final is an established audio brand that has made its name over the years, with the S'NEXT company it belongs to claiming several engineering designs and patents in addition to a solid reputation in the consumer and professional audio markets as a whole. We took a look last year at what I thought was final's first TWS (True Wireless Stereo) set of IEMs, but apparently that being a collaboration meant it did not count in terms of wholly representing the final brand. As such, final informed us recently that it had indeed been working on its own vision of a first TWS product, which is named the final ZE3000. Sound quality and comfort were prioritized in the design process, and accordingly the use of a single driver was done to avoid phasing issues. The driver itself, a full-range dynamic driver with a new 6 mm adhesive-less injection molded diaphragm, a special silicone surround and a CCAW (copper-clad aluminium wire) voice coil, aims to provide extremely low distortion while at it.

This "f-core for Wireless" driver unit is paired with final's proprietary f-LINK damping system to regulate the air pressure change inside the enclosed housing without introducing a vent. The advantages allowed come in the form of the necessary TWS components not affecting the air pressure regulating system necessary to make the most of the driver, as well as maintaining IPX4 environmental resistance that is crucial for TWS solutions today. This is how final claims the ZE3000 to be able to deliver a non-fatiguing, "relaxing and enjoyable music experience regardless of the music genres". On the technology side, the final ZE3000 is paired with a Qualcomm chipset allowing Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity and aptX Adaptive codec support for music playback up to 24-bit/48 kHz, as well as pre-programmed touch controls. The shells employ a claimed ergonomic design with three points of contact in the ear concha, and being on the smaller side also helps with the physical fit. It uses final's Type-E ear tips, which are excellent in my opinion, and comes in black or white colors with a matching case. The advertised battery life is up to 7 hours per charge, and up to 35 hours with the case. The final ZE3000 is available to buy now for £119/€119/$149 from Hifiheadphones (UK) and Amazon US/Amazon UK.

Over the past few weeks, you might be seeing hints at a new collaboration project between See Audio, HiFiGo, and another mysterious faceless entity. Naturally, everyone has been dying to know who the collaborator is and what exactly this project is. Today, we shall put an end to all the speculations, though quite frankly the answer should be pretty obvious by now. We are excited to finally announce the See Audio X Crinacle Yume:Midnight, an IEM collaboration project exclusive to HiFiGO.

See Audio entered the international market with the Yume, a triple driver hybrid in-ear monitor that received critical acclaim and widely well-received by happy owners all over the world. Crinacle, a world-renowned audio reviewer then also shared his valuable feedback with the See Audio team, upon which the foundations of "Project Midnight" was built. "Project Midnight" eventually manifested as the Yume:Midnight, a Yume taken to the next level.

As the market becomes saturated with commoditized headphone offerings that often put convenience-oriented features ahead of sound quality, Campfire Audio encourages music lovers to experience their music as it was meant to be heard: in full-bodied, no-compromise high fidelity audio. The company's new wired IEMs—which feature unique, hand-crafted designs in two sonically tailored variations, Satsuma and Honeydew—offer listeners an audiophile-grade soundstage and spectacular clarity at an affordable price.

As the quality and sophistication of consumer playback systems and streaming technologies continue to advance rapidly, Campfire Audio believes that many consumers are seeking a 'back to basics' approach with their audio—favoring features such as customized acoustic chambers, full-range balanced armature drivers, and quality cabling over convenient add-ons such as voice command and wireless capabilities. Both the 'orange-fizz' colored Satsuma and the 'mellow-yellow' colored Honeydew earphones are characterized by their superior acoustic performance and instantly recognizable design aesthetic.

Etymotic has announced the release of EVO, a culmination of 30 years of earphone engineering research and innovation. The Etymotic engineers have worked diligently to make these the highest-quality and truest sounding earphones on the market. The EVO was created to match the audiophile's lifestyle. By using a two-way design, it produces a tight, low-end sub bass while providing a true and transparent sound across the entire frequency spectrum. Beautifully integrating three balanced armature drivers into a molded stainless-steel shell, the Evo truly is beautiful in both sight and sound.

Accuracy-driven engineering and comfort-based design deliver an innovative new product for the Etymotic line. The Etymotic EVO is the most accurate multi-driver earphone on the market. Commenting on the new release, Tal Kocen, Director of Consumer Product Development at Lucid Audio said: "We waited so long to put out a multi-driver earphone because we wanted to make sure that it was the best it could be and held to our exacting standards for earphone design and sonic qualities. The EVO is truly where precision meets audio and you'll immediately hear it the first time you listen".

Ultimate Ears (UE) today introduced UE FITS, the first-ever true wireless earphones with instant custom fit. Similar to fingerprints, each person's individual ear is unique. No two prints, even on the same person, are the same. UE FITS mold to perfectly fit individual ears in less than a minute with its patented Lightform technology. This goes beyond the standard tip sizes of small, medium and large. From podcasts and playlists on morning commutes, to conference calls while working from home or rocking that evening run, these instant, fit-for-only-you earbuds will stay in place for all-day comfort and deliver an exceptional audio experience.

