At the Paris Audio Video Show from November 5 to 6, 2022, Yamaha will unveil its new Yamaha YH-5000SE headphones for the first time in France. A prestigious model that finally signs the return of the orthodynamic technology that established the reputation of the brand in the 70s and 80s. With the new Yamaha YH-5000SE headphones, the Japanese manufacturer wants to reconnect with its origins while taking advantage of the latest acoustic innovations for a truly exceptional headphone listening experience.
Yamaha YH-5000SE: a long legacy
In the 1970s, Yamaha revolutionized headphone listening by using orthodynamic technology, then reserved for microphones, to design transducers with rarely achieved performance. This technology first appeared in 1975 with the Yamaha HP-1 headphones. They were followed by seven other models in the HP series (HP-2, HP-3, HP-1000, HP-50, HP-50S, HP-50A, HP-50M), six in the YH series (YH-1000, YH-1, YH-2, YH-3, YH-5M, YH-100), three in the YHD series (YHD-1, YHD-2, YHD-3) and two in the YHE series (YHE-50A, YHE-50S). These models followed one another from 1975 to 1989 and many of them are still considered to be references in the audiophile sphere.
From the 90s onwards, Yamaha focused on electrodynamic headphones, which were easier to manufacture. However, orthodynamic technology remains at the heart of some competing high-end models such as those from Fostex. Today, orthodynamic technology has evolved and is is often known as magnetic planar. Some manufacturers like Meze and HiFiMan have made planar transducers their specialty. Yamaha wants to be part of this trend by going back to its roots and proving that it is the master of this technology.
Yamaha YH-5000SE: extended frequency response
Although no orthodynamic Yamaha headphones have been released since the late 80s, the Japanese manufacturer has continued to make planar transducers for competing models such as the Final Audio D8000. The new Yamaha YH-5000SE headphones take advantage of a rich heritage and technology perfected over the years by the brand’s engineers. While the specifications are still rather vague on the eve of the show where the headphones will finally be unveiled to the public, we know that they feature next-gen 50mm planar transducers. Thanks to these, they boast a frequency response ranging from 5Hz to 70kHz. Their 34 ohm impedance should ensure that they are easier to power than the original Yamaha HP-1.
Yamaha YH-5000SE: a prestigious model
The Yamaha YH-5000SE headphones are entirely hand-assembled and use the finest materials to stand the test of time. While we don’t yet know when they will be available to purchase, we know that they come with two pairs of ear pads and two detachable cables: one balanced 4.4mm Pentaconn cable and one unbalanced 6.35 mm jack cable.
The selling price of the Yamaha YH-5000SE headphones is expected to be between €5000 and €6000, which places them alongside the most prestigious models on the market, such as the Focal Utopia 2022 and Audeze LCD-5, which will also be on display on November 5 and 6 at the 2022 Paris Audio Video Show.
