Well, the NS-10s… (I was wondering when it was gonna come out again…)

NS-10s r discontinued, BTW.

The NS-10s were initially marketed as “bookshelf” speakers, meaning they’re supposed 2 b mounted on a shelf, near a wall.

Since an additional boundary will add LF energy, the speaker response was tailored 2 have less LF then usual (free standing).

In the 80’s a west coast engineer discovered that when mounted on a console’s meter bridge the speaker is a kind of a “midrange magnifying glass”, and the lack of LF and HF (he used 2 cover the tweeters with tissue paper) caused his mixes 2 sound full of LF & HF (negative 2 what he heard), and very accurate in the midrange.

Since he was VERY successful, the rest is history…

You really have 2 know these babies in order 2 make a reasonable mix.

Tips:

Don’t mix in soft level.
Compare 2 other speakers.
Check on headphones.
Watch and learn the cone movement.
Change cones when they become hard. (6 months in a pro studio, 3 in a duck!-the-speaker-is-diving-at-u 1)
Don’t expect the result U hear on other speakers. Learn how commercial mixes sound on the NS-10.
Drive them with a fast, powerful amp.
Keep them away from walls.
If ur mixes come out 2 dull, cover the tweeters w/ tissue paper. (Take care- those r different, darker-than-original tweeters now).
The listening angle has a gr8 effect on the speaker colour. Don’t change it.
Every now and then take a break. Ear fatigue happens quickly.
Every now and then step away from the speaker and listen from out of the sweet spot.
Don’t drink water after eating fruit.
Use the NS-10 “m” model – not the “studio” crap.
Tweeters r quick 2 burn out. Some fuse them. Smarter entities use a car light bulb.

NS-10s r IMHO rock-pop oriented. 4 dance I’d use other speakers.

If U hate them- good. Many share ur POV.
If U love them- good. Many share ur POV.

Peace,

Zooot.