If a record sounds good on NS-10s, it sounds good everywhere, which is why these white-coned Yamahas ended up on the meter bridge of nearly every serious studio on earth. The NS-10M line was used in so many control rooms that Yamaha was awarded a Technical Grammy for it in 2007. This is the NS-10MX of 1993, the magnetically shielded version and, in the view of many Japanese engineers, the pinnacle of the entire NS-10 series. Both drivers are shielded, cancelling interference to and from nearby gear, which makes it the most pristine-sounding NS-10 of all. Its parts are also the youngest of the family, six years newer than the 1987 models and fifteen years newer than the 1978 originals, so a clean pair like this is genuinely sought after. Expensive and hard to find outside Japan, and all the more desirable for it. Sold as a matched pair.

FEATURES & PROS:

• Both drivers shielded (A-Mag): Yamaha's own anti-magnetic circuit cancels interference to and from nearby gear, so the pair sits happily right next to screens and other equipment.
• The pinnacle NS-10: widely held by Japanese engineers to be the finest of the entire NS-10 series.
• The legendary drivers: the 18cm white cone and 3.5cm soft dome shared with the NS-10M Studio and Pro, the sound the industry trusts.
• Youngest of the family: 1993 parts, six years newer than the 1987 models and fifteen newer than the 1978 originals.
• Distinctive MX look: stands vertical with an optional removable front cover, and a grille-free tweeter sitting flush with the sealed box.
• Grammy-winning lineage: the NS-10 was so widely used that Yamaha received a Technical Grammy for it in 2007.
• Matched pair: two monitors, ready to work.

THE WORD: The dedicated NS-10MX reference at ns-10m.com calls it the pinnacle of the NS-10 series in the eyes of Japanese engineers: the same drivers as the NS-10M Pro and Studio, but with both drivers magnetically shielded and the youngest components of the family, expensive and rarely seen outside Japan. Read the full NS-10MX breakdown.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Model: Yamaha NS-10MX (magnetically shielded variant of the NS-10M)
• Year: 1993
• Type: 2-way, 2-speaker passive nearfield monitor, sealed acoustic-suspension cabinet
• Orientation: vertical, with optional removable front cover
• Woofer: 18cm white cone (as NS-10M Studio / Pro)
• Tweeter: 3.5cm soft dome, grille-free and flush with the cabinet
• Shielding: both drivers shielded via Yamaha's A-Mag anti-magnetic circuit
• Weight: around 1kg per speaker heavier than the standard NS-10M (added shielding); other specs match the 1987 models
• Market: expensive and rarely found outside Japan
• Quantity: matched pair
• Condition: used, fully functional