final B2

One Bright and One Thick - Final B3 and Final B2 IEMs Review



Final Audio is back once again, this time with their B3 and B2 IEMs, both of which are interesting. They are priced at 500 USD, and 300 USD, so the comparisons with include FiiO FH7, IMR R2 Aten, TheCustomArt Fibae Black, for B3, and for B2, FiiO FA7, HIFIMAN RE800 Silver and UFO EAR 112 IEMs. As far as pairings go, we're going for something more modest, including FiiO M11, iBasso DX160, Shanling M2x, Opus #3, HIDIZS AP80 and Earmen TR-AMP.



Introduction

Final Audio has come to show us how a true masterpiece from Japan looks like, and they managed to impress the entire world, by keeping face while having the exact same package for many generations of IEMs, starting with their E4000 and E5000. They are known for being very supportive of their fans and customers, and in Japan they have a strong following, employing Waifus to give virtual tours of their shops, and being present at every large convention there. They will provide direct warranty and support, and they are also represented by some local sellers, so you can get quicker, and more reliable support, especially if you don't like delayed shipping times.

It should be noted that I have absolutely no affiliation with Final Audio, I am not receiving any incentive for this review or to sweeten things out. I'd like to thank Final Audio for providing the sample for this review. This review reflects my personal experience with Final B 2 and B 3. Every opinion expressed is mine and I stand by it, the purpose of this review is to help those interested in Final B Two and B Three find their next music companion.



About me

https://www.audiophile-heaven.com/p/about.html



Packaging

First things first, let's get the packaging out of the way:













I always loved the Japanese art of making things aesthetic, and they never cease to amaze. Even some of the most trivial things can be fun to unbox and explore, and if you read my review on Final E5000, you know I've been a fan of their packages for a few years now.

The package is the same as the one for Final B1, which I already reviewed, and they have all the basics narrowed down, but there's not much extra. The tips included with both are Final Tips, and those are some of the most comfortable tips out there, on par with the Spinfit tips included with Dunu DK-4001, DK-3001 PRO, and Lime Ears Model X.

I sometimes wish that Final Audio would include something a bit more practical for a carrying case, because the default rubber carrying case is not the most practical solution, and actually is quite easy to open and the IEMs may fall out. This being said, the case protects them really well from drops and impacts, and if you like a forward design, it is different from anything that's out there at the moment.

There are ear guides included in the package, for those of you who may get a better comfort using those, but I personally have a much poorer comfort when using them, and I prefer using the IEMs as they come.



What to look for when purchasing a high-end In-Ear Monitor

https://www.audiophile-heaven.com/p/what-to-lookl.html



Build Quality/Aesthetics/Fit/Comfort

There are two key differences between B 2 and B 3, and you should keep in mind that B3 is the better of the two in every way, including cable, and build quality.

Those two key differences are the tech inside, as B3 is a networkless, so no crossover, 2BA design, while B2 is a 1-BA design, and the cables included with each. Only by holding them side-by-side you notice that the finish is also slightly different, with B2 having a gunmetal finish, while B3 is more of a frost silver finish. Both are kind of silvery and neither isn't particularly glossy.



I noticed that there's going to be more headroom in B3, and if you are one to EQ or tweak your sound, B3 will manage to sound better than B2. This also means that B3 will hold its ground a bit better at loud volumes. Those are tested things about those two IEMs, not necessarily general rules about the number of drivers.

I did notice a trend though, as with TheCustomArt Fibae Black, which had a pretty limited headroom in both maximum volume, and in terms of how much EQ it could take.

B1 is even more different and stands out with its beautiful mirror finish, the high-quality cable, and with the sound that overtakes B3 and B2 in terms of detail, clarity and overall tuning.

The comfort is awesome with both B2 and B3, the cable is more flexible, but feels lower quality on B2, and if you have them side-by-side, you notice this a lot, but you may also notice it from the photos, B3 having that unique braided cable, while B2 has a very bland black thin cable.



Neither of the cables doesn't carry any microphonic noise, and both offer great comfort, although when switching between them, since I had both, the cable of B3 does sound a bit cleaner, more crisp, and also a touch brighter.

Final B2 has a higher sensitivity of about 109dB, and a higher impedance of 41 OHMs, which makes it easier to drive, and which makes it sound better from entry-level sources, including smartphones, or ultraportable DAPs like FiiO's M5, Shanling M0, or HIDIZS AP80.

On the other hand, Final B3 gets a lower sensitivity 102dB, and it also gets a lower impedance of 19 OHM. This means that B3 is more sensitive to hiss, so DAPs like Hiby R6 are not recommended, but DAPs like FiiO M9, FiiO M11, Shanling M2X, xDuoo X20, and Opus #2 should work flawlessly. Final B3 is not hard to drive, but I noticed that it does sound better from a good source, and I noticed that it can reveal hiss and noise, since testing it with HPA-3U did reveal noise, but it also revealed that Earmen TR-AMP is silent.



Both IEMs have the same comfort, and it is the same comfort as B1, both feel nicely when over-the-ear, both are modest in size, so they should work for both medium and smaller ears, and neither doesn't have pointy edges that may cut into your ear during usage. I noticed that both IEMs have a moderate level of passive noise isolation, neither isn't Etymotic ER4XR, but neither isn't quite as open as Final E5000, or Audeze iSine20. Both have a moderate level of leaking, so blasting them full-volume in a library may not be the best idea, and neither isn't quite as silent as FiiO FH7.

