30.8.2014

Review: Blue Mo-Fi HeadphonesThe Shepherd’s StudioRon BloomThe first thing I noticed was how well it is packaged, Box was pretty heavy which I think was by design so when you lift up these bad boys they feel a bit lighter then they really are. At about a pound they are heavier then any other headphones I own, but when you put them on your head the weight is well distributed and comfortable.I love the design as it is unique and functional. A cross between old school beefy and iRobot both rugged and stylish. After charging them I went to town listening to multiple sources. As a studio owner I am used to listening through sonically flat near field monitors, but I use headphones for referencing on different sources.First,we hit the iPhone, iPad, iPod, and iMac. Now I like the Apple stuff because they pay attention to the music side of things. In passive mode they sound similar to other headphones and ear buds I use. That is to say adequate for getting noise in my ears. Each have pros and cons from clarity, bass boost, sound spread, and size. I seem to make sacrifices or trade offs depending on what my greatest need is i.e. exercise – ear buds, portability- a light over the ear, outside noise – noise cancelling, and studio – I want to hear it all.Moving from passive to active or what Blue calls “on” I noticed quickly I needed to turn the volume down. Pay attention to this disclaimer on the cords that say turn it down at first!!!!!! When you turn them on they come alive. At first I wondered if it was just a boost of level that I was hearing so I moved to complex patches on my Korg Triton Synth. I was amazed at the sound stage (spread) of the sound. I could close my eyes and pick out where the tracks were placed in the mix easily. In fact, I was hearing some elements I have never heard before, fascinating.Being impressed I moved to Roland Td 8 Drum module, Line 6 floor board for the electric guitar tones, then more synths (Roland, Alesis, and Ensoniq). At each station I was pleasantly surprised with what I was hearing. By this time I had been messing with these things for a few hours. That’s when I noticed something else, my ears were not getting a fatigued as they normally do. I also thought the weight was going to be an issue after a long time of wearing them, but so far not an issue.The sound is smooth with great clarity. They are not to be confused with a reference monitors, as they add warmth, however it is not over powering (muddy) and you can still pick out all the tracks. I even heard some things I want to go back and fix in my own mixes because the separation of sounds made it easy to hear something that was out of place.I then went back to different styles of music: Rimski-Korsakov Scheherazade, B. B. King, Albert King, Eric Clapton, Bon Jovi, Daughtry, John Mayer, Rascal Flatts, Tenth Avenue North, David Ruybalid, and Jeff Anderson. The headphones handled everything well, but they did warm some tracks up more then I would have liked. This is pure personal preference.The headphones also have an “On+” which adds even more bottom end. They handle it differently then some processors I use. They seem to add energy without over doing it. Meaning if you want the drive and maintain the clarity you do that by switching it to this setting. The bass lines seem to be focused on in the setting in a magic way so the individual notes are heard. Overall I like the setting, however, sometimes depending on the mix it could get more dominate then I wanted so I turned it back to “On.” No big deal.Cons: Not very portable unless you like attracting attention and having your music interrupted by people asking if they can listen. Not like walking around with a puppy to meet girls, but if you want to meet music people you will get noticed. A bit on the heavy side. Can get loud so protect your ears.Bottom line: If you have the money and love listening to music on portable sound sources and the price does not make you cringe then I don’t you will be disappointed. The sound is very, very good. Blue did a great job with these and I am happy to add them to my arsenal of listening devices. In fact that haven’t been off my head since I got them about 6 hours ago except to share with a few other people to make sure I wasn’t hearing things. We all agree they are really nice!

