The premium headphone market is a busy one, with new products being launched constantly. One fresh product that’s worth checking out in this space is the upcoming Yamaha YH-5000SE, set to be released next year.

Drawing inspiration from the classic Yamaha Orthodynamic headphones from the 1970s and the brand’s solid experience in the manufacture of musical instruments and premium audio products, the flagship YH-5000SE headphones are built with redesigned Orthodynamic drivers that are said to deliver next-level authentic sound. The large housing is paired with a Japanese-made, rolled plain Dutch weave stainless steel filter and an arch-shaped protrusion for realistic sound reproduction. Then there’s the ultra-lightweight, thin-film diaphragm. This technology is applied to the whole sonic spectrum, meaning musical instruments and vocals of all pitches can be delivered with perfect clarity.

Sound quality aside, the comfort level of the YH-5000SE has also been thoroughly perfected. A two-layer headband ensures optimised weight distribution, while the magnesium housing helps keep the headphones lightweight at just 320 grams. The earpads themselves come in two different materials — sheepskin leather and synthetic suede, while 3.5 mm and 4.4 mm silver-coated OFC cables and a dedicated aluminium headphone stand are also included in the package.

Each pair of YH-5000SE headphones is handmade by skilled craftsmen at Yamaha’s Kakegawa factory, where flagship models of grand pianos and audio components are also manufactured, which might go some way to explaining the US$5,000 price tag.