Final, the Japanese high-end audio specialist, has just released the VR500 wired Gaming Earphones. The aim? To deliver an extraordinary gaming audio experience without breaking the bank.
Final VR500
Precision-tuned Dynamic Drivers
The VR500 specialises in “sound image localization” in order to accurately reproduce the direction of sound. This in turn provides gamers with a three-dimensional soundstage for a heightened sense of realism and immersion. Whether you’re in the midst of a battle or exploring a virtual world, Final’s expertise in high-end audio is evident when using the VR500. The VR500 incorporate Final’s newly developed precision-tuned dynamic drivers that deliver exceptional audio clarity at a fraction of the cost of other gaming earphones and headphones. From subtle in-game cues to explosive sound effects, the VR500 ensures an immersive gaming experience without the premium price tag.
Designed for extended gaming sessions, the VR500 prioritises comfort without compromising affordability and comes with a wide selection of Final’s own superior quality silicone eartips. Ensuring a secure and comfortable fit. The compact, ergonomic design and lightweight build allow you to enjoy extended playtime without discomfort.
Pinpoint Accuracy
The Final VR500 offer a unique design that allows for a more detailed rendering of each sound object’s position within a 3D binaural sound field, a feat that traditional earphones and headphones struggled with. For gamers, this means that sound effects and dialogue are positioned exactly as intended by the creators, ensuring clear audibility even in situations where sounds overlap. This capability allows for easy identification of individual sounds, enhancing immersion into the gaming world and giving your an edge when you need it online.
Not only is the VR500 ideal for gaming. For when it comes to music, the position of vocals and instruments becomes clearer and sounds can be heard separately without being muddied by other frequencies. Allowing you to also enjoy your favourite music with new insight and clarity.
Final VR500
Finally Immerse Yourself VR500 Style
The VR500 represents a significant leap forward in gaming audio technology. Final believe that exceptional gaming audio should be accessible to all gamers, regardless of budget constraints. The VR500 is a testament to their commitment to delivering premium sound at an unbeatable price, ensuring that every gamer can experience the joy of high-quality audio. The E500 is not just a pair of earphones; they are a gateway to a new dimension of gaming audio.
Key Features
Specialized acoustic design for precise sound imaging
Newly developed high-precision drivers
Compatible with all gaming genres (FPS, fighting, open-world, adventure)
The Final ZE8000 MK2 with enhanced audio quality, improved comfort and added features – experience the evolution of ‘8K Sound’. With the release of the ZE8000 flagship true wireless earphones earlier this year, Final developed an earphone like no other. Its unique design, immersive soundstage and clear focus on sound quality offered a new true wireless experience.
Final ZE8000 MK2
An all-new user experience
With the Final ZE8000 MK2, Final has made significant improvements for an all-new user experience. Including new ‘Shield Fin’ eartips for improved comfort and increased passive sound isolation, enhanced signal-to-noise ratio for greater detail retrieval and improved ‘8K Sound’, the ability to deactivate ANC and other noise control settings, and a maximum volume increase of 5dB.
In the ZE8000 MK2, Final has further developed the technology and software capabilities with their new flagship and it will be available to buy today.
Development of the Final ZE8000 MK2 has enabled the evolution of Final’s ‘8K Sound’ feature. Improving the signal-to-noise ratio through hardware and software interventions provides a clearer perception of ‘8K Sound’, extracting more detail and musical nuance from recordings.
As a concise and concrete example to convey this evolution, we consider the ZE8000 MK2 as earphones that immerse you in the orchestra.
Final
The Final ZE8000 MK2 hardware and software improvements have provided fertile ground for a more efficient integration of ‘8K Sound’, ensuring a more faithful reproduction of recorded instruments and their unique timbre. This ability to faithfully and vividly reproduce the balance of recorded instruments extends to all music genres, elevating the listening experience by significantly increasing the amount of information in the sound.
Final ZE8000 MK2
Compared to the initial model, the ZE8000 MK2 achieves a 32% improvement in sound isolation with ANC active. This is achieved by a combination of internal structure enhancements, newly designed ‘Shield Fin’ earpieces, and a refinement of the algorithm for active noise cancellation.
Utilising an FIR filter for frequency and time domain corrections, combined with a unique integration of multiple digital signal processing techniques enables the achievement of high-definition and distortion-free ‘8K Sound’ In the ZE8000 MK2. Compared to the initial model, the digital signal processing has been refined, allowing for a clearer perception of ‘8K Sound’ even in finer details.
New features and updated ‘Final Connect’ app
After listening to feedback from the first release, Final has included the ability to deactivate ANC and all other noise control settings. This provides users with an unfiltered experience of the Final ZE8000 MK2 and ‘8K Sound’
The maximum volume has also been improved upon with a 5dB increase, as well as an overall redesign of Final’s ‘Volume Step Optimization’ feature within the ‘Final Connect’ app for finer volume adjustments.
Users can check the individual volume levels of their Final ZE8000 MK2 via the ‘Final Connect’ app as well as a number of other features and settings for an improved experience:
Switch between the 4 modes of noise cancellation/ambient sound intake.
Easily adjust sound quality like a professional engineer with the “Pro Equalizer” settings.
Fine-tune volume adjustments to your optimal level with the “Volume Step Optimization” settings.
Switch between voice guidance languages (Japanese/English).
Toggle to “8K SOUND+ Mode.”
Switch to touch operation disabled mode.
Configure/switch Multi-Point settings.
The Final ZE8000 MK2 supports Qualcomm’s latest audio platform, Snapdragon Sound™. With aptX Adaptive (24bit/96kHz), users can enjoy high-resolution audio with high quality and low latency.
By strategically placing two high-performance microphones at a distance, the ZE8000 MK2 enables beamforming towards the mouth. This feature ensures clear voice transmission, eliminating ambient noise even during outdoor calls.
We know how important it is to find the best headphones for you; whether they are for your smartphone, music player, laptop, console or hi fi system. Here you can see the best of the best earphones, on ear, full size, Bluetooth, wireless and audiophile headphones to buy right now.
