Yamaha HS Speaker Recommendation

[rick76]

Hello. I read a number of recommendations for Yamaha HS8 speakers for Genos.
I have KRK 5's and they are distorting when the bass is turned up on the Genos EQ.

While reviewing the HS 8, a number of reviews stated that they are too much for small areas.
I have a small area and am afraid they may have too much power. I am afraid that the HS7
(Which has a 6.5" woofer) might not be enough.

Any thoughts?

Thanks

Rick

[BogdanH]

hello Rick,
I have KRK 5G4 in a smallish room of about 12m^2. Let me clarify few things...
We need to be specific when we talk about bass problem. Bass has a frequency range of about 50Hz to 250Hz (roughly C1...C3 on keybed) and KRK 5 has no distortion in this range. I assume, the problem that you have, is sub-bass range below 50Hz (most left octave on Genos): there's no rich deep bass. But this cannot be solved with EQ. We must keep in mind that we're only applying EQ adjustment within range that the speaker is capable to play. We cannot force speaker to play below 50Hz by increasing EQ level in that range. If we increase too much, we will get distortion in the range that speaker is otherwise capable to play perfectly fine.

According to tests and specifications, KRK 5 frequency range starts at about 55Hz and the same is true for HS7 -and so you cannot expect any difference in sub-bass range. HS8 starts at 47Hz and even that doesn't seem to make some difference, it is much better (in sub-bass region there's a battle for every Hz).
Btw. there's no such thing as too much for small area -I mean, we can always decrease volume. The only thing that might be too much in this case, is speaker size. And if size is no problem for you, go for HS8.
However, HS8 will still not solve sub-bass problem, because starting at 47Hz is not low enough for that.

What I recommend is, that you keep KRK 5 and get a decent subwoofer.

Bogdan

[rick76]

Bogdan,
Thanks for your time and explanation.

Have a good day.

[maarkr]

too much for small rooms?  I have HS8s and a sub in a small bedroom and I can get a full sound.  Any speaker system will distort if pushed too much.  I use them for music production with Studio One and they translate nicely to online music files.  I test mixes at 85dB before release.  If you want super loud, get like a 1000W QSC speaker which is used for small venues.

[rick76]

Thanks for your input. Have a great day.

[CPAC]

Do most people feel that the Genos speakers (GNS-MS01) are really good?  I saw one video from a reviewer who thought they were terrible.  I haven't heard many "speaker" comments from anyone else one way or the other.  Is there a commonly used alternative or do most people enjoy the MS01s?  (I'm thinking of home use for now.)  On a gig, could they be used as my monitors and of course the PA would be for the audience?

Also, can anyone tell me if the vocal harmony on the genos would sound better than that on the PSR SX900 or are they exactly the same vocal harmony?

Thank you!
Chris

[MadrasGiaguari]

Dear Rick,

I play my Genos (volume knob at 3/4) with a pair of HS8 (volume at 1/2), placed on Konig&Meyer stands set at hears height, in my living room, which is 750 square feet large.

They sound PERFECTLY any frequencies, despite technical specifications. Don't need Subwoofer: low frequencies sound perfectly.

By connecting Genos directly to the HS8 (I have a Mackie mixer, but tested that is better without) you get a clear, not manipulated sound.

HS7, that I also tested, are Ok, but weak on low frequencies: the speaker diameter makes a big difference.

When I want/need to play less loud, just adjust Genos volume knob at 1/2, and I still get good sound.

Finally, IMHO HS8 have an excellent quality/price ratio, if compared to many equivalent powered monitors from other brands, that I tested.

Ciao,

Angelo

[pjd]

+1 Angelo's advice.

My Genos is connected directly to a pair of studio monitors (Mackie HR824, long since out of production) and adjust playing volume using the Master Volume knob.

Works for me... I usually play at low volume in order to save my hearing. Never needed a subwoofer as I like flat and balanced best. 

All the best -- pj

[RayClem]

The KRK 5 speakers are supposed to deliver down to 46 HZ, which is F#1 on a piano keyboard. The HS8 with its larger woofer should be able to get down to 38 Hz which is D#1. Thus, the HS8 will provide you with an extra 3 semitones in the sub bass region. Presumably the HS8 will be able to play at louder volume without distortion.To get down below than you either need a larger woofer, which comes with its own set of problems, or add a subwoofer. 

A 10" subwoofer can take you down to around 32 Hz which is C1 on the piano. Below that gets much tougher. The bottom octave, which ranges from 16-32 Hz is going to require a very large, powerful subwoofer if you want to play C0 at significant volume. The recent Klipsch RP 1600 subwoofer claims to have a range of 14.5 - 175 Hz +/- 3 db. But that sub will set you back $1500 for the privilege of playing that bottom octave at 800 watts RMS.

Thus, you need to determine how low you really need to go and how much you are willing to spend to achieve that goal.

I do have a pair of KRK 5s for critical listening such as mixing. For playing my Genos 2, I use a pair of 4.5" Personus monitor speakers that only go down to 70 Hz, but then have a sub to fill in the bass. While I love the sound of a 32 ft organ stop playing C0 at 16 Hz, I do not need to experience it at full volume in my home studio, so I have not purchased a 16" subwoofer.

[BogdanH]

The KRK 5 speakers are supposed to deliver down to 46 HZ,...

Yes, but at 46Hz loudness falls by -10dB! If measured for +/-3db deviation (which is standard for linearity), then KRK goes only down to about 50-53Hz.
Same applies for Yamaha HS8:
47Hz -3dB
38Hz -10dB

Bogdan