Final A8000 Beryllium Diaphragm Dynamic IEM Comments and Impressions

[slim.a]

Thanks!

The A8000 is perhaps underappreciated because it is already 5 years old. However, one tricky thing about the A8000 is that it is misleadingly good on poor to average equipment.

Although it sounds excellent with my DX260, it sounds a little bit agressive on it (though you get use to it when you listen primarily to the A8000). However, when I used it with the Schiit Yggdrasil and C2/ST3 Audio-gd headphone amps, it sounded a lot more mature and smoother on the highs. I don't have any high-end solid state amp so I probably have not reached the ceiling of the A8000 yet. I am about to order the Aune S17 pro Evo to try and test that limit on my desktop system.

 

[JerryHead]

Anyone know where the A8000 might still be selling new anywhere in North America or elsewhere? Or am I SOL?

 

[Unique Musician]

Anyone know where the A8000 might still be selling new anywhere in North America or elsewhere? Or am I SOL?

It has been replaced by A10000

 

[JerryHead]

It has been replaced by A10000

Thank you! I'm seeing very limited information about it online. Please add a link or point to where one might learn more about the A10000 if you can find it.

 

[slim.a]

It has been replaced by A10000

I was told by Final's support team that the A8000 has been discontinued due to a limited supply of beryllium.


I'm definitely tempted to try the A10000 once it launches, but my experience with Final’s support has been mixed. Once you manage to get in touch, they’re kind and helpful. BUT getting a response in the first place can be a challenge.

Edit April 18th - My Final A8000 is already on its way back. Great guys at Final Audio!

Now, I am also eagerly awaiting for more news about the Final A10000. I might grab one as soon as it is available.

 

[TheDecline01]

Quick update on your A8000 repair, did you receive them back? As good as new now?

I will also need a fix on mine... I've reached out to @FA.Kyo a few days ago, but he hasn't answered yet.

 

[slim.a]

Quick update on your A8000 repair, did you receive them back? As good as new now?

I will also need a fix on mine... I've reached out to @FA.Kyo a few days ago, but he hasn't answered yet.

Thanks for asking. I received mine 2 days ago: it is even better than I remembered! While waiting I had the HD800 and the Fiio FD7 but it wasn't good enough
I even tried to EQ the FD7 to sound like the A8000 but it didn't have the speed and the cohesiveness of the HD800 once I EQed it.

As for @FA.Kyo, I don't think he answered me. But I got an answer on the online form at Final Audio Website. It can take sometimes several days before they answer but they are very efficient once you get hold of them.

Good luck with you repair and keep us updated!

On a side note, I saw early reports of A10000 (with Google Translate), and it seems interesting. I am a fan of the single driver concept, so it might be the ultimate Single driver IEM now that the A8000 was discontinued.

 

[JerryHead]

Quick update on your A8000 repair, did you receive them back? As good as new now?

I will also need a fix on mine... I've reached out to @FA.Kyo a few days ago, but he hasn't answered yet.

got a little nervous reading that the A8k could need repair. You never hear about anything going wrong with the Z1R.. Is it possible either of you mistreated your A8k?

 

[slim.a]

A quick update on the A8000 : I bought an Ibasso DX340 a few days ago (still undergoing burn-in) as well as a LHY 12V battery power supply. The sound is simply amazing, especially with the external 12V DC power supply: simply the best sound I have heard. The soundstage is bigger and deeper than my Yggdrasil (A1) + Glenn OTL amp. This is the first time I shut down the Yggy while not traveling: simply no use for me anymore.

I forgot to mention that I also use the Lavri Grand IEM 4.4mm upgrade cable.

Perhaps, with a good solid state amp (like the Audio-gd Master 9mk3 or Violectric V222), the Yggy can outperform the DX340 driving the A8000. But I don't feel the urge to upgrade now (I still have Amp16 to try out more extensively).

Can anyone recommend a good desktop amp to pair with the A8000 (preferably under 1600 Euros)?

 

[JerryHead]

A quick update on the A8000 : I bought an Ibasso DX340 a few days ago (still undergoing burn-in) as well as a LHY 12V battery power supply. The sound is simply amazing, especially with the external 12V DC power supply: simply the best sound I have heard. The soundstage is bigger and deeper than my Yggdrasil (A1) + Glenn OTL amp. This is the first time I shut down the Yggy while not traveling: simply no use for me anymore.

I forgot to mention that I also use the Lavri Grand IEM 4.4mm upgrade cable.

Perhaps, with a good solid state amp (like the Audio-gd Master 9mk3 or Violectric V222), the Yggy can outperform the DX340 driving the A8000. But I don't feel the urge to upgrade now (I still have Amp16 to try out more extensively).

Can anyone recommend a good desktop amp to pair with the A8000 (preferably under 1600 Euros)?

I haven't tried them yet, because my headphone amps are in storage, but I'm guessing the FiiO K17 with the AK4499EX DACs is going to pair well with the A8k, and on the other side of the sound signature spectrum, I'm betting my Sony TA-Zh1ES will also sound good, but in a different way.
Just put my pre-order in yesterday for the A100000 Collector's LE and am hoping it'll be available sometime next month. If it sounds similar to the A8k, with improvements that include a wider soundstage, it could definitely be an IER-Z1R killer.