Final Audio Design Impressions and Discussion Thread

[Hooga]

Hello all. I admit to have quite a hard time really understanding impedance/driving requirements so I am asking your help.
Let's consider the E4000. Declared specs: Impedance 15 Ohm. Sensitivity 97dB.
I own a Fiio X3 MK3. Recommended Headphone impedance from 16 Ohm up. Declared output 120 mW at 16 Ohm (single-ended).
So my question is: will the X3 be good enough to drive the E4000 at all, and/or without over-raising the volume ? Or will it be undespecced, and unable to "open" E4000's sound?
Thanks in advance for your input

 

[kmmbd]

Hello all. I admit to have quite a hard time really understanding impedance/driving requirements so I am asking your help.
Let's consider the E4000. Declared specs: Impedance 15 Ohm. Sensitivity 97dB.
I own a Fiio X3 MK3. Recommended Headphone impedance from 16 Ohm up. Declared output 120 mW at 16 Ohm (single-ended).
So my question is: will the X3 be good enough to drive the E4000 at all, and/or without over-raising the volume ? Or will it be undespecced, and unable to "open" E4000's sound?
Thanks in advance for your input

120mw at 16ohm should be plenty to drive the E4000.

 

[Hooga]

120mw at 16ohm should be plenty to drive the E4000.

Thanks for reply. Just for my culture, how do you infer voltage&current issued by the DAP at a lower impedance than the minimum recommended? For the little I understood, the variation can't possibly be assumed as linear...

 

[Outpost 31]

Just to update this thread about replacing the stock cable of my E5000 with one from Electro Acousti on AliExpress, I'll quote the post I made about the new cable in the low end cable thread:

I received the cable I ordered from Electro Acousti (cable #170) to replace the stock cable of my Final Audio E5000. The stock E5000 cable is unbalanced 3.5mm, but the two amps I use both offer balanced output, so I ordered the cable with a balanced plug. I've only been listening for about half an hour, but the cable pairs great with these IEMs. Soundstage sounds about the same, but I immediately noticed that instrument separation is improved. Perhaps nicest of all is that this cable is much softer than the stock E5000 cable, which is notoriously stiff and annoying.

This cable cost me about US$74. Final wants US$200 for a stock E5000 cable. You do the math.

 

[kmmbd]

Thanks for reply. Just for my culture, how do you infer voltage&current issued by the DAP at a lower impedance than the minimum recommended? For the little I understood, the variation can't possibly be assumed as linear...

The sensitivity value that you see on IEM specification (96dB/mW or so in case of E4000) is the amount of decibel it will reach for a 1KHz signal with 1mW of input power. So, feeding 1mW input power into the IEMs while playing a 1KHz signal will give you 96dB of output volume/SPL which is quite a lot actually. Now it's true that lower-frequencies (bass frequencies that is) need more power than higher frequencies to reach the same loudness level, but with the X3 3rd gen you should have enough headroom to reach that.

 

[jwbrent]

I just received my A8000 review loaner, beautiful design. As @NymPHONOmaniac and @msiekkb have already reported, the A8000 is highly detailed, but since it is brand new and final recommends burn-in—or aging in its own words—I’m going to run this for the next week or so to ensure it sounds it’s best before I put my critical cap on.

It’s been a while since I owned the custom FI-BA-SS commissioned by Astell&Kern, but the A8000 reminds me of this stellar IEM ...

 

[msiekkb]

My review in Polish site A8000 https://kropka.audio/test/sluchawki/final-audio-a8000-recenzja/. If I find a little time I will writing on this forum a short impression, I try in this weekend.

 

[CJG888]

Just out of interest: is anyone still using the Piano Forte series? There seems to be little discussion here about them, and I’m not aware of any other manufacturer having launched anything similar.

 

[Wyville]

Just out of interest: is anyone still using the Piano Forte series? There seems to be little discussion here about them, and I’m not aware of any other manufacturer having launched anything similar.

I am still very interested in those, but never found an opportunity to try them out (especially the fit). They are completely unique and I find them fascinating. Maybe one day I can afford to buy them blind just to see what they are like.

 

[NehPets]

Just out of interest: is anyone still using the Piano Forte series? There seems to be little discussion here about them, and I’m not aware of any other manufacturer having launched anything similar.

Still using my PFIX-T

 

[jwbrent]

Still using my PFIX-T

Did it take you awhile to adjust to the different tonal signature given the way the PFs fit on the ear?

 

[luedriver]

Just out of interest: is anyone still using the Piano Forte series? There seems to be little discussion here about them, and I’m not aware of any other manufacturer having launched anything similar.

haven't used my piano forte ii since last year, I wish final would make more earbud type headphones

 

[chimney189]

Can anyone recommend a cable to improve clarity and clean up the somewhat muddy nature that this IEM can portray sometimes? Around $150 would be great.

 

[NehPets]

Did it take you awhile to adjust to the different tonal signature given the way the PFs fit on the ear?

The PF was, and still is, my only "in-ear", so I have no frame of reference. I bought it because I felt I wanted an earphone, but I don't like jamming things in my ear, so it seemed like the best option. I went for the IX because it's supposed to be the most "neutral" of the three. It works for me ... providing I warm it up a bit between my hands before inserting it; that stainless steel body is pretty cold! The only thing I'm not that fond of is the cable, which I find a bit too stiff, but apart from that, it's a stunning piece of Final craftsmanship.

 

[Tawek]

since yesterday