Final A8000 Beryllium Diaphragm Dynamic IEM Comments and Impressions

[Mercuttio]

I appreciate the reply, definitely keeping the Sony on the shortlist and doing a little more poking around the dedicated thread. I see you have the ragnorak/BF2, which is obviously extreme overkill for the A8000, but I was playing around with them on my desktop stack of the Bifrost 2/Jot 2 in order to fiddle around the the lokius eq and found myself not enjoying the sound of the A8000 as much. one of the first headphones/iems i didn't like with that combo

I actually prefer the sound of the A8000 out of the Sony as an original source compared to the Bifrost 2. Mine is the older version of the DAC though, not the newest version with the twin Ti DACs or whatever they are. I do have a balanced 4.4 to dual mono XLR connection to go from the Sony to the Ragnorak 2's balanced input directly though, and that DOES add a bit to the equation.

If you forced me to pick between listening to the A8000 out of the Bifrost 2 / Ragnorak 2 combo vs the Sony Walkman, I'd pick the Walkman. It's more musical and natural sounding in that configuration. The Sony into the Ragnorak 2 is as good if not better, but not necessarily worth all the input switching.

At this point I would guess my next upgrade would be to update the DAC in the Bifrost 2- I have heard it is a livelier presentation than the ladder-style one I have in there now. I think that's my weak link. Everyone was very much into the "The Analog Sound" it had when it came out, but frankly my vinyl setups sound cleaner and more precise. Ragnorak 2 however is absolutely killer- genuinely the audio hub of my listening area and just incredible with whatever you plug into it. The speaker output is pretty solid too, though I'm not really taxing that with my little desktop JBLs.

 

[hakunamakaka]

I don't have overwhelming experience with IEM's as with headphones, but A8000 is one of the best audio related purchases I've made. Miniature version of Utopia, plays amazing with warmer sources

 

[Mercuttio]

I don't have overwhelming experience with IEM's as with headphones, but A8000 is one of the best audio related purchases I've made. Miniature version of Utopia, plays amazing with warmer sources

Final just kind of knows what's up now, or at least how I want to hear stuff. I tried some of their closed back headphones years ago and really didn't care for them- but all the 8000 series products have just totally knocked it out of the park.

Here's the factory / showroom in Kawasaki. Strongly recommend visiting if you are in Japan.

I couldn't get enough of the red elevator, I don't know why. The last image might be interesting to folks here- it's an as-of-yet unreleased product, based on the D8000. If you look closely, you'll see a KSC35 style clip on in that little tray!

 

[Exill]

I have loved my Final Audio B3 a lot. It has amazing tuning. I am getting a B-stock A8000 for nearly $1100. There is a 3-month warranty on it. I'm just wondering if I should pull the trigger on it. I know Final IEMs are built like tanks and will last forever. I'm just a bit worried if the excess to\\of brightness will be an issue. But I know that can be tamed using foam tips, good copper cables, eq etc. Suggestions.

I love my a8000, personally it is not as bright as many had said, but it also depend on your tolerance I guess. Changing tips may help a lot I think.

 

[nvs019]

As mentioned

I like mine a ton with the Sony NW-WM1AM2. I use it out of the normal 3.5mm jack, and use my D8000 balanced with the 4.4 balanced. I find that to power both extremely well, and have a very natural sound.

Does the FINAL AUDIO A8000 and E5000 have same cable??

 

[vaporsynthwave]

Does the FINAL AUDIO A8000 and E5000 have same cable??

yes same cable. I like it, thin and tangle resistant, despite being pretty microphonic if wearing the E5000 straight down. almost the same price as it if you buy standalone. wondering if Final has any new flagship iem in the works, I know they took years to develop the A8000

 

[nvs019]

yes same cable. I like it, thin and tangle resistant, despite being pretty microphonic if wearing the E5000 straight down. almost the same price as it if you buy standalone. wondering if Final has any new flagship iem in the works, I know they took years to develop the A8000

I use a balanced cable which came with fiio FD5 for e5000+ sony zx 707. its amazing.

