Short answer: the JBL 4319 for better sound quality, the Yamaha NS-10 for the lower price. The JBL 4319 ranks #93 of 100 bookshelf speakers at $4000. The Yamaha NS-10 ranks #94 at $499, $3501 cheaper.
On the JBL 4319 side: High sensitivity around 90dB and controlled bass distortion mean the large 12” woofer plays loud with copious bass and modest amplifier power needs. Set against that: CEA2034 spinorama shows a pronounced 800Hz dip and a comb-filtering pattern in the woofer response consistent with a delayed reflected source, plus poor and uneven vertical directivity.
What the Yamaha NS-10 offers: Legendary studio reference monitor with a well-documented history; Yamaha’s original spec sheet included genuine measured data (frequency response, distortion, impedance. Watch for: A pronounced peak of about 7dB above the midrange average around 1.7kHz gives the sound a forward, bright, or “tinny” character - this is the real underlying issue, and it wasn’t actually fixed by the “Studio” revision.
Buy the JBL 4319 if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Yamaha NS-10 if the price matters more than sound quality.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip both of these and look higher up the 100 bookshelf speakers instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL 4319 | Yamaha NS-10 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4000 Discontinued | $499 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #93 of 100 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #94 of 100 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 80Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 126Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 64Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 75Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 12" Differential Drive dual-voice-coil woofer, 5" inverted-dome midrange, 1" compression tweeter (3-way) | 7.1" woofer, 1.4" soft dome tweeter |
| Discontinued | Yes | Yes |
| Dimensions | 23.5H x 14.25W x 12D in (with grille) | 15"H x 8.5"W x 7.8"D (382.0 x 215.0 x 198.0 mm) |
| Weight | 35.9 lbs / 16.3 kg each | 9.5 lbs / 4.3 kg |
| Sensitivity | 89.5dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review) | 90.2dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | sealed |
| Impedance | - | 8 ohms nominal, 5.4 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
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The Two Speakers In Full
JBL 4319: $4000 Discontinued
Pros: High sensitivity around 90dB and controlled bass distortion mean the large 12” woofer plays loud with copious bass and modest amplifier power needs. Impedance dips are well controlled, so it isn’t a hard speaker to drive despite its size. User-adjustable midrange and treble level controls are built into the back panel.
Cons: CEA2034 spinorama shows a pronounced 800Hz dip and a comb-filtering pattern in the woofer response consistent with a delayed reflected source, plus poor and uneven vertical directivity. The reviewer described the sound as “boxy and closed in with some brightness” and could not recommend it “unless you like looking at it more than listening to it.” At 23.5” tall, it’s closer to a small tower than a typical bookshelf speaker. Discontinued. Discontinued.
Full JBL 4319 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 64Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 80Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 23.5H x 14.25W x 12D in (with grille) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 12" Differential Drive dual-voice-coil woofer, 5" inverted-dome midrange, 1" compression tweeter (3-way) |
| Sensitivity | 89.5dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Weight | 35.9 lbs / 16.3 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported |
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Yamaha NS-10: $499 Discontinued
Pros: Legendary studio reference monitor with a well-documented history; Yamaha’s original spec sheet included genuine measured data (frequency response, distortion, impedance, polar response) rather than just marketing numbers, unusually transparent for the era. Distortion, compression, and multitone performance all measured better than the reviewer expected for a decades-old design - in some respects competitive with newer speakers he’s tested. Vertical dispersion holds up reasonably well for a speaker of this vintage. The redesigned “Studio” cabinet is more robust than the original, with crossover tweaks and nicer binding-post terminals. Sealed cabinet design allows placement close to a wall without added boominess, though at the cost of overall bass extension.
Cons: A pronounced peak of about 7dB above the midrange average around 1.7kHz gives the sound a forward, bright, or “tinny” character - this is the real underlying issue, and it wasn’t actually fixed by the “Studio” revision. Comparing the Studio version’s measured response to the original NS-10M’s published data, the original arguably measures more linear - Yamaha’s fix (lowering tweeter level by 2-3dB) left the core midrange peak largely untouched, addressing the wrong problem. The famous “tissue paper over the tweeter” mixing-engineer trick doesn’t actually help - testing it directly showed it adds diffraction and comb filtering rather than correcting the real midrange peak. Poor horizontal directivity, especially in its designed on-console orientation - usable window is only about ±20° off the tweeter axis before tonal character shifts noticeably. Directivity mismatches between direct and reflected sound make this difficult to properly correct with EQ in a typical farfield listening setup with nearby wall reflections. Bass is quite limited (F3 around 100Hz in most rooms once corrected for the inflated on-axis sensitivity reading), typical of a small sealed monitor design. Correcting the main midrange peak with EQ likely requires two bands rather than a single simple filter, since the peak isn’t perfectly symmetrical. Possible age-related tweeter compression at very high output, potentially from degraded ferrofluid affecting heat dissipation in these decades-old drivers. Discontinued.
Full Yamaha NS-10 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 75Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 126Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 15"H x 8.5"W x 7.8"D (382.0 x 215.0 x 198.0 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 7.1" woofer, 1.4" soft dome tweeter |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal, 5.4 ohms minimum (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 90.2dB (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 9.5 lbs / 4.3 kg |
| Woofer Cabinet | sealed |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
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