Final Audio Design Impressions and Discussion Thread

[aisalen]

How would the E4000 and E5000 do for commuting? I'm looking to upgrade from Sennheiser CX300-II. Have had them for years but they don't fit me well anymore and I'd like a decent sound upgrade as well. I would only use them outdoors - walking/bus/train. Is the isolation any good? I'm undecided between those and the Sony XBA-N3AP at the moment. Would use them with a rockboxed Sansa Clip+.

Don't, you cannot drive them with your Clip+. Even my wm1a is hard to drive E5000, N3 is is a safe bet. I have both.

 

[kmmbd]

How would the E4000 and E5000 do for commuting? I'm looking to upgrade from Sennheiser CX300-II. Have had them for years but they don't fit me well anymore and I'd like a decent sound upgrade as well. I would only use them outdoors - walking/bus/train. Is the isolation any good? I'm undecided between those and the Sony XBA-N3AP at the moment. Would use them with a rockboxed Sansa Clip+.

E4000 would probably be better than E5000 if you plan to use them on the go. E5000 leaks a lot and doesn't have the best of isolation. Also, it will require a DAP to drive it properly.

 

[F700]

How would the E4000 and E5000 do for commuting? I'm looking to upgrade from Sennheiser CX300-II. Have had them for years but they don't fit me well anymore and I'd like a decent sound upgrade as well. I would only use them outdoors - walking/bus/train. Is the isolation any good? I'm undecided between those and the Sony XBA-N3AP at the moment. Would use them with a rockboxed Sansa Clip+.

The E5000 offers great isolation for the listener, but sound leaks. People around you might hear what you listen to. Don't know about the E4000... The N3 is a very nice set to commute. Easier to drive than the E5000 and no leakage.

 

[jwbrent]

The A8000 looks very interesting ... I want one!

 

[davidcotton]

Hifiheadphones have Final on offer today as part of their bf sale. Will probably get repeated at the weekend but no guarantees. E5000 for £153.30 and E4000 for £83.30. Other stuff available as well!

 

[kingdixon]

Hifiheadphones have Final on offer today as part of their bf sale. Will probably get repeated at the weekend but no guarantees. E5000 for £153.30 and E4000 for £83.30. Other stuff available as well!

Also audio46 has sale on some final products, e5000 at 223$ and e4000 at 119$

 

[Licht]

Listened to A8000 at the final showroom briefly with Chord Mojo.
They claim “Transparency”.

Brief impressions from short listening:
Vocal / lead instrument floats very clearly precisely in center of your head in the air.
Vocal is very very clear but not harsh, though they are prominent compared to other area.
However, what was strange to me was, vocal floats in the center of your head,,, alone.
And bass and other accompaniment are like coming beneath the desktop in front of you, far away from the vocal.
After I came back to home and checked the imaging/positioning on same songs with other gears including speakers, and yeah there was same tendency in positioning but in way less extent.
A8000 seems to have pinpoint imaging and also exaggerated depth positioning, which means instrument in deeper than vocal area goes way farther away.
That felt weird to me, and thought I’d like to have more listening trial again with lots of sources to check if it fits my taste or not.
It definitely have high performance, but unfamiliar sound to me held me back.
Maybe I will get accustomed to it in time, but needs some more try.

I felt bass a bit less, compared to E3000 or FI-BA-SS. (or very prominent vocal?)
Compared to FI-BA-SS or E3000, to my surprise, both FI-BA-SS and E3000 felt very flat, like projected to the screen in front of you, but A8000 felt much more 3D and fluid (but not natural to me though).
Vocal was way clearer than FI-BA-SS as well. Wow!
Efficiency is bit better than E3000. I had to tap minus button couple times on Mojo to get A8000 to the similar volume to that of E3000.

It was just quick listen comparing lots of earphones and music, so please keep it in mind that my impression could change next time when I listen to them.

All said, very interesting and distinct earphones.

 

[kuutan]

Wow! Way better vocals than FI-BA-SS? I use my fi-ba-ss daily just to enjoy vocals. Now I"m really curious about the A8000.

Any mention of pricing?

 

[jwbrent]

Listened to A8000 at the final showroom briefly with Chord Mojo.
They claim “Transparency”.

Brief impressions from short listening:
Vocal / lead instrument floats very clearly precisely in center of your head in the air.
Vocal is very very clear but not harsh, though they are prominent compared to other area.
However, what was strange to me was, vocal floats in the center of your head,,, alone.
And bass and other accompaniment are like coming beneath the desktop in front of you, far away from the vocal.
After I came back to home and checked the imaging/positioning on same songs with other gears including speakers, and yeah there was same tendency in positioning but in way less extent.
A8000 seems to have pinpoint imaging and also exaggerated depth positioning, which means instrument in deeper than vocal area goes way farther away.
That felt weird to me, and thought I’d like to have more listening trial again with lots of sources to check if it fits my taste or not.
It definitely have high performance, but unfamiliar sound to me held me back.
Maybe I will get accustomed to it in time, but needs some more try.

I felt bass a bit less, compared to E3000 or FI-BA-SS. (or very prominent vocal?)
Compared to FI-BA-SS or E3000, to my surprise, both FI-BA-SS and E3000 felt very flat, like projected to the screen in front of you, but A8000 felt much more 3D and fluid (but not natural to me though).
Vocal was way clearer than FI-BA-SS as well. Wow!
Efficiency is bit better than E3000. I had to tap minus button couple times on Mojo to get A8000 to the similar volume to that of E3000.

It was just quick listen comparing lots of earphones and music, so please keep it in mind that my impression could change next time when I listen to them.

All said, very interesting and distinct earphones.

Final is sending me a review sample in December, so I can’t wait to hear it. I’m a big fan of the FI-BA-SS.

 

[jwbrent]

Wow! Way better vocals than FI-BA-SS? I use my fi-ba-ss daily just to enjoy vocals. Now I"m really curious about the A8000.

Any mention of pricing?

My understanding is the US retail will be $1,800.

 

[Licht]

Wow! Way better vocals than FI-BA-SS? I use my fi-ba-ss daily just to enjoy vocals. Now I"m really curious about the A8000.

Any mention of pricing?

I don't say way better vocal than FI-BA-SS, it is more prominent and very clearer.
Not in front of you like FI-BA-SS, it is in the dead center of your head and nothing surrounding the vocal, like only vocal is in your head, which is really clear, and the rest of the sound is positioned out of your head.
Very different presentation.
It might depend on source or preference which is better.

 

[kuutan]

I don't say way better vocal than FI-BA-SS, it is more prominent and very clearer.
Not in front of you like FI-BA-SS, it is in the dead center of your head and nothing surrounding the vocal, like only vocal is in your head, which is really clear, and the rest of the sound is positioned out of your head.
Very different presentation.
It might depend on source or preference which is better.

Oh, I read it wrong, you said "clearer" not "better". Thanks for the impression.

 

[kuutan]

Final is sending me a review sample in December, so I can’t wait to hear it. I’m a big fan of the FI-BA-SS.

I see that you're in California as well. Where in Cali? Are you looking to share the experience?

 

[jwbrent]

I see that you're in California as well. Where in Cali? Are you looking to share the experience?

Message sent ...

 

[kailok18]

Mainly use my E5000 on bus and subway, sound does leak from these due to design but these days most commuters also have their ears plugged, so don't suppose the sound leak is a great issue. E4000 on the other hand seems to be a bit better with isolation than its big brother though.