15.6.2018

I deliberated for a long time over these, the Sony MDR 1000X and the Bowers & Wilkins PX - I actually bought all three and sent the other two back. I've tried to give a really quick overview of the key aspects of the headphones to help someone who is maybe in the position I was in a little while ago.Sound:There are a lot of reviews out there regarding sound and of the three headphones above and the V-Modas will generally come last. I agree that the PX headphone sound is much more 'true' while I personally would put the Sony below the two. The main gripe I had with the other two is that with noise cancelling on everything just sounds... forced. It is a strange sensation.The only thing I can liken it to is when you pop your ears on a plane and you get that feeling of pressure and everything just sounds a bit odd. I kept turning it off because I couldn't get used to it so figured what is the point in having it?The V-Modas are more bass heavy than the others which again I prefer as it suits the music that I like (rock, metal, techno, drum&bass, house).One issue that I have had is that the Bluetooth connection is not amazing on these. If I have too many clothes in between the headphones and my phone the sound jumps in and out. Very annoying. It is always fixable by having a clearer line of sight but for this money it shouldn't even be an issue.Looks:I much prefer the industrial look of these headphones to the others - this is very much personal preference though. What I will say is that these seem to give a nicer 'arc' on your head. The headband on the Sony in particular stuck out a lot and while the cable routing of the PX is incredible and give cleaner lines, I prefer these - the cable give a bit of character and the ear cup holder looks so much cooler.Battery:Lasts a decent amount of time but has the most annoying method of letting you know it is running out of beeping - I can't think of a worse method making it known that the battery is low. One of the other main reasons I chose this pair of headphone is that you do not actually need the headphones to be charged to use them - so long as you have a 3.5mm-3.5mm cable you can use them. It prevents the situation of lugging around dead weight and having no music at all. The sound quality is also improved slightly by using a cable - great for DJs apparently - the difference to me is minimal.Other:+ The folding design is incredible and makes the headphone tiny when stored, the hinge feels sturdy and I'm not afraid of just throwing these around.+ The case is again really good, I generally just clip the headphones to the outside of my bag when not using them which frees up space in my bag when travelling.+ They sit around your neck infinitely better than the others.+ By far the most comfortable headphones, the soft ear pads are like a cloud on your head. The downside to this...- ...After a while they make your head sweat - I don't think this would happen with the PX headphones because the pad is much harder, but SO painful after a while.- The buttons are a bit fiddly and sometimes stick, it feels like these could have been drastically improved. There is also a bit of a delay sometimes on pausing.All in all I'm giving 5 stars because, despite the small niggles, these are incredible headphones. If you don't believe me just do what I did and buy a few and return the ones you don't want...

18.9.2017

Please Note - I was unable to get the in-built microphone in my headphones to be recognized by the two Bluetooth devices I tested it with, so unfortunately I was not able to review the quality of the microphone.PACKAGINGEverything about the Crossfade 2's presentation looks the part, from the stylish box and manuals, to the sturdy clamshell case with useful inner clips to hold the charging and wired connection cables. Instructions are clear and well presented, with extra attention taken to highlight features such as the headphones buttons and switches, how to put the headphones into their case, and the correct cable placement when in wired mode.A lifetime warranty is included that will give you a discount off a replacement pair of V-MODA headphones if this pair breaks. The only thing I found disappointing about this area was that, despite being sturdy overall, the headphone case is prone to surface dents and scratches quite easily.DESIGN/CONSTRUCTIONThe construction of the Crossfade 2 feels sturdy in every area with no expense spared on the quality of materials. The headband has a leather-like finish on the top, and a material on the underside I assume is to deal with any moisture exposure from one's head. The padded covers over the headphone speakers have a similar leather finish, and feel appropriately cushion-y. The left speaker has the charger socket, while the right sports the power switch, socket for wired connection, microphone and three basic control buttons - two for volume and one for playing/pausing/skipping music tracks and answering calls. For extra customization, there is the option to purchase and fit different cover plates to the outside of your headphone speakers. The Crossfade 2 is really nice to look at, and moderately comfortable to wear - I say moderately, because the tightness that's required to keep the headphones from slipping, combined with their size and weight, can start to feel uncomfortable after prolonged use. They also block outside sounds very effectively, this can be considered a positive or a negative point, depending on what situation you're in.PERFORMANCEInstalling the Crossfade 2 is very easy, more or less a case of holding the headphones' power switch near the Bluetooth compatible device you want to pair with, until the light on the power switch starts flashing. Wireless performance varies by device and the distance from that device - the headphones worked effectively with my Kindle Fire up to a distance of about 10ft, at which point the signal started to break up. You also have the option to plug the headphones directly into a device using the supplied cable - there is no use of the battery during this mode. The battery life is solid - while not the 14+ hours the listing says, the battery on the pair I have lasted around 8-10 hours on average. A useful feature is an intermittent beep when the battery starts to run low - this may get annoying to some people, though. Charging the headphones is simple (using supplied miniUSB to USB cable) and pretty quick, about 2-3 hours. The playback sound of the Crossfade 2 is rich, and very bass-y. You can only edit these traits using your device's own sound settings, this was not so good on a more simplistic device like the Kindle Fire, the only sound settings of which are 'louder' and 'quieter'.

