These compact Yamaha HS-4 studio monitors are the perfect gift for the music maker in your life.
Over the past month or so, I’ve reviewed a few near-field monitors. These small, powered, bookshelf speakers are designed specifically for recording studios and are specially tailored for close or near-field listening. They also make great speakers for a home office.
Prices for near-field monitors begin at a little over $100 and can go almost as high as you like with some fancy brands like Focal. I’ve already reviewed monitors from Kanto, JBL and Edifier so now it’s time to review what are regarded by many as the gold standard of studio monitors.
The Yahama HS-4 are stunning studio monitors that punch well above their weight and would make the perfect Christmas gift for the music maker in your life. Available in both black and white finishes, these compact and sturdy little speakers offer a variety of audio connections and take up very little space on a mixing desk or in a home office.
The Yamaha HS-4 studio monitors output 26W of Class D power per channel.
The HS-4 consist of a powered speaker with an integrated amplifier that pumps out a very healthy 26W of output per channel. These may be small speakers but they pack a mighty punch. The build quality is exceptional for the price and the HS-4 feel as if they could deliver years of faithful service.
The main speaker is for the left-hand channel and the satellite speaker which is just a passive version of the main speaker, connects via a length of speaker cable that’s secured with spring clips on each box. All the connections and the power cable are on the Left speaker. At the rear are input options for the audio signal. For studio use, there are a couple of balanced XLR female connectors. Ideally, these would connect to an audio mixer or an XLR/USB audio interface.
If the speakers aren’t being used for critical music mixing, then there are alternative inputs of RCA or a stereo 3.5mm TRS. There are no USB or optical inputs as the HS-4 don’t include a DAC. However, you can always drive your audio signal through an external DAC like the iFi Audio GO Link Max which can then feed into the 3.5mm TRS input using the supplied cable. That’s what I used to test the HS-4 with the TIDAL signal from my Mac mini M2 Pro.
The left-hand is the powered channel with the Yamaha HS-4. It has the XLR, RCA and 3.5mm TRS audio … [+]
Setting up these cute little monitors takes hardly any time at all. Simply connect them to a power outlet after you’ve joined the two speakers with the length of speaker wire that comes in the box. There’s a power switch on the back of the main speaker and then to turn the speakers on properly, just turn the front-mounted volume knob clockwise to whatever sound level is appropriate. If you want to listen privately, there is also a 3.5mm stereo headphone jack on the front of the main speaker.
Once everything is set up, it’s time to sit back and listen to the kind of sound these miniature wonders can produce. The sound can be tuned a little using two switches on the back of the main speaker. These two switches are labeled Room Control and High Trim. Room Control tames the boom with a choice of 0 /-2 / -4dB on frequencies below 500Hz. Meanwhile, the High Trim switch offers settings of +2 / 0 / -2dB for frequencies above 2kHz.
The two switches enable you to adjust to get the ideal sound considering the acoustics of your room. The switches can reduce unwanted and exaggerated bass and are particularly useful if the speakers must be positioned next to a wall without sufficient space to breathe.
The HS-4 from Yamaha are designed for mixing music but they also make superb computer speakers.
As mentioned, the HS-4 have an output of 26W per channel driven by Class D amplification and they can produce a big sound considering their compact size. The frequency range goes from 60Hz to 22kHz which delivers a superbly firm bass thanks to the Twisted Flare reflex port at the rear of each cabinet. The woofer used on the HS-4 is a 4.5-inch cone design while the tweeter is a healthy 1-inch and is silky smooth.
The sound produced by these impressive little speakers is exemplary. As much as I loved the Edifier MR3 and JBL-104BT monitors that I reviewed recently, the Yamaha HS-4 are a big step up. The sound is superbly clean and the amplification keeps a tight control over the music, even at high volumes. There’s no breaking up of the bass or treble when things are pushed. The HS-4 keep rock-solid control over the music.
The bass and mids on the Yamaha HS-4 studio monitors are produced by a woofer with a 4.5inch cone. … [+]
The tonal balance of these speakers is almost perfect for my ears. I set them up quite close to my office walls and toed them in at 60 degrees. The stereo imaging is exceptional and the firm command of the signal is exactly what you want. There is little or no coloration to the sound and I think these would be ideal speakers for mixing music. They don’t introduce any distortion and provide a clean canvas for adding EQ to the mix if you need it. I think they compare very well with the Kanto ORA monitors I reviewed a few months back which are a great pair of speakers.
Oscar Peterson Plays The Cole Porter Songbook was the perfect test for the sublime Yamaha HS-4 … [+]
To put the HS-4 speakers to the test I unleashed some classic Oscar Peterson on them in the form of “In The Still Of The Night,” a lovely tune from the album Oscar Peterson Plays The Cole Porter Songbook. These speakers make Peterson finger work on the piano come alive while you can hear every slap of the upright bass being played by Ray Brown. There’s something about the HS-4 that gets your toe tapping and wanting to just listen to more music. That’s my ultimate test for any speakers or headphones. If they make me want more, they are winning.
Verdict: The Yamaha HS-4 Studio Monitors are superb bookshelf studio monitors with that fabulous Yamaha pedigree. Considering their budget price, I could see the HS-4 becoming the default choice for affordable pair of home studio monitors. The purity of their sound, the excellent build quality and the clarity of the amplification across the full frequency range make them stand out from most of the competition. The one feature I’d like to have seen is a Bluetooth input, but you can’t have everything. If you are looking for near-field studio monitors for home use or you need a great pair of computer speakers for a home office, the Yamaha HS-4 are hard to beat. Highly Recommended.
Pricing & Availability: The Yamaha HS-4 powered studio monitors are available now from Amazon and other retailers and priced at $199 / £219 / €229.
Tech Specs:
- Type: 2-way bass-reflex powered speaker.
- Woofer: 4.5″.
- Tweeter: 1″.
- Output: 26W per channel.
- Amplification: Class D.
- Frequency response: 60Hz – 22kHz (-10dB).
- Crossover: 2.3kHz.
- Inputs:XLR-1/4″ Combo, RCA Stereo, 1 x 3.5mm TRS
- Power supply: 100 – 240V 50/60Hz.
- Power consumption: 15W.
- Colorways: Black or White.
- Cabinet material: MDF.
- Dimensions (WxHxD): 150 x 240 x 213mm.
- Weight: 3.7kg (main) and 3.1kg satellite.
- Model number: Yamaha HS4 B/W.