Overall, both are comfy, and both make good outdoors IEMs, and you can use them nicely indoors as well, provided you don't have to keep silent for a baby, and you don't have a really really noisy environment and you don't need to listen really quiet.



Sound Quality

The best way to describe B2 is as a thick, lush, warm, yet well-controlled IEM, with excellent imaging, and a gentle treble that rolls off and provides a smooth and relaxing listening experience.



The bass is the central point of B2, as they have a stronger, thicker and hard-hitting bass. This gives them good soul, and the midrange also gets some coloration from that bass, because they have a really lush, thick and warm presentation, making them stand out for natural-sounding music. They favor Jazz, Pop, Acoustic and Room music a lot above metal and rock.

The midrange is rich, and also has a natural timbre. There's a good amount of detail, although analytical would be the least word I'd use to describe them. The imaging is surprisingly good, you get a good sense of spatiality with them, but they are also pretty intimate, so if you like being in the center of your music performance, if you like feeling really close to the singer, those should be a real delight.

The treble is rolled off, recessed and really smooth, but if you're looking for this kind of treble, one to relax to, for hours on a row, they make a really good offer. The entire sound could be considered gentle, and has good overall contrast, with fairly good dynamics for a single BA design. The most surprising fact is that B2 manages to sound really controlled, so you don't get a bloated bass, or anything that could be said to be out of proportions. This means that although they are rich, thick and warm, lush and full of life, they don't cross into being too dark, veiled, or slow, and the bass has a good body, but is never sloppy nor tiring.



Portable Usage

Portability is great for both IEMs, and you could easily enjoy both out of a portable source, and if you're a bit more daring, you could even bring a DAC/AMP like iFi Q5s, iFi xDSD, or xDuoo XD-10 Poke to the fight.



Since neither isn't exactly an Etymotic of isolation, I consider them great for portability, you want something that has a fair degree of isolation for usage while on a walk, but you don't want to be entirely cut from the outside world, or you could run into an accident. On the other hand, the leakage is low enough to not bother others if you used them while on public transport, but both B3 and B2 have some leakage.

The best part about both is that they are made to last, the construction quality is so awesome that you won't have to ask about what the warranty is like.As a proof, I have a pair of Final E2000 and a pair of Final E4000 from a few years ago, when I reviewed them, and they have been used daily, but still hold up, and the B series is even better made than the E series.

The little ear guide thingies may prove handy if you're prone to discomfort while using IEMs, but I personally had better overall comfort with the B series if used as they are, I personally get a great fit with the bare cable touching my ears.

A good point to remember is that neither IEM doesn't have a driver flex, so you can easily use them for jogging, running, and other activities.



Youtube Video

Final Audio B2:



Comparisons

The list of comparisons includes two parts, one where I compare Final B2 with FiiO FH7, IMR R2 Aten, and TheCustomArt Fibae Black, and one where I compare B2 with FiiO FA7, HIFIMAN RE800 Silver, and UFO Ear 112 IEMs.



Final B2 vs FiiO FA7 (300 USD vs 300 USD) - Thick versus Thick, bassy vs bassy, this comparison has been called for many times, so I'm happy to deliver. The package is better for FA7, and by a good margin. The cable is better on FA7 as well. There is no driver flex on either, and I'm getting better comfort on B2, but slightly. The sound is thick on both, and warm, but FA7 is considerably more bassy, also more creamy. This means that it has a more dry character, which would work really well for EDM, Hip-Hop, but when you grow bored of that thick sound, you realise that it is pretty much the only trick it has up the sleeve. B2 is more natural in the overall tonal balance, although FA7 has the more true-to-life mids, with B2, there's warmth in the midrange, and there's more treble present. The biggest difference here is that FA7 sounds like a system that has a lot of bass, where B2 sounds closer to a rich, full of life system, you get a more natural presentation from B2 because the mids don't have only thickness, they also have rich textures, where FA7 is very thick, but has a more lean midrange.

Final B2 vs UFO Ears 112 (300 USD vs 360 USD) - UFO 112 is pretty much at the other end of the spectrum, with a really bright and slightly sibilant signature, but a revealing sound, analytical character, and with just a clarity that's hard to come by in the 300 USD price range. The package is similar between the two, B2 comes with a rubber case, while UFO 112 with a metallic case, but UFO 112 has that spaceship thingy going on, which I featured in my video review of it. UFO112 has more tips, but doesn't come with Final Rubber tips, which are the main tips for B2. The comfort is great on both actually, neither doesn't have any driver flex, nor void. UFO 112 has a low impedance, just like B3, but when compared to B2, it is easier to drive B2 from a variety of sources without hiss, while UFO 112 will be more picky. Overall, if you're going for bright, if you don't mind bits of sibilance here and there, and if you like energetic, sparkly, and detailed sound, with an analytical edge, UFO 112 makes a great companion, while if you want a natural IEM, with a rich midrange, and a lush signature, B2 will be much more suited for you.

