for those who demand precision and honesty in their monitoring setup.
Treble
The treble response of the HS7 is remarkably detailed and crisp.
The 1-inch dome tweeter does an excellent job of reproducing high-frequency content with accuracy and transparency, ensuring that delicate nuances, such as cymbal crashes and high-pitched vocals, are faithfully represented.
It doesn’t hype or exaggerate high frequencies but rather provides an uncolored and precise portrayal of the treble range, which is vital for making informed decisions during the production process.
Placement
Proper placement of studio monitors is crucial, and the HS7 is no exception.
To get the best out of them, ensure they are positioned at ear level and form an equilateral triangle with your listening position.
Additionally, experiment with the room control and high-trim switches to fine-tune the sound to your specific space.
Will You Need A Subwoofer?
The HS7 offers a balanced frequency response and a well-defined low end, capable of producing bass frequencies down to around 43 Hz.
Whether you need a subwoofer largely depends on your specific preferences and the intended use, but my personal experience with mixing tracks for many years indicates that it’s largely unnecessary.
For instance, I primarily mix hip-hop around 60-100Hz and find that the HS7’s threshold of 43Hz is plenty low enough. This shouldn’t be news to anyone, but as it turns out, frequencies below this number are inaudible to the human ear and any attempt at trying to incorporate them into a track isn’t really necessary. The fact that Yamaha understands this concept is a breath of fresh air.
- Required Reading: How To EQ Bass
Room Treatment
Room treatment plays a pivotal role in optimizing the performance of studio monitors like the Yamaha HS7.
It significantly impacts the accuracy of sound reproduction by minimizing acoustic issues within the listening environment.
Without it, the sound waves from speakers can bounce off surfaces, causing reflections, standing waves, and other acoustic problems.
Room treatment helps in achieving a more balanced and accurate sound.
Absorption panels, bass traps, diffusers, and other acoustic treatments help control reverberation, reduce unwanted reflections, and address frequency imbalances across the listening space.
This, in turn, enhances the accuracy of what you hear from the monitors, allowing for better mixing decisions and a truer representation of the audio content.
My studio space isn’t perfect, but I opted to move out of my bedroom into a more open space and invested in some acoustic panels which has helped tremendously in achieving a more consistent sound output.
It also helps that my dining room is a long, large, open, irregularly shaped room that overlooks the kitchen while also feeding into a big living room. So there are fewer problems with sound bouncing all over the place since the waves can travel much farther.
Overall Value
While the Yamaha HS7 may not be your go-to choice for casual music enjoyment, it shines brilliantly when it comes to professional studio work.
If you understand that these monitors are tailored for critical listening tasks, their value becomes evident.
They are a cost-effective solution for those who take their music production seriously.
The precision, clarity, and customization options offered by the HS7 are difficult to match in its price range, making it a top contender for mixing and mastering applications.
Closing Thoughts
In the world of studio monitors, the HS7 is undoubtedly a heavyweight (no pun intended).
Its build exudes reliability, and the array of connections and control options on the back ensures adaptability to different studio environments.
When it comes to sound, it’s a revelation – clean, accurate, and true to the source.
Just remember, these monitors are not for easy listening; they are your trustworthy allies in the quest for audio perfection.
If you’re serious about mixing and mastering music, the HS7 might just be your best companion in the studio, offering an exceptional balance of performance and affordability.
So, are they a sound decision?
Absolutely. Your mixes will thank you later.
For me, it was money well spent and I truly believe they’re worth every penny.
Learn More:
Well, that’s about it for today my friend! I hope you enjoyed this Yamaha HS7 Review and came away with some valuable insight.
Questions? Comments? Requests? Did I miss the mark on something? Please leave a comment below or contact me! I would be happy to help in any way…
Does the HS7 seem like a slam-dunk purchase? I would love to hear from you. Until next time…
All the best and God bless,
-Stu
4 comments
If you had to choose one pair of headphones that sounds the closest to hs8, which one would you choose?
Jack,
Wow what a great and loaded question! HS8 and HS7 are both tuned very well. The HS8 has a bit more emphasis in the all important 60-90Hz region (the beatmaker’s wet dream), but both frequency responses are very similar and opt for a cut in the mud regions as well (anywhere from 100-300Hz). I actually prefer the HS7 since I can just emphasize those regions myself when I’m mixing.
If you can believe it, the majority of headphone manufacturers (at least in the consumer sphere) do not in fact tune bass correctly; quite the opposite actually. This is why, as a producer, I’m always so big mad and giving bad reviews while frantically pounding away on my keyboard like there’s no tomorrow. For instance, like now because I’m so passionate about it. xD
That said, there are some notable exceptions, but since you said choose only one, that my friend is a toughie. Many headphones immediately crossed my mind, but if I could only choose one, the HD600 very closely mimics the response of the HS7 though there’s not as much roll off below 40Hz.
Both have some emphasis around 1kHz and also the presence regions (the HS7 a little more so than HS8), and both the HD600 and HS8/7 don’t opt for an overly bright, hissy treble; instead choosing to keep it fairly subdued from 8-10kHz with some air after 10kz. This is also a better way of emphasizing the high end since it rarely results in any sibilance yet still doesn’t sound overly dark. That said, the HD600 has been accused of being just that, but I think it can be overblown.
Now keep in mind this isn’t a perfect comparison, but it’s the closest I could come up with out of 136 demoed units. Both the HS7 and HD600 are great precisely because they don’t try to be or do to much. And for production work, what more could you ask for?
In any event, If I think of a better headphone, I will let you know!
-Stu
TL;DR – HD600
Thanks for sharing! I really appreciate it. What I love about the HS8s is that they sound super transparent and honest, just like you said in your article. They make it easy to tell if your track is lacking low frequencies, which is something the headphones I’ve tried just can’t do.
I’ve heard some people mention that the HD600s don’t provide much information on low frequencies. If you happen to have any recommendations for headphones that handle lows better, I’d love to hear them!
Jack,
My pleasure! Yeah I feel the same about my HS7s. I came from the LSR305 then had to downgrade to the Eris e3.5 for awhile, and while I loved my time with both of those, the HS7 has helped take my mixes to a new level. They’re just so natural sounding and honest. I couldn’t imagine my studio without them!
About the HD600s, I’m not sure where you heard that from (and I probably don’t want to know lol) but it’s not even close to being true. That’s a pretty horrible take to be honest and I’m not sure where that claim comes from or what the reasoning could possibly be behind it. It’s an asinine assertion and doesn’t even really deserve a rebuttal.
What makes this more damning is that I literally just gifted my brother in law a pair of HD58X’s (same sound more or less) and he absolutely loves them for mixing his own tracks. I actually had given him the HD600, K702 and 400se to test out and told him to share with me which one he preferred most and he said hands down HD600 and it wasn’t close. Here’s a guy who knows nothing about this hobby or anything audiophile related.
I will say that no, the HD600 isn’t a perfect headphone nor is it the best, but it’s accurate and fantastic for mixing. A general step-up from any mid-fi headphone is going to be something like an Ananda or Edition XS.
Anyway, keep me posted with questions!
-Stu