The act of music reproduction is, ultimately, the art of creating “something” from “nothing.” How to make sound particles rise from pitch-black silence and reconstruct them as resonances with real presence. It would not be an exaggeration to say that the mission of audio equipment converges on this single point. The new flagship IEM (In-Ear Monitor) A10000, announced by Japan’s final company in 2025, presents an extremely purist answer to this fundamental question, combining the essence of materials science and precision engineering.
It is not merely a high-performance earphone. It represents an ideological statement that boldly turns its back on the “multi-driver proliferation” trend that the contemporary high-end audio market is rushing toward, aiming for a realm achievable only by polishing a single driver unit to the limits of physical law. In this review, we will analyze and contemplate from multiple angles the technological singularity that the A10000 embodies, the acoustic experience it brings, and its raison d’être in a competitive market.
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final A10000 — Overview
- Manufacturer / Model: final Inc. / A10000 (FI-A10SUSD)
- Announcement Date: April 4, 2025 2
- Release Date: August 29, 2025 (delayed from original June schedule due to material procurement issues) 2
- Price Range:
Main Specifications
- Housing: Stainless steel machined housing (Côtes de Genève finish)
- Driver: Dynamic type (true diamond diaphragm)
- Impedance: 13 Ω
- Sensitivity: 99 dB/mW
- Mass: 63 g
- Cable: ePTFE-coated silver-plated OFC cable, 1.2m, 4.4mm 5-pole balanced plug
- Connector: High-precision MMCX
Source: final Inc. Official Product Page
1. Currents of Third-Party Evaluation
The A10000 attracted significant attention from audio specialty media and communities immediately after its announcement. Surveying these evaluation currents is essential for understanding this unit’s objective positioning.
| Media | Quote | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Audio46 | ”The Final Audio A10000 is a masterclass in high-frequency tuning and technical detail. It’s not a bass-lover’s IEM…” 12 | ★★★★☆ |
| Major HiFi | ”The midrange is where the A10000 shines. Everything that comes through… is incredibly transparent.” 8 | ★★★★☆ |
| e-earphone Blog | ”Ultimate ordinary… incredibly accurate bass precision.” 13 | ★★★★★ |
| e-earphone (YouTube) | “Completely clear with no sense of distortion… you can hear overwhelmingly low sounds.” 14 | (No rating) |
| DrHead.ae | ”…the moment the bass drum kicks in gave us goosebumps we hadn’t felt from this track in years.” 15 | (Positive) |
| Hatena Blog User | ”A monster that reproduced all sound sources colorlessly, transparently, and faithfully, providing the highest-class experience.” 16 | (Positive) |
| Reddit User “Beany51" | "…smoother than their previous A8000 whilst also have even lower distortion especially in frequencies under 100hz.” 17 | (Speculation) |
Aggregation and Bias Analysis
Synthesizing current evaluations, an overwhelming majority praise the A10000’s revolutionary transparency, resolution, and separation. The treble is described as extended and airy, midrange extremely clear. In contrast, the bass is evaluated more for its “texture” and “precision” rather than “quantity” or “impact” 8. This suggests the A10000 has an analytical or neutral character 12.
However, these early reviews require caution. Many are based on short auditions at audio specialty stores (Audio46, Major HiFi) or exhibitions 16, so positive bias from manufacturer-provided samples—so-called “puff pieces”—cannot be ruled out. With no independent measurement data from authorities like Crinacle or Audio Science Review yet available 18, the current consensus should be cautiously received as “first impressions.” The enthusiasm for “new flagships” seen in forums like Head-Fi may also influence these evaluations 20.
Under these circumstances, the “restrained bass unsuitable for certain genres” consistently pointed out in nearly all reviews carries high credibility precisely because it represents a negative element contrary to early enthusiastic evaluations, yet one everyone must acknowledge as an essential characteristic.
2. Crystal Design Philosophy: Technical Background
The A10000’s acoustic characteristics are not accidental products. They are inevitable consequences logically derived from the philosophy that final as a company has cultivated over many years and the physical properties of materials.
final’s Lineage and Philosophy
final’s history traces back to 1974, to a high-end audio workshop founded by the late Kanamoto Takai 1. Its first product was a groundbreaking phono cartridge using a 1-carat diamond as the cantilever 1. This philosophy of “solving fundamental acoustic problems by extracting material potential to the extreme” has been passed down through S’NEXT company from 2007 and the current final Inc. 1.
