[jlbrach]

I think, plenty of people would argue with that statement. I know several enthusiasts who prefer other TOTL planars to the Susvara or the Abyss. It is personal taste and preference.

perhaps prefer but imho nothing has bettered them

 

[goldwerger]

perhaps prefer but imho nothing has bettered them

We all have different POVs and tastes.. and that's great. We can all really find our ideal perfect headphone/s these days with so many options!

 

[up late]

and yet nothing has bettered the abyss 1266 TC or susvara in terms of planars or the SR1A and CA-1a..

absolute

perhaps prefer but imho nothing has bettered them

qualified

 

[jlbrach]

whenever a new HP comes along with all sorts of claims I look forward to hearing them to see if they truly are the new standard...I find them to be different..perhaps more comfortable,more efficient...differently tuned but not better than the current TOTL..I do think we have plateaued for the time being

 

[up late]

sound isn't the only criteria i use when evaluating totl headphones. the yh-5000se looks like a considerable improvement on the ab1266 ergonomically to me.

 

[doctorK53]

A second-hand YH-5000SE appeared in Fujiya-avic webshop and sold within a few hours. The price was 419,800 JPY (＝aprrox. 3200USD) (20% discount from MSRP).
This one was the first of BtoC used item.

https://www.fujiya-avic.co.jp/shop/g/g240001166847/

 

[Undun]

I heard them on tubes and instantly hated it but than again I don't really prefer tubes that much in general over solid state... It took all its resolution and threw it out the window in my opinion

Did you just listen to them on tubes, or did you get a chance to hear them on solid state as well? If so, curious what your thoughts were.

 

[Blackrao]

Did you just listen to them on tubes, or did you get a chance to hear them on solid state as well? If so, curious what your thoughts were.

yeah they had solid state set up right next to it in e-earphone, the bass pretty flat extended well into subbass, midrange was good with a little hollowness there, and treble was actually very inoffensive and controlled surprisingly. I feel like it sounded more like dynamic drivers than planars

 

[doctorK53]

Of course, I would.
I collected impressions from Japanese tweets in Portable Audio Festival held on 17-18 Dec hosted by e-earphone.
Grouped them into three categories: e-earphon's staff, those who see it negatively, and preferable comments.
All comments are summarized instead of translated words-by-words. (Detailed nuance of Japanese tweet is almost impossible to translate!) Inside < > is my comment or supplement.
Links to the tweets were inserted for the post of the staff and when photos are important.


1. e-earphone's staff

<Three of the PR staff of the shop posted short impressions. As they are regular members of the shop's youtube channel and have posted a large number of audio gear reviews, I expect the in-depth review will be available on the channel near future.>

@eear_kawachan
Incredible real sound
Beauty and elegance
Fine resolution in highs, though, relaxed in general
Excellent design, Very light, and top comfort

@eear_tanimiku
The sound of the instruments is vivid and realistic.
I would like to listen calmly for a long time.

@eear_hamachan
Lighter than expected
Wide sound stage and realistic sound.
They are more like speakers than headphones.
Good experience
I love it!
<in the second photo attached to the tweet, he grabs the headband, and the leather part is bent. I guess its softness is well-tuned to improve comfort in addition to the lightweight>

<addition: another staff tweeted after my original post>
@eear_erina
More compact than expected
Slightly hard sound, with a firm pressure level in the mids and highs
A lot of information on the atmosphere surrounding instruments
The piano is very beautiful as expected for the Yamaha brand
Regular customers of our shop will definitely like it


2. Negative impressions
<Only two users were found. (except for complaints to the cable termination.) >

@yonks630
Disappointed
Mids and highs are not clear enough
Not the YAMAHA sound which I imagined
The Reproductivity of small sounds is a good point
Too expensive for the performance

@opanntu
It was not what I expected
Not natural with lambskin earpads. Mids are too strong
It is like the sound of small speakers plus a super woofer
Resonance quickly disappears. Maybe "correct" as acoustics theory but not rich for headphones at this price.
A bit of natural balance with suede pads
Audition is necessary before ordering.
The venue was too noisy to judge all.
Its strength might be found through repeated auditions
I think the conclusion must come after listening in my home.


