final E4000

Introduction
Final audio is the Japanese hi-end audio brand, they release the budget earphone E2000 & E3000 back in 2017, which let them became famous in the audio market. In this review I am checking out their follow up versions E4000 & E5000, which retail for $149 & $269USD, the driver configuration are both 1DD.




Disclaimer
I purchased it from the Minidisc Australia myself for retail price, and the review will be based on my honest opinion through the music I listen to.

As both of E4000&E5000 were purchased years ago, my apologies if some of the unboxing part, and accessories images will be lost or present in different way.


Package & Accessories
Both of the E4000 & E5000 share the moderate size package, the package are simple and minimalistic, it come with the white cardboard box, with brand name, model name and other information on front cover, whereas the specifications in multi language at the back, take off the cover, there are the black cardboard box with flip to open design, it content the carry case with earphone inside, ear tips and accessories beside.




Accessories list (They both come with same accessories)
1 pair x of final E5000 / E4000 IEM
5 pairs x E type Silicone Eartips (SS/S/M/L/LL)
1 pair x of Ear hook
1 pcs x Silicone Carry case
1 pcs x Karabiner





The accessories it come with are simple but useful, the carry case are made by silicone material with flip to open design, it allow the user to store pair of IEM. It also come with the karabiner for user the hook the carry case on the bag or something.







It come with 5 pairs of famous Final E type ear tips, the E type ear tips can swing into the ear canal, and give the user good level of fits. It also come with additional pair of ear hooks while wearing it over ear.





E4000 cable
It come with the typical rubber-ish finish OFC cable. It has 3.5 mm L angled connector in metal shell, with brand logo on it. It features the MMCX connector with black and red indicators and additional L&R label to show left and right. The Y-splitter are finish in plastic shell as well as the MMCX male connector. The cable slider are finish in black plastic material. It is overall normal but usable cable.



E5000 cable
It come with the 2 core high-purity OFC silver coated cables that, it has L angled connector in mirror finish metal shell, with brand logo on it. It features the MMCX connector with black and red indicators and additional L&R label to show left and right. The Y-splitter are finish in mirror finish metal shell as well as the MMCX male connector. The cable slider are finish in transparent plastic material. It is overall slightly hard and fancy cable in silver finish.




Design & Build & Comfort
The E4000 and E5000 share same bullet type of shell design, the E4000 has black painted finish, whereas the E5000 has mirror finish. There are brand name and model name label on each side of the earpieces. The L&R indicators are located at bottom of the earpieces to show Left and right, while brand logo are printed at the rear side of each ear pieces. There are the acoustic resistor located in rear side of IEM, the small vent at bottom rear is design for this acoustic resistor.






Image from Snext-Final audio website

The build are both really well done for its price range, the E4000 is made by aluminum, while the E5000 is made by the stainless steel. They both feel durable, and have high standards rounded and smoothed finish. They both have the short plastic nozzle with the paper filter. The MMCX connectors on both of it is really tight, and do not have sign of wear and tear after I swapped few times of cable.




The fits of this bullet type IEM, is really depends on the ear tips, thankful, the final audio offer the Final E type tips, the E type tips provide decent good of fits and isolation. The E5000 are definitely more heavy than the E4000, the cable on E5000 is heavy as well, so it may be more comfortable to wear it cable up or over ear with the ear hooks provided. The E4000 has slightly better fits than the E5000, so it can be wear in cable down while walking without tear off.






Technical specifications:
Driver Configuration: 6.4mm Dynamic
Impedance: 14Ω
Sensitivity: 93dB


Sound

Paring
I use the M size ear tips with the stock cable, run through my music library on Fiio M11.




Tonality
The E4000 has mildly U shape tonality, it presented in smooth yet engaging manner.
The E5000 has U shape tonality, it presented in warm and natural manner.

Bass
The E5000 has more sub bass quantity than E4000, while the E4000 has moderate amount of sub bass. The E4000 has moderate extension and decay speed. The E5000 has above average extension and decay speed. The E4000 bass give average amount of impact, rumble and punch, whereas the E5000 did the better jobs on both of rumble and punch. They above both has average detail and clarity, but E5000 presented in slightly warm and full bodies manner, while the E4000 presented in slightly clean but still smooth manner. The E4000 has slightly better speed at bass, but the E5000 has better control. Overall the bass on E5000 are warm and smooth, while the E4000 has clean and quicker decay bass.

