Yamaha NS-2000A Floorstanding Loudspeaker Review

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Introduction

Whether you are an avid audiophile or a newcomer to the world of premium audio Yamaha is a brand name you will immediately recognize. And although in the home theater market their speakers are not the most commercially known products, their AV receivers are, they do have a noteworthy lineup that deserves special mention. And for this reason in our Yamaha NS-2000A review today we will be testing one of their most recent releases.

The Yamaha NS-2000A is part of their new 2000 series that they announced and released early last year. The NS-2000A is the only floorstander in the series which includes two more bookshelves, the NS-600A and NS-800A, and the R-N2000A Network Receiver.

As we always do in our reviews, before we start our analysis, we will take a look at the speaker’s specs real quick. The Yamaha NS-2000A is a high performance 3-way floorstanding speaker. It comes equipped with dual 6.5″ bass woofers, a single 3.25″ mid-range driver a single 1.25″ dome tweeter. The speakers feature a lot of Yamaha’s proprietary technologies like Yamaha-patented R.S. (Resonance Suppression) chamber and an acoustic absorber resonator tube.

With a price tag of almost $8,000 the NS-2000A is surely aimed for the high end market. And the higher you go in price the more blurry the outlines of performance get. Do the NS-2000A manage to make an impact in this extremely demanding price category? Keep reading to find out.

Design, Inputs and Features

Exterior design & Dimensions

The Yamaha NS-2000A immediately commands attention with an exterior that marries timeless elegance with modern sophistication. Standing tall at 44-5/8 inches, these speakers boast dimensions that blend seamlessly into any audiovisual setup. The glossy finish, reminiscent of Yamaha’s grand pianos, adds a touch of luxury to its aesthetic, making it not just an audio device but a statement piece in your living space.

As for its size, we measured the NS-2000A to be 13″ x 44-5/8″ x 18-1/8″ (330 mm x 1134 mm x 459 mm) and with a weight of 72.3 lbs (32.8 kg) each.

Unfortunately Yamaha offers these only in a single color. In authentic piano black finish. Its quality is surely of the highest level. But we would like a bit more variation like a white option that would certainly look delicious.

Cabinet

Crafted with precision, the cabinet of the NS-2000A is a testament to Yamaha’s prowess in both musical instruments and speaker design. The robust construction, optimized using advanced Finite Element Method (FEM) analysis, ensures a solid foundation for the low-frequency response. The result is a cabinet that resonates with the clarity and richness of the sound it produces.

The cross piece of the cabinet has been optimally reinforced ensuring solid low-frequency response, providing a secure, comfortable musical foundation without anything being lost.

Traditional speakers typically incorporate a significant quantity of sound absorbing material to address standing waves within the enclosure. However, this approach often sacrifices the innate vibrancy of the music. With the NS-2000A, Yamaha implemented their exclusive Acoustic Absorber resonator tube. A patented technology designed to eliminate standing waves.

By minimizing the reliance on absorbing materials, this innovation ensures that the authentic realism of music, often diminished by excessive sound absorption, is faithfully reproduced with vibrant energy and dynamism.

Grilles

While aesthetics play a pivotal role, practicality is not overlooked. The inclusion of front, magnetically-attached, grilles provides a layer of protection without compromising the speaker’s sonic integrity. Yamaha struck a balance between preserving the speaker’s components and allowing its true essence to shine through.

Stand

The NS-2000A come with pre-attached outrigger feet that blend nicely with the rest of the cabinet design. If you want to place them on hard floors there are special screw spikes in the box that you can use.

The stand elevates the NS-2000A to an optimal height, contributing to the speaker’s overall performance. The stand is not just a support. It is an integral part of the design, aligning with Yamaha’s commitment to both form and function.

Drivers Design

The heart of any speaker lies in its drivers, and Yamaha has meticulously designed each element for optimal performance. Yamaha employs a blend of ZYLON and spruce in the Harmonious Diaphragm, an innovation ensuring uniform tonality across the audible spectrum.

This is a true 3-way design speaker we have here. At the top we find a single 1.25″ dome tweeter, with a 3.25″ mid-range driver below that while in the lower end the speakers use dual 6.5″ bass woofers.

Tweeter

Positioned at the zenith of high frequencies, the 3cm (1-1/4″) dome-type tweeter is a precision marvel. Its diaphragm, constructed from ZYLON, exhibits exceptional sound velocity and minimal internal dissipation. This design choice ensures the tweeter’s responsiveness to intricate audio details while minimizing distortion.

