Final VR3000 unboxing and first impressions:
Unboxing presentation is simple yet surprisingly satisfying, every placement very well thought out. Very interesting earhook system, very nice cable and built. Final always has the best rubber quality and the softest cables. Extremely light IEMs. Oddly though, my set didn’t come with the carrying pouch advertised on the box, but I have no need for it anyways. For a JP-Fi experience, this is topnotch even for an entry level product.
Power requirement, as usual with Final IEMs, is way above the average of sub $100 IEMs, almost as much as the Variations is asking for. Upon first 10 minutes of listening compared to the Mele, the VR3000 wins immediately with more treble clarity but without any sibilant harshness. Timbre is surprisingly natural given its plastic casing. Mele becomes dark and warm against the VR3000. Sound stage is wider with a soothing spacial reference, exactly as promoted. Bass region is not as punchy as the Mele, expecially the mid-bass, but overall balance is better. 10 minutes in, I knew immediately that this is a keeper for me.
Just tested it against my favorite IEM for movie watching, Blon BL-05s, and tested with Constantine (2005)… VR3000 hands down wrecks BL-05s with it’s pinpoint imaging and spacial clarity. I’m stumped.
