PLASTIC TENOR RECORDER COMPARISON. Yamaha YRT-304B II and Aulos 511B Symphony

A brief comparison between two plastic tenor recorders in similar price range.

[recorder]

I have the Yamaha wooden tenor in maple, and it's absolutely exquisite! One of the best commercially available tenors on the market in my opinion!

[yuyanakamura]

Thanks for sharing good comparison!
I feel Yamaha has focused sound with core, and Aulos has more spread sound. Maybe Yamaha is modern one and Aulos is older style?
It’s fun to think deeply which one I should obtain❤

[grahamsmith]

I’m fairly elderly and whilst I like the sound of my Yamaha tenor recorder the stretch for my fingers will probably be what defeats me.

[baroquer]

Both are great, but Aulos' (*open) sound is more attractive to me 🤗

And, thus, after many years of happy marriage, I betrayed my beloved YAMAHA and switched to (even better) AULOS

Guilty as charged!

[Clarionetist]

I bought both the Yamaha and Aulos tenor recorders (same models you compared). I decided to use the Aulos in a piece I'm working on because the low E-flat is stronger on the Aulos. It's kind of weak on both, but weaker on the Yamaha.

[seanslavik]

I think I want to say THANK YOU VERY MUCH for doing the comparison. 😍

[petercane]

I could not tell the difference.
For every point one has to make there will be a contradiction of it.
When it boils right down each and every musical instrument is so personal and even if they fail in the very slightest in one area, they make up for it in others.
I do however listen yo a lot of advice, cannot afford Moecks so I have ordered a Yamaha ABS plastic 300 series alto recorder.
It will do for me for the price.

[Rich-onfe]

I'm a recorder beginner, I have both of these instruments and I also used to have one of the cheaper Aulos 311 instruments - and I have now sold it on.
The 311 was very different and harder to play cleanly compared to the Yamaha (this was before I got the 511) and overall less gratifying. It has a bigger bore and the tone is quite different. At the time I could have described the differences better but I've forgotten now. (That was quick.)
The Aulos 511 and the Yamaha seem very, very similar to one another. (to this beginner.) They have substantially all the same dimensions, while the 311 was really a different animal.
The bottom two notes on the Yamaha are cleaner with less fluff sound at the onset of the note. This, for me, is where the two similar instruments actually feel different from one another.
I also have a Moeck Rondo keyless. Quite different again. I'm yet to give it the time it needs, but it has some lovely qualities.
If the 311 is what you've got I'm sure it's no barrier to making good music - just felt to me like it would be harder, while the other two 'want' to play more cleanly.
I realise the Moeck will have its challenges too.
Thanks for the video :)

[construct]

I wouldn't be able to identify them from the sound without hearing them side by side. Even then, it would probably be only on certain notes.

My main concern is with how easy it is to hit the A5 and C6. I fear they would be hard to land in octave jumps because I have that problem with D6 and F6 on my Aulos 209B-E alto. I have a similar problem with the D7 and F7 on my Aulos 507B-E Sopranino. I also find it hard to blow fast enough to get F7 up to proper pitch. (I probably need to wear ear plugs when playing those highest notes!) The Es and Gs are not a problem.

[avataranadi]

When I listen, I hear greater dynamic range on the Aulos, and as a result of this, I find your phrasing is more interesting on the Aulos. The Yamaha has a more attractive tone.

[okkepaul]

I got rid of the sticky plastic thumb rest from the start, I equipped my YRT-304 with an adjustable Aulos thumb rest, quite tight, doesn't slide.

[goedelite]

I could see that one is a bit longer than the other, but I could not tell which is the longer. I looked again, and it's the Aulos that's longer. I am not sure what an "open" sound means, but Mr Perperikas played more pleasantly on the Yamaha.

[luluflowers]

Thank you for making this! I'm wondering which tenor recorder I should buy.
I like YAMAHA better in sound wise but is it easy to make chromatic?? You play C# very well but how about other black keys??
Aulos might be easier to make chromatic but I don't like it cause click noise every time you make a change.

[Jungskeptiker]

I assume, that there is no difference, if one plays them both long enough. After some time, one adjusts to the instruments, so that one can produce the tune, which one enjoys.

[Krisha]

Really, İ don't know which one is the best. İ own that Yamaha. Well, maybe Yamaha for its refined sound.

[TheMKEWERBY]

Well, Nick, I think that they're of equal quality. I have one just like the Yamaha. It's my main recorder, I think.

[MusicMoonandflute]

Gracias por compartir, sin duda elegiría Aulos por precio y sonoridad.

[matthanson]

Which had the more extreme stretch in the right hand?

[wapolo]

Always enjoy watching your comparison videos! I had a slight preference for the sound of the Aulos; how about you? :)

[LarryShone]

Very similar, theyre too similar to tell apart. Both are very good. (I have the keyless Aulos 211 tenor. It would be interesting to see how you feel about that one)