Sound Impressions
Summary
The ZE8000 sounds exceptionally clean, dense, responsive, and textured. There is excellent timbral balance without overly emphasizing the mids which brings about enhanced smoothness, and the vocal image is very distinctly pictured.
The ZE8000 has some resemblance to the A8000 in tuning yet you don’t need to worry about driving power since it is self-contained with that Class AB amplifier.
There is also a great sense of control, and the transients are well-captured to boost overall clarity. However, users may need some time to get used to this unaltered, slightly “darker” tuning that doesn’t boost the mids.
I am giving the below impression based on having the 8K SOUND+ mode turned on and without the ANC function toggled on, which sounds even more delicate and refined at both ends of the spectrum.
Timbre
The ZE8000+ has a well-articulated, slightly V-shaped tuning that works well with all music genres to sound clean and detailed.
The texture in the lows and sweetly rounded treble without killing the air is very well executed, unlike many other TWS products that pick a warmer, more passionate tuning to compensate for the lack of clarity.
In fact, the bass performance is the best I have heard on a TWS as it gives a highly controlled and deep response, and the bass impact speed and image still hold up well at max volume.
The lower register is highly coherent and controlled, enjoyable with fast electronic music, and able to capture nuances with string instruments. Acoustic guitars, fast-playing bass finger plucks, and EDM, all sound awesome and expansive on this set.
The vocal performance on the other end is natural and swiftly delivered. A tiny bit of vocal sibilance is present which makes it more realistic and airier, and it never gets overly hot and hampers the dynamic range.
At very high volumes the vocal still holds together a distinct, dense image and sounds melodic and adequately weighted. The ZE8000 works particularly well for light voices with its swift tuning and darker, thicker voices may sound more laid back.
The ZE8000 is capable of handling classical pieces well, sounding fast and controlled. Playing Schumann’s Kinderszenen, Op. 15 – 7. Träumerei played by Horowitz sounds very stereophonic and rhythmic, whereas on some other TWS products, the treble always sounds more dampened and the bass is less lively.
Staging & Dynamics
Despite being a TWS, the ZE8000’s overall separation power is truly exceptional. The vocals are smooth and laid-back, which adds depth and dimension to the music. And thanks to its impressive resolution, the vocals cut through the mix with crystal-clear imaging.
While the staging may not be the most expansive, the ZE8000 still manages to create a spacious and layered sound that is much clearer than other mainstream tuning options.
In particular, instruments that cross the mid-lows frequency range are incredibly holographic, adding a new level of depth and texture to the output. Overall, the ZE8000 strikes a great balance between resolution, spaciousness, and engagingness.
Select Comparisons
Final ZE3000
$149
Technical
The ZE3000 features an F-Core driver with an F-Link damping system, and also Bluetooth 5.2. It offers 7 hours max playback and a maximum of 35 hours max playback time together with the cradle, which obviously suggests that it is less power-consuming than the ZE8000.
The QUALCOMM QCC3040 chipset is also used on the ZE3000 but there is no ANC function implemented, the microphone is also weaker in clarity when compared to the ZE8000.
Design
The ZE3000 has a futuristic, faceted design that uses the same frosty finish as seen on the ZE8000.
Like the ZE8000 the ZE3000 is also IPX4 graded which means it can withstand moisture or water splashes. The ZE3000 uses conventional ear tips and the ZE8000 feels much more unique with its unique ear tips design that enhances the fit.
Performance
The ZE3000 sounds natural and expansive, with decent clarity and articulation as it doesn’t stress certain frequencies. ZE8000 follows a similar tuning approach, just that its speed, clarity, and resolution are enhanced.
This is more prominent when turning the volume high, where the ZE3000 may sound less dense and textured but the ZE8000 is still distortion-free and highly dense in imaging, allowing more subtle details in the background to be discovered.
It is also noticeable that ZE8000 kicks deeper in the bass and when turning on the 8K SOUND+ DSP, the detail retrieval power is further boosted.
Besides the sound quality, the ZE8000 is much more versatile and suitable for outdoor use with ANC function, if not the tuning may sound too flat when mixing with ambient noises. The ZE8000 is also much better with phone calls as the microphone is able to pick up voices much clearer than on the ZE3000.
Final EVA 2020
$229
Technical
The Final EVA2020 is a single dynamic driver TWS collaboration between Khara’s Evangelion and Final, featuring aptX decoding. The design employs a driver with an Ultra-thin Film Diaphragm coupled with a brass ring, powered by Neodymium magnets, and filtered at the back.
The EVA2020 runs on Bluetooth 5.0 which is satisfactory for its positioning and offers 6 hours of playback on aptX and 9 hours with SBC/AAC, while the cradle could give it 7-8 full charges and achieves 63 hours max playback time.
Design
The EVA2020 is a rather fun and usual product with a colorful design improvised on Evangelion’s worldview.
I like the techy mecha design and beyond that, the voice guidance is done by the Operator character Maya Ibuki (CV: Nagasawa Miki) which makes the experience more fun, as if you are in the cockpit of the giant humanoid.
Performance
The EVA2020 has rich bass, natural vocal delivery, and enhanced treble clarity which works well with ACG and pops.
The DSP applied to the EVA2020 does a great job in shaping the treble smoother and allowing the overall output to sound more balanced, while the ZE8000 is tuned to be less colored, at the same time faster and cleaner in the bass.
Factoring in resolution and the ZE8000 is comprehensively much more engaging as the headroom rendered is more defined. With ANC function, it does not need to alter certain frequencies to compensate for the ambiance and sounds more natural and realistic with voices.
Testing with anime background music and EDMs the ZE8000 is obviously more capable of defining the bass with better density and clarity. The output quality on the ZE8000 is unmatched and works better for a music library of more genres.
Despite this fact, the EVA2020 is still a fun product for Evangelion fans with satisfactory performance, the long playback hours factoring in the cradle is a plus for those who don’t want to charge from time to time.
Our Verdict
The final ZE8000 has a lot going for it, with the exception of the unique ear tips design that tends to attract dust. Despite that, its technical performance and user experience are absolutely top-notch and even exceeded my expectations after spending a few weeks with it.
One thing that really impressed me was the accuracy and proficiency with which it brings out transient tones and bass density. The ZE8000 manages to delicately balance well-articulated vocals with dense, textured bass, creating an immersive listening experience.
And with its in-app equalizing feature, you can even give the mid-range tones a little boost for a stronger presence.
But what really sets the ZE8000 apart is its versatility. It performs exceptionally well across a wide range of genres, making it a great option for those with diverse music collections.
And since it works seamlessly with both Android and iOS devices, it’s a perfect fit for those who need to switch between different devices on a regular basis.
Overall, if you’re looking for a truly exceptional listening experience, the ZE8000 is a versatile and high-performing option that won’t disappoint.
final ZE8000 Technical Specifications
- Bluetooth version: 5.2
- Supported Codecs: SBC, AAC, Qualcomm® aptX™ Snapdragon Sound™, aptX™ Adaptive
- Playback time: Up to 5 hours, cradle supports 3 charges up to 15 hours
- Fast-charge playback time: 45 minutes after 5 minutes charge
- Charge Time: 1.5 hours (earphone body) and 2 hours (cradle)
- Waterproof Rating: IPX4