3. Favorable comments

@tapt_
Punchy sounds near ears
Less three-dimensionality than HD800s or Liric
Beautiful sound
Ultralight

@Japanakayama
Light fitting
Natural and real sound, listen forever
Good resolution and gradation
Deep earpads, and diaphragms are near my ears

@sho_ai_kumaneko
Listen forever
Zero harshnesses
All sounds are audible
Real positioning
Spacial, astounding depth <direction of z-axis>
It can be the lifetime headphones

@zipang67
No complaints about the sound
Zero insulation
Be enveloped in sound
Fiio Q3 can drive it with a 70% volume

@shio_chan_man
Incredible presence and rawness

@dymomaster
<in the photo, you can see a Yamaha engineer, Mr. Hadano, who told technical aspects in the youtube video>
Inside the earcups are almost empty but full of music
Two seconds are enough <to know its performance>
Better use time to talk with the engineer

@m-sora
I prefer YH-5000SE to D8000.
For extended listening, YH-5000SE is much better (including weight)

@hideo_stax_06es
Wide range
High resolution
Vergy good headphones

@MazQmusic
<@MazQmusic is a DTMer. The review is from his/her blog linked to the tweet>
The frequency response is not flat. A small peak in 300-700Hz, dip in somewhere between 2-4kHz
More bass than DT1990Pro
Time domain and positioning are the best in my experience
Swift response
No distortion in the bass
Very cool kick drum
Precise stereo imaging of kick drum and electric bass
Dry tone, better for wind instruments than strings
Highs are clear, never harsh

@shinomi0489
Fit and comfort are top tiers
The venue <of the festival> is not suitable for an audition
I hope to listen again in a calm and silent environment.

@furafura_walker
Great headphones
Good quality and quantity of lows, beautiful vocals, and clear highs.
Fine resonance
Atack may be a little depressed, but this is a tuning for holistic beauty.
Vocals emerge with suede earpads.

@kazuma_memories
Shocked in ten minutes
Greatest sound of instruments in my experience
Too much fun

END

Collected and translated impressions from tweets in Japanese. Again, I summarized their comments. (good words-to-words translation is not possible for me or machine translation tools)

This time, finally, we can see the owners’ comments. I found seven people who purchased and tweeted their impressions. The first two are the early adaptors who preordered on the first day and got it last December. The others received the 2nd lot since 31st Jan.

Thanks to the audio shops where regular auditioning is available, we can see more comments from auditions (below owners' comments).

I added the devices they coupled with YH-5000SE if specified.
Inside <> are my comments and supplements.


Owners' impressions

@momocat51235010
Tambaqui DAC -> PhonitorX or RE-REAF E5 Studio
Took one month of burn-in to be settled.
Sharp focus. Sheepskin pads give a more precise positioning and detailed texture and are more severe to the source.
Presence is like Utopia (1st).
Severe to the source. Problem of recording, such as phase alignment, is revealed.
Bass is dynamic, sticky, tight, and rhythmical
For live recording, it is easy to see what the artist is doing.
Clear representation of individual tones of different violinists
YH-5000SE itself does not have a particular tone. High sensitivity and linear reaction to changes in the setting are attractive. Not always "modern and smart". It sounds differently in different upstream settings. Mine sounds very dramatic.
<addition 2023/Feb/08>
good for orchestra. wide dynamic range. small, thin, long, suspended, sharp.

@crow_raven_sing
Soundgenic(RA3HG)->Qutest->RNHP->YH-5000SE
Piano-like black finish of the box
High build quality everywhere
Good response to source and upstream devices
Vivid and realistic presentation
Leather pads give transparent and precise positioning
Suede pads give more open, warmer sound and more volume on the bass. I prefer suede pads


@kansan
fiio M17 -> Dave -> YH-5000SE
PC -> DMP-Z1 -> YH-5000SE
Love this one the best of the headphones I have purchased
Best "sound quality per gram" of my experience
Lots of heavy headphones with good sound. This lightweight is only one. It is justice.
SP3000 has enough power
High resolution was the decisive factor in purchasing. Good separation. Clear vocal.