What started out as the Nio 2 evolved into a whole new word (and a UIEM) that never existed before. The Volür. The newest Universal must have IEM from 64 Audio. The pulsating heart of this new creation is made up of two new custom 9mm dynamic drivers set in a true isobaric configuration that delivers unprecedented low-frequency capability. The low end of the Volür will simply blow you away, not that the highs or the mids are ignored whatsoever. This new hybrid UIEM from 64 Audio is easily one of the best technical performing earphones that has a “fun” sounding signature in existence today. Those purple abalone faceplates also look fabulous. A must have in 2023.
Coming hot off the heels of Lyperteks now world famous PurePlay Z3, The Pureplay Z5 has changed the game completely. This is probably the best TWS ANC earphone you can buy for under £100. They have ANC, Ambient mode, wireless charging, accompanying PUREPLAY ANC app with LDX Audio, sound customisation profiles and more. Add to that a fanstastc sound quality and brilliant mics and you can instantly see why the Z5 has made the cut.
Final have really worked their magic here. Solid build quality, paired with great sound and effective ANC for under £120 is something rarely heard of. Add to that fantastic mic quality and you have an absolute bargain on offer. The UX3000 can be recommend to absolutely anyone looking for a portable over-ear headphone and you will only see smiles on their faces.
How do they do it? SoundMAGIC have once again made a killer headphone for a super price. The P23BT doubles up as a headset too with the included cable and boom mic (great for home office or even gaming). In addition, the headphone is lightweight and comfortable. Add into the mixer an incredibly impressive battery life and a simple ease of use and you have got yourself a bargain. They sound full and warm yet never bass heavy. They really do sound incredible and for a Wireless on ear headphone what more could you want?
5. Audeze LCD-X Planar Magnetic Full Size Headphones – £1149
The Audeze LCD-X are a real eye-catching headphone. For a retail price that seems crazy at first glance, the bottom line is that the price-performance ratio of this headphones is absolutely fantastic. Not only due to the impeccable manufacture, but also a robust construction, use of high-quality materials and wonderful, detailed sound Loved by Audiophiles and sound engineers alike. If you want to give yourself a birthday or Christmas present, you can safely consider surprising yourself with the Audeze LCD-X.
6. Audeze MM-500 Planar Magnetic Full Size Studio Headphones – £1699
Audeze MM-500 is designed to suit the requirements of long daily listening sessions under almost any condition. World-class studio monitor? Check. Quick reference on-the-go? No problem. Deep late-night listening? Done. With its ease of drive, comfortable fit and trustworthy sound, you can count on the MM-500 to deliver in every situation. The MM-500’s planar magnetic drivers provide realism that audio professionals like Manny “can’t live without.” With lightning-fast transients, accurate frequency response and trusted mix translation.
Following the runaway success of the Cleer Audio‘s open ear Arc earphones, the Cleer Arc II SPORT has taken the concept of an open wireless earphone to a whole new level. The new Arc II Sport is superior to its predecessor in every single way. It has a longer battery life, a better, even more secure fit with an improved earhook design and supports wireless hands free and head gesture controls for answering calls and the like. This earphone has been designed from the bottom up for those who want to listen on the move while being simultaneously aware of their surroundings. One of the most stand out changes to the case is the addition of UV-C light that sanitises the earbuds while not in use. How great is that!?
With the advent of the PS5 and Xbox X consoles, gamers will want some headphones to maximise their experience. The Audeze Maxwell is a supercharged, reimagined Penrose. Now with 80hr+ battery life, Ultra-Low Latency Wireless with 3X range of traditional 2.4Ghz. As well as first-in-class Bluetooth 5.3. Including an Improved build with an all-new reinforced chassis from aluminium and steel. As well as The adoption of Audeze’s FILTER™ noise reduction technology for clear communications on top of their Award-winning Audeze 90mm planar magnetic drivers. This is the must have gaming headset of 2023.
Campfire Audio create works of art that just so happen to sound very good too. This year they have released an update to the insanely popular Andromeda. There are quite a few changes to the new version, and it looks as though it could be quite an improvement.
Campfire Audio’s Andromeda is about as bold as you can get when it comes to its design. The housings are made from machined aluminium, with a deep forest green anodised finish. The finish has been updated in this new version of the Andromeda, with a much smoother coating and a slightly richer shade of green.
The sound tube is made using stainless steel, which I am sure not only benefits the acoustics. It looks very striking too. Overall the Andromeda feels robust and built to last, while managing to stand out with its unique character.
Features and Comfort
Campfire Audio earphones have a very distinctive look, and the Andromeda is their champion. The design is very unusual, with a slightly futuristic shape to them. The shell’s design allows it to catch the light at different angles, which gives off a multitude of different shades of green. That is not the only purpose of this shape, the angled design provides superb comfort. The Andromeda sits perfectly in my ear, and with the included Final silicone eartips – the fit is snug and they seal extremely well which also helps towards isolation.
Another great feature of the Andromeda is the supplied cable. An upgrade on the older version, this time the Andromeda comes with their popular Silver Plated Copper Litz wire covered in a new smoky jacket. The cable is also more flexible than the previous version and uses a lightweight moulded ear hook design instead of memory wire – a definite improvement.
Campfire Audio don’t stop there, the Andromeda comes supplied with a newly designed leather carry pouch, foam and silicone eartips, a cleaning tool and even a fancy Campfire Audio lapel pin.
Sound Quality
The best way I can describe the sound of the Andromeda is organic. Sound comes across effortless, well balanced and with an impressively natural soundstage.
Bass
Bass comes across with authority and punch. It goes low and manages to keep controlled, even with more bass heavy tracks. Bass performs equally well with intricate instrumental, heavy rock and electronic music. This shows that the bass has been tuned to do what is needed, letting the quality of the production do the talking.
