Intro
Contents
Yamaha surprised in a positive way last year with the YH-5000SE reference headphones. In addition, the brand announced a matching high end headphone amplifier. This very Yamaha HA-L7A has been playing on our desk for a while and we tested and measured the unit in the Alpha-Audio studio. Let’s take a further look and listen!
The HA-L7A is a headphone amplifier and a preamplifier with multiple inputs: analog/single ended (RCA), digital (optical, coaxial and USB). There is a single ended and a balanced output (XLR). On the front panel, we see three headphone outputs; the usual 6.3mm and balanced with a 4.4mm or XLR connection. Via the menu and remote control, these inputs and outputs can be selected separately.
The DAC implemented in the HA-L7A is the well-known ESS9038PRO 8-channel DA converter (4 channels for left and 4 for right).
We have seen this headphone amplifier on websites before and on screen it looks quite hefty. Two transformers on the left and a control section on the right in what looks like a two-component odd-sized device stitched together. When we unbox the bulky packaging, we are left with a surprisingly compact box of about 5 kilograms, 33 cm wide and 18 cm deep. It fits nicely on our desk where the YH-5000SE headphones are already waiting on their stand. These have been our reference headphones for some time.
Form factor
The design is unusual and this results in a somewhat awkward user experience. Control of functions is at the top of the unit; two rotary knobs for volume and source selection on the top right side and a number of smaller knobs for more special functions such as digital filter. The display is also at the top. We guess left-handed users might feel uncomfortable using the essential volume and source selection buttons on the far right side. For operation on a small table (next to, say, your Chesterfield armchair) this makes sense. But even when using the device on the desk, we have to struggle to read the information on the screen. And when using the HA-L7A as a preamplifier in a rack we completely miss the information on the screen. It is clear that Yamaha had and certain kind of user in mind when designing this model. It is, of course, a matter of taste how you appreciate the design. It looks and feels like a separate power supply and amplifier integrated into 1 cabinet.
