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Yamaha NS-800A
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.
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Professional Reviews 88/100
Nicely Roasted
Sound Quality
87/100
Build Quality
92/100
Value for Money
86/100
Wide soundstage, clean mids, and a polished, room-filling presentation make the NS-800A feel far bigger than a typical standmount. Audioholics praised its natural vocals, precise imaging, and surprisingly full bass, while Erin's Audio Corner noted its solid build and low distortion, especially with a subwoofer.
What Reviewers Are Saying
Pros
Enveloping soundstage with precise imaging and a balanced, natural midrange.
Impressive bass for a bookshelf speaker, with extension down to about 40 Hz and convincing weight.
Premium fit and finish, including a handsome piano-gloss cabinet and robust build.
Low distortion and good directivity make it responsive to careful setup and room EQ.
&
Cons
Treble can sound bright and may benefit from EQ or careful system matching.
Bass is somewhat room-dependent and can sound weak unless placement is favorable.
At this price, it is not an effortless large-room solution and has limited sheer dynamic headroom for its size.
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 87/100
Reviewers describe a balanced, clean, and surprisingly full presentation with convincing scale for a standmount. The speaker’s strengths are its natural midrange, spacious imaging, and capable bass for its type, though the upper treble brightness and some setup sensitivity keep it from sounding effortless in every room.
Bass
85/100
Audioholics found the bass impressive for a bookshelf speaker, with extension down to 40 Hz and enough output that a subwoofer was not always needed for this kind of music. Erin’s Audio Corner was less generous, calling the bass weak unless the speakers were positioned against the wall, so the low end looks capable but room-dependent.
Mid
89/100
The midrange is one of the clearest strengths in the reviews. Audioholics said instrumentals and vocals sounded natural and clean with crystal-clear dialogue intelligibility, while also noting that the midrange is flat rather than recessed.
Treble
84/100
Treble performance is mixed but generally respectable. Erin’s Audio Corner called the treble bright and suggested EQ help to tame it, while Audioholics noted a spike in the upper treble, though it also argued that the peak sits in a region with limited musical energy for many listeners.
Soundstage Imaging
90/100
Imaging and spatial presentation drew very strong praise. Audioholics described an enveloping, wide soundstage with precise imaging and noted how convincingly the speakers recreated the recorded acoustic space, which makes them appealing for listeners who value scale and depth.
Dynamics
87/100
Dynamics are solid for the size, with Audioholics saying the NS-800A was more than willing to supply drama when needed and could stay composed at unexpectedly high listening levels. Erin’s Audio Corner also pointed to low distortion, especially when used with a subwoofer, though the overall impression is of capable rather than explosive dynamics.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
92/100
Reviewers consistently praise the finish and physical presence. Audioholics highlighted the beautiful piano gloss finish, heavy feel, and handsome high-end presentation, while Erin’s Audio Corner described a robust design aimed at minimizing internal resonance. The overall impression is of a carefully made, premium speaker with strong cosmetic appeal.
Value for Money
86/100
At around $4,800 per pair, this is clearly an expensive bookshelf speaker, and Audioholics explicitly noted that the price is a lot of money even while still calling it fairly priced for a true high-end loudspeaker. Erin’s review simply anchors the MSRP without strongly challenging it, so the value story is positive but not emphatic.
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- 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 — in-store — North Bay, Ontario, Canada (website)
- Acoustic Sound Design — 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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