12.8.2016

Innovative, original, awesome, fantastic, gorgeous, sensual, lusty... must stop with the adjectives before I lose my mind.I was still picking up my jaw from the ground where it fell after my recent purchase of the Bluedio UFO h'phones (what a wonder!), when I came across this wonder of technique and craftsmanship.I'm a designaholic (yep, a new word!), you oughta know this and so I got bewitched by the sensual shape of the Mo-Fi first of all, and as soon as I peeped around the web to know more of them my enchantment grew so much that I really HAD to get them, being the 11th pair I own this far.What the hell, think no man can resist their lure,simply watching the details of their body.I watched and listened a comparative test on Youtube with the Audiotechnica ATH M70X and, man, the Mo-Fi in active mode sounded exactly like the original track, no difference at all in definition, clarity and soundstage, while the adversary sounded quite muffled in comparison with the source playback, the effect that makes us perceive we got h'phones on instead of getting music from the loudspeakers.Now at last I have them in my hands, it's a pure lust for the first sight and touch, for all the wonderful design details: the articulated headband (multi-jointed) in three parts with extensible end segments, the adjustable tension of the headband, the rubber cups between headband and earcups, the half-hidden lights for battery status, the giant and soft earpads, the elegant finishes in burnished silver.Wearing them on is a real amazing show , just the one movement to open the earcups and set them on the ears to automatically have your h'phones in the right position, every head will have at once its own, there are no bigwigs that can resist them, do not need any adjustment apart the headband's tension adjustment to have an even greater comfort for prolonged use.Not to talk of the heavenly sensations springing from the comfortable earpads once you switch them on, giving "a new skin for the old ceremony" (a li'l tribute to Leonard Cohen...) of listening my favorite music pieces, really, new shades appear in well known listenings, doubling the hot sensation I experienced with the mentioned UFO's when I litterally felt my ears move and tremble inside the earcups due to the 8 drivers performing their powerful strike force.Here it's rather a matter of an astounding richness in definition and clarity in association with the obvious raise in volume generated by the amp.And if you set it to "off", the resulting sound will absolutely be a remarkable one, while if you got an excessive attitude, well, turn it on at the "on +" position, your ears will transmit an earthquake to your brain, better watch out.Wow, breathtaking indeed, all this makes you forgive and forget the sensible weight of the Mo-Fi, nearly the double of similar items, they stay up there around your head with a strong embrace to remind you they're the origin of your listening pleasure and that their mainly metallic structure gives them a reassuring sense of sturdiness, they won't break up even if you mistreat them (horrible sin!, respect such a masterpiece).If you think the price you pay for all this lust is way too high, then you deserve to stay aligned in the herd of conventional listeners, you're not ready for the R/Evolution.Just think a while what's the meaning of having no separate amps to couple with your mobile devices or your pc's to have a decent sound from the h'phones you invested in, sure, these ones ain't slim in size, their weight is challenging, but quality has a price, you know.Me? I'm happy with this price, I feel part of the avantgarde marching towards the future, steady and proud... Ha!-Ha!-Ha! (quoting Ultravox!)In concluding, if my praise hasn't been enough convincing, just simply take a look around as I did and really think the same awareness I felt will show in you as well:gotta get them!C'mon, do it.

