The Final A-series is a group of products created in the pursuit of “Transparent Sound”. This all began with the introduction of their highly praised flagship model, the A8000. Read on for Ear-Fidelity’s reviews for Finals recent additions to the lineup, the A4000 & A3000.
It is a known secret that both the Final A3000 and A4000 are IEM’s that perform way above their price points. Priced at £100 and £120, you really are getting more than you pay for.
With their generalised overview easing you in Ear-Fidelity goes into mighty detail with their reviews on the Final A-Series. Likewise, they even offer direct comparisons to really get your head around what they offer.
Comparing to the A4000, they conclude; “Just like with the A3000, the A4000 proves to push itself further than its asking price. The A4000 provides the listener with more bass engagement, a clean and presentable midrange. Above all, a highly detailed treble rendering.” The A4000 has even made it into Matz’s own recommended list!
The A3000 and A4000 aim to “Deliver astonishingly natural sound with each sound image vividly localising over the comfortable and spatially spread low-range sound. The fine touch of the guitar and delicate vibrato of vocals can be clearly distinguished. You can get the feel of the fine nuance of musical tracks, and so new inspiration is borne even from a familiar playlist.”
Lastly, there are plenty of other reviews for many beautiful Final products on our site. You can check each and every single one out here: Final Reviews
Final have released a new model in the A series, a more budget offering than their flagship but a nice contrasting model against their current E series, with a focus on clarity, air and control.
The Final A4000 sport a lightweight ABS housing which has a 6mm dynamic driver inside, the shape is contoured to fit your ears comfortably and securely. In use, I found the Final A4000 to fit securely and comfortably in my ears for everyday use.
Be sure to try all the different size tips, luckily Final include a better range than many brands so everyone should find a tip that fits them well.
Compatibility
The Final A4000 have an impedance of 18Ohms and a sensitivity of 100dB/mW so they are fairly sensitive and are driven fine out of portable sources. Despite their low price, they are one of those models that does benefit from better sources such as a dedicated DAP.
Sound
Bass: Whilst the bass on the Final A4000 isn’t strong in presence, it makes up for it in extension and control. There is moderate punch but slightly more focus in the sub-bass, with a subtle lift that provides adequate body. These have a brighter leaning sound signature so they won’t be suitable for those who enjoy a bit more bass. The transient response is however excellent, they can keep up with complex mixes without issue and always come across controlled. No matter what you throw at them, they can easily keep up, with great articulation too.
Midrange: The midrange is clean and crisp in it’s presentation, the bass doesn’t bleed in and muddy the vocals and separate vocal tracks are easily distinguished. Where they don’t do as well is in the sibilance region, there is a peak sadly which could be a little fatiguing. This peak though is easily lowered with the use of EQ, which definitely helps. There is a lot of detail in the midrange, it’s just that peak in the upper midrange that needs taming a little.
Treble: Plenty of energy and sparkle here, and to some it could be a little too much, but for the most part the treble is always present however rarely sharp. These are a slightly bright leaning earphone but the treble isn’t too metallic or splashy so it doesn’t come across as grating. There is good extension in the treble too, and it doesn’t drop off too sharply.
Genres and Soundstaging
The neutral/bright sound of the Final A4000 could make certain energetic genres sound a little harsh, but anything that benefits from good detail and control sounds great, especially slower rock and acoustic tracks. The nice thing is that the A4000 respond very well to EQ so you can get rid of any peaks quite easily.
Soundstaging is actually very good for the price point, you get a very coherent centre image with good separation, along with accurate width and height. They don’t sound closed in at all, which is really impressive at this price point.
Conclusion
Well the Final A4000 are certainly very technically impressive, with excellent transient response, clarity and control. The upper midrange peak is a little harsh, but overall they provide a clean sound presentation with brilliant soundstaging for the price. These are a good contrast to the slightly more fun and v-shaped Final E4000.
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.