Just thinking in that sense if I have to change the cable to 4.4 balanced for A8000?

 

[nvs019]

that's good to know, I was actually thinking about the Sony because I also have the IER-Z1R and it's impressive battery life. I like the A8000 stock cable too, do you find any shortcomings with the single ended jack? I feel like a lot of products prioritize the balanced PO. I do have some flac files but find myself mostly streaming nowadays. would I be missing out on the Sony upsampling and other features mostly utilizing streaming?

I am also upgrading from zx 707 to AM2. A8000 sounds very good with sony zx 707. very good synergy a8000+ sony zx 707

 

[vaporsynthwave]

I am also upgrading from zx 707 to AM2. A8000 sounds very good with sony zx 707. very good synergy a8000+ sony zx 707

I cheaped out and went with a Shanling M6U after seeing a Headfonics reviewer praise the synergy with the A8000. Totally agree, great dap overall. The sensitivity isn't nearly as low as the E5000 so I don't think it's necessary to swap to a balanced cable. Such a great complimentary duo. After an intense session with the A8000, the E5000 is great to give my brain a break.

 

[nvs019]

I cheaped out and went with a Shanling M6U after seeing a Headfonics reviewer praise the synergy with the A8000. Totally agree, great dap overall. The sensitivity isn't nearly as low as the E5000 so I don't think it's necessary to swap to a balanced cable. Such a great complimentary duo. After an intense session with the A8000, the E5000 is great to give my brain a break.

Shanling M6U is good one but i liked the synergy of sony dap zx 707 with my iems - IE900, Z1R, FIIO FDX, E5000 when auditioned M6U.

M6U is better in every way when compared to zx 707 except that warm sony signature.

Later bought shanling H7, for intial days i was very happy with H7 but later i was listening more to zx 707. My ears are expecting zx 707 more than shanling H7. Just a personal choice

Now the A8000 also impresses me with Zx707 so upgrading to SONY NW-WM1AM2.

So sold H7 and bought AM2 in singapore. Its in transit. Should get in 10-15 Days.

 

[Mercuttio]

I love my a8000, personally it is not as bright as many had said, but it also depend on your tolerance I guess. Changing tips may help a lot I think.

I found it very bright and almost piercing for the first 6 months of use in some music. They took much longer to burn in than anything else I’ve had. I think I’ve been using them for three years at this point.

 

[Exill]

Shanling M6U is good one but i liked the synergy of sony dap zx 707 with my iems - IE900, Z1R, FIIO FDX, E5000 when auditioned M6U.

M6U is better in every way when compared to zx 707 except that warm sony signature.

Later bought shanling H7, for intial days i was very happy with H7 but later i was listening more to zx 707. My ears are expecting zx 707 more than shanling H7. Just a personal choice

Now the A8000 also impresses me with Zx707 so upgrading to SONY NW-WM1AM2.

So sold H7 and bought AM2 in singapore. Its in transit. Should get in 10-15 Days.

I too use AM2 as my daily DAP. Love it with all my item collection

I found it very bright and almost piercing for the first 6 months of use in some music. They took much longer to burn in than anything else I’ve had. I think I’ve been using them for three years at this point.

They need some time to get used to.
I am not treble sensitive and like treble, so I think that's help too.

 

[vaporsynthwave]

anyone use these with any tips besides the final type e? tried more than a dozen aftermarket but always preferred the stock

 

[SweetCans928]

I've had my eye on these for a long time and you can find them on the used market for a little less than 1k. But I'm wondering how well they hold up against some of today's top 1k choices. Anyone have any insight?

 

[nvs019]

anyone use these with any tips besides the final type e? tried more than a dozen aftermarket but always preferred the stock

i have tried xelatics, azla, spinfit 145, w1, cp100 plus, comply pro. none of them sounded better than a e type.