Post by hemster on Dec 16, 2012 5:12:01 GMT -5
I recently bought the V-MODA Crossfade LP2 headphones and absolutely love them! They sound great after >40h break-in. click image for details..
The packaging is very elegant and the headphones are well protected in the sturdy box. These are manufactured to MIL specs and it is apparent from the moment you open the box. The headband was a little stiff but now fits comfortably after a few uses. These are over-the-ear type (circum-aural) and the cups are a perfect fit over my ears. The shape of the cups is an elongated hexagonal which I find fits better over the ear than the circular variety.
Included in the box is a hard-shell carrying case, a cable with an in-line mic/volume control, a second straight cable and a 1/4" adapter. Also included are a pair of brushed aluminum gun-metal plates for the earcups. I left the black plates on that they shipped with (see pic above). They look great - rather understated but elegant and not flashy like the Monster Beats models in red. I like the conservative look.
What impresses is the build quality. These are "solid" with no creaks and the material used is top notch. The cables have a tight weave, are very sturdy and do not tangle.
So how do they sound? Not bad at all. I listed to some albums that I'm very familiar with. Having read that they get better after a few hours, I let mine cook for a couple of days, running continuously for 2 days using my iPod set to shuffle all music.
Using a mix of FLAC, CDs and MP3s, I can honestly say these sound absolutely superb now. I haven't tried any multi-channel music yet but have listened to a fair bit of stereo.
I packed them for the business trip I'm on now. On the plane, they muffled the rumble of the engine quite effectively. These are not noise canceling (i.e. no active battery-powered cancellation noise is played to counteract noise). However they are noise isolating and the snug fit provides effective isolation. I had trouble hearing the flight attendant without removing them.
Being ported (see the 3 V-shaped cutouts on the plates) the bass is not boomy but is certainly punchy enough. One of the reasons I discounted other models is due to boomy bass. The earcups fit just right but after listening to them for 3 hours straight, you may want to remove them for a bit. This is true of all over-the-ear headphones as they allow moisture and heat buildup. The memory foam on the cups is user-replaceable. The (Kevlar-reinforced) cables have a 45o plug on the player end so it makes insertion/removal easy. Cables and 45-degree plug can bend over 1 million times!
Over 50 legendary musicians and DJs collaborated on the sound, durability and features of Crossfade. They go through a very rigorous testing regimen including 70+ drops on concrete from 6 feet.
One thing I wish is that at least one of the cable was longer. This is not a show stopper but I would've liked about 3-6' extra length (there are models with 10-11' cables!).
They carry a 2-year warranty along with a lifetime 50% off privilege!
Conclusion: I am very very happy with these and recommend them without reservation. Just let them break in before judging. This should be food for thought for those who decide on headphones after in-store auditioning for a few minutes.
My normal luck with audio gear is such that a new competing product is released just after I buy an existing model! Maybe now that I've made a purchase, Emotiva will release a new line of their headphones!
The packaging is very elegant and the headphones are well protected in the sturdy box. These are manufactured to MIL specs and it is apparent from the moment you open the box. The headband was a little stiff but now fits comfortably after a few uses. These are over-the-ear type (circum-aural) and the cups are a perfect fit over my ears. The shape of the cups is an elongated hexagonal which I find fits better over the ear than the circular variety.
Included in the box is a hard-shell carrying case, a cable with an in-line mic/volume control, a second straight cable and a 1/4" adapter. Also included are a pair of brushed aluminum gun-metal plates for the earcups. I left the black plates on that they shipped with (see pic above). They look great - rather understated but elegant and not flashy like the Monster Beats models in red. I like the conservative look.
What impresses is the build quality. These are "solid" with no creaks and the material used is top notch. The cables have a tight weave, are very sturdy and do not tangle.
So how do they sound? Not bad at all. I listed to some albums that I'm very familiar with. Having read that they get better after a few hours, I let mine cook for a couple of days, running continuously for 2 days using my iPod set to shuffle all music.
Using a mix of FLAC, CDs and MP3s, I can honestly say these sound absolutely superb now. I haven't tried any multi-channel music yet but have listened to a fair bit of stereo.
I packed them for the business trip I'm on now. On the plane, they muffled the rumble of the engine quite effectively. These are not noise canceling (i.e. no active battery-powered cancellation noise is played to counteract noise). However they are noise isolating and the snug fit provides effective isolation. I had trouble hearing the flight attendant without removing them.
Being ported (see the 3 V-shaped cutouts on the plates) the bass is not boomy but is certainly punchy enough. One of the reasons I discounted other models is due to boomy bass. The earcups fit just right but after listening to them for 3 hours straight, you may want to remove them for a bit. This is true of all over-the-ear headphones as they allow moisture and heat buildup. The memory foam on the cups is user-replaceable. The (Kevlar-reinforced) cables have a 45o plug on the player end so it makes insertion/removal easy. Cables and 45-degree plug can bend over 1 million times!
Over 50 legendary musicians and DJs collaborated on the sound, durability and features of Crossfade. They go through a very rigorous testing regimen including 70+ drops on concrete from 6 feet.
One thing I wish is that at least one of the cable was longer. This is not a show stopper but I would've liked about 3-6' extra length (there are models with 10-11' cables!).
They carry a 2-year warranty along with a lifetime 50% off privilege!
Conclusion: I am very very happy with these and recommend them without reservation. Just let them break in before judging. This should be food for thought for those who decide on headphones after in-store auditioning for a few minutes.
My normal luck with audio gear is such that a new competing product is released just after I buy an existing model! Maybe now that I've made a purchase, Emotiva will release a new line of their headphones!
