Yamaha NS-1000 Speakers Comparison/Shootout

[Willmax]

After many months if not years searching, I finally have the opportunity to have these coveted speakers under the one roof, so I thought it would be a good idea for a video comparison having them playing side by side, utilising the same source and same music.

For the comparison I used my trusty old Yamaha CR-1020 receiver as it allows me to connect 3 different pairs at the same time and be able to switch on the fly throughout the song, so please excuse the rudimentary technique.

Also used a Rode VideoMic Me to capture the sound as best as I could, unfortunately it does show in the frame due to the camera and audio jack position.

 

I'm not the best at describing what each speaker sounds like and the differences so I'll let the video do the talk, but I would love to hear your thoughts and any opinions about the comparison/setup.

 

Cheers,

Willmax

 

 

Take two:

I've moved the NS-1000M next to the NS-1000 (ebony) to be able to compare them side by side, the NS-690 was put in front with the stand a little higher (the CR-1020 receiver cannot be seen as it is behind the speaker). Hope this will allow for better comparison particularly between the two NS-1000 versions.

For the purpose of this video all High/Mid Level adjustments for all speakers were left as Normal (12 o'clock).

Please see video below:

 

 

 

Edited January 27, 2018 by Willmax
Additional video included.

[allthumbs]

Thanks for that, it is a speaker I have never heard in person, but have read of their mythic capabilities.

 

Initial impression.

 

The two black pair seem to share more audible similarities, the brown pair seemed completely different at the time of switch, a little finer to me, bass burr was more distinctive and on this basis alone I would tend to think that I would be personally be able to live with the brown pair more easily.  More neutral.

 

It seemed as I said more refined, a little airier, the voice was more recessed, more conservative, less look at me , look at me. There was to my hearing a noticeable drop in volume immediately after switching to the brown pair, but I think it was more to do with a less forward bass and the voice sitting back in the instrument mix?

 

Are they all similarly power rated?

 

They all sounded fine.

 

 

[magical]

Don't you find the high end can be rather harsh. We used to call them hair-parters. 

[Lansche plasma guy]

Lovely speakers and kudos to you for sharing your findings and your lovely trove of Yamahas.

 

I would have thought that the different speaker positioning and boundary reinforcement (including the different heights of the stands and one speaker pair being further into the room than the others would make a much bigger difference to the sound than anything else.

 

Also the pair closes to the microphone because they are so close together will be coupling and adding more upper and mid bass energy.

 

It would be interesting to have all three pairs on they're sides one stacked on top of the other creating a column.  That would be nice to hear.

 

But thank you for sharing.

 

LPG

[sir sanders zingmore]

  On 07/01/2018 at 11:17 AM, Magicdog said:

Don't you find the high end can be rather harsh. We used to call them hair-parters. 

Expand  

who is "we" ?

[Joe Rasmussen]

  On 07/01/2018 at 10:32 AM, allthumbs said:

Thanks for that, it is a speaker I have never heard in person, but have read of their mythic capabilities.

 

Initial impression.

 

The two black pair seem to share more audible similarities...There was to my hearing a noticeable drop in volume immediately after switching to the brown pair...

 

 

Expand  

 

The brown pair is noticeable less sensitive.

 

[Al.M]

  On 07/01/2018 at 11:17 AM, Magicdog said:

Don't you find the high end can be rather harsh. We used to call them hair-parters. 

Expand  

In the picture in terms of models looks like there is an NS 75 or 500, NS1000M and NS1000 with slightly bigger cabinet.

 

The complaints about NS1000 or M versions sounding harsh were usually due to people not knowing how to set them up and match them with the correct amps such as good reasonable wattage tube amps, detailed and matching solid state amps (not a comparatively lower quality sound receiver amp), playing music that compliments them and most importantly adjusting the mid and hi level controls to the particular room such as the hi at 11am and mid at 9am, as well as lifting them of the ground on suitable stands about 35-40cm and 1m away from rear and side walls, towed in slightly etc. If you do all that it will reward you with what people rave on about them.

 

Also the correct NS1000 positioning is the tweeters and mids on the outside of listening position, not inside as shown.

Edited January 7, 2018 by Al.M

[Be Quiet...Listen]

  On 07/01/2018 at 11:25 AM, Lansche plasma guy said:

I would have thought that the different speaker positioning and boundary reinforcement (including the different heights of the stands and one speaker pair being further into the room than the others would make a much bigger difference to the sound than anything else.

