Floorstanding speaker Yamaha NS-F51 Black

Two-way floorstanding speaker with a pair of 16 cm woofers for home cinema and music

The Yamaha NS-F51 is a floorstanding speaker with a two-way, three-driver configuration, designed for film soundtracks as well as music recordings. Low and mid frequencies are handled by two 16 cm cone woofers, while the highs are covered by a 3 cm soft-dome tweeter. Bass-reflex tuning combined with the tall cabinet extends the frequency response down to 43 Hz, with the upper limit reaching 26 kHz.

The design is based on a large-volume cabinet measuring 97 cm in height, which provides sufficient internal volume for a full-bodied bass performance. Internal bracing suppresses resonances of the cabinet walls, thereby limiting coloration of the mids and highs. The crossover is built on a wooden printed circuit board, demonstrating the manufacturer's emphasis on the quality of the signal path. A nominal power handling of 80 W, peak handling of 240 W, an impedance of 6 ohms and a sensitivity of 89 dB/2.83 V/1 m allow it to work with common AV receivers as well as stereo amplifiers.

The rounded cabinet shape reduces edge diffraction, which would otherwise blur the timing information in the sound. The result is more accurate localisation of instruments and voices within the stereo image and a cleaner rendering of detail during longer, fatigue-free listening sessions. The pair of woofers contributes to higher acoustic output in the low end and to a stable performance even during dynamic movie scenes.

The front grille with bevelled corners follows the design language of Yamaha's flagship speakers. The finish is available in two versions — walnut and black — with a wood-grain surface. Dimensions of 233 × 973.5 × 254 mm and a weight of 13.7 kg per unit make them suitable for use as front speakers in a home cinema with a large-screen television.

Key features

• Configuration: Two-way system with three drivers
• Drivers: Two 16 cm woofers and a 3 cm soft dome
• Cabinet: Bass reflex with anti-resonance bracing
• Shape: Rounded edges reducing diffraction
• Specifications: 43 Hz–26 kHz, 6 ohms, 89 dB sensitivity