final E5000

First Impressions​

The Final Audio E5000 arrived at my doorstep a week ago, and they have been in my ears ever since. These are excellent IEMs, but I cannot help to mention a few drawbacks.

Firstly, soundstage and imaging are inconsistent as they suffer on darker tracks. Vocals (esp. female) can sound overly recessed/muffled. There is also a noticeable lack of energy. Next, the speed in the bass region could be slow at times. These points make the IEMs unsuitable to be an all-rounder.

The stock Final Type E ear tips are known to make the sound warmer, and they do not pair well with the E5000 due to its already dark nature. Also, the lengthened space between the diaphragm and exit of the ear tips muffles the soundstage and imaging, giving it a less 3-dimensional feel. I highly recommend swapping out the ear tips on the E5000.

Tinkering with the E5000​

I recommend pairing the E5000 with these three ear tips: Final Type E (TWS version), Whizzer EASYTIPS SS20 (Size: SS), or SpinFit CP350. These ear tips have shorter stems and reduce the distance from the diaphragm to the exit of the ear tip. This helps to increase treble, add more energy, and improve soundstage and separation.

Using the correct ear tips puts the E5000 a tad closer to a warm v-shape sound suitable for more genres. It also brings out the incredibly high quality and non-harsh treble that the E5000 offers. Bass quantity is also slightly reduced (depends on the seal). Bass and Mid-bass are less bloated as well. Changing ear tips on the E5000 is a definite must as the stock tips do not do it justice.

In addition to swapping tips, I also recommend EQ treble boost or pairing with a bright source to accomplish a more balanced, warm v-shaped sound for the E5000.

My Humble Setup​

Source: Desktop > Creative G3 > E5000
Listening Hours: Around 30 at the time of writing
Ear Tips: Whizzer EASYTIPS SS20 (Size: SS) *
EQ: Treble Boost *
* purpose explained throughout the review

Sound​

Timbre 5/5​

Timbre is what the E5000 does best, and every instrument sounds incredibly natural and of high quality. Pretty rare at this price point.

Speed 4/5​

Speed is great in mids and highs but sometimes suffers in the bass region.

Soundstage 3.5/5 (4/5 using SS20 tips)​

Depth and Height are lacking with stock tips. Changing ear tips to one with a shorter stem can improve Depth and Height, resulting in a more 3D sound.

Imaging 3/5 (3.5/5 using SS20 tips, 4/5 using SS20 tips plus slight treble boost)​

Separation can suffer in darker tracks, with the stock ear tips. Changing ear tips gives a better soundstage and increases treble, improving overall imaging.

Micro Detail 4/5​

Micro detail on these is something you'd believe only after listening to them. Final Audio has done well.

Bass Quality 4.5/5​

The bass is tight and punchy. It has well-controlled low rumble in the sub-bass region. It's also easy to differentiate the tonality of the bass. Overall, one of the best.

Mids Quality 4.5/5​

Smooth and Natural sounding. They are great, and I haven't found anything wrong with them.

Treble Quality 4.5/5​

The treble is very smooth and not harsh, even when given a treble boost—well-tuned and very natural sounding.

Bass Quantity 5/5 (4.5/5 using SS20 tips)​

Mids Quantity 3/5 (3.5/5 using SS20 tips)​

Treble Quantity 2.5/5 (3/5 using SS20 tips, 3.5/5 using SS20 tips plus slight treble boost)​

As mentioned, it's highly recommended to change ear tips for the E5000 and, if possible, EQ treble boost.

My current EQ settings are (+0.5dB @ 2K, +3.5db @ 4K, +2dB @ 8K, +1.5dB @ 16K).

This transforms the E5000 into a warm v-shape sound that is much more balanced and a better all-rounder. Connecting to a bright source might work too.

Click to expand...

​

Tracks​

Timbre and Speed


Soundstage, Imaging, Mids


Bass, Speed


Soundstage, Imaging, Speed, Micro-Detail


Vocals, Treble, Micro-Detail


Vocals, Treble, Micro-Detail, Sub-bass


Timbre, Vocals, Micro-Detail


Imaging, Soundstage, Bass, Vocals


Sub-bass, Bass, Vocals, Rap, Imaging, Micro-Detail


Sub-bass, Rap, Micro-Detail


Imaging, Soundstage
​

Click to expand...

