The biggest challenge any DJ will ever deal with is a sound quality set of near-field studio monitor speakers. Especially at the earlier stages, where a new DJ is learning the ropes, a good or bad set of speakers can often make that decision for them.
A solid listening environment is critical.
Unfortunately for most people looking to become DJs or music creators, there are considerably more speakers out there that are either too expensive or too low quality to be worth your time.
The best way to offset this is by going with an established brand name and getting your speakers through them.
One great option for many is the Yamaha brand, specifically their generation HS series of studio monitors. All of these speakers are highly regarded by many who use them.
Most appreciate the fact that, in addition to having a reasonable price point, they are also a great entry-level set that is ideal for new and skilled DJs alike.
Of their speakers, the one pair of hs-series monitors that seems the best option to choose from is the Yamaha HS7.
This one stands directly in the middle between a highly workable HS5 and an exceptionally great if more expensive HS8.
In this review, I’ll be going over what makes the HS7 such a crowd-pleaser before determining whether I think it’s worth your time if you were better served getting the HS5, HS8, or another set of HS7 series speakers entirely.
Are the Yamaha HS7 Speakers any Good?
Yes, Yamaha HS7 monitor speakers are excellent. Yamaha has built an outstanding speaker at a very reasonable price. Perfect for DJs producers that need exceptional accuracy and precise sound.
First Impressions – The Physical Build
One of the first things I noticed when checking out the HS7 was just how heavy it was as well as how solid it was. The speaker weighs in at 18.1 lbs., making it something that you’ll notice while holding in your hands.
The same was its solidness. Unlike a lot of other entry-level speaker systems that I’ve dealt with, this one felt very “strong,” as if it wouldn’t fall apart if I accidentally kicked it or said mean things about it.
Ultimately, in terms of immediate first reactions surrounding the build quality, if you are a stronger person, this won’t be too big of an issue.
Meanwhile, if you’re that strong, you’ll still be able to use the HS7 well enough. The only difference is that you’ll need to likely have it set in its specific area and not expect to move it as freely as the smaller options available
The Specs
Going over the specs, the Yamaha HS7 is a much larger monitor than many would expect considering the speaker itself is only 6.5 inches.
You’ll want to keep in mind that a smaller studio monitor space will likely mean that you’ll want to establish a set area that best accommodates the speaker overall.
Now, most people would wonder why an HS7 only has a 6.5-inch woofer. While I couldn’t directly answer, my personal belief is that, at 6.5 inches, the HS7 can perfectly balance itself as the in-between between the HS5 and the HS8, both by Yamaha.
The HS series monitors also rock extra-large magnets which Yamaha selects to optimize solid low-end smooth response.
These specially selected magnets deliver robust, uniform, and dynamic efficiency over a wider frequency range.
In addition to the 6.5-inch Cone woofer, the monitor also comes with a 1-inch dome tweeter that works to handle the mid and high frequencies.
These frequencies can often range between 43Hz – 30kHz, giving the user a tremendous amount of sound.
The extra thickness of the tweeter frame also minimizes resonance interference with high-end clarity. The overall result is an excellent, accurate response throughout the entire audio spectrum.
For added context, sounds at that the 20Hz (only half as much as the lower option) are entirely inaudible for most listeners. On the other end, while 30kHz won’t blow out your eardrums or make you deaf, it’s certainly a very loud option.
This large amount of depth is great for optimizing your sound and volume level control.
By having this high-performance level of sound and volume control, you can produce much cleaner and crisper sounds while not distorting anything.
Spec Breakdown and Dimensions
- Length: 13.1 inches
- Width: 8.3 inches
- Depth: 11.2 inches
- Weight: 18.1 lbs.
- Woofer Size: 6.5 inches
- Frequency Range: 43Hz – 30kHz
The Design
The HS7’s look and design perfectly matched the rest of Yamaha’s HS line. Personally, it either gels with you or it doesn’t.
For me, I found it to be very pristine, and to have a sense of refinement that works much better than a lot of other speakers and studio monitors on the market today.
The HS7 comes in a matte black finish that is meant to contrast between the black and iconic white woofers, giving it a very distinct and memorable look despite otherwise seeming like any other speaker.
The dense MDF structure, as I mentioned earlier, is very solid and durable. This helps with the monitor’s housing, ensuring that it can hold low-end resonance frequencies much better.
A system of screws and a special mounting ring eliminates spurious unwanted vibration and resonance. This allows the HS7 to reach its full sonic potential.
If you want, you can get the speakers in elegant white-cone speakers as well.
I found that to be a bit too “loud,” however it would work very well if you had a white studio monitor or had more white-colored furniture or items in your house than otherwise.
Finally, you can also pay for the studio monitors to be installed in your house. This makes the process of hanging them on a wall or holding them securely in place something that an expert does. This similarly allows them an overall better look in your home.
Taking A Deeper Look – Features & Sound Quality
Yamaha’s HS7 truly works and strives to thread that needle between incredible signature sound quality and a reasonable price.
Below, we’re going to take a look at exactly how this active studio monitor performs and see whether it is worth the amount they are charging.
Sound Quality
One of the particular claims to fame for the Yamaha HS series speaker is that they are well known for their incredible sound quality, with the HS7 being no different.
