If you want lightweight over-ear headphones for immersive home listening, choose Yamaha YH-L500A; if you need to send audio from a 3.5 mm AUX source to Bluetooth headphones, choose Avantree Relay. For teachers, the Yamaha is the more straightforward personal headset; the Relay is useful when the teaching setup includes wired audio or when two listeners need to share a source.
Yamaha YH-L500A vs Avantree Relay at a Glance
• Yamaha YH-L500A: Over-ear headphones with cinema-style Sound Field, Bluetooth multipoint, and a 20-hour battery life; the trade-off is that it does not transmit audio to other Bluetooth headphones.
• Avantree Relay: A Bluetooth transmitter for 3.5 mm AUX audio, with support for two listening devices; the trade-off is that it is an adapter, not a headset.
• Yamaha is for: Teachers who want their own wireless headphones for video, streaming, or switching between two paired devices.
• Relay is for: Teachers who want Bluetooth listening from a TV, airplane audio jack, or other AUX output—or want to share that audio with another person.
• Quick distinction: Choose based on whether you need headphones or a transmitter. They are not direct substitutes.
The Yamaha YH-L500A is an over-ear wireless headset built with movie and streaming audio in mind. Its Sound Field feature is designed to give Bluetooth audio a more spacious, cinema-like presentation, with dialogue, effects, and music kept more distinct. That makes it a natural fit for a teacher who watches training videos, online lessons, or shows at home and wants more than basic wireless playback.
Its practical features also suit a busy device routine. Bluetooth multipoint lets you pair two devices and switch between them, which can be useful if you move between a computer and a phone. Gaming Mode is intended to reduce the lag between picture and sound, and Google Fast Pair makes initial pairing easier with Android devices. The headphones weigh 9.3 ounces, and Yamaha specifies up to 20 hours of wireless use after a two-hour charge.
That gives the Yamaha a clear role as a personal listening device. I’d consider it if you want a wireless over-ear headset for home viewing, calls or media across two paired devices, and a lightweight design. Skip it if your actual need is to connect ordinary Bluetooth headphones to an AUX-only source, share one wired source with a second listener, or adapt airplane audio; the YH-L500A is the headset, not the transmitter.
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-18 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
Avantree Relay: Who It's For
The Avantree Relay takes the opposite approach. It connects to a source with a 3.5 mm AUX audio output and transmits that sound to Bluetooth headphones or earbuds. That makes it relevant for an airplane audio jack, a television with AUX output, or gym equipment that provides wired audio. The included dual 3.5 mm adapter is intended to accommodate different airplane connector types.
Relay can connect with up to two listening devices, so it can send the same source audio to two people. That is a useful distinction for a teacher traveling with a colleague or student, or for anyone who wants to share a program without relying on a built-in headphone splitter. Its Bluetooth 5.3 connection supports aptX Adaptive and aptX Low Latency when the connected listening devices also support the applicable codecs. Those qualifications matter: codec support is not a guarantee that every headphone will use the same mode.
Relay is not a replacement for headphones. You’ll need Bluetooth headphones or earbuds of your own, and you’ll need a compatible AUX audio output on the source. Its battery is specified for up to 20 hours, and it can continue to be used while plugged in and charging. Choose it when your listening problem is connecting or sharing a wired audio source; skip it if you simply need a headset to wear.
• Best for wearing as a wireless headset → Yamaha YH-L500A. It is an over-ear headphone; Relay is a separate audio transmitter.
• Best for a television or other device with AUX audio → Avantree Relay. It can transmit audio from a 3.5 mm output to Bluetooth headphones.
• Best for immersive movie listening at home → Yamaha YH-L500A. Sound Field is designed to create a more spacious presentation for movies and streaming shows.
• Best for pairing two devices and switching between them → Yamaha YH-L500A. Its Bluetooth multipoint feature is built for two paired source devices.
• Best for letting two people listen to one source → Avantree Relay. It can connect to up to two Bluetooth listening devices.
• Best for an airplane headphone jack → Avantree Relay. The included dual 3.5 mm adapter is meant to support different airline connector types.
• Best for an AUX-only gym machine → Avantree Relay. It bridges a 3.5 mm audio output to Bluetooth headphones, provided the source has that output.
• Best for Android pairing convenience → Yamaha YH-L500A. Google Fast Pair is listed for pairing with Android devices.
• Best for continuing to listen while the device charges → Avantree Relay. The adapter can be plugged in and used while charging; Yamaha’s listed details specify a two-hour charge time but do not state that use-while-charging behavior.
Likewise, a foldable kids headset for teachers is a different requirement from the features described here. The available Yamaha details identify an over-ear design but do not state that it folds, and Relay is an adapter rather than a headset. If folding or a child-specific fit is essential, these facts alone do not establish either as a match.
My Verdict
I would choose the Yamaha YH-L500A for a teacher who wants one personal headset for home video, streaming, and switching between two devices. Its over-ear format, Sound Field mode, and multipoint pairing make its purpose clear.
I’d choose the Avantree Relay only when the source connection is the real problem—especially AUX audio, airplane listening, or sharing one source with another listener. For teachers, my recommendation is Yamaha when you need headphones to wear, Relay when you need an adapter.
No. Relay is a Bluetooth audio transmitter that connects to a source through a 3.5 mm AUX input. You supply the Bluetooth headphones or earbuds it transmits to.
Yes. Yamaha lists Bluetooth multipoint, which lets you pair two devices and switch between them. That is different from Relay’s ability to send one source’s audio to as many as two listening devices.
Relay is the more suitable option if the airplane provides a compatible headphone jack and you want to use your own Bluetooth headphones. Its included dual 3.5 mm adapter is intended for different connector types. The Yamaha is headphones, but the listed specifications do not describe it as an airplane audio adapter.
Both are specified for up to 20 hours of use. Yamaha also lists a two-hour charge time. Relay’s listed feature is that it can continue operating while plugged in and charging; no charge time is specified.
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