Yamaha HPH-Pro 500 Review
May 14, 2014 at 7:46 PM Post #61 of 139
Also an owner of the 500's, and like H20, also in Straya!  I also have the yammy hph200's and I gotta admit that Yamaha are doing something right in the headphone dept in regards to sound.  However the fit of the 500's will def. not suit everyone.  They are huge, I have them on the smallest setting and they just fit.  I am a 6'2" big man with not a pea size head.  Did not get them for such a cracker price as H20 but must admit that they are great for the price I paid (around $250 ).  Great case, cord goes in to both earcups, two cords (one short with iphone controls, one long) and they fold up well.  
 
May 14, 2014 at 8:19 PM Post #62 of 139
They are very sensitive and to my knowledge do not benefit much from amping (unless you have a better source than an mp3 player).  While they are bassy, they only have the bass when called upon, not just sitting there colouring everything.  Depending on the music, I sometimes find them a little strident.  AT the moment I cycle between these, the hph200's (open can, very good) and my aiaiai studio young gurus.  I went back to my grado sr125's again last night, and I feel they also suffer from fit issues - while they are light, the cups are not great and the cord just irritates me (especially how the cups rotate so much, tangles aplenty).  They just don't engage me as much as the other 3 phones.  
 
May 14, 2014 at 8:36 PM Post #63 of 139
  They are very sensitive and to my knowledge do not benefit much from amping (unless you have a better source than an mp3 player).  While they are bassy, they only have the bass when called upon, not just sitting there colouring everything.  Depending on the music, I sometimes find them a little strident.  AT the moment I cycle between these, the hph200's (open can, very good) and my aiaiai studio young gurus.  I went back to my grado sr125's again last night, and I feel they also suffer from fit issues - while they are light, the cups are not great and the cord just irritates me (especially how the cups rotate so much, tangles aplenty).  They just don't engage me as much as the other 3 phones.  


I really enjoy how natural they sound and can agree while they're bassy it's not terribly overwhelming but just very present, especially when called upon. The mid-range is very detailed for a mainstream brand, again I am surprised (and very happy) how much vocal detail and micro detail comes through just from Sansa Clip Zip, which I find has great synergy with PRO500.

I also own HPH-200 though they've been retired onto a foam display head which wears raver glasses as an ornament.

I guess we only find these kind of scenarios in Australia. 





The only thing I don't like is the 3m flat cable, it's just far too long for those wanting to use a non mic cable. 2.5m would have been better.

@Hawaiibadboy I will still try those tracks for you my friend. 
 
May 14, 2014 at 10:43 PM Post #65 of 139
  Anything ,anytime. and any pics you can share will (with your permission) be placed in the thread relating to them @BigDave  if you have any thoughts regarding bass and these cans it would be welcome.


Here's a more professional picture of took of them the other day.



 
May 14, 2014 at 11:32 PM Post #66 of 139
   
I think the detail retrieval is amazing for a can that also has such low end prowess. 
 
It is not more loved must be aesthetic ?? I can see no reason this doesn't hit the buttons. It's an amazing piece of work done by Yamaha.
 

 
The track above
 

 
There is a 50, 40 and 33Hz strike (which is almost omnipresent)  
 
If you ever get the chance it's ability to handle that omnipresent note with the others would be great.




So I tried that track for you from Aune T1 dac/amp, there's definitely good extension, impact is tight / heavy though for my standards who started originally on Head-fi as a bass head I would want more personally, I did raise the volume fairly high before distortion but the mids kept pushing through harder than the lows. I think something like C&C BH amp (which I no longer have) with LF switch engaged would take PRO500 to levels people would find pounding for bass head material.

Don't get me wrong, it's bassy and you grasp a satisfying representation of sub-bass though, it was not blowing my head to pieces.

One thing I did note with that track is the mid-range still came through clearly, there wasn't much bleed and for most parts felt forward over the low end.  It's certainly deep bass though I am not hearing huge quantity that would class them as in the top ranking charts. I also ran a few of my own tracks last night from the Zip and while the bass is definitely forward I am not hearing complete 100%  bass head level with my pair unamped.

I'd be interested what BigDave thinks if he's willing to try.
 
