Price Paid:  $35.00 from guitar center

Summary:
ive owned the best headphones.
from senns to sony.to akg of all i still own the akg headphones.
but of all of then i really like yamaha rh-5mas.my sonys i paid 100$
dont/wouldint live up to these.like like these a lot!

Strengths:
very clear sound

Weaknesses:
housing

Similar Products Used:
none

martesque

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.57 of 5, 7.00 votes

Price Paid:  $54.00 from B & H New York

Summary:
As an on-air radio personality, I've been using headphones professionally for thirty years. I had used all kinds until I found a decent pair I liked. When they went down, I asked our station engineer if he could recomend a pair. Not only was he responsible for the sound of the station, he was a recording engineer and artist. He told me the Yamaha RH-5M's were the most accurate he had ever used and they would probably become the last pair I would ever want. He was right.

When my first pair wore out after years of daily use (I take them on and off during every record), I went looking for a replacement. This was prior to widespread Internet and I was panicked. My local stores didn't sell them and they were the ONLY headphones I could use. Finally, I found them and bought 3 pairs.

Fifteen years later, they're still the only headphones I will use. Occasionally, I'll slip on the Sony's in the studio (MDR-7506) and it's no contest.

One of my collegues borrowed them and said they were too accurate. They accentuated all the flaws of FM processed music. Maybe so, but as someone blessed with above average hearing, I need the accuracy to what I'm listening.

Strengths:
Flat, accurate and pure. And equally as comfortable. What comes out of the amp is exactly what you hear in your ears.

Weaknesses:
They're not made for abuse. I will put them on and take them off an average of 50 times during a 5 hour shift. Even so, after 5 days a week, 48 weeks a year, I still get 3-4 years out of a pair before they fall apart.

Similar Products Used:
Countless headphones, pro and cheap since 1975.

fenster5

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Price Paid:  $45.00

Summary:
A very accurate and crisp headphone for the price. But instead of reiterating what has already been said by others, let me stress that this pair is ultra comfortable and light. Hate to sound cliche, but I often forget that I have them on. The primary difference between the RH5MA and the other (albeit cheaper) phones that I've owned is that they hold onto my head AND softly cup the ears. Generally it has been one or the other for me. The super-flexible headband is probably a factor as well. Sound is important, but comfort equally so and the RH5MA has provided countless hours of listening without ear fatigue.

Strengths:
Good accuracy (for the price) Tight bass, no over-exaggeration

Weaknesses:
shorter cord than the other phones I've owned

Similar Products Used:
Sennheiser HD433 Sennheiser 202 Koss UR20

Price Paid:  $45.00 from zzsound.com

Summary:
Amazing sound comes out of these things. Very clear throughout the spectrum, very clear and very spacious. I replaced Panasonic rp-ht355 ($30) closed headphones with these and I love them.

Strengths:
Sound quality, comfort, oxygen-free cable. No volume control, yes thats a plus, those things only add noise.

Weaknesses:
Cord could be longer, but then again longer cord=more noise.

Similar Products Used:
Panasonic RP-HT355

Price Paid:  $49.00 from Mars Music

Summary:
when it comes to critical listening during tracking, these phones perform exceptionally well. when i bought them back in mid 2000, my main concern was a set that reproduced the flattest, most accurate vocal sound for my studio. the salesman at Mars steered me toward a few from AKG [too flimsy, 'thin-sounding', and very uncomfortable] and Sony [a little too 'artificial' sounding for my tastes]. i accidently picked up the rh-5ma's, thinking they were a set of the Sony's he'd handed me. i thought either i didn't pay close enough attention the first time or i was hearing things, but this time around the "Sony's" sounded much better, so i thought. i looked at the label again, and to my suprise, they were not Sony...they were Yamaha. for about thirty minutes i listened to various sample CD's available in the store, and the detail in the rh's amazed me. i've been using them for about 2-3 years now, not only for tracking vocals, but for tracking EVERYTHING: every soundsource going into my DAW, my samplers, my mixdown deck goes through these beauties; i even use them for every finished master i record to CD for my clients [don't believe that you 'need' monitors to create quality masters...listen to your ears, not the hype]. excellent highs, believable mids, and tight lows. i'm also stengy; i sit my KOSS sets in the mic booth for my artists, and the Yamahas are left where they belong...with their owner ;). i'll sometimes allow the artist to compare their vocals through the two sets, and they always say "oh, ok. that's what i sound like...can i use those instead?" the quality speaks for itself...5-stars for Yamaha with the rh's. take it easy...

Strengths:
incredible frequency response. they highs are clear and smooth, and where they should be. the mids are not artificial-sounding; voice characteristics and instrument resonance cut through beautifully. the lows are exactly where they should be, not overpowering at all. also--which may be one of the most important features--they are really comfortable. i've had numerous 14-16 hour sessions with these phones, and only after that do i start to realize that i have them strapped to my head. very well done, not "for the price"...but for any price.

Weaknesses:
i only have one set, but that's not any fault to Yamaha :). commendable job.

Similar Products Used:
Sony, AKG, Sennheiser, KOSS...ranging from $20-250. only Sennheiser's HD280Pro's come close, in my humble opinion.