Midrange
Thanks to the controlled bass, there is no risk of the midrange getting over shadowed. Mids come across extremely clear with a musical richness – this is a welcome change from the analytical sound that is common amongst high-end earphone models. Vocals have presence and whether male or female, they sound uncoloured, engaging and with emotion.
Treble
Campfire Audio uses their very own Tuned Acoustic Expansion Chamber in the Andromeda, designed to improve treble extension and soundstage. This is very clear and noticable. Thetreble provides just the right amount of definition without going harsh or sibilant. Then, in addition the extension provided by the T.A.E.C. goes on and on, creating width and space with superb separation.
Cleer Audio Release Arc True Wireless Earbuds – these allow you to enjoy spatial awareness whilst listening on-the-go.
Open ear wireless earbuds do not completely cover your ear, which means that you are still able to hear the world around you. This is often a more comfortable fit. Earbuds that are placed directly in your ear will offer a degree of noise-cancelling functionality, so when it comes to choosing between the two, it will most likely boil down to whether or not you want to hear the outside world. For safety reasons, being able to hear the world around you is a good thing, depending on where you’re wearing the buds of course.
Impressive battery life, water resistance and booming sound are all housed in flexible open-ear true wireless earbuds with a secure fit to ensure that you have the best possible sound experience.
Let’s take a look at some of the features:
• Open-ear true wireless earbuds design with flexible fit to ensure that the earbuds fit comfortable without blocking out environmental sounds.
• Uninterrupted sound by directing high-quality audio into your ear to ensure powerful sound without compromising on sacrificing spatial awareness. You can listen to your favourite music and podcasts while still being in tune and connected to the world around you.
• Durable water-resistant design with IPX4 certified sweatproof and water-resistant rating to help you power through intense workouts. You’ll also never need to worry about a little bit of rain getting in the way of listening to your favourite audio.
• Dynamic audio for powerful sound delivered with ARC’s 16.2mm neodymium drivers, designed to beam audio toward your ears without sacrificing volume and bass.
• Long-lasting battery life is able to last 7 hours on a single charge. The charging-pad integrated carrying case also makes charging your Cleer ARC earbuds a whole lot more convenient.
• Easy to use touch controls make adjusting the volume, playing, and pausing and skipping tracks a lot simpler. You can also use them to take calls and access your phone’s virtual assistant.
• Customizable with the Cleer+ App to personalize controls, update the device and adjust the EQ as well as music playback.
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.
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.
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Enjoyed our review of the final ZE3000 True Wireless? Check out all things Final throughout our blog here.
So you’ve just invested in some good earphones, but you have no idea whether you are getting the most out of them?
Here is our definitive guide on eartips and first thing first: There are a lot of people who take their earphones out of the box, put them in their ears and think that’s it, let’s listen to some tunes. Little do most people know is that taking a bit time to figure out which eartips fit best. Will help a long way to get the best sound quality from along with a secure fit.
Most earphones have a set of tips fitted to them out of the box, these tend to be a medium size silicone tip – which will fit quite a few peoples ears but it’s worth looking in the box or case for the rest of them to try out the different sizes.
Finding the right Seal
Ear canal width doesn’t seem to depend on how big or tall a person is, so we would recommend trying the smallest size first to see if this provides a good seal – you should be able to tell you have a good seal as they will effectively block out outside noises and when you speak it will sound very odd (occlusion effect). The earphones should not fall out of your ear either, if the tip is too small they will have a tendency to fall out, so try the next size up.
Another way you will tell you have achieved a good seal is the bass should be present, if there is a distinct lack of bass (unless the earphones are specifically tuned this way) a poor seal is often the cause of this problem. A poor seal often is the cause of earphones sounding thin, tinny and lacking body – this is because in-ear earphones rely on an air-tight seal to deliver the sound pressure waves to your eardrum, disrupt this and the pressure isn’t there so you lose out on a big part of the sound.
Lack of Bass?
This is also one of the most common reasons for people returning earphones – lack of bass – and often we find that the other sizes of eartips are still in their packet and haven’t been touched.
When it comes to actually inserting the earphones, with silicone tips you can sort of just push them in, but using the below method to gently pull the top of your ear up and back will allow the canal to open slightly and makes it easier to insert your earphones. With memory foam tips, you need to roll them between your fingers to compress them before inserting and letting the foam expand, there is a small window before them start to expand and with practice you should get used to compressing and inserting them swiftly and efficiently.
Materials – Silicone
The most common eartip material will be silicone, but not all silicone tips are created equal and they come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. More budget earphones will often come with just 3 pairs of standard single flange silicone tips (Small, Medium and Large), more premium products sometimes include different types of silicone tips (different grades / consistency of silicone) or different shapes (bowl, bullet, double and triple flange). Etymotic are well known for their triple flange eartips that offer a deep insertion depth and excellent isolation, at the expense of some comfort. There are a few aftermarket brands of silicone tips that are popular such as Azla SednaEarfit and Spinfit, these both offer premium made tips that are often more comfortable and provide more size options than come in the box of most earphones.
Memory foam
Often also included are memory foam eartips, these have a very different consistency than silicone and often conform to odd shaped ear canals better. Depending on the consistency of the memory foam, these tips do change the sound a little more than silicone tips, often absorbing some of the treble making the earphones sound a little warmer/fuller – this can be a benefit to some but may also rob other models of a little clarity and openness.
Custom tips?
In addition to the above you can often get custom made eartips for many models of high-end earphones, this is something to consider if you wish to have the best comfort and isolation for a pair of earphones you plan to be using for a long time. Doing this means that selling the earphones in the future will be easier than if you decided to go full-custom.
Conclusion
Here at HiFiHeadphones we test and demo a lot of earphones and each member of staff has their go-to eartips. As well as a healthy collection of random ones they have acquired over time it should be added. Some earphones work best with silicone tips, others with foam. But what we do know is that spending some time to find the best tips for your ears definitely helps you to enjoy your music to the fullest. By providing the most comfortable and secure fit for yourself you also get that optimal sound.
