Compared to other audio brands, Yamaha can commit serious engineering and manufacturing resources when they are determined to innovate. And that is what the Japanese multinational did when it previously announced their new generation of flagship headphones with ANC. The Yamaha 2020 headphone projects were largely based on Qualcomm's Bluetooth audio SoCs with aptX Adaptive technology, adding unique implementation features. Apparently the ambitious project for the now confirmed flagship YH-L700A took a bit longer and only now is reaching the market.
The new YH-L700A, are closed, over-ear headphones with a ingenious rectangular design and folding/swivel headband, featuring new 40mm dynamic drivers with extended frequency response, able to support high resolution audio reproduction (mandatory in the Japanese market). True Hi-Res Audio support only is achieved in wired mode and that is the reason why the YH-L700A design has a 3.5mm mini-jack line input on one of the earcups. There's also a switch to activate the active noise-canceling circuits when in wired (non-Bluetooth mode).
The Bluetooth 5 Class 2 radio covers up to 10 meters from the Bluetooth source, and supports SBC, AAC, and Qualcomm aptX Adaptive wireless mode codecs (remember that aptX Adaptive supports from aptX Low Latency to aptX HD modes depending on the source and playback mode). But the major differentiation for the Yamaha YH-L700A headphones is in the Advanced ANC implementation, which the Yamaha engineering team explored to the max. Unique features resulting from the combined microphones, sensors and DSP circuits allow for ambient sound (transparency) mode, voice assistance (to optimize call quality but also voice recognition for digital assistants), as well as a unique Listening Optimizer mode.
This last feature allows continuous monitoring of the headphone air leakage and fit, compensating for more or less passive isolation and adjusting the frequency response to the changes - every 20 seconds. Listening Optimizer uses a microphone on the inside of each earcup to monitor the actual reproduced sound and uses the noise canceling features to compensate for bad headphone fit and seal. The Listening Optimizer feature also manages loudness levels, adjusting the response at different volume levels, which contributes to a better perceived user experience.
The Advanced ANC implementation leverages the external and internal microphones not only to compensate for the surrounding noises but also to optimize the frequency response of music playback, separately from the ambient noise suppression. In order to optimize music playback, the Ambient Sound mode can also be switched on/off by the user.
The DSP processing in the YH-L700A also powers a 3D Sound Field feature, which emulates a spatial audio mode from standard stereo audio. This "upmixing" feature is user adjustable in combination with the companion app (supported in iOS and selected Android devices). Yamaha says that the intention is not to "emulate" Dolby Atmos or the likes, but instead applying its knowledge in Cinema DSP processing from home theater products to improve the experience with 2-channel content, synthesizing binaural audio and rendering the two-channel sound source into a three-dimensional sound space.
This processing needs to be applied directly in the YH-L700A DSP, which in turn takes its toll in power consumption. Using already an updated USB-charging platform allows for full charging of the internal battery in just 3.5 hours, which represents up to 34 hours of continuous use with ANC on and with the 3D Sound Field off - or up to 11 hours with ANC off and 3D on. This trade-off is a fine example of why processing on the source device sometimes makes more sense for some DSP-intense features.
Every feature considered, the most important differentiator in the YH-L700A headphones is in fact its unique and elegant design. Yamaha says the YH-L700A was designed primarily for listening to music, making both a quality and visual statement. A threshold that remains hard to reach in wireless headphones, but for which the classic but refined look of these headphones seams well-adjusted. As designer Masafumi Futo states: "As top-of-the-line Yamaha wireless headphones, I think the YH-L700A is a model that you can choose with high expectations and confidence."
As a high-end device, these headphones make a strong statement starting with the distinctive rectangular earcups all the way to the well-padded headband with matching fabric - that also evokes speakers and soundbars. Every functional element in the YH-L700A design was considered, from the placement and differences in size of the buttons, to the leather and authentic texture of the material, inspiring a sense of confidence.
The Yamaha YH-L700A headphones will be available in August 2021 and will retail for 520 EUR or approximately the same amount in USD plus tax, which places it in direct competition with the latest and most advanced wireless headphones in the market, including Apple's AirPods Max, and substantially above flagship models from Bowers&Wilkins or Bang&Olufsen, and the top ANC models such as Sony's best-selling WH-1000XM4. That is ambitious.
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