@UNO69106147
PC ->Soulnote D-3+Z-3+X-3(RCC-1) <DAC> -> Acrolink A2080 Leggenda -> Pathos inpol Ear -> YH-5000SE
<Open-box impression>
85/100 points.
Sometimes questionable. Bass is not enough.
High frequency is out of control
<Three days later>
Highs: The problem in high was solved soon by burn-in. Smooth.
Bass is not enough yet. Could be improved by the setup of upstream devices.
Mids are fast, slightly dry, not too-much echo, open, and precise positioning.
Resolution and soundstage: detailed, good dynamics. Horizontally not much wide but natural. Depth is good.
It depends on the system and source because the headphones do not have a distinctive character

@nobmd
MHA200 -(balanced adapter)-> YH-5000se
<open box impression>
Clear and neat
Highs of violine are harsh
Source quality is directly reflected

@HP_plus_EP
The first impression was "body-friendly monitor"
<addition 2023/Feb/08>
High basic performance is undoughtful
No unique character (like bass of D8000)
Unstimulating treble, tight bass
Tireless thanks to the lightweight
2m stock cable is short

@TikitakaTtk
On the second day. Awake is not good.
Feel high potential.


Impression form auditions in audio shops

@ri7_clw
Shanling M30
Wide sound stage
Sometimes harsh depends on DACs
Sensitive (though less sensitive than the original Utopia)
Leather pads: Tight and transparent vocals
Suede: Soft. More atmosphere, easy-listening.
Especially good with piano, strings, and female vocal

@pontax3
ifi-Audio Pro iCAN Signature
High resolution, good separation, and positioning. Every instrument is audible.
Wide sound stage.
The bass is tight and not so deep.

@tokki009
The lightweight is good for daily use.
The female vocal is not to my taste
Drivers are far from ears. It is nice for my ears than D8000(esp. with a large volume)

@yuzliha263
Soft and lots of echo.
Not transparent.
The soundstage is not so wide.
The sound is good, but the price tag cannot be justified.

@lalala123155
Chord DAVE
Brilliant mids and highs
The soundstage is not as wide as expected. The sound image is a bit near.
No comment on lows.
The exterior is very nice!

@jacky_3541
Dap can drive it.
Lightweight is good.
Too expensive.

@ymzkst46
Unnatural highs, too brilliant like ADX5000

@OMURICE_FF
Zero flavoring to the original.
Source-direct sound
High resolution
Appearance is cool

@12thSagittarius
K9pro ess: listening-friendly
ADI-2 DAC FS: Clean but not attractive

@hos_tw
PULENUE L(optical) -> K9(ESS) -> Pro iCAN -> single-ended cable
Sound quality is worth the price
Beautiful treble is attractive
Mids are not thick (more hifiman than audeze)

@amagi_kojikoji
RS8 -> benchmark <HPA>
Good
Sometimes vocal is not clear
More bass with RS8
Lightweight, fit, and appearance are greatest

@kinoryou0302
PRO iCAN Signature
Emotional experience
The horizontal soundstage is wide, and the sound is terribly separated
Even metal music with many notes showed its capabilities well
Classical music was a tearjerker
A special seat in the hall
I want these headphones

@machi7n08
Fit is great.
The clear sound is very good.

<bellow is the only person who complained its fit so far>
@mikamo21
Fit has a problem.
It is light, and clamp force is appropriate, even though the phones often move and are unstable.
The sound separation and spacious soundstage are as expected
Dry lacks luster and freshness. This may be fatal for vocals
The bass is also sloppily spread out in proportion to its volume.
It's definitely a "good sound," But I cannot dive into the world of the music.

@mstmt_
Unusual
Sound comes as "points" from dry (vacuum) space
Uncomfortable feeling if the recording has vague positioning
The most precise reproduction of the source with good positioning
Highest level of resolution of all headphones
Unusually sharp and stable focus
Distinguish any sounds without any difficulty
Reminds me HD800. Performance is very high but more analytical than delightful.
"monochrome, super-fine evolution from HD800"
The price is too high.