Mids
The mid range on both are warm and natural, but the E5000 has more lusher and warmer presentation. The lower mids on both of them has good amount of bodies and depth, but E5000 take more thicker and lusher notes, while the E4000 take more clear and clean notes. The upper mids on both have average transparency levels, the E4000 sound more lively and energetic, whereas the E5000 sound more warmer and natural. The mid range sound slightly warm and energetic on E4000, whereas the E5000 has more bodies, sound significantly lusher and warmer. Even with the warm tonality mids, the E5000 still has good level of detail retrieval and transparency than E4000.

Treble
The treble has more body on E5000 presented more toward the natural manner, while the E4000 feel bit more airy but still presented laid back manner. The treble has moderate extension on E4000, whereas the E5000 has better extension. The treble has average detail on E4000 with moderate clarity, while the E5000 has more detail but less clarity because of the warm tonality. There are good amount of sparkle and airy in the treble for both of them, but the E5000 has more sparkle, while the E4000 feel slightly more airy.

Soundstage and imaging
The E5000 has average width with, feel slightly more width than E4000, and both have average depth.
The imaging and separation on E5000 are above average, the E4000 are slightly toward just an average.



Comparison
E4000
IKKO OH1 ($139USD)

Bass
The sub bass has better decay and extension on the OH1, while the quantity are tad more on the E4000. The bass has more quantity on the E4000, and it has warmer presentation compare to cleaner and thicker presentation on OH1. The bass has better speed and control on the OH1, while both of them have similar amount of rumble, but the OH1 provide better punch and impact to it. The detail retrieval and clarity are better on OH1.

Mids
The midrange are more recessed on the OH1, the E4000 has lusher and fuller presentation compare to dryer and cleaner presentation on OH1. The lower midrange has more bodies on the E4000, it sound noticeably thicker compare to OH1. The upper midrange has the good emphasis on OH1, which offer the more lively presentation, whereas the E4000 has fuller and more natural presentation. The OH1 has better clarity, transparency and detail in the midrange.

Treble
The treble has slightly better extension on OH1, while the E4000 are more laid back and darker. The OH1 has more open and dryer treble presentation, while the E4000 has more bodies in treble and sound less attacked. The treble has more sparkle and crisp expression on OH1. The treble has better detail, clarity, and airiness on OH1.

Soundstage and imaging
The soundstage feel more opener on OH1, the OH1 did slightly better job on imaging.


BQEYZ Spring 1 ($139 USD)

Bass
The sub bass has slightly more quantity on E4000, the quality are both pretty well, but the Spring1 has slightly better extension and decay. The bass has more amount on the E4000, the Spring1 has better impact and punch, both has good amount of rumble. The Spring1 does slightly better jobs on clarity and speed, both of them has good speed and well control.

Mids
The mid range are both smooth and well balanced. The lower mids has more bodies and slightly more depth on E4000, both of them presented it in clean and natural manner, while the E4000 are lusher and fuller in comparison. The upper mids on Spring1 sound more forward and lively, while the E4000 sound smoother and more relax. The Spring1 has better clarity and transparency. Both have good level of detail.

Treble
The treble on E4000 are warmer and smoother, whereas the Spring1 are clearer and brighter. The treble has good extension on both, but Spring1 did tad better. The Spring1 offer better clarity, airiness, and transparency in treble. The detail are better on Spring1. Spring 1 has more sparkle in the treble as well.

Soundstage and imaging
The sound stage are tad better on Spring1.
The imaging are better on Spring1.


Dunu SA3 ($139)

Bass
The E4000 has more sub bass and bass quantity compare to SA3. The sub bass has better extension on E4000 with slower decay. The bass has more weight and rumble on E4000, whereas the SA3 has better impact and speed. The E4000 has warmer and smoother bass, while the SA3 also has smooth bass but more cleaner. The SA3 has better control on bass along with better clarity and detail.

Mids
The midrange are both smooth and slightly warm. The midrange has more engaging presentation on SA3 compare to E4000. The lower midrange has more bodies on E4000, whereas the SA3 has more clarity. The upper midrange has more emphasis on SA3 and sound more forwarder. The SA3 has more vividly upper midrange, both are pretty natural in term of timbre. The detail retrieval and clarity are better on SA3.

Treble
The treble are more brighter and has better extension on SA3. The E4000 has more laid back presentation. The upper treble has more sparkle and airiness on SA3 and feel more open, while the E4000 are more smooth here. The detail and clarity both better SA3.

Soundstage and imaging
The soundstage are wider on E4000, deeper on SA3.
The imaging are better on SA3.


BQEYZ Summer ($139USD)

Bass
The sub bass has slightly more quantity and extended further on the Summer with fuller rumble, while the E4000 has more mid bass quantity, which sound muddier compare to Summer. The Summer provide better sense of punch and slam compare to the more the E4000. The Summer also provide better speed and extra tightness, where the E4000 sound less clear and thicker in tone. The detail retrieval and clarity is better on Summer.

