Yamaha TW-ES5A

Design and features:

This Bluetooth wireless portable ear-insert model provides very good sound. Although it lacks active noise reduction, the ear plug-like design helps to reduce both outside noise and sound leaking out into your environment. The TW-ES5A has a volume control plus an integrated microphone and player function controls. Additional features include - Either earpiece can be used alone for one ear monitoring of Bluetooth streamed audio and telephone communications. Charging/carrying case has built-in rechargeable battery that the manufacturer claims can be used to recharge the earphone batteries for an additional 25 hrs. of listening time for a total of 34 hrs. Manufacturer claims water resistance (IPX7). Has button controls for music player transport, call connect/disconnect, Bluetooth volume control, Ambient sound activation, digital voice assistant activation, and power on/off. Automatically pauses audio when one earphone is taken out of ear and resumes when both are put back. When used for single ear monitoring only one channel can be heard (earphone does not convert to mono). Has power on/off, Bluetooth pairing, battery level voice announcements. Has loudness feature maintains an even tonal balance even at low volume levels. Has gaming mode that the improves audio latency when watching videos or gaming. Supports Apple Siri and Google Assistant digital voice assistants when used with Bluetooth devices that have those features and that, if needed, have the appropriate apps installed. Bluetooth connected Apple mobile devices using iOS Version 5 and above will show the battery level. Has quick charge feature: 10 min of charging will provide 1 hr. of playtime. Free Yamaha Headphone Controller App download for Apple and Android mobile devices can be used to change the change the EQ settings between preset sound profiles and custom profiles, show battery level, deactivate the auto pause and loudness features, activate the gaming mode feature, set power off timer, and update firmware. The TW-ES5A comes with 5 pairs of earpieces and 4 pairs of ear bowl supports in various sizes, USB-A to USB-C connector charging cable, charging cradle/recharger battery/carrying case.

Sound quality:

We found the TW-ES5A delivers sound quality that falls in the very good range - it reproduces music and voice very well although it does have some noticeable sonic quirks. With the EQ set to flat in the Yamaha Headphone Control app (as received setting) the bass (as in bass drums, bass guitars, stand-up bass, etc.) has good impact and goes deep, but is somewhat prominent and boomy. The midrange (voices, guitars, horns, etc.) is fairly even but is somewhat hazy, a bit grainy and congested (think sonic traffic jam), and somewhat overwhelmed by the bass. The treble (cymbals, the upper range of violins, etc.) is extended but is a bit smeared. While the sound has a good sense of liveliness, it is somewhat closed (sound-wise it's fairly obvious you have something plugging your ears) and does a decent job of recovering room ambience. Warm character. The overall sound can best be summarized as somewhat bassy and hazy.

Comfort and Fit:
As typical of in-ear models they produce a sense of pressure in the ear canal opening that might be uncomfortable for some. Users with small ear bowls might find that the earphone body feels bulky in their ear bowl and that they stick out too far and feel like they may lever out of place, but that they will stay in place during casual use and are very stable even during vigorous head movement. Users with medium to large sized ear bowls will probably find that this model stays in place with no problems for casual use and that they are very stable even during vigorous head movement.

The Yamaha TW-ES5A portable Bluetooth wireless sports earphones have a isolating ear-insert design. These iPod/cellphone-centric earphones are intended for use with iPods, iPads, some other cell phones, as well as standard audio devices. The earphones have an inline microphone and inline remote with and integrated volume, music player function, and call connect/disconnect controls. Additional features include either earpiece can be used alone for one ear monitoring of Bluetooth streamed audio and telephone communications. Charging/carrying case has built-in rechargeable battery that the manufacturer claims can be used to recharge the earphone batteries for an additional 25 hrs. of listening time for a total of 34 hrs. Manufacturer claims water resistance (IPX7). Has button controls for music player transport, call connect/disconnect, Bluetooth volume control, Ambient sound activation, digital voice assistant activation, and power on/off. Automatically pauses audio when one earphone is taken out of ear and resumes when both are put back. When used for single ear monitoring only one channel can be heard (earphone does not convert to mono). Has power on/off, Bluetooth pairing, battery level voice announcements. Has loudness feature maintains an even tonal balance even at low volume levels. Has gaming mode that the improves audio latency when watching videos or gaming. Supports Apple Siri and Google Assistant digital voice assistants when used with Bluetooth devices that have those features and that, if needed, have the appropriate apps installed. Bluetooth connected Apple mobile devices using iOS Version 5 and above will show the battery level. Has quick charge feature: 10 min of charging will provide 1 hr. of playtime. Free Yamaha Headphone Controller App download for Apple and Android mobile devices can be used to change the change the EQ settings between preset sound profiles and custom profiles, show battery level, deactivate the auto pause and loudness features, activate the gaming mode feature, set power off timer, and update firmware. The TW-ES5A comes with 5 pairs of earpieces and 4 pairs of ear bowl supports in various sizes, USB-A to USB-C connector charging cable, charging cradle/recharger battery/carrying case and is covered by a 12-month parts/12-month labor warranty.