@Nira_Tomato
Too little character

@cyber_neuron
Mid-forward
Basic performance is worth or slightly lower for the price.
Smooth and gentle mids, not crisp
Light fit and comfort is attractive
Lows are normal. Less body. The edge is not clear. Low-end is not enough.
Mids are difficult to judge. Wet echo. It is not to my taste. Some may like it.
Highs are normal. Open and delicate. Not metallic.
The sound stage is normal. Not very wide for open-back phones. Transparency is good.
Fit is excellent. Very light and has no clamp force. Comfort.
In this price range, this is not my choice. A tube amp may be good.
vs STEALTH
Stealth has a higher basic performance. Especially the resolution of bass.
Positioning: Stealth is better.
Width : YH-5000SE is wider

@pe_audio
Very neutral
Ultimate monitor-like headphones
The silence is beautiful
Good fit
Versatile expression depending on the source and equipment

@mkinsymori7
Better than Elite (in 6.3mm single-ended)


END

 

[betula]

Collected and translated impressions from tweets in Japanese. Again, I summarized their comments. (good words-to-words translation is not possible for me or machine translation tools)

This time, finally, we can see the owners’ comments. I found seven people who purchased and tweeted their impressions. The first two are the early adaptors who preordered on the first day and got it last December. The others received the 2nd lot since 31st Jan.

Thanks to the audio shops where regular auditioning is available, we can see more comments from auditions (below owners' comments).

I added the devices they coupled with YH-5000SE if specified.
Inside <> are my comments and supplements.


Owners' impressions

@momocat51235010
Tambaqui DAC -> PhonitorX or RE-REAF E5 Studio
Took one month of burn-in to be settled.
Sharp focus. Sheepskin pads give a more precise positioning and detailed texture and are more severe to the source.
Presence is like Utopia (1st).
Severe to the source. Problem of recording, such as phase alignment, is revealed.
Bass is dynamic, sticky, tight, and rhythmical
For live recording, it is easy to see what the artist is doing.
Clear representation of individual tones of different violinists
YH-5000SE itself does not have a particular tone. High sensitivity and linear reaction to changes in the setting are attractive. Not always "modern and smart". It sounds differently in different upstream settings. Mine sounds very dramatic.


@crow_raven_sing
Soundgenic(RA3HG)->Qutest->RNHP->YH-5000SE
Piano-like black finish of the box
High build quality everywhere
Good response to source and upstream devices
Vivid and realistic presentation
Leather pads give transparent and precise positioning
Suede pads give more open, warmer sound and more volume on the bass. I prefer suede pads


@kansan
fiio M17 -> Dave -> YH-5000SE
PC -> DMP-Z1 -> YH-5000SE
Love this one the best of the headphones I have purchased
Best "sound quality per gram" of my experience
Lots of heavy headphones with good sound. This lightweight is only one. It is justice.
SP3000 has enough power
High resolution was the decisive factor in purchasing. Good separation. Clear vocal.

@UNO69106147
PC ->Soulnote D-3+Z-3+X-3(RCC-1) <DAC> -> Acrolink A2080 Leggenda -> Pathos inpol Ear -> YH-5000SE
<Open-box impression>
85/100 points.
Sometimes questionable. Bass is not enough.
High frequency is out of control
<Three days later>
Highs: The problem in high was solved soon by burn-in. Smooth.
Bass is not enough yet. Could be improved by the setup of upstream devices.
Mids are fast, slightly dry, not too-much echo, open, and precise positioning.
Resolution and soundstage: detailed, good dynamics. Horizontally not much wide but natural. Depth is good.
It depends on the system and source because the headphones do not have a distinctive character

@nobmd
MHA200 -(balanced adapter)-> YH-5000se
<open box impression>
Clear and neat
Highs of violine are harsh
Source quality is directly reflected

@HP_plus_EP
The first impression was "body-friendly monitor"

@TikitakaTtk
On the second day. Awake is not good.
Feel high potential.


Impression form auditions in audio shops

@ri7_clw
Shanling M30
Wide sound stage
Sometimes harsh depends on DACs
Sensitive (though less sensitive than the original Utopia)
Leather pads: Tight and transparent vocals
Suede: Soft. More atmosphere, easy-listening.
Especially good with piano, strings, and female vocal

@pontax3
ifi-Audio Pro iCAN Signature
High resolution, good separation, and positioning. Every instrument is audible.
Wide sound stage.
The bass is tight and not so deep.

