Reference ORTHODYNAMIC™, handcrafted in Japan
YH-5000SE is Yamaha's flagship open-back headphone with ORTHODYNAMIC™ driver, 320-gram magnesium body, two pairs of earpads and both balanced and unbalanced cables supplied.
The design revisits the planar magnetic principle introduced by Yamaha in the 1970s and develops it with an ultra-light film diaphragm, a large-volume open-back housing and precise control of internal pressure. Each unit is assembled at Yamaha's Kakegawa facility, where high-end pianos and audio components are also produced.
Key features
- ORTHODYNAMIC™ driver with ultra-light thin-film diaphragm.
- Open-back housing with Dutch-weave stainless-steel filter.
- Rigid and lightweight magnesium body weighing 320 grams.
- Two-layer headband, smooth slider and angled swivel mechanism.
- Two pairs of earpads included: leather and TORAY Ultrasuede®.
- 3.5 mm unbalanced cable and 4.4 mm balanced Pentaconn cable included.
- Silver-coated OFC conductors with braided construction.
- Aluminium desktop stand included; handcrafted in Kakegawa.
ORTHODYNAMIC™ driver
The driver uses a planar magnetic diaphragm with a coil etched onto both sides of the film and micro-corrugation that stabilises its movement. The absence of a fixed central point reduces mass and allows the diaphragm to react quickly to signal changes while retaining control even in the most delicate passages.
Open-back housing
The large internal volume and open construction encourage airflow behind the diaphragm and reduce reflections in the rear cavity. A laminated Dutch-weave stainless-steel filter made in Japan regulates internal pressure and works with an arch-shaped element that acts as an acoustic reflector.
Magnesium body and comfort
The housing frame is made from magnesium, selected for its rigidity and damping ability. Despite the high-end construction, headphone weight is limited to 320 grams; the two-layer headband, shaped cushion and smooth slider distribute pressure to make extended sessions more comfortable.
Interchangeable earpads
The supplied set includes one leather pair, with sheepskin at the contact area, and one pair in TORAY Ultrasuede®. The two materials alter both the feel against the skin and the acoustic behaviour around the ear, allowing a choice between a more defined presentation and a softer, warmer balance.
Balanced and unbalanced cables
A three-pole 3.5 mm cable and a five-pole balanced cable with 4.4 mm Pentaconn connector are included. The conductors use silver-coated OFC and a braided arrangement that avoids long parallel runs, with the aim of preserving separation and signal integrity.
Production in Kakegawa
Driver production, assembly and final checks are carried out at Yamaha's Kakegawa facility in Japan. Manufacture requires manual processes and individual inspection appropriate to a flagship model; the same site is also dedicated to building Yamaha pianos and high-end audio components.
Supplied accessories
Two pairs of HEP-5000LE and HEP-5000SU earpads, 2-metre HUC-SC020 unbalanced cable, 2-metre HBC-SC020 balanced cable and HST-5000 aluminium headphone stand.