Final B2 vs HIFIMAN RE800 Silver (300 USD vs 30 USD) - The package is better for B2, and it has better tips included in the package. In fact, everything about B2 screams of a better quality, compared to RE800 Silver, and B2 has detachable cables, which RE800 Silver doesn't. It all leans in favor of B2, and I mean everything, until you reach comfort, where RE800 Silver is still unbeaten. They are just so tiny, so small, that you can use them without feeling them, they simply don't touch your ears. RE800 Silver has no driver flex, and it is simply comfy. It can be worn straight-down and over-the-ear, while B2 can only be worn over-the-ear. The sound is quite different, with RE800 Silver being an aggressive V-Shaped sound, with a lot of bass, strong treble, and a lively, full of contrast and textured treble. The clarity is better on RE800 Silver, and so is the overall dynamic, as well as the headroom, as it is a dynamic driver. Final B2 is more intimate, has a considerably more lush and rich sound, with more emphasis on a smooth and relaxing treble, they work better for serious, and for natural music, like Jazz, and for music where thickness creates a better sense of realism for the listener.



Recommended Pairings

The pairings list will include iBasso DX160, Earmen TR-AMP and FiiO M11 for Final Audio B3, and Opus #3, Shanling M2X, HIDIZS AP80 for Final Audio B2. I prioritised sources that are really silent and quiet in terms of hissing, for Final B3, and I prioritised sources that are ideally brighter, or have high quality EQ within, for Final B2. This should compliment both the best, and result in the most pleasing listening experience.



I have started adding the prices of each, so you have a clearer picture of what every one of them does, you can click on the names for the full review as well. I avoid that 399 USD price point and write it as 400, for example, because it makes the titles and sums easier to read in my reviews. Neither doesn't scale very much with sources above their price point, which is good to keep in mind, as there are IEMs and headphones that scale a lot with the source, especially those very sensitive, or those who prefer a certain source type.

Final Audio B2 + Shanling M2x (300 USD +220 USD) - M2X is a magical touch DAP, because not only it doesn't cost a lot, but it also has Tidal, Streaming abilities, and a beautiful ergonomic. There's very little to dislike about M2X, and I really love its really sparkly treble performance, paired with the neutral midrange, which helps with the tonality of B2. If you wanted that thick sound to be lighter, if you wanted it to sound more open, and more revealing M2X is a great budget DAP to pair B2 with. I noticed no hissing, and the detail levels are pretty much excellent.

Final Audio B2 + Opus #3 (300 USD + 650 USD) - Opus #3 has a bright sound, which balances out the thick accent and tuning of B2. It is also really open and wide in its stage, and also has Streaming abilities, making it a really excellent choice at the moment of writing this review. It can also be paired with B3, and it puts it in steroids, making its sound even more detailed, more revealing, and increasing the size of the soundstage even more. #3 is still one of the top DAPs you can get, but that is if you don't need much Streaming, or a fluid OS, because for 650 USD, there are other options right now, like iBasso DX220, which is much smoother.

Final Audio B2 + HIDIZS AP80 (300 USD + 115 USD) - AP80 is a happy situation, because they got some help in implementing a cheeky EQ in their tiny DAP, which lets you customise the sound however you want. You may remember that B3 and B2 both had a very low headroom, but AP80 somehow manages to be able to EQ them without distorting the sound. Indeed, this is probably the main reason to get AP80 as a DAP, the really well implemented EQ. There are more tiny DAPs, like FiiO M5, or Shanling M0, but AP80 has probably the best EQ of them all, while FiiO M5 has the best overall ergonomics and handling.



Value and Conclusion

You probably knew from the start, and by looking at the prices of both, that neither isn't necessarily a value IEM, and if you wanted great value, you could probably explore Chifi a bit more, rather than looking at a Japanese producer. Priced at 500 USD for Final B3, and 300 USD for Final B2, they are a fair value, and the value is given more by the beautiful aesthetic, unboxing experience, reliable support, build quality, comfort, and sound quality, so the whole product as a whole, rather than the sonic quality alone, as it is for some Chifi IEMs.



The unboxing experience is always downright awesome with Final Audio, and you never wonder why you went with them, plus, although they don't have many extras, like secondary cables, they do have a very stylish and unique carrying case, and they come with Final Tips, which are some of the best in the world. The Final tips are developed by Final Audio, so their IEMs are best tuned to work with those tips.

When you consider the comfort and the build quality, Final B3 has been one of the IEMs that got the most head time from me in the past few months thanks to its excellent comforty, and easy-to-drive nature. This being said, if I was downright honest, I was never satisfied with the sound I got from it and my smartphone, a Xiaomi Mi Max 3, so I usually ended up using it with either the Earmen TR-AMP, or FiiO BTR5. Final B2 has the same great comfort, but I could actually use it with my smartphone, and am really happy with the result, especially as it doesn't scale very much.



The sound is colder, wider, and more analytical, coming from the Final B3, and you'd be hard pressed to find something that manages to sound this natural in the mids, while having that wide stage, and that sparkly treble, while B2 is a thicker, more intimate IEM that has a really soft attack, which makes them lack precision, but that lush and rich midrange, with a natural tonality will make it the favorite of those who enjoy a honest and natural sound more than the more analytical B3.



At the end of this review, if you're looking for a durable, and comfortable IEM, one that has a wide stage, excellent detail and clarity, one that has a natural-bright-ish tonality, yet manages to be a consistent V-Shaped experience, and one that has excellent layering, you would totally enjoy Final B3.



