We review the Final ZE3000 True Wireless earphones from Final, they have a clear focus on sound quality over gimmicks, all wrapped up in a comfortable yet stylish shell.
Design: 10/10
The Final ZE3000 true wireless has an angular design that looks stylish and stands out. The overall look eschews quality. They also come with an interesting finish on the buds and case known as “Shibo”. “Shibo” means crease on paper or leather in Japanese and is used on many cameras. This textured finish is also a great deterrent against fingerprints and other marks.
As expected from final, the build quality is fantastic. The hinges of the case and the USB-C connector are rigid and durable. you can even open and close the lid on the case singlehandedly. The case is very compact, therefore easy to carry around or keep in your pocket. Overall, the ZE3000 feels as unique as it looks and clearly sets itself apart from other earphones in the £120 price range.
Fit and Comfort: 9/10
Final has designed the earphone not to fully enter the canal, but to sit comfortably at the entrance. The comfort is excellent, you really do forget you have them in sometimes, they might not be the smallest earphone out there but the shape and weight does mean they are comfortable to wear for hours on end. They are also good to use for the gym and manage to stay firmly in place and comfortable in your ear, even during intense workouts.
Final E eartips are some of the best in class and widely used by other brands for their earphones. Their TWS E-tips are no exception to this rule of thumb.
Features: 7/10
The ZE3000 do not have ANC or any other the other bells and whistles that come with wireless earphones these days. Instead Final have decided to focus on the audio quality and should be praised for this. Battery life is fairly normal at 7hrs continuous playback, along with an extra 28hrs from the case. More than enough to not be constantly charging them.
The ZE3000 use Bluetooth 5.2 (QCC3040 chip) and support ABC, AAC, aptX and aptX Adaptive. This means you will get the best sound out of these if your device is aptX Adaptive compatible. But even normal aptX is still a step above AAC. The microphone quality is excellent and is perfect for taking calls at home or on the go.
Sound 10/10
Final have focussed on the sound aspect of the ZE3000, giving them a natural yet fatigue free sound signature. The bass is great. It is tight and digs deep when called for but it never sounds like the main focus of the sound. It isn’t bloated or up-front, instead it is happy to just do its thing without drawing attention to itself.
The midrange is also really impressive. It sounds realistic and natural without being pushed forwards. There is loads of detail on offer. Vocals are crisp and well presented, with both male and female sounding excellent. Electric guitars have plenty of crunch, yet acoustics sound subtle and full. They also never sound congested with great layering and space between instruments.
These won’t suit the bassheads out there, but for average everyday listening these are brilliant.
The treble is smooth with that signature Final airiness that brings out a sense of space in recordings that many earphones fail to capture. They are very resolving for such a budget earphone. They extract tons of detail and are very well placed within the soundstage.
Instrument Separation and Soundstaging
The ZE3000 manage to remain well separated and airy throughout. This means they can handle anything you throw at them and still remain open sounding with excellent separation and layering. It is easy to pick out single parts in mixes whilst sounding completely coherent overall.
The soundstaging is really impressive for the price and throws out a broad image that is accurate and realistic. It is wider than many of the more consumer models out there and the airiness in the treble range really helps to add a sense of air to the sound.
Final ZE3000 True Wireless: Verdict
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