Yamaha NS-F150

Andrew Robinson found the bass deep enough to ground music, with welcome texture, weight, and body rather than an overly fat presentation. It is not especially firm, however, and cabinet resonances cause the bass to become muddy at high volume.

The midrange has a warm but still present character, helping the Yamaha sound full and approachable at sensible levels. When played loudly, it loses clarity, becoming muddy and taking on a beaming, megaphone-like quality.

At reasonable levels, the tweeter is composed, handles sibilance well, and delivers surprising extension, detail, and shimmer. Higher volumes bring an over-accentuated top end with clearly audible grain that can become fatiguing.

Soundstage performance was the standout: the speaker creates a large, encompassing presentation with good centre-image focus. Images are not described as razor-sharp, but the scale and central definition are particularly appealing at the price-conscious end of the market.

The speaker has respectable life and drive within its comfortable volume range. It loses composure when pushed, though, with the reviewer saying it begins to fall apart at high levels as cabinet effects intrude.

The cabinet drew unusually strong criticism from Andrew Robinson, who described it as among the cheapest constructions he had encountered. Knocking on the enclosure reportedly produces a hollow echo, suggesting limited bracing and damping, and those resonances become audible during louder playback.

At the review's discounted price of under $300 a pair, the NS-F150 was considered a worthwhile short-list option for buyers seeking an affordable tower with pleasing looks and sound. At its $499 MSRP—and especially against the listed $758 price—its weak cabinet construction and high-volume limitations are difficult to overlook given competing speakers said to be better built and better sounding for less.