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Average Price: $173

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$801+

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Description

Introducing the Yamaha NS10 Studio Monitor, a timeless classic in the world of studio recording. Initially intended for casual home use, this monitor found its true calling in the hands of renowned engineer Bob Clearmountain in the 1980s. Its exceptional performance soon turned it into a staple for major recording studios worldwide. With an unorthodox response curve, the NS10 pushes you to perfect your mix, ensuring it sounds remarkable everywhere. This studio monitor may have its share of critics, but its enduring popularity and acclaim speak volumes about its quality and reliability.

Key Features:

  • Originally designed for home use but found its niche in professional recording studios
  • Became a global standard after being popularized by Bob Clearmountain
  • Encourages the creation of mixes that sound perfect on all types of speakers
  • Has a unique response curve that is not flat
  • Loved and criticized in equal measure, attesting to its distinctive characteristics

Product specs

Brand Yamaha
Model NS-10M (Pair)
Finish Black
Year 1980s
Made In Japan
Categories Studio Monitors
Amplification Passive

FAQs

Are Yamaha NS10 studio monitors active or passive?

The Yamaha NS10 studio monitors are passive, meaning they require an external amplifier to power them.

What makes the Yamaha NS10 studio monitors unique for mixing?

The Yamaha NS10 studio monitors are known for their flat response and ability to reveal flaws in mixes, making them a popular choice for critical listening and mix referencing.

Can Yamaha NS10 studio monitors be used for mastering?

While Yamaha NS10 monitors are primarily used for mixing due to their revealing nature, they are not typically recommended for mastering, where a more full-range and accurate sound is preferred.

Do Yamaha NS10 studio monitors require a specific type of amplifier?

Yamaha NS10 studio monitors require a compatible power amplifier that can handle their impedance and power specifications, typically around 8 ohms and 25-100 watts per channel.

How should Yamaha NS10 studio monitors be positioned for optimal sound?

For optimal sound, Yamaha NS10 studio monitors should be positioned at ear level, forming an equilateral triangle with the listener, and slightly angled towards the mixing position.

Andy’s Audio Krapp

Andy’s Audio Krapp

Yamaha NS-10M Studio Monitor Horizontal Studio Speakers - Are these really "that" good???

Video thumbnail for Yamaha NS-10M Studio Monitor Horizontal Studio Speakers - Are these really "that" good??? by Andy’s Audio Krapp

Yamaha NS-10M Studio Monitor Horizontal Studio Speakers - Are these really "that" good???

Andy’s Audio Krapp

Andy’s Audio Krapp

Video thumbnail for Legendary Yamaha NS-10M Studio Monitor Speakers by Audio Nautica

Legendary Yamaha NS-10M Studio Monitor Speakers

Audio Nautica

Audio Nautica

Reviews

PROS

  • Reveals mixing flaws, making them stick out

  • Mixes that sound good on NS10s translate well everywhere

  • Ideal for balancing mid frequencies in mixes

  • Passive design pairs well with high-powered amps for better sound quality

  • Historical significance in the music industry, used by professionals

  • Provides a consistent playback experience

  • Helps in making quick mixing decisions

  • Various models available catering to different needs

CONS

  • Sound quality described as poor by some users

  • Mid-frequency focus can be taxing on ears over long periods

  • Requires a powerful amplifier to function properly

  • High bass roll-off, limited low-end response

  • Some models are harder to find due to rarity

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Yamaha NS10 Studio Monitor.

Use cases and applications

  • NS10s are valued for their ability to expose mix flaws, making them ideal for identifying balance issues and mix clarity.

    Source
  • NS10s are known for their consistency across different studio environments, making them a reliable reference tool.

    Source
  • NS10s are primarily used as secondary monitors for mid-range checking, with many professionals using them for mix translation to other systems.

    Source

Build quality

  • NS10Ms are praised for low distortion levels, attributed to Yamaha's engineering, which enhances their appeal in blind sound tests.

    Source

User experience

  • Despite mixed reputations, some users report satisfaction with NS10Ms powered by a modestly priced Adcom GFA-545, challenging the notion that only high-end amps suffice.

    Source
  • There's a perception that NS10Ms are widely available in Tokyo, indicating regional differences in accessibility.

    Source
  • NS10Ms are noted for their accurate time-domain response, with a waterfall plot showing quick stopping of bass and midrange frequencies, aiding in precise mix evaluation.

    Source
  • Some owners note the need for periodic parts replacement for NS10s, with parts becoming rarer over time, impacting long-term maintenance.