9.6.2017

I use headphones only for occasionally listening to music on my laptop. Obviously this isn’t high-end amplification, so I couldn’t give these much of a test. They were extremely comfortable, but so they should be for the price. Reproduction, frequency response and sound insulation were all pretty good.That’s all I personally can say, so I’ve enlisted the much more informed opinion of my son.“At this price the expectations of performance are high especially, when using a Bluetooth connection. I wasn’t disappointed, however some design aspects let the package down as a whole.Some might say sound quality is the most important factor, but when you’re dropping some serious cash on headphones you expect them to feel and look as good as they sound.The headphones hint at a military design, without being over imposing. The exposed screws and wiring help with the rugged looks, however the exposed (but thankfully fabric braided) wiring from headband to earpiece is a major snag point literally – while they obviously have to cater for all head shapes and sizes, I have caught the hanging wire several times on zips, which will eventually cause a break. This wire should have been hidden, or a flat braided wire used, as in Bose and Beats designs.The headband is extremely comfortable; despite feeling slightly silky, it holds well on the head while on the move. The ear piece sponge offers a reassuring fit, creating a snug soundproof layer between ears and the outside world. However, it cancels outbound sound better than inbound.While using it on public transport, I didn’t receive the usual “turn it down” looks and stares which you normally receive with over ear headphones.” [Probably from Victor Meldrews like me.]“In noisy environments external sound did leak in regularly.The outer ear pieces are well-made and finished, although the 3.5mm headphone jack could have been placed better. The same applies to the volume/music control buttons which while functional aren’t easy to press/locate without a bit of practice.Bluetooth audio was strong, although I observed some high end frequency clash, and in built up areas it would randomly hop to a lower quality sound and then back again. This isn’t something I’ve found with other manufacturers, and to be honest it rarely happened, but it was annoying. Wired audio was perfect and offered a higher total volume, but the market is moving towards Bluetooth audio as the default, so maybe the manufacturer could have used a higher grade Bluetooth chip or software.As I’m a bit rubbish remembering to top batteries when I return from home, the audio review is based on a wired connection. The most outstanding aspect of the audio is bass response and more so bass clarity – I’ve tried this with a wide range of music types and due to the huge drivers I didn’t need to amend my graphic settings as I would with my Beats or Bose headphones. Treble was crisp and clear without any distortion, even at maximum volume; even when listening to garage they kept tight and responded well to punchy beats/bpm.Overall, in a busy headphone market dominated by premium brands these have to stand out, and they do; in the design stakes, Beats have the advantage, but I think these look far better than Bose, whose design team appear to be stuck in the 90s.”

