And those ripe looking grapes that I can't reach, I am sure that are sourThe centennial series nameplate at the bottom of the wofers looks like gray plastic ?
ADDRead my post above, one answer below, when you first asked this question.
The GF-1 & NSX-10000 are very rare even in Japan I would imagine the best way to find out is check the sold items on hifido Japan they have an English and Japanese language web sites. Note which hifido shop sold them and the send them an email. I wanted to buy a pair of immaculate NSX-10000 on hifido about a week ago (July 2016) and enquired as I had them on the hifido "alert system for a new arrival" one of their employees contacted me via email in pretty good English and advised me their were 8 people ahead of me on the waiting list!
I did see a pair of NSX-10000 for sale on the bay this week, in USA pick up only for around $11000. They looked in excellent condition. You could ask the seller - send him a message about the surrounds or do what rottalpha suggest buy them & let us know.
You can get a pair of NS-2000 which are very similar in sound "just not as magnificent" according to this fellow at hifido. The NSX-10000 are not giant speakers they weigh 52kg each to the NS-2000 47kg each. The Yamaha GF-1 are true giants weighing in at a sumo back breaking 150kg each!
The NS-2000 come up 2 - 4 times a year on hifido.
I bought my NS-2000s and Diatone DS-5000 from hifido. Postage to Australia was expensive due to their weight 2x52kg Packed and 2x87kg respectively and import charges . The packaging was superb, Diatones arrived inside a bubble warped padded wooden crate and the NS-2000 double boxed with the original Yamaha NS-2000 boxes. Few companies could do a better job.
Happy hunting and keep us all updated if you do find out.
Yes I do as I asked hifido if they were available!
Congratulations you have excellent taste in speakers.
Would love to hear your thoughts on those magnificent beasts. I still have my NS-2000.
As a consolation I have the magnificent Diatone DS-5000 in my living room, they are truely world class as well.
I've got an assortment of amps and preamps, mainly McIntosh and Luxman gear, and also a Manley Stingray. I like to change them around among speakers when I have time. Since I got the NSX-10000's last summer, I've had them connected to a table with an SS route as follows: Digital files played on a Mac running Amarra through a Chord64 DAC to a Luxman L-509u (125 W/channel into the 6 Ohm Yammies, just at their musical rating); and two tube routes: Vinyl on a Thorenz TD 126 through McIntosh C20 early model pre, output through either MC30's (one for each speaker) or an MC275 to the two speakers.I was wondering what pre/power amp & source(s) you used with the NSX-10000?
I envy you for the Leben. I had one some 10 years ago at home for a 30-day trial, but it didn't work well with a pair of difficult speakers I was fighting to make work at the time (Sonus Faber Guarneri Homage). I gave up on the Leben, and after several other amps also gave up on the Guarneri. I now really regret having given up the Leben (though I'm glad to be rid of the Guarneri). The Leben CS300x and 600x were relatively cheap (mine was Y60k, about $600) and easy to find in Japan at the time, as they hadn't yet been discovered widely outside. Nowadays they're hard to find here and . That amp has something really magical about it, it's great for tube rolling, and it is undoubtedly superb through the NS-2000's.I also enjoy my Leben CS300xs tube integrated - has a really nice organic sound and nice synergy with the NS-2000..
No, I haven't seen or heard them yet, but from what I've read "comparing a new 2016 Porsche with a classic Porsche" is probably an accurate description. They are in roughly the same price range, too. I have these NSX-10000 also partly for the romantic/historical/collector value, and, unlike my NS-2000's, the 10000's are in a 24/7 humidity/temp-controlled environment, with several classic McIntosh pieces, all in minty-gem museum-quality condition. For that reason also I haven't moved them to try in other rooms. As a collector-type person myself, their brand-new, nearly flawless condition is also part of the pleasure to me.Not sure if you have heard the NS-5000 yet?
Well the NSX-10000's are certainly what the legends say - it's not hype.
I have NS-2000's in a very different set-up, and I really love them, but here are a few stunningly obvious differences to start:
1. Physically, the NSX-10000 does not have tweeter/mid volume adjustments. Instead, they offer an immaculately balanced factory setting that you wouldn't dare adjust if you could.
2. Sonically, I find the tweeter on the NS-2000 to be it's weakest point. For that reason, I run mine with a pair of B&W 805N next to them, half-amped so that only the tweeter plays, and adjust the tweeter level down on the NS-2000. The combination works pretty well, playing long symbol shimmers, etc., that are just a bit deadened and sometimes a even tad shrill on the 2000s alone. I prefer the tweeters on the NS-1000x, but they are still not up to snuff compared to the tweeters in some of my other speakers. This is one of the three main sonic areas that stand out on the 10000's: Yamaha solved all the problems the tweeter had on all the previous NS-1000 and 2000 series. This tweeter is super sensitive and delicate, and capable of the subtlest high note nuances. In terms of subtlety, I would compare it more to an Esotar than to the NS-2000 tweeter, though the overall sound of an Esotar is different, maybe more "colorful."
