- The M-200 ANC is available now at v-moda.com and Amazon for $499.99. For a list of features and pics, read on. Feature List Courtesy of V-MODA:. Driver Size: 40mm – perfect driver-to-housing ratio for an optimal sound reflection and high-quality sound that packs a punch. Driver Build: Neodymium magnets with CCAW (copper-clad aluminum.
- Net Drivers Download. In our share libs contains the list of Net drivers available for download. To download the proper driver by vender name. If not found in our garage driver you need, please contact us, we will help you in time, and updates to our website.
Pros — Attractive design; robust build; foldable; quasi-neutral tuning; easily driven.
Next-generation performance in analog cabled or Bluetooth modes, plus new colors and CliqFold mechanism Milano – March 28, 2017 – V-MODA, the award-winning manufacturer of the world’s finest high-fidelity audio devices, unveils Crossfade 2 Wireless Over-Ear headphones. Building on the success of V-MODA’s original Crossfade M-100 and Wireless headphones that have won 29 editors.
Cons — Fit a bit too tight on large heads; narrow soundstage with no depth; not the best for recreational/audiophile listening; pricey.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The V-Moda M-200 is a stylish, sturdy, closed-back over-ear headphone characterized by its quasi-neutral sound signature with an unusually narrow soundstage and a rather forward midrange. While this works well for for DJs, the limited soundstage takes away from audiophile and fun listening.
INTRODUCTION
V-Moda is a company out of Los Angeles that has produced stylish headphones and earphones since 2004. Their design team is located in Milan, Italy, and their engineering team in Japan. V-Moda’s signature design is the hexagonal earcups. The company has been known for their love of detail and their quality haptic – and the V-Moda M-200 are no exception. I purchased my first V-Moda in 2008: it was the “Vibe”, an earphone that we would now refer to as “bass bomb”. V-Moda were early in the game for mid-price earphones, a kind that shot of the ground with the advent of iPhone and an increased popularity of ipods. V-Moda continued their bassy signature with the Crossfade M-100 headphone. The V-Moda M-200 may look similar to the M-100, but they have a much flatter, that is a more realistic, less coloured sonic signature.
SPECIFICATIONS
Type: over-ear circumaural
Driver size: 50 mm
Frequency response: 5 – 40,000 Hz
Speaker Sensitivity: 101.5 dB @ 1 kHz 1 mW
Maximum Input Power: 1,000 mW @1 kHz
Impedance: 30 Ω
Weight w/o cable: 290 g
Cable length: balanced 120 cm (47″); SpeakEasy 132 cm (52″)
Other: replaceable earpads; customizable aluminum shields
Tested at: $350
Warranty: 2 years
Purchase Link: https://www.v-moda.com/us/en/products/m-200
PHYSICAL THINGS AND USABILITY
Photos in support of the V-Moda M-200’s physical description are appended to the end of this review.
In the box are M-200, carrying case, carabiner, black single-ended balanced cable (with 3.5 mm connector), orange one-button “SpeakEasy” cable with microphone, 1/4″ adapter, and the usual paperwork.
The V-Moda M-200 are full-sized closed-back headphones that are nevertheless highly portable due to their nifty and sturdy folding mechanism. That carrying case is highly space efficient. And it can be attached to a bag with the included carabiner. Despite being full size, the V-Moda V-200 appears very compact. We don’t have to talk much about the design as this is up to personal taste: I find it very appealing and timelessly fashionable without being overdone. Subtle and classy.
The whole headphone is of bulletproof build quality and durability. The metal frame is as sturdy as it gets and the hinges and cables are extremely rugged. The folding mechanism is spring loaded and you hear a precise clicking when folding the V-Moda M-200 up. The cups are of aluminum on the outside with PU leather coated memory foam pads on the inside – the latter are easily detachable just by pulling very lightly on them – handy. They are held in place by magnets only. The aluminium faceplates can be customized upon special order. The metal headband is PU leather coated. Overall, the V-Moda M-200 have a great haptic and lots of detail in their build and mechanical functionality.
Both included cables are textile coated, very strong, and they have a 45 degree angled 3.5 mm connector which minimizes the strain on both the jack and the cable. They can be attached to either side (the respective empty hole is filled with a plastic plug). The black cable is single sided balanced with a 3.5 mm plug, a standard that is not common (4.4 mm and 2.5 mm are), so “balanced” mainly remains an unfulfilled wish with this cable (unless you use an ifi Audio SE balanced output, for example). The black cable does not work with my Schiit Fulla, Earmen Sparrow, or Earstudio HUD 100.