 

Also the pair closes to the microphone because they are so close together will be coupling and adding more upper and mid bass energy.

Expand  

Agreed with Lansche plasma guy here!

 

  On 07/01/2018 at 2:06 PM, Al.M said:

In the picture in terms of models looks like there is an NS 75 or 500, NS1000M and NS1000 with slightly bigger cabinet.

Expand  

They look like NS690's to me?

 

  On 07/01/2018 at 2:06 PM, Al.M said:

The complaints about NS1000 or M versions sounding harsh were usually due to people not knowing how to set them up and match them with the correct amps such as good reasonable wattage tube amps, detailed and matching solid state amps (not a comparatively lower quality sound receiver amp), playing music that compliments them and most importantly adjusting the mid and hi level controls to the particular room such as the hi at 11am and mid at 9am, as well as lifting them of the ground on suitable stands about 35-40cm and 1m away from rear and side walls, towed in slightly etc. If you do all that it will reward you with what people rave on about them.

Expand  

Agree with you here Al.M.

 

  On 07/01/2018 at 2:06 PM, Al.M said:

Also the correct NS1000 positioning is the tweeters and mids on the outside of listening position, not inside as shown.

Expand  

Have to say that either are acceptable and dependent on ones positioning and listening room. I have only ever had my mids/tweeters on the inner side. Did try it on the outer once and that didn't even last one song! 

[Willmax]

Thanks all for the comments above. 

The 3 speakers compared here are as follows: 

1. NS-1000 home version (aka Ebony) - the outermost ones;
2. NS-690 mkIII - in the intermediate position;
3. NS-1000m Monitor version - the innermost position also sitting in front.

Both NS-1000 home and monitor versions have the same drivers and crossovers hence similar sound signature, with the only difference being slightly bigger and heavier cabinet construction on the home version.

The NS-690 is a different model altogether from what I understand, the sound is distinct and incredibly pleasing in comparison. 

 

Regarding speakers placement and room acoustics, I know my room setup is far from perfect (lots of hard surfaces), due to room size limitations I could not have all three next to each other as it would not fit in the frame. 

 

I might swap the NS-690 with the NS-1000m and try shooting another video - i'm not really keen on moving the Ebony ones as they are quite heavy.

 

 

 

[Be Quiet...Listen]

The 690’s will sound better with the Yamaha receiver. A more forgiving speaker. 

Give the 1000’s the right tube amp and you will definitely find them more pleasing. 

[Graceman]

  On 08/01/2018 at 6:06 AM, Willmax said:

Both NS-1000 home and monitor versions have the same drivers and crossovers hence similar sound signature, with the only difference being slightly bigger and heavier cabinet construction on the home version.

Expand  

 

The 1000 only has a larger cabinet on the outside!  The internal dimensions are identical.  However, the 1000 has an extra timber skin with a decorative edge and then veneered in ebony. The extra cabinet weight is said by some to slightly change the bass performance.

[THOMO]

I liked the Bose Lifestyle ones in the back.

[Willmax]

Original post updated with second comparison video. 

  On 07/01/2018 at 9:24 AM, Willmax said:

After many months if not years searching, I finally have the opportunity to have these coveted speakers under the one roof, so I thought it would be a good idea for a video comparison having them playing side by side, utilising the same source and same music.

For the comparison I used my trusty old Yamaha CR-1020 receiver as it allows me to connect 3 different pairs at the same time and be able to switch on the fly throughout the song, so please excuse the rudimentary technique.

Also used a Rode VideoMic Me to capture the sound as best as I could, unfortunately it does show in the frame due to the camera and audio jack position.

 

I'm not the best at describing what each speaker sounds like and the differences so I'll let the video do the talk, but I would love to hear your thoughts and any opinions about the comparison/setup.

 

Cheers,

Willmax

 

 

Take two:

I've moved the NS-1000M next to the NS-1000 (ebony) to be able to compare them side by side, the NS-690 was put in front with the stand a little higher (the CR-1020 receiver cannot be seen as it is behind the speaker). Hope this will allow for better comparison particularly between the two NS-1000 versions.

