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Kurt, if the devil were to burn all the NS10's on the globe what monitors would you use? And would they translate well?

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KurtFoster Tue, 05/20/2003 - 09:50

Originally posted by Axman32:
Kurt, if the devil were to burn all the NS10's on the globe what monitors would you use? And would they translate well?

So in other words, I went straight to hell! OK.. :D If that happened, he would probably destroy what ever my next choice would be so while I am tempted to use this as an opportunity to name a speaker I hate, I will resist and mention the infamous "list" once more. ..... (drum roll).... "the list" please....
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tannoy, Dynaudio, Blue Sky, JBL, Earthworks, Westlake, NS 10's :D , Genelec, Hafler, KRK, and PMC
Those are good. …………………….. Pick one.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

realdynamix Tue, 05/20/2003 - 18:47

:) OK, to help everyone remember.

Tannoy, Dynaudio, Blue Sky, JBL, Earthworks, Westlake, NS 10's , Genelec, Hafler, KRK, and PMC
Those are good. …………………….. Pick one.

Tannoy, Dynaudio, Blue Sky, JBL, Earthworks, Westlake, NS 10's , Genelec, Hafler, KRK, and PMC
Those are good. …………………….. Pick one.

Tannoy, Dynaudio, Blue Sky, JBL, Earthworks, Westlake, NS 10's , Genelec, Hafler, KRK, and PMC
Those are good. …………………….. Pick one.

Tannoy, Dynaudio, Blue Sky, JBL, Earthworks, Westlake, NS 10's , Genelec, Hafler, KRK, and PMC
Those are good. …………………….. Pick one.

--Rick

KurtFoster Tue, 05/20/2003 - 21:31

I wish I had a set of each of the speakers included in "the list". Then I would really be an equipment pig. No I just have some Tannoy DMT12's some NS10's a pair of Auratones and for my office computer I have a set of Paradigms powered by an old Crown D60. Now that's not too many speakers for one guy is it? Kurt

KurtFoster Wed, 05/21/2003 - 11:37

Originally posted by Axman32:
Not Everybody at once. . . :D

On “the list”, if we could all afford them, Westlake is the premier name. I would also recommend the KRK V8 and V88's for near fields. If you can afford them the Dynaudio near fields are also excellent, better than the KRKs, even.... I would look for a place that carries all (or many) of the brands on "the list" and take a few CDs I was very familiar with and go do some listening. Then ask if you might be able to try a few sets in your studio. Perhaps the salesperson could come and help you with your listening evaluations.

So many things can come into play. Speakers can sound different in different settings. This is one of the things that make NS10 shine... they sound bad everywhere. I am not joking. That is the thing with NS10 or as we used to call them, "Nasty 10's". They are by no means a great sounding speaker. But there is a degree of serendipity involved in that if you can get a mix to sound good on them, it will sound good on almost anything. I am afraid there will never be a "replacement" for the good ol' NS10.. until Yamaha "reissues" them at $1500 a pair!

anonymous Wed, 05/21/2003 - 13:41

SORRY KURT! It was just a dream. You still have your beloved NS10's just where you left them. :D

In a way I was trying to bring out the fact when we get into the monitor discussion NS10 are not always an option. Some people love 'em and some people hate 'em. Not to mention you can only get a used set.

I agree with the checking them out in the store and if possible at the studio. Is there anything you would do specifcally during your test drive? Eg: Special tone generated Frequency test CD, Vocal focused, Guitar Focused, Orchestra focused, Brass focused etc.

How might you check if they would transfer?

Thoughts?

KurtFoster Wed, 05/21/2003 - 14:02

Originally posted by Axman32:

Is there anything you would do specifcally during your test drive? Eg: Special tone generated Frequency test CD, Vocal focused, Guitar Focused, Orchestra focused, Brass focused etc.

How might you check if they would transfer?

Thoughts?

For near fields, I wouldn't bother using tones to check them. Most near fields don't have much going on below 50Hz by design. Myself, I would use some Sinatra with Billy May or Nelson Riddle or Ella Fitzgerald /Verve Cds to check them. Big bands, good balanced recordings. Also some of Gary Pacozas stuff from Alison Krauss or Nickel Creek. Those would be my references. Also some early Merle Haggard recordings, just because I have played them on so many other systems, just for enjoyment, I pretty much know them inside out.

