I think part of the story is that Ns-10 are bass shy.... so you over compensate and mix a bass heavy track. Well mixing bass heavy became very popular. There in lies the hype - you make half decent sounding on them and you have a thumpin ass track. Conversely, you mix on a bass heavy monitor and when it translates to other systems - it sounds whimpy....hmmm must be the monitors fault. It usually comes down to knowing your room system and monitors over a long period of time.

Digitalboy: I'd love to hear your monitors....sounds like you took the bull by the horns...good for you...do you have a mixed song that you could put up?

Another reason I remember having to get NS10's in the 80's is that every commercial studio had them.....compatibility.....kind of like why you need Pro Tools if you go back and forth from home to a commercial facility, lol

If you listen to Natalie Cole's Unforgettable CD (don't remember the exact cd title)....all of the tunes were mixed through NS10's......but then again David Foster was in the room

Has anyone tried Dynaudio's? They are used at the Nashville facility (in the avatar photo)....I really liked them, but then again the chief engineer is stellar.....listen to any Jason Aldean cut.....fat sounding as all get out

I just want something where everything is flat, particularly not bass heavy monitors......ironically with the NS10's I never mixed bass heavy to compensate, I guess I just got used to them

In defense of the NSM10, They will say you either love em or hate them, so leave it at that.

They sound pretty sad as a home stereo set ( I tried them) but all I can say is if you learn to trust them your mix WILL translate on to MORE other systems than most monitors that are out there. If you look closely at pictures of every major studio taken over the last 2 decades there they are sitting on the meter bridge.  Never alone, other much better monitors are also present. Lets just say that they were a tool that worked, and worked well for the majority of engineers.

 It was never a scam or a hype, only hobbyist fall for that kind of behavior. This is why they are a anonymity and always start a lively conversation. Hate em or love em, they will be missed by many.

PS, Bass is easy to add to playback via sub, or most any other monitor.  

Digitalboy - Sounds cool , I'd love to see some pics of yer monitors, maybe hear a mix?  How much did you spend on the parts to make them?  I am very good with wood working and have also been considering building some monitors myself so I am intrigued!

Speechless http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_sacat=0&_from=R40&_nkw=yamaha+ns10m+studio&_sop=3
I recorded an album with an early band,and most of the monitoring was done with the NS 10's,and even though the studio was fairly inexpensive,they had massive expensive looking corner/ceiling mounted 3 three ways with 15" bass drivers as well.
 
I actually remember the band especially the guitars sounded surprisingly good considering what I'd heard said[negatively]about these speakers,but I must say I'm thoroughly repulsed at the price they now go for second hand,i.e. link.
 
When this thread was written[I had to modify my link as I just discovered it now[Feb. 4th 2014] led to a basic home page of everything and anything on ebay whereas when I pasted it back in Nov.02 2012 it did lead to $800+ sets,now thei're even more.
 
Not too long after this thread,there was a Japanese fellow selling sets for around $200 AUD a pair,qute reasonable considering but freight to Adelaide was another 200+,which was lot considering I got some 5" Rokits sent from San Jose for less,and as they're powered they're a LOT heavier,though I still kind of wished I'd sprung for a pair of the 2 hundred ones now,hindsight is annoying hey.
 
Like Cactus,I don't believe for a second they couldn't replicate them fairly easily but just don't,which does irritate,as I do have this nagging want for a set,since I actually did like them that week in that studio back in 89,but there is no way I'm forking anymore than a few hundred max,since they are just bookshelf home stereo speakers,and that is the most they"re worth especially with mold on the yellowing speaker cones,and magnets falling off in transit,and of course pre blown,due to age.
Bob

Wow. Nice price for that pair. I have a pair in mint condition. Makes me think...

NS10s, ProTools, Apple Macs,...

It's funny how professionals choose gear that no self-respecting amateur would want to be associated with.

Proof. I just posted some songs all mixed on the NMS10- everyone agreed they sounded good on their systems too. If there's another monitor that does that for me then I'll buy them. 

Ditto that............again, there's a reason that they're still used in major studios.....I think the people that constantly bash them haven't really used them for any length of time....I'd rather mix on them then some powered bass heavy monitor any day of the week

I remember reading an interview some years ago with a well respected engineer, who As luck would have it, I can't remember, stating the reason everybody used the ns10ms, was because everyone ELSE was using them, and not because they were any good.  ;)

Yes, a few engineers have said that about NS10's..........I came from the world of commercial studios long before I had a home rig and bought NS10's to be compatible with the studios I was working in (Criteria, TK, New River, and a few others back then). But over a short period of time, I learned how to use these speakers and actually trust them even today. Yes, they have a high mid bump and again are bass shy......but if they sounded so bad, no one of any commercial caliber would be using them.

Interesting discussion on NS10s over on the womb even Ethen Winer chimes in..
 
NSFW some "earthy language" in the replies