Introduction
Final audio is the Japanese hi-end audio brand, they release the budget earphone E2000 & E3000 back in 2017, which let them became famous in the audio market. In this review I am checking out their follow up versions E4000 & E5000, which retail for $149 & $269USD, the driver configuration are both 1DD.




Disclaimer
I purchased it from the Minidisc Australia myself for retail price, and the review will be based on my honest opinion through the music I listen to.

As both of E4000&E5000 were purchased years ago, my apologies if some of the unboxing part, and accessories images will be lost or present in different way.


Package & Accessories
Both of the E4000 & E5000 share the moderate size package, the package are simple and minimalistic, it come with the white cardboard box, with brand name, model name and other information on front cover, whereas the specifications in multi language at the back, take off the cover, there are the black cardboard box with flip to open design, it content the carry case with earphone inside, ear tips and accessories beside.




Accessories list (They both come with same accessories)
1 pair x of final E5000 / E4000 IEM
5 pairs x E type Silicone Eartips (SS/S/M/L/LL)
1 pair x of Ear hook
1 pcs x Silicone Carry case
1 pcs x Karabiner





The accessories it come with are simple but useful, the carry case are made by silicone material with flip to open design, it allow the user to store pair of IEM. It also come with the karabiner for user the hook the carry case on the bag or something.







It come with 5 pairs of famous Final E type ear tips, the E type ear tips can swing into the ear canal, and give the user good level of fits. It also come with additional pair of ear hooks while wearing it over ear.





E4000 cable
It come with the typical rubber-ish finish OFC cable. It has 3.5 mm L angled connector in metal shell, with brand logo on it. It features the MMCX connector with black and red indicators and additional L&R label to show left and right. The Y-splitter are finish in plastic shell as well as the MMCX male connector. The cable slider are finish in black plastic material. It is overall normal but usable cable.



E5000 cable
It come with the 2 core high-purity OFC silver coated cables that, it has L angled straight connector in mirror finish metal shell, with brand logo on it. It features the MMCX connector with black and red indicators and additional L&R label to show left and right. The Y-splitter are finish in mirror finish metal shell as well as the MMCX male connector. The cable slider are finish in transparent plastic material. It is overall slightly hard and fancy cable in silver finish.




Design & Build & Comfort
The E4000 and E5000 share same bullet type of shell design, the E4000 has black painted finish, whereas the E5000 has mirror finish. There are brand name and model name label on each side of the earpieces. The L&R indicators are located at bottom of the earpieces to show Left and right, while brand logo are printed at the rear side of each ear pieces. There are the acoustic resistor located in rear side of IEM, the small vent at bottom rear is design for this acoustic resistor.






Image from Snext-Final audio website

The build are both really well done for its price range, the E4000 is made by aluminum, while the E5000 is made by the stainless steel. They both feel durable, and have high standards rounded and smoothed finish. They both have the short plastic nozzle with the paper filter. The MMCX connectors on both of it is really tight, and do not have sign of wear and tear after I swapped few times of cable.





The fits of this bullet type IEM, is really depends on the ear tips, thankful, the final audio offer the Final E type tips, the E type tips provide decent good of fits and isolation. The E5000 are definitely more heavy than the E4000, the cable on E5000 is heavy as well, so it may be more comfortable to wear it cable up or over ear with the ear hooks provided. The E4000 has slightly better fits than the E5000, so it can be wear in cable down while walking without tear off.






Technical specifications:
Driver Configuration: 6.4mm Dynamic
Impedance: 14Ω
Sensitivity: 93dB


Sound

Paring
I use the M size ear tips with the stock cable, run through my music library on Fiio M11.




Tonality
The E4000 has mildly U shape tonality, it presented in smooth yet engaging manner.
The E5000 has U shape tonality, it presented in warm and natural manner.

