Is it worth buying NS10?

[zul_nalury]

Hi,

I've just settle down in London about 2 month ago... Now, I'm starting to set up my new home studio. They only equipment that I didn't sell is Firepod. Now, I'm about to buy Macbook Pro...

I'm searching for a pair of used NS10m. Is it worth it to get one? I saw its price range between GBP400 to 500. It still in my budget... Do you face any problem with this monitors?

What is the best power amp to pair with this monitors?


Many Thanks! Cheers...

[Protools Guy]

I've got a pair and I like like 'em. They took a little getting used to, but like they say, "if you can get it sounding good on NS-10's, it'll sound good on anything!"

I have a Yamaha P-2700 pushing them, but any good amp will do.

The two down-sides to them in my opinion are:

1. The tweeters can seem bright, so some guys put a piece of toilet paper of it. I got used to the way they sounded.

2. They don't go down very far, so you might get some benefit from a sub.

These monitors get flamed around here by many great engineers, but there are just as many great engineers mixing platinum albums on these exclusively.

Good luck...

[travisbrown]

Originally Posted by Protools Guy

1. The tweeters can seem bright, so some guys put a piece of toilet paper of it. I got used to the way they sounded.

There's a couple different models: NS-10 and NS-10M. I think the famous Clearmountain single-ply tissue went on the 10s. That offending frequency was flattened a bit with the 10Ms.

I like good mixes on my NS-10Ms just fine. Like any monitors, you *learn* them.

[zul_nalury]

ok... now you guys convincing me to buy them!

If its drivers get blow, is it easy to find spare part for them?

Now my concern is, if after 6 month this speaker blow.. Is it easily to get repaired & spare parts?

Many thank. Cheers...

[travisbrown]

Umm...I'm really careful with mine because I'm wary of a shortage of parts. But, I do see a few EBAY sellers who have old stock of drivers and tweeters. It's pretty easy to find parts now. Might be a different story in five years.

[Duardo]

These monitors get flamed around here by many great engineers, but there are just as many great engineers mixing platinum albums on these exclusively.

Those two groups aren't mutually exclusive...you'll find that a lot of the engineers who are mixing platinum albums on them are the same ones who are constantly flaming them, because they have to sit there and listen to them every day. They're popular becuase they're fairly representative of what a good number of consumer systems sound like, not because engineers like to listen to them. Think about it..."if you can get something to sound good on them it will sound good on anything" isn't exactly a compliment. They're a tool that just about anyone who has been doing this for more than about ten years should be familiar with which makes them a good reference.

Now my concern is, if after 6 month this speaker blow.. Is it easily to get repaired & spare parts?

As I understand it Yamaha has enough spare parts to last for a long time...they know how many of these are out there and how often their components fail and will support them for as long as they can.

[GetUpfortheDown]

I have been an avid user of the NS-10's for a couple years now. My primary set of monitors are Genelecs, which are nice, but they have quite a scoop in the mid's that really hide guitars. When switching to the 10's, you may realize that your guitars are mixed to loud. I have bounced my mixes done on both sets, listened on various consumer systems, and it is true... if it works on the ns-10's, it will generally translate very well.

Another good use: mute one speaker, and listen in mono out of the other speaker (rather than listening in false mono with both speakers on). That is it ultimate test of your mix!

[travisbrown]

Originally Posted by Duardo

Those two groups aren't mutually exclusive...you'll find that a lot of the engineers who are mixing platinum albums on them are the same ones who are constantly flaming them, because they have to sit there and listen to them every day.

Why are they using them, then?

[zul_nalury]

great sharing, guys... I have to try em myself...

[DontLetMeDrown]

I've been collecting gear for the last 3 years or so. The NS-10s are the best investment yet. Mixes always translate well. Much better than the days when I used to BTD, burn, then go to my car to see how it really sounds over and over again. The main "flaw" I notice mixing with NS-10s is that the vocal will seem like it's plenty loud enough, then on other systems it will be a bit buried. Nowadays I mix the vocal a bit louder than I prefer, then it seems to translate better on other systems.

[Duardo]

Why are they using them, then?

Because they know how they sound. Because of their limitations...because, again, if they can get a mix to sound good on those speakers, it will translate well to about anything. Not because they like them. How often do you hear people saying "I love the way these things sound"? Not very often, I'm sure...they're a tool that people know how to use but most of the comments about their quality of sound revolve around ear fatigue, needing to take breaks, the harsh midrange, needing Kleenex for the tweeters...