6.1.2015

I don't know where to start with these headphones. Lets start with the packaging, they are very well presented and are quite snug in the box so don't move around too much so won't be damaged in transit, which is good considering the price of them.CABLES/POUCHThey are very good quality it is nice to have two different lengths 1.2m with control talk, which is the only small niggle I have with them. The control talk being to high on the cable. Anyway they both are great and fit well in the majority of devices, and it is also nice to have a 1/4" adapter for connecting my hifi setup. The pouch which aces with them is lovely an alcantara type material with a pocket inside the bag.BUILD QUALITY/LOOKSThey are very sturdy.I don't even know what you would have to do try and break these. There are slightly weighty but after having these for nearly a month now I have got used to the weight. By comparison, first generation Beats by Dre Studios weigh 265g these weigh in at 478g. The amount of pressure they apply though the lovely and plush ear cups. The adjustable pressure at the top is useful depending on what type of preference you have. As they generate a good tight seal against your head there is not much if any at all, sound leakage which is good. The linkage mechanism which the headphones use is very well engineered. For a person who has taken apart industrial printing machines. These are solidly put together. The only plastic on the headphones is the grey back sections of the, ear cups, even that feels high quality and not cheap at all.The headphones to me look brilliant, as someone who loves the look of the Suzuki Hayabusa these appeal so much. Yes you may get some odd looks if you walk around out with them, but there soul purpose is not really hinged towards portability. The metal looks great with the contrast of the plasticSOUNDThe real reason why you would by these headphones is because of there sonic performance. When I first received these headphones and listened to some music from my iPhone. I can say with confidence I was a little disappointed with how they sounded, even with the amp on they sounded semi full in the mids, and they were clear, but there was almost no bass, even with the amp in ON+ there was basically nothing down low. Plus the amp didn't make the volume much loader if at all.Now though after nearly a month of use and burning in slowly, they have opened up massively. Now the mids are clear, detailed and full, the highs are also superb with no sibilance to my ears. Where as the lows are deep and thick, not boomy or muddy, clear and punchy, ESPECIALLY with the amp in ON+ mode. The amp now increases the volume by about 2-3 clicks on my Macbook Pro Retina so proves what burn in does. Compared to a pair of Beats by Dre Studio, these clobber them in the low end and have so much more clarity in the mid to high end. The amps battery lasts so long for me around 10-11 hours. Even with the amp off or weather you have run out of juice for the amp and are using them passively which is a GREAT feature to have they sound really good. Maybe not the most transparent headphone ever, but still are faultless. Having used them with a AV receiver and a CD player they sound amazing good, but these devices have dedicated headphone circuits proving more power than a mobile device.OVERALLI could not recommend theses more after buying them from watching people have said on youtube, and never, ever seeing them I took the plunge and cannot be more happy with them. As I use these for home use only I cannot comment on what they would be like portability wise. But if you want fantastic sonic performance then I encourage you to get these headphones. This is one of Blue's best products ever and is a major leap in the way we think about headphones. They have made me discover new parts of music that I never heard before and they can only get better.

29.1.2016

I've had these for about a month and the only problem I have with them is they promote antisocial behavior. I find myself so immersed in my music that I forget I have them on until someone walks in the room and tries to have a conversation with me and then unfortunately I have to take them off.I've been looking for a real pair of headphones for several years and had been hesitant to spend the money based on past bad experiences spending serious coin only to be dissatisfied with the quality of build, comfort and most importantly sound. I have no regrets spending the money on these Blues.Over the years I have had everything from Bose, Seinheiser and Koss to cheap pairs I picked up at the drugstore.Since the inception of smaller portable devices it's been a real challenge to find quality headphones that can deliver the full scope, depth and warmth like being teathered to a home receiver or preamp that has the power behind it to drive the full sound stage.These Mo-Fi's have delivered all that was promised and more. I am thoroughly enjoying music again like I did when I was a kid plugged into the living room stereo. I know sound is subjective so I will speak for myself when I say that the isolation without the need of noise cancelling is fantastic. My experience with noise cancelling is that they also remove the warmth and spaciousness of the music as well. I'm grateful that Blue was able to deliver without adding this complexity and restrictiveness.The built in amps are amazing and do exactly what they are supposed to: they make your portable device sound like you're plugged into a home receiver.The sound is very well balanced overall and one of the most noteworthy attributes is they are not overly bass heavy. Bass is great but not when it overpowers and confuses the drivers into distortion thus taking away from the entire range of the music. There is a good balance here and no crackling even at higher volumes. Another amazing feature is that due to the onboard power source you may not have to turn you device up so loud to drive the rich sound. I'm usually at just under half volume on an iPhone.I find these phones extremely comfortable. Several people have reviewed to the contrary but as I stated before I wear these for hours at a time without any discomfort.One point of note make sure to give them some time to break-in. Like all speakers they need some hours behind them before they perform to their full potential. After about a week of listening for an average of about 3-5 hours a day I noticed a difference in the responsiveness and depth of the soundstage. So if at first not impressed give them a week.As for the portability of these phones I will agree that they are a bit on the bulky side for a commuter that's on the train everyday but if you're taking a flight I wouldn't leave home without them (you'll have a carry on bag with you anyways). That said I wear these around the house while doing all sorts of chores and they've never been an issue while moving around.I have not found one serious negative thing about these headphones. Understand what you are buying before you make the purchase. If you are looking for bass crushing music distorting headphones that are more of a fashion statement than functional; I suggested you go to your local Apple Store and purchase a pair of Beats because they will deliver exactly that for you. If you're looking for professional grade well balance headphones that will immerse you in your music again or maybe for the first time, then I strongly recommend getting a pair of these Blue Mo-Fi's. As a frame if reference I span all genres of music from Classical, Big Band, Jazz, Classic Rock, Electronic, Pop, Country and even some Spoken Word. Never a disappointment.

