YAMAHA flagship YH-5000SE headphones | MESSAGE FROM THE ENGINEERS

[YAMAHA official]

MESSAGE FROM THE ENGINEERS​

—THE INSPIRATION FOR YH-5000SE​

When developing the YH-5000SE, we wanted to pursue the ultimate musical experience of immersing yourself completely in music, while helping you to forget about everything else going on around you. To achieve this, we insisted on using only the best components and design considerations for all aspects of sound, while also encompassing wearability, build quality, and design.
We hope you will enjoy your favorite songs and freely connect with music you will soon discover with these headphones we have created.

RYO HADANO​

Acoustic Design

Our ORTHODYNAMIC™ driver was born in the ‘70s. Six years had passed since the earliest days of development when I studied drawings left in the company’s old drawers, to the time when the headphones took shape in their present form after many prototypes and trials. These headphones release as much of the detail that is trapped in the sound source as possible while balancing the density of sound and the sense of soundstage, allowing the user to focus on the music. Ultimately, this was our target objective for the YH-5000SE. For this reason, we worked hard on all components and structures, including the driver unit. When the user can hear the attention to detail in recordings made by great artists and engineers, the music will remain deeply in their hearts with more realism, resulting in a superlative experience.

CHIKARA KOBAYASHI​

Mechanical and Housing Design

With the YH-5000SE, we used carefully selected materials, from the structural members to the surface materials and finishes. We adhered to the principle “materials should be chosen for a reason” to achieve the sound quality, wearability, and design we initially set out to deliver. The YH-5000SE headphone uses delicate materials that are difficult to handle and materials that are not often used in audio products. We created them with the utmost care from material selection to the manufacturing process so as not to compromise their ideal acoustic properties and aesthetic appearance. And the letters “MADE IN JAPAN” engraved on the body are also a testament to the level of quality that should satisfy meticulous audiophiles.

YASUAKI TAKANO​

Affective Evaluation

“What does it mean for headphones to be comfortable?”
“How do users want headphones to feel when wearing them?”
For the YH-5000SE, we began by taking an in-depth look at the essence of these questions. Within Yamaha's R&D department, there is a team dedicated to affective evaluation, which is working to scientifically quantify human sensitivity and perception in the sound and music domain. For this model, in cooperation with that team, we prepared dozens of prototypes with various changes to the lateral pressure of the headphones, earpad surfaces, and the cushioning material. We then conducted repeated tests to find the most suitable combination for long-term listening. Specifically, we sought to achieve the ideal wearing comfort by meticulously measuring whether the headphones would touch the top of the head and the side of the face evenly, and would apply minimum pressure, even for people with irregular-shaped heads. We did this using a surface pressure measuring instrument, and by evaluating sensitivity over long periods of use. We hope you will immerse yourself in the world of music with these headphones, and that they will be so comfortable you will forget you are even wearing them.

 

[AsciiJC]

Definitely one of the most beautiful headphones I have ever seen been put on the market. It certainly is a winner for this reason. Comfort is also very much a reason to put these on. However, sound is...not to my taste.

I can appreciate the work put into these headphones for sure, but with how scooped the treble sounded and how hollow it became for me, I think it needs a little more work. You may disagree to those reading, and thats great! Always good seeing others put their perspective into sound impressions.

Also wonderful seeing Yamaha as a head-fi sponsor! Hello there

 

[Vamp898]

I demoed these 3 times and even though i liked them, i was surprised about the tuning. For an Headphone at that price point, i expected an tuning like the Yamaha HS-8. I think they sound good on their own. It was an pleasure listening to them, but for me personally, the price and the tuning did not fit.

The Design is very cool, the comfort is good, they are very fast, they are almost perfect but... i don't know. The Tuning, for me personally, involves too much "taste". Like a meal made by a 5 Star Chef with the best raw materials but you just don't like the meal that was cooked.

If Yamaha would release a "Pro" Version of this Headphone with an tuning that resembles an reference sound like the HS-8, i'd be in. That was the only thing i didn't like.

 

[Fuku]

I would kill for a set of these that was tuned more to a diffuse field 10db slope. They're the best looking headphones on the market hands down.

 

[listenerwww]

Big shoutout to Kobayashi-sama for the incredible industrial/mechanical design on these. Probably my favorite looking headphone of all time!

 

[angelom]

...with a design that is borrowing, in several aspects, from the now classic 15 years old Sennheiser HD800.

 

[vikinguy]

The headphone feels....it lacks the hallmarks of a conventionally well built headphone. The foam pads feel cheap. The best thing I can say about it is the Live option is very good.

 

[AsciiJC]

...with a design that is borrowing, in several aspects, from the now classic 15 years old Sennheiser HD800.

They certainly share some ways of design language being similar! But that isn't bad at all, infact I think its a good thing that this shape was used. Shows its versatile, being used in other designs.

Cars share design language, buildings and many other products that exist. A little share in referencing another design is always healthy in creative media, as I come from this industry myself. No, they did not copy their homework, they just tweaked it quite a bit in their own words haha.

 

[joseluishs]

I have been wanting to try and listen to music with this headphone for a while Yamaha crafts some of my favorite pianos and synthesizers. The headphone certainly looks stunning!

 

[betula]

I think they look pretty cool, and they are comfy as well, despite being surprisingly small in person. Based on the pictures I was expecting them to be bigger. But the smaller form factor is fine as they are comfy, and this contributes to the light weight. Unfortunately, the tuning didn't quite line up with my preference, I found it a bit weird/unusual/uneven. Like I never knew, how the next track will sound on them. Some tracks sounded good, some just weird and uneven but all of them were presented differently to what I am used to on other headphones. Some aspects like resolution, black background was nice, but this unpredictable and uneven nature hindered me from enjoying them. Unusual parts were emphasised or got recessed in the track. Not always, but often enough. I think there is a lot of potential in these headphones, just the balance was somehow not struck.

 

[The Schraeer]

I've said it before and I'll say it again:
YH5KSE looks like HD800 grew up, got into Goth teenager phase, started chainsmoking and cursing at your parents.
A fantastic look with carefully crafted driver, but the sonics are somewhat unusual.

This review with great explanations and comparisons has really helped me with my purchasing decision.
https://den-fi.com/yamaha-yh-5000se-a-half-century-in-the-making/

 

[IgeNeLL]

The build quality is superb, even better than HD8xx.
The lightness and feeling in hand, head is magnificent, totally comfortable.

 

[DavidSerig]

I think it looks great!

 

[adydula]

PM sent hoping for a review sample
Alex

 

[joseluishs]

I want a review sample too