Bass
The E5000 has more sub bass quantity than E4000, while the E4000 has moderate amount of sub bass. The E4000 has moderate extension and decay speed. The E5000 has above average extension and decay speed. The E4000 bass give average amount of impact, rumble and punch, whereas the E5000 did the better jobs on both of rumble and punch. They above both has average detail and clarity, but E5000 presented in slightly warm and full bodies manner, while the E4000 presented in slightly clean but still smooth manner. The E4000 has slightly better speed at bass, but the E5000 has better control. Overall the bass on E5000 are warm and smooth, while the E4000 has clean and quicker decay bass.

Mids
The mid range on both are warm and natural, but the E5000 has more lusher and warmer presentation. The lower mids on both of them has good amount of bodies and depth, but E5000 take more thicker and lusher notes, while the E4000 take more clear and clean notes. The upper mids on both have average transparency levels, the E4000 sound more lively and energetic, whereas the E5000 sound more warmer and natural. The mid range sound slightly warm and energetic on E4000, whereas the E5000 has more bodies, sound significantly lusher and warmer. Even with the warm tonality mids, the E5000 still has good level of detail retrieval and transparency than E4000.

Treble
The treble has more body on E5000 presented more toward the natural manner, while the E4000 feel bit more airy but still presented laid back manner. The treble has moderate extension on E4000, whereas the E5000 has better extension. The treble has average detail on E4000 with moderate clarity, while the E5000 has more detail but less clarity because of the warm tonality. There are good amount of sparkle and airy in the treble for both of them, but the E5000 has more sparkle, while the E4000 feel slightly more airy.

Soundstage and imaging
The E5000 has average width with, feel slightly more width than E4000, and both have average depth.
The imaging and separation on E5000 are above average, the E4000 are slightly toward just an average.



Comparison
E4000
IKKO OH1 ($139USD)

Bass
The sub bass has better decay and extension on the OH1, while the quantity are tad more on the E4000. The bass has more quantity on the E4000, and it has warmer presentation compare to cleaner and thicker presentation on OH1. The bass has better speed and control on the OH1, while both of them have similar amount of rumble, but the OH1 provide better punch and impact to it. The detail retrieval and clarity are better on OH1.

Mids
The midrange are more recessed on the OH1, the E4000 has lusher and fuller presentation compare to dryer and cleaner presentation on OH1. The lower midrange has more bodies on the E4000, it sound noticeably thicker compare to OH1. The upper midrange has the good emphasis on OH1, which offer the more lively presentation, whereas the E4000 has fuller and more natural presentation. The OH1 has better clarity, transparency and detail in the midrange.

Treble
The treble has slightly better extension on OH1, while the E4000 are more laid back and darker. The OH1 has more open and dryer treble presentation, while the E4000 has more bodies in treble and sound less attacked. The treble has more sparkle and crisp expression on OH1. The treble has better detail, clarity, and airiness on OH1.

Soundstage and imaging
The soundstage feel more opener on OH1, the OH1 did slightly better job on imaging.


BQEYZ Spring1 ($139 USD)

Bass
The sub bass has slightly more quantity on E4000, the quality are both pretty well, but the Spring1 has slightly better extension and decay. The bass has more amount on the E4000, the Spring1 has better impact and punch, both has good amount of rumble. The Spring1 does slightly better jobs on clarity and speed, both of them has good speed and well control.

Mids
The mid range are both smooth and well balanced. The lower mids has more bodies and slightly more depth on E4000, both of them presented it in clean and natural manner, while the E4000 are lusher and fuller in comparison. The upper mids on Spring1 sound more forward and lively, while the E4000 sound smoother and more relax. The Spring1 has better clarity and transparency. Both have good level of detail.

Treble
The treble on E4000 are warmer and smoother, whereas the Spring1 are clearer and brighter. The treble has good extension on both, but Spring1 did tad better. The Spring1 offer better clarity, airiness, and transparency in treble. The detail are better on Spring1. Spring1 has more sparkle in the treble as well.

Soundstage and imaging
The sound stage are tad better on Spring1.
The imaging are better on Spring1.