@tokki009
The lightweight is good for daily use.
The female vocal is not to my taste
Drivers are far from ears. It is nice for my ears than D8000(esp. with a large volume)

@yuzliha263
Soft and lots of echo.
Not transparent.
The soundstage is not so wide.
The sound is good, but the price tag cannot be justified.

@lalala123155
Chord DAVE
Brilliant mids and highs
The soundstage is not as wide as expected. The sound image is a bit near.
No comment on lows.
The exterior is very nice!

@jacky_3541
Dap can drive it.
Lightweight is good.
Too expensive.

@ymzkst46
Unnatural highs, too brilliant like ADX5000

@OMURICE_FF
Zero flavoring to the original.
Source-direct sound
High resolution
Appearance is cool

@12thSagittarius
K9pro ess: listening-friendly
ADI-2 DAC FS: Clean but not attractive

@hos_tw
PULENUE L(optical) -> K9(ESS) -> Pro iCAN -> single-ended cable
Sound quality is worth the price
Beautiful treble is attractive
Mids are not thick (more hifiman than audeze)

@amagi_kojikoji
RS8 -> benchmark <HPA>
Good
Sometimes vocal is not clear
More bass with RS8
Lightweight, fit, and appearance are greatest

@kinoryou0302
PRO iCAN Signature
Emotional experience
The horizontal soundstage is wide, and the sound is terribly separated
Even metal music with many notes showed its capabilities well
Classical music was a tearjerker
A special seat in the hall
I want these headphones

@machi7n08
Fit is great.
The clear sound is very good.

<bellow is the only person who complained its fit so far>
@mikamo21
Fit has a problem.
It is light, and clamp force is appropriate, even though the phones often move and are unstable.
The sound separation and spacious soundstage are as expected
Dry lacks luster and freshness. This may be fatal for vocals
The bass is also sloppily spread out in proportion to its volume.
It's definitely a "good sound," But I cannot dive into the world of the music.

@mstmt_
Unusual
Sound comes as "points" from dry (vacuum) space
Uncomfortable feeling if the recording has vague positioning
The most precise reproduction of the source with good positioning
Highest level of resolution of all headphones
Unusually sharp and stable focus
Distinguish any sounds without any difficulty
Reminds me HD800. Performance is very high but more analytical than delightful.
"monochrome, super-fine evolution from HD800"
The price is too high.

@Nira_Tomato
Too little character

@cyber_neuron
Mid-forward
Basic performance is worth or slightly lower for the price.
Smooth and gentle mids, not crisp
Light fit and comfort is attractive
Lows are normal. Less body. The edge is not clear. Low-end is not enough.
Mids are difficult to judge. Wet echo. It is not to my taste. Some may like it.
Highs are normal. Open and delicate. Not metallic.
The sound stage is normal. Not very wide for open-back phones. Transparency is good.
Fit is excellent. Very light and has no clamp force. Comfort.
In this price range, this is not my choice. A tube amp may be good.
vs STEALTH
Stealth has a higher basic performance. Especially the resolution of bass.
Positioning: Stealth is better.
Width : YH-5000SE is wider

@pe_audio
Very neutral
Ultimate monitor-like headphones
The silence is beautiful
Good fit
Versatile expression depending on the source and equipment

@mkinsymori7
Better than Elite (in 6.3mm single-ended)


END

Appreciate your effort, thanks.

So basically what I understand from this is that the 5000SE is very transparent and system chain dependent. Users stated everything and the opposite: wide sounding, not wide sounding, good bass, not enough bass and so on. In general my impression is it will be closer to a clean studio sound approach.

 

[adrianm]

Does anyone know how big the case is ? I have a friend going to Japan in the summer and I'm wondering if he could throw it in a backpack or if it's too much hassle for him to fly out with them. I assume the non SE version without the stand would be considerably more compact.

 

[goldwerger]

Collected and translated impressions from tweets in Japanese. Again, I summarized their comments. (good words-to-words translation is not possible for me or machine translation tools)

This time, finally, we can see the owners’ comments. I found seven people who purchased and tweeted their impressions. The first two are the early adaptors who preordered on the first day and got it last December. The others received the 2nd lot since 31st Jan.

