Yamaha PRO 500

I was looking for a cheap and cheerful, fun sounding closed can for listening at my computer at work and some limited portable use.  I typically listen to EDM in this setting and had been using the Shure 840s. Although a great headphone the 840’s did not have the low end horse power or staging to show EDM at its best and they are not at all portable.  I auditioned several lower price closed cans and it came down to the V Moda M-100, the Yamaha Pro 500 and the NAD Viso HP50.  To my ears the three contenders were similar in EQ for EDM with good bass, clear highs and respectable sound stage for closed cans.  However, when I switched genres the mids in the HP50 showed their weakness sounding quite recessed to my ears.  This can also be an issue with vocal trance.   Although none of these cans can compete with the Shure 840s in the midrange, the M-100 was the best of the three and probably the winner in overall SQ with the Pro 500 a close second.  For this particular application the HP50’s couldn’t compete.  However, when price was factored in the Pro 500 seemed to take the value lead.  The Pro 500s are so easy to drive that just about any source will work with them.  Depending on the genre, the Pro 500s are a fun sounding headphone and a solid value at around $200 (street price).

I wan't really looking to buy the Yamaha Pro 500s. But I saw them on an Amazon lightning deal for $150 and decided what the heck.

Overall, this headphone competes well in the $200 to $250 price range, and would be good for those looking for bassy signature. Here are some random thoughts about them.

Comfort, Fit, & Isolation

I can understand the complaints by some people that these headphones are too heavy and uncomfortable. In fact, I really wonder whether Yamaha designed these headphones and did extensive testing, or whether they contracted out and this is what they got because they seem like they were designed for the big and tall crowd. As if some big headphone designer male made them to fit his head without considering others. I wear a 2XL hat size, and with these headphones, I've only needed to add a click or two of extension on each side. Given the weight of the cups and drivers, I would imagine that they would be uncomfortable for any extended use for anyone with average head size or less who wouldn't be able to position the headband to distribute the weight onto the head.

As for the pads, after about five days of use, they are starting to soften up (not high comfort, but OK), which has reduced the feel of the clamping pressure just a bit. However, as other reviewers have noted, the smaller round size of these circular pads make them rest partially on on my ears. Nothing I can't live with, but just not optimal.

So on the one hand, the cup/pad size seems designed for a small to medium head/ears, while the overall size of the headphone band with weight distribution otherwise seems designed for XL or larger hat/head size. Really does make you wonder who tested the prototype of these headphones.Just a bit smaller length to the size of the headband and slightly larger cups, and they'd be a better fit for a larger range of people.

Volume & Sensitivity

Yamaha rates these as 106 dB ±3 dB (1 kHz, 1 mW). They seem a lot more sensitive to me than that. My Sansa Clip Zip can drive them to very loud volume. Innerfidelity's measurements show that they need 0.013 Vrms to reach 90db. Compare this to the ATH-M50s (0.073 Vrms) and you can see how very loud they can get.

Yamaha also rates them with a maximum power of 1000mw. Assuming that's correct, the Pro 500s should be screaming into someone's ear at near deafening volumes before they reach their limits (don't test this--lol).

Sounds similar to UE6000 and K550?
When I was researching these after buying them in the lightning sale (still had time to cancel my order), I saw a couple of comparisons to the AKG K550s and UE6000s in the discussion thread for the Yamaha Pro series. Of these two, I feel the Pro 500s are much more similar to the UE6000. The Pro 500s have a warm, bassy signature with a decent spacious enveloping sound for a closed headphone. Perhaps a little less dark than the UE6000. Bass seems a bit more controlled over the UE600, and overall clarity a bit better.

Now I do prefer the K550 over the UE600. I just like a sound that is more neutral than warm. Using Rockbox on my DX50 and Clip Zip, I am able to use the tone controls (~ -3db bass, +4 treble) to bring them into the balance I want. Some experimenting with PEQ instead of tone controls should help to make them better suit my taste.

I feel like they are an upgrade in SQ over the UE6000, although not enough to justify a $399 price tag. Around $200 would be better pricing for them given their sound quality. At $150, they were a great buy.

Been looking for some new closed headphones, with only three
at the moment and for some time in fact.  Good ones, though:
Sony MDR Z1000, Sony MDR 7520, and Senn Amperiors,
 
Sometimes you just need closed headphones.
 
The hot closed headphone right now, already a FOTM,
is the Focal Spirit Pro.
 
I set out to buy a pair, they were out of stock all over.
Pretty much.
 
So I'm reading reviews, looking at Amazon and elsewhere,
and I see these Yamaha's. Some memories click in:
overpriced and way too much bass.  Yeah, they were
$500.  Were...I see the price is $259.
 
Hmmm...what's around for $259 closed headphones,
I wonder.  NAD HP50 - I had them, sold them.
The SQ bugged me somehow.  BQ not the best.
Not interested in buying them again.
 
KEF 500, Beyer T51p, Senn Momentum (both versions)
V Moda's offerings including the new XS, Senn HD25 Aluminium,
B&W P5, Sony MDR 1R, Pioneer 2000, (I was casting my net
wide, so to speak) - on sale for $210, look interesting -
maybe a couple of others.
 
For several reasons I rejected all the above: either owned
them already, reviews left me wanting - several reasons.
 
I note that the reviews on the Yamaha's are all over the place!
Some complain about the bass ( saying there's too much),
some say they're superb(!), one review even said the bass 
was too shy.  
 
I noted that Steve Guttenberg liked them a lot - and didn't have
any issues with the bass whatsoever.  
 
Everyone was impressed with the build quality (BQ).
 
So I bit.  They arrived today.
 
 
My first impressions, no burn in:
 
These are excellent sounding closed headphones.
Superior to the Senn Momentums, Senn Amperiors,
Sony MDR 1R's - and very different from the NAD HP50's.
I'm not yet ready to call that one.
The bass was substantially less present than on the MDR 1R's,
and it does not bleed into the midrange at all. It stays on the 
bottom.
 
Mids and highs are very detailed, no harshness - highly
listenable.  Soundstage is very good, I've not heard substantially
better from any closed headphones.
 
The comfort is reasonable: it takes some adjusting to get the
fit right.  But then they do fit, and do stay in place.  (While 
sitting or moving about inside - these are not portables).
 
The build quality is superb, and though aesthetics are of course
highly subjective, IMO they are great looking headphones.  Part
of that great look is the obvious attention to quality and detail.
 
Actually, I was shocked (pleasantly) at the bass - wondering
if Yamaha changed the tuning after the initial reviews? - because
these are not bass monsters by any means.  The bass is even 
less than on the highly regarded Sony MDR 7520's.  
 
The Pro 500's have a dynamic and forceful sound that's
exciting, detailed, and smooth all at the same time.
 
I rate them at 4.5 stars, but it's subject to editing
as I continue to listen.  But I wouldn't have written
this had I not been pretty certain of my conclusions.