Review: Yamaha NS-s20i Monitor Speakers - Almost Vintage, Still Sounding Fresh

A blast from the golden past! I bought a while back a pair of almost near mint condition Yamaha NS-s20i monitor speakers. Their main function, or the reason why I bought them was to have some nice cheap speakers to take with me to parties or summer cottages to play some music with friends at neighbor-disturbing levels. I think I paid around 100 € euros for them and now I am convinced that they were an absolute steal. Let me tell you why.

 Yamaha NS-s20i up-close

The Yamaha NS-s20i speakers were produced around year 1989 or at least that's what numerous internet sources claim. They are big bulky and sturdy speakers with dimensions of 280 x 480 x 305 mm and equipped with hefty rubber edged 21 cm bass/mid driver (approx. 8") and 2,5 cm tweeter. They are rated at 160 W input power, 6 ohm impedance and sensitivity around 87-88/dB - what all this means is that they will play loud if needed even with average powered amplifiers. Yes I tried this and the overall voice holds together marvelously up to a point, just don't expect them to brake (m)any laws of physics.

Despite their bulkiness they have the same kind of appeal as some more expensive Harbeths or Audio Note speakers if you are into "retro styled" speakers. With matching wood framed stands they might look alright in a HiFi system but I doubt they have place in home decoration magazine along white small Genelecs. Leave the grills attached and they look even bulkier. The black veneer finish is not by any means particularly stylish, and reminds me of some really cheap Sony speakers I had ages ago. The back of the speaker is not even fully fished giving the speaker a bit cheap feel. I'm not sure how much the retail price for these were as new but judging from the aesthetics alone they clearly are not far above the entry level. The model number does not give much indication of where in Yamaha's long line of speakers they fit.

Yamaha NS-s20i - Stylish or not?

I have tried them with my 50 W Dayens Ampino monoblocks and with Samson SX1200 and Samson Servo 260 PA-amplifiers paired with Abrahamsen V3.0 pre-amplifier. Using DACs like Atoll DAC100 and Burson Conductor it seems clear to me that the Yamaha NS-s20i are extremely capable and revealing speakers that definitely have some of Yamaha's world class monitor speaker DNA in them. The Anti-cables speaker cables leaves no stone unturned when it comes to neutrality, making it a nice pair with the NS-s20i. Even at around 30 years old they deliver music at stunning transparency. Being monitor speakers, they really let you "see" the music in front of you, not hiding anything behind them - in other word they really don't offer much dimension in this regard. The sound stage is more two dimensional, but it is a beautiful room-filling wall NS-s20i create. This is not necessary a bad them when watching movies or playing games.

Needless to say they are very neutral despite their big box like looks and capable of bringing ear tickling high pitched voices and effects as well as fine micro and macro dynamics and tight bass at glass shaking levels. I think this is thanks to the large bass/mid driver that lets the music play effortlessly, especially after having listened or having been used to smaller standmount speakers. The front reflex port lets you place them near the back wall as one might in studio setup.

Yamaha NS-s20i

The neutrality and slightly aggressive in-your-face sound signature rises the possibility of some listening fatigue on certain material, so depending on one's taste, paring the NS-s20i with slightly mellower gear might not be a bad idea. It would be cool the hear and see them with newer Yamaha gear such as A-S1100 amplifier.

Switching to Michell Tecnodec & Tecnoarm turntable with Denon DL103 cartridge the harshness and over analytic trebles smoothen nicely. Paul Simon's Graceland LP is an enjoyment every time and certainly that it is the case with the NS-s20i also. Paul's voice is just tangible and the attention goes to following the playful bassline in Diamonds On The Soles of Her Shoes. The dynamics are fast and have true sense of scale and that forementioned easiness.

They might not have the latest word in absolute delicacy, dimensionality of the sound stage or transparency but it is clear that at a second hard price the Yamaha NS-s20i are an absolute bargain. They will surprise and leave you wondering why on earth did you pay many many times more on your main speakers. After listening them for a while for this review session I'm starting to wonder why are they still in my living room while my Dynaudio Focus 160s sit idle in the corner. I'm pretty that sure if I already didn't own the Focus 160s I'd be fairly happy with the Yamaha NS-s20i - not taking anything away from the Focus 160s.

The NS-20i just make me wonder what other second hand steals there are out there. If you see a pair, grab 'em and ask questions later!