From Final
Final’s flagship model realizes transparent sound for the uplift that can be gained by listening to music. Development of the A8000 began with reconstruction of physical measurement and subjective evaluation methodologies. Under the subjective evaluation methodology established at the time of D8000's development, the E Series achieved sound quality highly evaluated by many people and became a best seller. With the A8000, a new evaluation index has been incorporated into that subjective evaluation methodology.
Among factors that determine sound quality for earphones and headphones, amplitude frequency response is predominant, but there are some sound impression cannot be explained by it. For example, the most critically evaluated aspect of classical music recordings is called transparent sound, a sound impression by which sound is very clear even it is localized at a distant location. We have been considering the realization of this sound impression to be extremely important for becoming uplifted by listening to music. We believe that the high evaluation of our D8000 headphones owes to the realization of such transparent sound. Until now, we have employed modification of the amplitude frequency response, known as tuning, to modify the sound of our earphones, but because it cannot make a great change to time response, it became difficult to achieve transparent sound through tuning.
This time, with the aim of achieving transparent sound for earphones, final has developed its own proprietary Perceptual Transparency Measurement (PTM) evaluation methodology. As a result of evaluation and improvement of interrelations between principal components analyzed by the results of subjective evaluation and data analysis of impulse response that could not be gleaned from frequency response in the past, an ideal diaphragm material that is extremely light and possessing high sound speed comprised of ultra-thin Beryllium foil (Truly Pure Beryllium Diaphragm) has been adopted for the A8000.
The volume and shape of the chambers in front of and behind the dynamic drive unit have a great impact on sound quality. Particularly, operation of the newly developed true Beryllium driver is extremely delicate, and it is impacted greatly by the spaces in the chassis. The internal design of the chassis can be calculated to some extent through simulations, but after that repeated trials of an actual product must be conducted until the sound quality targets are reached. For the A8000, in order to optimize operation of the driver, the inside of the driver unit chassis is divided into four chambers (Tetra-Chamber Construction); the driver ante-chamber and the double construction driver post-chamber and the MMCX connector portion are separated into different chasses. The driver is direct mounted into the ante-chamber of the chassis by a design that suppresses unnecessary vibration to achieve a distinct sound contour. Additionally, the use of four chambers achieves a balance between volume and tightness in the low-range while at the same time preventing leakage of sound.
MMCX Connector＆Original High Purity OFC Silver Coated Cable
The MMCX connector was developed in-company. We've used high-purity OFC silver coated cables that provide a wide sound stage. These jointly-developed cables were originally designed by and are currently manufactured by the well-renowned Junkosha corporation for the purpose of being used with the supercomputer "Kei" due to their fast signal transmission speed. The insulator film is made from PFA which was also developed by Junkosha who used their extensive know-how through the JUNFLON® brand to create the ultimate in low-permittivity material. The outer tube is made from PVC for maximum flexibility. The user will experience surprising flexibility that both makes the cable extremely easy to use as well as reducing the likelihood of microphonics. In addition, the MMCX plug and the 3.5 mm mini-plug have a tendency to disconnect so we've far exceeded the regular QA pass criteria of a 5,000-time bend test by changing the connection design to one that can withstand more than 50,000 bends.
Junkosha: The Japanese corporation Junkosha develops and manufactures products such as high speed coaxial cables that boast the world's fastest transmission speed at 95% the speed of light, as well as cables for demanding fields such as marine and aerospace, healthcare and power generation facilities. These special cables require a high level of technology and center around fluoropolymers. Junkosha's cables are often called by the brand name JUNFLON® and have earned the tremendous trust of engineers requiring special-purpose cables.
MMCX Assist for Easy Plug Removal
An item for the smooth insertion and removal of earphone cables using an MMCX connector. Using MMCX Assist the plug can be removed with surprising ease by applying proper force to the MMCX connector in the direction for cable removal. It also prevents the contingency of the cable from becoming severed by mistakenly pulling on the cable portion of the MMCX connector plug.
Ear Hooks that Alleviate Cable Touch Noise (Incorporates Lock Mechanism)
An ear hook is effective in reducing touch noise; wearing it when walking dramatically reduces the unpleasant rustling sound that may occur when the cable rubs against the body (cable touch noise). In the past, our company’s ear hooks have characteristically been slimmer than ordinary and virtually indistinguishable from a wire or rosin filled cable, making it so comfortable that it is easy to forget that one is even wearing it. This time we have newly added a cable lock mechanism.
Original Eartips with a Color Difference Between the Left and Right Bushes
Two types of silicon differing in rigidity are employed for the sound conduit and for the earbud that comes into contact with the user’s ear. The silicon used for the sound conduit is more rigid than that used for the earbud, and by having groove processing applied to it, combines both strength and flexibility. Soft silicon has been employed for the earbud, making for a comfortable fit and a high level of sound insulation.
One of the bushes is gray, while the other is red; by pulling the earpiece back slightly to check the color of the bush, it is easy to distinguish between left and right, even in places with subdued lighting. Since the bush colors of neighboring sizes are different (the gray bushes alternate between dark and light gray; the red bushes alternate between red and pink), it is also easy to distinguish between sizes.
Comes in 5 sizes – SS/S/M/L/LL
Specs
- Housing: Stainless
- Driver: Dynamic driver（Truly Pure Beryllium Diaphragm)
- Connector: MMCX
- Cable: OFC silver coated cable
- Sensitivity: 102dB
- Impedance: 16Ω
- Weight: 41g
- Cord length: 1.2m
In the Box
- Aluminum & Silicone hybrid carry case
- MMCX Assist
- Eartips (E type, 5 sizes)
- Ear hooks
- Replacement dust filter