Bruin9999
Head-Fier
- Joined
- Feb 25, 2009
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- 11
I'd really like to know the difference between these and the yamaha 400's. The specs are the same according to the yamaha website.
I'd really like to know the difference between these and the yamaha 400's. The specs are the same according to the yamaha website.
Sound like successors to the D2000s! The new audiophile bass monsters.
Uh, the aluminum used on these is nothing like the aluminum used on soda cans. Trust me, I took materials science classes. If you use the Al-3 series (the one on soda cans) the headband would deform the very moment you try to bend them. Industrial grade aluminum alloys are actually quite expensive depending on their characteristics and intended use.
And HE400 again? open vs closed, ugly vs stylish, home use vs portable. You just went full retard dude, never do it again.
There is no reason to throw out insults. Obviously, it isn't the bendable aluminium alloy that is in soda cans. I used that example to demonstrate that it is a commonly found metal that is not really considered luxurious or premium. Sure, you guys can say that the plastic and aluminium feels high-quality and luxurious, but let's be real. It's plastic and aluminium. The reason manufacturers use it is because it is inexpensive. lol.
The fact remains that the Pro 400 has the exact same specs w/o aluminium earcups retails for $300. The Pro 500 is $100 more for the addition of aluminium earcups. I would think that it is pretty obvious there is some pretty severe price inflation.
The reason I brought up the HE400 is that the HE400 uses orthodynamic drivers and from what I've heard is extremely highly-rated for its well-tuned audiophile-grade sound. I am pointing out what you can purchase in today's headphone market for a cool $400. Price point comparison lol. I noted that it was open, and I am aware it is not for portable use. If you are talking about accurate hi-fi sound reproduction/quality, the HE400 is in a different league. That is why the Pro 500 should not be in that price range.
The Pro 500 from what I've read is a well-tuned colored pair of headphones with a bass boost. Its real competitors are in the $300 & less price range. There is no reason to pay an additional $100 for the Yamaha sound signature when there are just as good colored sound signatures from competitors.
I hope you now understand my argument. These are just critical observations on their product. No need to get personally insulted. In the future, please try to refrain from throwing out insults. It only makes you look bad, especially when you completely missed the point (price comparison to illustrate that it is overpriced for its class).
There is no reason to throw out insults.
The fact remains that the Pro 400 has the exact same specs w/o aluminium earcups retails for $300.
..except when you are begging for them.
They may have the same specs but the sound is going to be different when you have a driver housing bolted to a thick aluminum earcup. I know what your next question is going to be so I will refer you to Newton's third law of motion...
Nice review Mark! For the most part I agree although I would not call them v-shaped to my ears (perhaps smiley-shaped). While there's a bit of bass punch and impact, I find that that the mids and highs fall nicely in line with the bass. The highs are smooth with shimmer but overall they are very clean and not edgy at all to my ears (especially in comparison to something like the HD25 or Amperior). I'd agree they are pretty bold and dramatic and that's why I've fallen in love with them. Engaging is the right word and it makes me feel like I'm actually at a concert. I especially appreciate the reproduction of drums and other percussive instruments. Love your comment about the twang of strings - what these excel in is reproducing great tonality and decay. Reminds me of my favorite IEM the HJE900, although IIRC, you weren't a fan of those with its bassy sound sig. For me this is a much more refined hp version of those IEMs.
Anyway these cans still amaze me and have me just enjoying the music. They are fun and musical while still being incredibly resolving and that is very hard to find in a headphone. It's also the first headphone I can say that's definitely worth the price tag for all the attributes it has.
Well, I guess it depends on what you are comparing them too?
Other closed bassy headphones that you can get for more than $100 cheaper off the top of my head: Beyer DT900 ($320), V-Moda M100 ($300), Mad Dogs ($300), Ultrasone 900 ($300), Denon AH-D400 ($240), ATH-WS99 ($240), UE6000 ($200), beyerdynamic dt770 ($170), Audio-Technica ATH-PRO700MK2 ($178), V-Moda LP2 ($175), Ultrasone HFI 580 ($120), M-Audio Q-40 ($120), Audio-Technica ATH-M50 ($116)
Other closed headphones with a more balanced sound that are still cheaper: Sennheiser Momentum ($350), Sony MDR-1R ($300), AKG Q701 (open - $300), AKG K550/K551 ($223-323), Shure SRH-840 ($165), V-Moda M-80 ($140)
If you are getting a portable, closed, colored pair of headphones... why would you blow $400 for a company that has no prior headphone experience, was too boring to come up with their own design/style, still somehow managed to make their headphones less comfortable than the Beats while copy-pasting their design, made their premium headphones out of mostly plastic, advertises their v-shaped bass-emphasized sound as "studio sound" & "accurately produces all genres of music" & "used by professionals"?
The whole thing just screams overpriced to me. Yamaha legitimately looked at the headphone market and probably thought, wow, if idiots are willing to throw down $300 for Beats, we can totally mark-up $100 for slightly tuning the sound. They didn't even have to spend any R&D on design. They are calling their aluminum earcups as premium quality... you know, aluminum alloy, the same premium materials that Coca-Cola uses in its soda cans.
Am I seriously the only person that thinks this is ridiculous?
Yamaha Pro 500's $400 price point would be competing against HiFiMAN HE-400 (open, orthodynamic drivers!!! - $400).