Dunu SA3 ($139)

Bass
The E4000 has more sub bass and bass quantity compare to SA3. The sub bass has better extension on E4000 with slower decay. The bass has more weight and rumble on E4000, whereas the SA3 has better impact and speed. The E4000 has warmer and smoother bass, while the SA3 also has smooth bass but more cleaner. The SA3 has better control on bass along with better clarity and detail.

Mids
The midrange are both smooth and slightly warm. The midrange has more engaging presentation on SA3 compare to E4000. The lower midrange has more bodies on E4000, whereas the SA3 has more clarity. The upper midrange has more emphasis on SA3 and sound more forwarder. The SA3 has more vividly upper midrange, both are pretty natural in term of timbre. The detail retrieval and clarity are better on SA3.

Treble
The treble are more brighter and has better extension on SA3. The E4000 has more laid back presentation. The upper treble has more sparkle and airiness on SA3 and feel more open, while the E4000 are more smooth here. The detail and clarity both better SA3.

Soundstage and imaging
The soundstage are wider on E4000, deeper on SA3.
The imaging are better on SA3.


BQEYZ Summer ($139USD)

Bass
The sub bass has slightly more quantity and extended further on the Summer with fuller rumble, while the E4000 has more mid bass quantity, which sound muddier compare to Summer. The Summer provide better sense of punch and slam compare to the more the E4000. The Summer also provide better speed and extra tightness, where the E4000 sound less clear and thicker in tone. The detail retrieval and clarity is better on Summer.

Mids
The midrange on both has V shape tonality, the E4000 has extra sense of warmth and bodies carried from mid bass, where the Summer sound cleaner and more spacious. The lower midrange has more bodies and sound fuller on the E4000, where the Summer sound cleaner and clearer. The upper midrange sound more lively with better transparency on the Summer, while the E4000 sound duller and warmer in comparison. The detail retrieval and is better on Summer.

Treble
The treble extend further and sound brighter and more airy on the Summer. The lower treble has more energy and sound more engaging on the Summer, where the E4000 has darker and laid back type of presentation here. The upper treble has extra sense of airiness and sparkle on the Summer, while the E4000 is a roll off here. The detail retrieval and clarity is better on Summer.

Soundstage and imaging
The soundstage is wider and deeper on the Summer.
The imaging is also better on Summer.


E5000
Oriveti OH300 ($299 USD)

Bass
The sub bass has less quantity on OH300, the OH300 has slightly better extension and quicker decay. The bass on E5000 has more punch and rumble, while both have good impact.The bass on OH300 are more clean and linear, whereas the E5000 are warmer and fuller. The OH300 has slight better clarity and detail. Both has good control bass, but OH300 has better speed.

Mids
The midrange on E5000 are lusher and warmer, while the OH300 are close to neutral and colder. The lower midrange has more bodies and sound fuller on E5000, whereas the OH300 has better clarity and sound more clean in comparison. The upper midrange has more emphasis on OH300, it sound lively and vividly, while the E5000 sound more natural and slightly forward. The OH300 has more transparency, detail and clarity in mids, but E5000 has more fuller and thicker timbre.

Treble
The treble on OH300 are slightly brighter, while the E5000 sound more soft and dark. The OH300 has better treble extension. The OH300 has slightly better detail and clarity compare to E5000, the OH300 also has more amount of sparkle at the top end. The OH300 has slightly more airiness and transparency in the treble region.

Soundstage and imaging
The soundstage and imaging are more better on OH300.


BGVP Artmagic VG4 ($229USD)

Bass
Both of sub bass and bass has more quantity on the E5000, while the VG4 are not far to neutral in this section, the sub bass has better extension and decay on the E5000. The bass has more dynamic and slow presentation on the E5000, where as the VG4 has quicker and less dynamic bass. The bass has more weight, punch and rumble on E5000, while the VG4 has better speed and pretty similar amount of impact but faster. The clarity and overall control better on the VG4.