Mids
The midrange on both has V shape tonality, the E4000 has extra sense of warmth and bodies carried from mid bass, where the Summer sound cleaner and more spacious. The lower midrange has more bodies and sound fuller on the E4000, where the Summer sound cleaner and clearer. The upper midrange sound more lively with better transparency on the Summer, while the E4000 sound duller and warmer in comparison. The detail retrieval and is better on Summer.

Treble
The treble extend further and sound brighter and more airy on the Summer. The lower treble has more energy and sound more engaging on the Summer, where the E4000 has darker and laid back type of presentation here. The upper treble has extra sense of airiness and sparkle on the Summer, while the E4000 is a roll off here. The detail retrieval and clarity is better on Summer.

Soundstage and imaging
The soundstage is wider and deeper on the Summer.
The imaging is also better on Summer.


E5000
Oriveti OH300 ($299 USD)

Bass
The sub bass has less quantity on OH300, the OH300 has slightly better extension and quicker decay. The bass on E5000 has more punch and rumble, while both have good impact. The bass on OH300 are more clean and linear, whereas the E5000 are warmer and fuller. The OH300 has slight better clarity and detail. Both has good control bass, but OH300 has better speed.

Mids
The midrange on E5000 are lusher and warmer, while the OH300 are close to neutral and colder. The lower midrange has more bodies and sound fuller on E5000, whereas the OH300 has better clarity and sound more clean in comparison. The upper midrange has more emphasis on OH300, it sound lively and vividly, while the E5000 sound more natural and slightly forward. The OH300 has more transparency, detail and clarity in mids, but E5000 has more fuller and thicker timbre.

Treble
The treble on OH300 are slightly brighter, while the E5000 sound more soft and dark. The OH300 has better treble extension. The OH300 has slightly better detail and clarity compare to E5000, the OH300 also has more amount of sparkle at the top end. The OH300 has slightly more airiness and transparency in the treble region.

Soundstage and imaging
The soundstage and imaging are more better on OH300.


BGVP Artmagic VG4 ($229USD)

Bass
Both of sub bass and bass has more quantity on the E5000, while the VG4 are not far to neutral in this section, the sub bass has better extension and decay on the E5000. The bass has more dynamic and slow presentation on the E5000, where as the VG4 has quicker and less dynamic bass. The bass has more weight, punch and rumble on E5000, while the VG4 has better speed and pretty similar amount of impact but faster. The clarity and overall control better on the VG4.

Mids
The midrange on VG4 are not far to neutral, while E5000 are slightly U shape, sound noticeably thicker and lusher. The lower midrange has more bodies on E5000 and fuller in comparison, while the VG4 did better job in term of clarity. The upper midrange are fuller and more soothing on E5000, while the VG4 sound more lively and vividly with less bodies. The VG4 has better transparency and detail in the midrange.

Treble
The treble has better extensions on the VG4, and sound more brighter, while the E5000 sound laid back with slightly dark tonality. The VG4 has crisper and more open presentation, while the E5000 are more relax and take fuller presentation manner. The VG4 has better detail retrieval and sparkle amount.

Soundstage and imaging
The soundstage are wider on VG4, the imaging are also better on VG4 as well.


Etymotic ER4XR ($305USD)

Bass
The sub bass and bass on ER4 are a lot less than E5000, The bass has overall warmer presentation on E5000 compare to cleaner ER4. The sub bass has better extension and decay on E5000. The ER4 has good speed and clarity on the bass, while the E5000 has more punch and impact with more weight on bass. The bass has slightly better detail on ER4.

Mids
The midrange are lusher and fuller on E5000, while the ER4 are toward the neutral, both of them has pretty smooth presentation. The E5000 has more bodies on lower midrange, and sound more lusher. The upper midrange on ER4 are more forward and lively, while the E5000 has natural and smooth presentation. The detail and clarity are better on ER4, the ER4 also has more transparency level.

Treble
The treble are both smooth and warm, but ER4 are slightly more brighter. The ER4 has more crisp and airiness in the treble, where the E5000 take the natural manner. The upper treble are more open on ER4. The detail and clarity are slightly better on ER4. The treble can extended further in the E5000, but it has pretty laid back presentation.

Soundstage and imaging
The soundstage on both are pretty similar.
The imaging is better on E5000, while the ER4 has better layering.


Obravo Cupid (around$250-350USD）

Bass
The sub bass on both has good decay and extension, the quantity is slightly ore on the Cupid. The bass has more quantity on the E5000, and it has more warmer presentation, while the Cupid are cleaner. The bass on both provide good impact and rumble, but the Cupid has better punch and overall faster speed. The clarity is better on the Cupid.

