Tag Archives: BA

Final B1 Hybrid Earphone Review

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Final B1

 

Aesthetics and Build Quality:

The new B range from Final all share the same shape, but with different finishes. The B1 is rose gold with the signature angular outer and smooth inner shell design. I really like the look of the B1, but they are a fingerprint magnet. Also, I do know that rose gold is not everyone’s cup of tea when it comes to colour but I think it looks pretty classy on these.

The build quality really is superb, the B1 are perfectly finished without a single blemish or flaw. The cable is silver plated and uses regular MMCX connectors, it has great strain relief and feels built to last. The housing is metal, but I do fear the shiny rose gold finish will scratch over time.

Comfort and Isolation:

The inner edges of the B1 are smooth and this makes them extremely comfortable to wear. The angle of the nozzle, matched with the angle of the cable, make these of one the most comfortable IEM’s I have tried. I can’t see anyone having issues with the fit of these.

Isolation is really good; they block out more than enough outside noise for general daily use and commuting. Whilst they don’t quite reach fully sealed BA driver levels of isolation, they have more than enough for daily use.

Sound:

Bass: The dynamic driver of the B1 handles the low frequencies, and does a really good job of filling out the sound yet retaining the speed and control to blend well with the faster BA drivers. The bass is tight yet full when needed, it punches with authority yet when slowed down it has great tonality for acoustic and jazz tracks. Articulate and well layered, the low end injects a sense of energy without becoming over the top. These won’t really suit those looking for a bass heavy sound, but they have enough to suit most people’s needs.

 

Midrange: The midrange is clean with great detail, they have more clarity when compared to the B3, but in presence it is still slightly behind the lows and highs. The lower midrange has a slight dip but it isn’t masked by the bass, and the upper midrange is a little forward which can bring out some sibilance in certain recordings. Despite all of this, the midrange is very open and detailed, with great separation and imaging. Even though the lower midrange is every so slightly dipped, the sound doesn’t come across as V or U-shaped.

 

Treble: The upper midrange forwardness also trails into the lower treble and brings out a lot of energy in the initial crash of cymbals. This is backed up with great extension, but this added energy could be a little too much for more treble sensitive listeners. They have plenty of bite up top which leads to an exciting listen, not one for those who prefer a smoother, more laid-back sound signature. The B1 is packed full of energy, the treble never gets lost in the mix and has great accuracy when it comes to placement within the soundstage and tonality.

 

The soundstaging is good, but I find the B3 to create a more convincing sense of width whereas the B1 does better in terms of height. Coherency is excellent and the imaging is very accurate.

Conclusion:

The B1 are not for the faint hearted, they have an energetic and impactful sound signature that requires your attention. They have heaps of detail, excellent separation and speed along with great comfort. Be sure to give these a listen, as they are incredibly well tuned for a triple driver earphone.

 

Sound: 4/5

Comfort: 5/5

Build: 4/5

Value: 4/5

Final B3 Dual BA Earphone Review

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Final B3

Aesthetics and Build Quality:

The B3 have a really interesting aesthetic, with sharp geometrics on the outside, yet rounded and smooth inner lines for comfort. Their matte silver finish looks great with the gold screws and chrome connector barrels. They have a very unique styling, and one that will stand out in the crowd, yet the colour scheme is fairly low key on the B3 (unlike the B1 which we will cover at a later date).

Build quality is superb, Final know how to make a solid IEM and the B3 are no different, although they are going a step further with the new models by including a detachable MMCX connector cable. The cable is silver-plated copper with excellent strain relief, along with great ergonomics and a shiny finish. Everything about the B3 feels solid and well built, I can’t find a fault with the build.

Comfort and Isolation:

The B3’s inner edges are curved and they fit like a glove in my ears, I personally have awkward ear canals and the B3 are one of the best fitting universal models I’ve ever tried. I can imagine that most users will find them to fit snugly with excellent comfort. The fact they don’t have stiff memory wire really helps too, as the cable effortlessly fits over your ear.

Isolation is good, not top levels due to these having a vent (even though they use BA drivers). They block out enough outside noise for general daily use and commuting duties.

Sound:

Bass: The B3 use 2 balanced armature drivers, this is something a bit different as Final used to only use single drivers. The B3 are somewhat of a fuller sounding BA driver earphone, with great depth and extension down low. The lows have excellent texture to them, they don’t have the sheer slam of some dynamic based models but they have great control and fullness that make them a pleasure to listen to. In terms of balance the lows are quite linear with no specific focus on mid or sub-bass, having good punch that is backed up with rumble and body. The low end is slightly thick, yet well controlled and punchy.

 

Midrange: The B3 have a mild U-shaped sound signature, but vocals have a way of being very well separated within the soundstage. They don’t jump out at you; however, they have great clarity and refinement. Tonality is excellent here, the lower midrange has enough body to sound realistic, yet the upper midrange has a slight lift to bring out a little air without becoming shouty or grating. Overall the midrange has a good level of accuracy, if not ever so slightly behind the lows and highs in absolute presence.

 

Treble: The treble is nice and detailed with great air and extension, the transition from the upper midrange to the treble is smooth and sibilance free. There is a slight boost in the lower treble which brings out a little extra energy however the overall presentation isn’t bright. It’s the air and extension that is most impressive up top, along with the fact they they have accurate tonality in the treble.

 

The soundstaging is really impressive, throwing out a wide soundstage with excellent separation and accurate imaging. The B3 really do excel when it comes to presenting a wide and accurate soundstage, never sounding congested or too up front.

Conclusion:

The B3 are one of those IEM’s that shows driver count is not as important as how you tune the sound. With only 2 drivers, the B3 has excellent top to bottom extension, a wide soundstage, coherency and transparency with a little added energy. They are a great all-rounder with a fairly well-balanced sound and an easy to listen sound that is engaging yet surprisingly accurate.

 

Sound:  4/5

Comfort: 5/5

Build: 4/5

Value: 4/5