Yamaha NS-10M-Studio reference monitor speaker
By Kalkod on Oct 31, 2007 with Comments 6
The Yamaha NS-10M studio reference monitor speaker (aka NS10M) is widely popular amongst audio professionals, and is notorious for its very flat frequency response even to the point that they are not pleasant to listen to. The wants and needs of the audio engineer are different than the typical consumer, so this is a welcome thing as the NS-10M monitors will reveal the truth of mix. The NS-10M studio monitors are almost an industry standard for mixing and are easily recognized by their standout white mid-range driver.
Features
* 2-way studio reference speaker
* mid/woofer: 18 cm (7″) sheet-formed white-cone
* tweeter: 3.5 cm soft dome dome tweeter
* frequency response: 60 Hz – 20 kHz
* input power: rated for 25 Watts (max. 50 Watts)
* impedance: 8 ohms
* sensitivity: 90 dB SPL (1W, 1m, on axis)
* crossover point: 2 kHz (12 dB/oct)
* enclosure: wood, black finish
* volume: 34 L
* dimensions: 382 x 215 x 198 mm (15″ x 8-1/2″ x 7-7/8″)
* weight: 6.3 kg (13 lbs 14 oz)
* price: ~$550
Availability
Originally released circa 1982, Yamaha discontinued the production of the Yamaha NS-10M speakers (somewhere before 2003, reference needed), and replaced them with the Yamaha MSP5, and Yamaha MSP10 studio monitors. In spite of being discontinued, the NS-10M are still widely used in studios and even won Yamaha Corporation a Grammy in 2007 for their technical excellence and impact on the recording industry. You can find them online sold as a balanced pair on eBay selling for around $550.
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Filed Under: Consumer Electronics • Shopping and Deals
Having worked for years as a recording engineer and owning — among other near field monitors — a pair of Yamaha NS-10m for well over a decade I can assure the writer that they are very much NOT FLAT in terms of frequency response. Not only do they have a serious drop off below around 90 Hz, they have a serious low-treble (presence) boost. That makes them quite valuable to many folks as reference monitors — since they can be said to focus in on the crucial range that helps define not just human speech/singing but also carries much of the definitional content of guitars, horns, and the fundamentals of many cymbals.
But what makes them good as reference monitors can make them less than pleasant as everyday listening speakers — at least without tone compensation. (I actually use a pair of NS-10m’s for everyday listening — but they are helped along by the passive variable loudness compensation on a Yamaha Naturalsound amplifier from the late 80s or early 90s.)
I couldn’t believe what came out of these speakers when I first auditioned them. Having bought these off of Ebay (M-series, matched pair horizontal version_) I thought I got ripped off at first.
My set was in perfect pristine cosmetic condition being one of the last ones to roll off the yamaha assembly in 2002 or 2001. Except for some anti-slip rubbers placed underneath. I kept them for future use If I ever get around to learn how to use them properly.
Seriously, there are no tutorials on the internet that teach you how to use these and appreciate them.
This is what hey sound like when you listen to these: the bass is like drumming on a cardboard storage box. the mid is very well defined and presence is very clearly there, too much even. Great on vocals, a breeze on movies. The highs are awful. I’d rather listen to some harsh hi-hat with my ears near the cymbals then these speakers! To some degree the overall sound is muffled, why that is, I dunno..
Check out Yamaha’s HS series speakers wow.. I have the HS80 and want a pair of HS50 as well. Can’t go wrong. The MSP’s are harsh give too much volume for the housing to contain unless you put some concrete on top of them. they have a bump near 100Hz like the mackies do.
I have a set that rolled off the Yamaha assembly line in about 1988-’89 and found them very useful. My only critique would be that if the bass sounds deep and rich
on the NS10M’s then it will be too boomy on most home stereos. However, if the baselines are clear, you’ll have a good mix for virtually any system.
As for transparency and clarity and ‘flat response’ (i.e. what you hear is what is there), I found them to be unequaled for mixing.
I’m not certain, but I would not be surprised if the 2001-2002 versions where not
the same as the originals.
Semi-retired now, so email me if you want to buy my set. I know they stopped making them because they could no longer get the exact type of wood to make the
‘box’
My wood is original. 8^)
Do you still have the pair?
I believe that studios such as Abbey Road uses B&W speakers. There are photos to be found. I also think that some movie soundtracks are mixed with B&W speakers. Have a look at this B&W Speakers page.
I prefer panasonic.Yamaha are too expensive.