[sonickarma]

New thread for  -  Final Audio Design - F4100- Impressions/Reviews
 
29,800YEN = USD280*
 
*approximate price conversion at time of release
 

Bringing the driver unit closer to the ear drum, achieves an even more realistic, vivid sound quality. In order to achieve this in the F4100, we have meticulously downsized the housing with a design consisting of the minimum possible elements. Miniaturized to have a diameter of 5.5 mm, the housing is finished with hard aluminium-magnesium alloy anodic film. This also contributes weight reduction. Final’s unique method of using full-range balanced armature drivers across all models recreates bass tones with a fullness you would never imagine from the housing size. The cable is high purity OFC with detachable MMCX connectors. The earphone comes with an ear hook to prevent microphonics from the cable. This is one of final’s proud model, realizing sound quality and ease of use in a higher dimension. It tends to have a slightly warmer sound quality than the F7200.

Features

Housing design that minimizes the distance between the ear drum and the driver unit.

You can position the product to be at the back or at the entrance of the ear canal, and change the sound quality by choosing different earpieces.
You can also change the position of the earpiece. Enables the sound output to be at the very front face of the earpiece. This is also a way to adjust sound quality. With the sound output at the very front, you will be able to feel the sound being transmitted directly.

Full-range balanced armature driver unit

We have used an ultra small full-range balanced armature driver unit.

Aluminium machined high rigidity housing 

We used an aluminium-magnesium alloy for the F4100 housing, which in turn is finished in a chic black anodic film exhibiting high hardness.

Choice of 2 types of earpiece 

We’ve included silicone earpieces in 5 sizes and foam earpieces in 3 sizes. Achieve a perfect fit no matter how large or small your ear canal is. Sealing performance is closely related to how the bass feels, as well as soundproofing performance. This system enables you to significantly change the fullness of the bass or the soundproofing performance. The foam type in particular has soundproofing performance similar to noise cancellation earpieces.

MMCX Connector＆Original high purity OFC cable

We’ve used high-precision MMCX connectors from a famous Swiss manufacturer.

The cable is high purity OFC. The PVC tubing has been chosen for its flexibility and has been finished with a rope-like texture to reduce microphonics.

 

Safe fit ring

The earphone comes with a safe fit rings so you can use your silicone earpiece safely.

Accessories

Main unit, Carrying case, 2 types of earpieces, Ear hooks, Safe fit rings, Cotton swabs

 
http://final-audio-design-directshop.com/fs/final/f-series/FI-F4BALD

 

[kasperkwan]

Demo'ed the F4100 and compared it to Heaven VII at my local headphone shop.  If Heaven VII was 10/10 on bass, with perfect fit F4100 would have 9/10.  There is slightly more air - slightly - with the Heaven VII but the overall tonality of the F4100 seems more natural.  Not to mention that the more I compared the two, the more I found the F4100's form factor, i.e. REALLY SMALL, to make the Heaven VII feel large and heavier - but not heavy or heavenly - in the ears in comparison.  I feel as if the F4100 has enough bass to not sound anemic and let me focus on the other mids and highs, instead of focusing on the lack of bass.  The Heaven VII is bassier and slightly airier in comparison, and comparing the two I felt as if the F4100 has the more natural presentation, and made as if the Heaven VII were bass enhanced slightly.  

F3100 impressions: wall of sound, less 3d soundstage, in my opinion inferior to Shure SE215 considering the price difference, even if given a perfect fit.  F3100 has plenty of clear bass that doesn't muddy the mids and highs though.  That being said, given a good amp like RSA "The Predator", and a good (not excellent) source like iPhone 6S, I feel the SE215 wins on overall sound signature.  SE215 is fun to listen to, not neutral.  

That's all from me on this sorely un-reviewed earphone.  It's a bloody shame!

 

[kasperkwan]

http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews2/final4/1.html
 

 "...the F-3100 is the clear stand-out value. Should you desire more tonal substance and heft without having to cheat with the volume control, the €459 unit becomes your end run to skip right over the F-4100."

Disagree.  I thought my ears were crazy when I tried both the F3100 and F4100 - F4100 had more texture, true to Final Audio Design's website description on the respective products.  Clear bass for F3100, rich bass for F4100.
 
 
Can't say about the F7200 having more tonal heft to it though.
 