Mids
The midrange are more engaging and thin on the Cupid, while the E5000 has more relax and lusher presentation. The lower midrange has slightly more bodies on E5000, it has slightly fuller presentation compare to Cupid. The upper midrange has more emphasis on Cupid, it provide more lively expression, while the E5000 are slightly fuller. The midrange detail retrieval are both similar, but the Cupid did better jobs in term of transparency and clarity.

Treble
The treble has more crisper and opener tonality on Cupid, while the treble on E5000 are laid back and slightly darker. The Cupid has better extension with more crisp and airiness on the top end, while the E5000 has more natural expression. The treble detail and clarity are better on Cupid.

Soundstage and imaging
The soundstage are larger on Cupid and feel more open.
The imaging are better on the Cupid


Tansio Mirai TSMR-4PRO ($319USD)

Bass
The E5000 has fuller and warmer bass, while the bass on 4PRO are cleaner and tighter. The sub bass has more quantity on E5000, with more rumble and better dynamic, on the other hand, the 4 PRO provide quicker and less organic bass. The bass has more depth on the E5000, where the 4PRO has better control. The detail retrieval and and clarity are better on 4PRO.

Mids
The midrange has more organic and fuller presentation on E5000, while the 4PRO has cleaner and neutral type on presentation. The E5000 has more bodies and sound lusher on E5000, while the 4PRO provide better depth and clarity, it also sound relatively cleaner. The upper midrange sound more vividly and detailed on 4PRO, whereas the E5000 has slightly warmer tonality, with forwarded presentation. The detail retrieval and clarity are way more better on E5000.

Treble
There are more energy and sound clearer on the 4PRO, while the E5000 sound more laid back. The lower treble has more brightness and with more pronounced on the 4PRO, while the E5000 are more laid back and less vividly here. The 4PRO has more air and sparkle on upper treble, the E5000 has rounded and smoother upper treble presentation. The treble’s detail retrieval and clarity are better on the 4PRO.

Soundstage and imaging
The soundstage are wider and deeper on 4PRO.
The imaging are better on 4PRO as well.




Conclusion
The E4000 and E5000 are really amazing IEM for the single dynamic driver. they are beautifully made and well finished in high standard. Both of them sound smooth and natural, but the E4000 has more lively and engaging vocal presentation, while the E5000 has more warm and lush vocal presentation. Regarding to the tonality, E4000 are more balanced and sound clear (doesn't mean the E5000 don’t have a good clarity), whereas the E5000 are more bassy and sound warmer. Both of them sound relaxing, and they are the good deal for long term listening. HAPPY LISTENING!

Snext-Final audio website: https://snext-final.com/en/
Final audio E4000 product page: https://snext-final.com/en/products/detail/E4000
Final audio E5000 product page: https://snext-final.com/en/products/detail/E5000

EDIT 2020-10-20: From 3.5/5 to 3/5. Wasn’t worth the price back when I first reviewed it and even worse now with the Ibasso IT00 doing what the E4000 does but better and at half the price, while the Fiio FH3 exists in the E4000´s price range.

Disclaimer: I received this for free by Final Audio themselves, thank you very much.

Disclaimer 2: Burned in for at least 200 hours before I even began listening and didn’t listen to it during burn in so “brain burn in” is not possible.

Price: Around 150 usd

Specifications:
Housing: Aluminum black alumite finish
Driver: 6.4mm dynamic driver
Connector: MMCX
Cable: OFC cable
Sensitivity: 97dB
Impedance: 15Ω
Weight: 18g
Cable length: 1.2m


Accessories:
Silicon Carry Case

Final Type E tips SS/S/M/L/LL

OFC cable

Silicon Ear hook “adapter”

Karabiner


Cable: Absolutely disgraceful cable, it is exactly the same cable as the one in the E1000 but with mmcx and metal for the 3,5mm plug. When the iem costs like 5 times the price you would expect to get a better cable (30 vs 150 usd). Absolutely need to change this. (E1000 left and E4000 stock cable right)


Build: The iem is made from aluminum, except the plastic nozzle. Other than the aluminum the build is the same as in the E5000.

Fit: This does make it fit as well as the E5000 does, so not recommended for training but besides that there should be no problems at all.

Comfort: might be more comfortable than the E5000 because the stainless steel in the E5000 can be cold.

Isolation: below average isolation, the same as the E5000. Not recommended if you need good isolation.

