Hi, How would you rate/describe B3 and E5k? As they are not at the same price range, I am curious if B3 is that better than E5k. Thx.
hi! Sorry for the late reply. Was out for the weekend.
Both Final e5k and B3 are very different IEMs.
I wouldn't say one is better than the other, as they both excel in their own categories.
Final B3 focuses more on clarity, air, and details, while e5k focuses more on timbre, midrange, and bass.
The Final B3 wouldn't beat something like the Moondrop Blessing 2 in terms of "sheer resolution", however I would argue that its presentation of details is more natural and pleasant than the Blessing 2. The Blessing 2 feels "forced". Not to mention the terrible glassy timbre of the Blessing 2. Soundstage on the Blessing 2 is quite flat too albeit wide. On the B3 it is much more full with good depth and height.
In terms of bass, the Final B3's bass is actually pretty good for a BA. It is nowhere as full and dynamic as Sony's BA bass (M7 & M9), let alone the e5k,
but it is better than most of chifi's BA bass—which are mostly overly dry and unnatural sounding.
Treble on the B3 is pretty great too. While e5k leans towards a more dark, smooth, and non-fatiguing sounding treble, the treble on the B3 is much more extended, airy, and engaging.
Now moving on to the Final e5k. The best way to describe how it sounds is "euphoric". Absolutely fantastic bass, thick luscious mids, fantastic timbre, big soundstage that "wraps" around your head, smooth non-fatiguing treble, fantastic macrodynamics. Some say is the closest you can get to HD6X0 with tubes, but in the form of an IEM.
I've tried many IEMs, including TOTL ones like Sony M9 and Elysian Annihilator, nothing sounds like the Final E series line, especially the e3k and e5k.