Yamaha YH-5000SE — a flagship from an orthodynamic headphones veteran!

[iFi audio]

So what do you guys figure, is it going to scale on a good setup, is it on the level of Susvara or is it more like Utopia as I'm getting some comparisons for some reason...

As far as specs go, Yamaha YH-500SE (98dB) are way closer to Focal Utopia (104dB) than Susvara (83dB) and nowhere near as difficult to drive as these HifiMans

 

[XVampireX]

As far as specs go, Yamaha YH-500SE (98dB) are way closer to Focal Utopia (104dB) than Susvara (83dB) and nowhere near as difficult to drive as these HifiMans

Yeah, I don't mean in terms of sensitivity or how hard is it to drive since that is definitely not a problem for me with my equipment. I'm asking if it will scale better for how good it sounds in all aspects.
If Susvara is considered the best of the best for more or less conventional headphones, how is YH-5000 in comparison?

 

[Failed Engineer]

Why is Susvara considered the best? Because it's the most expensive mass production headphone sold today?

 

[voja]

Why is Susvara considered the best? Because it's the most expensive mass production headphone sold today?

Needed to be paired with the most expensive amps in order to reach its optimal performance xd

 

[stacey]

Needed to be paired with the most expensive amps in order to reach its optimal performance xd

If the Yamaha is comparable to Susvara especially if it doesn’t require an expensive dac/amp, then I would say it’s a great achievement.

 

[Failed Engineer]

Needed to be paired with the most expensive amps in order to reach its optimal performance xd

It's excels at being limp and boring even when amped properly. It doesn't compare to the Utopia or a number of other flagships.

 

[iFi audio]

I'm asking if it will scale better for how good it sounds in all aspects.

For what it's worth, most upper echelon headphones are resolving enough to nicely show differences between component tiers, so I think that these new Yamaha cans won't be any different.

 

[Tachyon88]

Did anyone confirm if these are smaller than the HD800/s ?

 

[Pashmeister]

It's excels at being limp and boring even when amped properly. It doesn't compare to the Utopia or a number of other flagships.

It’s an opinion and it’s okay to be in the minority

 

[chargedcapacitor]

It’s an opinion and it’s okay to be in the minority

Sounds like they didn't volume match their comparisons, listened only to hip hop, or their ears are just in the minority.

 

[doctorK53]

Did anyone confirm if these are smaller than the HD800/s ?

Fortunately, I happened to have HD800s with me now.
I measured the size of the outer grill of the HD800s's 56mm driver. From the outer edge of the mesh to the shoulder of the other side of the mesh was 50mm.

We can see Yamaha's 50mm diaphragm and its cover metal part in the photo of the headphone festival in Tokyo this September.

Then we can compare whole pictures of those two on the same scale.

Measuring from the first image of the comparison, the diameter of the earpad of YH-5000SE is 28% shorter than the height of the earpad of HD800S.


Photos
YH-5000SE: Yamaha's Official web
HD800s: Sennheiser's Official web + a Webshop (side view)

 

[paradoxper]

Why is Susvara considered the best? Because it's the most expensive mass production headphone sold today?

It's not. As there is not a best. While very good and still falling short it takes considered system matching to de-limp not so much different from STAX.

 

[Failed Engineer]

It's not. As there is not a best. While very good and still falling short it takes considered system matching to de-limp not so much different from STAX.

I concur, adding that a good Stax chain built around a Carbon and any of several cans can do Susvara sound profile a lot better than Susvara itself can.

 

[iFi audio]

As there is not a best.

I agree, no such a thing exists

 

[Kapazza]

I'm worried about my ears touching the pads...they look pretty tiny. Wish there was a way to try them on before ordering here in south Florida.