Our pick of the best headphones for running to motivate your outdoor workout or in the gym
True Wireless earbuds have become the go-to choice for fitness users, whether its running, gym use, outdoor workouts or just going for a nice long walk. For this list, we decided to include a range of different earphones and headphones to suit all your needs from wired, wireless, Bluetooth and True Wireless – we have you all covered from as little as £20.
The Final E500 is not a typical sports earphone, yet they have features that come in handy for your daily run. Firstly, they are the best value for money earphones we have tried. At just under £20, nothing else we have listened to in this price range comes close to the sound achieved from the E500. They are also very small, which means you will get a great fit and the E500 is less likely to fall out of your ears when sprinting towards your personal best.
To help you push through and motivate a big run, the Flares Jet 1 has the sound to keep you going. Big and powerful bass with crisp, snappy clarity means that music will really pop! These earphones have a big sound, so your favourite running tunes will do their job. The Jet 1 is also built to withstand constant use, with a robust design – you can be sure that they will last and last.
The award winning SoundMAGIC E11BT has been a firm favourite since its release – gaining praise for its design, comfort and most importantly – sound quality. The E11BT is ideal for those wanting a Bluetooth earphone, that prefer a neckband design. The neckband provides added support while in use, then when you’re finished using them – they can conveniently hang down so there’s no need to keep packing them away.
Lypertek’s first True Wireless release – the PurePlay Z3 – exploded onto the TWS scene, quickly gaining awards and the label of ‘best under £100’. Today it is still considered one of the best, and just so happens to make a good running partner too. ThePurePlay Z3 has a few standout features which will come in handy during your workout such as 70 hours battery life (including the charging case), IPX7 waterproof rating for those rainy days and audiophile worthy sound quality – to get the most from your tracks.
For those after a more premium feel to their wireless earphones, then B&W has you covered with the PI3. Another neckband design, the PI3 will blow you away with its superb build, design and comfort, with only the best materials being used. Then the sound – using the latest codecs you can be sure that you get your money’s worth. To make these suited to running, there are ear fins included with the PI3, which will improve comfort and provide a secure fit for active listening.
If you prefer a traditional headphone fit instead of in-ears, then the B&W PX5 would be our top pick for running. They are small and fit on the ear – not over and around the ear like larger sized headphones. This means they will be less bulky for running and will stay nice and secure on your head. These wireless headphones have active noise cancelling (ANC), so they will do a great job of keeping you focused on your fitness goals.
Have We Missed Anything Out?
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Hey everyone, John here. This may seem like an obvious topic, but there are a lot of differences between headphones and earphones… some of which are not as obvious as you may think.
Headphones
Starting with the shape and size. Headphones, as the name suggests, fit on your head, and have a headband that sits on top of your head. At either side of the headband, you have the speaker housings or earcups. The earcups hold the speaker drivers, and are designed in one of two ways: on-ear and over-ear. On-ear headphones have the earcups sitting on the ear and tend to be smaller in size, making them ideal for portable use. Over-ear headphones are larger and have the earcups completely surround the ear. Because of this, they tend to be used mainly indoors or where there isn’t much movement needed.
Earphones
Earphones are a lot smaller, and sit in the ear or in the ear canal. There are three main types of earphones:
Earpods / Earbuds
The older earphone design, or newer earpods, rest in the ear without going into the ear canal. This fit means that you are less likely to create a good seal between the earphone and your ear, resulting in an open sound that can tend to be a bit bass light. This fit also means that they will not isolate sound very well, meaning you are more likely to hear what is going on around you and people nearby will be able to listen to your music. Not ideal for public transport, but liked by sports users as it can be useful to hear your surroundings.
In Ear Earphones
In-ear isolating earphones have a deeper fit and will go into the ear canal, they also have eartips installed. This not only helps to keep the earphones in place, they also help create a good seal which improves isolation and sound quality, especially bass performance. In-ear earphones are the most common fit, and there are two ways of wearing them depending on the design. Cable straight down, and cable over the ear. The cable-over-the-ear design tends to provide a more secure fit and deeper insertion into the ear canal. This way, you will benefit from better isolation. Still, a lot of people prefer the cable-straight-down design as they are easier to use.
A quick note on bass performance. It is very important to make sure that you achieve a good seal when using in-ear isolating earphones. If you do not do this, the main effect to the sound will be a loss of bass… and nobody wants that. When this happens, the sound can come across very tinny and flat, so make sure you try all of the supplied eartips to ensure you’re getting the best sound possible from your new earphones.
Custom In Ears
Lastly, you have custom in-ears. These earphones are customised to fit your ear specifically. This is the best way of achieving a perfect seal, which hugely improves isolation and sound quality. This is done by having a mould of your ear taken, and then used to make an earphone that perfectly fits the shape of your ear. This is a more expensive option and is currently only offered by a small number of manufacturers.
Sound
There is also a big difference between how headphones and earphones sound. I wouldn’t say that one is better than the other. The overall experience is different and people will favour one over the other.
Headphones tend to deliver a more natural listening experience. What I mean by this is that with the speakers being away from the ears, sound is delivered in a more natural way. With our ears playing a part in capturing the sound, similar to how we hear day to day. Headphones can also deliver a bigger or wider sound due to the size of the drivers used and them being away from our ears.
With the speakers being so close to the ear, or even inside the ear canal, the experience from earphones is very different and can take a while for some people to get used to. Due to the fit being so close to the ear, and much smaller speakers being used, earphones are capable of delivering a very high amount of clarity and detail. Sometimes this can be overwhelming, especially for those who have never used earphones before. The close fit also means that sound can come across narrower and feel like it is coming from inside the head when compared to a headphone.
Conclusion
Ultimately, it comes down to taste and how you want to listen to your music. Both headphones and earphones can be used in a large number of situations, and whether you prefer using headphones or earphones – there will be a model out there for you.
