Yamaha NS-800A
Nicely Roasted
Sound Quality
87/100
Build Quality
92/100
Value for Money
86/100
With an expansive soundstage, precise imaging and a graceful wash of high-frequency air, the NS-800A turns a stand-mount footprint into an absorbing high-end experience. Audioholics found its presentation balanced, full and naturally articulate, while newrecordday praised its easy, non-fatiguing vocal character. Add luxe piano-gloss craftsmanship and surprisingly capable 40Hz bass, and it is a compelling medium-room reference.
Pros
Wide, enveloping soundstage with precise imaging and convincingly spacious acoustics.
Balanced, clean midrange delivers natural vocals, clear dialogue and an easy, non-fatiguing presentation.
Premium piano-gloss finish, substantial cabinet construction and high-quality binding posts create a genuinely luxurious fit and finish.
Cons
Ultimate output is limited for the price; it is better suited to small or medium rooms than effortless large-room playback.
The airy upper-treble voicing may not suit listeners seeking strict neutrality, and bass in the lowest octave benefits from a subwoofer.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 87/100
The NS-800A is widely praised for its clean, spacious and engaging presentation, with natural vocals, strong imaging and an unusually full sound for a standmount. Its voicing is not strictly neutral: reviewers note an elevated top end, while bass weight and low-end reach depend more on placement and whether a subwoofer is used.
Bass
86/100
Audioholics found the bass impressive for a bookshelf speaker, with useful extension to around 40Hz and enough weight to work without a subwoofer in some music. Other reviewers found the low end lighter, particularly away from a wall, and newrecordday felt a subwoofer was needed for the bottom octave; texture and tone were nevertheless praised.
Mid
87/100
Vocals and instruments were described as natural, clean and clearly intelligible, with Audioholics finding the midrange notably flat rather than recessed. Newrecordday likewise praised tonal texture and an easy, non-forward vocal presentation, though it heard occasional lower-vocal heaviness and Erin's measurements-based assessment suggests some listeners may prefer EQ adjustment.
Treble
85/100
The high frequencies bring a pronounced sense of air, presence and detail, and newrecordday did not find the speaker fatiguing or edgy. However, Audioholics measured an upper-treble rise centered around 16kHz, while Erin's Audio Corner characterized the treble as bright, so system matching and listener taste matter.
Soundstage Imaging
91/100
This is a standout strength. Audioholics heard a wide, enveloping stage with precise images and a convincing recreation of a church acoustic, while newrecordday described a large, expansive space with a wraparound effect from percussion and top-end detail.
Dynamics
86/100
Audioholics found the NS-800A willing and composed when music demanded higher energy, retaining control at unexpectedly high listening levels for its format. It also noted some limits to ultimate dynamic range, while Erin's Audio Corner reported low harmonic distortion, especially when the speaker is supported by a subwoofer.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
92/100
Reviewers consistently describe a substantial, well-finished loudspeaker. Audioholics praised its heft and piano-gloss finish, while newrecordday highlighted the quality of the brass binding posts and the unusually upscale internal parts; Erin's Audio Corner also noted a robust construction intended to reduce internal resonance.
Value for Money
86/100
At roughly $4,800 per pair, the NS-800A faces serious competition and is plainly a premium purchase. Audioholics considered the price fair for a genuinely high-end speaker, but also noted that the cost is substantial given its limited ultimate dynamic range; newrecordday similarly frames the decision against stiff rivals at this price.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
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Specifications
- Type
- 2 way Bass-Reflex Type
- Woofers
- 6-1/2" cone type
- Tweeter
- 1-1/4" dome type
- Frequency Response
- 40 Hz-65 kHz (-10 dB), -100 kHz (-30 dB)
- Nominal Input Power
- 40 W
- Maximum Input Power
- 120 W
- Sensitivity
- 86.5 dB
- Crossover Frequencies
- 2.6 kHz
- Impedance
- 6 ohms (minimum 3.8 ohms)
- Dimensions (W x H x D)
- 9-1/8" x 16-1/2" x 14-1/8"
- Weight
- 28.7 lbs
- Accessories
- Front Grille x 1, Cushion x 4
Manufacturer's Description — Yamaha
NS-800A Bookshelf Speaker (Each)
The NS-800A is an uncompromising 2-way speaker that provides faithful reproduction of all musical instruments and spacious sound.
- 2-way bookshelf speaker with 6 1/2" woofer
- A newly developed "Harmonious Diaphragm" made of a blend of materials, including Zylon and spruce, for true tonal balance
- Ideal cabinet construction, designed with vibration analysis technology cultivated in our crafting of musical instruments
- Yamaha-patented Acoustic Absorber optimized for the NS-800A
- Yamaha-patented R.S. (Resonance Suppression) Chamber for suppressing unwanted resonance
- Authentic piano finish adds to the luxurious joy of ownership
- High-quality parts for crossover circuitry, including audio capacitors made by Mundorf of Germany
- Solid brass speaker terminals for highly secure connection and luxurious feel
LUXURIOUS WITH SPACIOUS SOUND
Yamaha created the NS-800A bookshelf speaker by fusing rich aesthetics with the latest advanced technology. The unique diaphragm material produces exceptionally unified tone, while the spacious large-capacity cabinet delivers a vast and luxuriant sound field. It is all topped off with a beautiful grand piano-like finish that gives you an even more luxurious music listening experience.
