Final. The Japanese Art of Sound Perfection
When you pick up a pair of Final headphones, it's not just another electronic device you're holding. It's a piece of Japanese audio history, shaped by decades of continuous innovation, meticulous craftsmanship, and one singular purpose: achieving the most natural sound possible.
Final Audio In-Ear Headphones
Brand: Final Audio
Headphone type: wired
The lowest frequency, Hz: 20
Brand: Final Audio
Type of wireless headphones: True Wireless
Bluetooth version: 5.2
Brand: Final Audio
Headphone type: wired
The lowest frequency, Hz: 20
Microphone type: dynamic
The highest microphone frequency, kHz: 20
The lowest microphone frequency, Hz: 20
Brand: Final Audio
Headphone type: wired
The lowest frequency, Hz: 20
Brand: Final Audio
Headphone type: wired
The lowest frequency, Hz: 20
Brand: Final Audio
Headphone type: wired
The lowest frequency, Hz: 15
Brand: Final Audio
Headphone type: wired
The lowest frequency, Hz: 20
Brand: Final Audio
Headphone type: wired
The lowest frequency, Hz: 20
Contents
The Vision Born Half a Century Ago
Final Audio was founded in 1974 by the distinguished engineer and true audiophile, Kanemori Takai, whose passion and creative approach laid the foundation for one of the most respected Japanese audio brands. Initially, the company was called Final Audio Research, and its goal was ambitious: to create the highest-quality audio products with a focus on a deep, emotional perception of music.
In the 1970s, Final primarily developed ultra-exclusive products like unique reel-to-reel tape recorders, cables, and speakers. One of their first most iconic products was a set of speakers with outstanding aluminum enclosures and beryllium drivers, which cost tens of thousands of dollars per pair.
Kanemori Takai was not just an engineer, but a true artist of sound design. He created soulful audio tech with a special character, striving for absolute honesty in its sound. Takai's philosophy was to create "beautiful things" that inspired and brought joy to their audience. The 800-kg Opus 204 speaker system, one of the most expensive and largest speakers ever made, is among the prime examples of his vision.
Yoshihisa Mori, who later participated in the creation of CD and SACD at Sony, helped bring Takai's ideas to life through engineering solutions. To this day, he remains an inspirational figure and a consultant for Final.
It was he who designed Final's first real product, a breakthrough phono cartridge. Its unique construction featured a figure-eight coil with a cantilever cut from a one-carat diamond, and unlike other cartridges before it, it had no influence on the sound from adhesive or iron core. This ensured transparency and purity of sound that had been unheard of before, and Final's cartridge immediately gained recognition among audiophiles. It also set the highest bar for the company's future products.
A Turn in Brand Philosophy and Tech
In the 2000s, the brand underwent a major transformation. In 2007, Kanemori Takai and former Sony employees founded S'NEXT Co. with funding from a major connector manufacturer, Japan Molex LLC.
S'NEXT was created as an engineering and manufacturing company that would develop audio components for other brands on a commission basis (as in the OEM/ODM business model). The name S'NEXT symbolically meant "the Next Stage of Sound," showing the brand's strive for innovation.
In 2009, the company acquired a factory in the Philippines and began the production of high-end in-ear headphones under the brand name Final Audio Design. During this period, they released several iconic dynamic headphones, including the Heaven and Adagio models. Those headphones were unmatched by anything else on the market and offered a completely different perspective on music. The hybrid armature Piano Forte and FI-BA-SS models were also released around that time.
But the brand didn't limit itself to premium models: the Final E3000 became a legend in its own right thanks to the combination of its reasonable price and the great sound quality it delivered.
In 2013, the company J Co. was established within S'NEXT to handle the wholesale distribution of Final Audio Design headphones. In the same year, they released their first full-size models under the Final brand. The Pandora Hope VI and Sonorous VI models stood out in particular due to their combination of dynamic and armature drivers, which was (and still is) quite a rarity for full-size headphones.
