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.
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.
The family is getting bigger- we’re expecting a new bundle of joy to our homestead in the coming weeks, and to celebrate, we thought we’d do a brief overview of the impressive in-ears on offer from these chemically-conscious can constructors.
What is the deal with Periodic Audio, anyway?
As the name might imply, Periodic Audio deal in high-end equipment with a twist- they specialize in highlighting the performance of elements on the periodic table as facets of their design technology. For example, their earphone range features diaphragms hewn from varying materials.
Periodic‘s motto is ‘Portable audio excellence’, which gives some insight into the brand’s style. You won’t find flashy cases or an abundance of accessories- they prefer to focus all their attention on the IEMs and let the sound speak for itself.
What will we be offering?
The Mg IEM
These bad boys feature a majority-magnesium content alloy in the diaphragm and Periodic advise they feature a bright, clear top end that would help cut through the noise in loud and busy settings.
The Ti IEM
You may have guessed, if you paid attention in chem class- these IEMs feature a 100% titanium foil for the diaphragm. Periodicfigure this is their best model for aggressive, fun music- it’s got great responsiveness and strong bass and treble- but perhaps not the most reference-style.
The Be IEM
Anyone get the last one? Well done at home if you guessed beryllium- they boast a 100% pure beryllium foil diaphragm to produce a sound with fun, strong bass and an impressive array of sonic detail.
Get Nerdy
Want a closer look into the science of Periodic‘s range? Luckily, they’ve got you covered. Each IEM has a full guide to what makes it tick, complete with measurements, readouts, and charts to show impedance and other factors. If you want to know specifically, down to the molecule what you can expect from each IEM, you ought to have a field day here.
So, that’s our glimpse into the future for the day. We’ll be shouting at the top of our lungs about it when these are available, so be sure to keep an ear out. And, as always, feel free to get in touch if you’d like to come visit us for a demo. And bring your chemistry set!
BONUS:
Q: Which genre sounds best on Periodic Audio‘s unique IEMs?
Final is an odd name for a brand which doesn’t stop, but why question it? If looks are anything to go by, the new E4000 and E5000 are very nice indeed; Final has a real knack for creating beautiful, utilitarian designs. We’ll have a listen, and find out if these two can please the ears as well as the eyes!
The Final E4000 and E5000.
Design and appearance
The E4000 and E5000 sit atop the current ‘E’ range, which includes the E2000 and E3000 versions. All models in the ‘E’ range include 6.4mm dynamic drivers, but rather than the venting on the backs of the E2000 and E3000 capsules, Final have opted for an ‘acoustic resistor’ in the E4000 and E5000 designs. This promises to control low-midrange frequencies for improved clarity.
The E4000 has black machined aluminium capsules and the E5000 has machined stainless steel, which reduce any unwanted vibrations when compared to plastic housings. The E5000 model has a silver-coated OFC cable which is very nicely put together.
Durability & build quality
Both models look to be solid in terms of build, there is little to say against them. The E4000 cable might benefit from slightly more in the way of strain reliefs, but this is the only criticism we can come up with. Both models are of the sort of quality we’ve come to expect from Final over the years, and a treat to hold in the hand.
Comfort
Again there’s not much to say here; the designs are fairly basic in terms of wearing style. This reviewer has found however that if microphonics are an issue (vibrations travelling up the cable from walking, for example) then the cable can be worn over the ear to absorb some of this energy.
Sound characteristics
The Final E4000 and E5000 may look like brothers; take a listen and they sound like brothers too. The elder sibling E5000 has more maturity and polish, with the younger E4000 giving out more energy. The family resemblance is very strong however, with both giving a very accurate and absorbing presentation.
The Final E4000 has a distinctive look and sound.
Bass
The Final E4000 has a good amount of well-textured sub bass if a track has it, while further up there is a certain light swiftness about the mid and upper bass regions. The E4000 is not a bass-light earphone, but it is good at pushing out a decent amount of bass while at the same time giving the midrange all the space it needs. It’s really fun!
The E5000 has a smoother and deeper bass than the E4000. The mid and upper bass frequencies are more present which does impinge on the midrange ‘space’ of the E4000 model a little. If you’re not willing to compromise on the bass presence however and like those bassy studio-produced genres, you’ll not miss it.
Mids
This is where personal tastes may further separate the E4000 and E5000; the E4000 has a lovely amount of space here and an impressive accuracy for the price. It also has a certain quality which presses this reviewer’s buttons; if you’re fond of the distortion from a Rhodes piano, the E4000 is one to definitely check out. There’s a certain buttery quality, but that butter hasn’t been out of the fridge for very long; a slight bump in the upper mids gives a certain coolness but the E4000 never gets near strident territory.
Meanwhile, the E5000 is more reserved and smooth in the mids. With less presence in the upper mids when compared to the lower mids, the E5000 trades litheness for authority and geniality. There is still a butteriness but it’s more gooey in the E5000. If you like genres which are well polished in terms of production, then the E5000 will complement these very well.
Treble
Like the midrange, the Final E4000 and E5000 stick with their personalities up into the higher reaches, with the E4000 giving more in the way of high frequency presence. Again, it’s the more energetic of the two and further lends a sense of space and air to proceedings. The E4000 has incredible resolution and detail; it just adds a bit of stirring edginess to bring out these frequencies nicely.
The E5000 remains the more tactful of the two, with treble which doesn’t draw attention to itself and serves as a smooth midrange extension with no troublesome peaks. Detail is much like with the E4000 model, but it’s more subtle in terms of presence.
