Website author headshot
Cameron Oatley
ExtremeHiFi
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi

Note that this is a discontinued product. You may want to visit the brand's page here to browse their newer products.

What reviewers think

Bloggers and YouTubers have tried this product—so we've summarized their strongest opinions below. Links to full reviews follow.

Product Strengths

  • Natural sound, evoking a dynamic driver sound but with planar magnetic performance
  • Excellent resolution, while maintaining smooth treble
  • Holographic stereo image, which contributes to its lifelike character
  • Good layering and separation of instruments
  • Incredibly wide and tall soundstage, providing a very dynamic experience

Product Considerations

  • Bass extension is not spectacular, with noticeable roll-off below 50Hz, and can be a bit soft without great impact for some listeners
  • Can tend towards sibilance on some signal chains
  • Overall presentation is amp sensitive, and can vary the experience significantly
  • The D8000 Pro Limited Edition can be finicky, and requires careful signal chain pairing to achieve the best sound
  • May slightly lack the charisma that one looks for in a more expressive or musical headphone

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

  • Vs. Dan Clark Audio Expanse: The D8000 Pro LE has a more natural sounding bass and tighter attack on drums, while the Expanse has more bass emphasis and a wider soundstage

Takeaway: The Final Audio D8000 Pro Limited Edition provides a thrilling and engaging listening experience with its natural sound and incredible detail. It could be a worthwhile addition to a collection for listeners who appreciate acoustic music and a highly immersive soundstage.

What are hifi reviews useful for? (1) Identifying products you should demo in person at a dealer. (2) Learning which products reviewers unanimously praise as the best they've heard (this means they probably are legitimately great). (3) Identifying a product's attributes that satisfy your idiosyncratic needs and tastes. Beyond that, we often discount what reviewers say because they heap praise on most products—and are often apprehensive about publishing strong criticism or comparisons between products. Further, they seldom have more than a few products on-hand, often relying on their memories to compare past products. Always listen for yourself.

All

D8000 Pro Limited Edition

reviews

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An excellent review of a great product
/
Publisher
/
3/1/2022
An excellent review of a great product
Publisher
/
3/1/2022

Manufacturer details

  • Product code: FI-D8PPALLCR
  • Housing: Aluminum Magnesium Alloy
  • Driver: AFDS Planer Magnetic
  • Sensitivity: 98dB/mW
  • Impedance: 60Ω
  • Weight: 523g (excl. cable)
  • Cord length: 1.5m/3m
Introducing the Limited Model of the highly acclaimed flagship planar magnetic headphones, D8000 Pro Edition. To mark the year when we entered a new phase in our ongoing efforts for research and development, and in the pursuit of sound quality with the latest technologies, we are releasing a Limited Model of our flagship D8000 Pro Edition headphones, with a new stylish finishing concept and further upgrades.
Manufacturer Site

Brand highlights

Taking a step back to look at reviewers' thoughts of the brand's entire lineup—not just this product—what stands out most is the following:

  • Final Audio is known for its expertise in balanced armature driver technology, crafting single full-range drivers that deliver detailed yet non-fatiguing audio, challenging the common multi-driver approach.
  • Final Audio designs their products with specific listening purposes in mind, catering to genres like gaming, binaural recordings, or emphasizing certain sonic qualities like presence and clarity.
  • The brand's earphones are often praised for their immersive and spacious soundstages, creating a 3D audio experience that extends beyond the physical confines of the housings.

UX3000

  • Positioning: A wireless noise-cancelling headphone designed for premium sound and everyday convenience.
  • Description: Features a completely new driver built to withstand the stresses of active noise cancellation while keeping sound clear and balanced. Compared to the wired D series and SONOROUS line, it offers the added benefits of wireless connectivity and portability, making it ideal for small rooms or on‐the-go use with moderate budget demands.

D7000

  • Positioning: A premium wired headphone focused on comfort and natural, well-balanced audio.
  • Description: Features a driver design using a diffuser technique to enhance treble clarity and maintain a smooth tonal balance. Compared to the D8000pro and SONOROUS models, it is positioned as a cost-effective option with a comfortable fit for users seeking natural sound.