Accurate performance, versatile monitoring, and, solid dynamic capability are all features of HS-series speakers.
Even the bass and low-end frequencies, that so regularly drag down many of the smaller studio monitors, are much more well-rounded and established.
I’d even go so far as to say that, unless you needed to add some bass to your music, you could do the majority of your work without the need of a supplemental sub woofer.
On the other hand, the mid and high-end frequencies offer better clarity than they have done before.
Mids don’t have any colored or muddy tones while the highs are very crisp and have virtually no distortions.
Not only do they make listening to music enjoyable, but they also make analytical and precise listening that much easier.
No, you’re not going to get anything on the level of the big-studio megabucks systems, but that only makes sense, as you’re not paying those same prices.
When you consider how affordable the Yamaha HS7 is and just how well it performs overall, you can see that, from a simple observation, the speakers are much better than they have any real right to be.
The Sweet Spot
The Yamaha HS7’s speakers are the most ideal in a 3-foot area (known as the near field).
Because of this, however, they do have a very narrow sweet spot that should be precisely set for optimal results.
In most larger settings, where there is an open amount of space, this would be manageable. However, for those in smaller and more awkward studio spaces, hitting this precise reference sweet spot can be very difficult, if not potentially impossible.
These studio monitors do offer an impressive amount of loud volumes, totaling up to 95W for the drivers.
At further distances, however, this can become a very real issue, creating unideal settings.
Ultimately, if you are someone that needs studio monitors to give you a concentrated effect and are specifically meant to focus the sound so you can more precisely cut and mix tracks, these are virtually an invaluable addition.
However, if you’re on the other side, and you don’t plan to use these solely and exclusively for work, the requirement for the speakers to be so close to one another can greatly detract from the overall critical listening experience.
All in all, because the sweet spot is too narrow if you aren’t ideally using these for work purposes, there is a good chance you won’t get the same benefit as someone else who is using them for work.
Yamaha HS7 Features Offered
Connection Options
The Yamaha HS7, as with many others in the Yamaha family, has very restrained professionalism when it comes to the number of connections offered.
Compared to other options on the market, which may have almost a dozen different connections and inputs available, the HS7 only has two available options: a XLR and TRS input connector.
The TRS phone jack inputs require a 1/4 inch cable. Similarly, the XLR connection is just as precise.
Two major downsides that one must deal with is that the speakers don’t come with the cables themselves, meaning you’ll have to go out and get them on your own.
Similarly, because many controllers and other DJ equipment run on RCA, you’re potentially missing out on a sizeable amount of tools unless you get an adapter or converter.
Tuning Options
One interesting thing about the Yamaha HS7 is that, unlike many other starter-level active monitors, it does offer some tuning options.
Even when compared to other smaller speakers (like its younger brother, the Yamaha HS5), which may have their type of tuning options, the HS7 provides these aspects to a greater degree and with more refinement.
What is Tuning your Monitors?
Simply put, by properly tuning your monitors, you can ensure that you get the best sound spectrum response no matter where your monitors are placed in a large rooms.
In the case of the Yamaha HS7 in particular, the tuning options are found along the back of the units and are between “Room Control” and “High Trim” switch.
“Room Control” specifically handles a monitor’s bass and lower-end frequencies while the “High Trim” is meant to handle the higher-end frequencies.
As mentioned before, by adjusting and tweaking these, you result in a higher level of control over how your speakers will sound whether they are right next to a wall or sitting out in the open.
Specifically, something I noticed with this method of tuning compared to others is that the differences between their altered and unaltered state were considerably more noticeable.
Final Thoughts – Is it Worth Your Time?
The Yamaha HS7 has a lot of stuff going for it and very little to detract. It delivers incredible sound, comes in a solid frame, and even offers an impressive level of tuning. What’s more, it does all of this without breaking your bank.
While they aren’t going to be some of your cheapest on the market, they are good enough and affordable enough that pretty much everyone can acknowledge their value.
So, are they worth your time?
Should you invest in them over another set or brand?
While the degree of usefulness may vary based on your intended purpose, I can confidently say that anyone that is considering getting these speakers should get them.
Whether you are just starting or have been a DJ for a bit of time now, these speakers are a great option and one that ticks off everything you’d need in a quality pair of monitors.
They are an excellent value for your money and the perfect option for people looking to create an effective home active studio monitor for their music.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Impressive and Respected Design
- Great Sound Accuracy & True Bi-amplification Power
- High-Quality Materials that are Sturdy and Solid
- More Nuanced Effective Turning Option than before.
Cons
- A Very Small and Thin Sweet Spot
- A Bit Heavier Than Is Good
Yamaha HS7: The Verdict
There are a lot of different options out there and there are also a fair amount of Yamaha HS7 reviews.
However, there are a lot of low-quality products out there but most of the Yamaha HS7 reviews pretty much say the same thing.
The HS7 is an incredible option because it gives you many of the great benefits of a more expensive studio monitor set while simultaneously offering very affordable prices.
If you are interested in superb audio performance, a solid build quality, and are ok with carrying something with a bit of heft, the Yamaha HS7 series could well be a perfect choice.
