The Yamaha HP-1 ranks #124 out of 479 total Over-Ear Headphones for sound quality. See all Headphones rankings for every top pick.
Brand: Yamaha
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#124 Yamaha HP-1: $200 Discontinued eBay
Pros: Tuned close to the Harman target that most listeners prefer in blind tests (preference score 81).
Cons: About 8 dB less bass than the Harman target below 150 Hz, which can sound thin on pop, hip hop and electronic music. Treble about 2 dB below target from 3 to 10 kHz, which can sound dull or veiled next to brighter headphones. Discontinued.
Is the Yamaha HP-1 right for you?
Buy it if
- you want the tuning most listeners prefer in blind tests out of the box (Harman score 81).
- you are sensitive to bright or sharp treble (treble sits 2.2 dB below target).
Skip it if
- you want more bass (about 8 dB below target).
- you need isolation or will use it in public: open-back headphones leak sound both ways.
- you want to buy it new: it is discontinued.
| Back | Open |
|---|---|
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.38 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Planar Magnetic |
| Drivers | 2 x 55mm orthodynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 81 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 56 Hz (-15.8 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.15 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ Presets
Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.3 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by Speaker Ranking from the median of 3 squig.link measurements, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted Harman match with this EQ: 92 out of 100, up from 81.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +5.5 dB | 0.70 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -4.7 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 49 Hz | +1.6 dB | 1.90 |
| Peak | 132 Hz | -3.5 dB | 0.92 |
| Peak | 2,337 Hz | -3.5 dB | 3.70 |
| Peak | 4,290 Hz | +1.6 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 5,844 Hz | +3.8 dB | 1.86 |
Neutral target
Set a preamp of -6.6 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by Speaker Ranking from the median of 3 squig.link measurements, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted Neutral match with this EQ: 93 out of 100, up from 72.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +3.5 dB | 0.70 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -4.7 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 32 Hz | +3.7 dB | 1.75 |
| Peak | 66 Hz | -2.1 dB | 2.87 |
| Peak | 109 Hz | -5.6 dB | 0.94 |
| Peak | 2,338 Hz | -3.5 dB | 3.80 |
| Peak | 4,291 Hz | +1.5 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 5,844 Hz | +3.8 dB | 1.84 |
Studio flat target
Set a preamp of -6.8 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by Speaker Ranking from the median of 3 squig.link measurements, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted Studio flat match with this EQ: 92 out of 100, up from 43.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +2.5 dB | 0.70 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +0.9 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 28 Hz | +5.0 dB | 1.74 |
| Peak | 68 Hz | -2.0 dB | 2.44 |
| Peak | 124 Hz | -7.0 dB | 0.72 |
| Peak | 361 Hz | -1.7 dB | 1.93 |
| Peak | 1,746 Hz | +1.3 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 4,885 Hz | +3.1 dB | 0.83 |
Warm target
Set a preamp of -6.3 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by Speaker Ranking from the median of 3 squig.link measurements, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted Warm match with this EQ: 99 out of 100, up from 80.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +5.6 dB | 0.70 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -6.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 49 Hz | +1.4 dB | 1.96 |
| Peak | 132 Hz | -3.3 dB | 0.97 |
| Peak | 2,385 Hz | -4.2 dB | 2.94 |
| Peak | 5,829 Hz | +1.7 dB | 2.33 |
Bass target
Set a preamp of -6.3 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by Speaker Ranking from the median of 3 squig.link measurements, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted Bass match with this EQ: 94 out of 100, up from 70.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +6.0 dB | 0.70 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -4.7 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 68 Hz | +1.5 dB | 3.36 |
| Peak | 193 Hz | -2.8 dB | 1.10 |
| Peak | 2,337 Hz | -3.5 dB | 3.70 |
| Peak | 4,290 Hz | +1.6 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 5,845 Hz | +3.8 dB | 1.86 |
Bright target
Set a preamp of -6.6 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by Speaker Ranking from the median of 3 squig.link measurements, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted Bright match with this EQ: 83 out of 100, up from 49.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +3.4 dB | 0.70 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -1.8 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 32 Hz | +3.8 dB | 1.73 |
| Peak | 66 Hz | -2.0 dB | 2.85 |
| Peak | 109 Hz | -5.6 dB | 0.94 |
| Peak | 250 Hz | -1.1 dB | 2.09 |
| Peak | 2,300 Hz | -3.5 dB | 4.52 |
| Peak | 4,213 Hz | +2.1 dB | 5.90 |
| Peak | 5,345 Hz | +6.0 dB | 1.92 |
V-shaped target
Set a preamp of -6.3 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by Speaker Ranking from the median of 3 squig.link measurements, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted V-shaped match with this EQ: 80 out of 100, up from 65.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +6.0 dB | 0.70 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -0.9 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 74 Hz | +1.5 dB | 4.44 |
| Peak | 184 Hz | -1.4 dB | 1.42 |
| Peak | 2,281 Hz | -3.1 dB | 5.27 |
| Peak | 4,210 Hz | +2.2 dB | 5.21 |
| Peak | 5,345 Hz | +6.0 dB | 1.71 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
Frequency Response
How the Yamaha HP-1 measures across the audible range, against the Harman over-ear target that most listeners prefer in blind tests. Where the line sits above the target that range sounds louder (more bass, brighter treble), below it quieter. The curve is the median of 3 independent measurements, so one odd sample or rig cannot skew it, and both lines are shifted so their 500 Hz to 2 kHz average sits at 0 dB.
Measurement data: median of 3 measurements from the squig.link databases of aden, elrics and sai. Thanks to each of them for publishing their work.