Yamaha HS Series

[calvizio]

hi! i'm new on this great board! i've read more before posting something

so...i've to buy some near-fields for my studio and someone suggest me the new Yamaha HS Series (with sub).

what do you think about them? i make some rock, pop production.

thanks for your answers.






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http://www.myspace.com/calvizio
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[steven mc.]

I love mine.
Would buy again if they broke.
The HS-80's Don't need a sub. the 50's definitely do.
Heres a review I wrote 2 years ago.
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Hello once again to all Studio central Long-timers.
For newer members, here’s a brief background on your reviewer:

Been producing music for 4 years, semi full-time, and “produca-ing” for a year before that. Been playing drums for 10 years. I play in 2 bands and drum for other gigs once in a while. I recorded briefly in 2 world class studios for work through an agency, and I have a Proficiency certificate from Christian Vocational College for Audio engineering. I Have In-studio tracking or mixing experience with Yamaha Ns-10ms, Event tr-5, Event 20/20BAS, Event ASP6, JBL 4410a, JBL 4410, JBL 4412, KRK V4.
I am currently a more or less self-employed Semi-fulltime Studio geek doing all sorts of things.


YAMAHA HS80M

I was looking around for a set of 8 inch Speakers to complement my Event-tr5s and 10 inch mid field JBL4410a. After a few months of quietly making my mind and asking questions, I went for these guys. The Bass extension was low enough, and the price was right- not to mention the Brand name. Yamaha, in my mind, has always put consistently Great products out in pretty much every area. I wanted a “Mid range” monitor speaker. As in- not the Cheapest Budget 8 inchers, And I didn’t quite want the plus 1k “professional” systems. Sure, if I didn’t need to put aside for a new drumset, But hey, this is the real world. This was the choice in that price range that stood out for NO1, Price and Support in Japan for MIJ products Is always easier, NO2, Prices for Yamaha are Lower here VS the other choices, and NO3…The White cone. For real NO3 was simply all the great reviews I’ve been hearing from a lot of places on the net (Take those with a grain of salt….People tend to “love” what they decided to buy)
So, they show up, Nice Boxes, Nice packing, Yeah whatever. Plug them in, Get all set up. The first track I ran through them was Plus44’s “When Your Heart Stops Beating”. First impressions are naturally good. First thing I thought was the stereo field was wider then what I was used to hearing from the same position where I used to stand the Tr-5. I like the way the low end felt, but that’s to be expected from any half-decent active 8in woofer. After a bit more listening and A/B/Cing, I Decided the High trim switch needed to come down 2db desperately. They must have added the “plus 2db” option for 70 and 80 year olds with hearing loss….or something. God forbid I ever engage that. These Speakers are Bright! After the -2db switch, Things sounded right in the highs. Still a Bit shrill around 3K, but after using the -2db switch at 2k, The speakers Sounded too warm: I brought 2k back to flat, and I figured this must be where they incorporated the NS10 sound into the HS80.

MIX:

I got to work the Next day, to see how my first mix on these would come together. This mix was one of 12 mixes I’m doing for a Texas rock band. It’s just standard hard rock. They recorded the marshals with surprisingly lacking low end, and drum OH mic placement sounded awful: Well…..I guess that’s my job. The Lead vocal also had a lot going on right at 3K, a pretty aggressive nasal tone. Mix did not come together easily. I can’t blame the HS80’s though, and I Don’t. At what I thought was the end of the mix, I started A/Bing with commercial tracks, and realized my mix was very shy in the 3-4K area, something that doesn’t happen with my other system. Guitars weren’t thin, but just had the treble sitting funny. I don’t know how much is fault goes to the fact that I’m on new speakers and my ears are hearing something else, OR the fact that this was a new band and they had different sounding tracks that were tough to work with. Probably both. I had the do the mix again a different day, this time in a real world using the HS-80 AND my friends of 4 years the Tr-5.

