Headphones — Yamaha YH-L700A

The YH-L700A is a closed-back wireless over-ear headphone from Yamaha that combines active noise cancelling with a 3D Sound Field processor and head tracking. Yamaha presents it as a home theatre headphone for films and video on mobile devices, and it sits above the YH-L500A in the company's range, which has a simpler two-mode sound field and no noise cancelling.

Key specs that matter

A 40 mm dynamic driver is mounted in each cup, and the quoted frequency response spans 8 Hz to 40 kHz. The headphone weighs about 330 g. Wireless connection is Bluetooth 5 supporting four profiles (A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP), and the headphone decodes SBC, AAC and Qualcomm aptX Adaptive across a range of up to 10 m without interference. With Advanced ANC switched on and 3D Sound Field off, the battery lasts about 34 hours, and with both active it falls to about 11 hours. A full charge takes roughly 3.5 hours. A 3.5 mm stereo mini input on one earcup accepts a cable, and hi-res playback is available only over that wired connection. With power on, ANC and the Ambient Sound mode stay available on the cable, and when it is off the signal goes straight to the drivers.

Engineering and use context

The 3D Sound Field circuitry draws on Yamaha's Cinema DSP work and expands a two-channel signal to five channels. HRTF processing places each channel outside the listener's head, and a built-in gyroscope follows head movement so the virtual sources stay fixed in space. Seven modes are available - Cinema, Drama, Concert Hall, Outdoor Live, Music Video, Audio Room and Background Music. For noise cancelling, microphones inside the cups feed a Yamaha algorithm that works out which part of the signal is noise and removes only that, leaving the music signal unprocessed. Listening Optimizer takes a measurement every 20 seconds to check seal and air leakage and corrects the playback to match. Listening Care uses the built-in microphones to watch ambient levels and keeps the full frequency range at low volume. The earcups both fold and swivel, and buttons on the cups handle calls, music and Siri or Google Assistant. Updates arrive through the Yamaha Headphone Control app. The box holds a hard carrying case, a 1.2 m audio cable, a flight adapter and a 50 cm charging lead.

Pairing

Phones and tablets with aptX Adaptive can make use of the most capable wireless codec here, while Apple devices connect over AAC. For hi-res files, a DAP, laptop or headphone amplifier with a headphone output can feed the wired input, and the flight adapter covers airline seat sockets.

Alternatives

The Yamaha YH-L500A is a closed over-ear model with Bluetooth 5.4, a lighter build of about 264 g and about 20 hours of playback with its sound field on.