Flagship Headphone Amplifier Sets New Across-the-Board Standards: Yamaha HA-L7A Features Patented Technology, High-Res Playback, Detail-Obsessed Build, and Comprehensive Connectivity  

Get serious about your personal listening experiences with the Yamaha HA-L7A headphone amplifier. A groundbreaking component in every regard, this flagship incorporates patented floating and balanced power amplifier technology; an ESS ES9038PRO DAC; USB DAC processing with two high-precision clocks; bifilar-wound toroidal transformers for front-stage processing and second-stage amplification; and heavy-duty construction that matches the craftsmanship Yamaha invests in its signature instruments. It’s no exaggeration to state that every last detail of HA-L7A is obsessively designed and considered. Equipped with three front-panel headphone outputs (6.3mm, 4.4mm, XLR4) and four inputs, HA-L7A will take you and your music to places you’ve never been. Immersive, emotional, natural, transparent, neutral, powerful, energetic, fatigue-free: Grab a pair of high-end ‘phones and you’re off to the races. Read on to learn about the incredible engineering invested in HA-L7A and what it will do for your music. 

Devised around the company’s True Sound concept, HA-L7A minimizes noise while achieving a high-slew rate — essential for ultra-high-resolution playback — and ensures even the most delicate signals are handled with utmost precision. This care extends to the dedicated master clock, which utilizes a crystal oscillator with ultra-low phase noise to attain breathtakingly accurate D/A conversion. An eight-channel DAC housed inside the chip applies four-channel conversion to the left and right sides, respectively. What’s more, all major stages after the DAC process are unified with balanced circuitry and discrete configuration, achieving a fully balanced transmission from the D/A converter output to the headphone jack. Balanced conversion is also performed internally for ordinary single-ended inputs, delivering the unique advantages of balanced transmission and amplification.

Audiophiles may already be familiar with Yamaha’s patented amplifier technology. In the 11.7-pound HA-L7A, four sets of power amplifier circuits on the plus and minus sides of the left and right channels of the output stage are floated from the ground, resulting in symmetrical push-pull operation of the output stage. Your headphones can be driven without altering the amplifier configuration between balanced and unbalanced, thereby minimizing any sound quality discrepancies due to different output terminals. Plus, all circuitry, including the power supply, remains completely independent of the ground, thereby eliminating any effects of minute voltage fluctuations and external noise surrounding the ground.

The power supply section? It employs independent toroidal transformers — visually apparent in the striking exterior design — for the minute-signal circuitry in the front stage and the amplifier section in the second stage. Additionally, it implements a separate power supply design that minimizes noise due to mutual signal interference. The toroidal transformers also significantly reduce magnetic flux leakage. Moreover, the bifilar winding minimizes voltage variations, which in turn enhances the stability of the power supply, and attains incredible spaciousness and remarkable low-frequency reproduction.

Housed in casing that involves an 8mm extruded aluminum panel for its L-shaped top surface, a 2mm steel plate that acts as a mount for the toroidal transformers, and a double rear panel, HA-L7A rests on five conical feet located at each corner of the chassis. Dampers cushioned between each foot and the bottom panel  effectively suppress unwanted vibration, allowing firm and stable support on just about any surface. 

Yamaha's perfectionist-minded goal toward silent operation extends to the low-noise design that isolates the three circuit boards: the main board that handles minute signals; the amplifier board and the amplifier; and the Analog Devices power supply board for the system. The former board eliminates cross effects between the digital and analog signals by utilizing a multilayer board, canceling out ground loops. Additionally, a MUSES72323, famed for its exceptionally low distortion, is used for the volume IC. The converter section features the ES9842QPRO.

Looking to connect digital audio players, computers, or CD players? Easy. HA-L7A boasts USB-B, coaxial, and optical inputs and since its amplifier comes with XLR and RCA pre-out output terminals, it can serve as a DAC and preamplifier. Pure Direct Mode that bypasses all circuity not present in the input source, high-res capability up to 11.2MHz DSD and 32-bit/384kHz PCM, and eight types of digital filers to match your personal preferences are also onboard. Ditto ultra-tactile aluminum rotary dials that convey a textured feel to the touch and a beautiful OLED display. 

Last but not least, HA-L7A comes with six Sound Field modes that blow the roof off when it comes to imaging, presence, separation, and spaciousness. This stems from the CINEMA DSP Sound Field creation technology incorporated into most Yamaha AVRs. Relatedly, HA-7LA utilizes Yamaha’s unique signal processing and multi-channel expansion technologies. You can choose from Cinema, Drama, Background Music, Concert Hall, Outdoor Live, and Music Video modes in experimenting with what suits the material — and your mood — best. 

Given the pioneering traits of HA-L7A, we're guessing you might have questions. We have answers. Contact us at 312-433-0200 and we'll talk you through this truly astounding device.