I'm someone who leans toward tight-fitting TWS (true wireless stereo) earbuds for daily listening, especially if I'm leaving the house. However, after spending a few months with the Final UX5000 over-ear headphones, I've realised they've become a habitual pick up if I know I need to concentrate for a long time on a piece of work.
Sitting comfortably at the top of Final's budget-friendly wireless lineup, above the entry-level UX1000 and the popular UX3000, the UX5000 proves that premium desktop audio doesn't have to cost four-figures. (Want more value? See our pick of the best budget IEMs.)
Final has embraced a sleek, beautifully minimalist aesthetic that makes these things incredibly wearable. They don't scream for attention, which is exactly what I want when I'm wearing a tech accessory (I know others may disagree). They are remarkably lightweight and comfortable, the plush ear pads and balanced clamping force mean you can wear them through hours of work without headband fatigue. This isn't something that can be said for most earbuds, which I can only tolerate for a couple of hours.
But mostly, they deliver a really good sound. The UX5000 provides a warm and relaxed profile. It avoids the artificial bass boost common in consumer wireless gear, opting instead for a highly balanced sound. The spatial depth is brilliant, giving most tracks and podcasts a realistic sense of air and separation that most of the earbuds I've had simply can't replicate.
The active noise cancellation, while not as powerful as the latest AirPods Pro 3, is solid; the Bluetooh 5.4 is flawless, it's never dropped out.
The epic battery life is a big plus – they promise 65 hours of continuous playback (45 hours with ANC turned on), and I have found that to be true. I hardly ever have to charge them, meaning they get picked up more often especially when my other headphones (AirPods Max) and my AirPods Pro 3 are charging (yes, I'm a slave to the Apple ecosystem).
Since I mentioned them, I should do a quick comparison point on the AirPods Max – at this price point the UX5000 really are excellent value compared to the Max. The afore mentioned battery life is three times that of Apple's headphones, and the Max are a lot heavier as well. Sound-wise they're quite different, with the UX5000 offering a much more neutral sound than the sculpted AirPods Max.
Overall, I really like these headphones and I think you will too. They're a real achievement at this price – currently just £159 at Amazon.
