Final ignites the next stage of its ASMR offensive: with the ZE500 for ASMR, the Japanese company is launching a true wireless in-ear that shrinks the cult sound of the wired E500 into a tiny Bluetooth case. The buds transmit via Bluetooth 5.4, support the SBC and AAC codecs and deliver up to 4.5 hours of battery life per charge; together with the 350 mAh case, this means around 18 hours. Thanks to the quick-charging function, ten minutes at the socket is enough for an extra hour of listening pleasure, and if you want to do without cables altogether, simply place the case on the Qi pad.
The real highlight is in the sound tuning: Final focuses the drivers uncompromisingly on close-up voices, clearly separates speech components from the background and increases the spatial resolution compared to the previous COTSUBU series. This makes whispered videos, audio books or late-night streams particularly immersive without high frequencies stinging. At the same time, a newly developed “ASMR port” absorbs excess pressure in the ear canal, relieves pressure on the eardrum and prevents heat build-up – crucial if you fall asleep with the headphones on.
The ZE500s are around 35 percent smaller than the already tiny COTSUBU models to facilitate precisely this use; an integrated, soft ear tip seals the ear canal flat and remains inconspicuous even when lying on the side of the pillow. A special ASMR mode can be activated via the app, which mutes the touch sensor and system announcements so that no typing or speech noises disturb your sleep. The app can also be used to adjust the volume levels more precisely than the smartphone allows – helpful if every level seems too loud or too quiet in a quiet environment.
Unique usage profile
With this combination of mini-format, near-voice tuning and comfort features, Final is positioning the ZE500 as perhaps the most convenient true wireless solution for ASMR fans and content creators: mobile enough for the control monitor, unobtrusive enough for the pillow. The Final ZE500 is now available from authorized retailers for a recommended retail price of 74.99 euros.
