Yamaha YST-MS35D 2.1 Speakers
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- Max. Power Output: 6 Watt
- Number of Speakers: 2 Speakers + Subwoofer
- Connection Type: Cable
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A wonderful 3-piece system!
Pros
Superb audio quality, excellent engineering and build quality, great price.
Cons
Nothing worth mentioning.
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
Superb audio quality for the dollar and excellent ergonomics. A fantastic product!
Background
My wife and I had just bought an iMac DV+ and were playing around with Napster and *surprise* discovered that the Mac's built-in speakers weren't very good. The fact is that most personal computers' built-in speakers aren't very good, and the only alternative to improving what you hear is to attach external speakers. I have a true home audio-video set-up, and our computer isn't connected to that, so I didn't want to spend a lot of money and essentially start to duplicate another sound system. So I looked for something small and something inexpensive to hook up to our iMac.
The Yamaha Brand
Yamaha doesn't make computer equipment, but they do manufacture respected stereo equipment and musical instruments. Since this was a speaker purchase, why not go with a brand that specializes in audio/sound (rather than computer equipment)? Yahama's reputation is very good.
The Price is Right!
Yamaha isn't a high-end maker such as Nakamichi, but it's not a cheapie brand either (e.g., Samsung), so I was surprised that my local Target had this 3-piece system for only $50. Casual looking had shown me that other 3-piece systems routinely ran near $100 or more. Fifty bucks for a Yahama 3-piece? The price was right!
How Good It Is
The most important quality of this product is its sound, and in this regard, the Yahama is an excellent buy. The subwoofer produces smooth and distinct bass, never overpowering [unless you crank the sub's level knob to full]. It won't churn out the bones-a-tremblin' output of a home stereo system, but for $50, and an Mac as the source, what could I expect? The satellites produce smooth highs and mids and their accuracy and detail were far better than expected, again, from a $50 product.
Speakers always sound better when played louder, so the best test of a speaker is to play it quietly and listen for a long time. I listen to MP3s, audio CDs, and the audio tracks from digital video that I edit on the iMac -- all sound superb through the Yamahas, even at low levels. I never feel the need to turn up the volume or increase the bass unnaturally, the sound is so balanced and smooth.
Great Quality and Details
As mentioned by another reviewer, the usability [or ergonomics] of the product deserve kudos. The casings of both the subwoofer and the satellites are solid strong plastic with a nice smooth feel (yes, there *is* a difference in plastics!), and their cloth grills look nice. The cabling the system comes with is great. The AC adaptor is a special one with the plug separated from the adaptor unit by a foot-long power cord, allowing the adaptor (that big heat-producting cube that is the bane of our existence!) to sit away from the powerstrip or the wall outlet. Nice touch, Yahama. Note to manufacturers: All AC adaptors should be made this way!
The on/off button (good switch feel), the volume knob (equally good switch feel), and the system-is-on LED indicator are all on the right satellite, not hidden on the subwoofer. This allows you to place the subwoofer anywhere (under your desk perhaps) and still operate all the controls easily and know that it's powered on.
The subwoofer accepts two audio-in sources simultaneously, allowing you to plug in, say, your computer's audio out *and* your VCR's player's audio out. A nice option that cost money and took thought on Yahama's part and I'm glad they included it.
If you're concerned about physical space limitations, the satellites are about the size of those Magic Eight Balls. The subwoofer is slightly larger than a quart container of Chinese takeout food and it's completely square.
Overall
The unit is solid, well-built and sounds wonderful and I expect it to last forever, essentially. For $50, I am extremely happy and recommend this without reservation to anyone seeking to add good speakers to their computer (or portable CD player, etc.).
My wife and I had just bought an iMac DV+ and were playing around with Napster and *surprise* discovered that the Mac's built-in speakers weren't very good. The fact is that most personal computers' built-in speakers aren't very good, and the only alternative to improving what you hear is to attach external speakers. I have a true home audio-video set-up, and our computer isn't connected to that, so I didn't want to spend a lot of money and essentially start to duplicate another sound system. So I looked for something small and something inexpensive to hook up to our iMac.
The Yamaha Brand
Yamaha doesn't make computer equipment, but they do manufacture respected stereo equipment and musical instruments. Since this was a speaker purchase, why not go with a brand that specializes in audio/sound (rather than computer equipment)? Yahama's reputation is very good.
The Price is Right!
Yamaha isn't a high-end maker such as Nakamichi, but it's not a cheapie brand either (e.g., Samsung), so I was surprised that my local Target had this 3-piece system for only $50. Casual looking had shown me that other 3-piece systems routinely ran near $100 or more. Fifty bucks for a Yahama 3-piece? The price was right!
How Good It Is
The most important quality of this product is its sound, and in this regard, the Yahama is an excellent buy. The subwoofer produces smooth and distinct bass, never overpowering [unless you crank the sub's level knob to full]. It won't churn out the bones-a-tremblin' output of a home stereo system, but for $50, and an Mac as the source, what could I expect? The satellites produce smooth highs and mids and their accuracy and detail were far better than expected, again, from a $50 product.
Speakers always sound better when played louder, so the best test of a speaker is to play it quietly and listen for a long time. I listen to MP3s, audio CDs, and the audio tracks from digital video that I edit on the iMac -- all sound superb through the Yamahas, even at low levels. I never feel the need to turn up the volume or increase the bass unnaturally, the sound is so balanced and smooth.
Great Quality and Details
As mentioned by another reviewer, the usability [or ergonomics] of the product deserve kudos. The casings of both the subwoofer and the satellites are solid strong plastic with a nice smooth feel (yes, there *is* a difference in plastics!), and their cloth grills look nice. The cabling the system comes with is great. The AC adaptor is a special one with the plug separated from the adaptor unit by a foot-long power cord, allowing the adaptor (that big heat-producting cube that is the bane of our existence!) to sit away from the powerstrip or the wall outlet. Nice touch, Yahama. Note to manufacturers: All AC adaptors should be made this way!
The on/off button (good switch feel), the volume knob (equally good switch feel), and the system-is-on LED indicator are all on the right satellite, not hidden on the subwoofer. This allows you to place the subwoofer anywhere (under your desk perhaps) and still operate all the controls easily and know that it's powered on.
The subwoofer accepts two audio-in sources simultaneously, allowing you to plug in, say, your computer's audio out *and* your VCR's player's audio out. A nice option that cost money and took thought on Yahama's part and I'm glad they included it.
If you're concerned about physical space limitations, the satellites are about the size of those Magic Eight Balls. The subwoofer is slightly larger than a quart container of Chinese takeout food and it's completely square.
Overall
The unit is solid, well-built and sounds wonderful and I expect it to last forever, essentially. For $50, I am extremely happy and recommend this without reservation to anyone seeking to add good speakers to their computer (or portable CD player, etc.).