Setup: Fiio M11 high gain, E5000 cable, Stock Type E LL tips

Lows: The bass feels like it is trying to please bass-heads and non-bass-heads at the same time, with the end result that it does not have a neutral bass or bass-heads levels of bass and something in between. This makes it feel like it is missing both targets, with its not so very rumbly bass or tight/fast and clean bass. Mid-focused more than sub-bass and doesn’t extend that much.

Mid-bass: mid-bass have a dull sound to it and doesn’t sound crisp at all, making it lifeless.

Sub-bass: sub-bass is neither rumbly or tight/fast it is something in between that. Doesn’t satisfy my rumble or tight/fast taste at all. Quantity is fine for me though but certainly not for bass-heads.

Mids: warmish mids with natural timbre to it so vocals have good quality but quantity is a bit behind the treble and bass.

Female-vocals: not very clean and low resolution but it is not sharp.

Male-vocals: clear and warm, sounds better than female vocals.

Highs: treble quantity is good enough to make it not sound dull but the resolution is disappointingly bad, even though it has quite good extension. No sharp peaks or anything so it is good for longer listening sessions.

Soundstage: below average

Tonality: soft V-shape with average timbre

Details: below average

Instrument Separation: below average

Songs that highlight the IEM:

Good genres: edm, house, hip-hop, R&B

Bad genres: rock,metal, acoustic songs/genres



Comparisons:

Final Audio E5000: The E5000 extends better in the bass while the E4000 extends better in the treble. E4000 has less sub-bass and mid-bass quantity, while it is a bit tighter and faster. It doesn’t rumble as much as the E5000. Mids are perceived as more female vocal focused on the E4000 since it has more treble. Treble in the E4000 has more quantity and therefore also brighter.

Soundstage and separation are better on the E5000 while details can be on perceived as on par since E4000 is brighter. Timbre is much better on the E5000. Overall resolution is much better on the E5000. E4000 is better if you want a bit less sub-bass and brighter signature and E4000 is not as demanding in power as the E5000.

Blon Bl-03: The E4000 is not as good as the 03. The 03 sounds fuller and has better resolution. Bass and treble extend better in the 03. Bass is tighter on the 03 and has more punch to it. Mids are less balanced between male/female vocals and leaning towards female vocals on the 03 but the quality is better. Treble is similar but the 03 is has more air and quality is better.

Soundstage, details, separation is on par. Timbre is much better on the 03. 03 is also much easier to drive. Can’t recommend the E4000 over the 03, except if you want less sub-bass and a bit better vocals in that case the E4000 will be better.

Audiosense DT200: Bass has a bit more in quantity in the E4000, DT200 is tighter and faster but the E4000 has a bit better punch to it and sounds more natural. E4000 Mids is warmer due to the bass, so male vocals sound just a bit fuller than DT200 and female vocals is duller due to the warmness.

Treble quantity and quality are a step below the DT200, because of the overall resolution and DT200 sounds fuller. Technicalities is slightly better on the DT200 due it being brighter and having a clearer bass. If you prioritize bass then E4000 is better, but otherwise I take the DT200 over the E4000. E4000 is also harder to drive.

Shozy Form 1.1: Bass quantity is near identical but since the 1.1 has tighter/faster and a better textured bass it is much better on the quality scale. Lower mids are similar but it is cleaner on the 1.1 and upper mids are a bit more forward on the E4000.

Treble is sharper on the 1.1 and is better with the E4000. Soundstage, details, separation is better on the 1.1 and Timbre is better on the E4000. If you like tight fast textured bass, fuller and better resolution then the 1.1 is definitely better than the E4000 but if you want a better timbre and looser bass then the E4000 is better.



Conclusion: while the E4000 doesn’t necessary do anything wrong, it doesn’t do anything well to stand out amongst the crowded market in 2020 and with the competition (chi-fi) offering stuff that is both better and way cheaper. I can not recommend the E4000. Thanks for reading.

FINAL AUDIO DESIGN E4000 REVIEW:



SOUND: 9/10
CONSTRUCTION: 9/10
DESIGN: 9.5/10
VALUE: 9/10

INTRODUCTION :



The FINAL AUDIO DESIGN E4000 goal is to achieve a sound that feel natural and musical without ehancing any particular frenquencies. It use last psycho-acoustic research to understand how frequencies are interpret by average human brain and ears, and so be able to tune it so there no important physiological frequencies range that feel masked, unbalanced or artificial sounding.

This is extremely complex tuning work as nobody have exact same hearing, as well, must of audio enthousiast are use to specific soundsignature that tend to make them more sensible to certain frequencies. And to make the challenge even more courageaous, Final Audio use a tiny 6.4mm dynamic driver.

So, for once, here, I believe in brain burn in with the E4000, or more likely, unbalanced acoustic brain memory unlearning.