"We are redefining wireless earphones with UE FITS," said Jonah Staw, General Manager and Head of Ultimate Ears Custom Earphones. "For the first time ever, we are bringing instant custom fit to premium earbuds. With the press of a button and in under 60 seconds, consumers can experience exceptional comfort and sound quality from earphones that perfectly fit the unique shape of their ears."

ASTRO Gaming, the leader in premium video gaming equipment, today announced the release of the newest addition to its award winning family of gaming audio products, the A03 In-Ear Monitor (IEM). Engineered specifically for Mobile and Console gaming, the A03 IEM differs from traditional earbuds thanks to the two separate drivers in each ear housing. One driver is dedicated to bass, while the other is dedicated to mids and highs. This architecture delivers a powerful audio experience with a rich soundscape, revealing every detail of game environments and clearly separating voice chat.

Gamers want a convenient way to enjoy pro-grade audio while on the go," said Aron Drayer, vice president of marketing for ASTRO Gaming. "The new A03 IEM expands our line-up with a competitively priced solution designed to deliver the sound quality, comfort and style ASTRO customers expect."

Today xMEMS Labs emerged from stealth mode to reinvent sound with the introduction of Montara, the world's first monolithic true MEMS speaker, delivering high fidelity, full-bandwidth sound and low total harmonic distortion (THD) for sealed in-ear personal audio devices, including true wireless stereo (TWS) earbuds. Montara is also the world's first IP-57 rated microspeaker, enabling water and dust-resistant earbuds. Consumers will benefit from enhanced audio fidelity with raised levels of clarity and detail for instruments and vocals, extremely low latency, waterproof earbuds, and longer listening times.

"With on-the-go media consumption on the rise such as subscription music, podcasts, video, audiobooks and mobile gaming, consumers are increasingly demanding enhanced audio quality and extended listen times between charges," said Joseph Jiang co-founder and CEO. "Until now, the industry has relied on antiquated, centuries-old multi-component voice coil speakers requiring labor-intensive, high variability factory assembly lines. Our revolutionary Montara product is a game changer for delivering a new combination of audio fidelity, size, energy consumption and uniformity not possible with traditional voice coil approaches."

Shure in its pre-CES show unveiled the Aonic 215, a pair of true-wireless in-ear monitors that's out to compete with the likes of the AirPods Pro. Each of its two ends features a conventional IEM-like design with replaceable heads, which plug into a stock that runs behind your pinna. This extends to a lobe that contains the battery and the earphone's wireless hardware. Shure promises up to 8 hours of listening on a full charge, and quality on-par with with high-quality wired earphones. As with most other true-wireless earphones, the case of the Aonic 215 doubles up as a recharging dock. It comes with a leatherette exterior and a zipper.

Creative Technology Ltd today announced the Creative Outlier ONE Plus. The all-new Bluetooth in-ears are the latest addition to the Outlier Series; which includes the Outlier One-included as one of the 'Best Bluetooth Earbuds of 2018' by tech review site SoundGuys.

The Creative Outlier ONE Plus maintains the superior sound quality, comfort and fit of Outlier ONE, but now is enhanced with Bluetooth 4.2 connectivity and a 4GB built-in MP3 player that allows you to play music directly - without cellular connection or your phone. Certified IPX4 sweat-proof for the toughest workouts with a long-lasting battery life of up to 10 hours, Outlier ONE Plus is the perfect plus for all activities.

Creative Technology Ltd today unveiled a limited edition of its latest Sound Blaster X7 at CES 2015. Recently named a double 2015 CES Innovations Awards Honoree in both the 'Home Audio/Video Components and Accessories' and 'Computer Hardware and Components' categories, the feature-packed Sound Blaster X7 which is an ultra high-resolution external USB DAC and powerful audio amplifier now comes in an exclusive pearl white color, includes a 144W power adapter that is capable of delivering up to 100W output to passive speakers, and has a very low headphone amplifier output impedance of 1 ohm to effortlessly drive even the more sensitive in-ear monitors (IEMs) on the market.

The Sound Blaster X7, showcasing at the 2015 International CES, is designed to connect with a range of gaming and entertainment systems as an ultra high-end external Sound Blaster audio solution with an impressive 24-bit/192kHz high-resolution 127dB digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and a powerful 100W audio amplifier. It provides a superior, pure and lossless listening experience for games, music and movies -- meeting the most discerning demands of audiophile listeners and enthusiast gamers alike.

Westone, the leader in high performance audio and in-ear monitoring technology, will be demonstrating the Signature Series UM Pro 50 for the first time at NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants trade show.) The UM Pro Series 50 is the first signature model of the acclaimed Westone UM Series. The Signature Series brings superior sound for the stage or studio. Each unit is individually handcrafted in Colorado Springs, USA. The UM Pro 50 is the first professional universal-fit headphone from Westone with five balanced armature drivers per unit, delivering reference level sound and isolation for the stage or studio.