21.7.2015

I recently lost my very portable and decent sounding Vmoda M100's by leaving them in a rental car and was on the lookout for a new pair of headphones. Since I had owned the VModa's for over 6 months I decided to see what the current state of the sub $400 market was and came up with a short list of headphones I would research and audition. I came up with this original list for research: PSB M4u1's, VModa M100's, Sennheiser Momentums, Ultrasone Pro 750, DT 770 Pro, and Audio-Technica ATH-M50x.I'll avoid going into deep reviews for each of these but at the end of the day I considered the PSB's, M100's, Mo Fi's and Momentum's as my top three and tried them all out.I had the most experience with the VModas which originally won me over with their amazing build quality and portability, as well as their fun factor with sparkly highs and deep bass. The Momentum's are classics but the build quality wasn't up to par and overall I really didn't enjoy them. The PSB's were amazingly accurate, sometimes too accurate with low quality streaming music, but overall I found them lacking the fun factor and build quality I want in headphones.This brings me to the Blues. First the build quality is out of this world, not nearly as portable as the VModa's but certainly up there in terms of craftsmanship. They are heavy and a bit tight on your head which is a consideration if you travel allot or listen for long periods of time, but I'll take that trade-off for what I consider the best sounding sub $400 dollar pair of cans. You also have quite an ability to mold these to the perfect position quite easily although the tension is still slightly on the tight side.Part of the heaviness is probably due to the built-in Amp in the headphones. I've avoided any headphones that couldn't be powered from an iPhone or Laptop because it's just to much of a hassle to take all of the components needed to power them up while your in close quarters on a plane, so I was excited to see how an in-amp lower impedance pair of headphones sounded.The sound quality is nearly as accurate as the PSB's, but what these give you is a fun sounding overall clear sound that crosses multiple genres of music listening. I don't know how to describe fun in a frequency response other than to say that every type of music comes to life. The built in Amp really helps elevate the sound in a natural efficient way so you don't have to worry about a tiny portable device amp introducing degraded sound quality on these large "Audiophile" 50mm drivers. The two amp settings On and On+ really shine when you switch music from something where accurate music reproduction is important like Classical (On) to something where you want bass thumping fun (EDM or Hip Hop).I also gave these the loss-less test to see if you could tell the difference in standard streaming like Apple music to near loss-less like Tidal. Overall for Hip Hop or EDM you do hear tighter bass but the the real difference comes out in Jazz, Blues and more mellow acoustic type music.Overall I really enjoyed the amazing build quality, the built in amp, and the two amp settings that allow you to span a vast array of music choices that cater to that genre of music, because sometimes I want to hear strings plucking on a guitar while sipping a glass of wine, and other times I want to bring the bass!Bravo Blue!

