The E500 Final Test: Simplified intras that hide their game well

The E500s set the tone right out of their little cardboard box: Here we’re faced with affordable headphones, with a basic design, but they do the job just the same. Impressive with their thinness and featherweight, these Lilliputian earbuds are protected by an ABS plastic frame where the various assembly points can be seen very clearly. Everything is connected by a relatively thick cable that ends with a small jack connector. The latter is curved and the part is flexible, thus limiting the risk of breakage.

Given their design, it will undoubtedly be necessary to take good care of the earbuds during use, in order to prevent them from being exposed to rain, or worse, sweating, and to store them away after each use. To maximize longevity. If a carrying bag is not provided, there are a variety of silicone tip sizes (however, no foam or dual/triple tip tips).

Like we said, the E500 opts for a particularly compact design and is surprisingly lightweight. However, this is not enough to make them models for convenience.

It is truly a relatively brief wearing experience that the ultimate earbuds provide us. The latter are held and held in place quite a bit by their depression/breakout at the entrance to the auditory canal, which isn’t really ideal, especially since the ends have a slight tendency to slip when the cable movement gradually loosens them. The feeling of intrusion is flagged here, which is tolerable for those who are used to intras but they are all too similar to comfortably wear headphones for several hours in a row. We appreciate that there are plenty of tips for optimizing the headphone port and avoiding unpleasant surprises. Finally, rest is valid, but it is not uncommon for you to have to take breaks and take a moment to reposition from time to time.

While this phenomenon did not occur during our various tests, we also feel that the drum back formed by the headphones frame has a very strong chance of comforting against oyster/flex in most ears. some annoyance.

The E500s have earned a small reputation among sound aesthetics, and even if some praise their qualities a lot, we have to realize that Final’s “mini” headphones are of greater caliber at some points…

Indeed, what a surprise to us when we discovered the sound reproduction of the E500, from cleanliness to rival headphones ten and twenty … even a hundred times more expensive. The small 6.2mm driver shows excellent control, and brings out a very good level of detail across the entire spectrum: bass is perfectly chiseled, mids and highs are clear and precise. We can say that the treatment offered is almost surgical.

The headphones also provide good definition for these frequency bands, especially in the second part of the spectrum, with an extension in the highest frequencies allowing us to enjoy an open and airy, wide sound stage, where the nuances reach us without difficulty. Conditions are fully met in order to appreciate the timbre of the instruments (in particular some of their components that are sometimes difficult to distinguish when listening for the first time) and, to some extent, the dynamics.

Although this is a critical point, the level of accuracy is not everything. E500s reveal another peculiarity that prevents them from shooting at heights: their signature is an embodiment of the term “sharp.” Here it is advisable to examine the display as a whole, because if we find a good balance for them by analyzing the bandwidth, the headphones generally show a clear preference for mid-high devices. This sharp aspect, very lively and sophisticated, is already highlighted by the headphones’ lightness in the lower frequencies. We can appreciate quite the neutral bass, but the E500s behave objectively too timidly, and that ultimately results in a particularly “dry” bass, lacking a lot of depth, impact and weight. This is also a point where backpackers feel due to the headphones’ relatively light soundproofing. After all, there is no active noise reduction here for better protection from ambient noise.

This extra weight in high mids exacerbates the idea of ​​clarity and serves as a “magnifying glass” to more easily perceive details while highlighting certain sources, often soloists, particularly vocals. We can appreciate such a choice, moreover, it is relatively measured compared to other overly generous models, but nevertheless it has two consequences. The first relates to auditory fatigue: Since we are in the human ear’s maximum sensitivity zone, the extra circulating energy can become stressful in the long run, especially if we push the level of listening. , which is something we can tend to. Use headphones that are not very insulating. So it will be necessary to remain wise about the size to comfortably enjoy its contents. To a lesser extent, this ‘forward’ sound has a slight crushing effect on the forward acoustic stage, which may therefore lack a bit of depth and therefore nature. The gentle handling could also have made it possible to enjoy to the fullest the very natural response of the headphones in treble sound, here a little hidden.