Mids
The midrange on VG4 are not far to neutral, while E5000 are slightly U shape, sound noticeably thicker and lusher. The lower midrange has more bodies on E5000 and fuller in comparison, while the VG4 did better job in term of clarity. The upper midrange are fuller and more soothing on E5000, while the VG4 sound more lively and vividly with less bodies. The VG4 has better transparency and detail in the midrange.

Treble
The treble has better extensions on the VG4, and sound more brighter, while the E5000 sound laid back with slightly dark tonality. The VG4 has crisper and more open presentation, while the E5000 are more relax and take fuller presentation manner. The VG4 has better detail retrieval and sparkle amount.

Soundstage and imaging
The soundstage are wider on VG4, the imaging are also better on VG4 as well.


Etymotic ER4XR ($305USD)

Bass
The sub bass and bass on ER4 are a lot less than E5000, The bass has overall warmer presentation on E5000 compare to cleaner ER4. The sub bass has better extension and decay on E5000. The ER4 has good speed and clarity on the bass, while the E5000 has more punch and impact with more weight on bass. The bass has slightly better detail on ER4.

Mids
The midrange are lusher and fuller on E5000, while the ER4 are toward the neutral, both of them has pretty smooth presentation. The E5000 has more bodies on lower midrange, and sound more lusher. The upper midrange on ER4 are more forward and lively, while the E5000 has natural and smooth presentation. The detail and clarity are better on ER4, the ER4 also has more transparency level.

Treble
The treble are both smooth and warm, but ER4 are slightly more brighter. The ER4 has more crisp and airiness in the treble, where the E5000 take the natural manner. The upper treble are more open on ER4. The detail and clarity are slightly better on ER4. The treble can extended further in the E5000, but it has pretty laid back presentation.

Soundstage and imaging
The soundstage on both are pretty similar.
The imaging is better on E5000, while the ER4 has better layering.


Obravo Cupid (around$250-350USD）

Bass
The sub bass on both has good decay and extension, the quantity is slightly ore on the Cupid. The bass has more quantity on the E5000, and it has more warmer presentation, while the Cupid are cleaner. The bass on both provide good impact and rumble, but the Cupid has better punch and overall faster speed. The clarity is better on the Cupid.

Mids
The midrange are more engaging and thin on the Cupid, while the E5000 has more relax and lusher presentation. The lower midrange has slightly more bodies on E5000, it has slightly fuller presentation compare to Cupid. The upper midrange has more emphasis on Cupid, it provide more lively expression, while the E5000 are slightly fuller. The midrange detail retrieval are both similar, but the Cupid did better jobs in term of transparency and clarity.

Treble
The treble has more crisper and opener tonality on Cupid, while the treble on E5000 are laid back and slightly darker. The Cupid has better extension with more crisp and airiness on the top end, while the E5000 has more natural expression. The treble detail and clarity are better on Cupid.

Soundstage and imaging
The soundstage are larger on Cupid and feel more open.
The imaging are better on the Cupid


Tansio Mirai TSMR-4PRO ($319USD)

Bass
The E5000 has fuller and warmer bass, while the bass on 4PRO are cleaner and tighter. The sub bass has more quantity on E5000, with more rumble and better dynamic, on the other hand, the 4 PRO provide quicker and less organic bass. The bass has more depth on the E5000, where the 4PRO has better control. The detail retrieval and and clarity are better on 4PRO.

Mids
The midrange has more organic and fuller presentation on E5000, while the 4PRO has cleaner and neutral type on presentation. The E5000 has more bodies and sound lusher on E5000, while the 4PRO provide better depth and clarity, it also sound relatively cleaner. The upper midrange sound more vividly and detailed on 4PRO, whereas the E5000 has slightly warmer tonality, with forwarded presentation. The detail retrieval and clarity are way more better on E5000.

Treble
There are more energy and sound clearer on the 4PRO, while the E5000 sound more laid back. The lower treble has more brightness and with more pronounced on the 4PRO, while the E5000 are more laid back and less vividly here. The 4PRO has more air and sparkle on upper treble, the E5000 has rounded and smoother upper treble presentation. The treble’s detail retrieval and clarity are better on the 4PRO.