6.6.2017

When you get into this price bracket you demand something special. These certainly deliver that. The difference between Bluetooth and plugged in I found barely perceptible, to the point it might be my imagination and the accepted wisdom that plugged in will give you better reproduction every time. Or maybe I just have cloth ears.Starting with the packaging this product is designed to shout quality. Not exactly what you would call discrete its self-advertising and interesting shape with studded carry handle and press stud latch look interesting if ever so slightly fashion victim. The outer casing disposed of you come to a clamshell carry case of a certain robustness that comes with a sprung carabiner for clipping to belts or used as a hook.Inside the headphones have a spring mount that allows the cushions to sit against each other within the headband thus saving a considerable amount of storage space. These are over the ear headphones after all and they do not come small. Nor light though I did not find them obtrusive or heavy, then I am used to the weight of a flip front crash helmet, which is relatively heavy.The build quality is immediately apparent. These feel solid and once on the head the padding relieves any discomfort a friction fit is going to have to exert to work. The buttons fall to hand easily enough and function without effort. I found them quite intuitive to use.The sound quality is excellent. I mainly use these floating around the house doing odds and ends, so most of the time it is streaming off my rather ancient but effective Android phone using Bluetooth. Not the most information rich of bit rates for sure (a brief flirtation with high-quality audio plugged through an amplifier was another level altogether). That said the music I have sampled has been eclectic. Starting with the bass, rich and fruity and very clear, I listened to Jazz, Rock 'n' Roll, 60's Heavy Metal, Death Metal and Symphony Metal, the last two, in particular, is particularly demanding and can sound rather compressed. Completely aced it with the instruments being clearly separated and harmonious. Mozart, Brahms and Wagner followed as did folk, folk rock and progressive rock and some classical piano. Spoken word presented no issues.YouTube fine.I have also used the built-in microphone for quite extended telephone calls with no issues whatsoever both sides of the conversation being clearly audible to both parties - not always the case with the phones built in mic.The battery life is claimed to be 14.5 hours, though that, in part will be a function of how you connect the headphones to the source and what volume. Let's just say that it has provided me with no issues whatsoever. Recharge is done via a USB and if I have a criticism it is that the indicator light built into the on-off switch is pathetically small and pretty useless in bright sunlight. The cables provided are armoured and superior to the run of the mill you find worth most of these sort of products, but at this price ......Oveall stunning performance, excellent build quality and a must have set of headphones - at least when you have a pair!

29.5.2017

Tested using an S7 Edge with Power Amp in Bluetooth and wired mode, with music tracks at 320mbps. Also music sourced from Tune In Radio and Spotify. For sound quality I also compared these with a set of Bose QC25 headphones.I purchased my son a set of V-Moda Crossfade LP2 headphones which I was impressed with, so was delighted to be offered these for review on Vine. As expected, they arrive in impressive premium packaging and to access the contents of the box you need to cut through a pink ribbon; almost a ceremony in itself. The headset is presented collapsed,in a grey, rubberised, zippered "Exoskeleton" clam shell carry case, along with the product documentation, usb charge lead,easy speak mic lead and a 1/4" pro adapter.Everything about the product exudes high quality. Removing the headset from the case and pulling the earpieces from being collapsed to their listening position you fell the quality construction in the mechanics in way the metal brackets work. The headset is snug and comfortable to wear and is easily adjusted to your fit. The ear cushions are generously padded, whilst the headband has minimal padding. The bluetooth, playback and call functions are all controlled via buttons on the right hand ear piece.I initially tested the headphones in Bluetooth mode. I have a playlist I have compiled to give me a wide array of different track to test all aspects of the sound quality. Everything about the sound quality was great. Bass was tight and punchy, vocals and mid range were crisp and the overall sound stage was deep and warm. I walked over 40 feet away from my phone and the connection still hadn't cut out. Call quality via bluetooth was perfect, no issues in hearing the caller, or them hearing you. I then tested the headphones using the hard wire mic cable, both with and without my Topping NX2 portable mini amp. The sound was better by the fact that the power to the headset was being provided by the phone (and for extra power, the mini amplifier).I enjoy louder than usual music, so for me Bluetooth never quite delivers, and given the choice, I will always go for a wired headphone. The Crossfade 2's excelled in wired mode and with the mini amp were awesome. No sign of distortion during any of the sound test; pretty much audio perfection. I own a set of Bose QC25 headphones which I used on a side by side comparison (the QC35's are the wireless replacement for them).In the side by side test I couldn't tell a lot of difference; both provide incredible clarity and big, deep sound delivery. However, the one thing that lets down these V-Moda is the lack of any noise isolation (which the both Bose models comes as standard). At their very high price point, noise isolation should be supplied, and because of of the lack of this I feel the need to deduct a star.In conclusion. If you're looking for a set of amazing sounding headphones with great aesthetics then the V-Moda win hands down, but if noise cancelling is more important to you than looks, then you need to test the Bose.

