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Headphones amplifiers — Yamaha HA-L7A
Description, images, technical data and specifications
Yamaha HA-L7A
Image source — © Yamaha
The HA-L7A is a headphone amplifier from Yamaha with a built-in DAC and preamplifier, launched on 20 February 2024 at a UK price of GBP 3,499. Yamaha designed it as the partner for its YH-5000SE headphones, and it can also work as a standalone DAC or as a preamplifier for a loudspeaker system. It includes Yamaha's CINEMA DSP sound field processing with six modes for film, games and music.
Key specs that matter
Each of the three headphone outputs, a 6.3 mm jack, a 4.4 mm Pentaconn socket and a four-pin XLR, delivers 1,000 mW per channel into 32 ohm at 1 kHz and 0.01% THD. Frequency response is 4 Hz to 80 kHz at -3 dB, THD is 0.003% with a digital input at 1 kHz, 300 mW and 32 ohm, and the signal to noise ratio exceeds 120 dB. Inputs are analogue RCA, optical, coaxial and USB Type B, and outputs for a power amplifier or active speakers are XLR and RCA. The DAC chip is an ESS ES9038PRO. Power consumption is 19 W in operation and 0.2 W in standby. The unit measures 333 x 133 x 189 mm and weighs 5.3 kg.
Engineering and use context
The ES9038PRO has eight DAC channels, and Yamaha assigns four to each side, running them in parallel to lower noise and distortion. Two separate low-phase-noise crystal oscillators provide the master clock, one for the 44.1 kHz family of sample rates and one for the 48 kHz family, so each rate is derived from a matching clock. The amplifier section uses Yamaha's patented Floating and Balanced Power Amplifier technology with four power amplifier circuits. The power supply uses two toroidal transformers with bifilar windings, one serving the small-signal front-end circuits and the other the amplifier stage, so current peaks drawn by the headphones do not disturb the converter and preamplifier. CINEMA DSP applies Yamaha's sound field processing, originally developed for AV receivers, to headphone listening, and it can be switched off for straight stereo playback. With its digital and analogue inputs, the HA-L7A can collect sources from a computer, a CD transport, a television and an analogue player, and pass them to the XLR and RCA line outputs with volume control.
Pairing
The HA-L7A was designed alongside the Yamaha YH-5000SE, which connects through any of the three outputs. Its output power also leaves reserve for demanding headphones from other makers. In a speaker system, the XLR and RCA outputs connect to a power amplifier or powered monitors.
Alternatives
Yamaha currently offers no other headphone amplifier besides the HA-L7A.
Key specs that matter
Each of the three headphone outputs, a 6.3 mm jack, a 4.4 mm Pentaconn socket and a four-pin XLR, delivers 1,000 mW per channel into 32 ohm at 1 kHz and 0.01% THD. Frequency response is 4 Hz to 80 kHz at -3 dB, THD is 0.003% with a digital input at 1 kHz, 300 mW and 32 ohm, and the signal to noise ratio exceeds 120 dB. Inputs are analogue RCA, optical, coaxial and USB Type B, and outputs for a power amplifier or active speakers are XLR and RCA. The DAC chip is an ESS ES9038PRO. Power consumption is 19 W in operation and 0.2 W in standby. The unit measures 333 x 133 x 189 mm and weighs 5.3 kg.
Engineering and use context
The ES9038PRO has eight DAC channels, and Yamaha assigns four to each side, running them in parallel to lower noise and distortion. Two separate low-phase-noise crystal oscillators provide the master clock, one for the 44.1 kHz family of sample rates and one for the 48 kHz family, so each rate is derived from a matching clock. The amplifier section uses Yamaha's patented Floating and Balanced Power Amplifier technology with four power amplifier circuits. The power supply uses two toroidal transformers with bifilar windings, one serving the small-signal front-end circuits and the other the amplifier stage, so current peaks drawn by the headphones do not disturb the converter and preamplifier. CINEMA DSP applies Yamaha's sound field processing, originally developed for AV receivers, to headphone listening, and it can be switched off for straight stereo playback. With its digital and analogue inputs, the HA-L7A can collect sources from a computer, a CD transport, a television and an analogue player, and pass them to the XLR and RCA line outputs with volume control.
Pairing
The HA-L7A was designed alongside the Yamaha YH-5000SE, which connects through any of the three outputs. Its output power also leaves reserve for demanding headphones from other makers. In a speaker system, the XLR and RCA outputs connect to a power amplifier or powered monitors.
Alternatives
Yamaha currently offers no other headphone amplifier besides the HA-L7A.
Specifications
Model name
HA-L7A
Maximum Power, 32 Ohms (mW RMS per channel)
1000
Maximum Power, 50 Ohms (mW RMS per channel)
N/A
Maximum Power, 300 Ohms (mW RMS per channel)
N/A
Maximum Power, 600 Ohms (mW RMS per channel)
N/A
Frequency response low +/- 3dB (Hz)
4
Frequency response high +/- 3dB (Hz)
80 000
Gain (dBu)
N/A
THD (% at 1V RMS, 300 ohms)
≦ 0.003
Signal to Noise Ratio (dB)
>120
IMD (%, CCIR, 300 Ohms)
N/A
Crosstalk (dB, 20Hz-20KHz, 300 Ohms)
N/A
Output Impedance (Ohms)
N/A
Dimensions (mm)
333 x 133 x 189
Weight (kg)
5.3
Official link