Headphones — Final Audio ZE500

The ZE500 for ASMR is a small set of cordless earbuds made by final in Japan, tuned for close-up voice recordings and designed to be worn for long periods, including while lying down. It is the wireless counterpart of the wired E500 and was announced in July 2025 at a recommended price of EUR 74.99, with a UK price of GBP 49.99. The housing is about 35 percent smaller than that of the COTSUBU for ASMR, and each earpiece weighs roughly 3 g.

Key specs that matter

Connection is by Bluetooth 5.4 with the SBC and AAC codecs. A 25 mAh cell in each bud gives up to 4.5 hours of playback, and the 350 mAh case raises the total to about 18 hours. Ten minutes on the charger restores roughly one hour of use. Full charging takes about 1.5 hours for the earphones and about 2 hours for the case, and the case can be topped up through a USB-C cable or on a Qi wireless pad. The earpieces are rated IPX4 against splashes. Two colours are listed, dark grey and dark cream.

Engineering and use context

Where the COTSUBU sits deep in the ear canal, the ZE500 uses a shallow insertion depth so that it stays comfortable over hours of listening. The soft ear tip is integrated into the body rather than fitted as a separate part, and its flat seal shape is supplied in S, M and L sizes. A newly developed ASMR port bleeds off the pressure that builds up inside a sealed ear canal, which final says reduces strain on the eardrum and fatigue, a point that matters for people who fall asleep with the buds in. Controls rely on an accelerometer-based tap sensor, so a double tap plays or pauses music and answers or ends calls. In ASMR mode, set from the final Connect app, tap control and voice prompts are switched off so that accidental contact with the housing does not trigger a command or an announcement. The same app adds Volume Step Optimization, which divides the volume range into finer steps for quiet playback, and a single ear mode for use with one bud. A microphone is built in for calls.

Pairing

With SBC and AAC as the only codecs, iPhones and Android phones connect on equal terms, and the low playback levels typical of ASMR content place little demand on the link. The manual advises a USB charger with at least 0.5 A output. Spare dust filters and a user manual come in the box alongside the ear tips.

Alternatives

The final TONALITE is the brand's true wireless model with noise cancelling, LDAC support and DTAS personal tuning based on a scan of the head and ears.