AT
The MSP series are  monitors, while the HS series are home speakers.

 
Not sure Yamaha would agree.  There's not much difference in price between the two, but an important difference is that the MSPs have front-firing ports which may be better in streckfus's environment (if you like ports, that is).
 

These just came out, a company the rules the live sound industry. They havn't released a studio monitor for a long time and were asked by Skywalker studios to build something good. Only $3,500 ! 
http://www.meyersound.com/product/amie/
 

 
 

THese have been around for a long time and are sort of similar to Yamaha's. They don't sound great but mixes translate to all systems. 
 
http://www.auratonesoundcubes.com/
 
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/5CPair
 
At less than $400 for a PAIR they are a good buy for those who have something good to power them with.. 
 

 

The new Equator Audio D8's will be out soon. I'm sure they will be absolutely gorgeous.

Well, went to Guitar Center to pick up a pair of HS8s.  They were listed at $349 each, but apparently there was some sort of promotion going on, because the grand total came to $567, including tax! Pretty hefty discount, I'd say!
 
It's going to take some time getting used to the new monitors because they certainly sound different in my environment (and man, do those things get LOUD), but they are a significant upgrade over my previous monitors, without a doubt.  The highs get a little harsh/overpowering at loud levels, which I suppose is understandable since they're less than three feet away from my ears, but it's not like I mix at that kind of level anyway. There's certainly much more clarity across the audio spectrum with these bad boys than my previous setup.
 
Thanks for all the feedback.

Paul,
 
Yamaha brags on-site about how the mps series is their Studio series.  Of course, marketing sez the same thing about the HS -  and added white cones a lá the NS.  Funny, my 40 year old NS 500s woofers are black.
 
Many, many people are happy w/ the HS.  It is just I've just seen a lot of mps speakers in big studios, but never the HS.  But as always, listen for yourself.  They have to make the engineer happy, not me or Yamaha marketing.

AT
Many, many people are happy w/ the HS.  It is just I've just seen a lot of mps speakers in big studios, but never the HS.  But as always, listen for yourself.  They have to make the engineer happy, not me or Yamaha marketing.

I definitely bow to your greater experience.  I did contemplate a smiley after my Yamaha comment which would have been clearer.  My main point was, considering what you'd said, that the mps could be a better choice both because it is more 'professional' and it has forward ports - and the choice could be easy because the price difference is more or less insignificant.

Paul P

AT
Many, many people are happy w/ the HS.  It is just I've just seen a lot of mps speakers in big studios, but never the HS.  But as always, listen for yourself.  They have to make the engineer happy, not me or Yamaha marketing.

I definitely bow to your greater experience.  I did contemplate a smiley after my Yamaha comment which would have been clearer.  My main point was, considering what you'd said, that the mps could be a better choice both because it is more 'professional' and it has forward ports - and the choice could be easy because the price difference is more or less insignificant.

I was intrigued by the MSP option, but since Guitar Center didn't carry them and I had no way to demo them, I decided to go with the HS8s because I heard them and liked them. I suppose I could've ordered the MSPs from Sweetwater then sent them back if I didn't like them, but I'm lazy and didn't want to deal with the shipping hassle. :)