    Source

Comparisons

  • Some owners assert NS10Ms are often mistakenly compared to Auratones, but they find NS10Ms offer a more refined sound, not at all like 'grot boxes'.

    Source
  • Avantone MixCubes are likened to NS10s for their midrange clarity and transient response, but with a focus on single-driver performance.

    Source
  • The Adam S3A is noted for its midrange clarity, rivaling the NS10s, though it is powered and ported, offering a different listening experience.

    Source
  • The HEDD Type 20mkii offers a unique feature with ports that can be closed, mimicking the NS10's sealed design but with modern enhancements.

    Source

Other

  • The NS10s are highlighted for their time-domain performance, outperforming many competitors in spectral decay, emphasizing their accuracy in critical listening.

    Source

Features and functionality

  • NS10s are renowned for their fast transient response due to non-ported cabinets and paper woofers, making them highly revealing of mix details.

    Source
  • NS10's sealed-box design provides better transient response, crucial for precise monitoring compared to ported alternatives like the Yamaha HS series.

    Source

Value and pricing

  • While NS10s are within budget for some, the additional cost of a quality amplifier must be considered, which can significantly affect total investment.

    Source

Mods and upgrades

  • Owners suggest pairing NS10s with a powerful amplifier like a Bryston for optimal performance, highlighting the importance of headroom and transient speed.

    Source

Critic Reviews

The Yamaha NS10 Story

soundonsound.com

The Yamaha NS10 Studio Monitor is an iconic piece of audio gear that elicits strong opinions. Known for its "horrible" sound, it's surprising how this monitor became a staple in professional studios. Loved for its ability to reveal flaws in mixes, it remains a favored tool for engineers despite its polarizing tonal qualities. While not the most pleasant to listen to, the NS10's role as a benchmark for mix translation earns it a legendary status. If you seek a monitor that challenges your mixes to sound good everywhere else, the NS10 is irreplaceable.

positive

Unveiling Audio Excellence: Yamaha NS10M Review – The Studio Legend - Home Studio Basics

homestudiobasics.com

Despite its lack of bass and a design that might not win beauty contests, the Yamaha NS10M remains an iconic studio monitor. Celebrated for its flat response and mid-range emphasis, it's a tool that demands precision from engineers, exposing every audio flaw. While not ideal for all music lovers, its historical significance and role in hit productions make it a valued reference in studios. However, its passive nature means additional investment in an amplifier is necessary. The NS10M offers a glimpse into the pure, uncolored sound landscape, solidifying its legendary status among audio professionals.

Add

4.5 out of 5

Based on 7 Reviews and 36 Ratings

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conner

The standard for a reason

These sound bad and have a very high bass roll-off. They do their job well though, they translate really well and are pretty consistent as far as playback goes. I find that they are easier to make quick decisions on than other monitors as well (I secretly don't mind their midrange though).

badmuti

Yamaha, what the ?#$&* is this.

I cannot make anything on this, but once I made it on other monitors to reference on them, is like playing the PS4 version of a PS3 game.

I HATE and LOVE them equally. #oxymoron

jimmarchi1

you have to get used to them... in the 90s they were in EVERY studio as the only nearfield option, so if you didn't want ear fatigue from the big wallmounted JBLs or EVs you had to elarn to work on NS10s.... they have fantastic midrange detail though, don't they.... another great option is the unsung NS-A638. They are 3 ways with extended bass response but similar tweeters to the NS-10. I have a pair, great compromise between the NS10 all mids sound and a legit monitor that sounds right.

T

Classic

I worked few times with a pair, together with Alesis RA100 power. Very fast to finish a good mix. But today a cheap bi-amp reference can be equally nice if you have good ears.

L

made history and still useful

made history and still useful, listening pleasure for long mix sessions and a reliable reference

jimmarchi1

still great at being the NS10 all these years later!

hane_nanda

Classic and the Best ever

Starting my producing with these monitors and still use in these days. Yamaha Ns-10 is the classic and one of a kind in every space of the music world.

tgwog_a77

cool

its cool and loud I guesssssssssssssss--

andreabertolinidj

Yamaha NS10

A guarantee when you need to mix vocals

Artist usage

Add artist
See how A.R. Rahman uses Yamaha NS10 Studio Monitor

A.R. Rahman

Singer, Keyboardist

SuperHeavy

...
Verified via YouTube

Mr. Rahman is working in the studio in this video. You can see these monitors behind.