Also, at the end of this review, if you're looking for a comfortable IEM, that has an intimate soundstage, yet exceptional imaging, one that has a more lush and rich-organic tonality, and manages to keep the treble smoother, with a warm, bassy presentation, and has a well-controlled bass, you would totally enjoy Final B2, the less pricey IEM from their B series.



Full Playlist used for this review

While we listened to considerably more songs than those named in this playlist, those are excellent for identifying certain aspects of the sound, like PRaT, Texturization, Detail, Resolution, Dynamics, Impact, and overall tonality. We recommend trying most of the songs from this playlist, especially if you're searching for new most, most of them being rather catchy.

Youtube Playlist



Tidal Playlist

https://listen.tidal.com/playlist/64555551-ec3c-4279-ae44-248fdfcf6c4b

Song List

Bats - Gamma Ray Burst: Second Date
Eskimo Callboy - Frances
Incubus - Summer Romance
Electric Six - Dager! High Voltage
Kishida Cult - High School Of The Dead
Dimmu Borgir - Dimmu Borgir
Breaking Benjamin - I Will Not Bow
Thousand Foot Krutch - The Flame In All Of Us
Gorillaz - Feel Good Inc.
Infected Mushroom - Song Pong
Attack Attack - Kissed A Girl
Doctor P - Bulletproof
Maximum The Hormone - Rock n Roll Chainsaw
Rob Zombie - Werewolf, Baby!
Escape The Fate - Gorgeous Nightmare
SOAD - Chop Suey
Ken Ashcorp - Absolute Territory
Machinae Supremacy - Need For Steve
Ozzy Osbourne - I Don't Wanna Stop
Crow'sclaw - Loudness War
Eminem - Rap God
Stromae - Humain À L'eau
Sonata Arctica - My Selene
Justin Timberlake - Sexy Back
Metallica - Fuel
Veil Of Maya - Unbreakable
Masa Works - Golden Japang
REOL - Luvoratorrrrry
Dope - Addiction
Korn - Word Up!
Papa Roach - ... To be Loved
Fever The Ghost - Source
Fall Out Boy - Immortals
Green Day - Know The Enemy
Mindless Self Indulgence - London Bridge
A static Lullaby - Toxic
Royal Republic - Addictive
Astronautalis - The River, The Woods
We Came As Romans - My Love
Skillet - What I Believe
Man With A Mission - Smells Like Teen Spirit
Yasuda Rei - Mirror
Mojo Juju - Must Be Desire
Falling Up - Falling In Love
Manafest - Retro Love
Rodrigo Y Grabriela - Paris
Zomboy - Lights Out
Muse - Resistance
T.A.T.U & Rammstein - Mosaku
Grey Daze - Anything, Anything
Katy Perry - Who Am I Living For
Maroon 5 - Lucky Strike
Machinae Supremacy - Killer Instinct
Pendulum - Propane Nightmares
Sirenia - Lithium And A Lover
Saving Abel - Addicted
Hollywood Undead - Levitate
The Offspring - Special Delivery
Escape The Fate - Smooth
Samsara Blues Experiment - One With The Universe
Dope - Rebel Yell
Crazy Town - Butterfly
Silverstein - My Heroine
Memphis May Fire - Not Over Yet

I hope my review is helpful to you!

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FINAL AUDIO B2 REVIEW :


SOUND: 8/10
CONSTRUCTION: 10/10
DESIGN: 9.5/10
ACCESSORIES: 8.5/10
VALUE: 8.5/10

Welcome back for my second B serie review.

After having review my personal favorite wich is the dual BA’s B3, I decide to continue analyzing potential of Final Audio balanced armature drivers tuning with the B2 model.

Final Audio B2 is the entry level model or their ‘’flagship’’ single BA depending on how you see it, priced at 300$ its 200$ less than B3 and 400$ less than B1, making it the most budget minded iem of the serie. It have very same housing quality and design than pricier models, but not a 4cores SPC cable. I can already say that the B2 offer biggest price value both in term of sound and construction-durability. The difference with dual BA’s B3 is sure evident, but in fact, they are tuned very differently, so much that I wonder why they are in same serie….but I could have say that for Hybrid DD+BA flagship B1 model too. This different flavors of each models proove that Final Audio try to cover different music taste with the B serie, unlike the E serie wich was more similarly tuned.



Final Audio engineer describe the B2 as well suited for instrumental music like classical, this is their description :

‘’The B2 is a model particularly well suited to rich spatial recordings. It is well suited to classical music recordings that take adequate advantage of the reflections and reverberation of a concert hall as well as live recordings to reproduce the feeling of "being there". ‘’

‘’Being there’’ surely mean that you are near the instrument, but still can feel spaciality of sound. As well, quality of recording will have great impact on sound rendering, wich I can confirm. To my ears, the B2 are the more intimate sounding of B serie, but in a very particular way due to good imaging capabilities. As well, they don’t sound like a single BA earphones, and this is really what impress me the most.

Now, let’s see in this review if they can be consider as the very best single balanced armature ever made!

You can buy the Final Audio B2 for 299$ directly from Amazon.com or Audio46 store.


DISCLAIMER : I wanna thanks Final Audio and my kind friend KYO for sending me whole B serie as reviews samples. As well, I wanna thank them for their patience, due to long listening session and well, life issues that make my reviews work take ages. DOMO ARIGATO!!

