Yamaha MSP7 or NS-10m

[coyot]

i'm getting ready to buy my first (and only for a long time) set of monitors.
i'm on a budget and in a fairly small space.
i am leaning toward Yamaha MSP7's, because i've seen good feedback here and elsewhere and they fall pretty well in line with my needs.

BUT, i am having a hard time shaking the temptation to get a pair of NS-10m's.
i can get a pair in good condition for roughly the same price. i know that they are mainly secondary monitors, but the urge to get something that is used in so many major studios everywhere is killin me !

any thought?

[toulcit]

I know where you been going through, I've been there.

So I will explain a little something about Yamaha monitors, correct me if i'm wrong but here goes.

With Yamaha you have 2 product lines:

MSP: Made to be straight, natural monitors

HS: Made after the NS-10's in philosophy (not straight or natural at all)

the NS-10's were made as hifi speakers, and in the studio therefor used to listen to them to know how it will sound on your standard hifi speakers.

My advice get the msp (msp10 preferably) or both for better reference.

The MSP10's are larger 10", and are THX PM3 certified speakers, if you ever want to use them in a surround setup, but don't tell people your studio is thx pm3 certified tho, if you want that certification one of george lucas associates must come by to check if everything in your studio is up to specs. :D

I believe the msp7's are thx pm3 approved too and yes here it is:
Leading Technology | Topics | Yamaha Pro Audio

Hope that helps anything

[toulcit]

Here's another link:

Approved Equipment Lists « THX.com

[DontLetMeDrown]

Now some people might say that my mixes suck, but let me tell you this-- they suck a lot worse when I mix without NS-10s. Even in an unfamiliar room I can count on my instrument levels translating well when I listen back in the car and most anywhere else.

Whether you like the sound of them or not, if you plan to do freelance work it's pretty helpful to be familiar with them since they're in almost every REAL studio on the planet. The hard part is the lack of low end and learning where the bass/vocal/snare needs to sit. Of course you gotta learn that on every monitor, but a lot of them lie to you. The NS-10s are the most solid audio investment I've ever made.

I've never used MSP7s so I can't help there.

[CZ101]

Originally Posted by coyot

i'm getting ready to buy my first (and only for a long time) set of monitors.
i'm on a budget and in a fairly small space.
i am leaning toward Yamaha MSP7's, because i've seen good feedback here and elsewhere and they fall pretty well in line with my needs.

BUT, i am having a hard time shaking the temptation to get a pair of NS-10m's.
i can get a pair in good condition for roughly the same price. i know that they are mainly secondary monitors, but the urge to get something that is used in so many major studios everywhere is killin me !

any thought?

NS-10m's look cool and sometimes sound kind of appealing (in bad rooms, fwiw, imho) - but MSP7's are a lot flatter, fuller, and just better machines in general..

If they're the same price, then you're paying top dollar for something with a cool factor (NS-10m) that happens to be what a lot of people know what to expect from, and therefore, can use - as opposed to something vastly underpriced (MSP7), in the U.S. anyway, that will probably be just as cool as, if not more so than, the NS-10m's 10 years from now. Maybe..

If it were me, I'd go with the MSP7's at their going price in the U.S.

[Tom Hakala]

Both would be the best answer. Between my NS10 and Adam A7 I would probably go for NS10 as my only pair. But I'm not sure. Probably. Maybe not. I don't know

If it's NS10 you want then go and get them. I wish I would have done it 3 years ago when I was getting my first real monitors. Everyone was telling me not to buy NS10's becase they only work as reference speakers and are really ugly sounding. That's why I picked a pair of Genelec 8040's. Well it took me almost 3 years to sell my Genelecs and after trying out many monitors I ended up with NS10's. Love their sound. And I also wanted to have something that I can take with me when I do location work. So I ended up buying Adam A7.

[FFTT]

In all honesty for personal listening pleasure, of course I like larger speakers, but the point of small space nearfields is to see how your mix is going to sound on the average listener's system.
Most difficult here for me is getting the right low end response without clipping the average bookshelf system.

If you can get your low end in the right place on the MSP7's without lighting
up the clip indicators, you should be good.


The top end clarity is the first thing I noticed, but while not as powerful
as the larger monitors, these are great for long hours without overworking
your ears.

I still say take the King Kong DVD with you to hear what these monitors can do with a professional mix.

[toulcit]

I forgot to mention, I like my MSP10's they translate well to other speakers, and have got a good low end going on. Definitely a step up from my Alesis monitors.

[coyot]

thanks for all the responses!
for a minute there i didn't think anyone was going to write back.

so after this, i am thinking i will go with the msp7's.

i need something to mix on i can be confident with, and the only other reference i have now are my ATH-M50 headphones and a set of creature speakers just to listen to things out loud. so if i can have reliable, flat set of monitors for now that would be a great help.

honestly i'm sure at some point i will give in a get some ns10's as secondarys if i am happy with the msp's, i mean i am frequenting a website called gear slutz ! its not like i'm going to stop buying stuff !

thanks for the Adam A7 and msp10 suggestions, but they are just out of my price range right now. honestly the msp7's are pushing it pretty much to the max.

thanks again !

[FFTT]

Since you are tight on funds, be sure to work on your purchase price too.

Sam Ash gave me the absolute best deal when they offered them at a special
purchase price.

I just looked at the average retail at the big box stores.

They've got some wiggle room.

[Ron Vogel]

I just switched from KRK V8's to the MSP7's, and I thought I was going to miss the extra bass. The MSP7's have no issues with the bass. In fact, I was very used to my V8's, and was only seling them to downsize. Ended up being an upgrade.

