Yamaha Headphones Review: Is the YH-E700A Any Good?

Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) headphones promise a much better listening experience by blocking external noise.

However, a common complaint among users is that these headphones tend to produce less natural sound.

Yamaha seeks to put an end to this problem by launching the YH-E700A.

This headphone claims to deliver top-notch sound quality by cutting the noise, not the music.

In this Yamaha headphones review, we examine whether or not this product lives up to its promise.

We’ll look into its pros, cons, and features so that you can make an informed buying decision.

Yamaha YH-E700A Headphones

Yamaha is one of the largest and leading manufacturers of innovative audio products.

While it has been selling headphones since the 1990s, the YH-E700A is the first unit that features ANC technology.

For this headphone, Yamaha invested in its proprietary noise-canceling technology.

Unlike traditional systems, this technology keeps the music in its purest, most natural form while effectively filtering ambient sound.

Who Is This Product For?

The Yamaha YH-E700A is a closed-back, over-ear wireless headphone built around a pair of 40mm dynamic drivers, which is above industry standards.

You will find that it meets the varying needs of different users, including:

• Travelers

The YH-E700A nails the most crucial aspects you’d want from over-ear headphones.

The noise cancellation feature and the foldable design make it an ideal companion during long travels.

It also has an impressive battery life of 35 hours, which means you can keep it on your ears for uninterrupted periods without worrying about charging it sooner.

• Audio Enthusiasts

Thanks to its closed-back build, the YH-E700A is highly capable of producing crisp, clear, and bumped-up sound.

That said, it makes a helpful tool for audio enthusiasts working from their home studio.

• Gamers and Online Workers

The advanced ANC technology means you can attend Zoom meetings and webinars anywhere without losing track of the discussion.

These headphones are also comfy and lightweight, so they are not a burden or too bulky to wear.

Because of this, they are also a good choice for gamers who spend several hours in front of their computers.

What’s Included?

The package includes an 11-inch USB Power Cable, a 3.55 mm audio cable, and a flight adapter.

You will also appreciate the kidney-shaped hard-shell carrying case that makes packing or storing your device easier.

When you get this, you also gain access to a headphones controller. This app is compatible with both iOS and Android devices.

By the way, the YH-E700A comes in either all-black or all-white and weighs 11.46 ounces.

Overview of the Features

This Yamaha headphone is a high-end model that packs a punch when it comes to advanced features.

Let’s take a look at each of them:

• Advanced ANC

A common problem with ANC headphones is that even though they reduce ambient noise, the sound produced is usually compromised.

In particular, you will notice that there is a bit of distortion.

Yamaha seeks to address this issue with its advanced ANC system.

This proprietary technology uses a precise algorithm that processes and isolates noise, preventing it from reaching your ears.

Since there is no unnecessary filtering of the musical signals, they remain pure and untouched.

As a result, you can listen to your music in its most natural form.

There is also no “underwater” feel, which is very common with most ANC headphones.

• Listening Optimizer

How well your headphones fit your ears will dictate your overall listening experience.

The problem here is, every person’s ears and head are uniquely different.

To address this, Yamaha utilizes microphones to make constant measurements every 20 seconds, along with advanced processing to analyze the fit of your device.

It also checks for things like the earcup seal and air leakage.

In other words, you will find that this device adjusts to the needs of individual listeners.

• Bluetooth 5.0 Wireless Connection

This headphone uses Bluetooth 5.0, which is the latest version of the Bluetooth wireless communication standard.

It can transfer data at a speed of up to 2 Mbps or double that of Bluetooth 4.2. Plus, it has a much wider coverage of up to 800 meters.

All of these benefits translate to improved sound quality.

Additionally, the Yamaha YH-E700A does an exemplary job at managing sound distortions caused by connection issues.

• Listening Care

Listening in low volume often affects certain frequency ranges, so you’ll have no choice but to crank it up.

Unfortunately, doing this heightens your risks and will damage your ears over time.

The Listening Care technology in these headphones is another attempt of Yamaha to address such a common problem.

