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Yamaha NS-555 Tower Speaker
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Product Description
Yamaha's NS-555 speaker system has been designed specifically for home theater applications. The floor standing speaker is a bass-reflex design that can be used for main channels and incorporates a pair of 6 1/4" Polymer-Injected Mica Diaphragm (PMD) cone woofers, a 5" midrange cone driver and a 1" aluminum dome tweeter. For improved imaging, the midrange and tweeter utilize Yamaha's exclusive waveguide horns.
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Average User Rating:
5.0
out of
5
Number of Ratings:
3
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User Reviews for
Yamaha NS-555 Tower Speaker
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A ribeye steak for the price of a hot dog???
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Reviewed
May 1 2006 5:03:34 AM
7
out of
7
users found this recommendation helpful.
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Ratings:
5
out of 5
Pros:
Very musical...very beautiful...very good! |
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Cons:
Too cheap!!!! I have written more than review on these speakers. And thats because I want every one to know that it is impossible to buy another pair of speakers that can compare with these for less than $1500 a pair. And I still know of no speakers that look as good as these for under two grand!
But it is truly the performance of this system that makes them worth talking about.
Constructed of hardwood and only the finest materials, there is nothing you can play on this system that doesn't sound good. I describe the NS-555's as being very nuetral. You just don't ever get tired of listening to music or anything else for that matter. And although bass is not earthshaking it is more than adequate, never overwhelming the rest of the material.
Whilst some have called the silver feet 'misplaced', Yamaha has effectivly increased the size of the speakers footprint making this a very stable system. (Turn them upside down right out of the box on a soft area to install the feet) And at almost forty five pounds this speaker performs in a class easily four times its price. Highs and lows and mids seamlessly work together to reproduce music in a very rich and satisfying way. Thom Rottela Bands', 'Bring on the night' recorded by the late DMP recording lable, is pleasantly recreated with much more soundstage and imaging than one would ever expect from a system produced with home theater in mind. Which is why the audio world still has not taken the notice to these speakers they should have. They have been marketed primarily as a home theater speaker system. Price has a lot to do with it too!
I strongly challenge a publication like Audiophile to give a listen to these $500 (i paid $300...for the pair...retail!!!!) gems! I know they won't take the challenge but I've got to tell you...I've listened to a lot of speaker systems and you will have to look hard and very long to find speakers that will out perform these speakers for less than $1500. And I'm sorry, but you can't dismiss that the NS-555's, with thier eliptical shape and the high gloss grand piano finish is worthy of some kind of award, because they look evrey bit as good as they sound.
To conclude...if you really are an audiophile, and not just a rich snob who thinks you are an audiophile just because you can afford to eat steak every night, give these speakers a listen. And try not to think about the fact that at such a value even the guy who eats hot dogs every night just might be listening to the same speakers that you are!
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NS-555 Audiophile on a Shoestring Budget
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Reviewed
September 27 2008 1:50:40 PM
0
out of
0
users found this recommendation helpful.
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Ratings:
5
out of 5
Pros:
Quality, looks, sound and fantastic price |
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Cons:
Break-in neccesary / Bass port makes placement critical These are very well made, solid cabinetry, superb speakers, visually stunning with the grills on or off.
I have had them less than a month but under operation, listening to CDs I have heard the speakers change significately in their reproduction of the music. These speakers new are overly crisp, tight and precise, BUT as time goes on they will break in and smooth out, loosen up, and loose the initial harshness as they break-in.
The first change was at about 90 minutes into playing, I begain at low volumes and slowly work the volume up very couple of songs. As the volume was increased to about -4db on the receiver's display there was a noticable smoothing out, the harsh crisp edge softened and the sound became more natural. The second time was at about 30 hours in under the same circumstances.
They continue to smooth out and become more natural sounding as time goes on. Conventional wisdom says the break period is about 100 hours of play time so I do have more to go, but they are improving still.
They have ported backs for the bass speakers and as such the placement of these in relationship to the walls will affect the bass reproduction, so if you have the space and time try some different distances from the walls and corners.
Hook up gives you the choice of bare wire, spade or banana connectors. They are also set up to BI-WIRE connect. The tweeter and midrange have one set of posts and the 2 bass speakers have another, they come with a heavy duty connecting clips that you can remove to Bi-Wire. Bi-Wire hook up is also supposed to improve the bass response. Some people say the bass is lacking, I am getting plenty of bass with out bi-wiring. They sound great playing all sorts of music and used as the fronts in the Home Theater surround system they are awesome.
I have a Yamaha RX-V663 A/V Receiver which is a superb home theater and music amp.
I am using the Oppo 983 DVD player as the source for DVD and CD signals and it is really a good player.
The NS-555 can be found on sale and as such the value is even better for these outstanding speakers that do give you audiophile on a shoestring budget.
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