The Art of Evaluation: A Deep Dive into Final Audio's D 8000 Headphones

As I sat down to evaluate my first set of headphones from Final Audio, a company known for its high-end, handmade products, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and trepidation. The D 8000, with its sleek design and astronomical price tag, promised to deliver an unparalleled listening experience. With a price point of almost $4,000 (3,799 USD or 3,000 British pounds), these headphones were certainly not for the faint of heart.

As I opened up the box, I was immediately struck by the quality of the materials used. The texture on the outside of the box seemed to be made from some sort of advanced material that was both durable and aesthetically pleasing. Inside, I found a beautifully crafted set of headphones that seemed to be crafted with precision and attention to detail. Every aspect of the design, from the ear cups to the headband, seemed to have been carefully considered to provide the ultimate listening experience.

But it's not just about looks; performance is also crucial when it comes to high-end headphones. The D 8000 boasts an impressive impedance of 60 ohms and sensitivity of 98 dB, making them well-suited for a wide range of audio formats. I was also pleased to see that the headphones came with two different cables, one measuring 1.5 meters and another measuring 3 meters, giving users flexibility in terms of connectivity options.

As I began to listen to music on the D 8000, I was struck by the sheer clarity and depth of sound. The open-back design allowed for a wide and immersive soundstage that seemed to transport me to a different world. The bass response was incredibly detailed, with notes that seemed to reverberate through my entire body. It was as if I was actually present at the recording studio, experiencing the music firsthand.

But what struck me most about the D 8000 was not just the sound quality, but the experience itself. Listening to music on these headphones is like approaching a piece of art in an gallery. You're not just hearing the music; you're experiencing it, savoring every detail and nuance. It's an exercise in mindfulness, where every note, every beat, and every moment is savored and appreciated.

Unfortunately, this level of experience can be daunting for some listeners. I've spent countless hours sitting in front of monitors and TVs, listening to music with a sense of detachment that's hard to shake. The D 8000 challenged me to rethink my approach to listening, to slow down and truly appreciate the music. It forced me to confront my own limitations as a listener and to consider the possibility that I might be missing out on something special.

And yet, despite this newfound awareness, I couldn't help but feel a sense of trepidation. How do you justify spending almost $4,000 on headphones? Is it really worth it for the sake of sound quality alone? These questions swirled in my mind as I continued to listen to music on the D 8000, unsure of what to make of this experience.

In the end, I came to realize that the value of the D 8000 lies not just in its sound quality, but in the experience it offers. It's an exercise in mindfulness, a challenge to slow down and appreciate the music. If you're willing to take on that challenge, then the D 8000 might be worth considering. But if you're looking for a more affordable option, or one that offers a more straightforward listening experience, there may be other options available.

As I finished my time with the D 8000, I couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude for the experience. It was a reminder that music is not just something we listen to; it's an event that can transport us, transform us, and challenge our perspectives. And sometimes, that means being willing to pay a premium for the privilege of experiencing it in all its glory.