3. Also sonically, the bass on the NS-2000 is not only a tad deeper, but much bigger. Although I love deep, clear bass, I find myself actually keeping the bass adjust down on the amp I have driving those. Here again, on the NSX-10000 the bass is in perfect balance with the whole sound spectrum.
4. The NSX-10000s are so extremely system-dependent that changing any cable or preamp/amp driver/output tube anywhere changes the whole sound, moreso than the 2000's.
Testing sound quality differences between tubes in my various tube pre/amps is fun, and I can choose the tubes I like best very quickly compared to with other speakers.
With any decent combination, they are spooky natural and real. I often find myself turning the sound off and rushing to the window or door to investigate some outside sound, only to find that, once again, it was something on a recording.
All three of the drivers are designed based on similar principles as for rest of the series, but with significantly improved materials, production techniques, and design tweaks. The same goes for the cabinetwork and the crossovers. The NSX-10000 was the last of the Berryllium dome series, and incorporates lessons learned from all the previous models as well as a lot of new innovation.
I haven't heard the Diatone 5000's (yet), though I have test-listened to several high Diatone models from the era and their sound signature is great, and totally different from the Beryllium Yammies. Congrats on those as well!
Yes, that NS-1000xw should go quickly, and I'm also surprised it hasn't been snatched up yet, because of their rarity and, face it, handsomeness. The local market prices for the NS-1000M, X models tend to be a bit lower than the international/HiFiDo market, though.There is currently a gorgeous pair of NS-1000xw's on their site (sort of shocked there is not a "hold" on them) that really look like a dead ringer for the NS-2000's. I know Kenrick sound (Japan) experiments with different materials for tweeters and I bet they have a solution for the NS-2000 tweeter (at a premium of course).
Yes, that NS-1000xw should go quickly, and I'm also surprised it hasn't been snatched up yet, because of their rarity and, face it, handsomeness. The local market prices for the NS-1000M, X models tend to be a bit lower than the international/HiFiDo market, though.
I have a pair of NS-1000xw, and with the screens on they actually look more like a mini NSX-10000 than the NS-2000, mainly because the 2000 has a beveled top edge, giving it an overall "rounder" look. I've thought of replacing the tweeter in my 2000s with nice tweeters like Esotars as my old SF Guarneri's had, though the xover of 6k is pretty low for v those, but the cross-over circuit in our Yammies is a horrible task to mess with. I've also dreamt many times of handing my 2000's (plus a king's ransom) over to Kenrick sound and let them do their magic on the cabinet as well as the tweeter. Did you notice this week there are two really nice-conditioned NS-2000's up on HiFiDo? Honestly, I nearly freaked when I saw both an NS-2000 and an NS-1000xw suddenly on there at once this week, and nearly shaking I quickly checked the serial Nos. to see whether mine had been stolen (by someone verrry strong). It turned out the SN of that pair of 2000's is only one digit off from mine! Both of the NS-2000's got holds put on them the first day they appeared on HiFiDo. There is a long waiting list for them, because they are truly great speakers. My minor gripe about the tweeter is only relative to some other great speakers. Yes, that beaten-up pair of NSX-10000 you mentioned went for $7.5k in February or so, and someone is probably happy even with that, no doubt. I'm glad I held out for my pair though because I'm nerdy and finicky about the looks and collector value of things. I'd been on the waiting list for 8 or 10 years, and I am a very familiar face at HiFiDo, so I got lucky this time. I was also on their list for the GF-1 for that long, and a set finally came along at the end of 2014, but was way beyond my means. I don't feel a need to climb any higher for speakers anymore though (so far...)
Sometimes the hold on something is only 1 person or a few. They have a week to check the item out in the shop before buying, and very often the first don't buy. It's always worthwhile to add your name to the list if you want something. I've obtained a number of things from there after waiting for others to release their hold. Yes, I know well about the WAF/price problem. That requires special techniques to get past ...I really wish their email updates were faster because as you say the 2000's always have a hold on them as soon as they appear.
Hi Deaf in Left - I asked hifido if your NSX-10000 were for sale as they were on my "alert system for new arrivals list" they told me there were 8 people ahead of me!
Regarding the previous pair of NSX-10000 which sold around $7500 in January 2016 - the damage to the cabinets was an absolute tragedy. Also looking at the chunk of wood missing (chipped) from one of the speakers and the scratches on top of the cabinets & the price really put me off. The previous owner clearly did not treat them with the respect they really deserve. My NS-2000 have mint condition cabinets.
I have tried playing them loud, you're correct they don't distort, neither do my Diatones and im sure they make my neighbors think we're being hit by subsonic tremors!
Yes please!If anyone wants, I can try to put some iPhone camera snaps of details of my NSX-10000s on here. For example, I was surprised that the gold-plated Berryllium driver protectors are magnetic and come right off, leaving the Berryllium (dangerously) nude. The diffraction pattern rainbow effect due to their thinness looks really cool without the covers, if I can capture that.