The Final E5000 delivers a mature sound.
Soundstage & Separation
Both models have exceptional soundstage and separation; however as mentioned above the E4000 gives a more immersive feel when it comes to harmonics, due to the sense of space and slightly greater presence of high-mid frequencies.
Music genres good for and why
As already touched on, the differing flavours on offer suit different tastes. Although each model here can be thought of as a good all-rounder, the E4000 is particularly well-suited to acoustic genres and those which benefit from a good sense of space. The E5000 is more for studio genres such as pop and dance music, but this reviewer has caught themselves enjoying pretty much everything with both models!
Pros:
Good looks
Great sound on both models
Replaceable cables
Silver coated OFC cable (E5000)
Versatile wearing style
Cons:
Strain reliefs on E4000
Summary
Final’s new E4000 and E5000 have hit the streets, and after trying both we all have our favourite. Whether you like vibrant energy and space, or if you’re more into smooth and measured sounds, one of these models is sure to please.
This is one of the most important things to consider when using in-ear headphones, but unfortunately it is overlook by a large chunk of the consumer market. We buy things and expect them to just work out the box, but just like your shoe size, we all have different ear canal sizes.
So many times have I seen people comment on lack of bass from models well known for their excellent bass response, the common factor is trying them out of the box with the tips that are pre-installed, and not trying any others. I beg you to try all the different tips to find the one that fits the best.
In-ear headphones will only work if properly sealed, as this will give you the optimal bass response, and also isolate the best from outside noises. If you think about it, if you have a bass speaker in a small room it will sound fuller than if it were in an open space. The same goes for in-ear headphones, if there is a break in the seal the bass will be the first thing you lose.
The bass response of this room is likely to be poor; lower frequencies are the first to disappear given the chance – and forget isolation!
Different headphones come with different types of tips, most come with only standard silicone tips, but some come with a pair of Comply memory foam tips, and also dual and triple flange tips. Using foam tips such as the Comply or Blackbird tips, the tips conform to your inner ear better than regular silicone tips, so it may be worth trying some of them out before making up your mind on the headphones. I also personally find foam tips to be more comfortable, and they isolate from outside noise better, but they do have a tendency to tone down the treble a little.
Everybody’s ears are different, and a good play around with the various sizes and types of tips will certainly be worthwhile. Also the placement of the tip within the ear can be experimented with; try a small tip which is inserted into the ear canal. Or perhaps a larger tip placed against the mouth of the ear canal might suit you better.
Personally, I’ve settled before on a small tip in my right ear and a medium one in my left; it is quite common for our ears to be slightly different sizes so feel free to mix n’ match.
The best way to fit your in-ear headphones, is to lift the top of your ear gently as you insert them, as this opens your ear canal a little. Once you let go they should seal fully, and then you can experience the best audio quality from your in-ear headphones.
It’s always a shame to receive a pair of in-ear headphones which has been returned by a customer, and to find that they haven’t been thorough with the eartips. So make sure you are getting a good seal to get the most out of your headphones. Lack of bass? Try some different tips.
On first holding the box containing the Earsonics SM64 Earphones, I picked up on the ‘no-frills’ design of the packaging, which is something I appreciate. Opening the box it’s great that you don’t have to rip anything open or work out a packaging puzzle to get to the good stuff. Inside you get an instruction card, a rigid carry case, a selection of tips (2 x double flanged pairs and 2 x Comply isolation pairs) and a small cleaning tool. The earphones come with a replaceable braided cable that feels very well built and flexible – very similar to the Westone cables. The cable has a tough right-angled jack plug and the yoke is of equal quality, this is very reassuring as they are generally the most fragile parts of an earphone.
Sound Quality
The first thing to mention is that the SM64 needs an amplifier! They are high impedance and they have fairly low sensitivity, this makes them tough to drive so I wouldn’t recommend that they be used straight off a portable player unless you know it has a powerful headphone amplifier. Once you have your amp hooked up you need to pick the right eartips – as with any earphone if the tips are too small you will lose the lower frequencies for a paper thin sound or if the tips are too big then the sound will be muffled. I found that thelarger Comply tips suited me perfectly, and once that was sorted I could really enjoy these amazing earphones. You hear everything so clearly and with punch, also the soundstage is superb – you can really pinpoint where each sound is coming from. I tend to find high end earphones either flat and analytical, too aggressive in the higher frequencies or too smooth. These have great clarity without being analytical or harsh, the upper mids really cut through and the bass is tight but also full (if that even makes sense).
In Use
I listen to quite a mix of music and the SM64 did them all justice – With rock music the snare drum really cuts through and you get a nice wash on the cymbals. The bass is clear and tight, guitars (generally in stereo) are well separated. Softer music like acoustic tracks sound great! The guitar strings sound natural and you hear the reverb trail off till the very end, also the vocals are forward without any harshness. These earphones also work with electronic music but they might not be for everyone. I’m not a fan of big bass, I prefer the bass to be tight and accurate – even on bass heavy music. So if you’re looking for a lot of bass then these may not be for you, but if you appreciate bass quality then you’ll be happy.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for an earphone with a balanced and neutral sound then these are a great choice! The bass is tight, mids cut through without being too harsh and the highs extend very well and naturally. Thereplaceable braided cable is flexible and well built, there is very little to no micro-phonics and the built in ear guides supply extra support and comfort. The supplied carry case is tough and not too big, and the ear tip selection should suit all users. One possible downside to these earphones is the amount of power they require, you will need a dedicated headphone amplifier to get the best out of them – one with plenty of power.