The company’s motto is “manufacturing like mechanical watches, with things that hold future value as antiques” 22. Value as craftsmanship to be long cherished, not disposable electronics. This philosophy is deeply reflected in every aspect from material selection to structural design of the A10000.
Diamond Diaphragm as the Ultimate Achievement
The technical core of the A10000 is the newly developed driver unit (DU) equipped with a “true diamond diaphragm.”
- Material Selection: The diaphragm employs pure diamond foil, distinctly different from common DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon) coatings or vapor-deposited diamond. This “true diamond” is produced through extremely sophisticated manufacturing that crystallizes diamond on silicon wafers, then dissolves only the silicon substrate for extraction 7.
- Physical Consequences: Diamond’s extremely high rigidity and sound velocity minimize diaphragm sectional vibration (deformation), dramatically reducing distortion. Distortion rates in frequency bands below 100Hz achieved astounding figures—less than 1/100th of conventional models 7. However, the trade-off is that diamond has approximately twice the specific gravity of beryllium 11. This “weight” created the next technical challenge.
- Overcoming Challenges: To properly control diaphragm mass, final developed a special lightweight, highly elastic polyurethane edge (surround). This solved the problem of precisely achieving piston motion for heavy diaphragms while preventing the edge itself from causing unwanted resonance 7. Additionally, driver assembly uses no adhesives, achieving molecular-level bonding through proprietary technology combining pneumatic and thermal forming. This eliminates the fundamental problem of individual variations due to adhesive application amounts 7.
Application of Watchmaking Technology
The A10000’s housing is not merely a stainless steel mass. Its surface features precision wave-pattern machining called “Côtes de Genève,” seen in high-end mechanical watch movements 7.
This is not mere decoration. According to official materials, this processing method achieves higher dimensional accuracy because the machined surface itself becomes the final dimension, compared to mirror polish finishing 7. Diamond diaphragm’s high-rigidity, high-mass driver is extremely sensitive to minute housing resonance. To perfectly support it and suppress unwanted vibration, absolute rigidity and precision are required. The beautiful Côtes de Genève finish is thus “functional beauty” born from pursuing acoustic precision. This beauty arising from necessity represents the machine ideal we should pursue.
Furthermore, adopting screw assembly rather than adhesives for housing construction supports this philosophy. Screw tightening not only suppresses resonance through strong fastening force but enables long-term repair. This embodies final’s philosophy of viewing products as crafts with enduring value 7.
Specification Comparison with Competitors
The A10000’s purist approach becomes even clearer when compared to competitive products.
| Model | Driver Configuration | Diaphragm/Main Technology | Impedance | Sensitivity | Housing Material | Price (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| final A10000 | 1x Dynamic | True Diamond | 13 Ω | 99 dB/mW | Stainless Steel | ~$2,700 9 |
| Sennheiser IE 900 | 1x Dynamic (7mm) | XWB, Helmholtz resonator | 16-18 Ω | 123 dB/Vrms | Machined aluminum | $1,499 25 |
| DITA Perpetua | 1x Dynamic (12mm) | TEONEX® (PEN) | 20 Ω | 108 dB/mW | Titanium | $2,999 27 |
| Sony IER-Z1R | Hybrid: 2x DD + 1x BA | Mg dome + Al-coated LCP | 40 Ω | 103 dB/mW | Zirconium alloy | $1,699 29 |
| Empire Ears ODIN | Tribrid: 2x DD + 5x BA + 4x EST | W9+ Subwoofers, EIVEC | 3 Ω | 108 dB/mW | Acrylic | $3,399 31 |
| Vision Ears PHönix | 13x Balanced Armature | 5-way crossover | 13 Ω | 125 dB/100mV | Carbon fiber | $4,200 33 |
| Subtonic STORM | Hybrid: 2DD + 5BA + 2EST | SLAM driver (BA mod) | (Undisclosed) | (Undisclosed) | Titanium | $5,200 35 |
| Oriolus Traillii JP | Hybrid: 8x BA + 4x EST | 3-way crossover | 21 Ω | 112 dB/mW | Photopolymer resin | $6,149 37 |
This table shows the A10000’s solitary, even lofty positioning. While competitors compete in driver count, final challenges with just one—but ultimate—driver. This is nothing but an ideological confrontation between purity and complexity.
