Spatial audio is all the fashion proper now. It’s essentially the most coveted headphone characteristic subsequent to noise cancellation, and we’ve got Apple to thank for that. This expertise made an enormous splash on the AirPods Professional, bringing a extra natural-sounding presence to probably the greatest true wi-fi earbuds ever made.
Not solely has Apple’s spatial audio expertise turn out to be a staple of the AirPods collection, which additionally contains the distinctive AirPods Max headphones, but it surely has birthed a slew of noteworthy rivals. Sony’s 360 Actuality Audio is taken into account a detailed competitor and does a convincing job of constructing music and flicks sound extra real looking on upscale Sony headphones and earbuds.
As a lot as we love what Apple and Sony have created, neither has developed the very best headphones for spatial audio. That honor goes to Yamaha.
Yamaha? Sure, the Japanese electronics producer accountable for among the market’s top-sounding AV receivers. Its YH-L700A headphones have been criminally missed, primarily as a result of the corporate has marketed them extra as a noise-canceling mannequin than a 360-degree sonic juggernaut. It’s time they bought their recognition.
I’ve owned the Yamaha YH-L700A since they initially launched again in fall 2020 and I’m nonetheless mesmerized by how nicely engineered these cans are for each 3D and informal listening. Extra importantly, they provide one thing that no different headphone does: 3D sound compatibility with any audio supply (extra on that later).
Let me put you onto the greatness that’s the YH-L700A.
In order for you a pair of high quality high-end headphones with good sound, sturdy noise cancellation and the very best spatial audio on the market for immersive music and flicks, the Yamaha YH-L700A are for you.
What’s Yamaha’s 3D Sound Subject characteristic and the way does it work?
Yamaha’s 3D Sound Subject is tehcnology scans your head to find out how your ears obtain sound from a degree in house. The Bluetooth sign is then expanded to 5 channels, inserting “dialogue to the middle and sound results to the left and proper as initially supposed.”
Apple’s spatial audio expertise employs 5.1, 7.1 and Dolby Atmos mixes from suitable content material, which apply directional audio filters and tweak frequencies relayed to every ear which can be positioned in a 3D soundscape. In the meantime, Sony’s 360 Actuality Audio depends on object-based audio (like Dolby Atmos) that maps particular person sounds on suitable songs to a spherical 3D house the place the listener is positioned within the center and sounds come from completely different instructions.
Is Yamaha’s spatial audio expertise actually suitable with all content material and gadgets?
I didn’t mislead you within the intro. 3D Sound Subject works with any audio supply, be it MP3 recordsdata saved domestically in your MacBook or MQA (Grasp High quality Authenticated) tracks streamed on hi-res music streaming providers like Tidal. The expertise additionally works with headtracking movement expertise and Cinema DSP processing to pinpoint sound and modify it on the fly.
No additional {hardware} is required since all audio processing is dealt with contained in the headphones. This makes listening to music on iOS and Android gadgets extra rewarding.
Distinctive. I’m keen on the AirPods Max for motion pictures and the Sony WH-1000XM5 for music, however the YH-L700A let me get pleasure from the very best of each worlds with out altering headphones. All credit score goes to Yamaha’s 3D Sound Subject modes that precisely customise sound to content material.
- Motion pictures and Exhibits: Cinema, Drama
- Music Movies: Live performance Corridor, Out of doors Stay, Music Video
- Music Solely: Audio Room, BGM
You possibly can both cycle by way of every mode by urgent the 3D button on the fitting ear cup or choose one within the Yamaha Headphones Controller app. The variations between every mode are important, and I imply that in a optimistic approach. All music modes work nicely for various genres and content material. Live performance Corridor and Out of doors Stay introduced extra realism to dwell performances by accentuating crowd responses and nuances you wouldn’t hear on normal headphones.
Music Video raised the bass ranges on music movies for livelier listens. The pounding drums and synths on Snoop Dogg’s “Gin & Juice” rocked my ears and didn’t bloat up the soundscape. Hea-tracking expertise made the viewing expertise extra participating; the pounding bass navigated easily with my head motion. Apple’s head-tracking expertise is spot-on, although it feels much less immersive in comparison with Yamaha’s. Sony’s latest software program replace brings headtracking to the WH-1000XM5, but it surely’s disappointing.
Audio Room creates an intimate atmosphere that interprets nicely on orchestral tracks. Jazz classics just like the Ahmad Jamal Trio’s “Dolphin Dance” made me really feel like I used to be within the recording sales space with the band. I used to be enamored by the reverb and heat from the double bass, in addition to the melodic piano notes that floated throughout the soundscape.
Film watching is what elevates the YH-L700A above the competitors. Cinema provides you a style of Yamaha’s glorious house theater expertise by centering dialogue and designating particular results to the left and proper channels. This whole impact is reproduced extraordinarily nicely. The sound design on “Avatar: The Manner of Water” was jaw-dropping. It felt surreal when underwater creatures swam above characters or when the Na’vi soared by way of the skies. I used to be additionally shocked by how visceral the bullet-time scene in “The Matrix” sounded; slow-motion bullets whizzed previous my ears. Punches landed throughout battle scenes had extra affect to them as nicely.
Investing within the YH-L700A additionally means receiving respectable ANC, nice name high quality and serviceable battery life in a flowery design.
The YH-L700A’s noise cancellation blocks out most low- and mid-frequency sounds. Ambient Sound mode will increase consciousness of environment when jamming out to tracks in rowdy environments. Voice and video calls come by way of loud and clear with the mics demonstrating strong vocal seize. Playtime maxes out at 34 hours and 3D Sound Subject drops it drastically to 11 hours, however that’s nonetheless ample for binge watching a Marvel collection.
Yamaha’s attractive craftmanship is on full show right here. The mix of mesh supplies and leather-based components coated with gentle urethane give the YH-L700A a premium and rugged look. These headphones are heavy at 11.64 ounces, although the plush padding and tight match make them a comfortable put on for two-to-three-hour stretches.
In order for you a pair of over-ear headphones with terrific, versatile spatial audio efficiency no matter what platform you’re on, then the Yamaha YH-L700A are a must-own. You possibly can at the moment get them on Amazon for lower than $350, which is inexpensive than the $399 Sony WH-1000XM5, $499 AirPods Max and the upcoming $429 Bose QuietComfort Extremely, the latter of which we’ll be testing additional quickly. All indicators level to Yamaha discontinuing the mannequin, so snag a pair ASAP earlier than Amazon sells out.
