Verdict
If you’re seeking exceptional audio quality and great ANC, but you can live without the latest features, the Final UX3000 SV are a great buy at an affordable price. They may not have the bells and whistles offered by competitors, but the vocal clarity and wide soundstage are unmatched.
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Excellent stereo imaging -
Superb vocal performance -
Slick, minimalist styling -
Affordable price point
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No pass-through mode -
Very basic feature set -
The battery doesn’t last as long as the competition
Key Features
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Superb audio fidelity
The Final UX3000 SV have been re-engineered with a focus on vocal clarity and positional accuracy. They sound exceptional, especially considering the price tag. -
Compact folding design
The lightweight folding design of the UX3000 SV makes them great to travel with. They’re super comfy, too. -
Minimalist look
While these headphones don’t exactly make a statement, they look classy and refined. If you prefer a subtle touch, you’re sure to like these.
Introduction
About three years ago, I reviewed the Final UX3000, and I really liked them. They weren’t the most feature-packed headphones, but they sounded brilliant, they were very affordable, and they had a slick, minimal design.
Now, a new version has hit the scene, dubbed the Final UX3000 SV. At a glance, they look identical, and they carry the same £119 MSRP, too. So what exactly had changed? And is this new model any better?
I’ve been listening to them daily for the past few weeks, and they have even travelled with me internationally. After plenty of hours with the UX3000 SV on my head, here are my thoughts.
Design
- Foldable design
- Black Shibo finish
- Up to 35 hours of battery life
As mentioned in the intro, the Final UX3000 SV look almost identical to the UX3000, the only difference I could spot was with the shape of the microphone grille on each ear cup. Rather than horizontal lines cut out from the chassis, there’s now a cluster of circular holes.
Does this make any difference? I have no idea. But it’s a change nonetheless. Otherwise, everything from the finish to the folding mechanism, buttons and ports seems to be exactly the same.
I’m not grumbling. I loved the minimalistic and practical design of the originals, so, of course, I love these too. I’m particularly fond of the unique “Shibo” finish, which reminds me of a high-end camera body. It’s grippy, hard-wearing and completely immune to fingerprint smudges. Since these are only available in black, the fingerprint resistance is particularly important.
I also love the fact that these headphones can fold down to be so compact. I often travel with an (ageing) pair of Microsoft Surface Headphones 2, and the fact that they don’t fold means they take up an irritating amount of bag space.
Even firm travel favourites like the Sony XM6 don’t fold to be particularly small, so these were a breath of fresh air. I could even fit them in the bottle pocket on the side of my backpack, which was how I carried them most of the time.
Another highlight is the comfort. The UX3000 SV have wonderfully soft earcups with velvety leatherette covering. I found them comfortable to wear for hours at a time, and as someone who wears glasses, that’s not always the case.
The earcups are compact, but they’re just large enough to sit over my ears, rather than on them. I think I’m at the upper limit, though, and as far as I’m aware, my ears aren’t particularly large.
Features
- Independent ANC/Headphones controls
- Physical buttons
- Wired and wireless connectivity
The Final UX3000 SV headphones aren’t the most feature-packed; the brand has put all its effort into sound quality, rather than chasing the latest tech.
This means some basic creature comforts are missing, for instance, there are no wear sensors, so your music will continue to play when you take the headphones off. They’re just minor annoyances, though, and if you’re not currently using such features, you won’t miss them.
You do, at least, benefit from Bluetooth multipoint connectivity. This means you can pair the headphones to your laptop and your phone at the same time and seamlessly switch back and forth without needing to re-pair.
The headphones keep the same physical button controls as the previous model, and for the most part, I’m a fan of that decision. I have a love-hate relationship with touch controls; they offer a lot of utility, but they can be accidentally activated, and that’s not going to happen with these physical switches. Plus, they still give you quick access to everything you’ll need.
The headphones offer up to 35 hours of playback with ANC turned off, or 25 hours with ANC on. Nothing too remarkable, but more than sufficient for my requirements. I was able to go on a four-day trip without even thinking about charging them.
Noise-Cancellation
- No Ambient mode
- ANC works without Bluetooth
- Dual-mic hybrid ANC
The one thing that really bothered me is the lack of an “ambient” or “awareness” pass-through mode. These headphones have an excellent passive seal, which means without even turning on the ANC, they do a great job of blocking out your surroundings. That’s great when you’re trying to enjoy some music, but if you need to keep an ear out for the doorbell or your colleagues, it’s not ideal.
Most headphones offer the ability to tap into the noise-cancelling microphones so that you can hear the world around you, but that’s missing on these, too. It was my chief complaint about the original set, and I’m disappointed to learn that it hasn’t changed with the SV version.
