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PLEASE READ THE THREE UPDATES/CLARIFICATIONS IVE ADDED TO THE END OF THIS LISTING IN RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS IVE BEEN ASKED! Final Audio Pandora (Sonorous) Hope VI Headphones - Superb Condition, With Box. I bought these headphones new in about 2016 as my first pair of high-end closed-back headphones (as my family was getting annoyed by hearing the music I was playing on my open-back Grados!). On listening to these, I immediately fell in love with the Final Audio house sound - these were Final Audios first full-sized headphone model, and like their highly-regarded in-ear headphones, they were made in Japan. Theres a lot of information out there about the Final Audio sound, the build quality their renowned for, and on this model in particular, which you can find if you need more information (Final Audio changed the name of the model to Sonorous VI for some reason, so some reviews are under that name). Ive included in the photos Ive uploaded a couple of screenshots of reviews that I found on the web today. As youll see from those reviews, these headphones are very highly-rated by audiophile websites. The reviewer on Audiophile On (audiophileon.com) describes them as my all-time favourite piece of audio equipment, and says these headphones enhances your music, presenting it in a way that makes you shut up, listen, enjoy it, feel it and be part of it. In a brief chance to use them next to the HD800 from Sennheiser, I still preferred the presentation and tuning of the Pandora which was less bright and more laid back. Have a look at that review on the web, as in addition to Sound Quality (10/10), it also rates these headphones Packaging (10/10), Accessories (9/10), Looks and Build (10/10), Isolation (6/10) and Fit (9/10). In my experience, that sound of these headphones is precise and detailed but not overly analytical, and is more organic than other very precise but rather dry headphones Ive listened to (like the Sennheisers mentioned in the review). These have a fun and musical sound, which means you listen to the music rather than the individual notes, though they still convey lots of detail. They are by no means basshead headphones in the Beats category, though they do have a controlled and taut bass with some heft (but not the bass bloat of Beats and similar brands). In my opinion, they are suited to many genres of music including rock, pop and acoustic, but are particularly suited to music where the vocal performance is key - the mid-range on these is fantastic. (If you primarily listen to EDM or hip-hop, these probably arent the headphones for you!) Ive only used these headphones for about 50 hours in total, so they are burnt in to that extent (which some people think is a necessary process for audiophile headphones to sound their best) but they havent been used a lot. The reason for that low amount of use isnt because I didnt like these headphones, its that I liked them so much that I quite quickly upgraded to Final Audios Pandora VIIIs (shown in my last picture- those arent for sale). So as I reluctantly have to thin out my collection, these VIs just arent getting enough use from me to justify keeping them. However, even though the Pandora VIIIs cost over 3x more than the Pandora VIs 700 retail price, I cant honestly say Id be able to tell the difference between them in a blind test, their sound is so close. As for the build-quality of these headphones, Audiophile On says undeniably this is one of the most gorgeous audio products I have ever held in my hand. Every part of it screams quality. The headband and earpads are some of the softest I have ever felt and are stitched beautifully. The stainless steel accents combined with the cups just look elegant and classy. The whole thing feels absolutely rock solid and is finished to the highest standards. Final Audio have really outdone themselves here producing, in my mind at least, the best-looking headphone on the market by quite a considerable margin. Im not going to disagree with that assessment! The accessories also scream quality. The cable is removable/replaceable and each metal jack (engraved L or R) locks into its cup with a twist and lock mechanism. The Y-splitter is also engraved with the final logo as shown in the pictures. The cable is terminated in a 3.5mm jack, which means these headphones can be plugged straight into a phone or a portable music-player for on the go listening, and Ive read that these headphones can easily be driven by portable devices due to their low impedance. Ive only ever used these indoors though, using a 6.35mm adapter plugged into a high-end headphone amp, and in my set-up these sounded fantastic. Even the box is almost ridiculously luxurious, being uniquely octagonal and lined with faux-fur as you can see from the photos. As you should also be able to see from the photos - which form a key part of this description, so please look at those carefully and feel free to ask me any questions about anything you see in those - Ive kept these headphones and the accessories in immaculate condition. The stainless steel on the cups still looks great and has no scratches at all as Ive looked after them carefully and only ever used them indoors. The cable and jacks are also pristine, and so is the box. Ive even kept the instruction booklet, warranty card and the ziplock bag that the cable came in, plus the foam packaging for the cable jacks, and will include all of those in the package. The only sign that these headphones have been used at all is some very minor wear to the underside of the headband, which is just about visible in the photos, and which is probably from where I hung the headphones on my headphone stand. As the headphones, box and accessories are in such immaculate condition, they could be given to the audiophile in your life as an as new gift. Im sure the next owner of these headphones would like their own brand new box-fresh pair of earpads, so Ill include a new pair (which I think cost around 55 new) with their own original box and packaging. The earpads can be swapped out for different Final Audio models (there are at least 3 different types as far as I know, probably more) which can be used to fine-tune the sound of the headphones to the owners liking - again, theres plenty of info on the web about how the pads can be used to tweak the sound signature of these headphones (and with my Pandora VIIIs, I sometimes swap pads just to suit the genre of music Im listening to). Apologies for writing such a long description of these headphones Im selling (particularly if you already know all about Final Audio headphones) but as its quite a significant outlay I thought it worth including as much information as I can give - any other questions though, please do just ask. I think these retailed for about 700 when I bought them (and over 750 with the new pads), but Im starting this auction at less than a third of that amount, so grab a bargain way of entering the high-end Final Audio headphone world! Good luck if you do decide to bid for these - Im sure you wont regret it - just be prepared to get bitten by the Final Audio bug! Update/clarification: Just to clarify, I wont include in this sale the pads Ive used (unless the buyer really wants them) as theyve split where the leather meets the cloth mesh, and are a bit tatty). The pads included in the sale are the ones pictured on the headphones, which are the unused spare pair I got with the headphones when I bought them. I think they are slightly different from the ones that were originally on the headphones, but I couldnt say for sure whether theyre an upgrade or just different (side-grade). I dont think I can add any more pictures to this listing, but they came in a box with a handwritten VI to indicate they are for the Pandora VIs, and are described as Low Repulsion - Im not sure whether that means theyre the thinner ones which mean the drivers sit closer to your ears and enhance the bass - the Final Audio website might have more info on that? Ill include the box and packaging the pads came in with the headphones - I can send pictures of the pads and box of you message me. Any further questions, please just message me. Further update/clarification: A potential bidder has asked me about a review he read about these headphones which described the earcups being slightly loose on the sliders and having a slight tendency to slide down when being worn. That reminded me that they did have that tendency, but I solved that by sliding a small rubber O-ring up each slider under each earcup, which added enough resistance to stop the earcups sliding down. Because they are black they are barely noticeable. Again, if you want to see pictures of those on the headphones (Ive put a pair of these o-rings back on the sliders) then please message me. I will include 2 new pairs of these O-rings in the sale (and Amazon also sells boxes of various sizes of these o-rings for about a fiver). Again, if you have any further questions please just message me, and good luck of you do bid. Update/clarification #3: Please note that as well as the slight wear on the underside of the headphones as described above, there is a small mark/crease, again probably from the headphone stand, on the top side of the headband, as can be seen in picture #15. Thanks.
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