Yamaha announces the latest additions to its MT series of professional monitoring headphones: the HPH-MT8 and HPH-MT5*. Together with the HPH-MT7 (introduced in 2015), the new models complete Yamaha's new line of headphones for studio and live audio, developed to give engineers the high levels of accuracy and fidelity required for professional monitoring.
Inspired by the sonic purity of Yamaha's industry-standard NS-10M studio monitors, the MT series headphones have been designed to produce a clean, high-resolution sound with a clear stereo image and faithful reproduction of the source signal, while providing a high level of isolation and comfort to prevent fatigue during long monitoring sessions.
The HPH-MT8 and HPH-MT5 feature custom drivers, equipped with 45 mm and 40 mm CCAW voice coils respectively, along with powerful neodymium magnets that deliver precise definition and control even at the highest output levels. The drivers, powerful yet lightweight and made with highly conductive copper-clad aluminum wire, deliver a wide frequency response of 15 Hz-28 kHz for the MT8 and 20 Hz-20 kHz for the MT5.
To ensure the new models have the durability needed for the demands of life on the road, their rugged design features a comfortable-fitting closed circumaural configuration, with solid ABS housings and sweat-resistant headbands. The large ear pads are made of soft synthetic leather and low-resilience cushioning that absorbs excess vibration and reduces sound leakage, providing excellent isolation and making extended, stress-free use easier. The three-dimensional pivoting arm structure and adjustable slide length ensure that the angle of the ear pads fits the user's head perfectly, helping to relieve fatigue. In addition, the MT8 model features die-cast aluminum support arms and the ability to rotate the earcups for one-ear monitoring.
Both the HPH-MT8 and HPH-MT5 include a 3 m detachable straight cable, fitted with a corrosion-resistant gold-plated stereo mini plug and a 6.3 mm stereo adapter, allowing them to be used with both professional audio equipment and portable audio players. The MT8 also comes with a 1.2 m detachable coiled cable.
"Since the very beginning of the development of the industry-standard NS-10M studio monitors, we at Yamaha have always maintained a consistent approach across all our recording and sound reinforcement products. Our goal is to achieve the purest possible sound reproduction and to offer our users an ideal working platform that allows them to create their own signature sound," says Yoshiyuki Tsugawa, General Manager of Yamaha Commercial Audio's Business Unit.
"In response to the growing trend toward headphone monitoring in professional studios and live sound reinforcement environments, we designed the HPH-MT8 and HPH-MT5 around the concept of sonic purity. The goal is to provide everyone, from sound professionals to casual listeners, with headphones that offer superior fidelity, excellent sound quality and very high levels of comfort, durability and versatility."
* The HPH-MT8 and HPH-MT5 headphones were launched in 2016. The HPH-MT8 and HPH-MT5 models replaced the HPH-MT220 and HPH-MT120 models in Yamaha's headphone range.
