Yamaha has launched two new over-ear headphones. The YH-C3000 has closed earcups, while the YH-4000 has open earcups. Both headphones are handcrafted and feature technology developed for the flagship YH-5000SE . The headphones are assembled in Japan at Yamaha's Kakegawa factory, where the company also manufactures its flagship grand pianos. Expectations for quality are therefore high.

Yamaha YH-C3000: closed over-ear headphones

The Yamaha YH-C3000's closed-back design features a new armature dynamic driver. This three-layer diaphragm combines Zylon, a material also found in Yamaha's speaker drivers, with composite materials such as paper and resin. The new driver design also benefits from clever rear ventilation and a patented Y-shaped, reinforced mesh damper.

The earcups of the YH-C3000 are handcrafted from beechwood and have a black mirror finish. Beechwood is also used in Yamaha's grand pianos and upright pianos and was chosen for its lightness and rigidity. According to the designers, the beechwood earcups support a natural sound across the entire claimed frequency range, which runs from 5 Hz to 55 kHz.

The specified impedance is 34 Ohms at 1 kHz, while the sensitivity is 94 dB/mW at 1 kHz.

The special silk protein leather ear cushions are filled with memory foam, while the dual-layered headband with infinitely adjustable headband is carried over from the flagship YH-5000SE. The YH-C3000 weighs just 330 grams, further enhancing wearing comfort.

To minimize sound leakage in or out, the rotation axis of the swivel head is provided with a large vertical adjustment range, so that the earcups always fit snugly.

Yamaha YH-4000: Open over-ear headphones

At first glance, it's clear that the open-back model YH-4000 bears more resemblance to the flagship YH-5000SE . It will come as no surprise, then, that the YH-4000 shares the same orthodynamic drivers, also known as planar magnetic drivers, and driver enclosures.

There are differences, too. For example, Yamaha deliberately removed the sound-absorbing material from the top-of-the-line model in the YH-4000 and precisely tuned the sound to achieve what it claims is a uniquely responsive, natural, and precise sound.

There's also a newly developed mesh filter for the housings, which regulates internal pressure. According to the manufacturer, this should improve midrange and bass reproduction while maintaining a spacious sound.

The YH-4000 has a specified frequency response of 5 Hz to 70 kHz and a sensitivity of 97 dB/mW at 1 kHz. Its impedance is 34 ohms at 1 kHz.

The Yamaha YH-4000 features the same ultra-light magnesium housing as the YH-5000SE, along with the same double-layer headband, infinitely variable slider, and tilt/swivel mechanism. Its claimed weight is 320 grams. The earpads are claimed to be exclusively developed for this model and consist of high-quality faux suede on the inside and flexible synthetic leather on the outer edge with a perforated surface.