Thanks to the audio shops where regular auditioning is available, we can see more comments from auditions (below owners' comments).

I added the devices they coupled with YH-5000SE if specified.
Inside <> are my comments and supplements.


Owners' impressions

@momocat51235010
Tambaqui DAC -> PhonitorX or RE-REAF E5 Studio
Took one month of burn-in to be settled.
Sharp focus. Sheepskin pads give a more precise positioning and detailed texture and are more severe to the source.
Presence is like Utopia (1st).
Severe to the source. Problem of recording, such as phase alignment, is revealed.
Bass is dynamic, sticky, tight, and rhythmical
For live recording, it is easy to see what the artist is doing.
Clear representation of individual tones of different violinists
YH-5000SE itself does not have a particular tone. High sensitivity and linear reaction to changes in the setting are attractive. Not always "modern and smart". It sounds differently in different upstream settings. Mine sounds very dramatic.


@crow_raven_sing
Soundgenic(RA3HG)->Qutest->RNHP->YH-5000SE
Piano-like black finish of the box
High build quality everywhere
Good response to source and upstream devices
Vivid and realistic presentation
Leather pads give transparent and precise positioning
Suede pads give more open, warmer sound and more volume on the bass. I prefer suede pads


@kansan
fiio M17 -> Dave -> YH-5000SE
PC -> DMP-Z1 -> YH-5000SE
Love this one the best of the headphones I have purchased
Best "sound quality per gram" of my experience
Lots of heavy headphones with good sound. This lightweight is only one. It is justice.
SP3000 has enough power
High resolution was the decisive factor in purchasing. Good separation. Clear vocal.

@UNO69106147
PC ->Soulnote D-3+Z-3+X-3(RCC-1) <DAC> -> Acrolink A2080 Leggenda -> Pathos inpol Ear -> YH-5000SE
<Open-box impression>
85/100 points.
Sometimes questionable. Bass is not enough.
High frequency is out of control
<Three days later>
Highs: The problem in high was solved soon by burn-in. Smooth.
Bass is not enough yet. Could be improved by the setup of upstream devices.
Mids are fast, slightly dry, not too-much echo, open, and precise positioning.
Resolution and soundstage: detailed, good dynamics. Horizontally not much wide but natural. Depth is good.
It depends on the system and source because the headphones do not have a distinctive character

@nobmd
MHA200 -(balanced adapter)-> YH-5000se
<open box impression>
Clear and neat
Highs of violine are harsh
Source quality is directly reflected

@HP_plus_EP
The first impression was "body-friendly monitor"

@TikitakaTtk
On the second day. Awake is not good.
Feel high potential.


Impression form auditions in audio shops

@ri7_clw
Shanling M30
Wide sound stage
Sometimes harsh depends on DACs
Sensitive (though less sensitive than the original Utopia)
Leather pads: Tight and transparent vocals
Suede: Soft. More atmosphere, easy-listening.
Especially good with piano, strings, and female vocal

@pontax3
ifi-Audio Pro iCAN Signature
High resolution, good separation, and positioning. Every instrument is audible.
Wide sound stage.
The bass is tight and not so deep.

@tokki009
The lightweight is good for daily use.
The female vocal is not to my taste
Drivers are far from ears. It is nice for my ears than D8000(esp. with a large volume)

@yuzliha263
Soft and lots of echo.
Not transparent.
The soundstage is not so wide.
The sound is good, but the price tag cannot be justified.

@lalala123155
Chord DAVE
Brilliant mids and highs
The soundstage is not as wide as expected. The sound image is a bit near.
No comment on lows.
The exterior is very nice!

@jacky_3541
Dap can drive it.
Lightweight is good.
Too expensive.

