Japanese manufacturer Yamaha is adding to its range of hi-fi headphones with the new Yamaha YH-4000, a high-end open-back model designed to deliver a realistic, immersive listening experience. Heir to the multi-award-winning YH-5000SE, these headphones incorporate many of the key elements of its predecessor, while adopting a Planar Magnetic design with revised ORTHODYNAMIC transducers and exclusive ear pads. What do these Yamaha YH-4000 headphones, manufactured with precision in the brand’s Japanese factory dedicated to high-end models and priced at €2,499, really offer?
Yamaha YH-4000: key specifications
- Over-ear open-back headphones
- Planar Magnetic transducers with ORTHODYNAMIC technology
- Frequency response: 5Hz to 70kHz
- Sensitivity: 97 dB
- Impedance: 34 ohms
- Weight: 320g
Yamaha H-4000: True to the True Sound philosophy
The Japanese company develops its audio equipment according to the True Sound principle, which consists in reproducing music with realism and clarity. Yamaha’s YH-4000 open-back headphones are fully in line with this approach. They put the listener in the front row of the artistic performance, with an emotionally-charged vocal reproduction and excellent spatialization to deliver an immersive experience reminiscent of the energy of a live performance and the subtle interactions between instruments.
Modernized ORTHODYNAMIC transducers
The Planar Magnetic ORTHODYNAMIC transducers, introduced by Yamaha in the 1970s with the HP-1, return here in a modernized version. Lighter than a conventional dynamic transducer, this model is distinguished by its slim diaphragm, with coils on either side and wave patterns for precise diaphragm movement.
The Yamaha YH-4000 headphones differ from their predecessor, the YH-5000SE, in that they dispense with the absorbent material behind the transducer, which has an impact on sound reproduction. The result is a more responsive sound that also gains in realism and detail. What’s more, dynamics are preserved thanks to micro-perforated dampers that control airflow without altering signal energy.
Yamaha YH-4000: an open design
The open design of the Yamaha YH-4000 hi-fi headphones expands the soundstage and optimizes the movement of the Planar Magnetic transducers. This structure limits internal resonance thanks to a generous rear volume and a PET mesh filter that regulates acoustic pressure. An arch-shaped protuberance acts as a reflector, helping to balance the sound.
This configuration improves the sound reproduction of acoustic instruments, which are dear to the brand, which has also been designing pianos for over a century. Moreover, this audiophile design ensures clear vocals and transients, as well as a faithful reproduction of micro-details, from the initial attack to the decay.
Exclusive pads for optimized comfort
Yamaha has designed special pads for its new YH-4000 open-back headphones. These combine artificial suede on the inside with a leather lining, creating a hybrid structure that balances warmth and clarity. Small perforations all over the surface improve acoustic ventilation while preserving a soft feel on contact with the skin. This rigorous assembly contributes to prolonged fatigue-free listening sessions and enhanced immersion, in keeping with the headphones’ open-back format.
The structure of the Yamaha YH-4000 headphones is made of magnesium, a metal selected for its rigidity and vibration-damping capacity. Thanks to this material, the headphones weigh just 320 grams, making them easy to use for long sessions, as required by studio professionals. The double-headband system and angled earcup swivel mechanism are directly inherited from the YH-5000SE model, guaranteeing impeccable quality.
Handcrafted in Japan
The Yamaha YH-4000 hi-fi headphones are made in Japan, in the Kakegawa-based factory known for producing the brand’s grand pianos and prestige audio components. Each unit is hand-assembled by skilled craftsmen, undergoing rigorous quality controls at every stage. These high standards are reflected in the purist design, where every structural choice is aimed at expressing musicality, using processes employed by the aeronautics industry.
The new YH-4000 headphones come with a semi-rigid carrying case and a detachable silver-plated oxygen-free copper (OFC) Y-cable, designed to deliver a clear, balanced signal. It features a 3.5mm mini-jack source connector, but a 6.35mm jack adapter is also included for added flexibility.
Summary
Yamaha’s YH-4000 headphones are designed for music lovers in search of natural, precise sound reproduction. True to the brand’s DNA, they feature modernized Planar Magnetic ORTHODYNAMIC transducers, an optimized open-back structure and custom comfort. A showcase for the manufacturer’s craftsmanship, this model combines cutting-edge technology and refined design to provide an immersive, nuanced listening experience that meets the expectations of discerning audiophiles.
