final are a Japanese audio brand with over 50 years experience in the high-end audio market
If you follow our reviews, you may have seen our write up of the final E500, which are a hugely impressive pair of in-ear headphones costing just £20. I had this to say about them, “The Final E500 produce a sound that headphones costing far more wish they could match. Exceptional clarity, rich and balanced sound and a very comfortable fit make them easy to recommend.” You can read our full review here.
The VR3000 are final’s new, gaming-focused headphones. They have gone to great lengths to create an audio profile designed specifically around producing a balanced audio profile, with a strong emphasis on spatial audio.
final seems to be one of the few manufacturers that realise gaming isn’t all about the bass. Anyone who’s tried out audiophile headphones will have experienced that initial surprise when the bass doesn’t dominate everything you hear. Great quality audio is all about balance: You should be able to pick up on the subtle nuances, and there should be clear distinctions between sound across the whole range.
It’s this excellent separation and balance between frequencies that made me so impressed with the E500, and although I was a little underwhelmed by the lack of presence to the bass, the overall range was excellent, and the mids especially gave the sound a richness I hadn’t expected.
final has designed the VR3000 to produce more bass, while still retaining the excellent clarity, accuracy and 3D positioning quality that made the E500 so good. Considering the E500 are entry-level headphones (just £20), I’m excited to see what they can do with a bigger budget.
In terms of design, the VR3000 instantly look eye-catching. They have an angular design and are designed to be worn inverted, with the cables going over the top of your ears (pictured). I’m pleased to see the L and R markings are much clearer now, too.
On the cable itself is an inline control, with three buttons and an integrated microphone; sorely missed from the E500, and essential for multiplayer gaming. I’ve had mixed results from inline mics in the past, but we have the VR3000 coming our way for review, so will be able to give you the lowdown in the coming days.
The headphones’ 6mm dynamic driver has been designed in-house specifically for gaming – no off-the-shelf, “that will do” attitude here. final have invested a lot of time into designing the driver, focusing particularly on spatial audio. As the name implies, the VR3000 look to be an excellent addition for any VR gaming setup if the spatial audio works as intended. And, now that mobile gaming has seen a leap in quality thanks to services like Game Pass, they could be turn out to be an essential purchase for both mobile and VR gamers.
I can’t wait to get my hands on the the VR3000 and bring you the full review. Our pair are on the way, and the review should be ready for the release date on Thursday 10th December.
final’s VR3000 gaming headphones release on the 10th December 2020, priced at £69.99 / $79.99 / €74.99, and will be available for purchase from Amazon UK/US/EU, Hifiheadphones, and Scan.
