For years, Yamaha has focused on providing premium, professional consumer audio products, with a particular emphasis on AV receivers and speaker systems. However, as consumer preferences shift toward wireless audio, many audio-purist brands have shifted their product strategies to keep up with the times. The Japanese conglomerate is no different in this regard and the company is now venturing into the true wireless earbud segment. However, the products still retain a certain old-world charm that sets Yamaha apart from the mainstream competition to some extent.
The product I’m reviewing here is the most expensive true wireless headset in Yamaha’s lineup, the Rs. 24,200 TW-E7B Earbuds. With active noise cancellation, advanced Bluetooth codec support, and a promise of Yamaha’s commitment to sound quality, the TW-E7B promises a lot. However, it is enough to compete against the established competition Apple, Samsung, Sony, and Sennheiser in the premium segment? Find out in this review.
The Yamaha TW-E7B charging case has a USB Type-C port, but no wireless charging support
Design and features of the Yamaha TW-E7B
While most brands design true wireless earbuds to be compact, slim, and generally as small and minimalist as possible, Yamaha has opted for a “bigger is better” approach. The TW-E7B earbuds are large and a bit unwieldy given the size, although at 7.3g each they don’t weigh as much as you might think. Despite the size, the earphones are quite comfortable to wear thanks to their relatively light weight.
The outside has a “mottled” texture that looked a bit odd at first, but I quickly fell in love with the look of the earbuds. There are bright indicator lights on each earpiece that show the connectivity and power status of the Yamaha TW-E7B headset, and the earpieces have a proper fit in the ear canal and proximity sensors on each of them.
In India, Yamaha offers two color variants – black and white. I really liked the black test device that was sent to me, although the white is probably a bit more noticeable and emphasizes the structured design a little better. The earbuds are IPX5 waterproof and should be able to withstand light splashes of water and sweat without significant risk of damage.
Unlike most options in the premium true wireless segment available today, the Yamaha TW-E7B has physical buttons for control that fit quite comfortably given the size of the earbuds. This might seem a bit dated, but I like the idea of physical controls for the better precision and less misfire tendency that comes with it.
The controls aren’t customizable, but that’s okay as all functions are covered by the three physical buttons. The controls for volume, skipping tracks and bringing up the default voice assistant are on the right earcup, while playback pause and toggling between ANC and transparency modes are on the left earcup.
The charging case of the Yamaha TW-E7B is large and not particularly easy to store in the bag; You need to keep it in a backpack or purse because of its size and shape. The case features USB Type-C charging with the port on the back and indicator lights for the case’s battery level on the front just below the lid. There’s no wireless charging here, which is disappointing considering half-price headsets have that option. The old-school design itself isn’t very attractive and feels a bit basic for the price. The sales package includes a charging cable and a total of four pairs of silicone ear tips.
Yamaha TW-E7B app and specifications
The Yamaha TW-E7B true wireless earphones work with the Yamaha Headphone Control app, which is available for iOS and Android. The app itself is fairly basic given the headset’s no-fuss nature, including the fixed, non-customizable controls on the earbuds. What you get are battery level indicators for the earbuds, detailed equalizer settings, switches for ANC and transparency modes, and toggles for Yamaha’s Listening Care, Listening Optimizer, and Gaming Mode.
Unlike many competitors, the Yamaha TW-E7B has physical buttons for device control
The Yamaha TW-E7B’s active noise cancellation isn’t customizable, and voice assistant is triggered on your smartphone with the default or selected option, rather than natively on the headphones. I really liked the level of detail and customizability of the equalizer, and the live tweaks to the sound signature seemed to make a difference, making certain tracks and genres sound a little better.
In terms of specs, the Yamaha TW-E7B uses Bluetooth 5.2 for connectivity with support for the SBC, AAC and aptX Adaptive Bluetooth codecs. The headset has a frequency range of 20-20,000 Hz and 10 mm dynamic drivers. Bluetooth codec support means sound quality and performance should have an advantage when pairing the headset with aptX-compatible devices such as Android smartphones.
