Final E3000 In-Ear Isolating Earphone - Stainless Steel

These are great little earphones and they really are little. There is nothing little about their sound though. These elegantly designed earphones have a big warm sound. If you are seeking a precise and accurate presentation of the highest resolution recordings of jazz or classical these ain't your earphones. If you want a warm, inviting and soothing sound these may be for you. I have many headphones to choose from and I may use the same one for a while but on many days I find myself using the e3000 because its so pleasant and easy going. An odd thing about them is that they seem to sound better the longer you have them. They also have a reputation for being bass cannons and it is well deserved. With lively electronic music like that by deadmau5, the bass hits very hard but, it isn't a bloated glob of gross bass, it has a punchy slam to it. If you like some definition to your bass these are a more refined way to get your hit. They fit a little bit different from others due to their size. You insert them into your ear canals without force until you feel resistance. The ear tip holds the steel housing in place and the housing sticks out from it and can pivot like a joystick, you can move it about quite freely. This is by design, as long as the tip is seated it doesn't matter what angle the housing is at. Final call this their swing fit design. I have used Comply foam tips for a brief time which are effective to get a good ear seal and even more secure fit but have the effect of making the bass less defined and a little unpleasant. Foam tips can be great to tame screechy earphones but aren't ideal with those that sound warm already. The tips made and supplied by Final are among the best available and would cost about $20 to buy on their own. I've tried a few different tips of similar price just out of interest and none were as effective. They work just fine played on a phone headphone socket. I use a small DAC/amp or dongle out of habit and the power can add a little extra to some music but it isn't essential.