Yamaha YH-L700A takes on AirPods Max with 3D audio and head tracking

(Epitome credit: Yamaha)

Yahama has announced a new pair of over-ear headphones, complete with premium 3D sound features that could requite the Apple tree AirPods Max a run for its money.

In add-on to active dissonance cancellation (ANC), the Yamaha YH-L700A'south political party pull a fast one on is a combination of 3D audio and born head tracking. This sounds a lot like Apple'southward spatial audio characteristic, which works with head tracking on the AirPods Max — except the YH-L700A makes the feature available on both iOS and Android.

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Whereas spatial audio relies on music and motion picture soundtracks being mastered for Dolby Atmos, another 360-degree sound format, Yamaha's 3D Sound Field tech uses the company's ain Cinema DSP processing. This converts stereo sound into multi-aqueduct audio to produce more a more than immersive, 360-degree surround audio effect.

With the Yamaha YH-L700A's head tracking, you should exist able to move around while the origin points of certain sounds — like a particular musical instrument rail, or a one-off sound effect — retains its original position in the 3D infinite.

Once again, this sounds a lot like how head tracking works on the AirPods Max and AirPods Pro. Just because all of the processing takes place on the YH-L700A, information technology's not just limited to iOS similar spatial audio is; Android users will be able to use head tracking besides. Every bit for uniform content, Yamaha says "virtually any source" of stereo audio will suffice.

3D Sound Field could therefore prepare two current bug with spatial sound. Start, it could have a much wider range of supporting content; spatial audio in Apple Music doesn't currently accept advantage of caput tracking, leaving just certain Atmos-compatible videos for the AirPods Max to really flex its capabilities.

Secondly, 3D Audio Field's mobile Bone agnosticism volition brand the YH-L700A the offset pair of mainstream consumer headphones to offer 3D caput tracking on Android. And speaking of wider attainability, the YH-L700A will toll less than the AirPods Max: U.S. pricing hasn't all the same been confirmed, but the YH-L700A will price £449 when it launches in the U.Chiliad. this August. That'due south £100 less than the AirPods Max's launch price.

This is however a pricey pair of cans — it'south rare for even the all-time over-ear headphones to tip over £300/$300. Merely with head tracking, ANC and fifty-fifty sound optimization that adjusts output to your caput shape, the Yamaha YH-L700A may be worth information technology.

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James joined Tom's Guide in 2020, bringing years of experience in consumer tech and product testing. As Audio Editor, James covers headphones, speakers, soundbars and anything else that intentionally makes noise. A PC enthusiast, he also covers the occasional spot of computing and gaming news, unremarkably relating to how hard it is to find graphics card stock.