Final, a renowned Japanese audio company, has unveiled its latest flagship closed-back headphones, the DX10000 CL. Priced at $8,499 for the standard edition and $8,999 for the limited Collector’s Edition, these headphones represent Final’s most ambitious project to date. The DX10000 CL is designed to deliver an immersive and physically engaging listening experience, combining the isolation of closed-back headphones with the clarity and tonal accuracy expected from a true flagship audiophile product.
The DX10000 CL features a newly developed 40mm True Diamond diaphragm dynamic driver, which is manufactured using a chemical vapor deposition process. This process grows diamond as a crystalline layer, resulting in a self-supporting diamond dome that offers exceptional rigidity, high sound velocity, and strong internal damping. These properties enable the diaphragm to maintain accurate piston motion, reduce unwanted deformation, and suppress residual vibration after the signal stops, leading to faster transient response and lower distortion.
The Art of Closed-Back Design
Closed-back headphones offer a unique listening experience by isolating the listener from outside noise and creating a sense of pressure, intimacy, and impact. However, designing closed-back headphones at the reference level is extremely challenging due to issues like unwanted resonances, tonal coloration, and the familiar “cupping effect” that can make music sound less natural. Final has addressed these challenges by developing the DX10000 CL as a complete acoustic system, combining the True Diamond diaphragm driver with a high-rigidity airtight housing, controlled internal damping, carefully engineered earpads, and a serviceable mechanical structure.
The result is a closed-back flagship design that sounds powerful and immersive without losing the openness, clarity, and natural tone expected from the highest level of personal audio. The DX10000 CL includes two Final original silver-coated cables co-developed with Junkosha, a specialist cable manufacturer known for high-performance materials and cable engineering.
Luxurious Design and Craftsmanship
The limited Collector’s Edition of the DX10000 CL features gold-colored accents and is presented in a traditional Japanese paulownia wood box, complete with an original Shingen Pouch crafted from Tango Chirimen silk. The standard edition features silver-colored accents and comes with the same protective carrying case used across Final’s D Series headphones. Both editions include a bespoke CNC-machined aluminum headphone stand, adding to the luxurious appeal of these headphones.
Final has paid meticulous attention to detail in the construction of the DX10000 CL. The headphones use screws rather than adhesives throughout the construction, ensuring that components can be replaced and serviced throughout their lifetime. The earpads are made of ultrasuede, a blend of ultra-fine polyester and elastic plastics, which achieves the intended acoustic response through carefully controlled air permeability while ensuring long-term comfort.
Unlocking the Full Potential
To unlock the full potential of the True Diamond diaphragm, Final developed a complete supporting driver system. The diamond dome has a steep profile with a cylindrical rib around its outer edge, helping achieve the rigidity necessary for ultra-low distortion without unnecessary moving mass. A newly developed polyurethane surround supports the diamond dome while allowing it to move freely and accurately. The voice coil has also been redesigned, using a lightweight polyimide bobbin-integrated structure to improve rigidity and drive precision.
The driver system is supported by an N55 neodymium magnet, aluminum shorting ring, and internal damping system, each designed to improve control, reduce distortion, and absorb rear-wave reflections before they can return to the diaphragm and color the sound. The high-rigidity housing is precision-machined from an aluminum-magnesium alloy using advanced 5-axis CNC machining, ensuring rigidity and airtightness critical for the enclosed air volume and the final sound.
The DX10000 CL is now available for pre-order, with shipping expected by the end of July. These headphones represent a significant leap in audio technology, combining cutting-edge materials and meticulous craftsmanship to deliver an unparalleled listening experience.
