Audio brand Final are a brand I have only had limited experience with and have only reviewed the Final VR3000 gaming earbuds. So when I got the chance to review the Final Audio UX3000 overhead headphones their first over-ear headphones I jumped at the chance.
Final Audio are a brand that produces budget-friendly products that offer decent sound quality. So let’s see if they live up to my expectations.
Unboxing
The Final Audio UX3000 comes with some simple accessories they provide you with a carry pouch, USB-C charging cable and 3.5mm AUX cable for that wired connection.
First Impressions
The Final UX3000 do not look overly unique they are made of plastic with small ear cups with faux leather padding but use a coating called shibro which protects the outside of the earcups from getting dirty. I have been using them for the last few weeks now and they are comfortable for short periods of time, however, the band did feel a little tight and the result was a little ear fatigue, especially after a long period of use.
Design
In addition to the plastic build, the headphones come with a single sensor microphone that allows the headphones to interpret ambient environmental characteristics with sensors both inside and outside the earcups and has an impact on the ANC that is offered with these headphones.
Speaking of the ANC when testing these you do get a mixed bag in terms of results. When on the train and stuck next to a group of ladies chatting the ANC was not massively effective. However, when used in the office the sounds of keyboards and the AC was reduced significantly this was also the same for louder outside noises down the street was also removed.
As you might expect the UX3000 being Final Audio’s first over-ear design they have made a focus on attention to detail and it shows provides a premium feel even with that plastic build. As mentioned the cups come with that faux leather that covers the foam that sits around your ears.
The headband is covered in the same material as the cups and uses a mixture of faux leather and padding. The headband is also easy to adjust to your head size without putting too much pressure on your ears.
The headphones are also nice and lightweight at only 260g meaning you will forget they are even on your head after long sessions. They are also useful for travelling as they can fold down allowing easy storage and you can also the included travel bag for a little extra protection when not in use.
Moving on to the controls they are positioned at the bottom of the earcups. On the left cup, you have that ANC button and USB-C port for charging. Please note you need to turn the ANC off when finished using the headphones otherwise it will drain the battery.
On the right cup, you have the power button, plus the volume/track control buttons.
Connectivity
The Final UX3000 supports Bluetooth 5.0 and also allow a multipoint connection. The pairing was seamless and we did not notice any dropouts. They also provide the following codecs for high res audio:
- SBC
- AAC
- aptX
- aptX Low Latency
Battery Life
In terms of battery life, the Final did not disappoint they state 35 hours of playback which decreased to 25 hours when ANC is switched on which is to be expected. and when tested them they gave a fairly accurate result I got 33 hours without ANC and with ANC that dropped to 24 hours which I was pleased with. If you get to the stage when the battery drops to a low level you will get a reminder with plenty of battery life.
Audio Quality
Final really delivers when it comes to the soundstage you get a wide soundstage with easy to localize spatial imaging. I have tested these with a wide range of tracks and you get a good amount of breathability in regards to separation. In terms of spatial audio, the imaging appears more natural while stereo imaging is accurate.
Moving to the overall sound quality the UX3000 come with a light level of tuning. You get a slight elevation in the bass and this results in a slight adjustment of the top-end. The EQ comes with a wave-shaped curve than anything more drastic.
The only downside is you get no app to customise the EQ as you get with other brands.
Lows/Mids/Highs
The UX3000 provide a good amount of bass offering some smooth subs and extended mid-bass. The bass will perform well without overshadowing the mids of highs.
When you consider the mids they do tend to get a little lost every now again but not to the degree they become overwhelmed by the lows and highs. You will also notice some of the fundamental midrange section is missing but the low-mids are emphasized along with some upper-midrange clarity.
The highs are the best part of the sound signature. There is a good bite to the frequencies that provides a consistently enjoyable experience. The highs don’t go overly bright but you will notice slight piercing elements in the mid-highs that were noticeable.
Overall the UX300 never lacks quality and as a result, the accuracy of the headphones are good with or without the ANC. Listening to music provides lots of rapid frequency changes like when your listing to house music. You really notice the punchy bass that adds to the overall sound quality.
Final UX300 ANC Mode
As you might expect when you switch on the ANC it will change the overall sound profile. When ANC is on the sound has more room at each end of the scale at the same time unaffecting the bass and treble. The change in sound is a positive experience.
In addition to the ANC, you also get a hybrid ANC feature that works well in blocking out the majority of unwanted low-level noise but also performs well in louder environments. Remember this is Final Audio’s first overhead headphones the ANC performed very well but still left room for improvement.
Verdict
We have been testing the Final Audio UX3000 and I have been impressed at their first attempt at overhead headphones. The price point is in a budget-friendly part of the market sitting at £119 they offer excellent value for money.
Final’s audio tuning has produced a well-performing pair of headphones that are unaffected even when the ANC is switched on. The overall sound quality is performed regardless of the type of music and you will notice when you switch the ANC on you get an extra level of depth to the soundstage.
The hybrid noise cancellation is also a big benefit it works really well and reduces a good amount of unwanted noise. I have tested a number of ANC headphones a lot disappoint you this was not the case with the UX3000. They stand up very well compared to some more expensive models.
My only negative was the design the plastic makes it feel a little cheap and the lack of colour options was also a disappointment. Some users might also miss the fact you cant customise the EQ due to the lack of an app. So overall if you’re looking for a budget-friendly pair of headphones these will bring you joy.
Product Rating:
Design: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars
Conectivity: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0
Battery Life: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0
Audio Quality: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars
ANC Quality: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0
Overall Rating: 4.6 out of 5.0 stars – 4.6 Stars
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