Piano Forte X

Reproduces lingering instrumental sounds as they fade away three-dimensionally. Delivers dense sound teeming with realism.
Piano Forte X has achieved the true spatial expression of a live concert hall, something that cannot be achieved with conventional earphones. The sound created contains a beautiful, attenuating vibration unique to the chrome copper material in the earphone, allowing you to feel the pleasing sensation of sound notes lingering naturally.
AWARD
Prix de L'innovation du MedPi,
2nd PRIX
2014, France
HEADPHONE BOOK,
Headphone award
2011, Japan
Prix de L'innovation du MedPi,
2nd PRIX
2014, France
HEADPHONE BOOK,
Headphone award
2011, Japan
Chromium copper housing integrally machined ear pieces.
At final, we refer to the Piano Forte series with its uniquely shaped sound conduits that have no silicon ear pieces as being "canal open type". With the slightly protruding sound conduit, sound from the diaphragm is fully conveyed to the audio canal, and a superlative fit can be obtained while maintaining the sense
of openness of open-type models.

The pivot of sound quality in the Piano Forte series lies in this aperture. With ordinary canal type earphones, silicon ear pieces are used to seal the audio canal. By sealing the audio canal, which connects the diaphragm and the eardrum, it is possible to reproduce even the lowest sounds; in turn, the diaphragm is exposed to high pressure and distortion occurs. At the same time, the silicon ear pad closing off the audio canal moves in much the same way as the diaphragm does. The more the hermetic level is raised and the greater the sound insulation properties, the greater the distortion and resonance sound, and dull bass tones and a feeling of distortion adheres (clings) to the music. With the Piano Forte series, silicon ear pieces have been eliminated, and the section of the product inserted into the ear canal has been machined as a single piece with
the product. Natural sound with a sense of openness to it has been achieved.

Usually with earphone reproduction, sound seems to play inside the user's head. With the Piano Forte series, the sound that is emitted passes through space to the user, making it possible to experience a natural way of hearing sound. But using a canal type earphone driver unit - which assumes the sealing of the audio canal – without silicon ear pieces makes for sound that does not bear listening to. To eliminate the silicon ear pieces, it was necessary to develop a variety of technologies, including a large aperture driver unit.
Large aperture 16mmΦ dynamic driver unit developed by our company
To obtain high-quality sound reproduction even after eliminating silicon ear pieces, we developed a large aperture driver unit in-house. The diaphragm surface of this unit is three times the size of that of regular 8mmΦ earphones. We also paid close attention to the materials used with the diaphragm and to its shape.

It is becoming more and more common these days for earphone manufacturers to purchase driver units from outside sources; our strength lies in our product development, where we conduct everything, from driver unit development right through to manufacturing, in-house.

With the Piano Forte series, we conduct detailed tuning and screening of products, and this distinguishes our driver units from similar units.

Further, a pressure ring utilizing final's own unique technology is employed. This has been designed in a way that an appropriate amount of pressure is applied to the diaphragm through a combination of an air pressure regulating port and the front surface of the diaphragm being covered with a metal plate. This design is based on the know-how we have gained from our years of dealing with horn speakers.

You'll be surprised at the newly experienced reality elicited even from songs you are used to listening to.
Air pressure regulating port
When the housing is sealed, there is a discrepancy in the pressure at the front and back of the diaphragm, and distortion occurs. The air pressure regulating port works to optimize this pressure difference.
Highly rigid housing machined from chromium copper
Chromium copper is a chrome and copper alloy; it has a relatively high degree of rigidity and a large reach, and is a very difficult material to work.
With Piano Forte, we deliver a fast approach through the rigidity and weight of chromium copper. Owing to the beautiful vibration dampening properties of chromium copper, even the lingering notes of live musical instruments as they fade away in a vast concert hall are reproduced. The housing, with its beautiful, spaceship-like silhouette, combines inner airflow with fit. The protrusion in the center fits into the ear well, and a stable fit is achieved.
A special damping alloy coats the housing
A special super fine manganese metal powder is used for the damping of the chromium copper housing; damping is achieved without the use of soft materials. The inside of the housing is coated in natural resin.
Damping the sound without adding dullness to it brings out the harmonious nature of the chromium
copper housing.
Color variation
CC (ion plating finish), G (gold plating finish) two color variations
Specifications
Product code
FI-PF10DCC3 / FI-PF10DCG3
Housing
Chromium copper
Driver
16mmΦ dynamic
Sensitivity
108dB
Impedance
16Ω
Weight
38g
Cord length
1.4m
Accessories
Brass carry case
How to wear the earphones
Please check the L (left) and R (right) indicators at the back of the left and right housings. Holding the product, fit into the ears using a slight twisting motion. While playing music, move each ear phone around until you find the position with the balance that suits you best.

* The L (left) bush has a left and right identification groove, so that it is possible to distinguish between left and right in the dark by feel.
* The design of the Piano Forte series means that sound quality changes greatly depending on the positioning of the product in the user's ears.
* It is usual that a person's ears differ from left to right in terms of shape. As such, the optimum positioning of the product differs from left to right.
* In many cases, it is possible to recreate the optimum positioning of the product in the ears once
it is remembered.
Sound quality reviews
Natural, enjoyable sound that seems to reverberate with a good balance of direct and indirect sound as at the center of a concert venue where classical music is performed. Compared to Piano Forte X-T, this has rich resonance with a seating position that tends towards the rear. With the reproduction of live sound sources created by small acoustic instruments, it is possible to experience a real music venue atmosphere.
User reviews
Having listened to these once, I can say that this is speaker sound. I think that this is an aspect that is common to models in the Piano Forte series – it feels as though sound is transmitted through the air to the listener's ear. In this respect, the sound feels different to that of regular canal type earphones, where sound reaches the ear directly.
Amongst the models in the series, the reverberation of the sound emanated by Piano Forte X along trailing notes are wonderful. The sense of the vocals disappearing is extremely subtle and feels sultry. The attack of the instruments in classical music and jazz are real, and the sense of this real sound reverberating sultrily is something that cannot easily be tasted with other earphones.
Wearing these earphones and walking around town is like wearing a concert hall and walking around town; the scenery around you is still the same scenery, with only the area around you spreading out in a magnificent, sultry sound space like a concert hall. It's a strange, indescribable feeling.
I really think you should experience the sound from this product. There's a completely different world to the world you gain with usual earphones waiting for you.
(male, 30-39 years)
I was impressed that this model was able to deliver a more appealing sound than IX or VIII with the kind of metal used for the housing. While the base sound of X is flat, the sound is soft and full-bodied and is not piercing like IX nor showy like VIII; I was drawn to the adult, calm tuning.
Amongst the controlled timbre, there is a vast sound field and sound reverberation characteristic of the Piano Forte series, and in particular, I can't stop thinking about the real feel of classical music and jazz. With fine tuning making for listening that tires you the least out of the Piano Forte series, the harmonic expression of vocals combines both a sense of reality and ease of listening. Medium tones and vocals are prominent, but since these are open type, high frequency reach is so good that you don't get a sense of limits to the bandwidth, and cymbal sounds are natural.
Then again, since these are open type that do away with ear chips, there is a tendency for a lack of heavy bass sound, and so they are not really suited for use in places where there is environmental sound; it seemed to me that it would be almost impossible to use them when riding a train, in particular.
I think that these are earphones for the adult who has a clear sense of the sound they make use of, for the mature man who understands their refined essence.
(male, 20-29 years)