I've had the A4000 for a couple of weeks now. Luckily they're easy to find here in Asia!
Fantastic sound, great fit and very, VERY good tips. So good that for the first time in years I haven't swapped them out for something else. For all my other iems (Starfield, Dm480, Spring 1 and others) I had to rely on spinfit or comply for better fit, sealing or making some changes in the sound that fit my preference. The largest tips in the A4000 package fit my ears perfectly and provide good isolation. I was a bit concerned by the shape of the shell but once they're in place they don't move, and finding the correct position is perfectly natural, it feels as if they were designed by people who know that they'll have to inserted inside people's ears. The Starfield not so much, to the point that the only comfortable and tight fit in my ears can be achieved when the're essentially upside down.
The cable is the only issue I have with the A4000, it feels like the kind of cable I'd expect to find in the 2$ bargain bin at a shady electronics store.
Soundwise, I've listened to all sort of genres with them: from power metal to doom metal to synthwave to techno to classical... I haven't found a single genre that made me think:"Man, I really wish i was listening to this with that other iem...". I've only had issues with specific bands that aren't famous for producing well recorded music. the first example that comes to mind is Insomnium:
I've read an interview long ago where a member of the band mentioned that in post production the vocals end up being a bit recessed because they want the listeners to focus more on the music. While I can understand that choice from an artistical point of view, it also means that not all iems/headphones/speakers will be a good fit for their music. The A4000 are a no go for Insomnium. A band that sounds a lot like them, Be'lakor, but produces better recorded albums, sounds fantastic:
They recently re-released a lot of their music with better recording quality, just for reference.
Another band that I stopped listening to immediately was I Prevail, it sounded awful but they're very brickwall-y so i doubt it's the A4000's fault.
I really don't have anything bad to say about the A4000. Compared to the Starfield they have better....everything? Ok, the stock cable on the SF is better. Take that, Final Audio!!1 The A4000 are definitely a tad bit brighter than the SF, but nowhere close to being fatiguing or painful. The Dunu Dm480 made me wish cymbals and the letter S had never been invented, the A4000 is nowhere near that point.
This is my first Final Audio iem so unfortunately I can't compare them to anything in their lineup.
100% recommended.
Edit: in case anyone is interested, my source is usually iBasso dx160 with iFi Hip Dac. Occasionally I use Topping NX4 Dsd when I listen to music from my laptop.
Fantastic sound, great fit and very, VERY good tips. So good that for the first time in years I haven't swapped them out for something else. For all my other iems (Starfield, Dm480, Spring 1 and others) I had to rely on spinfit or comply for better fit, sealing or making some changes in the sound that fit my preference. The largest tips in the A4000 package fit my ears perfectly and provide good isolation. I was a bit concerned by the shape of the shell but once they're in place they don't move, and finding the correct position is perfectly natural, it feels as if they were designed by people who know that they'll have to inserted inside people's ears. The Starfield not so much, to the point that the only comfortable and tight fit in my ears can be achieved when the're essentially upside down.
The cable is the only issue I have with the A4000, it feels like the kind of cable I'd expect to find in the 2$ bargain bin at a shady electronics store.
Soundwise, I've listened to all sort of genres with them: from power metal to doom metal to synthwave to techno to classical... I haven't found a single genre that made me think:"Man, I really wish i was listening to this with that other iem...". I've only had issues with specific bands that aren't famous for producing well recorded music. the first example that comes to mind is Insomnium:
I've read an interview long ago where a member of the band mentioned that in post production the vocals end up being a bit recessed because they want the listeners to focus more on the music. While I can understand that choice from an artistical point of view, it also means that not all iems/headphones/speakers will be a good fit for their music. The A4000 are a no go for Insomnium. A band that sounds a lot like them, Be'lakor, but produces better recorded albums, sounds fantastic:
They recently re-released a lot of their music with better recording quality, just for reference.
Another band that I stopped listening to immediately was I Prevail, it sounded awful but they're very brickwall-y so i doubt it's the A4000's fault.
I really don't have anything bad to say about the A4000. Compared to the Starfield they have better....everything? Ok, the stock cable on the SF is better. Take that, Final Audio!!1 The A4000 are definitely a tad bit brighter than the SF, but nowhere close to being fatiguing or painful. The Dunu Dm480 made me wish cymbals and the letter S had never been invented, the A4000 is nowhere near that point.
This is my first Final Audio iem so unfortunately I can't compare them to anything in their lineup.
100% recommended.
Edit: in case anyone is interested, my source is usually iBasso dx160 with iFi Hip Dac. Occasionally I use Topping NX4 Dsd when I listen to music from my laptop.
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Anyway, they don't kmow if and when a4000 will be available in Italy ;-(
