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In the world of studio monitors there are two schools of thought:
1. Hi-fi - monitors designed to reproduce your sound with as much accuracy and detail as possible.
2. Reference - monitors that may not sound great, but mixes done on them have a tendency to translate well to other systems.
The Yamaha HS50Ms fall firmly into category #2. These monitors were designed and are marketed as a replacement/sucessor to the discontinued NS10s, the classic "if you mix on these it will translate well to anything" monitors.
The Good:
The HS50Ms do what they are supposed to do, they provide a reference point. They sound similar to NS10s, and like one would imagine can work well in the same setting. They're also reasonably priced.
The Bad:
These monitors lack any low end below about 80hz and sound downright harsh. I found them to be quite fatiguing on long sessions (at responsible volume levels).
My Advice:
Do not buy these as your only set of monitors. If you are looking to invest in one set of monitors embrace school of thought #1 - Hi-fi. Now this does not mean hike up your price range, just look for a set that has better (aka closer to flat) frequency response. See KRK, Event, M Audio, etc. for more options in the HS50M price range. I would only consider buying the HS50Ms as second pair for reference, but even then, if you want the NS10 thing buy some NS10s.
The pair of HS50Ms I owned lasted for about a year before I had had enough and sold them. I got some good use out of them, but if I could go back and do it all over again I would look at other similarly priced options.
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