In my next article, I'll be exploring some of the technical aspects of the D 8000, including its impedance, sensitivity, and cable options. But for now, let's just say that this experience has left me with a newfound appreciation for the art of listening, and a renewed sense of wonder at the possibilities that music can offer.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enoh it's been a while since I evaluated some headphones it's been a thing that I've been focused on in the past in fact if you look at the channel you can see that I have tested some very expensive headphones but nothing in the same realm as what I'm about to do today I have my very first set of headphones from a company called final kind of see that in-between this crazy texture that exists on the box this is a company from Japan claims to make the greatest headphones ever inside of here's a product that is handmade all the way down to the drive but it's not just about the look the appearance the craftsmanship it's also about performance and these have been very highly regarded even at their astronomical price tag it's called the D 8000 so here we can see the impedance 60 ohms the sensitivity 98 DB they are 523 grams a couple of different cables 1.5 meters and 3 meters and there's even a stand-in here apparently what did I tell them how much the final D 8000 these are almost $4,000 headphones 3799 USD or 3,000 British pounds let's get inside the box first it's a box in a box situation this looks like it's unit number 323 well but how thick those audio cables are the stand is nicer on its own has some rubbery feet on it so it really sticks once it's on the table oh man there you have it this is the final D 8,000 neoprene almost material on the ear cups the ear cups themselves they pivot they articulate 360 degrees on the headband everything is metal here with the exception of the headband which is leather on the bottom you have your cable connections one on each ear cup hole that's your setup right there I've got everything hooked up now I got the darkboys tube headphone amplifier also got this little phono box here let's try them on course open back design I can hear myself foundings I'm looking for that wide soundstage yes look at those babies that's serious hmm yes yeah yeah yeah yeah salt here's the thing right like music everybody listens to music modify Apple music Google Play next next next next the thing about it that's hard to explain is that a process like this is set up like this and a product like this it's really beyond the scope of practicality you are in the realm of experience you're in the realm of nuance you're in the realm of subtlety you're trying to examine it like a piece of art in an art gallery you're sitting there like hmmm right there's that and there's also that and even that and as it all comes together your ability to discern those small little fragments changes your overall experience of the art you guys don't understand how hard it is to be ever in a situation in this environment sitting right here where I can even momentarily completely forget that you're sitting right there I've done this what like 1,500 times like I've sat here - Mike there's monitors as a big TV it is not easy to forget that all of that is going on somehow that experience right there I was gone I wasn't here I don't know was I in the studio with them was I had a live show in the early 70s was I even on planet Earth can you put some Black Sabbath on and just be there for a minute huh are you available to even know what it is to listen to it I don't know I don't think I was and then I was it's kind of crazy to me that this experience that I just had on camera it required this video to take place I didn't do this on my own accord it had to kind of happen in order to snap me into this mode right now and I'm not sure it's what you tuned in for but I'm not sure you have a choice at this point we just had that experience together you and I that's right jack well chances are you probably want to listen to some music properly for once and now I'm starting to sound like some kind of elitist I don't necessarily think you need these headphones I'm just saying I got a lesson in paying attention right now today are these headphones responsible at least partially because of these headphones I'm asking you to do a better job paying attention maybe you do I don't know but myself and a lot of people around me I don't know I'm seeing some things I'm not feeling great about it so that's my challenge to you pay a little bit more attention throw some Black Sabbath on put some headphones on I don't take a minute you're alive it's happening it's all right here make yourself available every so often please thank youoh it's been a while since I evaluated some headphones it's been a thing that I've been focused on in the past in fact if you look at the channel you can see that I have tested some very expensive headphones but nothing in the same realm as what I'm about to do today I have my very first set of headphones from a company called final kind of see that in-between this crazy texture that exists on the box this is a company from Japan claims to make the greatest headphones ever inside of here's a product that is handmade all the way down to the drive but it's not just about the look the appearance the craftsmanship it's also about performance and these have been very highly regarded even at their astronomical price tag it's called the D 8000 so here we can see the impedance 60 ohms the sensitivity 98 DB they are 523 grams a couple of different cables 1.5 meters and 3 meters and there's even a stand-in here apparently what did I tell them how much the final D 8000 these are almost $4,000 headphones 3799 USD or 3,000 British pounds let's get inside the box first it's a box in a box situation this looks like it's unit number 323 well but how thick those audio cables are the stand is nicer on its own has some rubbery feet on it so it really sticks once it's on the table oh man there you have it this is the final D 8,000 neoprene almost material on the ear cups the ear cups themselves they pivot they articulate 360 degrees on the headband everything is metal here with the exception of the headband which is leather on the bottom you have your cable connections one on each ear cup hole that's your setup right there I've got everything hooked up now I got the darkboys tube headphone amplifier also got this little phono box here let's try them on course open back design I can hear myself foundings I'm looking for that wide soundstage yes look at those babies that's serious hmm yes yeah yeah yeah yeah salt here's the thing right like music everybody listens to music modify Apple music Google Play next next next next the thing about it that's hard to explain is that a process like this is set up like this and a product like this it's really beyond the scope of practicality you are in the realm of experience you're in the realm of nuance you're in the realm of subtlety you're trying to examine it like a piece of art in an art gallery you're sitting there like hmmm right there's that and there's also that and even that and as it all comes together your ability to discern those small little fragments changes your overall experience of the art you guys don't understand how hard it is to be ever in a situation in this environment sitting right here where I can even momentarily completely forget that you're sitting right there I've done this what like 1,500 times like I've sat here - Mike there's monitors as a big TV it is not easy to forget that all of that is going on somehow that experience right there I was gone I wasn't here I don't know was I in the studio with them was I had a live show in the early 70s was I even on planet Earth can you put some Black Sabbath on and just be there for a minute huh are you available to even know what it is to listen to it I don't know I don't think I was and then I was it's kind of crazy to me that this experience that I just had on camera it required this video to take place I didn't do this on my own accord it had to kind of happen in order to snap me into this mode right now and I'm not sure it's what you tuned in for but I'm not sure you have a choice at this point we just had that experience together you and I that's right jack well chances are you probably want to listen to some music properly for once and now I'm starting to sound like some kind of elitist I don't necessarily think you need these headphones I'm just saying I got a lesson in paying attention right now today are these headphones responsible at least partially because of these headphones I'm asking you to do a better job paying attention maybe you do I don't know but myself and a lot of people around me I don't know I'm seeing some things I'm not feeling great about it so that's my challenge to you pay a little bit more attention throw some Black Sabbath on put some headphones on I don't take a minute you're alive it's happening it's all right here make yourself available every so often please thank you\n"