There’s a unique feature with the ANC, which can be activated separately from the Bluetooth, for times when you just want peace and quiet. It’s a nice idea, but you need to be careful, as it’s very easy to leave the ANC running when you’re not using them, which will drain the battery.
I remember doing that with the original set, and guess what? I did it again this time, too. It’s not the end of the world, you just have to train yourself to check that you turned the ANC off. Otherwise, you might end up picking up a dead set of headphones more often than you’d like.
The active noise cancellation is great, too. Final has again made sound quality the top priority, using both internal and external microphones to cancel ambient sounds. Activating the ANC barely colours the output at all; they sound just as impressive, just more isolated.
I used the headphones on trains and planes during a recent trip to Sweden, and I have no complaints about the noise-cancelling. The system was able to eliminate the constant hum of aeroplane engines and dull the screams of restless toddlers. It’s exactly what this trip called for.
Sound Quality
- 40mm dynamic drivers
- SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD support
Thus far, my review of the UX3000 SV headphones may not sound too positive, but the sound quality changes everything. The previous model had already impressed me, to the point where my only real criticisms were that the vocals could sometimes sound compressed and the soundstage wasn’t too expansive.
To my delight, the SV model has been engineered from the ground up with a focus on vocal clarity and spatial accuracy. Final hasn’t said what “SV” stands for, but if it’s “Superb Vocals”, it’s completely justified.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to audition both versions side-by-side, but if my memory serves correctly, this is a massive change. Final says it redesigned the internal architecture of the headphones and adjusted the tuning for this model, and the effort seems to have paid off.
The overall sound signature is similar, the headphones sound precise, accurate and dynamic. The bass isn’t exaggerated, but it extends extremely deep when the song calls for it, just as it should.
The highs are textured and full of detail, without ever sounding shrill. Meanwhile, the vocals are brought to the forefront, with a great sense of depth and exceptional clarity.
The soundstage is expansive and easily among the best I have experienced from a wireless closed-back set of headphones. I particularly enjoyed listening to Esquivel’s ‘Exploring New Sounds in Stereo’ with the UX3000 SV. It’s an album that really pushes the stereo effect to dizzying extremes, with constant panning and an immersive 3D effect.
Of course, headphones aren’t exclusively used for music, and the new vocal-first tuning of these cans makes them brilliant for audiobooks, podcasts, TV and movies. Honestly, when I’m travelling, it’s more likely that I’m listening to one of these, and the UX3000 SV are a perfect pairing.
Should you buy it?
You want exceptional audio fidelity at a bargain price
The Final UX3000 SV are all about the sound, with a particular focus on vocals and staging. If that’s what you’re looking for, you’re unlikely to find a better option at twice the price.
You want the latest features
The Final UX3000 SV are pretty barebones, lacking basic niceties like wear detection, pass-through sound and a companion app. If you want features, look elsewhere.
Final Thoughts
I have thoroughly enjoyed living with the Final UX3000 SV. While they’re more of an iterative update than a new product, the sonic improvements are immediately apparent. I think the UX3000 SV is easily one of the best-sounding headphones in its price bracket.
The ANC is great, the minimal design is very appealing, and the folding portable design makes them easy to take on your travels.
However, I would have liked to see more improvements made. The lack of a pass-through/awareness mode was a bugbear of the original, and it’s equally frustrating here. The lack of wear sensors and middle-of-the-road battery life could also have been addressed, but they weren’t.
So, while these headphones are far from perfect, they nail the most important thing: the sound. In my opinion, you would have to double or triple your budget to find a significant improvement in audio fidelity, and for that reason, despite the flaws, they’re easy to recommend.
How We Test
We test every pair of headphones we review thoroughly over an extended period of time. We use industry-standard tests to compare features properly. We’ll always tell you what we find.
We never, ever, accept money to review a product.
Find out more about how we test in our ethics policy.
- Tested for more than a week
- Tested with real world use
FAQs
Yes, you can pair the Final UX3000 SV with up to two devices at a time for seamless playback switching.
No, Final hasn’t listed an IP rating for the UX3000 SV, so you might not want to wear these in a rainstorm.
Full Specs
| Final UX3000 SV Review | |
|---|---|
| UK RRP | £119 |
| Manufacturer | Final Audio |
| IP rating | Not Disclosed |
| Battery Hours | 35 |
| Weight | 260 G |
| ASIN | B0F3JR7YZB |
| Release Date | 2025 |
| Audio Resolution | SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD |
| Driver (s) | 40mm dynamic |
| Noise Cancellation? | Yes |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Colours | Black |
| Frequency Range | 20 20000 – Hz |
| Headphone Type | Over-ear |