Hailing from Japan, Final have been in the audio game since the 1970’s, where they started off designing and manufacturing high-end hifi equipment. Recently, they have focused on portable audio, and the E4000 is part of their E Series of earphones. Coming in at £120, the Final E4000 sits in the middle of the range and hits a very nice price-to-performance sweet spot.
BUILD
It’s very clear that Final take great pride in what they do, and the E4000 is no exception. The earphone housings are made from aluminium with an alumite coating for added resistances, and then finished in matte black, which I really like. The cable is replaceable and uses MMCX connectors. It’s also flexible and soft to touch, with good strain relief on the 3.5mm jack. The MMCX connectors on the cable could do with a bit more strain relief, however they seem to be pretty durable.
COMFORT
The E4000 is pretty standard when it comes to fit. The earphones are designed to be worn with the cable going straight down, and there are a good amount of eartips supplied to get the best fit. Final design the eartips in house, and their silicone tips are my favourite out of any I have tried. (And I have tried a lot.) For those that are sensitive to cable noise or prefer a cable-over-the-ear fit, Final have supplied the E4000 with ear hooks. These allow you to wear the earphones so the cable goes up and behind your ears. This can provide a more secure fit and will greatly reduce the amount of cable noise; it’s quite a rare thing to have both options.
SPECS
The E4000 houses a small scale 6.4mm dynamic driver, developed by Final themselves. With an impedance of 15ohms and sensitivity of 97dB, the E4000 can be used with a phone or laptop – however they will really benefit from a dedicated headphone amplifier or portable audio player. The extra power will open up the earphones more, improving soundstage and separation.
SOUND QUALITY
When it comes to sound quality, Final’s experience in the world of high end hifi really shows. There is a real musicality with the E4000 and sound comes across smooth and silky. Bass goes deep, and has an organic and rich quality to it. The mids sit nicely in the mix and carry on with that richness. Then up top, the treble provides sparkle and sizzle. Overall, the V shaped signature is smooth and easy to listen to, reminiscent to a lot of hifi setups I’ve heard and very much enjoyed. The E4000 has a big sound and part of this comes from the impressive soundstage, with space and air you wouldn’t normally expect from earphones.
CONCLUSION
Around £100 there are earphones out there from Shanling, Shure, Beyerdynamic and Westone to name a few. None manage to give the same hifi listening experience that the Final E4000 delivers. The E4000 is best suited to be used with a dedicated portable audio player or a setup with a headphone amp. If this is you and you’re looking for some wired earphones for some easy listening, have a go on the Final E4000.
We remember a time when a wireless Bluetooth earphone was a novelty item, but now they’re become de rigueur. It’s an easy conclusion to draw when they’re coming through as sleek and polished-looking as the CX6.00BT.
Pros:
Can be paired with two devices
Smart and well manufactured
Competent sound
Cons:
Included case is a bit impractical
Eartips may be hit or miss
Design and Appearance
As already touched upon, the Sennheiser CX6.00BT is as dapper and chic as we’d expect from that esteemed company. Taking its capsule design cues from the Momentum in-ear models, the CX6.00BT is planned to continue the.. er, impetus that the popular Momentum series achieved.
The asking price gets some fine-looking bluetooth earphones but accessories are spartan; with a selection of tips, a so-so carry case and the required USB charge cable. I think we can call this fair (since our money is saved) but the case could have done with a bit more thought. It’s made of a brittle plastic which may get cracked, and it doesn’t hold together all that well.
The CX6.00BT has a nice trick, as it can pair up with two devices at the same time. If you’re enjoying listening to music from your dedicated music player or DAP and a call comes through on your phone, you have the option to answer. Smart!
Durability and Build Quality
The earphones themselves are among the most competently made wireless models I’ve seen at this price; they show off Sennheiser’s design acumen rather well. Having said that, this reviewer had to go looking for eartips which fitted better than the supplied eartips; which were a bit thin and didn’t hold the CX6.00BT in the ear particularly securely. Admittedly, a shallow fit is preferred here however.
Controls are easy to find and operate when the CX6.00BT is in action, and we find the in-ear commentary to be quite bearable; a female voice with a North American twang announces ‘power on’ and ‘power off’ whilst the female voice which says ‘connected’ sounds like it’s from Essex here in the UK. So there you have it, the CX6.00BT includes your very own Essex girl!
Provided you can get a good fit with the supplied eartips, the CX6.00BT can be more or less forgotten. During exhaustive testing including motorcycle rides and supermarket trips, this reviewer was left with only music to enjoy and no fiddling about was required.
Sound Characteristics
The sound of the Sennheiser CX6.00BT will be no surprise if you are familiar with the sound of other Sennheiser earphones such as the Momentum (HD1) in-ear model. The CX6.00BT is warm sounding, with a bit of muted sparkle up top to keep things lively but comfortable. Throughout, the sound is cohesive with no obvious peaks or troughs in the frequency levels.
Bass
Bass is fairly strong with good subbass; it’s not up to basshead levels, but is sure to please most people with a decent amount of weight underpinning proceedings. It has good manners, and whilst it could be a bit tighter it hits the spot and allows the midrange to come through very well.
Mids
Midrange is clear and fairly detailed for a wireless model; atmospheric effects such as reverb are not lost, and vocals are clean. There’s a decent amount of warm cuddliness within the midrange too, for a fun and involving presentation.
Treble
There’s a decent amount of presence up at the top, but it’s gentle on the ear. Cymbals and suchlike make themselves known, but will not dictate listening levels unless you have a particular sensitivity here. Fine details are hampered by the wireless nature of these earphones, but it makes them quite versatile and forgiving with less than perfect recordings.
Soundstage and Separation
Soundstage is OK for a wireless in-ear model; you won’t be transported to the Royal opera House it’s quite acceptable. Similarly, imaging and separation are good enough for portable uses where the user’s mind will often not be concentrating on the finer points.
Music genres good for and why
The CX6.00BT is particularly good for modern pop and similarly produced genres, but it can handle anything thrown at it.
