Yamaha Yh-5000se

The reviewer spent weeks with the Yamaha YH-5000SE and found it a technically impressive flagship with excellent bass, soundstage, and lightweight comfort, but was ultimately put off by its unnatural, forward upper-midrange and treble tuning that made many tracks sound harsh or unbalanced. They note the sound can be improved with a warmer source chain or the included suede pads, but conclude that competitors like the Meze Elites and Focal Utopias offer a more natural and enjoyable experience for the same or less money.

The reviewer declares the Yamaha YH-5000SE as their new all-time favorite open-back headphone, praising its lightweight magnesium build, comfortable fit, and exceptional clarity and separation. They highlight a well-tuned low end with deep sub-bass emphasis, smooth boosted highs, and highly accurate imaging, though the soundstage is not the largest. Overall, it is a near-perfect flagship for the reviewer.

The reviewer finds the Yamaha YH-5000SE to be an exceptionally well-built and comfortable headphone with a lightweight magnesium design, but ultimately concludes it is not for him due to its sound signature, which he finds uneven and not to his personal taste. He believes it will strongly appeal to a narrow group of listeners who value its specific characteristics, despite its high $5,000 price.

The reviewer is highly impressed with the Yamaha YH-5000SE, calling it one of the best headphones they have ever heard. They praise its balanced, natural sound signature, superb build quality, and exceptional comfort, noting it performs well across various amplifiers and rivals more expensive flagships. The included accessories and dual pad options add to its value, making it a strong recommendation for listeners seeking accuracy and versatility.

The reviewer finds the Yamaha YH-5000SE to be an impressive flagship headphone that combines excellent build quality, easy drivability, and a versatile sound signature thanks to swappable earpads. It competes well with the Sennheiser HD 800 S and Focal Utopia, offering a fun, bass-rich presentation while maintaining clarity, though it has minor issues with cable noise and a plastic headband mechanism. Overall, it's a top-tier performer that offers two headphones in one.

The reviewer considers the Yamaha YH5000SE a world-class flagship headphone with outstanding imaging, a sensational soundstage, top-tier detail, and deep, impactful bass. However, they note a slight bass bloom, an uneven midrange that can cause a 'honk' on certain tracks, and a build that doesn't feel as premium as the price suggests. They recommend pairing it with tube amplification to smooth out some of these issues.