Headphones are now considered a fashion statement. Brands like Beats Audio, Skullcandy, and House of Marley have been major proponents of this trend. However, did you know that the brand that actually started this trend was V-Moda, a boutique headphone brand from the US? V-Moda is the brainchild of Val Kolton, a DJ and Producer from Chicago. Way back in 2002, when Apple’s earphones bundled with iPods were just about becoming popular, Kolton noticed that white earphones were a complete mismatch with haute couture. He then decided to change that trend with his own brand of headphones, V-Moda.
V-Moda Crossfade
Rs. 24,990
What Is Good?
- Excellent build quality
- Great, tight bass
- Crisp mids
- Very stable Bluetooth connection
What Is Bad?
- Slightly heavy
- Sound might be too bass-heavy for audio purists
- Default memory cushion pads are uncomfortable
V-Moda’s headphones look rather snazzy and are made using metal, which also makes them sturdy. We are great fans of the design and sound signature of the V-Moda Crossfade M-100 – the company’s most popular pair of headphones, and so, when we heard that the brand was going to make a Wireless edition of the Crossfade M-100 our ears perked up (no pun intended), naturally. We were eager to find out how V-Moda has tuned the sound signature to suit the Bluetooth protocol for wireless connection, which is incidentally infamous for its unreliability when it comes to audio playback.
We got our hands on a review unit of the Crossfade Wireless recently and immediately put it to the test. Read our full review to know what we thought of V-Moda’s first attempt at wireless technology.
Design and fit
The V-Moda Crossfade Wireless looks almost similar to the Crossfade M-100. The difference between the two headphones being the inclusion of the Micro-USB port for charging, volume and playback buttons, and the slider for Bluetooth on/off controls. Apart from these additions, the Crossfade Wireless has the same futuristic angular design as the M-100.
The headphones come packed inside an absolutely stunning exoskeleton case. Inside, apart from the Crossfade Wireless, V-Moda has packed a 3.5mm audio cable for the passive mode and a Micro-USB cable for charging. We like the fact that V-Moda has bundled a flat Micro-USB cable, which actually prevents it from tangling. The audio cable is quite thick and terminates at a 45-degree plug, which has to be inserted on the music playback device. V-Moda claims that both, the cables and the plug, can bend over one million times. We couldn’t obviously test this claim but we take V-Moda’s word for it.
The headphones are made mostly of metal. The earcups include a unique hexagonal metal plate, which can be replaced with custom shield kits. These custom shield kits can be 3D-printed with your logo, or you can also go with a simple laser engraving. This level of customisation is superb for folks who want to put their stamp on the headphones. The Crossfade Wireless is truly a fashion icon in that sense. Our review unit came with the default steel plate and we were slightly dejected that we couldn’t customise our unit.
The clamping force might feel a bit much for a few people.
The earcups come with memory foam cushions, which are slightly small for large ears. They do cause a slight discomfort when worn for long periods. In fact, we suggest that you factor in the cost for the XL memory foam cushions if and when you do buy the Crossfade Wireless, primarily because you will find them comfortable and there is a perceptible difference in sound quality. The headband is made of soft vegan leather and feels comfortable on the head. The Crossfade Wireless weighs 292g but since most of the weight is evenly distributed across the headphone, it doesn’t weight down on the head. Having said that, the clamping force might feel a bit much for a few people.
One thing’s for sure though, the military-grade body of the Crossfade Wireless does inspire confidence about its sturdiness and longevity.
Performance
V-Moda’s sound signature is typically a bass-heavy one, but even the other frequencies maintain their fidelity. This essentially means that V-Moda’s headphones are meant for audiophiles who want a little more bass. In that sense, the Crossfade Wireless doesn’t disappoint. If anything, the Crossfade Wireless has dollops of bass and a similar sound signature to that of the Crossfade M-100. This is the case even in wireless mode and that is where it succeeds the most.
The 50mm drivers inside the V-Moda Crossfade Wireless use a dual-diaphragm setup (not patented yet), which the company claims prevents the bass from bleeding into the mids and the highs. We must say that this claim is fairly true; in our testing we noticed that the bass was distinctive and not once, even in highly dense compositions, did it disturb the other frequencies. We played ‘Do I Wanna Know’ by Arctic Monkeys and this is one track which can get heavy on the bass when it starts. The tight, yet thumping bass, of the Crossfade Wireless felt gratifying. Moreover, even the mid-range (vocals and guitar) was totally crisp.
While the soundstaging of the Crossfade Wireless was not as impressive, we still found it to be more than satisfying. That said, the imaging was exemplary. For example, in Daft Punk’s elaborate dance anthem ‘Touch’, which uses a lot of synthesiser sounds, we noticed mild Trombone sounds in the mid-section of the song. Without trying to sound too dramatic, we’d like to say that it’s moments like these that validate an electronic purchase for us.
The tight, yet thumping bass, of the Crossfade Wireless felt gratifying.
What makes this entire deal even sweeter is the fact that the sound signature is the same in both the wireless and wired modes. It is quite evident that V-Moda has done tons of R&D for years on end to achieve this. The Bluetooth connection stays intact even while running. The battery lasts easily for eight hours on a single charge, which should be more than sufficient for most people.
The only niggles in an otherwise stupendous package would be the fact that the noise isolation on the Crossfade Wireless is not too great and that the mono microphone sounds a little too dull.
Conclusion
V-Moda has a definite winner in the Crossfade Wireless. It is by far one of the best wireless headphones we’ve ever tested. We’ve never really come across such wonderful tight sound in a pair of Bluetooth headphones before. That said, some folks might not really be happy with the bass-heavy sound signature of the Crossfade Wireless. Also, the price tag of around Rs.25,000 might put off a few folks. Having said that, we’d like to assure you that the V-Moda Crossfade Wireless’ price tag is actually justified.
Other Bluetooth headphones in the same price range include the Sony MDR-1ABT, Beats Studio Wireless, and the Beats Solo 2. However, trust us when we say this, none of these headphones sound as good as the Crossfade Wireless. Its closest competitor is the Parrot Zik 2, but it costs more than Rs.30,000 and is not available officially in India.
All said and done, if you want quality Bluetooth audio, the V-Moda Crossfade Wireless is your best bet; it has a fun (yet tight) sound signature, looks very attractive, and is sturdy. We couldn’t have asked for more.
