What's the deal with Yamaha NS-10 Monitors

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adclark

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I've heard many things regarding NS10's: 1.worst sounding monitor ever
2. they are not real monitors (actually hi-fi speakers). 3. If you can make your track sound decent on an NS10, then it will sound good on ANY system.4. Be prepared to replace tweeters (they blow easily)

But, i've read where some producers love these things. Ebay prices are high.

So what's behind the hype of these things?
 
They became very widespread in studios, so a lot of people got practiced in their use.
 
I've heard many versions of the same story about these. Heard that a big name guy in the late 70's early 80's needed a set of monitors quick and just picked those up and everyone followed. I've heard many many pro's completely bash these things but then again I've seen many many pictures with these things in the studio. However if you look at most of the pics there's almost always a bigger better set of monitors present. I think so many people use these because so many people learned on them however I did hear if you can get a good mix on them it'll sound good everywhere else.
 
adclark said:
I've heard many things regarding NS10's: 1.worst sounding monitor ever
2. they are not real monitors (actually hi-fi speakers). 3. If you can make your track sound decent on an NS10, then it will sound good on ANY system.4. Be prepared to replace tweeters (they blow easily)

But, i've read where some producers love these things. Ebay prices are high.

So what's behind the hype of these things?
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Bass shy is how I would describe them. If one is not careful, the bass will load up when using them as mixing monitors. Otherwise, pretty neutral sounding and unremarkable.
 
A product of marketing - The right producer (Bob Clearmountain, BTW) at the right place at the right time.

Yammie grabbed on, slapped the word "STUDIO" on them and the rest is history.
 
Massive Master said:
A product of marketing - The right producer (Bob Clearmountain, BTW) at the right place at the right time.

Yammie grabbed on, slapped the word "STUDIO" on them and the rest is history.
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Right! I had a pair of NS8s, very tight acoustic suspension 8" woofers, silk dome tweeter, very airy. Nice consumer speakers. I was a teenager at the time on a limited budget, so I got the 8s.
 
I have 2 sets of NS-10'S. They suck as a monitor. Having said that, if you get used to them,very mid to my ears not to mention also bright, you can get a good mix on them. Ear fatigue will set in if used long and loud. Any speaker will work for a monitor if you KNOW that particular speaker. I think it was hype with the NS 10's myself. Almost every studio has 'em. Half the time I think it is because engineers think they "look cool" It is what is "supposed to be in the control room in a real studio", that white cone!
 
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They were designed as home speakers. The NS stands for "natural sound". Bob Clearmountain was using them to mix a gagillion hits so every one started using them and then they were in almost every studio in the world.

Last I heard Tom Lord Alge still uses them to mix tons of hits.

The prices went though the roof when Yamaha stopped making the drivers for them.
 
I believe the discontinuation oif the NS 10 was due to wood pulp no longer available for the woofer.
 
The tweeters do tend to fail it seems, seen three cases of it. Bass shyness is a problem. There is an easy crossover mod that tames the upper mids and high end, while (supposedly) gaining a bit more bass definition (I didn't notice the latter myself). This mod applies only to the older (flush-with-baffle tweeter) model.

They have a pretty neutral sound after the mod, and there are areas in its midrange where they do actually work quite well, but the lack of bass and dynamics makes it a waste of money compared with what's available for even less these days.

When I saw a used pair for $600 on Ebay, I actually laughed.

I personally think they look great, though!
 
When I visited MadAudio he A/B his NS10s against his Wharfies. Yeah, I can see how the NS10s would force you to clean up a mix because the low mids sounded extremely boxy and tubby. Can't say I would enjoy the process though.
 
everything else aside.......there's something to be said for there being a pair of these in just about every commercial studio in the world.......it works wonders when you're a travelling engineer and you can sit down and at least immediately know what the monitors are going to sound like. makes one's job immensely easier not having to learn the monitors as well as the room......


cheers,
wade
 
mrface2112 said:
everything else aside.......there's something to be said for there being a pair of these in just about every commercial studio in the world.......it works wonders when you're a travelling engineer and you can sit down and at least immediately know what the monitors are going to sound like. makes one's job immensely easier not having to learn the monitors as well as the room......


cheers,
wade
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that is a darn good point!
 
I've got a pair of NS-615s, which are a walnut box version of the NS10s and, while I can't actually mix for shit on them, I find they're great for analytical work - nasty stuff just leaps out of them. And they DO make your studio look pro - especially sitting alongside a pair of Auratones ;)
 
Tom Lord Alge still mixes on them. He did some of Blink's stuff on their "untitled" album.
 
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