EDIT: F4100 >>> SE215 > F3100

 

[BartSimpson1976]

  Demo'ed the F4100 and compared it to Heaven VII at my local headphone shop.  If Heaven VII was 10/10 on bass, with perfect fit F4100 would have 9/10.  There is slightly more air - slightly - with the Heaven VII but the overall tonality of the F4100 seems more natural.  Not to mention that the more I compared the two, the more I found the F4100's form factor, i.e. REALLY SMALL, to make the Heaven VII feel large and heavier - but not heavy or heavenly - in the ears in comparison.  I feel as if the F4100 has enough bass to not sound anemic and let me focus on the other mids and highs, instead of focusing on the lack of bass.  The Heaven VII is bassier and slightly airier in comparison, and comparing the two I felt as if the F4100 has the more natural presentation, and made as if the Heaven VII were bass enhanced slightly.  
 

 
Hm, Heaven VII against the F4100 is a comparison I was lookig for. Given the price tag of both (VII double of F4100) it seems value for money much better with the F4100...
 
How would you compare them in terms of detail retrieval?

 

[kasperkwan]

I was demo'ing Heaven VII only because the guy gave a huge 47% discount or so (2480 HKD vs 4680 HKD) and the F4100 were 2180 HKD.  If I really had to nitpick, the Heaven VII, because it has more air, is SLIGHTLY - slightly - better in terms of telling the instruments apart in a rock band, for example.  Different instruments 'pop up' slightly with the Heaven VII, it's the difference between an A4 piece of paper and corrugated cardboard of a cardboard box - yes you can tell them apart, but the difference is really slight.
 
Not to imply the F4100 fails on detail retrieval, all the instruments, the notes they are playing, are "there".  I guess the F4100 is SLIGHTLY - slightly - flatter in presenting instruments, but both the Heaven VII and F4100 present an out-of-this-world soundstage that the Shure SE215 cannot touch.  

 

[BartSimpson1976]

yeah, difficult to pick then. Here in Singapore the Heaven VII are 400 SGD more than the F4100. I actually opted for the F4100 after first try (they had a good bundle deal with the Cayin i5), but then I thought to top up to go for the VII (I am using Heaven V currently). I need to do some critical listening next week again for my final decision between:
 
F4100
Heaven VII
FitEar F111
ATH-E70

 

[kasperkwan]

Good luck!  Remember, the fancy schmanzy packaging of Heaven VII and the stainless steel carrying case costs money too!  Do you think it's easy to fit the F4100 into the ear??
 
EDIT: But I think the sonic benefits of BAM (Balancing Air Movement) and MIM (Metal Injection Moulding) are minimal, and add to the cost of Heaven VII.  If you dig the look of them, and the heft they present-
 
I say go for the F4100!  It's cheaper AND Heaven VII is not THAT much better.  I was surprised by that.  I kept thinking the 5.5 mm BA (Balanced Armature) would be outpaced by the late FAD President's BA.

 

[BartSimpson1976]

thanks....yes, my main use is for commuting, so probably the difference will be hard to tell in that environment anyhow.
I will do some A/B next week again...

 

[adraabi]

  yeah, difficult to pick then. Here in Singapore the Heaven VII are 400 SGD more than the F4100. I actually opted for the F4100 after first try (they had a good bundle deal with the Cayin i5), but then I thought to top up to go for the VII (I am using Heaven V currently). I need to do some critical listening next week again for my final decision between:
 
F4100
Heaven VII
FitEar F111
ATH-E70

where you find that on sg?

 

[BartSimpson1976]

jaben has them all

 

[adraabi]

  jaben has them all

just checked their site, it has roughly same price with flc8s. how this iem compared to flc8s?

 

[BartSimpson1976]

 The flc8s I heard only briefly during CanJam Singapore earlier this year. Probably I would choose the F4100, but
I am very biased as I really like the FAD products

 

[Jalo]

Has anyone compared the F4100 to the F7100? Also I wonder if either model can use the triple flange tips from Etymotic?

 

[BartSimpson1976]

Just collected my F4100 and I am stunned. What is coming from these tiny housings? Details, details, details...And such a nice-controlled full, rich bass which makes you wondering
how is that possible from such a tiny Single-BA driven IEM. Nicely brighter tuned than the Heaven-series it is pure joy to listen to these connected to my Cayin i5.

 

[kasperkwan]

Sounds good.  Man I'm eye-ing the F7200 now...