Even without this ‘’brain burnin’’, as I begin to be annoy with overlly coloured iem, and tend to listen to more balanced one, the very first time I put the E4000 in my ears please me, but it was just a begining of a way more fascination listening experience, as if everyday I find a new pages to read in a book I love.

Final Audio Design company is very serious about sound acoustic, but this doesn’t mean it will sound less musical or too cold, the engineer are sure interest about musical rendering as much as sound technicalities, and there approach is based on a wide knowledge that make there earphones appart from the rest, its supreme respect for music and I find there tuning quest extremely inpsiring.

To understand more this balanced audio perfection research, read this:
https://snext-final.com/en/acoustics/



SPECS:

• Housing: Aluminum black alumite finish
• Driver: 6.4mm dynamic driver
• Connector: MMCX
• Cable: OFC cable
• Sensitivity: 97dB
• Impedance: 15Ω
• Weight: 18g
• Cord length: 1.2m

CONSTRUCTION, DESIGN & ACCESSORIES :




UNBOXING experience is elegant yet minimalist. No big box for nothing, here, we have all what is needed in an humble presentation. A unique carrying case made of silicone, wich I personally find fantastic, silicone eartips of great quality (for real), nice earhooks that aren’t to big, and….a karabiner, for when you do hardcore montain climbing and need to hook your carrying case with the E4000 securly hidden in it, because yeah, it’s just not possible to depart from these marvelous earphones.



As well, I have a weakness for little precious details like how both iem and audio jack are all carefully wrapped in little triangle plastic paper. I have to take a pic, enjoy this masterufll origami work, I think it represent 3 audiophile swans whistling some Tchaikovsky melody.



Construction is well crafted, and beauty here reside in little details. Must of all, its the very durable look of such a tiny iem that sure will please consumer because I don’t think its really possible to break the housing, only mmcx connection could theorically be broken by hardcore mistreatment but again it look extremely solid as we can conclude with the tigh connection it give. Housing is made of high quality aluminum that promise unwanted vibration to be avoid because of its tickness and have an back acoustic chamber. As well, even if hardly visible on pics or with our own eyes, there a back venting trap at the right of mmcx connection.



Design is just incredibly slim and comfortable, and will fit any type of ears. I find isolation great, and sound leakage minimal even if yes, if you listen very loud, it will leak, but not to the point of being problematic apart if you want them to be completly silent. MMCX connection are very tigh, wich is a big plus as with too loose mmcx connecction it can disconnect when you accidentaly pull the cable : one thing sure, this will never happen with the E4000. Cable do minimal microphonic, but I suggest to wear over ear if you plan to move a lot, like running or doing zumba.

SOUND:



Overall sound impressions and flavor discovering :

The E4000 was the first Final Audio earphones I put in my ears when I receive them with the E2000 and 3000. I try them first being the pricier of the batch (yeah, typical!) and with great expactation wich was due to the fact I was just tired must my IEM was sounding either too bright or too bassy, and especially, I begin devloping very high intolerance to gluten hissy vocal with the time, wich is something chi-fi audio engineer are must likely enamoured of.

So, i put the E4000 in my ultra-hardcore-critical-mode-ears and press play on my Xduoo X20 and : Amaze I was. It just sound like music should be : Pleasant, clear and cuddling.

The E4000 was tender to me! They give me love without violence! And generous musical passion! I was listening to a jazz album from Jakob Bro quartet, the bass player have great body and natural non intrusive texture, the timbre was right and full, snare drums was fabulous, with a thick impact that lack in pushed treble iem, and its percussion was tigh and around my head, the guitar wasn’t full of artificial decay, it was controled and the note have consistance, and the saxophone, wich was recorder above the other musicians, was full, wide and transparent, all instrument was layered precisely with excellent details in whole sound spectrum...perhaps some would have like to hear the drummer scratch himself between two rythm section in the background , but I don’t care about this type of micro details really and the drummer too don’t care surely.

E4000 is masterfully tuned, in a unique way that permit you to hear everything on same level from 20hz to about 14khz, after this there a slow drop, and perhaps bumps in the drops but no hard peaks, all is smooth, liquid, organic and utterly enjoyable for long listen.




SOUNDSIGNATURE is towards neutral, with gently smoothed treble but particularly well rendered transparency and timbre, bass is slightly pushed fowards for extra body and punch and mids shine in the middle of a masterfully balanced presentation leaning to a chiaroscuro type of darkness were light and shadow mix togheter for addictive musicality. Hum, yeah, its a poetical soundsignature.


