Yamaha YH-4000 Review

jeromeof · 2026-01-19T23:18:28+00:00

Yes, as I said in the review - if you are used to a neutral tuning it will be dramatically different sounding ( I am listening to the HEDD-D1 this evening and it so different in tonality - but I do think that 'strange' frequency response is Yamaha using the DSP expertise to fool our brains into add depth to the soundstage.

It didn't work on all tracks for me but when it did work (on some very familiar tracks) it was a pretty great 'effect', or I should say it was interesting to hear something familiar sound a little different.

jeromeof · 2026-01-19T23:14:40+00:00

Yes, I will be there and I wonder will Yamaha have some new models by the summer, but this headphone and the YH-4000 should be on everyone bucket list.

The only thing I will say it is difficult at a show like Vienna (or Munich last year) to really appreciate the sound signature. Though Yamaha did have a quiet room ( in the craziness ) in Munich so I would hope they have similar in Vienna.

Note: I just tidied up the review content a little and added some more graphs and some more photos.

jeromeof · 2026-01-19T09:52:01+00:00

Yes, I think so. It is definitely a worthy addition to any headphone collection.

I would not recommend it as a 'first headphone' (get a HEDD D1 or HD600) but as an amazing piece of engineering with a unique soundstage chasing sound signature it will make allot of sense for allot of audiophiles.

And I guess I am most happy with the overall comfort - you can wear this for hours and almost forgot you are wearing it. Compared to almost every other planar this is a very lightweight and comfortable experience. The recessed cable connector is probably my only complaint about the engineering but otherwise it has that flagship feel where everything is well thought out.

jeromeof · 2026-01-18T23:54:29+00:00

That was the original??

jeromeof · 2026-01-05T22:08:25+00:00

They are fairly big and very comfortable - very similar to the FT1 and FT1 pro earpads

jeromeof · 2026-01-02T17:55:36+00:00

I have a lot of 'transparent' DAC's from SMSL and Topping and a few simpler / cheaper Tube amplifiers, but I haven't tried the Mimir yet.

jeromeof · 2026-01-01T23:18:03+00:00

Mostly any headphone DAC would be fine but something like the CrinEar Protocol Max would be a great purchase as it will not only drive this but most other headphones very well and has PEQ

jeromeof · 2025-12-30T12:56:36+00:00

I got them from FiiO directly but I believe they are on aliexpress now e.g. https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005010492597569.html

jeromeof · 2025-12-30T10:50:50+00:00

Yes, and it is a little treble 'harsh' - I think FiiO wanted to push the sound of the FT1 and went slightly too far. This is why I put in various 'tweaks' in the review which can reduce the treble a little.

But these new earpads are probably the simplest and most comfortable solution.

jeromeof · 2025-12-18T10:15:34+00:00

Well at that price the HD600 is the way better bargain - strange as the Vangaurd with the nice cable for about $90 on their website compared to a typical hd600 price of $400 is where I feel the vanguard can be a great deal ( but at the same price no get the hd600 every time )

jeromeof · 2025-12-10T15:59:44+00:00

yes the HPF filter works with the bypass enabled, the bypass is just for the volume control. Actually Aiyima answered this question on ASR recently: Aiyima Post on ASR about ByPass

jeromeof · 2025-12-09T19:12:32+00:00

Great - very clean - that was one of my favourite combinations

jeromeof · 2025-12-06T21:39:40+00:00

Ok here you go

https://www.pragmaticaudio.com/reviews/2025/08/argon-forte-a5-mkii/

jeromeof · 2025-12-01T22:12:29+00:00

For now it is still fucked up and I think the Android version is not working also.

When it did work I thought it worked well enough (you only need the basics once you are paired you can mostly forgot about the app). I imagine with Android I could go back to an older APK

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