Product details
A Complete Stereo Pair, Straight Out of the Box
The HS3 puts the Yamaha monitor voicing — flat, unflattering, honest about your mix — into a 3.5-inch two-way cabinet small enough for a desk. You get both speakers, the speaker cable to link them and a stereo-mini-to-RCA lead, so a laptop or phone connects straight out of the box with no audio interface needed.
It is also the easiest monitor in the range to live with. A volume knob and a headphone jack sit on the front of the left speaker, so you set level and switch to headphones without reaching behind anything or adding a controller. For a bedroom setup, a first monitoring rig, a video edit suite or a second reference pair, that combination is hard to beat.
At a Glance
What You Get
- Both speakers, in the box. The left cabinet holds the amplifier and all the connections; the right is passive and links to it with the supplied 2.5 m speaker cable.
- Front-panel volume knob and headphone jack on the left speaker — adjust level and switch to headphones from the front, without a separate monitor controller.
- Inputs that suit a computer, not just a studio: two combo XLR/TRS (LINE 1), two RCA (LINE 2) and a 3.5 mm stereo mini. A stereo-mini-to-RCA cable is included, so a laptop, phone or tablet plugs in immediately — no audio interface required.
- 26 W + 26 W (20 W + 20 W at 0.1% THD), 3.5 inch woofer and 0.75 inch dome tweeter, crossing over at 3.2 kHz.
- Frequency response 70 Hz–22 kHz (−10 dB), 85 Hz–20 kHz (−3 dB).
- Room Control and High Trim switches on the rear panel — cut 2 or 4 dB below 500 Hz when the speakers sit near a wall, and lift or cut 2 dB above 2 kHz to suit a bright or dead room.
- Black or white, with Yamaha's signature white cone on both. Anti-slip pads included. 132 × 223 × 189 mm (left) and 132 × 223 × 177 mm (right); 2.8 kg and 2.1 kg.
Before You Buy: Three Things People Get Wrong
1. One amplifier drives both cabinets
The left speaker is powered and the right is passive, linked by the supplied 2.5 m cable. That keeps the price down and the desk tidy, but it caps how far apart the two speakers can sit. From the HS5 upward, each speaker has its own amplifier and mains lead.
2. The bigger monitors will not plug into your laptop
HS5, HS7 and HS8 have balanced XLR and TRS inputs only. Feeding them from a computer needs an audio interface. The HS3 and HS4 add RCA and 3.5 mm inputs and include the cable, which is often the difference between spending nothing more and spending several thousand rupees more.
3. A 3.5-inch woofer does not reach deep bass
The HS3 is honest down to about 70 Hz. That covers most of what you need for arrangement, vocals and general mixing, but it will not show you sub-bass. If low end is the point — electronic music, hip-hop, film — look at the HS7 or HS8, or add an HS8S subwoofer.
The Yamaha HS Range at YMS
Every HS studio monitor we stock. All are sold as pairs — only the HS8S subwoofer is a single unit.
| Model | Woofer | Amp power | Response (-10 dB) | Inputs | Amplification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HS3 | 3.5" | 26 W + 26 W | 70 Hz - 22 kHz | XLR/TRS, RCA, 3.5 mm | Left powered, right passive |
| HS4 | 4.5" | 26 W + 26 W | 60 Hz - 22 kHz | XLR/TRS, RCA, 3.5 mm | Left powered, right passive |
| HS5 | 5" | 70 W per speaker | 54 Hz - 30 kHz | XLR, TRS | Both speakers powered |
| HS7 | 6.5" | 95 W per speaker | 43 Hz - 30 kHz | XLR, TRS | Both speakers powered |
| HS8 | 8" | 120 W per speaker | 38 Hz - 30 kHz | XLR, TRS | Both speakers powered |
| HS8S | 8" subwoofer | 150 W | 22 Hz - 160 Hz | XLR, TRS | Subwoofer, sold singly |
FAQ
Q. Do I get one speaker or two?
Two. The HS3 ships as a left-and-right pair with the linking speaker cable, a stereo-mini-to-RCA cable and anti-slip pads included.
Q. Is the white version different from the black?
Only in appearance. Drivers, amplifier, response, switches, connections and supplied cables are identical, and both finishes are the same price. Both use Yamaha's signature white cone. Pick whichever suits your desk.
Q. Do I need an audio interface?
No. The RCA and 3.5 mm inputs take a headphone output from a laptop, phone or tablet directly, and Yamaha includes the cable. An interface will improve your converters and let you record, but nothing stops you working on day one without one.
Q. Is only one speaker powered?
Yes — the left cabinet contains the amplifier, every input and the front volume knob, and drives the passive right cabinet through the supplied 2.5 m cable. That is why the pair is affordable, and it means the two speakers cannot be placed further apart than that cable reaches.
Q. Is there a headphone output?
Yes, on the front of the left speaker, next to the volume knob — useful for late-night work without moving cables or adding a monitor controller.
Q. HS3 or HS4?
Both are pairs with the same amplifier and the same connections. The HS4 has a 4.5 inch woofer and reaches about 10 Hz lower, at 60 Hz against 70 Hz. If your desk has the space and the budget stretches, the HS4 gives you more low end for the same convenience.
Why Buy from YMS?
YMS For Music is an authorised Yamaha Premium Retailer. Every monitor is genuine Yamaha stock with full manufacturer warranty.
Monitors are worth hearing before you commit — come and listen in Bengaluru or Mangaluru. If you tell us your room size and what you are mixing, we will tell you honestly whether you need to spend more than this. Secure delivery across India.
Specifications
Overview
| Model | Yamaha HS3 |
|---|---|
| Type | 2-way powered studio monitors, bass-reflex |
| Packaging | Sold as a pair (left powered, right passive) |
| Finishes | Black or White - select above |
Drivers & Amplifier
| Woofer | 3.5 in cone |
|---|---|
| Tweeter | 0.75 in dome |
| Amplifier Power | 26 W + 26 W (dynamic, RL=6 ohm); 20 W + 20 W (THD 0.1%, 1 kHz, RL=6 ohm) |
| Crossover | 3.2 kHz |
Performance
| Frequency Response (-10 dB) | 70 Hz - 22 kHz |
|---|---|
| Frequency Response (-3 dB) | 85 Hz - 20 kHz |
| Room Control | 0 / -2 / -4 dB under 500 Hz |
| High Trim | +2 / 0 / -2 dB above 2 kHz |
Connections
| Left - front panel | Volume knob with power indicator, headphone jack |
|---|---|
| Left - LINE 1 | 2 x combo XLR/TRS phone (L, R) |
| Left - LINE 2 | 2 x RCA (L, R) |
| Left - ST MINI | 1 x 3.5 mm stereo mini |
| Left - output | Speaker terminals, output to right speaker |
| Right (passive) | Speaker terminals only - no inputs, no power |
General
| Dimensions - Left (W x H x D) | 132 x 223 x 189 mm |
|---|---|
| Dimensions - Right (W x H x D) | 132 x 223 x 177 mm |
| Weight | 2.8 kg (left), 2.1 kg (right) |
| Included | Stereo mini to RCA cable 1.5 m, speaker cable 2.5 m, anti-slip pads, Quick Start Guide, Safety Guide |
Sold as a pair in a choice of black or white at the same price. Only the left cabinet is powered; it drives the right through the supplied speaker cable, so placement is limited by that 2.5 m length. Specifications from Yamaha official product data; front-panel controls confirmed from Yamaha product photography.
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