The driver unit is constructed from a range of materials and structures optimized specifically for professional use and contained in a thick dual-layer housing. We focused on achieving a design in which the housing and arms are connected to the headband in flowing curved surfaces, without hinting at the complex mechanisms within.
Professional
We gave first priority to the appearance of these headphones when worn by users, placing the tuning forks mark at the center of the housing as a symbol of trust.
Minimal
The HPH-MT5/7/8 all feature the offset arm and the tuning forks mark at the center of the housing as part of their design DNA, while the MT5 and MT8 are built around restrained designs into which new functions have been added.
Intuitive
In addition to the ability to reproduce even the most delicate of audio nuances, we sought to achieve functional beauty in these “tools for professionals” which possess superior durability, functionality, and portability, and are easily recognizable. With a sleek design free of ornamentation, these headphones support the creative endeavors of the user.
Takenori Ohmachi
Designer
Yamaha Design Laboratory
Ryo Hadano
Sound Engineer
Yamaha Audio Products Development Division
Design the tools that are trusted by professionals.
The HPH-MT series continues the design philosophy of Yamaha’s studio monitor speakers, which is to deliver faithful reproduction of the source signal. The design of the MT7—the first product in the series to be released—features a tuning forks mark in the center of a circular housing, with the headphone arm offset in a configuration that is simple yet durable and stylish. The MT5 and MT8 follow the same basic design philosophy with the addition of a folding mechanism and a detachable cable, completing a new high-performance lineup. These additional capabilities brought with them a problem: the durability of the movable sections. By adding a rounded “waist” to the folding mechanism connecting the two arms to the broad headband, we were able to give it a rational strength without compromising on the flexibility of the mechanism. This “waist” also serves as somewhere for the fingers to grip when adjusting the slide.
Although these headphones are intended for commercial use, we didn’t want togive them a rough, rugged feel, and I believe that the waist adds elegance to the overall form while giving it a shape that is typically Yamaha.
Our goal was to create a tool that would serve as a partner for professional users. These headphones possess a silhouette that has been designed to create a circle extending from the housing through to the headband when worn, enhancing the unity between the headphones and the user. This series features a housing with a tranquil aspect, giving no hint of the complex internal construction required to deliver precision playback, in a sleek, ornamentation-free form that offers a superb fit. Yamaha’s design philosophy stresses that the user is always central to any product design, and we would be delighted to be able to craft “partners” that people can trust to assist them behind the scenes for extended periods.
