Yamaha vs KRK – Which Brand Is Better?

Last Updated on June 22, 2023 by Norvan Martin

Yamaha and Krk are two renowned and well respected brands in the audio industry that produces high quality speakers, headphones, soundbars,  subwoofers and amplifiers. 

In this article, we will cover a general overview of both brands, looking specifically at sound quality, durability, price and so on. Of course, each brand has different devices at different price points, however, we will compare them as closely as we can.

Yamaha is known for its wide range of high-quality audio products for a variety of applications, while KRK is a well-known brand in the audio industry known for its high-quality studio monitors and headphones.

Pros and Cons of Yamaha:

• Pros: Known for producing a wide range of audio and video products, including speakers, headphones, and home theater systems. Many of their products are well-regarded for their sound quality and value for money.
• Cons: Users have sometimes reported issues with their Yamaha receivers not producing any signal.

Pros and Cons of KRK:

• Pros: Known for producing high-quality studio monitors and headphones with a balanced, accurate sound. Strong reputation in the audio industry.
• Cons: Some products may be on the expensive side.

Quick History

Yamaha Quick History

Yamaha is a Japanese brand that was established by Torakusu Yamaha in the year 1887. It produced the first Yamaha piano in the 1900s, which eventually laid a solid foundation for the many products that followed.

Yamaha is one of the largest audio product manufacturers with a reputation that sees their products used in international competitions and by renowned musical maestros. The Yamaha brand has a wide range of products that cut across professional audio equipment, digital and acoustic musical instruments, home audio products, and many others.

KRK Quick History

KRK is an audio company that deals with the production of monitor speakers, headphones, and subwoofers.

The company was founded in 1986 by Keith R. Klawitter who was frustrated by the fact that he couldn’t find a monitor that gave him the clarity and accuracy he needed while working on movie production. He began building his own monitors ever since. The company’s headquarters is based in Chatsworth, California.

Sound Quality

Yamaha Sound Quality

Yamaha audio equipment is known for producing clear and rich bass delivery and overall exceptional quality sound.

Yamaha speakers have multiple sound modes with an incredible ability to deliver soft but loud sound delivery. This is because of their high dynamic range, which includes a great deep bass and an extended high.

KRK Sound Quality

KRK devices have fairly good sound quality but are not perfect because they suffer from an exaggerated low and top end frequency.

Their products are great for general listening, but not always ideal for studio use and professional sound production. They however do have satisfying mids. KRK devices sound warm and pleasant, which is great for minimizing ear fatigue.

Features

Yamaha Features

Yamaha has one of the most diverse selections of audio products with diverse features, which might make the feature hard to generalize. However, here are some across their audio devices.

• Wireless connectivity including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Music Cast (for multi-room connection).
• Voice command features such as Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa
• HDR10+, HDMI, 8K/60Hz, and 4K120Hz
• Online streaming support for Spotify, Apple AirPlay, etc
• Virtual surround

KRK Features

KRK’s products come with a number of interesting features. Some are listed below.

• Built-in efficient Class D power amp
• Balanced TRS / XLR Combo Jack Inputs
• LED Indicators for Power On/Off
• LCD Display for EQ and Setup Parameters
• Mobile app for easy control on both the Apple Store and Google Play Store.

Build Quality

Yamaha Build Quality

Yamaha products use modern groundbreaking technology to deliver high-end audio products. Their products are known for delivering premium performance and last a pretty long time.

Yamaha products come with impressive aesthetic delivery and long-lasting function. This is because they pay attention to the use of high-quality material in the production of their devices.

KRK Build Quality

KRK devices are well-made and durable. The case is designed with low sound resonance in mind.

This keeps the low-end sound smooth and punchy. KRK devices have a built-in custom Class D amp that works efficiently even at high temperatures. The parts used to make KRK drivers have a high tensile strength-to-weight ratio for high-end sound reproduction.

Ease of Use

Yamaha Ease Of Use

Yamaha offers an array of easy-to-use audio equipment. This includes wireless-enabled streaming speakers such as the Yamaha MusicCast WX-030. Yamaha products include devices with buttons that are easy to operate and remote control for use across the room.

KRK Ease Of Use

KRK devices are easy to use and set up. Customizing settings and playing with features is made easy with the help of the KRK mobile app, available on both the Google Play and App Store.

Most of their products also come with a guidebook you can refer to in case you encounter any difficulty while setting and installing the device.

Cost

Yamaha Cost

Yamaha has an array of products that are more affordable than most other brands. For example, the Yamaha R-S202BL Stereo receiver is a high-quality receiver that costs around $200 to $300 but offers more features than other products in the price range.

The price tag you will get for most Yamaha products is listed below.

• High-quality receivers from $200 to $1500

Speakers:

• Centre channel speakers –  $70 and upwards
• Indoor/outdoor speaker – $100 and upwards
• Ceiling speakers start at $130, and
• Bookshelf speakers from $120

KRK Cost

KRK devices are very cheap and affordable. Several manufacturers sell similar products for a higher price than KRK. Below is the price range of different products from KRK Company:

• Monitor speakers: $150 – $1000
• Subwoofers are sold for around $300
• Headphones: $100 – $300

Space Requirements

Yamaha Space Requirements

Most Yamaha products, particularly soundbars and Bluetooth speakers, are a great fit for ‌any room. The portable size and sleek design of most of these devices make them fit easily into small spaces without demanding too much space.

KRK Space Requirements

KRK devices, just like many other manufacturers, have a variety of product sizes and shapes. KRK has some portable devices which will not consume much of your space and vice versa.

You must definitely put into consideration the available space in your room before getting any audio products for yourself.

Remote Controls

Yamaha Remote Controls

Most Yamaha audio devices come with a handheld remote control for simple control of the device. But, beyond the physical remotes, Yamaha designed a virtual remote for almost all the audio products from the brand. This includes headphone control, multimedia music control, MusicCast Controller, and AV Controller.

This virtual remote can be downloaded from the app store for Android, iPhone/iPad, and PC use.

KRK Remote Controls

KRK Company produces remote controls that can work perfectly with their devices and some other devices as well. Their remote has the power to work within a range of 25 ft.

Connectivity Options

Yamaha Connectivity Options

Here are the main connectivity options compatible with most Yamaha speakers:

• Bluetooth
• Wi-Fi
• RCA
• HDMI

KRK Connectivity Options

Some of the available connectivity options you will get on KRK device are:

• Bluetooth
• USB
• RCA cables
• HDMI cables

Power Range

Yamaha Power Range

The power range for an average floor-standing Yamaha speaker is around 100 watts to 200 watts. However, a Yamaha bookshelf speaker has a power range of 200-600 watts.

KRK Power Range

KRK device power range varies from device to device, but on average, KRK devices do not consume too much power. They have a power range of 50 W to 200 W capacity.

Frequency Response

Yamaha Frequency Response

Yamaha audio equipment has a general frequency range of about 28 Hz-25kHz.

KRK Frequency Response

KRK produces different devices which make the frequency response vary from device to device as well.

An example is the KNS 6402 headphone, with a frequency response of 10 Hz–22 kHz, and the KRK ROKIT 8 G4 monitor speaker, with a 32 Hz–40 kHz frequency response. Generally, for their speakers and headphones, you will get a frequency range of 10 Hz–40 kHz.

Conclusion

Yamaha is one of the oldest audio companies in the world today, but they have only grown better over the years. They have a range of diversified products, including musical instruments and professional and personal audio products.

KRK is one of the best choices out there when it comes to durable monitor speakers. They have excellent designs and features, and they are quite affordable and up to the task. KRK device gives you great sound, is well built and user-friendly.

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