V-Moda ZN | V-Moda Crossfade Wireless | V-Moda Crossfade M-100
Reviewed by Tim Kusnierek
V-Moda is destroying the headphone game. Nearly every A-rank musician swears by them, and the company makes a range of models to suit every kind of music enthusiast. And when we talk about value, nothing comes close to comparison.
I’m a proud owner of their M-100s, and am a total fanboy when anyone asks me what I think of them, so I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the Zn earbuds and see how V-Moda’s commitment to quality manifested in other products.
The V-Moda ZN are the best earbuds I’ve ever owned. Now that I’ve gotten that off my chest, I don’t feel bad saying I was unimpressed as I first unboxed them.
I don’t really know what I was expecting, maybe a little more heft along with the standard flat, no-tangle cords that come with supposedly “high-end” earbuds. What I was presented with was what I thought to be a pair of dainty, flashy, over-priced earbuds, and thought V-Moda was riding their massive success into the sunset and slapping their name on a lackluster product. But OH how wrong could I have been…
They do seem dainty at first, and I handled them like glass chickens when I took them out of the package. But don’t let these fool you in the slightest, sure they have some flashiness to play off the liquid zinc theme, but these sleek puppies are built like a Nokia and perform like an F1.
In my opinion, earbuds are for traveling. They’re multi-use workhorses that can service you everywhere from walking to school, zoning out in the office, working out, etc. So much more goes into a quality earbud than just superb audio. There are three things that make these earbuds the best on the market: the cable, the weight and comfort, and of course, the audio.
As I mentioned, the cord annoyed me – at first. I thought it looked dumb, felt flimsy, and wouldn’t lose its factory fresh way-too-stickiness. I now feel like an idiot for ever doubting the ZNs. What V-Moda has done with is quite remarkable. The chord is their Kevlar-reinforced ‘Diamondback Cable,’ which is 20 times stronger than the industry standard, and offers a truly tangle-free experience. After a couple days of use, that annoying stickiness went away, and after tucking the earbuds in my pocket, in my backpack, etc, I realized I never ONCE had to spend a minute untangling them. They simply fall into place, ready to use and knot-free. Knowing that the 45-degree gold-plated plug is over 10 times stronger than the industry standard only adds to the peace of mind, since it’s this finicky connection that’s the bane of nearly every earbud. And now when I stop for a moment and take in the sight, the diamond weave looks pretty damn rad, and the bits of polished aluminum alloy are just the right touch of style.
The weight is stunning, and as I said, I mistook the Zn’s lightness as a weak point. Again, how wrong could I have been! The Zinc alloy is cast by a patented process and boasts microscopic precision for consistent acoustic quality.
After over two years of research and development, V-Moda has put forth some stellar ergonomic features on the ZNs. There are 8 pairs of silicone fittings to choose from, which is awesome since ear canals are kind of like feet and everybody’s is different. There are large, medium, small, and extra small sizes in black silicone, and also the same options also come in a clear silicone, which I found to be a slightly different fit. I’m running the small in clear and couldn’t be happier.
The Zn’s come with detachable sport hooks to help keep them locked on your ears when running or working out, and it’s not like they’re some gimmick that V-Moda threw in for kicks and giggles. The hooks work spectacularly, and I’ve found myself keeping them attached just because they’re so damn comfy. More often than not, I forget I even have the ZNs nestled in my ears.
Now for sound quality.
I write for a music publication. I need to hear the fine details of every song, and after listening to hours upon hours of music, I need something that isn’t going to leave my ears in bandages every night.
Of course, an over-ear design provides a more dynamic audio experience, and quality monitors are even nicer, but it’s 2016, and we want to bring that level of experience wherever we go. When I’m traveling, of course, I would like to have my M-100s, but the nature of the beast is that they take up a sizable amount of space, and I’m not about to construct a backpack to lug monitors around and educate my airport neighbors on the difference between acid and techno. V-Moda’s ZNs are the answer.
With the ZNs, I don’t feel like I’m missing out on anything. I hear the quirks of every track, and sometimes I’ll even find myself gawking at little embellishments I’d never even noticed. Despite the relatively small drivers the stereo imaging is the cat’s pajamas, and because of these, I’ve got a stupid perma-smile pasted on my face. Oh, and when a track hits home, and I can bump up the volume to rake in all the feels without putting my ears in pain.
Which is another thing: these guys are such high quality that you needn’t put your volume more than halfway. Like ever.
I know some of you love to crank that shit, and that’s well and good, but usually it’s because you want more bass to kick in, am-I-right? Never would I have suspected the bass capabilities for an earbud to be on this level. The ZNs are so well balanced, that cranking up to full volume is entirely unnecessary. The bass is exactly as it should be, present, supportive, not encroaching into the mids, and the highs aren’t screeching to be heard. The highs don’t leave your ear fatigued after a couple hours of use.
You could certainly throw some serious cash on a pair of audiophile earbuds quadruple the price of V-Moda’s ZN, but you’re not likely to hear the difference. And if you like to pretend you’re working with Daft Punk to decipher analog tape quality, you should be looking at something other than earbuds anyway.
At $180, the V-Moda ZN is the best value on the market. Yes, it’s a bit pricey, but you get what you pay for. Superb audio, exquisite comfort, impeccable build quality, and a bullet-proof warranty that covers your back for life.
Here’s the link, you know what to do.
