The Final DX4000CL is a full-size dynamic driver headphone built around a newly developed 40 mm paper-carbon composite diaphragm. It features a large but comfortable housing with thick earpads.
The DX4000CL is new addition to the DX lineup, positioned between the DX3000CL and the flagship DX6000CL. It’s available from selected retailers for £949 / €999 / $999.
MAIN TAKEAWAY
- Natural tuning
- Detailed and smooth sound
- Large but light
Final is a Japanese audio manufacturer and designer of in-ear monitors and full-size headphones. The company offers a wide lineup of IEMs, and its headphones include both planar magnetic and dynamic driver designs, available in closed-back and open-back formats, as well as wired and wireless models.
FINAL DX4000CL SPECIFICATIONS:
- Type: Closed-back dynamic headphones
- Driver: 40mm Paper-Carbon composite diaphragm
- Sensitivity: 96dB/mW
- Impendance: 37Ω (1kHz)
- Earpads: Synthetic leather and memory foam (replaceable)
- Housing: Resin
- Cable: 2 m silver coated cable
- Cable connectors: dual 3.5mm on headphones
- Cable termination: 4.4mm (with 4.4mm to 6.3mm adapter)
- Weight: 375g (excluding cable)
Current price and availability:
- Amazon: Final Audio Store
BUILD AND COMFORT
The DX4000CL is a relatively large headphone built mostly out of resin materials. It feels solid and sturdy.
Like most of Final’s full-size headphones, it features the characteristic design that connects the ear cup to the headband mechanism at the centre of the cup. It has a hinge that adapts very well to the angle of your head. You can slide the cup up and down the characteristic flat metal bar that extends from the headband.
The cable is 2 m long and connects to the headphones via 3.5 mm connectors, which is nice as that is pretty much becoming the standard. The cable terminates in a 4.4 mm balanced jack, but a very nice 4.4 to 6.35 mm adapter is included. The cable oozes quality with its silver-covered finish, though it is quite stiff.
The headband is padded and covered in pleather, but there is no suspension strap. Still, I find it very comfortable.
EAR PADS
The circular pads are made with thick memory foam and covered in pleather. They attach to the cup via the standard “lip-and-groove” system, making third-party pads easy to install.
I measure the pads to be 105 mm in diameter on the outside, 55 mm in the inside opening, and with a 20 mm thickness. They’re flat, not angled.
I find the pads very comfortable, though they cover a lot of skin and do not breathe well given the pleather material, so they may not be ideal in hot, humid weather. You can of course swap them out for different types, though this will affect the sound, for better or worse. Pad-rolling can be part of the fun with headphones if you’re that type — like me.
TUNING PADS
A particularly interesting aspect of the DX4000CL is that it comes with a detachable tuning pad positioned inside the ear pads, sitting directly over the driver.
Tuning pads positioned in front of the driver are fairly common, typically made from foam or felt and around 2 to 4 mm thick. The DX4000CL tuning pads are considerably thicker than this, measuring a substantial 7 mm, and they also feature a densely woven fabric on the ear-facing side, which further affects and filters the sound.
Pads like this typically reduce high-frequency intensity and dampen resonances, resulting in a warmer, thicker sound.
The effect varies across different implementations, but in this case it is very noticeable. Removing them makes the headphone sound entirely different and certainly not as intended. These pads dampen the sound more than anything I have come across, making them an essential part of the headphone.
PAD ROLLING
Removing the tuning pads on the DX4000CL is not difficult, though the lips are fairly large and initially I was afraid to break something. However, you just pull gently until you hear a slight pop, then continue working your way around the pad, after which it comes off easily.
I did not experiment too much with pad rolling, but I did try my favourite general-purpose pads, the Brainwavz XL micro suede pads. These tend to be very effective at absorbing reflections, generally producing a coherent sound, and at 105 mm in diameter they are a perfect fit.
First I fitted them on the DX4000CL without the stock tuning pads, but without those the sound is simply too sharp. I then added some 5 mm tuning foam I had available, which produced quite a good combination: sharper and crisper than stock, but also airier and with a wider soundstage. I quite like it as an alternative tuning. If you find the DX4000CL too laid back, it is certainly possible to make it sound crisper and brighter by using a thinner tuning foam or felt pad.
Using the stock tuning pads together with the Brainwavz XL micro suede pads also worked very well, producing a sound very close to the original tuning. If you find the stock ear pads lacking in breathability, the XL pads sound at least as good and are noticeably more comfortable.
LISTENING IMPRESSIONS
Associated equipment:
- DAC/Amp: Ferrum Erco mk2
Again by Bill Frisell
The drums in the intro are snappy and punchy, with a sound that manages to feel both spacious and intimate simultaneously. The dynamics are excellent.
Sleepwalk Tokyo by Vega Trails
The midbass is powerful, the percussion is snappy, and the overall delivery is warm and intimate.
Cloud Wars by Medeski, Martin and Wood
Powerful midbass, textured percussion, intimate soundstage.
Hello Dave by Michael Wollny
The percussion is snappy. There’s a pleasing sense of image depth, though the soundstage is not particularly large. The delivery is warm and smooth.
Take On Me MTV Unplugged by a-ha
Vocals are warm and intimate, upfront but in a smooth way.
The Sun Always Shines on TV MTV Unplugged by a-ha
Detailed and dynamic instrumentation, smooth and intimate vocals.
Alt e bra by Building Instrument
Nice instrument separation and good layering. Very pleasant sound signature. Detailed yet smooth treble.
A Before by Olga Konkova
The cajón drum sounds punchy and rich, the vocals are smooth, delicate, and intimate, and the piano is smooth and rather rich and warm.
