First impressions count, and the Final UX2000 certainly makes a good first impression. A wireless, hybrid ANC, Bluetooth 5.3-equipped over-ear headset, it’s perfect for mobile, Nintendo Switch and PC, with a spot of 3.5mm wired action on PS5 and Xbox Series X. It’s also amongst a heady new lineup of budget-focused headphones that punch well above their diminutive price tag, with very few concessions.
The UX2000 is soft. That’s a weird place to start a review, but they are uncommonly soft and gentle against your skin, your ears, and your head. The memory foam of the earpads hugs your lugs, while the soft leatherette fabric lovingly caresses the side of your head, in a manner that plenty of other headphones simply don’t take the time to. Look, it’s really soft, alright?
Besides that preternatural gentle touch, the UX2000 feels well made in your hand, despite the extensive amount of plastic that’s been used in their construction. The fact that it’s soft-touch matte plastic certainly helps to alleviate the sensation that this is a cheaper headset, but it doesn’t quite scream the same level of quality as you’ll find with Sony and Bose. The fact that it’s not far away though is commendable.
Just like its peers such as the Sony WH-1000XM4, the Final UX2000 folds up neatly for transporting around, and it just feels like a well-thought-through product from start to finish. One of the only real signs that there’s been some corners cut is the lack of a hard case. Unlike many of its peers, the UX2000 opts for a number of physical buttons, all of which are located around the curvature of the right earpiece.
You’ll find power, volume controls and an ANC toggle as well, and once you’re accustomed to which is which they’re easy enough to find when you’re on the go. That said, I had to take the time to remember every time that the power button was the first of the three closely-spaced buttons, so it would have been easier if they had been spaced out more or more distinctly shaped. That said, at least you’re not flailing around and swiping on touch panels – there’s a surety here that is very likeable.
The UX2000 has an astounding 45 hours of playback time with active noise cancellation enabled, and an even greater 60 hours with it switched off. It just keeps going and going, making it a reliable companion that will sit in your bag for days on end and always be there when you need them. When you do need to charge them, it’s a USB-C socket on the headset that will likely still suit most people at this point.
The UX2000’s audio response will appeal to those who prefer an enveloping bottom end, as it were, rather than the pin-sharp clarity of your top-end Sony and Bose headsets. Listening to Bad Omen’s ‘The Death of Peace of Mind’ the crunching guitars and atmospheric synth really benefitted from the UX2000’s wide soundstage, and its warm tone made listening a very enjoyable experience.
They’re tuned to make the most from a flat EQ setting on your connected device, naturally accentuating the bass and treble tones, without abandoning the middle range. They’re perfectly set up if you prefer rock, dance or electronic genres, but the soundstage did a good job with more delicate pieces like Anastasia Kobekina’s beautiful cello-led Venice. The UX2000 is setup to be a mainstream hit, and for most people they’ll make listening to music and other content a blast.
One of the major disappointments is that you can’t utilise any powered functions while the UX2000 is connected via its 3.5mm wired connection, so you’re not getting any of the surprisingly decent ANC if you’re wired up, nor can you use any of the onboard controls. Still, the audio response remains very good so you can still enjoy your content, but if you often use a wired connection – and I do if I’m flying and watching movies – then you’ll want to look elsewhere. The hybrid ANC combines both feedforward and feedback noise cancellation and does a decent job of eliminating background noise, but it’s a clear step behind the otherworldly effect you’ll find from Bose, Sony, et al.
The other disappointment when wired is that there’s no microphone connection, so you can forget using these on your PS5 or Xbox Series X|S for chatting with your friends. That’s a real shame as they’re so comfortable, lightweight, and great sounding, but PS5 gamers can at least use the DualSense’s built in microphone.
Depending on your usage, the Final UX2000 are a great entry in the budget ANC arena, with top-notch audio and similarly top-notch comfort making them a worthy option if you’re looking to spend less than £100. You can look at both the Monoprice BT-600 ANC and the Soundmagic P60 BT too, both of which have very similar feature sets, but if you’re looking for comfort I’d opt for the Final UX2000 – it’s just a shame it doesn’t come with a case like its rivals.
