After months of dragging my heels, I finally upgraded my monitors. For years I’ve been using Behringer Truth active monitors and getting pretty good at mixing on them. A few weeks ago I purchased a pair of [amazon_link id="B000QPH1CO" target="_blank" container="" container_class="" ]Yamaha HS50 monitors[/amazon_link]. These are very different speakers.
HS 50M
- 5″ White polypropylene cone
- ¾” Dome tweeter
- 70-watt biamplified power
- XLR and ¼” connectors
- Room control and frequency response switches
They are affordable nearfield monitors with tight bass and accurate mids.
These monitors get compared to the classic Yamaha NS10s a lot. Not just because they both have white cones. They both have a very forward and accurate midrange. Using the +2dB midrange switch on the back, they sound similar to NS10s.
The stereo width on these monitors is very wide, seemingly beyond the width of their placement. That is a good thing, unfortunately their depth, front to back image is not like most other monitors. Because the midrange is not flattering like so many inexpensive monitors, the sound seems to come from right in front of you, this can be a little strange at first.
The bass is more accurate tighter and detailed than a lot of other monitors I’ve heard. Comparing them with my old ones, these ones don’t go down quite as low, but it’s a very smooth response from 120 down to 55 hz. The old Behringer monitors go down to 40 but it’s far from smooth, there is very audible volume changes between frequencies in that range. One of the things I constantly struggled with in my mixes was undefined and muddy low-end, now I know why.
I find that when I’m mixing on these new Yamahas I’m getting much closer to getting the mix right on the first try. I can get the balances right first try, where before the bass was too loud, or the vocals were too loud, just generally unbalanced when played on anything else.
Anything that makes my mixing easier or faster is worth it for me. I’m finishing a mix in 4 hours with maybe 1 more hour of tweaks later rather than 3 or 4 revisions.
So what’s not to like about these speakers?
Well the lack of front to back depth is a bit strange, but it seems to really help getting the balances of a mix right.
The mids and highs make them less enjoyable to listen to at moderate or high levels. They can be a bit fatiguing, but not as much as NS10s.
But to me that’s fine, these aren’t stereo speakers, they’re professional mixing tools. That detailed midrange is what makes these so good.
Yamaha also makes a larger version of these the HS80 with an 8” woofer. They’re very different from the HS50s, much more low end but the midrange is very different. Still a good set of monitors if your room can handle the extra low end, but you’ll need something smaller to accompany them for your detailed midrange work.
That’s about all there is to say about these. If you’re looking for a good first set of monitors, go with these, if you’ve got a big set of monitors with 8” speakers, get these as a secondary set. If you’ve got a set of monitors you don’t really trust, get these.
They cost about $200 each in the US and can often be found for even less.
Check out the[amazon_link id="B000QPH1CO" target="_blank" container="" container_class="" ] Yamaha HS-50m Studio Monitors[/amazon_link]
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Amen brutha! For the price, these can’t be beat. Got mine at Banjo Mart on a sale weekend, $300 for the pair!
I still like my NS10s better, but these are a worthy alternative, and with built in amplification to boot.
nice review.
I’ve used it for a few years. Once I installed it in my room. Its high-mid freq is a bit too harsh, especially with heavy distortion guitar. So I trimed the high switch down 2dB and everything is ok.
I’m going to keep all the controls flat until I’m really sure how they translate. I don’t find the 2dB to make much of a difference anyway.
Nice review. I had a pair of Event ALP5s for a couple years. I would imagine these are a little bit better than those. Are you keeping the Behringers as a reference?
Nah, the old set is going up on Craigslist today
Nice review. I’ve been using them for a while (with flat EQ) and I’m happy with them.
Cheers lads!
I’ve got a 5.1 system using these and the optional sub-woofer. I absolutely love them for mixing both music and TV/film projects.
the event alp5 monitors are way better than the hs50. very balanced and not as cold as the hs50.
great review! probably the best/most in depth and practical ive read so far.
i just bought a pair of these and cant wait to get them home and set them up
It’s been over a year – are your thoughts still the same on these monitors? I am about to make a new purchase and was wondering if you still stand by these at this price point. Thanks.
Yes I’m still really happy with them. The image is wide and the sound is very clear but with a forward midrange. Not thinking about changing them for a while. I’d possibly get some tiny speakers next.
I heard some very expensive Genelec monitors recently and was shocked at how much detail was smoothed over on those. I like the hs50 more than M-Audio or KRK monitors and more than the HS-80 and MSP5. The MSP7 are pretty nice but way more expensive.
I had the KRK Rokit 8inch – but they were too boomy for my small room – I dont mix – I just make productions and beats for artists and the whole project is then taken to a real professional studio.
I just installed the HS 50′s because i was looking for smaller monitors (the KRK 8inch that I had were too big for my room) so I cant be accurate on my opinion yet, but on a first listen i realised that the lows on my tracks (unmixed though) were a little lower than what i was used to hearing – but im gonna trust the HS50′s cause I knew since the first day that the KRK’s boost the low end a bit more.
For 290 euros the pair i think its a very fair deal