3. Acoustic Microscope: Listening Impressions
Having understood the technical background, let us finally listen to the sound world that the A10000 creates. This is the moment theory sublimes into auditory experience.
| Reviewer / Outlet | Quote |
|---|---|
| Delaney Czernikowski / Audio46 | ”The soundstage on the A10000 is expansive by IEM standards—realistic in depth and moderate in width… finely layered, allowing instruments to occupy well-defined spaces.” 12 |
| Major HiFi | ”The bass has a very neutral appearance… its power is lacking… Everything sounds clean, but vibrations are limited.” 8 |
| e-earphone Blog | ”Vertical depth sensation felt at an unprecedented level… despite overwhelming bass descriptive capability, no sense of midrange or treble being buried…” 13 |
Integrated Analysis of Sound Quality Characteristics
- Silence and Spatial Expression: The A10000’s most distinctive characteristic lies in its “expressive power of silence.” The ultra-low distortion characteristic emphasizes not only sound itself but the silence in the “intervals” between sounds 7. The resulting soundstage may not necessarily be widest left-right (Major HiFi points out width is broad but vertical is flat 8). However, its depth and layer precision are incomparable 12. Particularly, the “vertical depth sensation” noted by e-earphone’s review speaks to this earphone’s spatial uniqueness 13. In reproducing microdynamics—subtle volume changes that breathe life into music—the A10000 demonstrates astounding capability.
- Classical: This is surely the genre where the A10000 shines brightest. Its exceptional separation performance clearly delineates complex orchestral passages down to individual instruments 8. Extended, airy treble reproduces string section textures and cymbal sparkle without any harshness 8. And intentionally restrained bass prevents cello and contrabass resonances from muddying, emphasizing tonal beauty itself over quantity.
- Jazz: Compatibility with acoustic jazz is also excellent. Midrange transparency is ideal for conveying the true timbres of vocals, piano, and brass instruments 8. Fast, textured bass suits depicting subtle nuances of wood bass, though may lack the warmth some listeners prefer. Treble expressiveness makes ride cymbal and hi-hat patterns resonate vividly as if performed right before you 12.
- EDM / Rock: Here the A10000’s specialization exposes as a kind of “weakness.” In genres where sub-bass impact or body-shaking low-frequency pressure is essential, its sound will seem analytical and sometimes thin 8. While speed and clarity are admirable, it’s unsuited for expressing the primal energy and power these musics should inherently possess.
- Vocals: Vocals, especially female vocals, are clearly depicted forward-positioned with high resolution 12. However, some reviews note “slightly artificial edges” or “prioritizing precision over richness” 12. This may suggest tonality that, while technically perfect, differs from emotional warmth.
4. Value Assessment
Judging the A10000’s value requires more than a single measuring stick. We need to coolly evaluate its objective performance and subjective appeal within market context.
| Evaluation Axis | Score (out of 5) | Commentary |
|---|---|---|
| Technical Performance | ★★★★★ | One pinnacle achievement in single-driver design. Ultra-low distortion, transparency, and resolution born from true diamond diaphragm and supporting overall design are unquestionably class-leading 7. |
| Musical Appeal | ★★★☆☆ | Evaluation will divide sharply. Breathtakingly attractive in specific genres like classical and acoustic, but in EDM or heavy rock, its analytical character and bass deficiency may hinder musical immersion 8. Not a versatile performer. |
| Build Quality | ★★★★★ | Exemplary. Stainless steel, Côtes de Genève finish, screw assembly represents the highest level of industrial design comparable to luxury watchmaking 7. However, 63g weight may compromise comfort for some users 12. |
| Price-to-Value | ★★☆☆☆ | Extremely niche. The approximately ¥400,000 price is difficult to justify for earphones lacking versatility. Competitive products offer tuning accommodating more diverse music at lower prices. Its value will only be found by specialist listeners who prioritize this unique acoustic characteristic above all else. |
| Future-Proofing / Repairability | ★★★★☆ | Screw construction without adhesives offers significant advantages for long-term ownership and repair possibilities, aligning with final’s philosophy 7. However, high-precision MMCX cables not recommended for user replacement rob freedom of choice and become critical single points of failure 7. |
Balance of Positive/Negative Elements
- Positive: Incomparable transparency and resolution. “Pure” sound without crossover distortion. Highest-grade build quality and materials. Clear, unwavering engineering philosophy.
- Negative: Extremely specialist tuning unsuitable for much popular music. Restrained bass lacking impact. Considerable weight and potentially difficult fit for some. Non-user-replaceable cables represent significant practical and philosophical constraints for high-end products. Very expensive for limited versatility.