Moo)n by Lindström
Norwegian electronica artist Lindström makes great music. The sound is dynamic, warm and rich, detailed and intimate, with very punchy bass.
It Could Be Sweet by Portishead
The bass is warm and rich, the vocals are smooth and delicate. There is no sibilance, which can be an issue with other headphones.
Escape Route by Boris Blank
Very organic with a nice pulse. The bass has a great rumble, and the trumpet stands out in the mix without being sharp. A very coherent and enjoyable presentation.
Vicarious by Tool
Well balanced, with punchy percussion and dynamic bass. The presentation is also smooth and pleasantly warm.
Young Vivaldi by Modo Antiquo
The string timbre is pleasing, warm and textured with enough bite while remaining somewhat smooth.
Limit to Your Love by James Blake
The vocals are excellent, smooth and detailed, standing out naturally in the mix. The substantial bass is handled well and does not overpower the vocals the way it can with some headphones.
Mahler’s Symphony No 2 III by Paavo Järvi
The kettle drums have body and presence, and the string timbre is excellent. There is nice separation and layering, though the soundstage is not huge.
WRAPPING IT UP
Sound Signature
The DX4000CL offers a somewhat smooth and slightly warm sound signature. I find it well balanced, with well present bass, midrange and treble. Some might find it a touch dark and laid back, but to my ears it sounds very natural in a smooth and effortless manner.
Treble
The treble is detailed and smooth. Some may find it a touch laid back, while others will consider it perfectly tuned. It’s certainly non-fatiguing.
Midrange
The midrange is present and upfront in a smooth manner, placing vocals and instruments centre stage in a natural sounding way.
Bass
The bass is present and relatively powerful without being overwhelming. It is warm and rich, with good control, detail and punch.
Soundstage and Imaging
The soundstage is good but not especially large for a high-end closed-back. That said, it’s not claustrophobic or anything, it just doesn’t stand out considering the rather high price. Likewise, the imaging is good but nothing special compared to the best of the competition.
Detail, Dynamics, and Timbre
Detail is delivered in a smooth and delicate manner. This is not a headphone that makes everything overly articulated or enhances detail through crisp treble and dry textures. It is smooth, but all the detail is there if you listen for it. It’s a “lean back and enjoy” headphone more than a super-analytical tool.
Dynamics are very good, particularly in the bass. Some might find the treble a bit smooth, however.
The general timbre is natural, warm and smooth. I really like how vocals and instruments sound on this headphone
COMPARISONS
Associated equipment:
- Amplifier: Topping A90
- DAC: RME ADI-2 DAC FS
BEYERDYNAMIC DT1770PRO vs DX4000CL
The DT1770PRO mk1 is a well-established professional closed-back studio headphone built around a 45 mm dynamic driver. The mk1 has an impedance of 250 ohms, while the newer mk2 version is 30 ohms. The price was around 600 USD
Comparing the DT 1770 PRO (with velour pads) and the Final Audio DX4000CL it’s clear that they are quite different headphones. Simply put, the DT1770PRO is much brighter. It might be better as a working tool to pick out faults and artefacts in a recording, or if you simply prefer a bright and crisp tuning. However, if you’re after a balanced and natural-sounding presentation of music, or simply wanting a smoother, lusher listen, the DX4000CL is much better.
You can read my full comparison here:
FOSTEX TH-900 vs DX4000CL
The Fostex TH-900 series are closed-back headphones with thin wooden shells and a 50mm driver using a “bio-dynamic” diaphragm. The original TH-900 was launched in 2012, and the mk2 version, which is identical except for the detachable cable, followed in 2016. It has very recently been discontinued but can still be found. Pricing was around 1999 USD. It has been replaced by the more expensive TH-910, released late in 2025 at 2799 USD.
The TH900 is twice as expensive as the DX4000CL, and in terms of technical capabilities, it tells. The TH-900 is superior with better detail, dynamics and imaging. Regarding noise isolation, however, the DX4000CL is considerably better. When it comes to tuning, the differences are very apparent. The TH-900 is airier and crisper TH-900 the DX4000CL is smoother, lusher, and more intimate.
You can read my full comparison here:
- Amazon: Fostex TH-900 mk2
DENON AH-D7200 vs DX4000CL
The Denon AH-D7200 is also a closed-back dynamic driver headphone, launched in 2017 following in the footsteps of the legendary D7000. It has wooden cups and the current price is typically 1,099 USD.
Comparing the two, the D7200 has a stronger fun factor, often sounding more dynamic, spacious and articulate. The DX4000CL excels in terms of coherence, being smoother, more neutral and predictable.
The D7200 is not excessively coloured, but it is more spicy than the DX4000CL. I would choose the DX4000CL for professional work. For a fun listening experience the D7200 is often hard to beat, but even then the DX4000CL is not far behind – it depends on the music.
You can read my full comparison here:
- Amazon: Denon AH-D7200
CONCLUSION
The Final Audio DX4000CL is a very well-tuned headphone with great technical performance. The soundstage isn’t the largest in its class, but it sounds well-balanced with a nice presence across the frequency range. It has a smooth character while retaining a high level of detail.
The DX4000CL comes with thick foam tuning pads in front of the driver. They’re an essential part of the tuning of the headphone. You can experiment with third-party tuning foam or felt pads if you want a different sound. Ear pad rolling is straightforward thanks to the standard lip-and-groove attachment system.
In conclusion, if you are looking for a smooth, detailed and natural-sounding closed-back headphone at this price point, the DX4000CL is well worth considering.
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- Amazon: Final Audio Store
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