HA-L7A Headphone Amplifier
A fusion of superior Hi-Fi audio technologies with sound field advancements from AV receivers, the Yamaha HA-L7A headphone amplifier elevates the sound of your favorite content to the highest level.
- Patented Floating and Balanced Power Amplifier technology optimized for headphone listening
- ESS Technology ES9038PRO for superior sonic quality
- Bifilar winded, designated toroidal transformers for front-stage processing and second-stage amplification
- 6 Sound Field modes for a more immersive experience playing any content
- Pure Direct mode to pass through the most subtle nuances in the music
- 5 solid metal feet for highly exceptional stability and vibration suppression
- Elegant design with a highly rigid construction and a brilliant OLED display
TRUE SOUND. BECAUSE THERE ARE GREATER HEIGHTS TO REACH.
Our passion to constantly innovate has helped Yamaha achieve new sonic heights for over 30 years, including creating some of the most revolutionary Hi-Fi components the audio world has ever seen. This passion continues in headphone technology. Striving for the ultimate in True Sound, we've created a groundbreaking headphone amplifier with breathtaking performance. Introducing the HA-L7A high-end headphone amplifier. Dive in, immerse yourself and experience the full emotion and excitement in all your entertainment.
TRUE SOUND
Yamaha is the only audio brand in the world that manages every facet of sound, from its creation to the moment it graces your ears. Simply close your ears, and you won't just hear the music - you'll experience the unparalleled sensation of being genuinely closer to the artist.
TONAL BALANCE
The HA-L7A minimizes even the subtlest noise while achieving a high-slew rate - essential for ultra-high resolution - and ensures even the most delicate signals are handled with precision. As a result, every sound, from instruments to vocals and dialogue, is reproduced authentically without any unnatural coloration or timbral changes.
YAMAHA’S PATENTED FLOATING AND BALANCED POWER AMPLIFIER TECHNOLOGY
Yamaha has optimized its patented Floating and Balanced Power Amplifier technology for this headphone amplifier. A total of four sets of power amplifier circuits on the plus and minus sides of the left and right channels of the output stage are floated from the ground, resulting in a thoroughly symmetrical push-pull operation of the output stage. The headphones can be driven without altering the amplifier configuration between balanced and unbalanced, minimizing any sound quality discrepancies due to different output terminals. Additonally, all circuitry, including the power supply, is completely independent of the ground, and all effects of minute voltage fluctuations and external noise surrounding the ground are thoroughly eliminated. By maximizing these sound quality advantages, the amplifier achieves a natural and fatigue-free sound that lets you fully lose yourself in your entertainment, even when listening for a long time.
ELITE, ULTRA-HIGH PERFORMANCE 32-BIT D/A CONVERTER FROM ESS TECHNOLOGY
Sparing no expense to achieve superior sonic quality, Yamaha incorporated ESS Technology's ES9038PRO converter, renowned in the DAC industry for its exceptional reproduction of minute signals. The dedicated master clock utilizes a crystal oscillator with ultra-low phase noise, ensuring precise D/A conversion. An eight-channel D/A converter in the chip applies four-channel conversion for both the left and the right sides. This setup results in outstanding audio, a wide dynamic range, and superior signal-to-noise ratio, allowing headphone users to immerse themselves in every nuance, from concert hall ambiance to intricate instrument details.
DISCRETE CONSTRUCTION AND BALANCED TRANSMISSION
All major stages after the DAC are unified with balanced circuitry and discrete configuration, achieving a fully balanced transmission from the D/A converter output to the headphone jack. Also, balanced conversion is performed internally for ordinary single-ended (unbalanced) inputs, delivering the unique advantages of balanced transmission and amplification, such as minimizing external noise and sound quality deterioration, and applying them to a wide range of input sources. Additionally, when combined with headphones that support a balanced drive, the common impedance of the transmission system is suppressed, further enhancing the signal separation that is crucial for quality headphone listening.