Yamaha TW-E7B performance and battery life
Most TWS headphones in the premium space come from mainstream brands with an established track record of developing wireless products, and Yamaha has a small task ahead of it to make an impression with its flagship TW-E7B headset. However, the brand is building on some of its experiences with the Headphones YH-L700Aespecially when it comes to sound quality, which is where the TW-E7B stands out.
With support for the Qualcomm aptX Adaptive Codec, the Yamaha TW-E7B sounds significantly better when used with the right source device, and I had the headset paired with one OnePlus 9 Pro (Verification) for much of this review to use it. Although the sound initially felt a bit too warm and aggressive, I grew to like it over time and really liked the punchy and immersive sound signature.
When listening to the catchy Paris (Aeroplane Remix) by Friendly Fires, the Yamaha TW-E7B definitely favors the low end; This lounge track’s smooth mid-tempo beat was punchy and tight, hitting hard but fast. The basses also played fairly well with the capable mids and upper mids, accompanying the track’s beautiful rhythm and melody without drawing too much attention to the beat.
Detailed tracks didn’t bother the Yamaha TW-E7B either, with the headphones decently emphasizing the faint elements in most tracks I’ve listened to. Obsessed by Calvin Harris featured impressive handling of frequency response, particularly Charlie Puth’s smooth vocals and soothing rhythm and beat. It also demonstrated the immersive and engaging soundstage and attention to detail that the headphones offer.
Sound quality is good thanks to support for the Qualcomm aptX Adaptive Bluetooth codec, but ANC performance is underwhelming
While the sound doesn’t feel as sharp and refined on the Yamaha TW-E7B as it does on the Sony WF-1000XM4 or as flexible as on the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation)it has a certain sense of sympathy, warmth and character that I had similarly experienced with the Sennheiser Momentum TrueWireless 3 Headphones. What the Sennheiser and Yamaha headsets have in common is aptX Adaptive, which strikes a good balance between detail and character in the sound. The Yamaha headset isn’t designed entirely for neutrality or tonality, instead aiming to deliver a comfortable sound and that’s what I liked best about these headphones.
The sound quality of the Yamaha TW-E7B earphones may be impressive, but unfortunately the active noise cancellation falls a bit short. The cancellation effect wasn’t overwhelming given the price and sounded similar to what I’ve experienced with a budget true wireless headset. In fact, even with the ANC on, I felt a hint of dullness in the sound and preferred to leave it off when listening indoors.
The transparency mode was decent, but not quite as natural-sounding as competing options. Call quality was acceptable indoors, but not great outdoors. While I could hear voices on the other end fairly clearly even with ANC off, my voice wasn’t as clear when there was a lot of background noise.
The battery life of the Yamaha TW-E7B is acceptable but far from exceptional. With the ANC on, the earbuds ran for around five hours, and the charging case added almost three extra charges, for a total runtime of around 18 hours per charge cycle. With active noise cancellation turned off, I was able to get around six hours of runtime out of the earbuds. Fast charging is in place, with a 10-minute charge claiming to provide an hour of playback and a full charge claiming to last around three hours.
Verdict
Yamaha isn’t a brand you’d typically associate with true wireless headphones, but it does have a rich heritage in audio. It’s that experience and knowledge that helps the Japanese company nail its new true wireless earbuds, and the TW-E7B is a capable flagship in the lineup – assuming sound quality and core performance are your top priorities. It’s a good looking headphone that sounds warm and comfortable.
The Yamaha TW-E7B falls short when it comes to active noise cancellation, however, the app doesn’t offer much beyond detailed equalizer settings and feels a little pricey for what’s on offer. Support for the Qualcomm aptX codec suite also means it’s best used with an Android smartphone, and iOS users will likely be better served with the AirPods Pro (2nd gen). However, if good sound is your priority, the Yamaha TW-E7B won’t disappoint and might be worth considering alongside the Sony WF-1000XM4 and Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3.
