SOUND
Wireless has come a long way in audio. More and more we see Bluetooth headphones and earphones which can offer some good sound. It’s interesting to follow how the tech evolves and gets better. Of course audiophiles will always question the sound quality of the wireless solutions. I myself very much doubt about the wireless products catching wired Hi-Fi products in the near future. But maybe in a more distant future things can change.
The V-Moda Crossfade 2 Wireless has a sound signature and convenience to do many things at once. By saying that, I don’t mean the music genres, but usage preferences. You can use this headphone on many occasions; watching movies, playing online games, making phone calls and oh, listening to music.
That makes this headphone very versatile. The sound trait allows it to be. So don’t take this as a music only headphone. The intended purpose can change, and the V-Moda Crossfade 2 Wireless will come through no matter what you use it for.
BASS
Very strong and rumbling should be the right words for lows. This headphone can hit very hard and can go very deep at the same time. Therefore, this makes it very suitable for watching movies and playing games. When there’s an explosion in the scene you will feel it in your head.
In terms of music, this comes in handy for electronic and other types of bass heavy music genres. Make no mistake though, that doesn’t mean the bass is boomy and loose. It may not reach the level of the high end full size cans in terms of quality, but regardless, tightness and recovery is still very good. Actually better than what I expected. Still there’s a little bleeding into the mid freq’s but that sometimes happens even with the equipment that costs more. For wireless, this is a great phone for bass.
If you like subbass and a kicking approach, you’ll be pleased. If you expect an audiophile standard, sorry but this is more like a fun signature.
MIDS
Very good separation, despite being somewhat a bassy headphone. Good definition and good tonality as well. Not thin but not thick either, they seem to achieved a very good balance there. Clarity is quite nice as well, but the headphone has a slightly V-shape sound as a whole, so you can feel some instruments being at the back. Despite that, vocals are a little clearer and closer.
Resolution lacks when compared to mid-fi and hi-fi cans of course, so don’t expect something amazing on that aspect. It’s more than good in a nutshell. On the other hand, the V-Moda Crossfade 2 Wireless creates somewhat an artificial atmosphere with the sound, amplifying the small details a little too much so the sound can get a little distracting. I haven’t heard something like this on any other headphone. I guess the converter inside creates such a thing. Tonality and general control are the assets in this region, but there’s no amazing separation from the bass, so don’t expect an amazing mid range performance.
TREBLE
Treble is little accentuated like the bass but it’s by no means a harsh or thin sounding headphone. It retains the warmness, while giving a good sense of air with a good treble response. Not overly doing so, and that’s the nice thing about the V-Moda Crossfade 2 Wireless. The treble has good articulation (not like a 800USD headphone of course) but at the same time it has a great control just like on the mid range.
Highs have a good position as well, in this way they assist the sound stage and imaging. Otherwise, it could’ve been an overly dark signature, which has a narrow stage feeling. I think V-Moda did a nice job tuning this headphone’s sound reproduction. Highs are not in your face but still apparent.
WIRED MODE
When connected with the cable, the sound shifts to a more natural presentation. Mids become a little more apparent and they have more resolution. The sound becomes flatter and sub-bass is a little toned down. But the stage is narrower and there’s a more intimate approach overall. It feels more closed and congested, so choosing between wired & wireless is up to you. I find it more warm and natural with the cable, on the other hand the imaging and sound stage is better on wireless mode. The unnatural amplified micro details were non-existent though, compared to wireless mode, but wireless felt more detailed.
BOOM-PRO MIC
V-Moda also sells an accessory kit called Boom Pro Microphone, which can be bought separately. This is simply a cable with a microphone attached to it. The original cable inside the box also has a mic for calls and other things, but this one is a bit more professional. I tested it with a couple of calls and online games and the reception I received was great. I was told that my voice was very clear and loud. The boom is flexible as a whole, so you can easily adjust the mic into a position you desire. I think it’s a great accessory if you want to make Skype calls and play online games.
CONCLUSION
After all those years I’ve finally experienced a V-Moda Headphone. The V-Moda Crossfade 2 Wireless left me a positive impression overall with it’s great build quality, form factor, style and usage. To be honest with you, sound is not up to my liking overall. When I look at it in an objective manner though, it’s a great headphone for bass lovers and fun sound signature. Also I really liked the performance on movies and games, even tough it has a very good sound for music listening.
