The Yamaha NS10 is a music studio monitor speaker. Upfront, I think it is desirable because of its ties to a reputable brand (Yamaha) and its robust-looking construction and industrial design. Emotionally, it is an aesthetically unassuming device, which tends to be an ironic badge of highest quality professional equipment.
My review is much more focused on the present, what I can see and assume. The previous reviewer took a very historical, storytelling approach in explaining the heritage and significance of the product.
Previous Review:
“It takes incredible design for a product to become an industry standard. What makes the Yamaha NS10 so incredible is that, in an industry, music, that is constantly shifting and moving forward technology-wise, the NS10 has managed to maintain its position on top since 1978.
Although its main usage these days is monitoring, the NS10 actually was initially marketed as a bookshelf speaker for domestic environments. Shockingly, even though it became the standard by which most studios judge their mixes, it was a marketplace flop, selling very poorly. When studio engineers found the NS10, however, they latched onto it – it’s durable, standard frame and even bass-drive makes them ideal for mid-range studio monitoring. Unfortunately, Yamaha discontinued the NS10 in the early 2000s due to material shortages, but NS10s are still floating around, coveted items on the music production scene.”
