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Average Price: $173
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$300
$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
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Are Yamaha NS10 studio monitors active or passive?
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The Yamaha NS10 studio monitors are passive, meaning they require an external amplifier to power them.
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What makes the Yamaha NS10 studio monitors unique for mixing?
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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.
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Can Yamaha NS10 studio monitors be used for mastering?
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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.
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Do Yamaha NS10 studio monitors require a specific type of amplifier?
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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.
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How should Yamaha NS10 studio monitors be positioned for optimal sound?
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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.
Videos
Andy’s Audio Krapp
Yamaha NS-10M Studio Monitor Horizontal Studio Speakers - Are these really "that" good???
Reviews
PROS
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Reveals mixing flaws, making them stick out
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Mixes that sound good on NS10s translate well everywhere
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Ideal for balancing mid frequencies in mixes
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Passive design pairs well with high-powered amps for better sound quality
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Historical significance in the music industry, used by professionals
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Provides a consistent playback experience
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Helps in making quick mixing decisions
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Various models available catering to different needs
CONS
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Sound quality described as poor by some users
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Mid-frequency focus can be taxing on ears over long periods
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Requires a powerful amplifier to function properly
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High bass roll-off, limited low-end response
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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
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NS10s are valued for their ability to expose mix flaws, making them ideal for identifying balance issues and mix clarity.
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NS10s are known for their consistency across different studio environments, making them a reliable reference tool.
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NS10s are primarily used as secondary monitors for mid-range checking, with many professionals using them for mix translation to other systems.
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Build quality
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NS10Ms are praised for low distortion levels, attributed to Yamaha's engineering, which enhances their appeal in blind sound tests.
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User experience
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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.
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There's a perception that NS10Ms are widely available in Tokyo, indicating regional differences in accessibility.
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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.
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Some owners note the need for periodic parts replacement for NS10s, with parts becoming rarer over time, impacting long-term maintenance.
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Comparisons
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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'.
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Avantone MixCubes are likened to NS10s for their midrange clarity and transient response, but with a focus on single-driver performance.
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The Adam S3A is noted for its midrange clarity, rivaling the NS10s, though it is powered and ported, offering a different listening experience.
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The HEDD Type 20mkii offers a unique feature with ports that can be closed, mimicking the NS10's sealed design but with modern enhancements.
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Other
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The NS10s are highlighted for their time-domain performance, outperforming many competitors in spectral decay, emphasizing their accuracy in critical listening.
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Features and functionality
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NS10s are renowned for their fast transient response due to non-ported cabinets and paper woofers, making them highly revealing of mix details.
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NS10's sealed-box design provides better transient response, crucial for precise monitoring compared to ported alternatives like the Yamaha HS series.
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Value and pricing
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While NS10s are within budget for some, the additional cost of a quality amplifier must be considered, which can significantly affect total investment.
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Critic Reviews
4.5 out of 5
Based on 7 Reviews and 36 Ratings
228
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).
41029
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.
made history and still useful
made history and still useful, listening pleasure for long mix sessions and a reliable reference
41029
still great at being the NS10 all these years later!
58
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.
Artist usage
Add artist
Mr. Rahman is working in the studio in this video. You can see these monitors behind.
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.’”
Listed among Wakeman's studio gear in this July 1999 Sound on Sound interview.
You see them several times in the video but you can see the NS-10's at the 10:14 in the attached video.
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".
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).
A pair of Yamaha NS10 Studio Monitors can be seen in this Instagram picture, uploaded by the artist himself.
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."
At 5:49 in this video, a pair of Yamaha NS-10s can be seen on top of NERO's sound board
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.
Album Usage
The Yamaha NS10 Studio Monitor has been featured on the following albums:
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.
Community setups
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