D8000pro

  • Positioning: A high-end wired headphone engineered for dynamic performance with enhanced bass impact.
  • Description: Uses advanced driver technology with optimized impedance and sensitivity, delivering punchy bass and refined treble details. Compared to the D7000 and SONOROUS units, it offers a more energetic soundstage.

SONOROUS VI

  • Positioning: A wired headphone that blends dynamic and balanced-armature techniques to create an expansive sound stage.
  • Description: Features a hybrid design combining a 50mm dynamic driver with a balanced armature element and a BAM mechanism to optimize airflow and bass control. Compared to the D series, its integrated driver technology provides a wider, more natural sound field.

SONOROUS X

  • Positioning: A prestige, high-end wired headphone that represents the pinnacle of the SONOROUS series.
  • Description: Integrates a titanium diaphragm with an integrated machined aluminum front plate and BAM mechanism to deliver crystal clear sound with exceptional realism. Compared to the SONOROUS VI and other D series products, it excels in build quality and sonic detail.
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Avg. Product Price
$2,501-$5,000
Used For Sale
1
 Available (Scroll Down)
Brand Popularity
594
 of 900+
Badges
Top 50 Brand
Top 250 Brand
Products Listed
55
Founding Year
2007

Our take on the brand

Final is a hifi audio brand known for deep in-house manufacturing control by designing and building its own diaphragm-forming machines and assembly jigs, while engineering products like their D-series headphones for longevity through screw-fastened parts that enable user repairs and future upgrades.

Look inside the brand

Brand Page

Our interview with the brand

What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?

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From our interview with
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What if you spend more?

Product image
HIFIMAN
Susvara Unveiled
8000
8000
/
12
Reviews
HIFIMAN is a hifi brand known for its planar magnetic headphones that use extremely thin diaphragms and acoustically transparent "Stealth Magnets" to reduce sound distortion. The company pioneered high-resolution portable audio players and creates electrostatic headphones that bring high-end sound quality to more accessible price points, as well as widely renowned flagship models such as the Susvara.
Check Amazon
Expand Details

Product Strengths

  • Outstanding sound quality with clarity, texture, and detail
  • Natural sound provides a you-are-there presence
  • Improved microdynamics make them quick and fast
  • Easier to drive than the original Susvara due to a changed metal trace on the diaphragm
  • Very comfortable, with good weight distribution
  • Driver is exposed, making it vulnerable to damage

Product Considerations

  • Can be unforgiving on poor recordings
  • Lacks soundstage depth and layering compared to some competitors

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

  • Vs Mesa Elite: The Mesa Elite offers greater bass weight and depth in the soundstage
  • Vs Audeze LCD-5: The LCD-5 provides more insight into the music, but the Susvara Unveiled excels in reproducing the attack and energy of plucked strings and in bass reproduction
  • Vs Focal Utopia 2022: The Utopia balances everything well—tonality, punch, detail, staging—however both have a little edginess from the treble
  • Vs HiFiMan HE1000 Unveiled: The HE1000 is brighter and seems a little faster and more detailed, but the Susvara Unveiled is smoother
  • Vs Original Susvara: The Unveiled model is more agile and lively, with added energy, clarity, and upper-treble extension, and the original is more laid back

Takeaway: The Susvara Unveiled provides detail and resolution that one has likely never heard before, making them astonishing headphones. If the priority is a reference-style tuning for orchestral music with excellent balance, scale, and tonal response, these headphones can provide a massive sonic treat.

