When Yamaha launched their flagship YH-5000SE headphones, these blissfully unaware of the Japanese model’s storied R&D within the headphone area rolled their eyes on the $5,000 asking value.
Large mistake.
At one level, Yamaha was a major participant within the class with the event of its Orthodynamic driver; which might nearly be thought of to be one of many first planar designs. The model made the choice to focus their consideration elsewhere available in the market and finally launched their first lineup of wi-fi headphones to not really feel omitted.
The YH-5000SE includes a new model of their Orthodynamic driver which has been built-in into a brand new headphone chassis that seemingly can’t resolve whether it is pat of the Star Wars galaxy or the newest iteration of Steampunk.
Each design component has been reimagined utilizing state-of-the-art supplies and acoustic testing. The Yamaha YH-5000SE have been within the works for a couple of years they usually weren’t being launched till they have been happy that the ultimate product may compete with something out there.
HA-L7A
![Yamaha HA-L7A Headphone Amplifier Top Angle on Desktop](https://cdn.ecoustics.com/db0/wblob/17BA35E873D594/3212/451F5/X2Iwuo4ZYEehzMQaNsR8MdPni9mkaTJh1t2fUqwj10Q/yamaha-ha-l7a-headphone-amplifier-top-front.jpg)
That final half ought to have been a sign to anybody paying consideration that Yamaha was devoting as a lot time to the event of the brand new HA-L7A flagship headphone amplifier as they have been the flagship headphones.
“The HA-L7A is the final word answer for Hello-Fi headphone amplification and playback of digital high-resolution content material,” mentioned Alex Sadeghian, director of shopper audio, Yamaha Company of America. “This headphone amp options an modern Sound Discipline mode, no-compromise design and development, and legendary Yamaha engineering. It’s positive to make a major impression on the Hello-Fi headphone market.”
The HA-L7A is designed and constructed across the ideas of True Sound, encompassing Tonal Steadiness, Dynamics, and Sound Picture. The amplifier strives to completely eradicate minute noise and attain a excessive slew fee, which is essential for ultra-high-resolution music sources.
Entrance Panel
![Yamaha HA-L7A Headphone Amplifier Front](https://cdn.ecoustics.com/db0/wblob/17BA35E873D594/3212/451F9/vLUOcfE4YsOkmnfaJBOLEt_fIyXTjCid-ZJ8n-RDH5A/yamaha-ha-l7a-headphone-amplifier-front.jpg)
The entrance panel of the HA-L7A options two balanced headphone jacks that assist you to totally benefit from the detailed, high-quality of balanced circuitry. You’ll additionally discover one unbalanced headphone jack that reduces contact loss because of gold-plated processing.
NEUTRIK jacks are used for the XLR balanced headphone jacks, and Pentaconn terminals are utilized for the 4.4mm 5-pole terminals, letting you join your most well-liked headphones and unleash their full potential.
All three outputs supply 1,000 mW + 1,000 mW (1 kHz, 0.01 %THD, 32 Ω) from an influence perspective which ought to be enough for a variety of headphones and IEMs.
Electrostatic headphones needn’t apply on this state of affairs.
Actual Panel
![Yamaha HA-L7A Headphone Amplifier Rear](https://cdn.ecoustics.com/db0/wblob/17BA35E873D594/3212/451F6/NbJP--t-1PPINHG5toIDON8M4-8mhS1EPspRkUZ-tYs/yamaha-ha-l7a-headphone-amplifier-rear.jpg)
That includes a complete set of enter terminals, together with USB (Kind B), coaxial, and optical, the HA-L7A permits you join a wide range of units, resembling high-resolution DAPs (digital audio gamers), PCs and CD gamers.
The amplifier additionally has built-in XLR and RCA pre-out/line-out output terminals, permitting it to function a D/A converter or preamplifier, offering distinctive connectivity and expandability choices when utilizing an exterior amplifier.
The DAC?