My expectations weren’t very high when I was waiting for the sample, but the sound is quite good, considering it’s a wireless phone. Great bass and energetic sound with nice treble response, Mids left some things to desire but if you like your sound a little V-Shaped, than this is a great mobile option.
dale thorn
If you mentioned this elsewhere, just ignore…
My Wireless-2 is around-ear, not on-ear, for average ears. My ears are not small.
The Rose gold edition at $20 extra is Apt-X Bluetooth.
The Wireless-2 is not as upper-bassy as the M100 or Wireless-1, but still has a lot of emphasis which, while good for outdoor use, lowers the fidelity indoors. The drivers and earcups are very good quality, so using the bass control indoors with the cable plugged in provides better sound.
Berkhan
Hey Dale,
– For me this is not a full sized headphone. Your experience may vary but it doesn’t cover all around my ears. That’s why I called it on-ear and my ears are average in terms of size.
– Yes.
– I don’t think it’s super bassy either, but the emphasis is definitely on lows.
– And yes, it has a more natural sound when used with the cable. So basically wireless for outdoors and wired for indoors 🙂
Thanks.
dale thorn
I wonder what earpads you have. My ears aren’t just “not small”, they’re a pretty good size based on most American ears.
dale thorn
BTW (neglected to mention), the article says “over ear” twice and “on ear” once.
Berkhan
XL Pads you have?
dale thorn
Not that I know of. But v-moda is supposed to be using larger earpads than they did on the M100. To be honest, when I hold the earcups of the Wireless-2 in my hands and look into the earcups/earpads, those openings are definitely smaller than the typical Beyer headphone, and just large enough for my ears. So even tho my ears are full size in the places I’ve lived and worked, anyone who has ears just a little larger might be too snug or worse in these Wireless-2 pads. Since there were more than a few complaints about the M100 pads, I’d be curious to know if they have fewer complaints about the Wireless-2.
Glen
A separate $30 wired Boom Pro mic defeats the whole wireless feature in order to work around the deficient built-in mic.
dale thorn
They don’t ship with a boom-pro as far as I know. I got the white from v-moda and the rose gold from Amazon. The boom-pro is for home use, while the Wireless-2 is pretty obviously for walkaround use.
BTW, when my wife calls, I have the phone tucked away into my carry-bag, and she says the audio when I speak is crystal clear.
dale thorn
Add’l note, just suggesting a couple of possibilities: One would be to see if covering or otherwise stopping the phone’s mic might reduce the noise or interference, and the other would be to see if the phone makes a big difference, like Apple versus Android.
Deniz
I also have a boom pro and can’t recommend it enough especially for gaming. Great noise reduction and sensitivity, your friends hear everything you say and bot much else. And don’t forget that a small cable comes in the package for people who have separate mic and hp jacks (like most laptops).
Great review as usual Berkhan 🙂
Berkhan
Thanks buddy!
navii
All I think of when I see v-mode headphones is Darth Vader.
Berkhan
Haha nice comment!
Simon Johansson
It’s been a while since this review was posted but maybe someone’s still around to answer a question or two.
I’ve looking for a pair of headphones in the 150€-350€ range. I’m planning to play PC games and listen to music with them. I want a bit more “fun” sound rather flat and analytical. I don’t really have any great DAC/Amp setup. I have a Fiio E10K and that’s it. Now I feel I’ve narrowed it down to two pair of headphones, it’s either these, the V-Moda Crossfade II Wireless, or the Philips Fidelio X2HR. Unfortunately, since I live out on the countryside in northern Sweden, I don’t really have the option to go into some music store and try any of them out. I have to just read reviews and recommendations and make my decision based on that.
Is there anyone out there that has tried out both of these headphones and can give me their opinion on preference?
dale thorn
Good luck on getting the X2HR. The only reviews I found on the Internet were at Amazon.co.uk, and judging by the more than 90 percent 5-star ratings, I’d say someone is stuffing the ballot box. Other than Amazon UK, and a few non-committal comments at headfi, there’s nothing. The Wireless-2 from v-moda is the M100 with wireless capability, which sounds about the same in Bluetooth or wired use, and the difference in sound from the M100 is just in the bass. The Wireless-2 bass emphasis is about 3 db less than the M100, and it’s centered lower – around 90 hz for the W2 and ~110 hz for the M100.