Yamaha’s commitment to accurate tonal representation is manifest in the tweeter’s implementation. The dome shape enhances dispersion, contributing to a wider and more immersive soundstage. Moreover, the integration of ZYLON in the diaphragm material significantly enhances sound speed, resulting in crisp, detailed, and distortion-free high-frequency reproduction.

Mid-range Driver

The midrange, often regarded as the linchpin between lows and highs, is entrusted to an 8cm (3-1/4″) dome-type driver. Yamaha’s selection of this component is strategic. as their aim was to infuse warmth and clarity into the audio reproduction. The diaphragm’s composition, blending ZYLON and spruce, plays a pivotal role in achieving faithful reproduction of vocal nuances and instrument subtleties.

This mid-range driver stands as a testament to Yamaha’s dedication to tonal balance. Its construction allows for precise control over the mid frequencies. Thus ensuring that every element in the audio mix is conveyed with accuracy and richness.

Woofers

The low-frequency foundation is laid by two 16cm (6-1/2″) cone-type woofers, representing Yamaha’s commitment to a harmonious sound field. The choice of materials and design in these woofers is paramount in achieving a balanced audio profile.

Yamaha engineers have meticulously crafted these woofers to deliver depth without compromising the finer details. The cones exhibit properties that allow for controlled and dynamic bass response. The careful calibration of these woofers ensures that the low frequencies resonate with power, yet remain finely nuanced, contributing to an immersive and well-balanced audio experience.

Drivers Specifications

The combination of the 1.25″ tweeter, 3.25″ mid-range driver and dual 6.5″ bass woofers give the NS-2000A the following characteristics. A frequency response of 34Hz – 65kHz (- 10dB), 6 ohms of impedance and 88 dB sensitivity.

The crossover frequency between the tweeter and the mid-range driver is set at 3.5 kHz while the mid-range/bass crossover is set at 750 Hz. Recommended power is between 60W and 200W.

Connectivity

Beyond its captivating design and powerful drivers, the NS-2000A embraces connectivity with large, screw-type speaker terminals. Crafted from pure brass, these terminals ensure a secure connection, maintaining absolute signal integrity.

Since there are no dual posts you cannot bi-amp or bi-wire these specific speakers.

Positioning & Setup

Their hefty weight certainly requires two people when unpacking. So definitely ask someone to help you when placing them. In the box, except from the usual manuals you also get special spikes for the outrigger feet.

Placement

Unlike other brands, Yamaha does not mention specific speaker distances. They only advise for slightly angling them toward the listening position. But in general floorstanding speakers should be around 6 to 15 feet (1.8 to 4.6m) apart. Your sitting position should be 1 to 1.5 times the distance separating the speakers.

Obviously these are general guidelines and give you an idea of normal positioning. But as always you need to experiment to find how they sound best to you and make changes accordingly.

For this review we left around 2 feet from the back wall in order to give them slightly more breathing space. Keep in mind that placing the speakers near a wall will increase their bass output. But this will be at the cost of overall definition so finding the best balance is always crucial. And with the NS-2000A’s rear port nature, placement near a wall can change the sound output to a certain degree.

Distance between the two speakers was, as usual, around 9 feet. We also like to toe-in them a little towards our viewing position for better sound imaging.

Running Hours

Before delving into the auditory journey, acknowledging the significance of running hours is imperative. Like most speakers, the NS-2000A benefit from a break-in period. Allowing the speakers to run for a recommended duration ensures that each driver settles into its role, contributing to the speaker’s overall performance.

Most manufacturers do suggest to give them certain time in order to get the best out of them. This usually comes at about 100 hours on average for most brands. But each one gives slightly different numbers that’s why we do suggest 100 hours, to be on the safe side.

There is one last thing to mention here. In our movies testing we tend to strictly use a 4.0 channels surround system. A full surround system can sometimes cover some weaknesses many speakers have.

But with our half baked system it is easier to determine how they can perform. Obviously if you add a subwoofer along with a center speaker the overall immersion will increase tenfold. So keep this in mind when you read our reviews.

As for our music testing we always switch to a standard 2.0 channels audio setup that most audiophiles tend to go with. Obviously since we are more into movies we will use an AV receiver instead of separates. But as you can imagine a dedicated music setup will do even better in this regard.

So without further delay, and after finishing the necessary audio calibrations with our Marantz AV receiver, we moved on with our tests.

Movies

Alien Covenant

First test of the day, and our film of choice was Alien Covenant with its eerie Dolby Atmos mix since we decided to test the 4K UHD version.

At the front, the NS-2000A established a formidable soundstage, enveloping us in a three-dimensional sonic landscape. The precision of the drivers ensured that every sound, from subtle whispers to thunderous roars, was precisely placed, enhancing the cinematic immersion.