Using our signature gloss finish, a technique traditionally reserved for our finest pianos, this speaker provides an aesthetic pleasure, whether you're immersed in its sound or simply admiring its presence.
TRUE SOUND
Yamaha is the only audio brand in the world that manages every facet of sound, from its creation to the moment it graces your ears. Simply close your eyes, and you won't just hear the music - you'll experience the unparalleled sensation of being genuinely closer to the artist.
TONAL BALANCE
Every ear hears the world differently. Yamaha expresses sound as the artist intended. Reproducing sonic elements such as vocals and instruments at the right pitch requires both passion and precision. Yamaha accomplishes this through tonal balance, enriching harmonies and recreating musicality to help you hear sounds you couldn't hear before.
PERFECTLY UNIFIED TONE
PERFECTLY UNIFIED TONE
As a world-renowned music brand, Yamaha is relentlessly committed to accurately reproducing the sounds of instruments. In order to make this quest a reality, we created flagship speakers under the design concept of having consistent tone color throughout the entire frequency spectrum and applied unique technology to achieve it. For each and every one of its speaker units, the NS-800A employs the newly developed Harmonious Diaphragm™—made from a blend of ZYLON®, which has excellent sound velocity and optimal internal dissipation — and spruce, which is used in the soundboard of Yamaha grand pianos.
DYNAMICS
We pursue a sense of dynamics that express the contrast between stillness and motion in the music - allowing you to immerse yourself in the deep emotions in the music.
TOTAL MUSIC REPRODUCTION
Our patented Resonance Suppression chambers are mounted on the back of the tweeter in order to faithfully express even the finest nuances of musical instruments and voices. Two specially shaped tubes cancel unwanted resonance generated behind the diaphragm, revitalizing and maintaining the original sound.
FAITHFUL MUSICAL PRESENCE
Conventional speakers use a large amount of sound-absorbing material to eliminate standing waves inside the cabinet. However, this also removes much of the music's character. In the NS-800A, we’ve employed our patented Absorber tube to eliminate standing waves, while minimizing the amount of absorbing material, so that the original realism of music is reproduced with full energy and dynamism.
SOUND IMAGE
The position of the artist and instruments, along with the delicate nuances and atmosphere of the performance space, are stunningly reproduced. The resulting sound is so lifelike, you'll feel as though you were in the same room as the performance.
HIGHLY MUSICAL VIBRATION CONTROL
The principles for creating superb sound — understanding enclosure acoustics and pinpointing where to suppress vibrations — are virtually identical, whether crafting musical instruments or speakers. The NS-800A's cabinet construction incorporates state-of-the-art design technology while making full use of laser vibrometers, a tool essential in musical instrument research and development, as well as sophisticated Finite Element Method (FEM) analysis. The cross piece of the cabinet has also been reinforced. Experience a rich spatial sound that fully immerses you, making you feel as though you're right in the center of the performance.
SEAMLESS SONIC PERFORMANCE
Representative of the flagship series, the NS-800A adopts the highest quality parts for the crossover circuit. The MCap® SUPREME Classic audio capacitor made by Mundorf of Germany, renowned as the pinnacle in audio-use capacitor, is used along with a huge woofer coil.
TWISTED FLARE PORT
The speaker is equipped with our original Twisted Flare Port. It adds a gentle twist to reduce air flow noise around the port, a common problem in conventional bass reflex speakers. This delivers an exceptionally accurate response with clear, tight bass reproduction.
HIGH-QUALITY FEEL
The speaker terminals feature an original design, with a shape that comfortably fits with human fingers for a luxurious feel, while simultaneously allowing for effortless tightening.
Verified Dealers
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Authorized dealers for Yamaha NS-800A
- Absoulute Audio plus Video — in-store — Aiken, South Carolina, United States (website)
- The Music Room — online and in-store — Erie, Colorado, United States (website)
- 138 Quaiduson — online and in-store — Lille, Hauts-de-France, France (website)
- A1 Futureshop — online and in-store — North Rocks, New South Wales, Australia (website)
- Abt Electronics — online and in-store — Glenview, Illinois, United States (website)
- Accessories 4 less — online and in-store — Apopka, Florida, United States (website)
- Acclaim Sound and Light — online and in-store — North Bay, Ontario, Canada (website)
- Acoustic Sound Design — online and in-store — Las Vegas, Nevada, United States (website)
- Acoustic Sounds — online and in-store — Salina, Kansas, United States (website)
- Acton Gate Audio — online and in-store — Cymru, United Kingdom (website)
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