DYNAMICS
In order to fully convey the contrast between serene stillness and powerfully dramatic motion in the sound, the amplifier adopts two toroidal transformers and boasts a unique, highly rigid construction. Accepting no compromise, we've achieved low-frequency response with outstanding response to minute sounds, luxurious volume, and extraordinary transparency, to ensure accurate reporduction of all kinds of content with dynamic and realistic sound.
LOW-FREQUENCY REPRODUCTION AND REMARKABLE SPACIOUSNESS FROM DUAL TOROIDAL TRANSFORMERS
The power supply section utilizes independent transformers for the minute-signal circuitry in the front stage and the amplifier section in the second stage. A separate power supply minimizes noise due to mutual signal interference. The usage of toroidal transformers significantly reduces magnetic flux leakage. Additionally, bifilar winding minimizes voltage variations, enhancing the stability of the power supply, while achieving a powerful low-frequency reproduction with overwhelming spaciousness.
HEAVY DUTY CONSTRUCTION - ELIMINATES SONIC IMPACTS FROM VIBRATION
To eliminate any impact of external and internal vibrations on the audio signals, we've given the unit a rugged construction that combines a sleek design with parts of high rigidity. An extruded aluminum panel 8 mm thick forms the L-shaped top surface, while the naturally vibrating toroidal transformer is mounted firmly onto a 2mm-thick steel plate. Strong support is provided by a thick front panel, a double rear panel, and a unique housing design that features a bottom cover at the end. Through this heavy-duty housing, unnecessary vibrations are suppressed, enabling powerful yet supple low-frequency reproduction, allowing you to completely feel the powerful energy and authenticity of the music.
SOLID METAL FEET FOR STABILITY
The HA-L7A's distinct L shape is supported by five conical steel feet at each corner of the chassis, with dampers cushioned between each foot and the bottom panel that effectively suppress any vibration, allowing firm and stable support even on a desk or tabletop. Combined with the massive 11.7 lb body, all elements work together to effectively eliminate unwanted vibrations while achieving focused and realistic sound reproduction.
SOUND IMAGE
Our unique Sound Field mode and groundbreaking sound field re-creation could only be accomplished through unwavering commitment to achieving the best in audio reproduction. With a realistic, natural sound that allows you to completely lose yourself in your listening, we deliver a new entertainment experience previously unexplored in headphone amplifiers. Enjoy a truly immersive feeling - as if you were in the very performance space of the artist.
SOUND FIELD MODE FOR UNPARALLELED IMMERSION
The HA-L7A features the same Yamaha CINEMA DSP sound field creation technology incorporated into many of our AV receivers. The unit also utilizes the unique signal processing and multi-channel expansion technologies Yamaha has developed and cultivated over its many years of designing AV components. One of the HA-L7A's many stunning features is the built-in SOUND FIELD mode. Adopting six convenient options that reproduce the optimal sound for the entire scope of music, video, and other specific sources, Sound Field lets you enjoy all kinds of entertainment content with a full sense of realism and immersion that takes headphone listening into uncharted sonic territories.
LOW-NOISE CIRCUIT DESIGN & HIGH-QUALITY PARTS
The HA-L7A adopts a low-noise design that isolates the three circuit boards: the main board that handles minute signals, the amplifier board and the amplifier, and the power supply board for the system. Also, the main board eliminates any undesirable cross-effects between the digital and analog signals by utilizing a multilayer board, thoroughly eradicating any ground loops. Additionally, the MUSES72323, famed for its exceptionally low distortion and low-noise output, is used for the volume IC, while the power supply IC made by Analog Devices boasts low output noise with high ripple rejection. The converter section features the ES9842QPRO, made by ESS Technology. By using only the highest quality parts meticulously selected through repeated listening tests, we have achieved the most natural sound reproduction possible.