2 weeks later:

Low end on the HS80m is nice, not very “deep” as it was “warm”. They seem to work well in conjunction with my other speakers in spatial imaging. They also Sound the best out of my 3 systems, the JBL’s being a 3way mid field monitor I never quite got used to that sound Very clear and Smooth, very silky and pleasing (especially now to the HS80) . The HS80 are Harsh. It’s true, it sounds to me like their mid-2db switch should have been set at 3.5k or so. It’s going to be a few more mixes before I’m sure of myself on these. It’s not insane or impossible to work with, but they follow after the NS-10 in that respect. Other then the upper mid-range, these sound very different from the NS-10. They aren’t “boxy” in the least and DO have a thump in the low end. In other points, the HS80s DO have a nice spatial quality. For Example a mix I did previously that I thought was as wide as a particular commercial track, sounded a little less wide in comparison then it sounded before. Subtle, But they reveal more about the space then my JBLs.

In closing
If you are an old school Ns10 Guy, Don’t pass these up for the harsh midrange! It was done on purpose I suppose. To everyone else, these are great speakers as far as sonic clarity and cohesive sound go. I wouldn't say they are miles ahead of any other competition, mainly because I haven't heard much of the current competition in a proper environment. But I will say I know these are a run for any makers money. I’m not too thrilled about the 3K thing, but I will get used to it. If I made it sound like 3k Is All I hear coming from the speaker, Don’t mis-understand me. Good lows, Good Middle, and Nice Highs are all there. It actually sounds Much Flatter then my Tr-5 with hyped 500htz. I’m thinking maybe because I am so used to hearing a lot of 500htz, when that’s gone in the Hs-80s it just brings out the upper mids even more.

Good Looks: white cones do add to the typical “black” look of a studio.
Good Imaging: Expose more then I am used to concerning the stereo field.
Good Bass: Not too Awesome, But warm and punchy.
Good overall sound: Crystal clear sound, with refreshingly nice response.
Hyped upper mids: There’s a lot of treble here. It doesn’t sound BAD, and in fact sounds perfect after the pad. Other sets I’ve use are also heavy on the treble like the 20/20s for example. But they don’t have the 3K of this speaker. I will most likely find myself shying away in that area when mixing the first few months.

[mobilemozart]

Using HS-50 without sub alongside B&W 802D. The HS-50 are the best studio tool you can get for the money.

When the vocals start hurting the ear around 8k, then your mix is right. You have to know how to use them, but when you do, they're a great tool.

[jrhager84]

I have 50's and I like them well enough. Had the 80's too and sold them. Now I'm on the hunt for new mains now...

50's as mains are not something I'd recommend. At least I don't like 'em as mains...LOL

[jrhager84]

Originally Posted by mobilemozart

Using HS-50 without sub alongside B&W 802D. The HS-50 are the best studio tool you can get for the money.

When the vocals start hurting the ear around 8k, then your mix is right. You have to know how to use them, but when you do, they're a great tool.

PS Just saw your G series purchase vid... Lucky dog!!!

[BHickey]

I actually think that they are great speakers. Not just "great for the money", but honest to god great speakers!

At the last place I worked we put HS-80s next to a pair of Dynaudio BM15's as references to the Dyns in a small control room. I had to take the HS80s down because they sounded too close to the BM15s to be a good reference! I couldn't get over how close these speakers sounded to each other even though the BM15s were over 3 times the cost of the HS80s.

They aren't as bright or deep as some may want, but all my mixes on them transfer well, and I could work on them for a fairly long time (which I couldn't do with the BM15s in that room).

Hope that helps.

[Tube World]

Here is a insightful review of the monitors by our own Glenn at Gearslutz. HS 80M + HS 50M + HS 10W, Glenn Bucci

[henge]

Great monitors.Learn them and mix away

[carllock]

I like 80's, but I love my 50's plus Hs10's woofers. I really want to try to run the 50's with dual Hs10's part gearslut but also for practical reasons.

Edit:
I also agree within the price range, the HS Yammys are extreme values....should cost 25% more for quality

[billkahler]

I had some HS80's and found them to be spongy in the lows and low mids. Before that I was using Event 2020's and The Yamahas actually were clearer in the upper mids. Now I'm using Dynaudio BM15s and never looked back. (Quite a lot more money though but I do love them.) Mixes are translating very well.