5. Bird’s-Eye Perspective: A10000’s Raison d’Être
When placing the A10000 not as an individual product but within the larger context of the contemporary high-end audio market, its true raison d’être emerges.
Single Driver Purism vs. Multi-Driver Arms Race
The contemporary high-end IEM market could be said to be dominated by the philosophy of “more is better.” Competitive products like Empire Ears ODIN (11 drivers), Vision Ears PHönix (13 drivers), and Oriolus Traillii (12 drivers) cram multiple drivers—dynamic, balanced armature, electrostatic—into shells, dividing frequency band responsibilities.
The A10000 represents a clear and challenging “counterargument” to this trend. It is nothing but an ideological gamble that perfecting a single point source is more ideal than complex multi-driver systems burdened with difficult challenges of phase, timbre, and crossover integration. While market trends head toward increasing driver count and complexity, final invested massive resources in perfecting just one driver based on purist engineering history. The resulting sound features exceptional unity and separation often compromised in imperfectly implemented hybrid machines. The A10000’s very existence critiques market mainstream. Its high price may be compensation not just for materials but for this kind of “nobility” in maintaining purist vision.
Confronting Competitors
- vs. Sennheiser IE 900: The IE 900 is the reference for “technical single DD.” While aiming for transparency similar to the A10000, it employs acoustic tuning technologies like Helmholtz resonators as implementation means 25. The A10000 takes a more fundamental approach, pursuing purity from diaphragm material itself. While the IE 900 is praised for its powerful, high-quality bass 39, the A10000 intentionally restrains that region. The IE 900 represents a more practical, balanced single DD flagship, while the A10000 is a more extreme, uncompromising seeker.
- vs. DITA Perpetua: Perpetua is also a purist single DD, but its philosophy is opposite to the A10000’s. Prioritizing warm, smooth, organic musicality over ultimate technicality, emphasizing timbre and emotional connection 40. If the A10000 is an earphone of analytical “reason,” Perpetua is an earphone of musical “soul.” Both show two divergent paths toward the single DD ideal.
- vs. Sony IER-Z1R: The IER-Z1R is known as the “hybrid king” for its massive, textured bass and vast, three-dimensional soundstage 42. It embodies everything the A10000 doesn’t aspire to—V-shaped fun sound, powerful tuning. Comparison reviews with the A10000’s predecessor A8000 symbolize this opposition. While the A8000 wins in mid-treble detail, the Z1R overwhelmingly triumphs in bass impact and soundstage scale 43. If the IER-Z1R is a maximalist statement, the A10000 is the pinnacle of minimalism.
6. Conclusion and Recommendations
Based on the preceding analysis, I wish to clarify final evaluation and the user profile who should acquire this rare earphone called the A10000.
Recommended User Profile
- Analytical Listeners: Those who prioritize detail, resolution, transparency above all else. Those who wish to hear recorded sources themselves rather than “house sound.”
- Classical and Acoustic Music Enthusiasts: The A10000’s strengths perfectly match the demands of complex, dynamic acoustic recordings.
- Engineering and Craft Appreciators: Individuals who, like collectors of mechanical watches or precision instruments, can revere the philosophy behind objects and find beauty in their materials and construction.
Users Who Should Reconsider
- Bass Lovers (Bassheads): The A10000’s bass region will deeply disappoint those seeking physical impact or rumbling quantity.
- Fans of Warm, Rich, “Musical” Tonality: Its expression may feel cold or inorganic. Those seeking warmth and richness should look toward competitors like DITA Perpetua.
- Pragmatists: For those seeking versatile, all-round performers for daily use, the A10000’s specialization and high price will be judged lower value compared to more adaptable flagship alternatives.
Future Prospects
Non-user-replaceable cables represent the greatest risk to long-term lifespan. While the housing construction is robust, cable failure outside warranty period could prove fatal. Additionally, its precision design leaves no room for user modification. This is not a platform for tinkering but a completed work.
Overall Rating: ★★★★☆
The A10000 is a specialized masterpiece combining five-star technical achievement with three-star musical versatility. It is not a product for everyone but a brilliant yet demanding instrument made for select seekers. This final evaluation recognizes its objective excellence while considering subjective and practical limitations. It is a solitary diamond whose true value can only be understood by those who know the value of silence.
References / Reference Links
Cited References
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