26.5.2017

V MODA Crossfade 2 Wireless Over Ear Headphone Matte White (£300)As received –arrived in a neat , well packaged box containing the (foldable) earphones system (which is in its own zippered hard case/clamshell ) , a user manual ( also downloadable from the website) and a “ premier warranty“ & 50% immortal life programme.( When I first saw this clamshell in the box I mistook it for the earphones I feared that these earphones were going to be “a la Princess Leiea “ variety)The customer is recommended to register the product online – use the serial number on the manual without spaces. I still had several problems with getting this to work properly.In the zippered hardcase / clamshell is also a USB charging lead (ca 1m)and a simple linking wire (ca 1.5m) for non Bluetooth use. There is the standard 3.5mm wire and an adaptor for the larger (1/4”) sound outletsAppearance – As you might expect from an Italian product , this has style as well as functionalityWearing / Feel characteristics - nice , lightweight , well fitting headphonesEase of charging – only concern is that the charge levels LED is amazingly small. Total charge in 2h based on LED colour.Blue tooth pairing - – there have been various versions of Bluetooth over the years ( I have previously had and issues reported problems with older devices) .For example , this device can be seen by an old ( 2013) Samsung laptop but fails to couple properly .I would expect excellent coupling with recent Smart Phones .With an iPad Pro the Bluetooth coupled and played music easily . Should have no problem with a modern Smart phone.Battery life - to be repoted after repeated use - to date expect several hours bas on initial testingSound Performance -a) Bluetooth – clear sound , up to 20 feet away from the iPad through 2 walls , then good sound with sporadic breakup – impressive! Sound levels , pause, stop , skip can be achieved using the controls on the right earphone.b) Wired – tested on a BOSE CD player with both heavy metal and classical music CD’s - excellent clean sound , well balanced treble and base. Note – on some devices , according to the instructions , the wirelink ( which has a controller) may allow stop , start , pause , skip . This did not occur with the CD unit but may apply to portable items like phones , pads etc.Gaming performance – Not testedComparison with Sennheiser Momentum 2 ( see my previous reviews) – NOTE – these V Moda phones are not designed as noise cancelling.Clean sound with good ( no over powerful) bass levels (Tested for classical , most genres of popular music up to heave metal)Value for money – These are expensive compared to other functional “cans” and do not do noise cancelling but they are functional and stylish. Performance is 5 star , similarly for style. Maybe I have been harsh on the price.

2.7.2017

These are expensive and high quality headphones, an upgrade from the previous C-MODA Crossfades due to the presence of Bluetooth. I've been using these for a few weeks, and have split my observations into three:* Build quality* Wireless quality* Sound quality.Build is easy. You can tell these are expensive from the reinforced clamshell case, designed to hold the headphones snug, and only just room to slide in a small MP3 player. They are heavier than my normal Philips phones (more later) but not uncomfortably so, and sit well around the ears giving a degree of insulation from external sound. The folding action is 'positive' and the case even has press out chevrons,

31.5.2017

I tried the v-moda Crossfade II Wireless headphones with a Nexus tablet, a Focusrite2i4 USB interface and a regular hifi amp with mp3s, flacs, cds and my own hi-res recordings.These are very nice phones, but as ever there are some plus and minus points to consider:Pro:• Well-made, solid construction.• Secure on the head but don't clamp too hard. Good hinge mechanism - strong and sturdy.• Excellent carrying case, with venting, and straps to hold all cables and even a karabiner to sling it from a belt.• Bass is well extended, plentiful and of excellent quality - firm and not at all boomy. The sound remains clean at high levels.• Bluetooth pairs without unnecessary hassle.

