Yamaha NS-C444 2-Way Center Channel Speaker

Other products by Yamaha

Product Details

Product Manual [164kb PDF]

• Item Weight: 15.4 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 18 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B0000W4U2M
• Item model number: NS-C444
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #26,486 in Electronics (See Bestsellers in Electronics)

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  Electronics > Home Audio & Theater > Speakers > Center Channel

• Date first available at Amazon.com: November 3, 2003

Product Description

From the Manufacturer
The Yamaha NS-C444 center channel speaker system is specifically designed for home theater applications. The speaker features an acoustic suspension and incorporates dual 5-inch polymer-injected mica diaphragm (PMD) cone woofers and a 1-inch aluminum dome tweeter. For improved imaging, the midrange and tweeter utilize Yamaha's exclusive waveguide horns, which significantly reduce reflected sound and increase the proportion of directly generated sound waves reaching your ears. This compensates for the lack of sound-absorbing materials on the walls of most homes. The result is a clear and precise sense of sound direction and placement that replicates the sound produced in commercial movie theaters.

The NS-C444 speaker boasts optimum sound quality by featuring Monster Cable internal wiring among several components, ensuring a clean, clear signal from the crossover network to the speaker driver. In addition, the speaker is magnetically shielded, so you can place it on a TV or video monitor without degrading the picture via stray magnetic fields. The speaker's performance is enhanced by its solidly constructed elliptical form cabinet (with a high-gloss, black piano finish), which diffracts a minimum of sound. The speaker also features a new grille design and cloth that serves as an attractive and acoustically transparent protective cover for the drivers.

Product Description
Yamaha's NS-C444 center channel speaker system has been designed specifically for home theater applications. The speaker is an acoustic suspension design and incorporates dual 5" Polymer-Injected Mica Diaphragm (PMD) cone woofers and a 1 aluminum dome tweeter. For improved imaging, the tweeter utilizes Yamaha's exclusive waveguide horn. DIMENSIONS - (W x H x D) 20-1/4 x 7-1/2 x 8-3/8 WEIGHT - 16.1 lbs

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Better than most, and a good price, May 10, 2005

By	David B. Spalding (ChromeJob.com) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Most good to excellent CTR channel speakers will cost you more. $250 - 300 for the highest rated (CR) is not unusual. I bought a Cambridge Soundworks MC150, under a sales misimpression that it was a "center" channel speaker. No. So off I went to see if this was still on a shelf as an open box special. Glad it was. I tested it in the speaker listening room, and it did MASTER AND COMMANDER justice. For comparison, I tried out some music selections with Bose 161s (where are superb SL and SR surround speakers), and they had clear precise highs, and sufficient bass for most center channel needs. Then the sales guy and I hooked up the NS-C444 to one of the channels, and played the same selections. The Yamaha compared favorably.

Now you might be thinking, hey, it's only a center channel, what's it got to do other than just dialog and left-to-right transition. Not that simple, friend. The center channel is one speaker in your home theatre that is ALWAYS doing something, always providing sound. You want a capable one. You also want one with excellent dynamic response and clarity. Case in point: The scene when CAPT Ramius addresses his crew after submerging in THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER. You hear Connery's voice in the foreground, then over the 1MC intercom circuit, then booming across the sub's bridge. Another example: Obi-wan talking to Dex in Star Wars Episode II. If the center channel is inferior, he and Dex sound like they're chatting inside a box. If the center speaker is up to the standard of your left and right speakers, they sound full and rich and "present" (right there in your living room). Another point to ponder: if you watch old, monaural pictures with some stereo DSP, a lot of the soundtrack will come from your center speaker. A quick test for scenes like this: switch your receiver to "2 channel stereo" (or a mode that mixes down Dolby/DTS 5.1 to the LF and RF speakers), then switch to 5.1 decoding. Do the voices sound the same?

Pick a good center channel and your home theatre will benefit immensely. I think this one is excellent. Consumer Reports lists a couple of other good bets that you can find for < $200. Happy hunting....

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very good sounding and extremely good priced center speaker, October 15, 2007

By	Brian Vu "BrianV" (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I purchased this center speaker for my bedroom system from J&R through
Amazon for only $89 with free shipping. At this price, it is definitely
the best sounding center speaker for the money.

I have a higher end system in my family room. I am a little spoiled with
this system since my center of this system is a $1000 Definitive CLR3000.
I have to say I was pleasantly surprised when I first hooked it up and
turned on the music. First, the material grade of the speaker is first
grade. I was very surprised at this price point Yamaha can make this speaker of this build and finish. Then I put on on some instrumental music. The sound clarity is superb, and is almost as good as my Definitive CLR3000. The mid is warm. For movies, it produces very clear
dialog. For one tenth of the money I spent on the CLR3000, I'd say it is worth much more and probably ranked among the best in the up-to-$300 price range.

I almost bought the Polk Csi3 since I was able to listen to one. I was not completely happy with it because its high is not too clear. I bought the NS-C444 based on reviews, and I am glad I did because it is definitely a better speaker both in build and sound quality.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Center Channel Speaker--Outstanding Price!!, August 18, 2007

By	C. Warren "stars4con" (Wake Forest, NC USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Great speaker. Previous reviewer gave speaker bad review because of dimensions. This has nothing to do with QUALITY.