@ymzkst46
Unnatural highs, too brilliant like ADX5000

@OMURICE_FF
Zero flavoring to the original.
Source-direct sound
High resolution
Appearance is cool

@12thSagittarius
K9pro ess: listening-friendly
ADI-2 DAC FS: Clean but not attractive

@hos_tw
PULENUE L(optical) -> K9(ESS) -> Pro iCAN -> single-ended cable
Sound quality is worth the price
Beautiful treble is attractive
Mids are not thick (more hifiman than audeze)

@amagi_kojikoji
RS8 -> benchmark <HPA>
Good
Sometimes vocal is not clear
More bass with RS8
Lightweight, fit, and appearance are greatest

@kinoryou0302
PRO iCAN Signature
Emotional experience
The horizontal soundstage is wide, and the sound is terribly separated
Even metal music with many notes showed its capabilities well
Classical music was a tearjerker
A special seat in the hall
I want these headphones

@machi7n08
Fit is great.
The clear sound is very good.

<bellow is the only person who complained its fit so far>
@mikamo21
Fit has a problem.
It is light, and clamp force is appropriate, even though the phones often move and are unstable.
The sound separation and spacious soundstage are as expected
Dry lacks luster and freshness. This may be fatal for vocals
The bass is also sloppily spread out in proportion to its volume.
It's definitely a "good sound," But I cannot dive into the world of the music.

@mstmt_
Unusual
Sound comes as "points" from dry (vacuum) space
Uncomfortable feeling if the recording has vague positioning
The most precise reproduction of the source with good positioning
Highest level of resolution of all headphones
Unusually sharp and stable focus
Distinguish any sounds without any difficulty
Reminds me HD800. Performance is very high but more analytical than delightful.
"monochrome, super-fine evolution from HD800"
The price is too high.

@Nira_Tomato
Too little character

@cyber_neuron
Mid-forward
Basic performance is worth or slightly lower for the price.
Smooth and gentle mids, not crisp
Light fit and comfort is attractive
Lows are normal. Less body. The edge is not clear. Low-end is not enough.
Mids are difficult to judge. Wet echo. It is not to my taste. Some may like it.
Highs are normal. Open and delicate. Not metallic.
The sound stage is normal. Not very wide for open-back phones. Transparency is good.
Fit is excellent. Very light and has no clamp force. Comfort.
In this price range, this is not my choice. A tube amp may be good.
vs STEALTH
Stealth has a higher basic performance. Especially the resolution of bass.
Positioning: Stealth is better.
Width : YH-5000SE is wider

@pe_audio
Very neutral
Ultimate monitor-like headphones
The silence is beautiful
Good fit
Versatile expression depending on the source and equipment

@mkinsymori7
Better than Elite (in 6.3mm single-ended)


END

Thanks so much for taking so much effort to put this together, on behalf of all of us, it is deeply appreciated.

Hard to make judgment on something one hasn’t heard, but if I ventured a guess, a quality tube amplifier, perhaps SET amplifier, can be a good fit to elevate bass and create a holographic feel, especially as this headphone seems to be impacted by the chain.

 

[adrianm]

Hard to make judgment on something one hasn’t heard, but if I ventured a guess, a quality tube amplifier, perhaps SET amplifier, can be a good fit to elevate bass and create a holographic feel, especially as this headphone seems to be impacted by the chain.

Well If it scales up like current TOTL headphones and shares a DNA with D8k, I'd be a happy camper. Just hope the non SE version will be available by Summer. I definitely don't want the extra crap, and would much rather get my own cable.

 

[doctorK53]

Does anyone know how big the case is ? I have a friend going to Japan in the summer and I'm wondering if he could throw it in a backpack or if it's too much hassle for him to fly out with them. I assume the non SE version without the stand would be considerably more compact.

Exact size of the box of SE is not officially announced, though, judging from photos on this tweet and this tweet, it is too large to put in a normal backpack. If non-SE version comes, the package will not have the second layor (spare pads and a bonus cable) and the bottom box (the stand). So it should be much easier to carry.

 

[adrianm]

Exact size of the box of SE is not officially announced, though, judging from photos on this tweet and this tweet, it is too large to put in a normal backpack. If non-SE version comes, the package will not have the second layor (spare pads and a bonus cable) and the bottom box (the stand). So it should be much easier to carry.

Thanks for your contribution to this thread btw, 90% of our info comes from you I'm curious, If you buy it as a tourist can you not pay the 10% Tax? and If you do, I assume you pay full VAT when you land back home?