In 2014, following the death of Kanemori Takai, the S'NEXT top management completed a full buyout of the company from Japan Molex LLC. From that moment on, the in-ear and full-size headphone divisions were united under the name "Final," and the logo was changed. Soon, Final released the world's first headphones made of 3D-printed titanium — the LAB I model.
In 2015, the company's head office was relocated from Shinagawa to the city of Kawasaki in the Kanagawa Prefecture.
The Industry Leader of Today
Today, Final is the flagship brand of S'NEXT. The company has several factories in Japan and throughout continental Asia, and exports its products to over 50 countries.
These factories are full-cycle: that's where headphone drivers are developed and manufactured, and also where the final assembly takes place. The development and production departments are located next to each other, which allows for rapid testing and innovation implementation. The staff don't just follow instructions but proactively suggest improvements and take pride in every pair of headphones they produce.
The brand's flagship store in Kawasaki is a prime destination for audiophiles, featuring listening rooms, a service center, and DIY kits.
The company covers several different areas:
- High-End Headphones
For instance, the D8000 Pro Edition with its proprietary AFDS planar magnetic drivers. - Portable Models
The A, E, UX series, and others. - Accessories
Cables, eartips, and earpads. - Gaming Headsets
Final has brought its premium sound quality to this niche, too. - Wireless Headphones
Final's wireless sets feature the 8K SOUND technology, which makes them sound almost identical to wired models.
The Japanese Path to Perfection
Final has remained true to its core ideas since the beginning:
- Engineering over marketing
Final only offers its clients real and measurable product improvements and doesn't force pointless "upgrades" onto them. - Perception over specifications
Countless live listening sessions are the core of Final's product testing, as they don't rely on numbers alone to perfect the sound. - Unique approach
Final doesn't care for trends or copying others; they forge their own path. - Fair pricing
Final strives to deliver high-quality sound for reasonable money within different product classes.
Final's philosophy is the pursuit of what is and feels fundamentally right. Every product, from the basic to the flagship models, is created with uncompromising attention to detail and unmatched engineering precision. In a world of disposable electronics, Final creates headphones that don't become obsolete, just like those classic mechanical watches that are passed down from generation to generation.
The Legacy of Takai and Mori
Kanemori Takai was the heart and soul of Final. His unique approach to sound — rejecting standard metrics in favor of a creative, artistic vision — made the brand recognizable and beloved by audiophiles worldwide. He did not strive for mass-market success, but rather created products that reflected his personal understanding of music and sound.
After his death in 2014, the company continued to develop under Mitsuru Hosoo's leadership, preserving the founder's philosophy and quality standards.
Yoshihisa Mori, an engineer and innovator, brought Takai's dreams to life and made a significant contribution to the global audio industry, all while remaining a guiding spirit for Final.
The Final Note
In a world of mass-market gadgets, Final reveals what is possible when passion, precision, and craftsmanship unite. The brand's journey brought it from making niche, handcrafted components in 1974 to its current status as one of the world's leaders in high-end audio. To this day, Final remains true to its original mission: to aim for what is fundamentally right and to share the joy of truly impeccable sound with the world.
Final isn't just about listening to music; it's about experiencing it as it was meant to be experienced, with every note, detail, and emotion rich and clear.
Final Audio Over-Ear Headphones
Multipoint: yes
Brand: Final Audio
Headphone type: wireless
Multipoint: yes
Brand: Final Audio
Headphone type: wireless
Brand: Final Audio
Headphone type: wired
The lowest frequency, Hz: 20
Multipoint: yes
Brand: Final Audio
Headphone type: wireless
Headset type: stereo
Brand: Final Audio
Headphone type: wired
Multipoint: yes
Brand: Final Audio
Headphone type: wireless
Headset type: stereo
Brand: Final Audio
Headphone type: wired
Headset type: stereo
Brand: Final Audio
Headphone type: wired
Brand: Final Audio
Headphone type: wired
The lowest frequency, Hz: 20