INFO & SPECS :
General Information
Brand: final
Country: Japan
Series: B series
Model Name: B2
Price: USD 299

Specification
Drivers: 1 Balanced Armature
Housing Material: Stainless Steel
Finishing: Gun Metallic
Connection: MMCX
Cable: OFC Cable
Sensitivity: 109 dB
Impedance: 41 Ohm
Weight: 32g

Accessories
final E-Type Eartips 5 sizes, final black earhooks, final black silicone case

Official Information:
https://snext-final.com/en/products/detail/B2


ACCESSORIES, CONTRUCTION & DESIGN :



UNBOXING is a real joy and a step up from the boxing of E serie. Now, we have a very elegant solid white box with a big B on it, its minimal yet luxurious in the choice of design and material. As expected, theres plenty of accessories included, wich is this time very similar to higher E serie model. The unique silicone protecting case, extra ear hook the nice final silicone eartips as well as a pair of memory foam. And a strange sticky fabric to help you unconnect the mmcx cable that can be slippy due to its metal part. The cable included is average one and I admit I would have prefer they include same cable that we have with B1 and B3 as well as E5000 wich is a great 4cores SPC cable. But nope, we have the same cable included with the E4000.


(to note that this upgrade cable isn't included with B2, but I let it there because its too hard to disconnect it and its the one I prefer anyway!)

CONSTRUCTION is top notch and you know you have an high end earphones in your hands as much due to the weight of it than the feel of it. No sharp corner touch your ears even if the housing is sculpted with a mix of curve and angle, all is smooth, no asperity, and it is soft too, mate type of softness. Unlike many metal earphones , the B2 do not look easily scratchable, i do not always cary him in its case and as seen their not a single scratch on it. This look just invincible and i’m pretty sure it is, the metal is thick and the two part are stick togheter with 2 screw but i’m pretty sure it’s more complicate than that, so why not look inside? Well, okay, I try unscrew it but the front screw have some kind of hot glue on it, so I will not push the experience further.

DESIGN is just mesmerizing and sure have take lot of time to be achieved. More you look at it, more you discover the number of details in its conception and are in awe : nothing was let to hasard. The curve of the housing is made so it slip in your ears smoothly and comfortably, the back being sharper at edge do not touch the ears, and if some corner touch is its more polished and smoother than upper back angle. Nozzle is molded in same front metal housing part, and is just long enough for perfecrt fit with eartips, you can push it very far in your ears due to housig shape and as say, it will be the curvy, organicly shape part that will be in contact with you ear hole.

MMCX connector look heavy duty industrial and just unbreakable, but be aware connection with cable will be extremely tigh, wich make this a little too hard for cable swapping lover like me, Even with the sticky fabric ‘’tool’’ its extremely hard to disconnect…to the point I litterally hurt my thumbs and have a white spot on it for 3 days. So, yeah, that is sure securre connection for the iem but less so for your fingers! But, finally, the mmcx connection became smoother after connecting disconnecting it with the B1 and B3, strangely I still struggle with B2 so I let the upgrade cable connected because i'm not very patient with this type of struggle.

COMFORT is excellent and in fact you dont feel the weight due again to meticulously thinked design, as the curvy part sit on your inner ear naturally. I can wear this all day without problem, no joke.

ISOLATION is insanely good as well, due to thick metal and excellent fit, it literally block all the outside noise once you put musc, and passive isolation without music is extreme as well. So, be aware it can be a little risky to do jogging or biking with the B2, but I do it anyway.

Even if their a little front venting, sound leakage is way above average and near dead silent. Only bats will be able to hear any sound as I can conclude with high volume music playing while i block nozzle end with my finger. I need to put my ear on the vent to hear something.


DRIVEABILITY isn’t that easy with a 41ohm impendance even if sensitivity is enough high at 109db. The B2 will sound better if well amped, either by powerfull DAP or portable amp. As well, its sensible to harmonic distortion of your audio gear, so I suggest pairing it will super clear amp, not a warm one or unstable one. My Xduoo XD-05 do good and can drive the B2 perfectly at mid gain.


SOUND :



OVERALL IMPRESSIONS was rewarding out of the box, first thing I tough was : is this really a single balanced armature in there? And if so, how is possible it sound so full and have such bass impact without any distortion even at super high volume? Nobody give me answer about second question, but the first one was evident : Yes, the B2 only score one little full range balanced armature drivers and act as at least a micro dynamic driver! Unlike the nice and super fast sounding single BA of Final Audio F serie, the B2 offer a full bodied sound with slight W approach to frequencies range. Its not a warm sounding iem like the E5000, but less bright and sharp than F serie too, the bass have more emphasis in lower mid range and offer softed tigh attack that suit rock music incredibly well, vocal aren’t recessed and very clear and highs are crips and clear.

SOUNDSTAGE is rather intimate,with a near your head stereo presentation, it isn’t super airy or hall like, but well articulate in spaciality for a single BA.

IMAGING is from another level and again make you wonder how a single BA can achieve such a realistic spaciality with good space between instrument, because unlike most BA that tend to have transparent layering to compensate lack of dynamic imaging, the B2 offer good holographic impressions.