CONNECTIVITY WITHOUT COMPROMISE
Since the HA-L7A is fully compatible with the widest possible variety of music, video and entertainment sources, you can immerse yourself in your favorite listening while enjoying an unparalleled sonic performance. Comprehensive connectivity and expansion flexibility further expand and deepen the pleasure of your headphone experience.
THREE FRONT-PANEL HEADPHONE JACKS
The front panel of the HA-L7A features two balanced headphone jacks that allow you to fully enjoy the detailed, high-quality balanced circuitry. You'll also find one unbalanced headphone jack that reduces contact loss thanks to gold-plated processing. Famed NEUTRIK jacks are used for the XLR balanced headphone jacks, and Pentaconn terminals are utilized for the 4.4mm 5-pole terminals, letting you connect your preferred headphones and unleash their full potential.
COMPREHENSIVE INPUT/OUTPUT TERMINALS FOR EXPANDABILITY
Featuring a comprehensive set of input terminals, including USB (type B), coaxial, and optical, the HA-L7A allows you to connect a variety of devices, such as high-resolution DAPs (digital audio players), PCs and CD players. The amplifier also has built-in XLR and RCA pre-out/line-out output terminals, allowing it to serve as a D/A converter or preamplifier, providing exceptional connectivity and expandability options when using an external amplifier.
OTHER FEATURES
PURE DIRECT
This function reduces noise by bypassing all circuitry that is not present in the original input source, such as DSP processing and analog-to-digital converters for analog audio. It ensures purity of the signal and enhances the sound, letting you fully enjoy the subtlest nuances in the music.
USB DAC
DSD (Direct Stream Digital) files of up to 11.2 MHz can be played natively with the ASIO driver, which accurately reproduces the original sound of DSD audio. Also, PCM high-resolution sound sources of up to 384 kHz and 32-bit are also supported. The driver is by Yamaha Steinberg. Transmission is not synchronized with the PC clock; rather it uses asynchronous transfer that controls transmission with the unit's high-precision clock. This puts maximum control on jitter, for accurate reproduction of the most demanding high-resolution sound sources.
HIGH-PRECISION CLOCKS
The USB DAC processing employs two dedicated clocks: a 44.1kHz system and a 48kHz system that uses a high-precision crystal oscillator with low phase noise. Moreover, the DAC section is designed to be less susceptible to external clock jitter through placement of the clock with the crystal oscillator as the master clock near the device.
8 TYPES OF DIGITAL FILTERS
Various built-in digital filters include Yamaha's original low-latency filter as well as those already pre-programmed to the DAC processor. There are a total of eight modes you can select to match your personal preference.
QUALITY THAT CREATES SATISFACTION
Though this headphone amplifier utilizes a pragmatic yet groundbreaking internal design, it is the stylish exterior that truly transforms your listening space into an extraordinary environment. No detail was overlooked. The elegant design combined with state-of-the-art technology creates a truly unparalleled listening experience.
INCREDIBLE DESIGN TO MATCH THE INCREDIBLE SOUND QUALITY
Following traditional audio principles and maintaining a low center of gravity, the two toroidal transformers are mounted on the main frame and represented in the unique external design, invoking an impression of fine modern architecture. Furthermore, thanks to a vertical three-dimensional structure, the transformer is located immediately above the power supply board, minimizing the power supply path, contributing to a design that delivers both high sound quality and a very cool cosmetic.
ELEGANT ROTARY DIAL
The robust weighty chassis is comprised of thick aluminum, as are the master volume and mode selector dials. Also, a sandblasting process has produced a luxurious textural feel, contributing to the elegance of high-end audio right down to the smallest detail—delivering a supremely satisfying tactile experience.
OLED DISPLAY WITH BRILLIANT VIEWABILITY
The top panel of the unit features a gorgeous OLED display that provides a variety of information, including the input source, its sampling frequency, volume, and the name of the current Sound Field mode—all in an exceptionally easy-to-read manner. The display automatically turns off after being operated, eliminating any distractions to the sound.
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