In the realm of dialog, the clarity was striking. The midrange driver, with its dome-type design, exceled in reproducing nuanced vocals. Dialogues were rendered with a lifelike quality, allowing every spoken word to resonate with authenticity.

The low frequencies, orchestrated by the powerful woofers, added a visceral dimension to the cinematic experience. In Alien Covenant, where deep rumbles and ominous tones abound, the NS-2000A delivered a bass response that was really felt, not just heard.

Alien Covenant features a dynamic range of sounds, from the eerie ambiance of the alien planet to its intense action sequences. The NS-2000A’s tonality ensured that each element contributed harmoniously to the overall experience.

Apollo 13

Once again, the NS-2000A proved their prowess in crafting a front soundstage that elevated the movie-watching experience. Whether it was the subtle rustle of spacesuits or the roaring engines of the spacecraft, the spatial accuracy was exceptional.

In the intricate dialogues of Apollo 13, the NS-2000A’s midrange driver shined. Capturing the subtleties of human communication, it added a layer of realism to the dialogues, making us feel like we were part of the mission.

The controlled and impactful bass response enhanced the drama of all low end action scenes we tried. The NS-2000A struck a delicate balance, delivering powerful low frequencies without overshadowing the delicate nuances of the movie soundtrack.

The speakers exceled in clarity, sound imaging, transparency, and tonality and thus delivered a really unforgettable performance.

Closing Remarks

In the realm of movies, the Yamaha NS-2000A deserve an audition. Whether it’s the spine-chilling suspense of Alien Covenant or the awe-inspiring journey of Apollo 13, these speakers proved their mettle in reproducing the magic of cinema.

Music

Next, we switched to a pure 2.0 channels audio setup with only the two front speakers connected and we streamed a selection of FLAC music tracks through the front USB port of our Marantz receiver.

Fidelity & Overall Quality

At the core of the NS-2000A’s musicality lies an unwavering commitment to fidelity. The harmonious diaphragm manifested a tonal balance that stayed true to the artist’s intent. This fidelity extended across the entire audible spectrum, capturing the nuances of each instrument and vocal with unparalleled precision.

The overall quality of musical reproduction is a testament to Yamaha’s dedication to perfecting the art of sound. The speaker’s ability to faithfully reproduce the texture of instruments and the subtleties of vocal timbres contributed to a listening experience that transcended traditional boundaries.

Bass

As for bass, the NS-2000A’s dual 6-1/2-inch cone-type woofers came to life, delivering a bass response that was powerful but yet unusually controlled. These controlled yet potent low frequencies added a visceral dimension to the musical journey, enhancing the impact of genres ranging from classical compositions to contemporary beats.

Different Content

The versatility of the NS-2000A became apparent when exploring different musical genres. From the intricate arrangements of classical symphonies to the pulsating beats of modern jazz or rock, the speakers adapted seamlessly, ensuring that each genre was presented with authenticity and dynamism.

The harmonious diaphragm, coupled with Yamaha’s patented resonance suppression chambers, contributed to a musical experience that was both captivating and true to the source.

Whether it’s the delicate plucking of strings, the thunderous resonance of a grand piano, or the nuanced articulation of a vocalist, the NS-2000A preserved the essence of each musical element.

Final Thoughts

Yamaha’s fusion of advanced technologies, meticulous design, and a commitment to sonic purity elevated the NS-2000A to a coveted position among audio enthusiasts. Yamaha knows their craft. And these speakers truly show what they are capable of when they set their sights on a specific goal.

Yamaha’s NS-2000A stands out for its unmatched fidelity, seamlessly adapting to various musical genres. Meticulous craftsmanship, driven by the harmonious blend of ZYLON and spruce, ensures a tonal balance beyond boundaries. The impeccable bass response, advanced technologies, and visual elegance make it a high-fidelity marvel.

On the other hand, the considerable size of the speakers may challenge placement in smaller spaces, requiring thoughtful integration. Premium pricing, due to the advanced technologies used, will certainly make a lot of consumers think twice. Potential buyers must balance immersive audio benefits with space and budget considerations for an informed decision.

We reached the end of our Yamaha NS-2000A review and we can say with certainty that these speakers emerge as a triumph in the realm of floorstanding loudspeakers. Its ability to faithfully reproduce both cinematic and musical content, coupled with an elegant design reminiscent of Yamaha’s piano craftsmanship, positions it as a top-tier choice for those seeking uncompromising audio quality in this price category.

For more reviews you can check our dedicated Floorstanding Speaker reviews list or even look at our Product Reviews Table where you can find the brand and specific product you are looking for.

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