28.5.2017

Stunning set of headphones from V-Moda, with design, attention to detail, and build quality that surpasses most other brands. These can be used wired, or wireless using the simple to set up Bluetooth connection. A Micro USB lead is provided to charge them, and once fully charged (approx 2 hours) you can expect to get between 12 and 16 hours of play.The well padded memory foam ear cups are extremely comfortable to wear, and unlike many other headphones they didn't make me hot and sweaty after prolonged use, and the steel frame is sturdy, flexible, and built to last.. Sound isolation is very good, with very little leakage regardless of the volume setting,

28.5.2017

I previously trialled the wired version of these cans and was underwhelmed. I wasn't expecting more from these - less in fact, given that Bluetooth can't be better than hardwire cabling.V-Moda always always impress with the fit and finish of their products. From the item to the packaging, everything has a premium feel, and these headphones are in line with that. I really love the look of these 'phones - they're modern and stylish and although not cheap, don't scream "look at me" in the way Beats 'phones do.I also love the convenience of the bluetooth connection. Although I don't *hate* cables, they can get tangled and be a bit annoying - although never so much so that I thought I had to have a wireless set of headphones.

5.7.2019

The first thing you notice about these headphones is their looks and construction. The white heagonal shapes to the ear piece covers, the masses of tiny screws and metal yokes make this more like a Swiss watch than a pair of headphones. The fit of the cushioned over ear pods provides some noise attenuation but these aren't noise cancelling. There is a microphone built into the headset and into the provided cable so they can be used as a phone headset via blutooth and over a wired phono connection. They are very comfortable to wear due to the cushioning on the ear pads and extremely robust so, if it weren't for the garish good looks, you could use these in the office all day.

18.1.2019

These headphones provide an ideal balance between sound quality, value for money and the convenience of wireless headphones. The wireless was tested by using them for the sound engineering at a school concert in a large auditorium, and they worked really well - no cable to worry about, giving the sound engineer freedom to move around without worrying about them. There didn't seem to be any loss of Bluetooth connectivity - in fact, it was easy to forget they were actually wireless!They've also been used for both listening to music (the sound quality is excellent, for a wide variety of types of music) and for playing keyboards (using the supplied cable). My son has also used them when watching films,

1.6.2017

Very expensive but very goodFor an eye watering price you would expect eye watering performance, and these headphones come very close to delivering it.The sound is excellent, especially for Bluetooth headphones (the rose gold version- and ONLY the rose gold version - features an improved version of the Bluetooth codex, although at the time of writing not many devices support this new codex yet). However the Bluetooth sound can't quite compete with the sound quality these Crossfade 2's provide when plugged into a headphone jack.The Bluetooth range is better than I've experienced with other Bluetooth headphones. Comfort was initially disappointing, but the second time I wore them comfort was much improved.

26.5.2017

I was absolutely thrilled to receive these headphones - they are absolutely fantastic and have a multiple of uses (I mean - obviously to hear with, but it can be used for other stuff too!) - first up, the box is absolutely amazing - sleek, with a leather-esque handle on the top. Once you're in, the headphones come packaged in a silver shell case, complete with an audio lead and USB lead. You can either charge up the headphones or get going using the lead, which is what I did. The sound quality is pretty good - the headphones cancel out all the noise and it can be hard to hear other people even without music, so please be careful. You can pair them with Bluetooth really easily and use them wireless,

26.11.2019

I needed some wireless headphones so these were a perfect upgrade from V-MODA's M-100. I used the M-100s daily and they started falling apart.These headphones have an excellent bass response, really good sound quality for the price, and despite having no noise cancellation feature, they really do block out outside sound very well. The pads can hurt at times but usually only once worn in huge periods of time. The cotton layer of the wires seem to split still like with the M-100sUnfortuntely these headphones have the same build quality as the M-100s as these headphones appear to be falling apart too. Also there is loss of sound in one ear but only when using the headphones wirelessly.

V-MODA Crossfade II Wireless - Reviews

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