[sonickarma]

New thread for  -  Final Audio Design - F3100- Impressions/Reviews
 
19,800YEN = USD190*
 
*approximate price conversion at time of release
 

Bringing the driver unit closer to the ear drum, achieves an even more realistic, vivid sound quality. In order to achieve this in the F3100, we have meticulously downsized the housing with a design consisting of the minimum possible elements. Miniaturized to have a diameter of 5.5 mm, the housing is finished with a hard aluminium-magnesium alloy anodic film. This also contributes to weight reduction. Final’s unique method of using full-range balanced armature drivers across all models recreates bass tones with a fullness you would never imagine from the housing size. The cable is high purity OFC. The earphone comes with an ear hook to prevent microphonics from the cable.

The entry model for the F series, this earphone realizes sound quality and ease of use in a higher dimension and is tuned to emphasize reproducibility of lower tones compared to the F4100.

Features

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

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

 Full-range balanced armature driver unit 

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

 Aluminium machined high rigidity housing 

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

 Choice of 2 types of earpiece 

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

Original high purity OFC cable

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

Safe fit ring 

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

Accessories

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

 

http://final-audio-design-directshop.com/fs/final/f-series/FI-F3BAL

 

 

[flognarde]

Can't find a single decent review anywhere... Did anyone find any ?

 

[Gilles De Rais]

  Can't find a single decent review anywhere... Did anyone find any ?

There were a couple of group reviews - that is covering the the F7200, F4100, F3100, one on Six Moons and One on Sandalaudio (you have to translate that one). The only F3100 review I know of is at Jaben's Thai site (again translate). These tend not so much to be focused on analysis but on description. More reviews focused on the F4100 and the F7200. For what its worth I trialled all three and found the F4100 the best for my purposes (low profile, good isolation, fall asleep at night  - and with a reasonable sound sig). Happy to discuss.
 
regards,
 
Giles

 

[flognarde]

Thank's @Gillesderais

 

[artofmanliness]

It has high impedance. How do you drive these?

 

[Gilles De Rais]

It has high impedance. How do you drive these?

Speaking to the F 4100, Sensitivity is quite reasonable @106db so pretty much any portable device does the job. Whist they sound best with a Cowon Plenue 1 or a Mojo (moar power) both a Fiio X3ii and a iPod are okay. I tend to use the latter two more as these are my bedtime iems, 50% on the iPod is quite loud.

Regards,

Giles

 

[artofmanliness]

Speaking to the F 4100, Sensitivity is quite reasonable @106db so pretty much any portable device does the job. Whist they sound best with a Cowon Plenue 1 or a Mojo (moar power) both a Fiio X3ii and a iPod are okay. I tend to use the latter two more as these are my bedtime iems, 50% on the iPod is quite loud.

Regards,

Giles

Sounds like I'm gonna enjoy testing these out with my iPhone 5. I use Radsone to add more color to the audio quality. Have you heard the Heaven VI's? If so, how do you compare F 4100 to them?

 

[Gilles De Rais]

Sounds like I'm gonna enjoy testing these out with my iPhone 5. I use Radsone to add more color to the audio quality. Have you heard the Heaven VI's? If so, how do you compare F 4100 to them?

I've listened to the heaven ii, iv, v aging and the vi. All are fairly good at their price points with that major vocal emphasis augmented by more refinement at frequency ranges as you move up the price points.

To be honest however, the sound signature was not the highest component on my list when auditioning the Fxx00 series. I was seeking a very small iem that wouldn't cause pain if I slept on it. SQ was second to that. Compared to things like the RHA500, various jays and EEWs the Fxx00s were the most comfortable. That they sounded good was a bonus.

But I digress, the Heaven vi is a step up from the F4100, more so in the mids and treble, surprisingly the bass on the f4100 has a better texture and speed. Detail is also superior on the Heaven vi as is the width of the soundstage. If I was forced to, I'd probably put the Heaven vi above the f7200 by the merest smidge. This is not the say the F series is bad ( some of the criticism is way over the top), I think for their size, they are an outstanding achievement.

Regards,

Giles

 

[Decommo]

Has anyone tried both F3100 and Ety ER4S/4SR/4XR series? Both IEMs goes deep into ear canal and if i understood sound signature of F3100 correctly, it would be very similar to ER4S/SR.. If it is comparable then F3100 could be a bargain since Ety tend to be quite a bit more expensive.