BASS is thick and tigh, it dig very deep and you will not hear notable roll off even if perhaps it go down to 30HZ instead of 20HZ. Lot or iem tuned neutraly will not bump lower region so this is how the B2 feel, you do not lack details in lower region and sub line are just enough easily hearable due to their rich timbre and good separation, but no bassy slam here, or weighty sub, it stay in the back and let the mid bass win extra weight and energy to deal with drum attack with soft refined hit. Yes, this punchy, well rounded, textured and super agile mid bass is extremely addictive. Due to present but soft punch, it do not feel to fowarded and agressive, drop after the hit is rather smooth in fact and did not have artifical silence between end of attack and the lower mid range, it just imperceptively touch it so transition sound natural. If the record is ultra clear, kick will sound ultra tigh, if not, well, its not the B2 fault. The fact that IDM sound marvelous as well as well recorded fast rock, indie or jazz, proof how the bass is well balanced with fast transient response.

MID RANGE is the star of the show with the B2, and the more emphased frequencies range tough its very balanced with bass and treble so it sound neutralish and not artificialy fowarded. Smooth, transparent, just a little hint bright due to little extra upper mids bump and textured timbre, the mids have a high level of clarity that benifit an intimate imaging. Female signer sound particularly good with these, even if lower mid body is not particularly thick, it have great amount of texture and especially a good separation that give extra presence and centered presentation. No sibilance to be hear too. In song where the singer is accompanied with minimalist instrumental, the B2 show how rich voice timbre can be, its buttery smooth and envelopping. Piano sound great too especially in tonality and timbre, but attack lack sharpness and snapiness to permit energic rendering, this occur too with violin, but with wind instrument this soft attack is a plus and make saxophone sound very enjoyable.

TREBLE is rarely very emphased or extended with Final Audio and the B2 is no exception and perhaps among the more rolled off upper treble in all Final Audio series. All the treble emphasis is in lower highs, wich give a sens of wide range lushness until it seriously drop around 10khz, still you can hear enough micro details, but they will not be fowarded and even a little tamed depending how mid range take place in the music. This sure affect highs sparkle and decay, wich lack with the B2 and this tuning affect air between instrument and give an ovrall very mid centric sound. Strangely, unlike too mid centric tuning, the B2 manage to give an illusion of smooth balanced neutral sound, due to enough bass, good details retreival in mid range and enough clarity in lower high so the percussions have enough presence.

SUB : 7/10
MID BASS : 7.5/10
MID RANGE : 8.5/10
TREBLE : 7.5/10
TIMBRE : 9/10
ATTACK-DECAY : 7/10
SOUNDSTAGE : 7.5/10
IMAGING : 8/10

RANDOM TRACKS TESTING :

(Gear used : Xduoo X3 (CS4398 dac)+Xduoo XD-05 (Burson V5i Opamp) at mid gain)

SILJE NES ‘’Symmetry of empty space’’


Intro to the song with accordeon and guitar is clear with good decay, well separated and very clean with realistic wooly timbre, it surround your head until the smooth signer voice appear. Now, the voice have a soft transparent timbre, its super centered with all instrumental surrounding her very clearly, level of imaging is excellent and very accurate, the kick have smooth punch, its a little thin in timbre but permit the voice to benifit in presence and definition, the guitar is very well done, even when both play togheter you can hear them separately, when the bass came with other instruments, it have good body to it wich permit to follow bass line accuretely without flooding other instrument, it do not warm the voice wich stay in front seat with great transparence in timbre and slightly intimate presentation. When lot of instrument play togheter, you can still hear micro details, like the maracass playing, the wood block, the guitar stay very clear but overall imaging became a little more congested due to intimate sounstage. Clarity of imaging as well as timbre richness is what impress me with this song, the highs brilliance too surprise me, due to rather smooth upper treble I wasn’t expecting chime to sound that sharp even if they stay (rightly) in background. Indie and Folk is well suited for the B2 rich mid range and lower-mids treble.

SOKRATIS SINOPOULOS QUARTET ‘’Walking’’


Begining with fast piano that sound extremely clear with softed timbre that benifit more from brilliance than weighty note attack, sens of deep silent background is superbly clear. Now the drum came and mix with piano line in a transparent way, its not particularly vivid and weighty in attack, extra dynamic energy came in when the lower mids percussions mix, at first, both kick and piano line struggle to gain separation in same frequencies range, the violin is a little to soft in timbre to have energic attack too. Acoustic bass stay far away in the background, and its a little hard to hear it properly even if we perceive a sens of bodyness to it. But once the piano mix with percussion without toms or kick, a miracle happen, imaging gain in deepnest and piano show all its liveliness when playing in mid range, still, note aren’t that well rounded up, lower highs have more energy. All in all, this song sound darker than it should be and lack texture in timbre as well as attack-decay agility we can expect from balanced armature driver. I tend to prefer brighter sound for violin.

MR TWIN SISTERS ‘’Buy to return’’ :


Sub bass line are quite well presented but stole some kick punch, wich lack for proper rythm of the song. The female signer is very clear and sit above all the rest of instrument, percussion are extremely clear, as well, the synth is well separated. Bass is a little too dry and thick and distract me instead of making me feet taping. Synth definition is too softed and lack grip too, wich make this song lacking dynamic and spaciousness in instrumentation. Appart from the vocal, their not alot going on in mid range, wich explain why it do no take advantage of B2 qualities. This perhaps confirm B2 aren’t suggested for POP song where more V shape or W shape soundsignature will suit this style better.