See how Fatboy Slim uses Yamaha NS10 Studio Monitor

Fatboy Slim

Bassist, Music Producer

The Housemartins

...
Verified via Photo

Visible in this photo of Fatboy Slim's studio, from this Sound on Sound interview about "Praise You". It can be found on Slim's desk. He has used them since the production of Better Living Through Chemistry.

At this time, Cook was using a Soundcraft desk and monitoring through a pair of Auratones during the writing phase and Yamaha NS10s when it came to mixing. “I had four flatmates,” he remembers, “and you can’t work at any volume. So I worked on Auratones, the same pair of which I still use now, and you could feel when the bottom end was there, but it didn’t go through to other people’s bedrooms. Then when it came to mixdown, I would go onto NS10s. I would say to everyone, ‘Look, sorry, I’m mixing tonight, so I’ve got to actually play this at volume just to check the bottom end.’”

See how Rick Wakeman uses Yamaha NS10 Studio Monitor

Rick Wakeman

Keyboardist

Black Sabbath

...
Verified via Soundonsound

Listed among Wakeman's studio gear in this July 1999 Sound on Sound interview.

See how Adrian Utley uses Yamaha NS10 Studio Monitor

Adrian Utley

Guitarist, Keyboardist

Portishead

...
Verified via YouTube

You see them several times in the video but you can see the NS-10's at the 10:14 in the attached video.

See how Cedric Gervais uses Yamaha NS10 Studio Monitor

Cedric Gervais

Music Producer, DJ

440 Central

...
Verified via YouTube

At 2:26 into his studio tour for Ultra Music, Cedric Gervais displays his Yamaha NS-10. "Then we have the Yamaha NS10..Gotta have that in the studio as reference".

See how Tocadisco uses Yamaha NS10 Studio Monitor

Tocadisco

Music Producer

...
Verified via YouTube

In this video, Tocadisco is using Yamaha NS10 Studio Monitors while remixing a track in Sao Paulo's MOSH Studios. According to the MOSH website, Studio A, Studio D, and Studio VIP have Yamaha NS10s (http://www.mosh.com.br).

See how Lauv uses Yamaha NS10 Studio Monitor

Lauv

Singer, Music Producer

...
Verified via Instagram

A pair of Yamaha NS10 Studio Monitors can be seen in this Instagram picture, uploaded by the artist himself.

See how Michael Woods uses Yamaha NS10 Studio Monitor

Michael Woods

Music Producer

America

...
Verified via Instagram

Michael Woods uses the NS10 in his studio...

See how Gavin Harrison uses Yamaha NS10 Studio Monitor

Gavin Harrison

Drummer

King Crimson

...
Verified via Photo

In this interview, Gavin Harrison says of his Yamaha NS10 Studio Monitors, "The theory is that if you can make a recording sound good on Yamaha NS10s, it'll sound good anywhere, and I tend to believe that to be true."

See how NERO uses Yamaha NS10 Studio Monitor

NERO

Music Producer

...
Verified via YouTube

At 5:49 in this video, a pair of Yamaha NS-10s can be seen on top of NERO's sound board

See how Mark King Level 42 uses Yamaha NS10 Studio Monitor

Mark King Level 42

Singer, Bassist

Level 42

...
Verified via Muzines

Studio buffs tend to forget that modern recording studios are imposing and disorientating places for the average lay person. The technology seems to be surpassed in complexity only by military and space hardware, and Mark King's 'home' studio is certainly state of the art, as the above listing indicates. There's also a Macintosh SE30 with Performer software, an SRC SMPTE-to-MIDI convertor, Adams Smith Zeta 3, NS 10 and Tannoy DTM8 monitors, and two Otari MTR90 24-track recorders with 48 tracks of Dolby SR. Sound sources include a DX7, Roland D110 and 550, Yamaha TX816, Juno 60, Emu III and Emax, Casio CZ101, plus an Akai-Linn MPC60 workstation and a DDrum 2 drum sampler.

See how Robert Del Naja uses Yamaha NS10 Studio Monitor

Robert Del Naja

Singer

Massive Attack

...
Verified via Soundonsound

For nearfield work, Davidge has his Genelecs and a pair of ubiquitous Yamaha NS10s. He also likes playing with cheap and cheerful computer speakers so that he can tell how the track might sound when his audience plays it at home.

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Yamaha NS10 Studio Monitor, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

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6
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6
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5
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5
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Fender Stratocaster Electric Guitar Solid Body Electric Guitars
5
Roland Juno-106
Roland Juno-106 Synthesizers
5

Community setups

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