Video review

Our take on the brand

HIFIMAN is a hifi brand known for its planar magnetic headphones that use extremely thin diaphragms and acoustically transparent "Stealth Magnets" to reduce sound distortion. The company pioneered high-resolution portable audio players and creates electrostatic headphones that bring high-end sound quality to more accessible price points, as well as widely renowned flagship models such as the Susvara.
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Product Page
Product Page
Product image
RAAL-requisite
Immanis
9460
9460
/
7
Reviews
RAAL-requisite pioneered the world's first full-range true-ribbon headphones with their SR1a, which uses corrugated aluminum ribbons clamped only at the ends and floats freely outside the ear without cups to create a speaker-like soundstage. The brand's extreme low-impedance ribbons require specialised interface units to be run inbetween the amplifier and headphones.
Check Amazon
Expand Details

Product Strengths

  • Offers a combination of electrostatic resolution with dynamic timbre and planar bass extension, delivering the 'best of all worlds'
  • The build quality is superb, with premium materials and craftsmanship that surpass competitors
  • Delivers perfectly extended bass with a planar-like slam, with detail, texture, and physicality
  • Has a wide soundstage with excellent imaging that creates a holographic feeling of voices and instruments, with a true 360-degree experience
  • Very comfortable to wear, despite being somewhat heavy, with good weight distribution and no hot spots

Product Considerations

  • Requires a powerful headphone amp to get the most out of it, due to the need for a current drive interface/transformer
  • The weight (610g) may be a concern for some users, though the weight is distributed well
  • Some vocalists, particularly some female vocalists, may sound more distant than desired
  • Bad mastered songs tend to immediately show problems
  • Frequency response is dependent on synergy with the amplifier

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

  • Vs HIFIMAN Susvara, it combines the weight of the original Susvara with the soundstage and resolution improvements of the Susvara Unveiled—more power is needed
  • Vs Abyss 1266, it has more body of sound, smoother highs, and tighter, more natural bass, while the Abyss has a wider soundstage, better positioning, and more bass impact
  • Vs Dan Clark Audio Stealth, it has a wider soundstage and feels more effortless, and is more open, while the Stealth is closed, has more bass quantity, and a more pleasing treble
  • Vs RAAL-requisite CA-1A, it improves upon the CA-1A in terms of body of sound, bass, and timbre, while remaining comfortable, and the CA-1A has a lighter and more forward soundstage

Takeaway: The Immanis is an exceptional headphone that blends various sonic qualities together, boasting great build quality and an immersive sound experience. With the right equipment to support it, one can enjoy a detailed and spacious sound that makes it a top contender in the flagship headphone market.

Video review

Our take on the brand

RAAL-requisite pioneered the world's first full-range true-ribbon headphones with their SR1a, which uses corrugated aluminum ribbons clamped only at the ends and floats freely outside the ear without cups to create a speaker-like soundstage. The brand's extreme low-impedance ribbons require specialised interface units to be run inbetween the amplifier and headphones.
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Product Page
Product Page
Product image
Spirit Torino
Pulsar
6000
6000
/
2
Reviews
Spirit Torino is a hifi headphone brand that pioneered the Twin Pulse Isobaric System, which uses two synchronized drivers working as one to deliver speaker-like dynamics and weight uncommon in headphones. The brand follows an "inertial frame" philosophy with heavy, mass-loaded aluminum shells and user-tunable mechanical filters that allow listeners to adjust sound signatures without EQ.
Check Amazon
Expand Details

Video review

Our take on the brand

Spirit Torino is a hifi headphone brand that pioneered the Twin Pulse Isobaric System, which uses two synchronized drivers working as one to deliver speaker-like dynamics and weight uncommon in headphones. The brand follows an "inertial frame" philosophy with heavy, mass-loaded aluminum shells and user-tunable mechanical filters that allow listeners to adjust sound signatures without EQ.
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Product Page
Product Page
Product image
RAAL-requisite
Magna
7569
7569
/
1
Reviews
RAAL-requisite pioneered the world's first full-range true-ribbon headphones with their SR1a, which uses corrugated aluminum ribbons clamped only at the ends and floats freely outside the ear without cups to create a speaker-like soundstage. The brand's extreme low-impedance ribbons require specialised interface units to be run inbetween the amplifier and headphones.
Check Amazon
Expand Details