COMPARAISONS :

VS FINAL AUDIO F4100 (280$):

The F4100 being a single balanced armature as well, I was curious to compare both. One thing sure, the housing design is opposite, F4100 being near as big and long as the BA that its stock inside while the B2 have a big spacious metal one that sure look more than 30$ pricier. As well, the standard mmcx design make it more easy to swap cable while the F4100 need proprietary FA cable that is quite pricey.

SOUNDSTAGE of B2 is wider-taller while the F4100 is deeper, IMAGING is strangely airier and clearer with the F4100 but in a less accurate way than B2. BASS is anemic with the F4100, as well, it can create distortion at too high volume, wich it never happen with warmer, bassier B2 that have less agressive mid bass but a rounder fuller one and most of all it have clear sub bass that F4100 cannot even dig without sounding too thin, dry or distorted. MID RANGE of both is fowarded, but F4100 is brighter and way more pushed foward than B2, but again, in a sharper and more peaky way wich do not offer an as rich presentation than more whole range presence of B2. Vocal are more bodied and have smoother lusher timbre with B2 wich make it sound more natural than more vivid F4100. TREBLE have notable emphasis in mid highs where percussions gain in extra clairty and impressive attack accuracy, making the F4100 more detailed on top than B2 tha have more presence in lower treble, still, this presentation can be bothersome and distract you from mid range and (anemic) bass, so, again, B2 sound more natural and smoother even if less prompt to specific wow effect about complex percussions work. All in all, B2 is a more balanced, musical and forgiving sounding iem, while the F4100 have a fast, energic and vivid sound that lack versatility (and bass).

VS FLC8P (280$) :


B2 is a single balanced armature while the FLC8P score 1 dynamic and 2 BA, but thinking this battle is unfair is forgetting how masterfull are audio engineer and tuner of Final Audio team.

CONSTRUCTION of the FLC look like a joke compared to the sumptuous and ultra sturdy metal housing of B3. The thick metal is just invincible, while FLC cheap plastic used can be surely easily broken by accident, as well, B3 have screw toopen the housing in case of damage…like dust, water or such. Its thinked to last, FLC is not.

COMFORT is both great, but isolation is better with the B3.
SOUNDSTAGE is slightly wider with the B3, but its minimal, while FLC is taller in presentation and just slightly wider, anyway, again, FLC presentation sound less airy and out of your head.
BASS is more emphased with the FLC, and B3 perhaps begin to drop just before 20hz, but the timbre is more realist and thick thant FLC dryier presentation, as well, mid bass is better rounded up even if less fowards and punchy, the separation tough is less clear and can mix up with lower mids.
MID RANGE is well balanced and near flat in the mid centric approach of B3, it sound lusher with better tonality and smoother thicker timbre, the FLC have slight artificial push to it, especially in upper mid range wich can make vocal a little shouty or sibilant, taming upper mid range with tuning setting is possible but this will not change overall tonality and timbre, making in this case more recessed than B3. With complex music, B3 can sound a little congested, especially at high volume, this do not occur with FLC very agile attack and imaging. Anyway, for vocal lover, the B3 is sure better and mora natural sounding as well as more versatile for female and male signer that have lush and thick body.
TREBLE is more emphased with the FLC, while the B3 have extra emphasis in mid treble the FLC climb to the top and have a more analytical approach to the cost of sound overly agressive with some tuning, the B3 have an organic treble that do not offend the ears and can still crave rich details. This make it for a more balanced overall tuning, whatever the setting you will use with FLC. So, yeah, brighter as well as more clinical is the treble of FLC .

Now, i’m a little surprise to prefer a single BA to multi drivers Hybrid, but this is really about the soul of musicality, and the FLC timbre and tonality is just not natural sounding to me. You can’t change his soul whatever the tuning you choose.

VS AUDIOSENSE T800 (300$) :



Now, well, even if I feel its an unfair fight both of this iem are priced the same, so, hum, yeah, the T800 score 8 Knowles BA’s in its chunky body and yes, it’s an unfair fight even if I sincerly think the B2 have the best single BA I ever heard. Anyway, the T800 are less comfortable and you struggle more to find a good fit too, wich is of first importance to be rewarded by its incredible sound. In other hand, the 8cores cable included is of better quality than the basic one included with the B2. I’m not sure the T800 will have as long durability than B2 too, one thing sure, it will be way more complex to repair!

Well, the sound, I mean, T800 are my favorite sub-1000$ iem right now so what do you expect? SOUNDSTAGE is more out of your head, with an holographic spaciality that surround you while the B2 feel very intimate and average wide compared to this giant spherical soundstage of T800. IMAGING is razor sharp with T800, its really like being in the middle of 8.1 surround system and there way more space between instruments than B2, with T800 every instrument have their own space and singularity, while with the B2 they can feel compressed togheter and lacking air.
BASS is thicker, weightier, have good slam and chunky body, its faster and tigher but have less transparence than dryier B2 wich have softer attack and less good separation in low end. MID RANGE is just a hint brighter wich give better attack-decay and more definition as well as way better imaging than more relaxed B2 that have smoother timbre that make it less agressive and perhaps a little more natural in timbre and balance. TREBLE is more energic and fowarded with the T800, so you have plenty more micro details especially in upper range, highs are more sparkly with better definition than more laid back B2 wich sound more neutral than W shaped T800. All in all, as said, it was an unfair fight and the T800 sure sound more spectacular, vivid and lively than more laid back , intimate and natural sounding B2.


