Headphones — Yamaha TW-E7B

The TW-E7B is the true wireless earbud that Yamaha calls its flagship in this category, and the only model in its current earbud range with active noise cancelling. It carries an MSRP of USD 279.95, above the TW-E5B, the TW-ES5A sports model and the TW-E3B. Alongside Advanced ANC it adds Listening Optimizer, an advanced form of Listening Care and in-ear detection, all managed through the Yamaha Headphone Control app.

Key specs that matter

A 10 mm dynamic driver is fitted on each side, and each earbud weighs 7.3 g. Frequency response is quoted as 20 Hz to 20 kHz. Connection is over Bluetooth 5.2 covering four profiles (A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP), and codec support includes SBC, AAC and Qualcomm aptX. Playback reaches about 6 hours on the earbuds, and three recharges from the case add 16 hours, for up to 22 hours in total. Talk time is up to 5.5 hours, and ten minutes of charging add about an hour. A full charge takes about 2 hours for the earbuds and 3 hours for the case. The earbuds are rated IPX5 for water and sweat resistance.

Engineering and use context

Yamaha's Advanced ANC uses internal microphones and a proprietary algorithm that separates the noise signal from the music signal, so only the ambient noise is subtracted and the music path is left unprocessed. Listening Optimizer uses in-ear microphones to measure how the earbud sits and adjusts the frequency response in real time to match the fit and the shape of the ear. Advanced Listening Care monitors the surroundings through external microphones and changes the equalisation on the fly so the full frequency range stays audible at lower volume. The housing has a softly curved oval shape designed to stay in place in the ear. A dedicated microphone conduit combined with Qualcomm cVc handles noise suppression and echo cancelling on calls, and Qualcomm TrueWireless Mirroring allows the earbuds to swap roles for a stable link. Other features include Ambient Sound, a gaming mode that reduces audio and video lag, voice assistant access and Google Fast Pair on Android 6.0 or later. The package includes a short 20 cm Type-A to Type-C lead and five eartip sizes from XS to XL.

Pairing

As a Bluetooth product, the TW-E7B works directly with phones, tablets and laptops, with AAC suited to Apple devices and aptX to compatible Android handsets. The combination of noise cancelling and a sealed fit makes it a candidate for flights and public transport.

Alternatives

The Yamaha TW-ES5A is a true wireless sports model with a 6 mm driver, an IPX7 rating and up to 34 hours of total battery life, though without active noise cancelling.