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A Japanese Hi-Fi Specialist Just Gave Audiophiles a New Reason to Get Excited

The brand is calling them one of its “most ambitious headphone projects to date.”

Close-up of a black and gold headphone ear cup with the brand name "final" on a dark background.Final Audio
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By Tucker Bowe

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Final is a Japanese hi-fi manufacturer specializing in high-end in-ear monitors (IEMs) and wired headphones for serious audiophiles. Many of their offerings cost well over a grand.

In the past year, however, the company has shifted its focus to more affordable audio products. Examples include two pairs of wireless noise-canceling headphones, the UX1000 ($65) and UX5000 ($250), and a set of wireless earbuds, the Tonalite, that look to rival Apple’s latest AirPods Pro.

Now, the company is shifting gears back to its roots with a flagship pair of over-ear, closed-back wired headphones. Final is calling it one of its “most ambitious headphone projects to date.”

Final DX10000 CL

Black and silver open-back headphones with detachable braided silver cable on a dark background.
The Final DX10000 CL is the company’s new flagship pair of closed-back headphones.
Final Audio

The Final DX10000 CL is the company’s new flagship pair of closed-back wired headphones. And, because they start at $8,499, they’re designed for serious audiophiles with some seriously deep pockets.

According to the brand, the DX10000 CL is “designed for listeners who want a private, immersive and physically engaging listening experience, with the clarity, tonal accuracy and resolution expected from a true flagship audiophile product.”

Black over-ear headphones with metal frame and thick cushioned ear pads on a reflective black surface.
Final engineered to DX10000 CL around a newly developed driver and support system so that they sound more similar to open-back headphones, only without the sound leakage.
Final Audio
Black hard case with foam interior holding a pair of black and silver headphones and a coiled silver cable.
The earpads of the DX10000 CL are made of Ultrasuede, a premium synthetic suede with carefully controlled air permeability.
Final Audio

Closed-back design, open-back sound

The star feature of the headphones is that they’re built around Final’s newly developed 40mm “True Diamond” diaphragm dynamic driver, which has been specially designed to combat the “resonance and coloration” that typically hinder closed-back headphones.

Final says that the driver’s center dome is produced using a Chemical Vapor Deposition process, in which “diamond is grown as a crystalline layer before the substrate is removed, leaving a self-supporting diamond dome.”

According to the brand, this allows the headphones to support faster transient response, lower distortion and, ultimately, deliver a more faithful reproduction of the original recording.

Silver braided audio cable with one XLR connector and two 3.5mm gold-plated plugs on a black reflective surface.
The headphones ship with two of Fina’s original silver-coated cables. They also come with two conversion adapters: a 4-pin XLR to 6.3mm, and a 4.4mm to 6.3mm.
Final Audio
Black over-ear headphones with metal frame and fabric headband labeled "DX10000 CL" on a reflective black surface.
According to Final, the headphones are compatible with a wide range of high-end headphone amplifiers and audio systems.
Final Audio

Final also claims that it developed a complete system to support the DX10000 CL’s new driver.

This includes a cylindrical rib around its outer edge, which the brand says helps achieve the rigidity required for ultra-low distortion without unnecessary moving mass. There’s also a redesigned voice coil and a newly developed polyurethane surround.

Lastly, the driver system is supported by an N55 neodymium magnet, an aluminum shorting ring, and an internal damping system. Final claims that this system is designed “to improve control, reduce distortion, and absorb rear-wave reflections.”

Basically, it’s been over-engineered to help these closed-back headphones sound as close as possible to open-back headphones.

Black and gold open-back over-ear headphones with "DX10000 CL" and "final" branding on the ear cup.
THe Collector’s Edition headphones feature gold accents and come in special packaging.
Final Audio
Close-up of black headphone arm with gold text "DX10000 CL" and part of gold-accented ear cup.
Only 150 of the Collector’s Edition headphones will be sold.
Final Audio

Two editions: gold or silver?

Final is introducing two versions of its flagship DX10000 CL. There are the standard models and the Collector’s Edition models.

Both headphones deliver the same exact sound, but the Collector’s Edition headphones feature gold-colored accents (instead of silver) and come with a few extra perks.

This includes upgraded packaging. Specifically, the Collector’s Edition headphones come in a traditional Japanese paulownia wood box. It also comes with a special pouch that is crafted from Tango Chirimen, a traditional Japanese silk textile woven in the Tango region of Kyoto.

The Collector’s Edition headphones also come with a specially-designed headphone stand that has been precision-machined from a solid aluminum block using CNC technology. 

Black and gold over-ear headphones inside a black drawstring bag with gold stitching.
The Collector’s Edition headphones in a Shingen Pouch crafted from Tango Chirimen silk.
Final Audio
Black and gold open-back headphones with a fabric headband and detachable silver cable.
Both editions of the headphones are available for preorder now.
Final Audio

Availability and pricing

The Final DX10000 CL and DX10000 CL (Collector’s Edition) are both available for preorder now. Only 150 of the latter will be made.

The standard edition headphones cost $8,499, while the Collector’s Edition headphones cost an extra $500.

About the Author: Tucker Bowe has been on Gear Patrol’s editorial team since 2014. With a passion for consumer tech and hi-fi, he tracks everything from headphones and turntables to smartphones and wearables. If it lights up or makes noise, he probably covers it.

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