V-Moda ZN | V-Moda Crossfade Wireless | V-Moda Crossfade M-100
Reviewed by Lucas Sachs
Every time I put on a new pair of headphones, I default to the same song to determine my initial impression, and I probably always will. The song is Flume‘s remix of Lorde‘s hit “Tennis Courts,” and I’ll tell you why. Renowned as a master sound designer, this Flume track has every element needed to determine spatial recognition, sound balance & sheer quality. From his signature soaring synths and high pass percussion elements to the throbbing bass line brought in for the drop, it’s a perfect listen, and if the headphones take away from that they’re not likely to last long on my ears. Meanwhile, if the headphones improve the experience, which is truly an uncommon happening, they’re likely to never leave my ears. The latter was the case with my first impression when using the V-MODA Crossfade M-100‘s.
Prior to using the widely popular Italian-designed V-MODA’s, I could never tear myself away from my Audio-Technica’s despite experimenting with everything from AIAIAI’s modular headphones to Skull Candy earbuds. Of all the headphones I’ve reviewed, whether for use while DJing or while working at my desk, these are the all-around best when it comes to sound quality, EQ balance, and design. They’re beautiful to look at, easily customizable, and they sound absolutely amazing. My sole complaint is one unique to me and my admittedly big ears.
In my experience, after prolonged use, the honestly soft and comfortable earpads pinch my ears a bit, as they are slightly too small for my ears to fit as true over-ear headphones. The result is marginal discomfort after a few hours, although it serves as a healthy reminder that I probably shouldn’t be pumping music right into my ear canals for extended periods of time on a daily basis. In addition, this is a problem easily solved by purchasing more spacious earpads.
In the end, I care about 4 things when purchasing headphones: Sound Quality (true to sound, balanced EQ, etc), Design (appearance, durability, customizability), Comfort (self-explanatory) & Cost (initial expense, warranty quality, replacement cost). Here’s how I rated V-MODA’s Crossfade M-100s after using them the past couple of months:
- Sound Quality – 9/10 – while I have yet to experience sonically flawless headphones, these are as close as they come within a reasonable budget.
- Design – 10/10 – they look amazing, are easily customizable, are as durable as they come and are made of exceptionally high-quality materials from the cord to the travel case to the unit itself.
- Comfort – 6/10 – my ears are too big or the provided earpads are too small; regardless of the reason for this discomfort, be prepared to swap earpads if you can relate to Dumbo.
- Cost – 8/10 – they won’t break the bank, but they’re certainly not easy on the wallet; the V-MODA M-100s retail at $270, but you can get them cheaper with online coupons or on third-party sites. Thankfully, the warranty program is said to be stellar – though I have yet to need it – so if the day comes that I need a part replaced it should go smoothly.
In conclusion, these headphones are my favorite yet, and with minor self-improvements quickly jump up to an overall ranking of 9/10. They’re the best bang for your buck under $300, that much I can guarantee you, and I won’t be going back to my Audio-Technicas anytime soon.