It works by adjusting the sound frequencies to maintain sound quality so that you can enjoy your music even at a minimal volume.

• Impressive Design and Build

In all fairness, the YH-E700A is consistent with headphones in the similar price range.

For one, it has a decently padded headband and swivelling earcups. However, the tapered ear pads make it look chunkier than it is.

That’s okay, though. After all, they are meant to create a tight seal around your ears for better sound quality.

Of course, there are buttons on the earcups to easily control your music, although we find that it takes a bit of time to get used to them.

Good thing, it does come with a voice prompt system that certainly does the job.

In particular, this device supports Apple Siri and Google Assistant.

Plus, a female voice alerts you when the noise-canceling feature is off or when the Bluetooth gets disconnected from the audio source.

• Sound Quality

For its price range, this Yamaha headphone performs incredibly well in terms of sound quality.

It produces a strong bass and clear, dimensional, and airy midrange.

Plus, it delivers a full range of sound even at low-volume settings, thanks to the Listening Care technology.

You will also find that it has an impressive frequency response of 8 Hz to 40 kHz, which is wider than the industry standard.

Unfortunately, we’re unsure if this makes sense because the spec doesn’t include the tolerance value or deviation (ie ±3 dB), an important indicator of the sound quality.

Pros:

• Excellent noise-canceling capability
• Lightweight
• Comfortable
• Good sound quality
• Bluetooth 5.0 version
• Durable build
• Long battery life

Cons:

• Very plain and somewhat boring design
• Quite expensive
• Uses buttons instead of touch controls

How to Get the Most Out of The Yamaha YH-E700A Headphones

Before we continue this Yamaha headphones review, we want to share some tips for maximizing the features of this device.

1. Activate your Headphones Controller app. 

The app allows you to configure more settings, such as the Listening Care, Listening Optimizer, and auto-power off.

You can also use it to turn on the power-off timer to conserve your device’s battery life, as well as view the current battery level.

2. Activate the voice-assist.

This headphone is voice-enabled for hands-free control.

With just a push of a button, you can activate voice assistants like Siri or Google Assist.

Use them to listen to music, tune in to weather forecasts, request song information, find your destination, and more.

3. Turn on the ANC feature.

Noise-canceling headphones like the YH-E700A are ideal for airline and train travel.

They are also great for open office environments or anywhere with a high level of background noise.

4. Check the indicators.

This device uses light and voice indicators to warn you about the remaining battery power.

For example, you will see a red light flashing three times to indicate that there’s plenty of charge remaining.

However, if it flashes only once, it means you need to charge your headphones as soon as possible.

5. You can connect using a cable too.

While the YH-E700A uses a wireless connection, you can connect to an audio source using the included mini-plug cable.

Note that switching to the cabled connection will disable the following features:

• Bluetooth
• Phone calls
• Headphones Controller
• Hand controls, except the ANC and power button

Alternatives to the Yamaha YH-E700A

There is no denying that the YH-E700A is an awesome piece of audio device. Still, you will only enjoy its features if you have the budget for it.

For a cheaper alternative, you might want to check out the Sony WH-CH710N instead.

It is another well-rated noise-canceling headphone, but it is almost half the price of the YH-E700A.

We like its sleek design, long-lasting battery life, and decent sound quality.

However, since it isn’t as high-end, it has limited features and needs improvement in the quality build.

If the price isn’t a concern for you, the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 is also a good choice.

It is a complete redesign of the brand’s iconic headphones, featuring a minimalist aesthetic, touch-sensitive gesture pad, and best-in-class ANC.

Yamaha YH-E700A Headphones Review: Conclusion

Whether you love traveling or always find yourself stuck in noisy environments, you will greatly benefit from having these YH-E700A headphones.

It offers exemplary noise cancellation without causing distortions or affecting the quality of your music.

There’s also the folding earcup design and the latest Bluetooth technology, perfect for people who are always on the go.

Plus, it has a long battery life, so you will get to enjoy all of these features for hours on end.

It’s quite expensive but certainly worth every penny.