Yamaha’s $560 YH-WL500 headphones for musicians are not like any others we’ve examined: They will concurrently stream low-latency wi-fi audio from most digital devices and a Bluetooth supply, that means you’ll be able to play alongside along with your favourite music in actual time. That’s a genuinely distinctive functionality that ought to attraction to digital artists, and we additionally just like the snug, stylish design. SBC-only audio and the shortcoming to combine instrument and Bluetooth supply sign ranges are drawbacks, however neither ought to forestall studio musicians from checking these headphones out. Everybody else can possible discover a cheaper, lower-tech workaround for observe classes.
A Two-Half Design
With the YH-WL500, you get the headphones themselves and a charging cradle that doubles as a transmitter. The latter connects to your instrument by way of the included audio cable.
The headphones have a circumaural, open-air design that ought to decrease ear fatigue over lengthy classes. They do leak audio, however that does not forestall them from working as monitoring headphones in an digital instrument-only state of affairs. The earpads characteristic velour lining and really feel exceptionally snug, whereas the 40mm dynamic drivers inside every earcup ship a frequency vary of 20Hz to 20kHz at an impedance of 32 ohms.
The headphones help the out-of-date Bluetooth 4.2 commonplace and simply the fundamental SBC codec. Flatly, I count on a contemporary Bluetooth sign and extra premium codec choices on this value vary, however the succesful dynamic drivers a minimum of convey sturdy bass depth and shiny highs. Once I requested Yamaha for an evidence about these lackluster connectivity specs, it stated its product group was most acquainted with this model of Bluetooth.
As for controls, the left earcup contains energy, Bluetooth, and quantity buttons. The quantity buttons modify solely the instrument supply degree, not that of the Bluetooth audio (you need to do that by way of the supply system). There’s additionally a 3.5mm jack right here for wired listening.
To cost the headphones, you’ll be able to both use the USB-C port on the correct earcup’s facet panel or the dock portion of the transmitter. If you efficiently join the charger, the standing LEDs on the headphones mild up and the standing mild on the transmitter blinks briefly. Yamaha estimates that the headphones can final roughly 9 hours per cost, however your outcomes will differ along with your quantity ranges. It takes about three hours to totally cost the battery from empty.
The cradle appears sharp and reveals the headphones off whereas it prices them, however I might have additionally favored a mud cowl to guard them. Within the field, you get the transmitter, a USB energy adapter, a USB-C-to-USB-A charging cable, a 3.5mm stereo audio cable, and a quarter-inch headphone jack adapter. The bundle additionally contains six snap-on adapters for numerous worldwide plug varieties, however the included USB cable is simply too quick to moderately cowl the space between an outlet and an appropriate place for the transmitter.
Simple Instrument Transmission
To arrange your digital instrument with the YH-WL500, use the included stereo audio cable to attach it to the three.5mm enter on the transmitter’s rear panel. I experimented with this and another outputs for the connection to the transmitter with combined outcomes.
For instance, connecting an analog synth’s stereo outputs (by way of an adapter) labored seamlessly in testing, and the outcome was a real stereo sign with no discernible latency. Once I tried to attach an electrical bass instantly, the sign was clear with no notable latency, however sound solely got here from the left ear. Primarily based on this outcome, the transmitter clearly works greatest with a stereo headphone sign. The dearth of a single mono enter for mono devices that lack headphone jacks is thus a limitation. I am additionally not thrilled that the enter for the transmitter is 3.5mm as a result of most digital devices have quarter-inch outputs, however the included adapter solves this downside.
The charging base transmits the instrument sign wirelessly to the headphones over a 2.4GHz connection. Of word to bands and studios, a number of pairs of YH-WL500s can stream wirelessly from a single transmitter. Merely press the plus button on the rear of the transmitter so as to add extra. Simply remember the fact that Yamaha would not promote them individually from the transmitter.
The headphones obtain a low-latency 4ms sign (10ms is usually the utmost acceptable latency musicians search for to play reliably and in rhythm) and the system’s most working vary is round 22 toes, which is just a little quick. The 24-bit sign the headphones obtain is just not lossless, although Yamaha claims that it nonetheless supplies “optimum” sound high quality.
A High quality Sign, However Middling Bluetooth Audio
The audio feed from the transmitter sounds glorious it doesn’t matter what digital instrument supply I attempted. Bass depth and readability within the highs had been evident whether or not I performed gritty, layered indicators from an analog synth or extra pure tones. I didn’t have an amp with a headphone jack output available to hook up with the transmitter, however once I plugged in an electrical bass, the sign was clear and latency-free (regardless of solely being audible from the left driver). Simply to see if I might discover any apparent degradation within the sign, I performed lossless audio from an iMac’s headphone jack by way of the transmitter’s enter, and the music sounded crisp, with wealthy bass.
Past the constancy of the sign, the latency was additionally fairly low. Essentially the most discerning musicians may discover the very slightest little bit of lag, however that should not hassle most individuals.
Enjoying together with tracks streaming over Bluetooth is simple sufficient, however a easy two-knob mixer on the transmitter or the headphones to alter the relative quantity of sources would enhance the expertise. Because it stands, you need to modify the quantity instantly out of your Bluetooth supply (comparable to your cellphone or PC). On the constructive facet, the quantity buttons on the headphones accommodate a variety, so you’ll be able to set exact ranges.
Shifting on to common audio playback, the headphones can’t fairly reproduce all the sub-bass on the 34-second mark of Kendrick Lamar’s “Loyalty.” Because the synth line descends to its deepest, subwoofer-testing word, the headphones can dig out solely the marginally increased parts. The bass response appeared barely deeper once I streamed this identical observe by way of the transmitter, however the final word nonetheless dropped off.
Invoice Callahan’s “Drover,” a observe with far much less deep bass within the combine, provides us a greater sense of the sound signature. The drums right here sound pure general, however I once more seen much less element, crispness, and bass depth versus streaming by way of the transmitter.
On orchestral tracks, just like the opening scene from John Adams’ The Gospel In accordance with the Different Marythe headphones ship a comparatively crisp sign with some wealthy lows anchoring the combo. However the sign by way of the transmitter as soon as once more provides extra high-frequency element and readability, and the lows sound a bit extra sturdy and lifelike.
If you wish to eke the best possible efficiency out of those headphones, depend on the transmitter moderately than Bluetooth.
Wi-fi Studio Headphones for Jamming
The Yamaha YH-WL500 headphones work effectively for in-studio training because of their high-quality sign and skill to concurrently stream audio over Bluetooth when you play. The Bluetooth specs are underwhelming to say the least, however we will partially forgive that shortcoming in mild of the progressive idea. Sure, you need to shell out some huge cash for these headphones, however they’re effectively well worth the value in the event that they suit your workflow and degree of dedication.