The high-end is crisp, but not harsh. Imaging is very, very good. I got lucky and got the monitors before B&H raised their price on them. They had them for $259 each for awhile. I checked back a few days after my order for tracking, and they raised the price up to $399 a piece!

[FFTT]

These are very good monitors for the money, but no one should pay too much.

[coyot]

so i ordered the msp7's and they will be here monday so i will be sure to check back and let you know what i think.

also, i came across this review (and a couple others actually) that compare the the msp7 and ns10 quite a bit.

Yamaha MSP7 Studio Monitor,

[toulcit]

Be sure to check them out with Cd's you are familiar with, an eye opener.
I heard things on these baby's I never heard anywhere. You can exactly hear whats going on, and the stereo image, very nice. I got drowned in sound. I have no experience with other monitors besides Alesis monitors, so forgive my enthusiasm :P

[Trat]

I would only use NS10s to check my mix on: if you hear base on it, you have too much in your mix.

[beingmf]

Originally Posted by Trat

I would only use NS10s to check my mix on: if you hear base on it, you have too much in your mix.

This is so completely wrong. If the lower end of the spectrum sounds muddy on the NS-10, then you've done it wrong. If it sounds like "bass", then you're right!

[a.beck]

Originally Posted by Trat

I would only use NS10s to check my mix on: if you hear base on it, you have too much in your mix.

But what if all your base are belong to us?

[rty5150]

Originally Posted by a.beck

But what if all your base are belong to us?

\m/\m/

[coyot]

so i've had the msp7's for a few days now, and i am totally happy with them. sound is great, the hight cut and low cut switches helped put my mind at ease that i was getting a good balance of frequencies because i could try some little fine tuning, altho i've ended up thinking for my space they are best left flat.

its funny, people always talk about really hearing things for the first time on songs they know really well with good monitors, and i never thought much of it, but there have been multiple times checking these with some of my favorite albums that something stood out that i never noticed before, or that a part that was never really a stand out suddenly sounds great.

so, for what its worth from someone with little other monitor experience thumbsup thumbsup

[coyot]

i forgot to mention, one of the things that has been most stand out for me is their stereo imaging, the position of things in the mix is much more clear than i am used to, its great.

[FFTT]

I'm glad to hear that you like them.

You do have to watch them with some other mixes as far as lighting
up the red clip indicator, but I'm very happy with mine for their intended
purpose.

Seriously watch a few movies with award winning sound tracks to see what
these can do.

[CZ101]

Originally Posted by coyot

so i've had the msp7's for a few days now, and i am totally happy with them. sound is great, the hight cut and low cut switches helped put my mind at ease that i was getting a good balance of frequencies because i could try some little fine tuning, altho i've ended up thinking for my space they are best left flat.

its funny, people always talk about really hearing things for the first time on songs they know really well with good monitors, and i never thought much of it, but there have been multiple times checking these with some of my favorite albums that something stood out that i never noticed before, or that a part that was never really a stand out suddenly sounds great.

so, for what its worth from someone with little other monitor experience thumbsup thumbsup

When you get into a groove of mixing on them, the pleasure of having your mixes translate to other systems is something to look forward to.. I leave mine flat as well, although I have been beefing up on room treatment lately...

[FFTT]

I have mine sitting on top of my old Infinity SM-58's so I'm not getting blasted
directly, but can roll back in the chair or stand to get all the extra highs.

These are quite directional, so placement is important.

Making a mental list of what I need to build some attractive sound panels
for when I move all this stuff upstairs.

Down here the unfinished walls with batt insulation hanging everywhere,
the room is very absorbant. Upstairs, it's another story altogether with
a small 11X12 room and oh my is it loud up there.

I thought about getting the matching sub, but that would really just be for
personal listening pleasure.

If you are trying to set up your mix for the average bookshelf or car system or ear buds, the sub may give you misleading results.

After testing my '64 R12R upstairs, these monitors will be more than
loud enough for any regular room.

Listening to the Stones Four Flicks DVD, Midnight
Rambler at MSG, man does Keith's Junior sound fantastic!

[nigel saunders]

Originally Posted by CZ101

When you get into a groove of mixing on them, the pleasure of having your mixes translate to other systems is something to look forward to.. I leave mine flat as well, although I have been beefing up on room treatment lately...

I have to say this is the best thing of all - no nasty surprises when listening to a mix elsewhere - really good monitors for the money.
Room treatment will make you appreciate them more.

[jcc449]

NS10M is better for secondary reference check up monitor.
A7 is more a complete response range reference speakers.

If i am on an island all alone and only able to have one speaker...then i will choose A7 because it has more more complete frequency response.
however, if i already have other bigger monitors and i want a special reference check-up device, then i will choose NS10m for that matter.
SO Far NS10M still the best for small/computer/car speakers simulation.

[Ron Vogel]

At least in my room, I can't hear crap below 70hz on the MSP 7's...but I'm used to it now. I use the cans to check below that. Overall they do quite well for the money. I have the bass switches up on mine, it keeps me from mixing too bass heavy.

They aren't a "warm" monitor at all. I find mixing a tad bright gets me warm on other systems. They really show harshness if it's in the mix. I also for some reason mix with too much reverb on these monitors unless I'm mixing at a low level. It's best to mix the verbs down to where they are at the edge of not hearing them...then back them off 2db more.

OVerall, they are highly reccomended...and probably the best buy in their price range.