Yamaha calls the NS-5000 a bookshelf speaker, but it has to be put on a stand so Absolute Sound classifies it as stand-mounted and the stands are included and integral to the design. It's a shame AS did not give it its own review but included it in a review of the series, and Stereophile didn't review it. There's a bias in the USA against Japanese audiophile speakers although it's true basically only Yamaha and Sony in that market and then only when they want to be. That said, name me another full-range (bass down to low 20's) speaker with a 12" woofer, a dome midrange (hard to do) AND all three drivers made from the same high tech material and innovations inside, with Yamaha's superb piano finish, AND at $14,995, Yamaha hasn't even raised the price. With the Blade Runner 2049 soundtrack, the room will vibrate, but the speaker won't. With piano music, well it's Yamaha after all. Ask Sir Elton.