13.2.2017

I decided to upgrade from the ATH-M50x to these, so everything I say will be in comparison to those headphones. I had been using the ATH-M50x for about 3 or 4 years before the switch.I have had these headphones for about a month and I have found nothing to complain about at all. The sound quality is exactly what I wanted. Very clear and natural. Nothing sounds distorted or augmented. The amp is a lot louder than I expected it to be (I've never used a DAC or other form of amp before so I've had no prior experience). I'm not sure that this will make much sense, but the sound stage is much more precise than my old headphones. My headphones did a good job of isolating where sound was coming from in relation to the microphone it was recorded on,but these headphones are like bat ears or something. Depending on the song, you can tell how the mic was angled. It can kinda mess with you when you watch shows with voice acting because it's too real sometimes but I got used to it.As indicated, there is an ON and an ON+. Turning the headphones ON already makes a world of difference. Of course you have to set your volume to like a quarter of what it previously was otherwise you'd break your ears, but it brings life to the music. I was under the impression that amps just make music louder, but the difference is just better. I can't really explain it well, but it sounds alive. Vibrant. Incredibly dynamic. Quality I thought costed thousands. ON+ brings out the soul of the bass. Nice and punchy but it's not overdone. It sounds clear and doesn't muffle out the highs and mids. I know sound systems and headphones that do go too far with the bass and it ends up ruining the music - this is not that. It may sound obvious to all of the seasoned veteran audiophiles out there, but I'd say just leave it on ON if you're listening to something that isn't supposed to be bass heavy, because ON+ can sometimes make it sound wonky. And on other songs it just doesn't make any difference (for example, This Is Gospel - Panic! At the Disco).Now let's talk about the fit. This is what everyone complains about with these.I personally have no problem with the weight. People have been saying that these headphones feel tight after a while, but I have a pretty big head (I think my hat size is 7 3/4), so even my old headphones and the headphones I had before them (some Sony MDR series. I forget, it's been a long time. I replaced them because I pulled the cord out and didn't have the tools to repair it) felt pretty tight. It just took some wearing in to get them to stop squeezing my skull. These are no different from that experience. If anything they are better because of the earcups. I like that the earcups fully engulf your ear and shape to it. It grants a lot of sound isolation and it doesn't leak any. The only thing I don't like is that sometimes if I wear it in a certain way, the drivers will press against my ear because the cushions are a little too soft and don't suspend the drivers that far from your ear. Y'all will probably think I'm the devil for trying this, but that makes it a little hard to fall asleep with sometimes. But only sometimes.All in all, this is probably my favorite purchase. It was a pretty penny, but I can vouch for each one spent.

8.4.2017

First off for reference, im a mid level headphone owner. Im not one of these guys who understands the lingo who owns 12 pair of amazing headphones. and Im also not the person who uses cheap stuff like Skull Candies or Marketing jobs like Dre Beats etc. im mid. ive always had a great pair of 150 dollar headphones. With that said these are my favorite and most expensive pair of headphones. You hear about the weight and tightness...over time they adjust and you get used to it. If you are like me you walk with your headphones quite a bit. My whole purpose of getting these was to get the quality I have at home with my amps...while im not at home, and they are just that. Amazing looking, clear,you'll likely never need to blast them because at 70 or 80% volume.. you will hear a clarity that most headphones on the market can not produce. If you use these daily like I do they will eventually start falling apart at the headrest area. check pictures to see. I keep these things in a custom hard case as well.The only problem I can find about these is that the battery that powers the amp will die. Its lithium and I have been informed by Blue Mic reps that they are aware that the battery will die in the cans. the paragraph below is directly from an email I got from Blue in regards to the battery issue and being able to replace it;'At this time the MoFi batteries are not considered a “serviceable” item. However, if you purchased your MoFi headphones within the last 2 years, you’re eligible for warranty service that’s free of charge. Warranty service absolutely covers battery issues like the one you described in your inquiry 'So its free but only for the first two years. This means if you spend 400 to 700 on any amped/powered headphones made by Blue....unless you got money for a brand new pair every two years or so, you have to deal with having a broken pair of very expensive headphones. Also this I think this means that once the warranty is up you cant even pay Blue to service them and replace the battery. Great for getting people to upgrade and by the newest headphone, bad for guys like me who would rather spend that money on other gear. I use my broken mo fis now daily without the amp and they are still great but cant compare to how crazy they sound when the battery work. I hope this helps in your purchase and also hopefully Blue will make the batteries affordably replacement. and hopefully create some app that lets us know how much life a battery has left etc. Lastly be aware of the color switch on this page. when you change the color of the headphones as an option, the price goes up because the Platinum pair are actually the Sadie and not the Mo Fis the Mo Fis have been discontinued in favor of the 2017 line up.

4.3.2015

I do not have a huge amount of experience with high end headphones (I've never spent more that $100 on them.) But I have had 'decent' ones. These expose just how night and day headphones can be. I found them excellent.The things I love about them are the wraparound design. I can barely hear myself singing along with music while wearing them. It was a selling point for me, as the 'open' design let a little too much of the world in (and music out to the world next to me.) I find the 3 settings extremely useful to compensate for substandard music files. Which is a point I want to make: if you have a low res file, these will definitely expose it. Also if the production value is low on the recording (or over/under emphasizes certain frequencies),

24.10.2015

Bought with my own cash money.How have I bought 30 + cans over the last 18 months and only now am I discovering these!?They really are a bewitching gem! Heavy and bulky yes but man is it worth it. The weight can be alleviated somewhat by the tension dial on the headband so they're doable but after a while they're comfortable. But I'm used to Beyer DT150's so it's all subjective! Ear cups are large enough and deep enough for my large ears. Just chunky all round these are. But in a good way. Substantial and well designed.Sound wise on passive mode they're very good. Slightly thin but very balanced and detailed with a decent amount of bass. But when you switch the amp on......sheesh it's a different beast!