SOUNDSTAGE have a stereo like widness, it have a natural transparency in layers that make it feel deep tough it do not have lot of sparkle decay in they air.


AMPING is suggested, but not a monster amp, just a powerfull DAP or portable AMP will do. Due to its low sensitivity of 97db, even if it got as well a low 15ohm impendance that should manage for easy driving, the E4000 open up when we can achieve proper amping. Strangely, having try multiple single drivers IEM, I feel smaller is the drivers, harder it is to drive it. Can’t explain it, but this is what I experience. So to me, sound improve alot with a portable amp amd make the soundstage feel way more airier and imaging more spot on.


BASS is far from lacking, in fact, bass shy people will consider the E4000 quite generous in this department, as it is quite agile and thick without being particularly fowards. But no sub rumble full of air, here it’s good sub body with extra timbre, its tigh and well layered from mid bass, wich is impressively visible with fast electronic like Aphex Twin, I would never have guessed it can deal with electronic so well, but for punchy electro its excellent, for boomy rap or drum and bass it will not be enough coloured and too smooth perhaps. The extension is very linear as we can hear with bass player, it have more body and tone emphasis than texture, even if it do not lack any to my ears, in fact, too much texture in bass can make it too opaque, here we have a neutral approach where timbre and tone is more important than underlined texture. So, as you can guess, you will have no bass bleed into mids and vocal with the E4000, mids litterally sit on the bass.


MID BASS is a little less emphased than lower end, wich give it slight warmness and round it more softly, but it still have good slam, even in bass heavy track like FOG from Nosaj Thing where the kick is full bodied and sub bass synth stay in background. Again, level of separation, without being clinical, have a good transparency to it.


MIDS are uniquely presented and my guilty pleasure with the E4000, because as said before, I can’t stand hissing and the soft presentation just solve all issue about lower ‘’shhh’’ or upper ‘’sssss-ibilance’’, and that...without making the mids sound recessed or lifeless, is just phenomenal. It still have a wide bodied presentation and excellent clarity, as well as fowarded presence, the thing is that you will hear all other instrumental in mids region while your favorite artist sign and it will never sound mushy. Yep, wer’e still talking about a 6.4mm dynamic driver. Hum. Piano note have good weight and accuracy, whatever the register, the tone sound right, as the control do not decay too much it give, unlike numerous iem that tend to mix vocal with piano ackwardly, a perfectly natural layering that impress by its accuracy.


HIGHS are more hearable in 6khz to 10khz range than with lot of other iem I try, but this only if they are present in mastering, treble will not push them fowards for us by creating false sens of dynamic, it will stay linear so no peaks will stole presence of other frequencies. I find this very revealing for proper instrument separation playing in same range as it give more overall clarity, percussion suddenly can became more complex, especially if acoustic. Piano, violin and cello sound more appropriate with the E2000, as well, track like ‘’Reflection’’ from Vassilis Tsabropoulos trio ‘’Melos’’ never sound more realist and balanced, as with other iem, one of the 3 musicians playing always have second seat, here piano and cello have great resolution and presence and the percussion is on same level, not too fowards and shimmy as I always hear before, its tigh, accurate, agile and well separated from rest of instrument, as if the trio was playing in front of me in the perfect acoustic room that do not have ampplifier or too much echo.


IN FEWER WORDS :

BASS : Warm, punchy with good timbre, body and separation.


MIDS : Clear, intimate, full sounding and natural.


HIGHS : Soft, good timbre, good attack, precise and well layered.




COMPARAISONS :



VS Brainwavz B200 (100$) :



B200 have a wider around your head soundstage, with more decay, wich is a plus for not too complex tracks while a drawback for more complex due to extra echo and decay that can veil certain frequencies range especially in bass region and lower and middle mids.

E4000 in other hand feel overall better balanced and more agile in layering.

Bass of E4000 is more bodied, especially in mid bass where the punch have more weight than the dryer hitting of B200, sub bass of B200 have some roll off begining around 100hz that make it feel tinner than the E4000 even it have a bump to compensate lack of weight. This make E4000 more natural and realist in lower end without the need of any treble push, its lively and make it for better rounded up presence. B200 feel mid centric compared to more neutral E4000, and have upper mids fowardness give extra presence to violin or vocal, but not to piano note that lack weight, another time, the mids of E4000 are more realist and have better attack and body in a tigher more intimate presentation, between 2-8khz we can easily separate each instrument that play in this range, while it will be more messy and veiled with B200 mixing.

