stereoguide.com
  • Home
  • Bluetooth Speakers
    • Home/Indoor
    • Mobile/Outdoor
    • Stereo Speaker Sets
    • Bluetooth Speaker Ranking
  • Headphones
    • In-Ears
    • On-Ear/Over-Ear
    • Noise-Cancelling
    • True Wireless
    • Headphones Ranking
  • Hi-Fi
    • WIFI Onebox
    • WIFI Stereo
    • Soundbars
    • Hi-Fi Ranking
  • Car-Hi-Fi
    • Car Hi-Fi reviews
    • Car-Hi-Fi reports
    • Car Hi-Fi Ranking
  • Guides
    • Buying Guides
    • Technology
    • Acoustics
    • Streaming
  • About us
    • Our approach
    • About us
  • English
stereoguide.com
  • Home
  • Bluetooth Speakers
    • Home/Indoor
    • Mobile/Outdoor
    • Stereo Speaker Sets
    • Bluetooth Speaker Ranking
  • Headphones
    • In-Ears
    • On-Ear/Over-Ear
    • Noise-Cancelling
    • True Wireless
    • Headphones Ranking
  • Hi-Fi
    • WIFI Onebox
    • WIFI Stereo
    • Soundbars
    • Hi-Fi Ranking
  • Car-Hi-Fi
    • Car Hi-Fi reviews
    • Car-Hi-Fi reports
    • Car Hi-Fi Ranking
  • Guides
    • Buying Guides
    • Technology
    • Acoustics
    • Streaming
  • About us
    • Our approach
    • About us
  • English
stereoguide.com
Home » Headphones » In-Ears » Final B-3 review
In-Ears

Final B-3 review

Warm audiophile sound like from really big hi-fi headphones
Stereo GuideBy Stereo Guide12. December 2021
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tumblr WhatsApp Email
In-Ear Final B-3 against white background
The in-ear Final B-3 is recommended for top sound on the go. (Photo: Final)
90%
90%

+ outstandingly natural, slightly warm sound
+ transparent and spacious, yet detailed
+ ideal for long listening, never exhausting
- less spectacular, low bass doesn't pop as much
- external amplification necessary for higher dynamics

  • Sound: Tonal Balance / Transparency
    10
  • Sound: Bass / Dynamics
    9
  • Ease-of-use / Connectivity
    8
  • Price/Performace
    9

500 Euro is certainly a lot of money for a passive InEar-earphone, which still needs a corresponding control. But for the Japanese headphone specialist, the Final B-3 only ranks in the middle class. However, if you take the set in hand, you get the impression to get a good value here. Everything feels quality and sturdy – from the tightly woven cable to the earphones’ perceived quite heavy, bead-blasted stainless steel housings and finely graduated earpieces.

The philosophy of whether in-ear headphones should be equipped with a full-range driver or a multi-way system has always divided the high-end minds. Final has several philosophies in its portfolio, and is looking for a happy medium with the B-3. It is true that the B-3 has a full-range driver, in which all audible frequencies are converted by the same diaphragm. However, it is connected to an additional tweeter that runs along the top. Both are designed as transducers known under the name Balanced-Armature. They are similar to the dynamic principle with electromagnetic voice coil and membrane. However, here the electromagnet through which the music signal flows moves with its two ends in two inversely polarized magnetic fields. This allows an extremely low moving mass, and problems with inhomogeneous magnetic fields and resonances are also almost non-existent. A pair of them provides higher sound pressure and reduces the risk of resonances and cancellations in the pressure chamber and the sound channels.

Practicality and intended use

The Final B-3 is a passive in-ear headphone, so it requires a headphone preamp or a suitably potent smartphone with an analog output. In testing, commercially available modern smartphones delivered enough voltage to drive the B-3 to perfectly adequate volumes for pop, rock and jazz. However, anyone who listens to classical music with quiet passages or likes to have a bit more dynamics at the ear should definitely consider purchasing a mobile music player or D/A converter with higher output power.