PAIRING :
I suggest to pair the B2 with a very clear and powerfull audio source, a revealing delicate (slightly analytical but not cold) one with extra treble details like the Ibasso DX90 is an excellent pairing. AK4490 smooth sounding DAC isn’t helping to get more energic sound presentation while the Cirrus CS4398 (Xduoo X3) pluged into an amp give extra texture and highs but isn’t as black in background as the Ibasso DX90 with its dual ES9018 dac that inject great dynamic and take advantage of clear sounding B2 driver.


CONCLUSION :



I’ve never ever been disapointed by Final Audio earphones, because I always find the tuning well made and the timbre very inviting. Sure I have personal favorite like the E2000, E5000 and B3, but its subjective and surely due to the music I listen with them, wich is mostly classical, jazz and female signers. I don’t know why, but I rarely listen to electronic music with any Final Audio iem, even if i’m a big fan of IDM.

The B2 is no exception to this rule and could be in my top 5 favorite Final Audio iem I try, I prefer them over F serie single armature as well as all other single BA I own like Brainwavz Koel, Audiosense T180, Kbear F1 and yeah, Etymotic ER4 I own before and feel timbre was too dry for me. This say alot, but not all, because of the fact it push single balanced armature potential further really inflict on my enthusiasm too and perhaps make me even more subjective.

Yes, the B2 sound like a dynamic driver tuned neutraly with mid range emphasis, the bass it offer is never heard before as well as richness of timbre, for this ‘’tour de force’’ alone, it worth its 300$ price. But they have an incredible construction that promess very long durability too.

If you’ve always been underwhelmed by single BA bass, tonality or timbre and dream to own a sumptuous looking iem with invincible construction and accurate, natural sound that will cuddle your hearing instead of beating it with agressive treble, I think the Final Audio B2 singular approach to musicality migh really please you.

Introduction

This is my third and final review on the brand new B series of IEMs from final of Japan. For those who have missed my earlier two reviews, you can find them here—B1 and B3.

The B2 ($299) is the most affordable model from the new series, yet it still retains the most important design concepts introduced by final with this series. The casing is made from stainless steel like the other two, and it is made with a unique casting method that allows final engineers to design the internal space with the mind to optimize the driver(s) performance. Due to its geometric outer design, there are fewer pressure points than what's typical with other similarly priced IEMs, making the B2 quite comfortable during long listening sessions. With the B2, there is a single balanced armature driver and the simplicity of this design contributes to the more affordable price and increased sensitivity (109dB) compared to its siblings. The other main difference is the use of a black sheathed OFC cable instead of the silver-clad OFC cables used by the other two models. The B2 retains the MMCX connectors for replacement of the cable, and though it sounds a bit brighter than the silver cable, it is well made and more flexible than its counterpart.

Included with the B2 in its packaging is a nice silicone case, five pairs of final E series tips, and black plastic ear hooks that easily attach to the cable to protect it from any sweat that may harden the cable with repeated exposure. Finally, in order to remove the cable from the casing, final provides a square piece of plastic that is textured on one side in order to grip the smooth barreled connectors on the cable. Everything is nicely presented in the simple, but elegantly designed cardboard box.



Impressions

Before I begin my evaluation, I'd like to thank Michael Brown, the US distributor for final products, for providing me a free sample of the B2 in exchange for my assessment of its capabilities. I also would like to thank Kyo-san, final's International Sales and Marketing Manager, for his assistance in answering my questions about the B series.

My source component for this review is the iPhone SE. The source material was lossless music streamed from Radio Paradise, my favorite internet radio station owned and operated by a former DJ who personally curates his eclectic playlists. As is my custom with any new IEM, I ran the B2 for 100 hours before any critical listening—no EQ was used during my listening sessions.

Final has designed three models in its B series all with a different tonal signature. Where the B1 is bass centric and the B3 is fairly neutral, the B2 is a highly detailed sounding IEM ... in fact, a bit too bright with some recordings, to my ears anyway. This brightness begins in the midrange in the 2K-3K range and then tails off from there, however, I wouldn't call this character sibilant, rather, lively sounding. With some music, this tonal color sounds great, bringing a level of transparency that is engrossing. Female vocalists sound especially good, and realistic. As to the bass performance, I actually preferred the B2 compared to the B3 finding it reached deeper into the lowest frequencies, and did so with satisfying texture. I also found the B2's soundstage to extend outside my head a little more than the B3, but not to the level of the B1. Of the three B series models, I still prefer the B1 the most, but its a closer call between the B3 and B2.



Summary

I've enjoyed my time with the B series models, each showing off the family trait of clarity and immediacy, and I predict final will enjoy robust sales of this new line. The comfort level is the best of any IEM I've owned when listening for hours on end which I do a lot since music is my favorite pastime.

The final B2 is a great example of a well built IEM that maximizes clarity and detail retrieval, and it does so at a very reasonable price of entry. With so many choices on the market today in this price range, the B2 will stand out amongst the competition: as to whether it will stand out for you, only an audition will provide the answer.