Highs have more emphasis with the B200, but do not give more details, tough you will have more sparkle and decay and better feel of air with certain music style like solo harpsichord, classical guitar or folk signer. Talking about harpsichord, even if the strings plucking sound less full in attack timbre, but the decay will give extra liveness to the instrument wich is quite delicious in fact even if I would have like better weight in attack. As well, it most be noted that B200 can sometime create little distortion when too much different instrument are mix togheter, like bass, electric guitar, violin and voice….this will never happen with E4000 whatever you trow at it.

All in all, the E4000 is more neutral and agile with less emphasis on mids and vocal, while the E200 is more airy and less bassy and is less a great all arounder than the masterfully tuned E4000.



VS Brainwavz B400 (200$):




Braiwavz B400 cost 50$ more than E4000 and have a 4BA’S configuration compared to single 6.4mm drivers of E4000.

Soundsignature are somewhat in same family but tuned differently, it tend towards neutral and balanced with slight bump in mid bass and mids, but the B400 have some bump in sub bass and treble too wich make them overall a hint brighter and sharper.

Soundstage is more holographic with the B400 while the E4000 feel more frontal and little wider with more transparent layer compared to a more hall like withe extra echo of B400.

Amping isn’t needed for B400 as they are more easy to drive even at 32ohm, E4000 benifit from powefull dap or extra amping due to low sound pressure.

BASS of B400 have more sub presence than the E4000 and slightly less mid bass punch and resolution, here E4000 show how even if smooth sounding he can have realistic timbre that give subtle extra body to kick and help a clearer separation with low bass. Sub bass of B400 is thicker and weightier wich will benifit for electronic music while the E4000 bass will benefit rock and jazz.

MIDS are more fowarded with the B400 and have more texture especially in upper mid range, wich give more grip to violin and clearer separation in not too complex music that do not have too much sub bass and highs emphasis. Overall mids timbre of E4000 feel more natural and transparent, but more in center stage too, wich can feel recessed for some.
HIGHS are more sparkly and have more decay with B400, being more fowards and sharp as well, there no treble roll off with these compared to E4000 tamed upper treble wich give more balance and neutrality to overall sound to the cost of softing the dynamic energy. B400 can sound sometime too sharp as well as unbalanced with for example complex jazz were the percussion can feel too fowards, but I think it will be a plus for some listener searching for extra sparkle and details.

All in all, finally, we have two very different sounding iem here, one being more linear and smooth with a natural timbre (E4000) and the other being more sub bassy and energic with extra treble sparkle and around your head airy soundstage.




VS NiceHCK M6 (130$) :



M6 is a dual dynamic drivers with 4BA’S drives, it have a W shape soundsignature with warm pumped up bass, fowards mids and extra highs emphasis.

Soundstage is bigger and more 3D layered than the E4000 but less well resolved as some bass veil lower mid range giving it extra warmness. The E4000 is better balanced and sound more realist and agile but less thick and bodied. Soundstage is deeper due to better resolution.

Bass of E4000 have more emphasis on mid bass and feel less congested with the sub bass, where the M6 have more of a whole sub plus kick impact and weight, M6 feel slower and less agile too and as said bass echo mix with mids a little.

MIDS of M6 are more fowards and textured but more prompt to sibilance and feel less natural than the softer E4000, wich is more centered, have better transparency and timbre. They aren’t recessed at all, but are more on same level of rest of instrumental. I find the mids of E4000 extremely more enjoyable than the M6.

HIGHS of M6 are more present, giving more sparkle and clarity in upper region, but treble can feel sometime metallic in this region compared to the lively highs of E4000 wich sound more realist. I feel lower treble is clearer with E4000 too, where the M6 have some selective peaks, especially in upper treble to extrac microdetails.

All in all, the E4000 sound more mature and well tuned, with a smoother but clearer approach while M6 is more energic and fun sounding for electronic.

Both earphones have excellent construction, and even if very big compared to E4000, M6 is very comfortable.






CONCLUSION :


The Final Audio Design E4000 is a masterfully tuned iem with an elegantly balanced soundsignature that reflect frequencies laws knowledge of talented audio engineer and tend to make us, the audiophile with curious ears, more aware of inner miracle of whole transparent audio spectrum. For some, this sound approach can look new age, in the sens very passive listener that like to be beaten up by fowarded low or highs will miss the wow effect that us, the contemplative music lover, will be delighted by.

E4000 deliver a precise, clear sound where every instruments have natural unintrusive presence and as if we were in the perfect acoustic room without too much echo, the music sound always enjoyable and never agressive.

If you search for the perfect soft sound iem that neither lack energy or timbre, I think only the Final Audio E4000 can offer you this type of dense sirupy musical experience.

A classic that will pass test of time.

PS: You can find more reviews of IEM and audio gear here on my website: https://nobsaudiophile.wordpress.com/