In this review, we will be comparing NS-600A and NS-800A, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Yamaha.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Yamaha NS-600A and Yamaha NS-800A first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Yamaha NS-600A | Yamaha NS-800A |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.25" Dome | 1.25" Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.125" Cone | 6.5" Cone |
|---|
| Frequency response | 47-65k Hz | 40-65k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 85.5 dB | 86.5 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 40-120 watts | 40-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 9.89kg / 21.8lbs | 13.02kg / 28.6lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 15.125" x 8.125" x 13"
384.2 x 206.4 x 330.2mm | 16.5" x 9.125" x 14.125"
419.1 x 231.8 x 358.8mm |
|---|
NS-600A and NS-800A are members of Yamaha's A Series series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
What size room are the Yamaha NS-600A and Yamaha NS-800A speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
Yamaha NS-600A |
Yamaha NS-800A |
| Near-field |
Good |
Average |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
Bad |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
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Drivers
Both NS-600A and NS-800A are 2-way speakers.
Yamaha NS-600AYamaha NS-800A
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Yamaha NS-600A |
Yamaha NS-800A |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.25-inch
|
1.25-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.125-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
NS-600A features a 1.25" Dome Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.125" Cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2.6 kHz. On the other hand, the NS-800A features a 1.25" Dome Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2.6 kHz.
Frequency Response
NS-600A has a frequency range of 47-65k Hz whereas NS-800A has a frequency range of 40-65k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 40Hz, the NS-800A can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the NS-600A's min frequency of 47Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
NS-600A and NS-800A have the same Impedance of 6 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. NS-600A sensitivity is rated at 85.5 dB and the NS-800A's is at 86.5 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Yamaha NS-800A a more sensitive speaker compared to Yamaha NS-600A, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
NS-600A and NS-800A have the same power range of 40-120 watts.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier — change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
NS-600A features Binding post type posts and NS-800A has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Yamaha NS-600A's and Yamaha NS-800A's external dimensions. Yamaha NS-600A has external dimensions of 384.2 x 206.4 x 330.2mm (15.125 x 8.125 x 13inch) whereas Yamaha NS-800A has external dimensions of 419.1 x 231.8 x 358.8mm (16.5 x 9.125 x 14.125inch).
Yamaha NS-800A is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 25.4mm wider, 34.9mm taller and 28.6mm deeper than Yamaha NS-600A.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the Yamaha NS-600A is approximately 681.5cm2 / 105.6inch2 and base area of the Yamaha NS-800A is approximately 831.7cm2 / 128.9inch2. The NS-600A requires 18% less surface area than the NS-800A which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The Yamaha NS-600A weighs 9.89kg / 21.8lbs and the Yamaha NS-800A weighs 13.02kg / 28.6lbs. This makes the NS-800A 32% heavier than the NS-600A.
Here is a comparison of how NS-600A and NS-800A's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
 Height |
384mm
vs
419mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
681cm2
vs
831cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
3200USD
vs
5000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Sensitivity |
87 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Minimum Impedance |
3.8 ohms
vs
3.6 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.125 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
40 Hz
vs
47 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
Yamaha NS-600A |
Yamaha NS-800A |
| Brand |
Yamaha |
Yamaha |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
40-120 watts |
40-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
85.5 dB |
86.5 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.6 ohms |
3.8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
47-65k Hz |
40-65k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.125" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Cone |
Cone |
| Tweeter Size |
1.25" |
1.25" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2.6 kHz |
2.6 kHz |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
384.2mm (15.1") |
419.1mm (16.5") |
| Width |
206.4mm (8.1") |
231.8mm (9.1") |
| Depth |
330.2mm (13") |
358.8mm (14.1") |
| Weight |
9.89kg (21.8lbs) |
13.02kg (28.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
|
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
|
| Labor Warranty |
|
|
Siblings in Yamaha's A Series series, so they share a family sound. It comes down to size, output and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass |
B |
Yamaha NS-800A digs deeper - 40Hz against 47Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs |
evenly matched |
Similar sensitivity (86dB vs 87dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom |
evenly matched |
Similar power handling (120W vs 120W). |
| Size |
depends |
Yamaha NS-600A is easier to place; Yamaha NS-800A is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price |
A |
Yamaha NS-600A is cheaper - $3,200 against $5,000, about 36% less. |
A Yamaha NS-600A
B Yamaha NS-800A
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, placement or how you will use them.
Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
Yamaha NS-800A is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 36% more. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - Yamaha NS-600A looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the Yamaha NS-800A appeals to you. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 47Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Yamaha NS-600A much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate Yamaha NS-600A the better fit for near-field listening; elsewhere the two are rated the same.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.