30.10.2014

I have a pretty good setup when it comes to enjoying music. This includes a Schiit Asgard 2 and I used some Grado's to listen to all my music. Although I was happy with my setup, I can't move around the house or at work since the amp is the best way to listen to the highest quality music. So when I heard about the Mo-Fi's with a built in amp, I thought this might be perfect for mobile listening and I can move around the house.I got the product a few weeks ago and could not be more pleased. I listen to a lossless streaming service (TidalHiFi) and the music sounds amazing. Although the headphones are a bit heavy, it's of minimal concern to me and I wear these for hours.

20.3.2017

Pros:- Superb sound stage in both passive and active.- Great balance of treble, bass and mids.- Secure fit that is engineered for comfort-ability.Cons:- Weight of the built in amp can cause fatigue in lengthy sessions of wearing them (Note the Blue Lola does not have a built in amp).Coming from gaming headsets, particularly with a virtual 7.1 surround sound push on marketing, I was astounded at the quality this stereo headset provided me within both gaming and film editing. Bought primarily to edit videos on a proper sound stage, these provide excellent in-game sound with an amazing sense of direction. This particular set (Blue Microphone Mo-Fi) has a passive, active and bass enhancing mode due to its built in amp.

26.3.2018

I been looking for a bass headphone for quite some time to be considered HiFi. I tried these instore and were amazed day one. What it added is have some amp to the base. I use AKG 702, bowers &wilkins p4, Lower end sennheiser, sony ps4 bluetooth. These are the best overall. Have good high and midtone, and great bass. I tried bass headphone like beat, sony, bose and they all aren't very hifi, you lose too much clarity in the detail. Beat reference monitor headphone I do thing is very good and close to blue mo-fi. My AKG 702 do have better clarity then these, but he base is too weak. Grodo headphone are just too bright for me. Sennheiser are well balance, seem to be more areal or have a larger soundstage.

5.10.2014

Love this headphone. I travel all over the world as a busy executive and I must tell you this makes a long over seas flight special.I love music, love audio and I have had every brand and kind of headset available and this product is far superior in every way.Many people who travel like the noise canceling headsets, but one you have tried a real headphone like Mo-Fi you will leave any other headset you have at home.This product goes way past 11!! if you know what I mean. Best sounding headset I have every tried, far better than other "marketing" brands such as Bose and Beats....I mean they are not even in the same class as Mo-Fi.On the plane people ask me about these,

27.9.2014

These headphones are the best headphones I've heard when connected directly to a smartphone and they can easily stand up to the competition when powered through an external amp. The internal amp make these superior to most other headphones if you do not plan to use an amp (which I do not like when I'm out and about or at work).The two-mode amp is great and On+ really makes the lows kick harder and deeper and are great for bass heavy tracks. In the regular On mode they are perfectly suited for all kinds of music and vocals just sound amazing all over. I have yet to find a genre that these headphones do not excel at.I would highly recommend these to anyone who want a serious headphone and can handle the space-age looks.

8.12.2014

I didn't want to have to invest in a headphone amp, so after reading a glowing review in Guitar World and looking through customer reviews on Amazon, I picked these ones up. They truly sound great - very flat sound, definitely was hearing things I hadn't heard before on cheaper headphones. I listed to a lot of bass heavy music and the "On +" setting really delivers - great bass, but no distortion or "muddying" of the other instruments. As others have pointed out, the downside of these is the weight. There is ample padding, but despite that I felt I really can't wear these for more than an hour before my head feels like it's getting squeezed. I have a big head.

Blue Mo-Fi - Reviews

Info

Analysis

Detail