Only a symmetrically branching cable with a 3.5 mm jack plug is supplied as a connector, so a headset function is not provided. The cables are fed to the capsules from the front and then routed over the ears to the back. A retaining bracket not only makes the construct more stable. It also provides a secure grip when moving, although you can feel the slightly increased weight of the steel case when moving.

The Final B-3 must be placed tightly in the ear canal, rubber earmolds in 5 different sizes are supplied. In the test, each test person found their matching earpieces. Fortunately, the sound channels don’t have to be pushed in too deep, so the feeling in the ear is quite comfortable. At most, test persons with small ear cups can feel the rather angular case slightly resting against the back or top.

This is how the Final B-3 sounds: amazingly warm and audiophile

Right off the bat, the B-3 pleased with an all-around balanced sound that didn’t neglect the ends of the audible spectrum, but didn’t emphasize them either. Unfortunately, this is often the case with in-ear headphones. Compared to the almost overbrilliant, considerably more expensive Sennheiser IE 900, the Final B-3 held back somewhat in the brilliance range with details. On the other hand, voices sounded warmer and more homogeneous than on many competitors, regardless of whether they were on classical, jazz or pop recordings. These often have an emphasis on brilliance in favor of more detail resolution. But this was by no means at the expense of audibility. The B-3 also staggered larger choirs and big bands cleanly and transparently in all details.

The low frequencies blended very harmoniously into the sound spectrum, but remained inconspicuous for the most part. Only with really deep and bass-rich recordings did the B-3 show its low-frequency qualities offensively. It remained true to impulse, even if you may have experienced bass drum hits elsewhere that were harder and richer.

Room imaging is not really the profession of Inear listeners. But at the final, the stage was easy to guess at classical or jazz recordings. The sound image was broad and, as far as possible with this transducer principle, also at an appropriate distance to the listener, largely without the annoying inhead localisation. Especially those who appreciate wide-ranging, diffuse-field equalized over-ear headphones will finally find this sound ideal as an in-ear with the Final B-3.

Conclusion and alternatives to the Final B-3

With its tendency towards slightly warm sound tuning and almost perfect balance of resolution, dynamics and three-dimensionality, the Final B-3 runs somewhat counter to current sound trends. In contrast to him, they tend towards explosive dynamics and resolution. If you’re looking for a high-end InEar with more detailed tuning, there are plenty on the market, such as the Sennheiser IE 300 and the Ultrasone IQ Pro. If you like it warm, spacious and soft, the Final is an excellent choice and even cheaper than the Ultrasone Ruby Sunrise.

  • Price: approx. 500 $
  • Type: In-Ear
  • Transducer principle: Dual BA driver without crossover
  • Nominal impedance: 19 Ohm
  • Weight: 32 g
  • Special Features: MMCX connector, silver coated OFC cable.
  • More at: www.final-inc.com
  • JBL Club ONE review
  • Grell TWS/1 review
  • Headphones Ranking

Stereo Guide – Das HiFi-Magazin Favivon
Stereo Guide

On Stereo Guide you will find competent and objective tests for Bluetooth speakers, headphones and car HiFi by experienced journalists.

Related Posts

Yamaha TW-E7B TWS review

Classic hi-fi gear in a nutshell open for EQ tweaking

Yamaha TW-E7B TWS review

Beyerdynamic Xelento 2 Wireless review

Shiny finish, awkward concept, sensational sound quality win!

Beyerdynamic Xelento 2 Wireless review

Apple AirPods Pro 2 review

Raising the bar and entering a new world

Apple AirPods Pro 2 review

Denon AH-C830NCW review

Finally puristic ANC TWS for true Audiophiles

Denon AH-C830NCW review

Comments are closed.

Recent Posts
  • Marshall Middleton review
  • Tronsmart Halo 100 review
  • JBL Quantum 910 review
  • Yamaha TW-E7B TWS review

Marshall Middleton review

Please set off this bass firework only outdoors!

Marshall Middleton review

The still compact Marshall bar is a true bass and dynamic wonder for outdoor use. In the home, on the other hand, it does not fit everywhere.