Soundstage and imaging
The soundstage are wider and deeper on 4PRO.
The imaging are better on 4PRO as well.




Conclusion
The E4000 and E5000 are really amazing IEM for the single dynamic driver. they are beautifully made and well finished in high standard. Both of them sound smooth and natural, but the E4000 has more lively and engaging vocal presentation, while the E5000 has more warm and lush vocal presentation. Regarding to the tonality, E4000 are more balanced and sound clear (doesn't mean the E5000 don’t have a good clarity), whereas the E5000 are more bassy and sound warmer. Both of them sound relaxing, and they are the good deal for long term listening. HAPPY LISTENING!

Snext-Final audio website: https://snext-final.com/en/
Final audio E4000 product page: https://snext-final.com/en/products/detail/E4000
Final audio E5000 product page: https://snext-final.com/en/products/detail/E5000

I can not bear to read another review that contains detailed descriptions of graphs and various measurements. I prefer to listen with my ears and write based on the feeling I get from listening.

So much has already been written about the Final E series by now that it may seem pointless to read (or write for that matter) another one. But in fact I think most reviewers completely misses the point of owning Final E5000.

First things first: Final E5000 is not just a bass cannon that is for EDM and hip hop exclusively. To me, this is more like an all-rounder if you got a real specific taste. It’s sophisticated but not analytical. It’s the closest think I’ve come to having a tube amp inside my ears.



What I mean by the above is that almost everything sounds cozy as a campfire by the lake. Ok it is not suitable for fast and hard metal, so to call it an all-rounder is not completely true. But it's the closest to the perfect all-rounder Iv'e been so far. Rock, jazz, pop, hip hop, EDM and fine-tuned acoustic music - everything sounds so incredibly right. But the bass can be a tad to much, if you use the stock tips. The stock tips by the way, I really don’t get the hype. In a lot of reviews, you see them being compared to Spinfits. To me they are not even close to the comfiness that I associate with say the CP100. But all ears are different of course.

So it's really not the most natural IEM out there, far from it. Rather, it is the equivalent of a pair of Koss Porta Pro connected to a tube amplifier, but way more sophisticated. The sound will be quite colored, but so damn wonderful and cool to listen to. The only downside is that I had to switch to a balanced cable. Something I otherwise dismiss as BS, but which becomes necessary here. With their incredibly low sensitivity, a balanced cable connected to my Hiby R3 Pro is the only way I can power them on the go. Even my Quad DAC in my LG phone gets short of breath from trying to power these. Why make something so portable so hostile to portable players?



Then again to make these bullets really shine, you should try and connect them to something with a lot of power. Iv’e paired them with my Technics SU-G700 integrated amplifier the last couple of days, listening to everything from old jazz recordings to modern rock music. And Iv’e gotta say, I think this is pretty close to audio paradise to my ears.

I would also like to thank the Swedish company Ilicon for this. You see me and ear tips really don’t get along that great, I must have some freak of nature ears or something, cause it’s almost impossible to find the perfect fit. That’s why I did let Ilicon 3D scan my ears to make some custom ear tips, as you can see in the picture below.



These custom tips really did take care of that bass. Don’t get me wrong, these are still pretty bass heavy. But with these custom tips helps to make the bass a bit more controlled. So that I never get that feeling of the bass being a bit to much in acoustic recordings anymore. The removable filters let you adjust the level of isolation to fit your needs. My filter will be the lowest level of isolation, 12db.

The filter equalizes the pressure in the ear in a controlled way and when the sound leaks linearly from the outside to the inside, the idea is that it also leaks sound just as linearly from the music plug and outwards. So that the frequency response you actually hear from the headphones is optimally correct.

Is it weird that I’m not giving the E5000 the highest score? Especialy since I would call these IEMs my favorite IEMs in all categories, something I would not want to live without. Yes, it’s pretty weird. But so is the 93dB sensitivity, making these close to impossible to drive with anything less than a real powerful amp. I mean I can’t even drive these with my R3 Pro without using a balanced cable.