Sparing no expense, the HA-L7A incorporates ESS Know-how’s ES9038PRO DAC. The devoted grasp clock on the machine makes use of a crystal oscillator with ultra-low section noise to achieve the extremely exact D/A conversion and options an eight-channel D/A converter housed contained in the chip that applies four-channel conversion to the left and proper sides respectively.
Using this four-channel bundle delivers exceptionally high-quality audio output with broad dynamic vary and superior signal-to-noise ratio.
DSD (Direct Stream Digital) information of as much as the top-level 11.2 MHz fee might be performed natively with the ASIO driver, which precisely reproduces the unique sound of DSD audio.
Additionally, PCM high-resolution sound sources of as much as 32-bit/38 kHz are additionally supported. The motive force is by Yamaha Steinberg, and transmission shouldn’t be synchronized with the PC clock, however makes use of asynchronous switch that controls transmission with the unit’s high-precision clock.
This reduces jitter to the utmost restrict, for correct copy of essentially the most demanding high-resolution sound sources.
The USB DAC processing employs two devoted clocks: a 44.1kHz system and a 48kHz system that makes use of a high-precision crystal oscillator with low section noise. Furthermore, the DAC part is designed to be much less prone to exterior clock jitter by placement of the clock with the crystal oscillator because the grasp clock close to the machine.
Patented Floating and Balanced Energy Amplifier
![Yamaha HA-L7A Headphone Amplifier Parts Exploded Inside](https://cdn.ecoustics.com/db0/wblob/17BA35E873D594/3212/451F8/rZCNN8f4NDlL62SY-rhm3VwF_4e9drCuWmsnm1Va3UA/yamaha-ha-l7a-headphone-amplifier-inside-parts.jpg)
A complete of 4 units of amplifier circuits on the plus and minus sides of the left and proper channels of the output stage are floated from the bottom, leading to completely symmetrical push-pull operation of the output stage. All circuitry, together with the facility provide, is totally impartial of the bottom, guaranteeing the consequences of voltage fluctuations and exterior noise surrounding the bottom are eradicated.
Twin Toroidal Transformers
The facility provide part employs two toroidal transformers with bifilar windings. One is for the minute-signal circuitry within the entrance stage and the second is for the amplifier part within the second stage. This design considerably reduces magnetic flux leakage whereas minimizing voltage variations, which in flip improve the soundness of the facility provide.
Sound Discipline Mode
Using the identical Yamaha CINEMA DSP sound discipline creation expertise that’s included into many Yamaha AV receivers, the built-in Sound Discipline mode produces beautiful ends in the sound picture. Six choices of Sound Discipline are on-board to breed the optimum sound discipline for the complete scope of music and video.
![Remote Control for Yamaha HA-L7A Headphone Amplifier](https://cdn.ecoustics.com/db0/wblob/17BA35E873D594/3212/451F7/oVJ9m5vyxtUD925bhxnPP7pHNyXvK9607D1G11QH-SI/yamaha-ha-l7a-headphone-amplifier-remote.jpg)
Product Highlights
- Patented Floating and Balanced Energy Amplifier expertise optimized for headphone listening
- ESS Know-how ES9038PRO for superior sonic high quality
- Bifilar winded, designated toroidal transformers for entrance stage processing and second stage amplification
- 6 Sound Discipline modes for a extra immersive expertise enjoying any content material
- Pure Direct mode to cross by essentially the most refined nuances within the music
- 5 stable steel ft for distinctive stability and vibration suppression
- Elegant design with a extremely inflexible development and an excellent OLED show
![Yamaha HA-L7A Headphone Amplifier Front Left Angle](https://cdn.ecoustics.com/db0/wblob/17BA35E873D594/3212/451FA/0bg8AxrwOrvhI1nWieKMjy_Olyl4AdaY9DvXS0P1jWQ/yamaha-ha-l7a-headphone-amplifier-front-left-angle.jpg)
Worth & Availability
The Yamaha HA-L7A will likely be out there in late 2023 for $3,999.95 at Yamaha.com.