Video review

Our take on the brand

RAAL-requisite pioneered the world's first full-range true-ribbon headphones with their SR1a, which uses corrugated aluminum ribbons clamped only at the ends and floats freely outside the ear without cups to create a speaker-like soundstage. The brand's extreme low-impedance ribbons require specialised interface units to be run inbetween the amplifier and headphones.
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Product Page
Product Page

What competes at this price?

final
D8000 Pro Edition
4799
/
Released
2019
Introducing the D8000 Pro Edition high end headphones bestseller. Leaving the delicate sound quality intact, we have tuned D8000 using the Air Film Damping System (AFDS) exclusively for professional use upon the request of recording engineers who wish to listen at louder sound volumes than ordinary consumers. The human auditory characteristic by which low frequency range becomes easier to hear as sound volume increases has also been taken into consideration. As a result, in comparison to the D8000 which is suitable particularly for classical music and other selections featuring a wide dynamic range, the D8000 Pro Edition provides sound quality perceived to be of higher clarity when listening to rock, pops and other selections that feature a narrow dynamic range.
Check Amazon
Final is a hifi audio brand known for deep in-house manufacturing control by designing and building its own diaphragm-forming machines and assembly jigs, while engineering products like their D-series headphones for longevity through screw-fastened parts that enable user repairs and future upgrades.
Expand Details

Our Summary

Product Strengths

  • Excellent bass reproduction with well-textured low tones, exceptional definition, articulation, and clean, nuanced deep sub-bass extension.
  • Detail retrieval and image clarity are remarkably good, competing with some of the very best headphones in the summit category.
  • Outstanding build quality, featuring a precisely machined aluminum-magnesium alloy chassis, conveys sturdiness and care in assembly.
  • The new pads are made from Toray Ultrasuede and are deeper and marginally firmer than the original memory foam cushions.
  • Easy to drive, with 60-ohm impedance and 98 dB sensitivity.

Product Considerations

  • A bit scooped out in the two kilohertz to three kilohertz range, almost like the ear gain has been taken and moved upwards in the frequency spectrum a bit.
  • Comfort can be an issue, due to the circular earcups not fitting larger ears well and the headband lacking sufficient padding for the headphone's weight.
  • The stock cable with the quarter-inch termination is heavy, potentially dragging the headphone down uncomfortably.
  • The proprietary 3.5mm connectors with locking mechanisms can make finding aftermarket cables difficult.

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

  • Compared to the HIFIMAN Susvara, the Susvara is lighter, more comfortable, and also has better detail retrieval.
  • Compared to the Audeze LCD4, the Final Audio D8000 Pro competes in many of the technical aspects that really matter, like detail.

Takeaway: The D8000 Pro is a well-built, detailed headphone with exceptional bass and a unique planar sound signature, perfect for audiophiles who want something different from standard planar sound profiles. Its high level of detail and solid dynamics create an engaging listening experience for those who appreciate nuanced sound.

Video review

Our take on the brand

Final is a hifi audio brand known for deep in-house manufacturing control by designing and building its own diaphragm-forming machines and assembly jigs, while engineering products like their D-series headphones for longevity through screw-fastened parts that enable user repairs and future upgrades.
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Product Page
Product Page
final
D7000
2699
/
Released
2024
Equipped with the newly developed Pinna-Aligned Diffuser, a new flagship headphone that adopts an approach distinct from the D8000. In search of the ideal structural design, the D7000 has been continuously developed from the initial conception of the first flagship headphone, the D8000, announced in 2017. Equipped with drivers featuring the newly designed 'Pinna-Aligned Diffuser' and a more efficient 'Air Film Damping System (AFDS),' the D7000 has been introduced as a new flagship product alongside the D8000 and D8000 Pro Edition.
Check Amazon
Final is a hifi audio brand known for deep in-house manufacturing control by designing and building its own diaphragm-forming machines and assembly jigs, while engineering products like their D-series headphones for longevity through screw-fastened parts that enable user repairs and future upgrades.
Expand Details