Summary
There’s plenty of choice out there with bluetooth earphones these days, but Sennheiser seems determined to corner this market with a few great releases over the past couple of years. The CX6.00BT is certainly a contender, especially for the £89.99 asking price.
Sleek sporty look with a perfect fit, the P281 Sport are some new budget kings on the block. Coming in at £24.99 they are a huge step up to any headphones that come with a phone.
Offering a well balanced sound with good kick down low, they offer an engaging and fun listening experience when out and about, yet still allow plenty of detail to be heard. From top to bottom there are not real peaks or dips, they have a smooth and easy to listen to sound. What is also great is the inclusion of a microphone and button for taking calls or skipping tracks.
What can be better than the award winning SoundMAGIC E10 for under £50? The E10C has the same superb build quality and sound signature as the E10 but with the added function of a universal smartphone in-line microphone – need we say more?
The E10C has tight bass with plenty of weight – the mids are well defined and the top end sparkles. These earphones are perfect for listening on the go as the sound is fun and they will sound great with whatever you throw at them.
If you have £40 to spend on some new earphones then go for the SoundMAGIC E10 – if you need an in-line microphone then go for the E10C. Easy.
If you are looking for a more detailed and neutral sound than the E10C, take a look at the MEE Audio M6 Pro. With it’s monitor like sound and styling, detachable cable and great looks, it is a steal for under £50.
Well the M6 Pro with Blackbird S20 foam tips may have become a new favourite for under £50. These really managed to have everything and sound very engaging, the highs do not disappoint with their presence and tone, the midrange is slightly up front and the mid bass has a mild boost, as a stage monitor I can see these being good and the sound would be easily tuneable with EQ.
For under £50 you won’t find this level of detail, clarity or separation from another in-ear headphone. Add to that brilliant build quality and you have a winner.
Looking for a more bass oriented in-ear headphone with an upfront and engaging sound, yet without losing out on the finer details and comfort, you need the Oriveti Basic.
A 10mm titanium coated driver supplies an impressive amount of bass. Now I am not much of a bass head but after listening to these for a while I found myself really enjoying them.
They’re not audiophile and they won’t give you a reference sound but if you like your earphones to be fun and enjoyable with plenty of punch then these could be for you. The isolation and comfort is also really impressive and along with replaceable cables they are a great buy!
Oriveti are new on the scene and they certainly know how to make an entrance. The new Oriveti Basic earphone packs a punch and gives you plenty of features for its modest price tag.
Looking for a in-ear headphone with quick snappy transients, whilst retaining a well balanced sound signature? Take a look at the New Westone UM Pro10, revised in 2017 to be even better and more comfortable.
Predictably, the balanced armature makes short work of replicating higher frequencies accurately, but the real interest is at the low end where single BA IEMs are concerned. Provided a decent seal can be achieved, the bass is in good balance with the rest of the presentation, although bassheads will be wanting more.
If you fancy the idea of a single balanced armature earphone, but don’t fancy the protruding capsules of the Etymotic designs then the UM Pro 10 is worth a close look. Sometimes the best designs are the simplest and I really think there is something to be said for single-driver IEMs. Makers may be able to tune the sound signature a little more with multiple drivers, but this risks muddying the sound with possible phase/imaging issues as the audio from these different drivers reaches our ears at different times.
In short – choose the simple life and get the UM Pro 10!
One of our best sellers, the New Primacy has a well balanced sound signature with class leading separation and clarity.
The Oriveti New Primacy has a bit of a mid forward sound signature, with excellent clarity and air throughout the range, the bass digs deep and is very articulate, the mids have a habit of bringing out all the detail in recordings but not in an unpleasant way. The highs are airy and well extended, without fatiguing properties, overall a very comfortable and enjoyable listen. The New primacy manages to be a very coherent sounding hybrid design, with a very well textured and layered sound.
Our top pick for under £500 is the Dunu DK-3001, with impressive technical capabilities that are really enjoyable to listen to as well. Punchy and clear sound with a wide soundstage, these are truly excellent.
The Dunu DK-3001 is a very well done hybrid IEM, the bass is dynamic and punchy, with excellent and realistic body. The midrange is well layered and very detailed, with a hint of smoothness to it. The highs are always present, yet not fatiguing. These work well with all genres, the bass is fun and energetic in EDM, and rock comes across with detail and layering. Jazz has a very natural tone, and they just take all genres in their stride, however their ability to control heavy metal is truly impressive.
If you don’t mind the open back design, the Audeze iSine20 will offer a listening experience more like a full size headphone than an in-ear model.
Offering an open sound with excellent punch the iSine20 offers a relaxing listening experience with slightly polite treble. Keeping in tone with their house sound the iSine20 offers good bass quantity with non-fatiguing treble and a natural tone. This is a very unique IEM that is well worth looking into if you want a more traditional headphone sound. The sound is slightly v-shaped; it’s a warmish, ‘fun’ tuning yet still retains excellent detail retrieval.
The W80 are an incredible performer, with a very detailed, spacious yet smooth sound plus an added Alo Audio cable you are sure to be impressed. Fitting 8 BA drivers into this tiny housing is no easy task, yet Westone have done it without sacrificing anything at all.
Some of the most comfortable IEM’s available; the Westone W80 is a pleasure to use for long periods of time, especially with their non fatiguing sound. The bass has body and impact adding a little warmth to the overall sound, the midrange is smooth and non fatiguing, yet the finer details still shine thought. The treble is slightly relaxed but still retains a certain level of sparkle and extension; they are not analytical but still extract the finer details with ease. A very well balanced IEM, that is comfortable and easy to listen to.
The FI-BA-SST35 is one for the detail lovers, being very unforgiving of the source material you will want to listen to well recorded music to get the most out of these.