I don't know what to do to check if mix's would travel other than simply doing some mixing and then checking it on other systems. The thing is, what works for one person, may not work for another. That is why I myself lament the discontinuation of the NS10's. It was a constant in a world of variables. Like taking a mousey girl on a dinner date. You know she won't order the Surf & Turf and the evening will end on an "up"(^) note! I still think it was marketing more than anything else and that we will see a "reissue" of them in the future. I could be wrong, it has happened. Kurt

KurtFoster Thu, 05/22/2003 - 12:21

Because NS10's are one of the most linear speakers available (or not) at that price. Your "super sh*tty computer speakers" change their tonal balance as you turn them up and down. NS10s stay constant. This is something a lot of people miss. Not just any bad sounding speaker will do what I am talking of. NS10s are the only ones I know of that fit this description. The simple truth is they work.. tons of great mix's have come forth from NS10's. How many great mix's have you pulled out of your computer speakers downflow?

KurtFoster Mon, 05/26/2003 - 15:34

Isn't that funny that their seems to be plenty of spares? I really think Yamaha discontinued the NS10 because they were tired of no one buying the new more expensive stuff they were marketing, instead choosing a set of speakers that retailed for $300 a pair. I truely believe it's all marketing. In another year or so they will re release them for $1500 a pair.

I'm using the NS10s and Tannoy DMT12s with two Hafler P3000's, one for each side. I also start on the Yamahas and work up to the Tannoys.. It doesn't seem to work very well going the other way. Kurt

anonymous Mon, 05/26/2003 - 18:49

NS10s are the only ones I know of that fit this description. The simple truth is they work.. tons of great mix's have come forth from NS10's. How many great mix's have you pulled out of your computer speakers downflow?

I have never pulled a great mix out of anything, that's why I was asking. If you say that NS-10's are the bomb, I'm sure they are. I was just asking why pay a lot of money for crappy speakers when I have some of the crappiest. It was a half-joking way of asking a serious question! :c:

KurtFoster Mon, 05/26/2003 - 19:18

downflow,
This is where so many people get confused.. NS10s are not crappy sounding.. NS10s are not good sounding.. NS 10 are well just NS10s so to speak. A lot of speakers are tuned to sound pleasing.. They have hyped lows and highs and usually scooped out mids. This make the sweet sounding but they are far from accurate. Now many will claim that NS10s are not particularly accurate either and I would have to agree but they don't hype the highs and lows and scoop out the mids. They are reasonably flat in the highs and lows and have a slight boost to the mids. Now there is something about this formula that has made these speakers a success.. and the other thing is, they are linear. If you were to shoot pink noise through them and read out on an RTA the response, as you turn them up and down in volume, the response will stay fairly constant. There are very few speakers/monitors that do that. So while I would never pop a Mott The Hoople CD in and spark up the NS 10 for a listening session, they are a great monitor for referencing mixes ... Hope that explains it.. Kurt

omegaarts Tue, 05/27/2003 - 21:32

Kurt,
I always check my verbs on the NS10's because they do have a bumb in the middle.
Seems when I get the verbs right in the NS10's they are RIGHT. If I do verbs and delays first in the Genny's it's always over cooked. Get em right on the 10's they switch back to the Genny's ands they sound just right.
Wonder why?

anonymous Fri, 06/06/2003 - 20:19

I believe you can still get parts for the NS10M's from Yamaha. I got a pair from a guy who smoked like crazy in his studio and the woofers were yellow, haha. I called Yamaha and got 2 brand new woofer replacements for 110.00. I also went ahead and replace the tweeters at the same time and they were the same price. I would try calling Yamaha and see if they still have them, that was about a year and a half ago when I got those.

Cheers,

sheet Fri, 06/06/2003 - 21:10

The whole thing with Yamaha discontinuing the NS10 was pure BS. They wanted to quit making them. They are still manufacturing the replacement woofers, tweeters for the NS10. The only driver that they did quit making is the midrange for the NS40. You can still buy the NS10, just as Kevin said, in parts, which will cost you more, but it will be new.

KurtFoster Fri, 06/06/2003 - 21:25

Originally posted by Kurt Foster:
Isn't that funny that their seems to be plenty of spares? I really think Yamaha discontinued the NS10 because they were tired of no one buying the new more expensive stuff they were marketing, instead choosing a set of speakers that retailed for $300 a pair. I truely believe it's all marketing. In another year or so they will re release them for $1500 a pair.