Final Audio has released the DX10000CL as one of its best closed-back headphones yet. With its high-quality construction, advanced driver design, and premium price, it comes with a lot of expectations. A headphone like this needs to offer more than just a comfortable look; it should deliver the kind of sound and comfort that would stand out in the flagship audiophile space. After spending some time with the DX10000CL, here’s how it works.
What You Get
- DX10000CL closed-back audiophile headphones
- 4.4mm premium silver cable
- 4-pin XLR premium silver cable
- 4-pin XLR to 6.3mm adapter
See & Feel
When you see that price of $8,499/$8,999, you might think that the DX10000CL has an incredibly luxurious design. It’s really the interior that drives that price up, but in terms of looks, the DX10000CL is still a good-looking headphone. This is especially true if you get a collector’s edition, packed with the right kind of excitement you’d expect at this price tag. In terms of construction, the DX10000CL is similar to other new headphones in its product line. The main difference here is that the DX10000CL collector’s edition has a gold finish, a simple way to invoke luxury. If that’s not enough for you, the DX1000CL makes up for it in its long-term value and performance. Its 12-point bolt-on construction allows for long-lasting performance.
What really sticks out for me are the Ultrasuede ear pads that take a ton of real cup housing and make them look bigger. Big ears don’t always mean big comfort, but the DX10000CL does. Wearing the DX10000CL is like putting two cushions on your head, and they feel great. The pads are incredibly soft, and the headband helps relieve any pressure that may build up.
Design
The Final DX10000 CL is built around a newly developed 40mm True Diamond diaphragm dynamic driver, housed within a machined sealed aluminum-magnesium alloy chassis designed for durability, airtightness, and controlled sound. Its driver system includes a steep-structure diamond dome, rotating polyurethane, lightweight polyimide bobbin-integrated voice coil, free-floating lead wire design, N55 neodymium magnet, aluminum termination ring, and internal damping to reduce distortion and manage background wave reflections.
Sound stage
Although its ultra-premium price may set high standards for this sound stage, the DX10000CL is still a closed headphone. It still has its limitations, but it’s easy not to think about them when listening to its wide sound presentation. The DX1000CL has incredible depth, with sounds that roll over each other gracefully, allowing layers of instruments to reflect from the front to the back of the stereo field. It’s not exactly holographic, but the reflection feels cavernous, to a large extent depending on how you drive it. Length and height all add up to this large scale, with the DX10000CL providing a great sense of head space for closed-back headphones.
Channel expansion from left to right is where the soundstage puts its limitations, but the width does what it needs to do to improve the range of these headphones. In terms of space, the DX10000CL is very immersive, filling empty space, but still keeping everything organized. It has a real, live look to it, putting the instruments at a small distance, but you’re in the front row and right in the sweet spot. It’s all nailed down and right there in front of you, whether you want to explore it in depth or just enjoy hearing how the sound comes together.
The Low End
I found the DX10000CL’s bass to be very engaging, even if it doesn’t hit hard. It’s clear that the DX10000CL leans towards the darker end of the frequency spectrum, but its tone is still natural and full. The timbre is organic, infusing the DX10000CL’s bass with sonic authenticity rather than harsh impact or heavy warmth. Instead, the bass is like an extended reference, filling the frequency content with tons of weight but keeping its slam for a more controlled response.
You don’t get the sense that the bass is holding anything. Your tuning is always crisp and compact, dynamically responding to the mix. Even with its intensity, the DX10000CL still has that scale in its bass, allowing the bass drops to feel energetic without being too expansive. Sub-bass frequencies are boosted, giving the lows good depth and weight. The bass never sounds dry, and if you can get past some of its tonal rawness, I think the DX10000CL can finally show its potential.
Mids
If the lows are tuned right, the midrange is where you get the DX10000CL’s tonal power. The tuning here is more full and fleshy than descending, taking a step forward that leaves nothing behind. Everything is pushed forward for a more intimate presentation, making the clarity of the instruments even clearer. Supporting instruments such as orchestral strings are highly resolved, hyper-individualized, and clean. Busy and complex tracks are given plenty of space in the middle, even if their display is incredibly sequential.
You don’t get a sense of distance or angle in the recorded instruments, but that doesn’t work against the crisp clarity of the DX10000CL’s midrange. This is especially evident in the way the DX10000CL presents vocals. They are incredibly commanding here, taking center stage with incredible clarity and detail. They can be overwhelming at times, so aggressively forward that it’s hard not to focus on them when you’re trying to deeply explore other aspects of the sound. However, for pure enjoyment, it’s hard not to be impressed, as they express so richly.
They are high
The treble has the perfect amount of extension and control to convey satisfying high-end detail. Certain sound elements, such as high piano keys, can be very cutting, sounding with a small amount of brightness making a noticeable difference in treble tonality. It never screams, but the highs have a consistent ring that you can definitely hear. Like bass, treble is the main concern, and as such, high frequencies can feel very raw. Sometimes they can feel too loud depending on the track, but I never felt like they got tired. Their texture consistently involved me, as the height reflects the combination of light and air.
Summary
The Final DX10000CL is not a headphone designed for mere curiosity. Its price puts it firmly in the statement realm, and that alone will make it a niche product for many listeners. However, for those looking for a closed-back audiophile headphone with a strong desire for technology, the DX10000CL delivers sound that feels expansive, immersive, and rich in detail. Its bass is full and natural without being overly aggressive, its midrange is bold and expressive, and its treble adds enough light and air to keep the presentation engaging. Combined with its Ultrasuede comfort, premium cable options, and durable construction, the DX10000CL sounds like a headphone designed for listeners who want comfort, realism, and refinement in one package. It may not escape all the limitations of closed design, but it pushes those boundaries far enough to make a strong impression.
The Final Audio DX10000CL will be available soon from Audio46.