Final are kings at squeezing the most out of one single BA driver, and the FI-BA-SST35 is no different. Using their proprietary BAM design they move more air, and dig deeper than most conventional single BA driver designs. The bass is always well controlled but offers good impact and articulation without becoming overwhelming or adding much body to the overall sound. The midrange changes depending on the track you are listening to, yet is always very detailed and very transparent. The treble is not fatiguing yet offers incredible insight into the recording, again play well recorded tracks and you will be rewarded with great sound. The soundstage and separation are both excellent, and the timbre is very good for a single BA driver.
Edifier is one of those brands which has escaped our attention in recent years; granted, there are a lot of low-cost brands out there but we are quite impressed with what a relatively humble sum of cash can get from this one. For instance, we have recently been getting familiar with the Sennheiser Momentum HD1 and they are very nice too. But how about cutting the cost in half?
Pros:
Superb comfort
Good battery life
Decent sound for pop and the like
Cons:
Vented capsules affect isolation
Design and Appearance
Like the Momentum HD1, the Edifier W360BT consists of a horseshoe-like base which sits around the neck, and this houses all the controls and the batteries, leaving the capsules feeling nice and light in the ear. Controls are on the upper side of the left ‘heel’ of the horseshoe, with charging port and on/off switch underneath.
The capsules have a vent each, and this lets a certain amount of exterior noise in. Great if you are planning to use these for the purposes of exercise and jogging as it’s good to be aware of your surroundings, but the noisy London Underground may cause a few problems if you’re commuting.
It’s not certain if the word ‘attractive’ is suitable for the W360BT as they are not really designed to draw attention to themselves, but they don’t look bad.
Durability and Build Quality
The Edifier W360BT is built for lightness, and due to the way it is worn, has not been made to be particularly rugged. Just comfortable and light. Cables from the neckband part are reasonably protected by strain reliefs, and that’s about it. To be fair, this design sits up out of the way of most things and the light design seems quite suitable.
Comfort
At 46.5 grams, the W360BT can hardly be felt whilst being worn; there is no weight on the capsules going into the ear either, so if you’re always fiddling around to get a decent fit with your current Bluetooth earphones, these may be worth a try.
Suitability for intended application
As mentioned above, there are several uses these can be put to. They are particularly well suited to exercising, considering the way they are worn and the vented capsule design, but the packaging is distinctly aimed at the mobile/commuter market. For general out and about purposes, the Edifier W360BT is fine unless you find yourself in particularly noisy places a lot of the time.
Generally the sound of the Edifier W360BT conforms to what most people find enjoyable, with a slightly elevated bass and a warm sound signature.
Bass
Low extension is fairly good, and bass makes its mark with enough emphasis for most without going overboard too much. There is a bit of ‘bloom’ here where the bass lacks control slightly. The midrange is not really affected however.
Mids
Midrange is clear enough to enjoy vocals and the like; there’s no obvious disconnect between bass and midrange which is nice. Also there’s a decent bit of space in there, showing that the midrange has some good control. There’s no danger here with any spikes or extra presence causing potential listener-fatigue, it’s a comfortable listen.
Treble
Presence here matches the midrange; hi-hats and cymbals are clear and present, with a certain grainy quality which is not unusual for this type of earphone. Brass and saxophones get a nice raw edginess, and again it’s hard to imagine anyone having problems here with fatigue.
Soundstage and Separation
Soundstage is OK for such a design, although the vented capsules might have improved on this a bit more. Likewise, separation is decent enough with instruments holding their own ground but there’s the sense that they are blending together slightly.
Music genres good for and why
The Edifier W360BT is great with commercial genres like R&B, hip hop and pop, but if you require any more refinement such as with classical music, you might want to consider spending the extra for the Sennheiser HD1 equivalent.
Summary
Edifier’s W360BT is a worthy addition to the current Bluetooth models available, with the neckband taking the weight so we can enjoy music in greater comfort. A good one to take out with you, but try to avoid those very noisy places!
Pioneer’s a big player in the audio field, and their new full size headphones certainly went down well at London’s recent Canjam event. They’ve other smaller offerings too, such as the in-ear SE-CH9T; we take a listen.
Pros:
Removable cable
Mic/control for answering calls
Well controlled bass
Pouch included
Cons:
Relative lack of accessories
Sound lacks refinement/detail
Design and Appearance
The outward appearance of the cosily-named SE-CH9T is fairly standard, although on closer inspection the capsules look like they’re half Shure SE215 and half SoundMAGIC E10. There’s a fairly small Shure-like capsule which looks to give some space behind the driver; this works in conjunction with the ‘air-flow control port’ to usher out all those unwanted reflections within. Leading to the actual sound nozzle, there’s a striking copper-coloured aluminium protrusion which itself houses an inner nozzle made of brass. This ‘enables tight and punchy bass’ according to the packaging.
There is a mic/control on the cable; this is of the single button type, so no volume controls. The SE-CH9T is suitable for use with both Android and Apple handsets though, and is removable with MMCX connectors.
It’s generally a sensible, understated design but for the copper-coloured nozzles which give a splash of flamboyance.
Durability and Build Quality
The SE-CH9T is a very well constructed earphone. The twisted cable is strong and pliable; the 90 degree jack is small and stylish and strain reliefs look as if they get the job done. As with a few other similar designs however, no such strain reliefs are on the mic/control unit, perhaps they are not so crucial in the middle of a cable.
Accessories are minimal; a pouch is provided along with a selection of eartips and two ‘connector shields’ which we think go over the ends of the cable where they meet the capsules. We’re not sure why though.
Once a comfortable fit is achieved, the earphones can be as good as forgotten. For this reviewer, a shallow fit works best as the sound nozzles are relatively wide at around 7mm in diameter. A deep insertion is not an option here, but may be for you.
The cable is supple and doesn’t offer any resistance to movement, but there is a chin slider to prevent any unruly cable behaviour, if needed.
Sound Characteristics
The Pioneer SE-CH9T is a bit of a break from recent bass-heavy models such as the SE-CX8, release a couple of years back. Overall the presentation is on the warm side of neutral, with a bit of bass emphasis and upper midrange presence too. The sound has a certain ‘ungarnished’ quality about it.
