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Meze Audio Elite vs Yamaha YH-5000SE

Both are planar magnetic open-back headphones.

The YH-5000SE is 113 g lighter, at 320 g against 433 g.

The YH-5000SE needs 3 dB more power to reach a loud 110 dB peak, so it asks more of the amplifier.

The Elite lists for $1,000 less.

$4,000

$4,999.95

Side by side

EliteYH-5000SE
Driver
Planar magnetic
Planar magnetic
Diaphragm
Rinaro Parus MZ3SE ultra-thin polymer film, 0.11 g
Thin film with etched coil on both sides, concentric corrugation, outer-edge mount
Driver size
102 x 73 mm ovoid, 4,650 mm² active area
Not published
Enclosure
Open-back
Open-back
Weight
433 g
320 g
YH-5000SE is 113 g lighter
Impedance
32 ohms
34 ohms
Sensitivity
101 dB SPL/mW at 1 kHz
98 dB/mW at 1 kHz
Power for 110 dB
7.94 mW, 0.50 V
15.8 mW, 0.73 V
YH-5000SE needs 3 dB more
Drive
Easy to drive
Easy to drive
Frequency response
3 Hz – 112 kHz
5 Hz – 70 kHz
Made in
Romania
Japan
Released
2021
2023
List price
$4,000
$4,999.95
Elite is $1,000 less
Materials
Carbon fibreAluminiumLeather
MagnesiumStainless steelLeather
Both use leather

From each maker’s published figures; sources are on each headphone’s page. Power for 110 dB is worked out from sensitivity and impedance.

Amplifiers that drive both

How the matching works

Each of these has 10 dB or more in reserve above a loud 110 dB peak on both headphones, so one amplifier serves either.

Build a setup with the Elite →Build a setup with the YH-5000SE →

Where to buy the Elite

List $4,000

Retailer prices checked 2026-10-21. We may earn a commission on purchases. How this works

Where to buy the YH-5000SE

List $4,999.95

Retailer prices checked 2026-10-21. We may earn a commission on purchases. How this works

More head to head