Our Summary

Product Strengths

  • Build quality is a highlight, with premium materials like Japanese paper fabric for the earcup and a machined aluminum/magnesium alloy housing
  • Sound is open, organized, and informative, with a nicely neutral tonality and a balanced frequency response
  • Bass is weighty and has enough texture, digging deep and hitting with determination, addressing limitations of planar magnetic designs
  • High-end is clear and resolving without sibilance, managing to be warm and musical while crisp and detailed
  • Comfortable to wear, with well-judged pressure levels and soft, breathable earcup material

Product Considerations

  • Requires a powerful headphone amplifier to drive effectively due to a relatively low sensitivity of 89dB/mW and 50 ohm impedance
  • Mid-bass can sound a little bit bloated on congested tracks, depending on the source and amplifier used
  • Recessed mids might cause listeners to miss some crispness and punch
  • Stock cable is quite long (3m) and only comes with a 6.3mm unbalanced termination, which may not be ideal for all users
  • Dynamics could be more assertive, the D7000 may not lean in as much during intense or big shifts in volume

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

  • Vs Meze Audio Liric 2: Offers a better price point for similar audiophile-grade sound and high-quality craftsmanship
  • Vs Focal Stellia: Both are high-quality audiophile-grade headphones, but the D7000 offers a distinct sound signature

Takeaway: The Final Audio D7000 offers a detailed and enjoyable listening experience with a carefully tuned sound signature and premium build. With a good amplifier and an appreciation for a warm, engaging sound, these headphones could be a great choice.

Video review

Our take on the brand

Final is a hifi audio brand known for deep in-house manufacturing control by designing and building its own diaphragm-forming machines and assembly jigs, while engineering products like their D-series headphones for longevity through screw-fastened parts that enable user repairs and future upgrades.
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Product Page
Product Page
final
D8000 Pro Edition
4567
/
Released
2019
Introducing the D8000 Pro Edition high end headphones bestseller. Leaving the delicate sound quality intact, we have tuned D8000 using the Air Film Damping System (AFDS) exclusively for professional use upon the request of recording engineers who wish to listen at louder sound volumes than ordinary consumers. The human auditory characteristic by which low frequency range becomes easier to hear as sound volume increases has also been taken into consideration. As a result, in comparison to the D8000 which is suitable particularly for classical music and other selections featuring a wide dynamic range, the D8000 Pro Edition provides sound quality perceived to be of higher clarity when listening to rock, pops and other selections that feature a narrow dynamic range.
Check Amazon
Final is a hifi audio brand known for deep in-house manufacturing control by designing and building its own diaphragm-forming machines and assembly jigs, while engineering products like their D-series headphones for longevity through screw-fastened parts that enable user repairs and future upgrades.
Expand Details

Our Summary

Product Strengths

  • Delivers top-end detail and resolution with ample low-end support, balancing a clear, transparent sound with elevated bass
  • Exceptional build quality with a precisely machined aluminum-magnesium alloy chassis, and every part can be disassembled for repair or replacement
  • Good imaging capabilities with accurate left-right localization
  • Possesses great technical capabilities with a controlled and precise sound
  • Comfortable to wear, weight feels well distributed across the head

Product Considerations

  • Uneven upper midrange can introduce a nasally/congested quality, and dampen vocals
  • Treble can be a touch peaky, adding some fatigue depending on the source and genre
  • Soundstage is not quite as large as some of its high-end competition, lacking in height
  • Can be amp-sensitive, with sound varying depending on the amp
  • The earcup height adjustment is on sliders, so every single time they were taken off and back on, they had to be readjusted to the setting that was comfortable

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

  • Vs. Meze Empyrean: D8000 Pro has a more neutral tuning with added bass, crisper and more transparent sound, more air in the treble, and more forward mids, while Empyrean has a warmer character, more recessed mids, and smoother treble
  • Vs Focal Utopia: D8000 Pro has added bass emphasis that helps it stand out

Takeaway: The D8000 Pro Edition is a technically capable headphone that provides great detail and resolution, along with a satisfying bass response. If you like listening to a lot of Rock, Pop, EDM, and Hip-Hop, then this might be the right choice.

