As “accurate” as the NS-10M: Yamaha HPH-MT8 headphones now shipping
The new HPH-MT8 and HPH-MT5 headphones now shipping alongside the HPH-MT7
Yamaha HPH-MT8 Top view · Source: Yamaha
Yamaha HPH-MT8 Front view · Source: Yamaha
Yamaha HPH-MT8 Folded · Source: Yamaha
Yamaha HPH-MT7 and HPH-MT7W · Source: Yamaha
Yamaha HPH-MT5 and HPH-MT5W · Source: Yamaha
Yamaha are playing their biggest claim to fame with the marketing around these new headphone models. The blurb harks on about how the NS-10M has become an ‘industry standard’, with these headphones following in their footsteps. What does this really mean, though? Let’s not forget, Yamaha, that you don’t manufacturer your legendary studio monitors any more, these are headphones not monitors, and the NS-10M’s are regarded as useful because of their colourful sound!
Yamaha HPH Headphones; HPH-MT8, MT7(W) and MT5(W)
What happened to ‘MT6’ I wonder? That’s not the biggest surprise with these new models though. Apparently they share similar characteristics and ‘accuracy‘ with their famous NS-10M studio monitors. Now I don’t think I’d be the only professional to argue that ‘accuracy’ might be the wrong word to use in the same sentence as NS-10’s. It’s also slightly difficult to understand how many similarities there can be considering the inherent differences between headphones and studio monitors.
That being said, there is some merit in using headphones and monitors from the same manufacturer. Hopefully there is some resemblance between these headphones and the type of sound even modern Yamaha monitors deliver. This would enable a user to switch between headphones and listening back on their Yamaha monitors without significant change. Some will argue of course, that differences in manufacturers and using different brands when mixing is really important. At least the option is there for those that want it, I guess.
Considering these headphones as an individual product away from the existing Yamaha range, I think they look like good value for money. Being a Yamaha product, I expect the build quality and ergonomics to be well considered. Performance-wise, the assumption is that they might sound quite exciting and punchy, but of course be quite ‘coloured’. It’s interesting to see that the flagship HPH-MT8 utilises a 45mm driver which is slightly larger than most studio headphones. Presumably the low-end response will be good but there could be a danger that this is too much or detracts away from the dynamic response.
The other two models, the HPH-MT5 and HPH-MT7, both feature 40mm drivers, but the MT7 and MT8 allegedly both have a frequency response down to 15Hz. The MT5 and MT7’s are also available in white, for anyone who wants to look special. Impedance-wise, all 3 models are around the top end for domestic headphone amps, making them suitable for use with pro gear as well as your iPhone, which is important today.
More Information
For more information about the 3 HPH headphone models, visit the Yamaha webpage.
The HPH-MT8’s are on sale for 168.77 GBP, the HPH-MT7’s for 134 GBP and the HPH-MT5’s for 83.96 GBP. These are very reasonable prices as you would expect from a Yamaha product.
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One response to “As “accurate” as the NS-10M: Yamaha HPH-MT8 headphones now shipping”
the NS 10s are colorless not colorful, they are very flat. If you get anything sounding good on them then you are good, thats why they are and always have been a staple still…aka the best reference period… smh