The UM Pro 50 combines five balanced armature drivers with a sophisticated three-way passive crossover network, providing enhanced sonic detail and a frequency range that extend well beyond typical in-ear solutions. Like every UM Pro Series model, the UM Pro 50 features Westone's robust EPIC replaceable cable, constructed of high-flex, ultra-low resistance tensile wire reinforced with a special aramid fiber, and braided for ultimate durability, acoustic transparency, and isolation from mechanical cable noise. The new audiophile connector makes this cable solution conveniently user-removable, upgradeable and replaceable with a number of new and current Westone cable solutions.

Razer, the world leader in high-performance gaming hardware, software and systems, announced the launch of the Razer Hammerhead series of in-ear headsets, two all-new audio solutions for mobile gaming and music. The Razer Hammerhead in-ear headsets offer incredible durability and fantastic audio quality from their 9 mm neodymium drivers, making them excellent choices for music listening on the go. The headsets come in two versions - the Razer Hammerhead and the Razer Hammerhead Pro, with the latter sporting an omni-directional microphone with an in-line remote for phone-call control, perfect for convenient voice communication.

Both in-ear headsets are machined out of aircraft-grade aluminum, promising extreme durability, while maintaining a lightweight and comfortable form factor. With a matte, brushed surface finish, these in-ear monitors look as good as they sound. With interchangeable ear-tips included in three sizes and optional bi-flange attachments, the Razer Hammerhead in-ear headsets offer ultimate sound isolation. "With numerous mobile PC gaming systems emerging, peripherals that offer both great performance and portability on-the-go are what make the experience complete," says Min-Liang Tan, Razer co-founder, CEO and creative director. "The Razer Hammerhead and Hammerhead Pro's unrivalled durability and deep bass tones are fantastic for any gamer or music listener with an active lifestyle."

Westone introduced a new accessory for its line of in-ear monitors, called the "Monitor Vault". Simply put, it is a rugged case for your Westone in-ear monitors (IEMs). IEMs, especially the ones that are customized to fit your ears, can be delicate and expensive to carry around just anywhere. The Monitor Vault is designed to protect them from the elements. Measuring 87 x 69 x 49 mm (WxDxH), the case is made of a rugged polymer, with protective foam padding on the inside, and an O-ring sealing the lid. While this O-ring protects the IEM from rain or a splash of water, it's not exactly water-tight (for diving, etc.) Available in clear, smoke, and orange color options, the Monitor Vault from Westone is priced at US $16.95.

HiFiMAN, a leading designer/manufacturer of highly acclaimed headphones and personal audio products, announced their HM-601 Slim, a remarkably small, lightweight, personal audio player. The new player, under the HiFiMAN Express brand, delivers audiophile performance that will drive most full-size headphones while handling major music formats. The HM-601 Slim will be shipping in January 2012 with an MSRP of $199 for 4GB and $249 for 8GB and is expandable up to 32GB.

High-speed internet has enabled high quality lossless music files and Computer Audio, aka Digital Audio, and it's one of the hottest ways music lovers are enjoying their favorite music. With 8Gb of memory on board, the compact HiFiMAN Express HM-601 Slim is a highly affordable yet remarkably musical player with a superb D/A converter and headphone amplifier. For use with a variety of headphones, a handy high/low Gain switch allows the player to drive most In Ear Monitors (IEM) and full size dynamic headphones.

Audiophile brand Westone today released its Talk Series One "communication IEM", that's a pair of in-ear monitors (IEMs) with a microphone strapped along the cable. It makes for an ideal audiophile-grade companion for smartphones, as they are increasingly replacing portable music players among other everyday gadgets. Talk Series One could also make for a great PC/notebook headset.

The IEMs have a sensitivity rating of 114 dB @ 1mW, 20Hz - 16kHz frequency response, and 25 ohms @ 1kHz impedance. They use Westone's balanced armature, full-range driver design. The microphone is strapped along the main line, and features Westone's Microphone In Control System (MICS). It also features basic call/end buttons to take or drop calls. Shipping now, the Westone Talk Series TS-1 is priced at US $129.99.

Experts in making personal audio hardware, Head-Direct, gave us a sneak peak into a new in-ear monitor (IEM) it is coming up with. Yet to be assigned a proper trade name, the IEM packs a clever use of materials that add to its comfort and performance, both of which are imperative in products of its class and market positioning. The IEM features a soft shell casing. It features a dynamic titanium driver with silver voice coils. The materials going into making the voice coil and the diaphragm correct some of areas where older versions of IEM by the company needed improvement. A possible downside of the design is that it manages a relatively less voice attenuation of 20 dBA. A list of preliminary specifications given to us is as follows:

• In-ear design offers 20 dB noise-isolation capability
• iPhone compatible 3.5mm mini-jack plug
• Powerful 9mm Neodymium magnet drivers
• Soft material structure offer same quality comfort as custom IEM
• Cable-fit slider adjust the length of the cables
• Titanium diaphragm and silver voice coil wire

Pricing isn't known as yet, but we don't feel it is going to be overly expensive, looking at the way Head-Direct prices its IEMs.