Tronsmart Halo 100 review

The smile it takes: maxi bass for a mini price plus facial expressions

Tronsmart Halo 100 review

The Tronsmart Halo 100 offered great sound with rich bass for the price of smaller Bluetooth speakers in the test. But his style is not so adult.

JBL Quantum 910 review

One for all? This gaming flagship offers top-notch connectivity

JBL Quantum 910 review

JBL´s top-notch gaming headphones offer a bunch features such as head-tracking and ANC. Soundwise, one has to take tought decisions…

Yamaha TW-E7B TWS review

Classic hi-fi gear in a nutshell open for EQ tweaking

Yamaha TW-E7B TWS review

These NC TWS offer pretty extended dynamics, rich bass and natural NC. If you experience somewhat brittle mids: use the powerful in-app EQ.

Bose Soundlink Micro review

One for the Road: Probably the most portable Bose speaker

Bose Soundlink Micro review

The mobile Bluetooth speaker Bose Soundlink Micro scores with water resistance and is the ideal companion in backpacks and handbags.

Sony SRS-XB23 review

Want some tube sound for less than 100 bucks?

Sony SRS-XB23 review

The Sony is an elegantly tube-shaped decently-sounding bluetooth speaker and offers full-fledged playback indoors as well as for outdoor use.

Bose Soundlink Flex review

Flex sells: maximum dynamics from a flat speaker?

Bose Soundlink Flex review

The Bose Soundlink Flex showed strong points as being the most mature sounding flat speaker. But it is certainly not the most audiophile one.

Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless review

Finally: audiophile sound plus Noise Cancellation

Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless review

The Gen 4 of Sennheiser´s wireless traveler´s headphones offer excellent noise-canceling and audiophile natural sound, but less effects.

Klipsch Heritage Groove review

Lots of dynamics with retro style

Klipsch Heritage Groove review

The Klipsch Heritage Groove offers fine retro design and sound characteristics alkik: For its size, it proved to be pretty dynamic and speedy.

Logitech G935 review

Add some sci-fi style taillights to your gaming experience!

Logitech G935 review

Logitech´s G935 gaming headset is a bit outdated in terms of battery life but offers premium surround sound, software and some lightshow.

Skullcandy PLYR review

Call it a comeback with really unique design

Skullcandy PLYR review

Skullcandy´s multi-platform wireless headset turned out to offer outstanding wearing comfort and great software but is also versatile.

Review: Marshall Woburn 3 with HDMI

Tower of power - will it replace your hi-fi-system?

Review: Marshall Woburn 3 with HDMI

Marshall´s Woburn III does not look any different than its predecessor. But it was the bass-richest onebox system ever and lots of fun.

Beyerdynamic Xelento 2 Wireless review

Shiny finish, awkward concept, sensational sound quality win!

Beyerdynamic Xelento 2 Wireless review

An awkward concept, but a sensational win in terms of sound quality: Beyerdynamic´s Xelento Wireless 2 Gen is a true audiophile masterpiece.

Marshall Stanmore 3 review

The new Marshall plan brings rock´n roll to you!

Marshall Stanmore 3 review

The Marshall Stanmore 3 is a really mature bluetooth speaker. It is easy to operate and gets you plenty of bass, SPL and live feeling.

Apple AirPods Pro 2 review

Raising the bar and entering a new world

Apple AirPods Pro 2 review

Get the max of music experience in Apple´s small world: The new AirPods Pro 2 are simply best in-ears for iPhone offering cool new features.

  • Home
  • Data protection
  • Imprint
© 2023 Stereo Guide

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

Manage cookie consent
We use cookies to optimize our website and service.
Functional Always active
Technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the lawful purpose of enabling the use of a particular service expressly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a message over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access used solely for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, the voluntary consent of your Internet service provider, or additional records from third parties, the information stored or accessed for this purpose alone generally cannot be used to identify you.
Marketing
Technical storage or access is necessary to create user profiles, to send advertisements, or to track the user on a website or across multiple websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage vendors Read more about these purposes
Settings
{title} {title} {title}