 Originally conceived as a domestic hi @-@ fi speaker , the NS @-@ 10 was designed by Akira <unk> and launched in 1978 . It was sold at the $ 400 price point . The speaker was poorly received and its commercial life was short . However , it took five years for its popularity to be established with professional users . As recording engineers came to rely on the NS @-@ 10 as a <unk> , it dominated the mixing of pop and rock music throughout the world for at least 20 years . 
