Yamaha HP-1

ok, has anyone here heard of the yamaha hp-1's? these are my dad's old cans from way back when, id say at least 15-20 years old. anyway, they're open, full size cans, and they sound GREAT. a very detailed, intricate sound, though they need serious amplification. anyway, i was just wondering if this is a well known can or if no one's heard of it. if anyone's heard of it, whats your attitude towards it?

I've read about those, I can't remember excactly, but are they electrostats? I heard someone asked an engineer at Yamaha about bringing them back, and they said it would cost >$1000 to build them today. I think they're a keeper. As the saying goes, If it Sounds Good, it Is Good.

Edit: here we go, it was a review on the Asylum: http://test.audioasylum.com/audio/sp...ges/13128.html

geez, these things are worth that much?! that's amazing. i always knew they sounded good, but..... geez!

djgustashaw
I believe the HP1s are planar magnetic phones,I have neither seen or heard your particular model but do have a pair of
HP2s.
They are not electrostatic but do have in common the fact that
the diaphragm is driven over its whole surface.
Such transducers are used in speakers such as Magnepans,and
detailed descriptions of their working principles can be found with
a search.

The attached picture is of a disassembled transducer from
a pair of Wharfdale Headphones[from about 1976] using
the planar principle.
The voice coil is 'printed' on the copper coloured diaphragm
in the black frame.
The perforated panel is a magnet ,and the diaphragm is enclosed
between two of these.


As for value ,My HP2s cost me £40.
I doubt that the HP1s would be worth much in cash terms ,but they are a rare and interesting bit of headphone history so treasure them.
Also I believe their are a couple of other people here who own a
pair,, Beagle springs too mind.


Setmenu

OH how about posting a pic of them?

And a pic of the HP2s

I have the HP-1 and HP-2, although the HP-2 has gone AWOL. Probably in a friends basement somewhere for the last 6 years.

The drivers were a sheet of aluminized mylar between two perforated magnets. They were called Orthodynamic by Yamaha. The HP-1 is very smooth and natural sounding. No brightness or harshness here. I also have the YHD-1 which are much smaller and lighter but use the same driver concept.

Here is a PICTURE of the YHD-1.

Hi Beagle
These Mario Bellini styled phones are rather nice ,I presume the
HP1 is also Bellini styled?


Setmenu

I once owned the HP-1 (and the HP-3). It's a completely closed design, BTW. And that (in view of the very sound permeable diaphragm) may be the reason for the relatively flat soundstage and the lack of airiness and dynamics which the admittedly colorful, detailed, smooth and quite balanced sound couldn't compensate. I don't think this headphone could compete with modern dynamic headphones such as HD 600, DT 880, SR-225 or K 501.

HP3?
Not heard of that ,another Bellini?
Any Pictures to hand?


Setmenu

Maybe my memory plays tricks on me, could be it was an HP-2 (well, I rather think HP-3 is right). By all means it was a smaller HP-1.

BTW I still own the Bellini-designed YHD-2 – which looks exactly like the YHD-1 (maybe it's the same). It has that typical Yamaha-orthodynamic sound: flat and lifeless. Bass and midrange are o.k., but the highs are dull and dry.

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Yes indeed...

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Sure it can. It kicks the s--t out of all of them IMO. And don't forget that perceived 'airiness', 'dynamics' and 'soundstaging' are often the results of distortions and resonance.

I'm sitting right on my computer, listening MP3s with Winamp, alternatingly with YHD-2 and HD 600. It's like day and night. The HD 600 is three classes above – in terms of naturality, neutrality, resolution, bandwidth, dynamics, smoothness, soundstage and transparency.

I was talking about the HP-1.

From my memory I would say that the HP-1 indeed sounded clearly better than the YHD-2. Nevertheless it shared the same weaknesses, in a lesser degree.

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That's really strange. I wonder why that is? Make sure you don't have a defective pair. Mine have no weaknesses other than they are getting a bit old and the pads are beginning to fray.