[peeder]

Remember that a lot of people who like them are driving them with Brystons etc. The amp matters a lot...

[ScottTunes]

Originally Posted by zul_nalury

Is it worth buying NS10?

In a word, NO!!

There are so many great monitors available today, and in your budget, it is silly to buy something that isn't more accurate and useful. That said, you really could use any "good" speaker to mix with as long as you LEARN its strengths and weaknesses, so your mix will translate to other systems well.

Also, you didn't mention what your needs are... Is your space big, small, yours to modify, etc... These parameters would affect your choice too.

edit: And by the way, I want to actually hear what I'm mixing. I go for accuracy and speed to get it done. The NS10s are not good for that. The learning curve is no quicker than just getting the "good mid-priced" stereo speaker people used to listen on. That has changed significantly in recent years. So the NS10s no longer represent the average listeners system.

I'd recommend researching for a couple of weeks, then going to hear your choices for yourself. Even ask to take a couple systems to your studio for a week to try 'em out. You will basically "marry" your monitors. They should FIT you and your situation...

[tommy lee]

Originally Posted by tifftunes

In a word, NO!!

There are so many great monitors available today, and in your budget, it is silly to buy something that isn't more accurate and useful. That said, you really could use any "good" speaker to mix with as long as you LEARN its strengths and weaknesses, so your mix will translate to other systems well.

Also, you didn't mention what your needs are... Is your space big, small, yours to modify, etc... These parameters would affect your choice too.

In a word YES
The NS 10 is still great- check Mike Spike Stent.

[Stizz]

I would not use them as my only monitors - but I really like using them while mixing at lower levels. I would recommend them, but only after you have invested in a decent set of near/midfield fullrange monitors.

[Clarence]

Just out of curiousity: if you talk about a budget of GBP 500,-, what is the price tag on a decent pmc tbs-2 over there?


Clarence

[theblue1]

Originally Posted by zul_nalury

Hi,

I've just settle down in London about 2 month ago... Now, I'm starting to set up my new home studio. They only equipment that I didn't sell is Firepod. Now, I'm about to buy Macbook Pro...

I'm searching for a pair of used NS10m. Is it worth it to get one? I saw its price range between GBP400 to 500. It still in my budget... Do you face any problem with this monitors?

What is the best power amp to pair with this monitors?


Many Thanks! Cheers...

Without reading the intervening responses, I'm just gonna spew my two cents worth:

I've had a pair for over a decade. I didn't find they worked for me as primaries (I needed about another octave on the bottom and the unevenness across the spectrum threw my mixes off) -- but I found they make great secondary/ref monitors for me as they can be so cruel and exacting in the critical upper mid. I don't tend to mix with them, much, at all, though, just switching them in to get a different perspective. (My primaries are Event 20/20bas, which give me relatively flat [as cheap speakers go] response down into the 30s.)


If I didn't have a pair of the Yamahas already (and I didn't need to offer "compatability" to NS10m-normalized producer clients) and I was on any kind of budget (as most of us are) I would likely put my small studio money toward a more modern, full range, flatter powered monitor pair.

[tidepool]

Originally Posted by tifftunes

In a word, NO!!

There are so many great monitors available today, and in your budget, it is silly to buy something that isn't more accurate and useful. That said, you really could use any "good" speaker to mix with as long as you LEARN its strengths and weaknesses, so your mix will translate to other systems well.

Also, you didn't mention what your needs are... Is your space big, small, yours to modify, etc... These parameters would affect your choice too.

edit: And by the way, I want to actually hear what I'm mixing. I go for accuracy and speed to get it done. The NS10s are not good for that. The learning curve is no quicker than just getting the "good mid-priced" stereo speaker people used to listen on. That has changed significantly in recent years. So the NS10s no longer represent the average listeners system.

I'd recommend researching for a couple of weeks, then going to hear your choices for yourself. Even ask to take a couple systems to your studio for a week to try 'em out. You will basically "marry" your monitors. They should FIT you and your situation...

I totally agree. I worked in a shop many years ago and looked forward to buying a pair of NS10Ms, after all they were "pro". The guys who had put in a lot of years ahead of me basically said, go ahead, but they're by far the worst sounding speakers we carry. After spending some time using them, I agreed. It's not like they present an unvarished slice of reality, they sound harsh in the top and have precious little low end.

There are some curious behaviors exhibited in the pro audio community, one of them is considering (with a straight face) the NS10M a credible reference monitor. Yes, they're a standard. They have serious shortcomings, I cannot imagine choosing NS10's (in blind listening tests) for the job of finding flaws in recordings, making critical eq balance decisions, etc.

