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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

Final B Series Review & Video

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Final B-Series Review Video

Final Audio’s latest release is their B-Series of earphones, the B1, B2 and B3. Drawing on their years of experience and learning from previous releases such as their E-Series and MAKE series, the new B-Series range of earphones looks to take Final to another level with a brand new concept.

This is new territory for the leading Japanese brand, incorporating multiple driver setups for the first time in their standard range of earphones. As ever, Final like to do things differently, even when it comes to naming their earphones. For the B-Series, they decided to step away from the normal naming order based on price. These models are named based on when they were made. Final believe that price shouldn’t dictate quality, with each model having their own style and characteristic. It’s a philosophy which shows Final’s value in every product they create.

B1

So let’s meet the team. The hybrid dual driver Final B1 comes in at around £600 and in terms of design, stands out the most. The housings are made using stainless steel, with a mirrored rose gold finish. Inside each housing is one balanced armature driver and one dynamic driver, both developed by Final themselves. The silver plated copper cable adds the finishing touch to this stunning earphone. Sound wise, the B1 has been tuned to put you right in the middle of the action, with a lively sound that delivers clean and punchy bass, rich mids, and crisp resolution.

B2

The single driver B2 is priced just under £260, with a more understated design choice. The stainless steel housings this time have a brushed gun metal finish, providing a more sleek and elegant look. Inside is a single balanced armature driver, again developed by Final. The replaceable cable is OFC copper and the cable has a black coating, which compliments the design as much as the sound. Sound quality from the B2 is all about clarity and clean detail. Vocals are realistic and present among the naturally reproduced instruments. Overall the B2 delivers a more neutral and perceivably accurate sound.

B3

Last, but by no means least is the dual driver B3 coming in at just under £440. The Final B3 has their stainless steel housings finished in frosty silver, and along with the replaceable silver coated copper cable they have a bright and fresh look about them. Inside the housings are two of Final’s balanced armature drivers, which have been tuned to provide the most in terms of width and space out of the three. Soundstage is very impressive, and the top end extension will allow you to pick out the most delicate of sounds.

The Range

The B-Series earphones have all been designed to fit perfectly in the ear. The unique shape has obviously been chosen not only for its looks, they are all extremely comfortable (for me, anyway). They are impressively small and the shape allows them to sit in my ear with ease.

All three models are packaged in a very attractive box, and supplied with a silicone carry case, cable ear hooks for added support, and a selection of Final silicone eartips in a number of different sizes. (Check out our unboxing video for the B3 to see what we mean!)

With the B-Series, Final are showing that they mean business, challenging the likes of Shure, Westone and Campfire Audio with their high design and impressive sounding IEMs.