Headphones Open Yamaha YH-5000SE Black

Flagship open-back Yamaha YH-5000SE headphones with the ORTHODYNAMIC™ planar magnetic driver

The YH-5000SE are flagship open-back headphones built around the ORTHODYNAMIC™ planar magnetic driver, which Yamaha originally introduced in the 1970s with the HP-1 model and has reworked for this model using present-day technologies. At its core lies an ultra-light thin-film diaphragm with an etched voice-coil pattern on both sides of the foil, complemented by fine concentric corrugation. The headphones cover a frequency range of 5 Hz – 70 kHz, offer a sensitivity of 98 dB/mW at 1 kHz, an impedance of 34 Ω and a weight of 320 g.

The driver design omits the fixed mounting at the centre of the diaphragm that is common in classic solutions — the foil is secured only around its outer perimeter, allowing unrestricted movement across the entire surface. Shape stability is provided by the corrugation and the reinforcing pattern, while magnetic materials have been eliminated from the area around the driver. Diaphragm movement is guided by micro-perforated air dampers with high permeability placed on both sides. The housing frame is made of magnesium alloy, the material with the highest degree of vibration damping among commonly used metals, combined with low weight and high rigidity.

The spacious open-back housing creates sufficient internal acoustic volume and controlled airflow, reducing reflections in the rear cavity and unwanted resonances acting on the thin diaphragm. Internal pressure is regulated by a Japanese stainless steel filter with a rolled plain Dutch weave, manufactured under strict air permeability control, complemented by an arched protrusion inside the housing that acts as a reflector. The result is an even tonal balance across the entire band, precise control of note attack and decay, legible localisation of instruments and voices, and a low-frequency performance with both body and transparency.

The accessories match the model's flagship status: two detachable silver-coated OFC cables are supplied — an unbalanced one with a 3.5 mm connector (with a screw-on 6.3 mm adapter) and a balanced one with a 4.4 mm five-pole connector. Precise braiding of the conductors prevents independent signals from running in parallel and contributes to the purity of transmission. Two pairs of earpads are also included — leather ones with sheepskin, perforated synthetic leather around the perimeter and breathable mesh in the inner circle, and a version made of Toray Ultrasuede® for longer listening and a softer, warmer character. A dedicated stand made of aluminium and copper alloy is part of the package. Production takes place at Yamaha's Japanese factory in Kakegawa, where concert grand pianos and flagship audio components are also made.

Key features

• Driver: Planar magnetic ORTHODYNAMIC™ with thin-film diaphragm
• Frequency range: 5 Hz – 70 kHz, sensitivity 98 dB/mW, impedance 34 Ω
• Construction: Open-back housing with magnesium frame, weight 320 g
• Acoustic control: Japanese stainless steel filter and internal arched reflector
• Accessories: 3.5 mm and 4.4 mm cables, two pairs of earpads, stand