Shown as advanced prototypes at shows around the globe, the new Yamaha YH-4000 and YH-C3000 high-end headphones bring to production bespoke driver technologies, high quality materials, and much more.
The top-tier YH-4000 open-back headphones (descendants of the flagship YH-5000SE) feature Yamaha’s proprietary ‘Orthodynamic’ driver technology and the “finest materials” in the overall design and construction. Featured is an ultra-lightweight magnesium body supported by a tilting swivel mechanism and a dual-layer headband, both these features providing added comfort, convenience and durability. Yamaha claims – and this writer would concur based on the samples I was shown several months ago – that the build quality is “exceptional” as is the sonic performance.
The YH-4000 eschews the YH-5000SE’s sound absorbing material while the fine-tuning of not just the drivers but every aspect of the design, has allowed Yamaha engineers to achieve what the company affirms is a “uniquely responsive, natural, and precise sound”. The YH-4000 incorporates conductive coils positioned on both sides of the ultra-thin diaphragm, featuring finely corrugated “wave-like” patterns across the surface, and micro-perforation dampers flanking each of the diaphragms’ sides. These design elements combine to provide expressive dynamic contrasts coupled to low distortion.
The earcups are oversized in order to provide superb comfort for long listening sessions while also offering optimised airflow, eliminating resonances, and providing a substantial internal acoustic volume for extended low frequencies. A newly developed PET mesh filter has been engineered to precisely regulate internal housing pressure while an “arch-shaped” protrusion acts as a reflector, further improving sonic accuracy.
The earpads have been exclusively designed for the YH-4000 and are said to provide superb comfort and resistance to heat. They feature high quality artificial suede and PU leather. The leather on the outer edges of the earpads is perforated in order to provide ventilation, comfort and improved sound.
Yamaha includes a set of matching accessories with the YH-4000. Including a premium OFC (Oxygen-Free Copper) silver-coated cable and a protective semi-hard carrying case. The YH-4000 is fully hand-assembled by highly skilled craftspeople in Japan.
The YHC3000 closed-back headphones swap-out the Orthodynamic driver for Yamaha’s new Armodynamic driver. The Armodynamic driver has been designed specifically for the YH-C3000 and features a unique diaphragm with a three-layer structure combining Zylon with paper and resin composites. The ventilation strategy for the rear of the patented Y-shaped reinforced mesh damper is said to provide extraordinary clarity coupled to “minimal distortion”. The driver is extremely lightweight, rigid, and provides a fast response in addition to high resolution sound with a smooth overall response.
The headphone housings are now constructed from beech wood, a material that has very low resonance and vibrational distortion characteristics. The company uses beech wood in its highly regarded pianos and the YH-C3000 is also bestowed with the same glossy black finish. The YH-C3000 is handmade in Japan at Yamaha’s flagship models facility.
The new Yamaha YH-4000 open-back and YH-C3000 closed-back high-end headphones are for imminent Australian arrival and will be available for audition at Yamaha specialist dealers around the country.
Yamaha YH-4000 and YH-C3000 High-End Headphones
Price: YH-4000 AU$3999, YH-C3000 AU$2999
Australian Distributor: Yamaha Music Australia
+61 1800 805 413
https://au.yamaha.com/en/products/audio_visual/headphones/index.html
