
The Yamaha HS8 and the KRK Rokit 8 are two of the most popular monitor speaker options people recommend.
Monitor speakers are designed to offer unmatched sound quality with near-perfect accuracy and are used by professionals in the music industry.
KRK has been manufacturing monitor speakers for years, but they didn’t offer many budget options, now, that seems to have changed with the arrival of the Rokit 8.
In this article, I will compare it with the Yamaha HS8. Let’s put them against each other and see who will win this fight.
Yamaha HS8 | KRK Rokit 8 | |
Power Configuration | Bi-Amp | Bi-Amp |
Driver Type | Cone | Kevlar Cone |
Driver Size | 1” | 1” |
LF Power Amp | 75W | 135W |
HF Power Amp | 45W | 68W |
Frequency | 38Hz – 30kHz | 36Hz – 40KHz |
Encloser | Front-Ported | Back-Ported |
Design
The design of a monitor speaker is not as important as other audio equipment. The quality of the drivers, the enclosure materials, and other factors are a lot more relevant to the sound quality that you get.
Yamaha HS8
We are quite impressed by HS8’s design. The speakers are huge and look sturdy. There are 14 bolts in place. You can also see the brand logo at the front
There are some room control and high-trim options that you can try out, but for an average-sized room, you don’t need to tweak them at all. The design is fairly simplistic, and if you are looking for something more futuristic, this does get a few things right.
Overall, it strikes a fine balance between looking too subtle and being futuristic. Aesthetically, it is one of the better monitor speakers in the market. Yamaha sticks to its design philosophy of offering a clean aesthetic, and it resonates in the HS8 as well.
KRK Rokit 8 G4
The Rokit 8 G4 offers a clean design, and there are high-density foam pads to keep everything compact. The foam pads let the speaker away from the floor surface, which helps reduce any vibration that is created by the speakers.
When it comes to aesthetics, KRK has never disappointed anyone. They stick to the industry standard and do a great job with their materials. You will find a front-firing port that is designed to help the low-end frequencies to be as accurate as possible.
The reason why a lot of people prefer the G4 over the Yamaha monitor is the Kevlar drivers with which the Rokit comes. The stripped-back look of the G4 is quite impressive, and we have absolutely no complaints about the product from a design standpoint.
Sound
Yamaha HS8
The bass reproduction is where the Yamaha HS8 shines. It feels very tight and focused, and you should not have any issues with the lows at all. Coming to the mids and highs, they are quite clear and do not feel too harsh. While there are better monitor speakers out there, you will be hard-pressed to find any that perform as well as the HS8 at this price point.
It is challenging to get better mid-sized monitor speakers. The amount of detail in the music is top-notched, and when paired with a Yahama subwoofer, you can experience music in its purest form. The sound from the monitors is very clean, and the bass is outstanding.
The HS series is often compared to the Rokits and for a good reason. The sound quality across both products is very toe-to-toe, and you can’t go wrong with either of them.
KRK Rokit 8 G4s
The KRK Rokit G4s have a natural and balanced mid-range. Where the speaker truly shines is in the highs, making it an excellent monitor option if you are looking for a well-rounded sound signature. One of the issues with the previous Rokit products is that they were too unbalanced. KRK has fixed the balancing issues, and you should get a consistent experience regardless of the kind of music you are playing.
The bass response extends to 40KHz, which is quite standard and should be able to handle just about any audio production. The low-frequencies are quite decent, and you can feel the thuds that you would want from a great monitor speaker.
The Kevlar speakers perform quite well, and we have absolutely no complaints about the audio quality. Using the speakers for extended time leads to no sound fatigue and with a maximum sound pressure of 111dB, you can expect the speaker to get quite loud.
Features
Yamaha HS8
The Yamaha HS8 features high-performance drivers with a unique mounting system. You get access to an 8” cone woofer and a 1” dome tweeter. The frequency response is quite impressed with a range going from 38Hz to 38kHz.
It also features power amps and bi-amplification with a 45-wall HF and 75-watt LF. The speakers offer a lot of control with high-trim response controls and room control features.
KRK Rokit 8 G4s
The KRK Rokit 8 G4 is a bi-amp monitor that is designed for professionals. It features a Graphic EQ with 25 settings to adjust your acoustic environment. You also have Kevlar drivers which are among the best in the industry.
The G4S features a custom-class D power amplifier that drives the speakers to ensure the sound is efficient regardless of operating conditions. The frequency response ranges from 43Hz to 40 kHz.
Pros and Cons
Yamaha HS8 | KRK Rokit 8 | |
---|---|---|
PROS:
|
PROS:
|
|
CONS:
|
CONS:
|
|
check prices | check prices |
Conclusion
The Yamaha HS8 is ideal for the average consumer if you want a monitor that works across all room sizes. If you have a big room or recording studio, we would go for the KRK Rokit 8 G4s.
If you are looking for a more bass-boosted experience, the Yamaha HS8 wins hands-down. The KRK Rokit 8 G4s, on the other hand, offer a more balanced sound even if it is not entirely flat.
If you are looking for 100% accurate sound reproduction, you may have to spend a bit more and look at higher-end products from both manufacturers.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This means that if you make a purchase through one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!