 
May 15, 2014 at 12:27 AM Post #67 of 139
I was unable to put these through a wringer so I was desperate for a opinion. I think they have the same issue as Beats pro where the bass tuning is almost max and any amping on the low end pushes it dangerously close to spec limit.
 
I will likely remove these as a Top 10 bass can (or not since finding heavy pounders under amp is not easy **suggestions welcome**
wink.gif
)but audiophiles who don't amp too much should definitely keep these in mind since they sounded beautiful (low to mid transition) which many cans suffer from doing poorly!
 
Thanks bro!!
 
EDIT:
 
After reading what I typed I realized these are Q40 on steroids
biggrin.gif

That's a very very good thing.
 
1 question....can the pads be changed to Alpha or HM5?? Just wondering.
 
May 15, 2014 at 12:44 AM Post #68 of 139
  I was unable to put these through a wringer so I was desperate for a opinion. I think they have the same issue as Beats pro where the bass tuning is almost max and any amping on the low end pushes it dangerously close to spec limit.
 
I will likely remove these as a Top 10 bass can (or not since finding heavy pounders under amp is not easy **suggestions welcome**
wink.gif
)but audiophiles who don't amp too much should definitely keep these in mind since they sounded beautiful (low to mid transition) which many cans suffer from doing poorly!
 
Thanks bro!!
 
EDIT:
 
After reading what I typed I realized these are Q40 on steroids
biggrin.gif

That's a very very good thing.
 
1 question....can the pads be changed to Alpha or HM5?? Just wondering.



I believe HM5 pads should fit, from a simple visual assessment.  
smile.gif
 But for now mine will stay stock. 
 
May 15, 2014 at 2:15 AM Post #70 of 139
Well I played that Wiz track and the bass is prolific.  The clarity in the mid range is excellent and the bass does not appear to bleed into the upper frequencies.  This is off my fiio e7 from the usb off my macbook pro.  Maybe not the best source but better than most mp3 players.  However I also agree that while it is a bassy can, subbass is not its forte.  Its pretty good, but I have heard better.  That said, those phones suffered in other parts of the freq range while doing this.  sometimes you just cannot have your cake and eat it too.
 
May 15, 2014 at 2:43 AM Post #71 of 139
  Well I played that Wiz track and the bass is prolific.  The clarity in the mid range is excellent and the bass does not appear to bleed into the upper frequencies.  This is off my fiio e7 from the usb off my macbook pro.  Maybe not the best source but better than most mp3 players.  However I also agree that while it is a bassy can, subbass is not its forte.  Its pretty good, but I have heard better.  That said, those phones suffered in other parts of the freq range while doing this.  sometimes you just cannot have your cake and eat it too.

Thanks
biggrin.gif

 

 
Does this track + the 500's make you ponder safe listening levels and the health of your ears....deep thoughts...I know
tongue.gif

 
May 15, 2014 at 3:02 AM Post #72 of 139
haha.  Well, not normally the type of music I listen to but this suits the 500's down to a tee.  I think they are really suited to this type of music (dubstep? rap?  what do you call it?).  I know that some of my other cans cannot handle the bass line of this music properly.  Nice!
 
May 15, 2014 at 3:09 AM Post #73 of 139
  haha.  Well, not normally the type of music I listen to but this suits the 500's down to a tee.  I think they are really suited to this type of music (dubstep? rap?  what do you call it?).  I know that some of my other cans cannot handle the bass line of this music properly.  Nice!

 
For quickly comparing bass hits it's the go to track for me. It makes em shine or kills them quick.
biggrin.gif
 
I tried this very hit on the Yamaha 500 and remember them being stout and strong. The wiz track was more for depth and overall bass and I never tried it on the Yammy.
But THIS IS SPARTA...BASS.
Thanks for confirming my memory !!
 
May 15, 2014 at 3:18 AM Post #74 of 139
while not my kind of music, I really liked both tracks on the 500's - just because the bass line was so well done.  And it shone on the cans.  Well played, sir!
 
May 15, 2014 at 3:20 AM Post #75 of 139
  while not my kind of music, I really liked both tracks on the 500's - just because the bass line was so well done.  And it shone on the cans.  Well played, sir!

beerchug.gif

 
Thanks!
 
They made me giggle like a child in the shop which drew odd stares but yeah...the Yammy give a slammy. 
Thanks for indulging a chronic Basshead for a little while!!
biggrin.gif
 
 

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