Yamaha NS-1000M and NS-500M Scans

[SoCal Sam]

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=154865&highlight=yamaha+database

Ah yes, NN again!:yes:

I sent him an email with the hi-res scans for his database.

 

[ryuuoh]

Ah, good deal, far less than gambling on a parted out woofer. Good luck!~

Thanks, mate. Yes, it was the kameson site that gave me the idea to repair NS-1000 woofers.
There's a bloke on Ya*** auctions now repairing JA-series woofers for 6000yen (about $60).

 

[ryuuoh]

I had a chance at some 890s a few years ago, but they are rather LARGE for my space.
What are your observations on the sound?

I have a pair of NS-890 speakers... I assume they are in the line-up between the 690 and the 1000?

I'll scan the owner's manual for them when I have some time.

Chris

 

[ryuuoh]

I don't have 1000s, and I have never heard a pair. All I have listened to until recently is my original (bought in 1978) NS 690IIs. I'm no golden ear, but there is a definite quality to the cloth domed 690 series. Not to mention they had spruce fiber cone woofers.
I've read complaints about male vocals with the 600 series speakers, but I've yet to hear that shortcoming. The gusty John Wetton from King Crimson sounds fine to me~
Long story made short, buy a pair if you see one, and judge for yourself.

Thanks for the scans. Interesting thread. Can anyone explain to me, qualitatively, the difference in sound quality between the 690s and the 1000(M)s? I hardly ever see the 690s here, although I see 1000Ms with some regularity, and some of the other (smaller, lesser) models.

I'm a little surprised to read of so much love and respect for the 690s vis-a-vis the 1000s. If you already have the NS-1000Ms, and could easily get another pair (which is my situation), is there any good reason to try to find the 690s? Would they offer anything better than the 1000Ms, or anything different enough to be worth getting them for? If so, what?

 

[spaceman]

According to Yamaha's own specs the NS-690 goes 5Hz lower than the NS-1000.

Now I feel like my 1000s are really only 2nd best. I use organ woofers in mine though, due to a faulty stock woofer, so I'm not really sure how low they play. :scratch2: Thanks for the great pics, interesting to read up on these. :thmbsp:

 

[Balifly]

Would they offer anything better than the 1000Ms, or anything different enough to be worth getting them for? If so, what?

Perhaps you could listen to the NS 690s and review them. The NS1000 are not that common here, getting the NS 690s was a luck break. A pair of even lesser known NS 70T have been press into service for now.

Next year in J............!!!

 

[gvalent]

I've had a pair of 690ll's since '79. I love them. Last April I picked up a pair of NS-1000M's. I have never done a side-by-side comparison, but here are my thoughts:
The 1000M's are just what everybody says about them; absolutely incredible mids and highs and a very tight base (placed close against a wall, they are definitely not bass shy!).
The 690ll's have superb mids and highs and the bass is a little less focused.
The main difference between the two IMO is the 1000's will make good recordings sound as good as it gets, while poor or compressed recordings can sound awful.
The 690's are far more forgiving and everything sounds good.
I use my 1000's and stored away the 690's, but I don't think I'll ever get rid of either of these gems.

 

[SoCal Sam]

I've had a pair of 690ll's since '79. I love them. Last April I picked up a pair of NS-1000M's. I have never done a side-by-side comparison, but here are my thoughts:
The 1000M's are just what everybody says about them; absolutely incredible mids and highs and a very tight base (placed close against a wall, they are definitely not bass shy!).
The 690ll's have superb mids and highs and the bass is a little less focused.
The main difference between the two IMO is the 1000's will make good recordings sound as good as it gets, while poor or compressed recordings can sound awful.
The 690's are far more forgiving and everything sounds good.
I use my 1000's and stored away the 690's, but I don't think I'll ever get rid of either of these gems.

Well said. With good recordings of great artists, the NS-1000M's are spectacular. With "wall of sound" pop, recordings are revealed for what they are and I can't enjoy them. I run my NS-1000M's with tubes, which help to make them more forgiving, to a degree.

 

[merrylander]

Some of that may be the difference between woofers on the Mk IIs and the Mk Is. I was playing a Sheffield Lab record last Saturday and the kick drum was gut shaking.

 

[Balifly]

Some of that may be the difference between woofers on the Mk IIs and the Mk Is. I was playing a Sheffield Lab record last Saturday and the kick drum was gut shaking.

Are the Mk II and Mk I you were referring to, the NS 1000 series ?

Which Sheffield Lab records would you recommend, I have only the " The King James Version ".

 

[gvalent]

Are the Mk II and Mk I you were referring to, the NS 1000 series ?

Which Sheffield Lab records would you recommend, I have only the " The King James Version ".

The 690s came in three versions, in order of release. 690, 690ll and 690lll.

 

[merrylander]

Are the Mk II and Mk I you were referring to, the NS 1000 series ?

Which Sheffield Lab records would you recommend, I have only the " The King James Version ".

NS-690s, mine are the first edition. I was playing "Growing up in Hollywood Town with Amanda McBroom and Lincoln Mayorga. I have another "Lincoln Mayorga and Distinguished Colleagues" as well as a Wagner Sheffield. I also have a couple of Crystal Clear direct to disc LPs.

 

[webbb]

Sheffield Records

Which Sheffield Lab records would you recommend, I have only the " The King James Version ".

All of them.
Well I started collecting with "Thelma Houston" and managed to get the previous "Lincoln Mayorga and Distinguished Colleagues" same as Rob. Finding "The Missing Linc" would be an outstanding score. It is similar to the middle one above, pop arrangements of well known tunes.
"KJV" made me realize my parents music was worth listening to if it was recorded properly. There is at least one and maybe two more from that session with Harry James.
There is one with Dave Grusin, which is typical Grusin-Ritenour jazz, but it is awfully short for the amount of money you pay. I found a used CD of it last summer.
There are two Amanda McBroom albums, one of which has track "Amanda" that is probably despised by the poor stereo store salesmen of the day - great demo material but we rather over-played it.
The last one I collected I just cannot come up with the title - but it has Jeff Porcaro on drums and a couple of the tracks, if you have the volume up, will just knock you over when he starts. Also DX-7 synth work.

Sometimes these can be found as dubs to CD from analog or digital backup tapes they made at the same time as the direct disc recordings. Too bad Sheffield went out of business. Even if you did not particularly like the music the recording quality was simply stellar.

 

[Balifly]

All of them.
Well I started collecting with "Thelma Houston" and managed to get the previous "Lincoln Mayorga and Distinguished Colleagues" same as Rob. Finding "The Missing Linc" would be an outstanding score. It is similar to the middle one above, pop arrangements of well known tunes.
"KJV" made me realize my parents music was worth listening to if it was recorded properly. There is at least one and maybe two more from that session with Harry James.

Thank you merrylander and webbb for taking the time in your very enlightening reply!

I have written down the names of the artists and albums and will do some detail searches on the weekend.

My NS 690s are very listen-able, they look to be MK III s.
They are well matched with the Luxman amp, Akai turntable (CEC made) and Nagaoka MP 110 phono cartridge.