For the purpose of this video all High/Mid Level adjustments for all speakers were left as Normal (12 o'clock).

Please see video below:

 

 

 

Expand  

 

[vintagejapan]

I have not had the pleasure to listen to the NS-690 but had the NS-1000, NS-1000X and now still have in my possession the NS-2000. The certainly do not sound harsh, but will need to be setup properly.

They are unforgiving though and will show the recording as it was cut, good recordings will shine and bad one will sound just like that.

Although 1000 series are around 90db sensitivity and you can run them with just about anything you will find a good amp will make them sing properly.

You would be able to tell better if you recorded the speakers at the same spot in the room, and the attenuators are there to help and adjust the volume of mids and highs according to room size.

This way would require more work but will show better comparison between the speakers.

[skies2clear]

All 3 pairs of speakers could be identical but in those 3 different positions they will all sound different. Corner loading, vs pulled well away from rear and side wall, big difference.

But well done for doing this regardless ?

[magical]

  On 22/01/2018 at 3:42 AM, skies2clear said:

All 3 pairs of speakers could be identical but in those 3 different positions they will all sound different. Corner loading, vs pulled well away from rear and side wall, big difference.

But well done for doing this regardless ?

Expand  

The room is the most important part of the sound system. I've been in rooms where nothing would sound good. 

When buying my current house, I walked around the vaulted ceiling (5 meters,all odd angles) main room clapping my hands and Apparantly the seller asked my significant other "what's he doing", reply - if he likes how it sounds, and he'll buy it. Music room 8m x 9m with an indent. 

[JPete9]

  On 22/01/2018 at 11:37 AM, magical said:

The room is the most important part of the sound system. I've been in rooms where nothing would sound good. 

When buying my current house, I walked around the vaulted ceiling (5 meters,all odd angles) main room clapping my hands and Apparantly the seller asked my significant other "what's he doing", reply - if he likes how it sounds, and he'll buy it. Music room 8m x 9m with an indent. 

Expand  

somewhere on a real estate forum is an agent telling a story about some maniac he showed a house to who walked around clicking his tongue and clapping his hands. Endlessly wondering amongst themselves if its some new Swedish feng shei  

[JPete9]

I have the 690 mk1 and 1000xw and i have yamaha CA1000 and Weston Valves. I'll borrow a zoom recorder if some one wants to hear it?

[Willmax]

  On 16/02/2018 at 2:57 AM, JPete9 said:

I have the 690 mk1 and 1000xw and i have yamaha CA1000 and Weston Valves. I'll borrow a zoom recorder if some one wants to hear it?

Expand  

That would make for an interesting comparison Pete. I'd definitely be keen to listen if you can be bothered.

[Luc]

@evil c  is a expert on these Yammies. Ask him about the finer points in regard to room/placement/acoustic detail and much more.

[JSmith]

  On 13/01/2018 at 5:45 AM, vintagejapan said:

They are unforgiving though and will show the recording as it was cut, good recordings will shine and bad one will sound just like that.

Expand  

... as all speakers should!

 

JSmith

[Willmax]

Another comparison video recorded with a XY Zoom microphone and both pair of speakers in stands at the same height. 

Let me know your thoughts, hopefully this makes for a better comparison this time 

 

 

Edited April 19, 2018 by Willmax

[JPete9]

Hiya. I can really only perceive a volume change on my laptop  I've been putting a lot of effort in to find the best position and height. Mine are 300mm high at the base, i feel like 200mm will be optimum in my room. I've been trying them in really varying positions. Probably no surprise to anyone, but i found best bass against the wall, best mids way off the wall.

 

I played with toe in. With the triangle between you and the two speakers - even sitting on a stool 2metres closer to the speakers (where they become 3d and fade into the background and you cant the speakers anymore).  Maybe download REW and use the room SIM to guide you a little, its actually pretty close to the measurements. Here's mine. Hope this helps.

 

[Dave the Rave]

@Willmax my speakers opened up when they had space to breath i.e not close to the back wall  and slightly away from the side wall. Your demo setup seems to create limited space for either speakers to shine.

In terms of overall performance, the sources are as important as the amp. My DAC and transport made a huge difference.

Edited April 20, 2018 by Dave the Rave

[Willmax]

Counting Crows - Big Yellow Taxi....

....who said NS-1000s were bass shy?