If you want moderate cost speakers that represent the everyman's playback system, you might consider a Bose satellite/sub system, they're in a zillion home systems. Flame suit on!

[kats]

They're popular becuase they're fairly representative of what a good number of consumer systems sound like, not because engineers like to listen to them.

When 25 years ago? I don;'t even remember the last time I saw bookshelf speakers in someone's home.

1/2 the people have $500 5.1 systems to go with their LCD wide screens now and pump cd's through that. Which means subwoofers and hyped highs. The other half on ear buds/PC speakers. And then there's the cars...my Jeep Wrangler came with a subwoofer and tweeters

[Kenny Gioia]

Originally Posted by zul_nalury

Hi,

I'm searching for a pair of used NS10m. Is it worth it to get one?

I don't think so. I would save up and get two.

[tsvisser]

here's the deal...

their crap. buy something better...

UNLESS, because they are so ubiquitous, if you have spent time behind them and know the sound and how to work with them, or if you have to hire talent who is going to sit behind them and knows how to work them, use them, because it is just a tool that helps you get your work done.

[Kenny Gioia]

Originally Posted by tsvisser

here's the deal...

their crap. buy something better...

UNLESS, because they are so ubiquitous, if you have spent time behind them and know the sound and how to work with them, or if you have to hire talent who is going to sit behind them and knows how to work them, use them, because it is just a tool that helps you get your work done.

I totally agree. I love mine but if I didn't know them I wouldn't bother learning them as they are over-priced now (yee haw - I own 3 pairs) and parts are going to be harder and harder to find.

Good luck.

[666666]

Originally Posted by peeder

Remember that a lot of people who like them are driving them with Brystons etc. The amp matters a lot...

Indeed!!! The amp is very important!!!

I just did a quick amp shoot-out tonight, boy, there can be a huge difference in amps, even ones with similar specs, etc.

I bought a pair of NS10s brand new back in the day. They got used, but I could have lived without them. They have their strong points as some have described here, but after a while you find yourself moving over to a monitor that is simply a bit more "fun" to listen to.

Is it worth buying them? That's an individual choice. You might be better off spending your dough on a pair of near-fields that you specifically LIKE (based on first hand observation), as opposed to picking up old NS-10s just because they're "famous". Your best bet is to get a really good amp, and a pair of monitors that sound good to YOU... that's my vote. Go to a place where you can HEAR some NS-10s... who knows, maybe you like `em, maybe you hate `em.

When my new room is finished, I'll probably put the NS-10s up just for show... and I'll probably use them occasionally, perhaps for editing or for any super critical adjustments... or even to check mixes on from time to time... but chances are I'll be spending a greater amount of time using some of the other "richer" sounding near-fields that I enjoy.

I don't see any reason in buying them if you are not going to really USE them though. So check `em out... buy only what sounds good to you.

[Tony Shepperd]

If you can afford a Bryston amp, then buy a pair.
I have been using my NS-10m's since 1985.
I have changed out the components, but I still own the same boxes.

Here's what I would do.
Take a listen to the mixes of the pros that use them.
Then listen to the mixes of those who who think... they don't don't sound good.
Then make your decision.

[vernier]

At most, NS10's are inconsequential. Yesterday's tuna.

[Sqye]

.

i hate those monitors. i always have. so fr*kk*n randomly dead and thumpy....

.

[zul_nalury]

Ok guys...

Forgot to tell, I'll use them for my project only. not for the commercial studio (of course, i told you it's for my home setup)... I'll looking for some talent, trying to make a record for them. In other way, i'll use it on songwriting.

Actually I have listen to them few times, where I was an assistant engineer, tracking an artist in a commercial studio in Malaysia. It's just OK for me. As you guys said, i have to take a time to learn this.

I think I have to give myself a try. Maybe few months after I can sell it or pair it with genelecs or Adam...


After few month either I love them or hate them

[Sqye]

.

good luck,

and when you're done....don't forget to clean the wax and wool blankets off the cones....



...

[zul_nalury]

I ENDED WITH HS-80M which i think its a bargain & a lot better sound than old NS-10m. Of course it's not a $2000 monitors... but it's ok for me. The stereo imaging are better than NS10m.

They are not the same. I noticed, the only few things similar are :

1. The cone are white
2. They have same attitude - a lil bit bright
3. Same family - Yamaha


cheers!

[TonyBelmont]

The NS10 is easily the most OVERRATED piece of audio gear EVER!