Build quality and comfort:
If you’re familiar with Final Audio’s other full sized headphones you will not be surprised by the looks of their new planar addition, as it features their signature core design. It however is their first open back in their portfolio.
The earcups are made out of machined aluminium magnesium alloy and are coated to mimic a leathery look, like you can see on many cameras. I’ve been told that this coating also helps against minute vibrations. Both earcups can be adjusted in height by sliding up or down on the metal hangers. This guarantees that you will always find the correct placement of each side. Additionally, they are seated on a ball and socket joint to find the best angle.
The cables are replaceable and have a simple, yet smart, twist locking mechanism to ensure they’re in there safely and don’t come off by the slightest tear. The cables are terminated to mono mini-jacks on each side. I believe they are silver plated copper, but don’t quote me on that. They are marked with colored rings around the connectors. Red for right, white for left. To find the correct side Final has put L/R markings on the bottom of each metal slider.
The included earpads are, according to Final Audio, also newly developed. They are subjected as open type and are here to help the D8000 achieve its outstanding sound qualities. Most of the headphone is kept in black, while these earpads are coming in midnight blue. In my opinion they make the headphones appeal more interesting in looks, though I can see why some might find them a bit odd. I’m not sure if the earpads can be user replaced.
The top of the headband is covered in black leather, underneath which is a padding for better comfort. I wished for a better weight suspension, as the 523 grams are quite something to have on your head.
Clamping force of the D8000 is excellent, I never had any problems with them being too tight, yet moving your head gives the headphones the opportunity to fall down of it. I have often found myself catching them gliding off my head when looking down for example.
Sound:
My experience with Final Audio headphones so far has been limited to their Sonorous VI (formerly known as Pandora Hope VI). Which is a hybrid headphone that utilizes a single balanced armature driver for high notes. Although it has its own strengths I have moved away from it because of comfort issues. The BA often pushed against my ear causing discomfort, but other than that it was a great headphone.
On top of that, the D8000 also is the first higher end planar magnetic I have heard extensively. I don’t consider the Audeze EL-8 high end, especially not the pre-2016 version I had. I’ve had my pleasure with some high priced HiFiMAN’s and Audeze’s at shows, but I don’t consider those impressions profound enough to truly know these headphones. On top show conditions are less than sub-par to get a decent understanding of the sound of one headphone…
Knowing all this now, you might understand where I’m coming from and that I really appreciated the time I had with the Final headphones.
Mainly I have been using the D8000 at home, directly plugged into my Chord Electronics Hugo2. My living space doesn’t allow a full-sized headphone system to reside anywhere. So portable audio it is for me. With trans/portable gear getting better and better I honestly don’t mind.
When I first listened to the D8000 I was a bit shocked by the full body these headphones bring forward, in a good way though. The entire picture is very organic and very well balanced. What I also noticed early on is that the Final is very much en par in terms of sound stage and layering with my Sennheiser HD800S. Everyone that has heard the HD800 and/or HD800S knows that especially this is an area where the Senn shines.
Sound stage of the D8000 stretches far into width and depth with a deep dark background. I was really surprised to hear so much details out of a headphone with such an organic and a bit darker tone. Separation is top notch with good amounts of air between the instruments giving imaging enhanced qualities. Resolution and rendering is of top shelf quality with sniper like precision.
Bass is very well layered and textured, with great body and very nice sub bass foundation giving it a rounder and dynamic shape. Lows reach deep with good punch and leave mids alone as they’re supposed to. They don’t blend in, overshadowing the midrange’s clarity. Bass is well controlled, fast and stays in line even with more demanding bass heavy music.
Mids are very organic and give the instruments a real life-like factor. They sport a certain amount of harmony and blood in them giving especially instrumental pieces a very pleasing appearance. Midrange is well layered and separated and comes in more or less linear with lower mids a bit more north of neutral than the rest. Mids aren’t exactly classified as rich or thick, but rather neutral and real, giving them an almost uncolored presentation.
Treble maybe is the one region that is a bit laid back, yet highs have great clarity. They don’t shimmer overly bright, but bring out very fine details. Highs again aren’t overly rich, but neutrally organic. Personally, I like my treble rich and energetic, but the Final approach certainly is refreshing and very welcome in my ears. The D8000 never became sibilant, harsh or aggressive in highs.
Page three for Sources, Comparisons and Conclusion!
dale thorn
So if you were coming to the 8000 with a need to hear an accurate high end for DSD and other high-res tracks of piano and orchestra, would the treble be accurate enough, or need boosting. In my case with the Pandora VI, I found the treble to be similar to the HD800 in most respects.
Linus
Hi Dale,
yes, true the Pandora Hope VI indeed shares some similarities with the HD800.
I never felt the urge to adjust anything with the D8000…
Barun C
Pandora VI still holds up today, despite introduction of a barrage of headphones in the $699 to $999 range.
dale thorn
I don’t remember the exact weight of the Pandora VI, but I do remember a feature that the Pandora VI had in common with the Grado PS1000e. Both of those sitting on my head felt like big bowls of water, like ice cube trays without the dividers inside that keep the individual cubes separate. So any head movement would have the water sloshing around, which was very problematic. Not literally water of course, but that’s what they felt like. So I had to keep my head very still.
Barun C
Pandora VI are almost as heavy as Planar Magnetic models of Audeze, it never bothered me while listening for long sessions, but once I take them off, it is like a relief.
JBL E55BT
I do not think I love him. If it is heavy enough when worn !
dale thorn
Heavy isn’t so much the problem. The problem I had with the Pandora VI and the Grado PS1000e were how the weight would shift around on my head with the slightest head movements. If there were a way to secure the headphone from shifting, that would make the biggest difference.
John
I would love to know if the bass on these is high quality or if it is overblown. I would also love to know more about the treble. I also own the 800S and love it, but it gets bright at times. You’ve already said that the d8000 treble is not as bright as the 800S, but do you feel it still presents all the details or does it seem too rolled off and loses the microdynamics? Thanks in advance!