Final ZE8000 MK2

Your Final destination for great sound - or a sonic dead end?

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Like an up-and-coming UFC fighter hyping himself up before stepping into the Octagon to do battle with the heaviest hitter in the business, the Final ZE8000 MK2 talk a big game, claiming the "fullest possible portrayal of sound texture and detail". So, we are keen to discover whether they are champions elect or ham-fisted no-hopers.

With a premium price of £299, these buds are a smidge more expensive than the Award-winning Sony WF-1000XM5 (£259), and a substantial step up from Apple's five-star AirPods Pro 2 (£229).

They are more akin to the excellent Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (£300).

These long-stemmed earbuds are cheap-feeling and oddly shaped, with a rectangular design that puts us in mind of a small telegraph pole or Tetris block.

That might well be your cup of tea, but the accompanying charging case leaves us feeling underwhelmed thanks to its oversized dimensions and plasticky feel.