Bass
Extension is low with the bass; it’s wide and deep, but there’s no more of it than necessary to add a touch of rumble if called upon. Bass is well controlled and tight; there seems to be a bit of a gap where it gives way to higher frequencies though; this isn’t a deal breaker but makes the midrange appear slightly detached from the bass.
Mids
The slightly forward upper-midrange gives an impression of a clean and accurate sound; it tends to pick up instruments like brass, percussion and electric piano rather than male vocals, although female vocals do get a bit of ‘centre stage’ treatment. There’s a decent amount of detail here, but there is also a touch of graininess, or lack of detail which carries on up into the treble.
Treble
The balance of the SE-CH9T’s treble with the other frequencies makes it almost understated and relaxed; it’s a pretty smooth transtion from the upper midrange but the treble prefers sitting in the shade. The treble does lack refinement, but Pioneer decided not to make up for this by emphasising these frequencies, and that’s pretty welcome.
Soundstage and Separation
There is a good breadth to the sound, but instruments are less distinct than they could be. The harmonics which help to give instruments their character and form are not clear enough, and we’re left with a slightly smeary presentation with the instruments overlapping and bleeding into each other. It’s not unpleasant, but there are earphones at this price which do this better.
Music genres good for and why
The strengths of the SE-CH9T lie in the bass and midrange regions, but the tight bass wins out. Modern dance, R&B and pop will do well, with acoustic and classical taking second place. There’s a danger of the sound seeming a bit lean if there is not a fair level of bass warmth in the recording.
Summary
Pioneer’s new SE-CH9T earphones are pretty straight-laced if compared to some previous models such as the ‘Club Sound’ SE-CX8, and we’re tempted to suggest that Pioneer is growing up. However since Pioneer turns 80 next year, we won’t.
Final’s a funny name for a company which keeps bringing out great earphones; there’s nothing Final here as there’s always more to look forward to! Although the Final E3000 and E2000 are budget models when compared to some of their offerings, they are very interesting specimens; dynamically driven and with a hint of openness about them.
Pros:
Simple, small designs
Cables round (not ribbon-style)
Earhooks included
lovely soundstage and imaging
Cons:
Not as isolating as some
Design and Appearance
If you’re familiar with Final’s earphones then you’ll see that there’s no real departure from a lot of their in-ears. They’re a cross between the newer F7200 and the Heaven series, with a sleek and sensible appearance. The capsules are small; again, about halfway between the F7200 and the Heaven series. The capsules for each model differ, as the E2000 has black plastic and the E3000 has shiny stainless steel.
Unlike Final’s Heaven series, the cable is not of a flat ribbon type but has a pretty standard round design which behaves itself and is quite soft and slinky. The E3000 and E2000 can be worn either with the cable hanging down from the ear or with the cable going over the top of the ear; this can be facilitated by use of the included earhooks.
The back ends of the capsules feature a vent each; this allows a little of the sonic ‘backwash’ to escape from those dynamic drivers, improving the soundstage but also compromising isolation slightly. Very little leaks out though so there’s no need to be self-conscious.
And if you’re keen on wearing earphones with the cable over the ear, Final have thrown in a pair of earhooks with each model.
Durability and Build Quality
There is a decent strain relief on the jack end of the cable but it’s minimal where it meets the earphones and the ‘joiner’ in the middle. This shouldn’t be a problem unless the earphones are habitually yanked out of the ears (if you do this then you are asking for problems)!
As we’ve come to expect from Final, the build quality is excellent with no flaws.
Comfort
The capsule size of the E3000 and E2000 is small, so there should be no issues with fit, and the supplied silicone tips are comfortable enough. Not everyone can get on with silicone tips however, so if aftermarket tips are preferred then the Comply ‘200’ sized tips are suitable, or the newer Blackbird ‘S20’ tips are available from our outlet.
Sound Characteristics
As with many of Final’s earphones (both the dynamically driven and balanced armature designs), the sound has lovely clarity, and this dynamic design gives a little bit of extra bass presence when compared to the Heaven II model, for example).
These impressions are for the E3000 model. For the E2000, there is a slight shift in the balance between the bass and midrange; there is a little more in the way of midrange when compared to the lower frequencies. Also the E2000 has less refinement with details at the treble end, but this is not obvious without comparing the two models closely.
Bass
These little things offer a surprising bass quality; the 6.4mm drivers can really dish it out! The E3000 is not bassy per se but the bass starts really low, gives a good thump with those kick drums, and is enough to please anyone. It’s fairly tight and doesn’t interfere with the midrange frequencies at all.
Mids
There’s a good deal of clarity and detail here; it’s clear when flautists inhale and woodwind keys click. Vocals are nicely textured too. The midrange is not emphasised too much, nor recessed too much. The overall impression is of a smooth sound but there’s no feeling that anything is being missed; it’s all here.
Treble
The theme continues up the frequency range, with bright and tinkly sounds coming across as just that; these never stray into strident or fatiguing territory. In fact, the opposite may be true as Duran Duran always struck me as a bit cold-sounding (classic 1980s production here) but the E3000 gives them a more natural feel.
Soundstage and Separation
The vented design comes into play here; when compared to most ‘sealed’ designs the soundstage of the E3000 is impressive with some nice width and depth too; the E2000 is a little behind with its slightly grainer treble but still strikes the right note. Both models give a decent impression of the instruments’ placement as well; recordings such as those done by ‘The Mint Julep Jazz Band’ have us surrounded by some very convincing brass instruments, and it’s very enjoyable!
Overall, the slight loss of isolation in the design is more than made up for with the soundstage on offer here.
Music genres good for and why
As above, anything live or recorded in a big room is a treat, but studio produced tracks are equally as impactful, making both the E3000 and E2000 good candidates for those who like to mix it up.
Summary
Final’s new dynamic offerings, the E3000 and E2000, are amazing value and stay faithful to Final’s house sound of a pure and natural presentation with a touch of warmth. These earphones are certainly recommended for the asking price.