Video review

Our take on the brand

Final is a hifi audio brand known for deep in-house manufacturing control by designing and building its own diaphragm-forming machines and assembly jigs, while engineering products like their D-series headphones for longevity through screw-fastened parts that enable user repairs and future upgrades.
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Product Page
Product Page
final
D7000
2699
/
Released
2024
Equipped with the newly developed Pinna-Aligned Diffuser, a new flagship headphone that adopts an approach distinct from the D8000. In search of the ideal structural design, the D7000 has been continuously developed from the initial conception of the first flagship headphone, the D8000, announced in 2017. Equipped with drivers featuring the newly designed 'Pinna-Aligned Diffuser' and a more efficient 'Air Film Damping System (AFDS),' the D7000 has been introduced as a new flagship product alongside the D8000 and D8000 Pro Edition.
Check Amazon
Final is a hifi audio brand known for deep in-house manufacturing control by designing and building its own diaphragm-forming machines and assembly jigs, while engineering products like their D-series headphones for longevity through screw-fastened parts that enable user repairs and future upgrades.
Expand Details

Our Summary

Video review

Our take on the brand

Final is a hifi audio brand known for deep in-house manufacturing control by designing and building its own diaphragm-forming machines and assembly jigs, while engineering products like their D-series headphones for longevity through screw-fastened parts that enable user repairs and future upgrades.
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Product Page
Product Page
Austrian Audio
The Composer
2699
/
Released
2024
The Composer is a premium reference headphone designed for connoisseurs and professionals to hear their music in its finest form. These headphones deliver spacious yet precise high frequencies and faithful and swift bass impulses at remarkably low THD (Total Harmonic Distortion) levels, ensuring an incredibly revealing listening journey that sets new standards in high-end listening.
Check Amazon
Austrian Audio, founded by the former AKG Vienna core team, manufactures its own ceramic CKR12 capsules and Hi-X headphone drivers in-house in Vienna. Their capsule consistency is so precise that any two microphones can be used as a stereo pair without matching. The brand's microphones feature unique tech, including dual-output mode for reshaping polar patterns in post-production, and real-time wireless polar pattern control via Bluetooth.
Expand Details

Our Summary

Product Strengths

  • Built with premium, high-quality, sturdy materials with a solid feel
  • Very comfortable and relatively lightweight, suitable for long listening sessions
  • Easy to drive with low impedance and reasonable sensitivity
  • Delivers a reference-grade sense of clarity, balance, and vast soundstage
  • Excellent instrument separation and imaging
  • Easy to drive with low impedance and reasonable sensitivity

Product Considerations

  • Some reviewers found the range of headband adjustment limited, making it potentially unsuitable for those with smaller heads
  • The banana plug cable connectors are proprietary, limiting third-party cable options
  • The stock cable is acceptable, but not particularly premium feeling
  • The bass is a little lightweight and might require EQ adjustment for some listeners
  • A dip at 2kHz was noted by some reviewers

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

  • Vs Sennheiser HD800S: The Composer has better bass extension, but the HD800S has better resolution and detail
  • Vs HIFIMAN Arya/HE1000 series: The Composer sounds more natural than some HIFIMAN planars, and it may have greater bass depth
  • Vs Meze Audio Empyrean II: The Composer goes deeper in the soundstage, with better layering and more sub-bass presence, but the Empyrean II is softer and more relaxed
  • Vs ZMF Outure Classic: The Composer has better bass response but is smoother and more tame in the treble

Takeaway: The Austrian Audio Composer is a well-built, comfortable, and easy-to-drive headphone with a balanced, clear, and detailed sound signature. It offers a reference quality that can be great for critical listening and casual enjoyment.

Video review

Our take on the brand

Austrian Audio, founded by the former AKG Vienna core team, manufactures its own ceramic CKR12 capsules and Hi-X headphone drivers in-house in Vienna. Their capsule consistency is so precise that any two microphones can be used as a stereo pair without matching. The brand's microphones feature unique tech, including dual-output mode for reshaping polar patterns in post-production, and real-time wireless polar pattern control via Bluetooth.
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Product Page
Product Page

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