The orange “Speakeasy” one-button cable with microphone is aramid-fiber re-inforced and can be used for phone calls or video calls. I did a sound quality test – see video below: even under optimal conditions, the microphone’s sound quality is the poorest I have ever experienced. Test it yourself. Now take that video test and run it though an actual phone line… not sure whether anybody would understand you on the other end.
Both cables are excellent in terms of noise transfer: microphonics is minimal.
Fit and comfort may vary with size of head and ears. First, the clamp pressure is really high for my large teutonic head, which can get uncomfortable and sweaty over longer listening periods. Global graphics printers driver. The cups are also not the largest and people with large ears may also run into issues. They have a good firmness and coziness but could be a bit deeper. Wearing glasses with the V-Moda M-200 on is difficult because of the snug fit. On the upside, the V-Moda M-200 fit tightly, firmly, and securely around my head, which is great when moving around. Isolation is middle of the road.
Drivers Model Strategic Planning
TONALITY AND TECHNICALITIES
Follow these links for some background information:
Equipment used: MacBook Air with ifi Audio nano BL and EarMen Sparrow. iPhone SE (1st generation).
It comes as a pleasant surprise that the V-Moda M-200 experienced a rather flat tuning with a close to neutral (and marginally warm) sound signature – in contrast to the “Basshead” Crossfade M100. With an early roll-off on either end and a narrow soundstage, the music plays in the middle of the frequency spectrum and spills right in your face, pardon ears. This also results in a rather slim overall body. The lower end is only soso extended and remains subtle throughout my playlist. It is swept under the rug by the midrange however it is reasonably tight and has a decent punch. There should just be a bit more of it.
The vocals department in the lower midrange is forward – quite forward – right into your ears, sometimes being too much. Vocals are overly intimate and lack richness and the energy of overtones – and therefore sparkle. Voices are squeezed by the narrow stage and can appear nasal. High piano notes in the upper midrange sound muffled. Midrange transparency, clarity, and resolution are poor. The midrange is totally unbalanced.
Due to the early treble roll-off, cymbals are overly subtle and in the background. It appears that the overall frequency response is a gentle inverse U.
As mentioned before, soundstage is extremely narrow, which is a real problem for audiophile or recreational listeners but this should not matter that much for DJs. Depth is quite shallow. The musicians on stage can be a bit crowded and appear to sit along one line. The narrow stage does nothing for separation and layering.
V-Moda M-200COMPARED
The closed-back over-ear Beyerdynamic Custom Pro (€122) are similarly rugged but much bulkier headphones. They also feature a metal frame but cannot be folded. The earcups are larger and deeper so that the fit is much more relaxed. Sound wise, everything is more back in the Beyerdynamic which results in a bigger soundstage. The listener gets a better overview of the whole stage. The Beyerdynamic sound a bit darker as their bass is not rolled off that much. The V-Moda M-200 have a lower impedance and can be driven with a phone, the Beyerdynamic cannot…at least not well.
The closed-back over-ear AKG-K550 ($200) have a similar quality build as the V-Moda but much larger and deeper round earcups, so large that it is difficult to get seal even with the biggest ears. The AKGs have a warmer, wider sound but also quite a bit more treble than the V-Moda M-200.
The open-back over-ear Sennheiser HD 600 (€399) are also bigger and bulkier with larger cups – but they are a plastic construction. Unlike the V-Moda and the Beyerdynamic, the cable is connected to both earcups. Note that the the Sennheiser HD 600 are hard to drive at 300 Ω…compared to the V-Moda’s 30 Ω. The Sennheiser’s sound is smoother, warmer, more relaxed, and less forward, although it is also rather midcentric. It also has way more body…when A/Bing, the V-Moda sound comparatively nasal whereas the Sennheiser sound veiled. The Senns are much better suited for recreational listening.
The closed-back on-ear Sennheiser HD 25 (€149) are another cheap appearing plastic construction that has proven to be rugged nevertheless – and they have therefore been DJ favourites for some 30 years. They share a high clamp pressure with the V-Moda and can get hot after some time – at least on my big head. The HD 25 sound much bassier (superb bass extension) and warmer, and therefore darker than the V-Moda M-200, but also way more homogenous and balanced. And they have a much better spatial cues than the V-Moda M-200. Again, at 70 Ω, the Senns need amplification whereas the V-Moda work with a phone, too.
The closed-back on-ear British KEF M500 (£250) rival the V-Moda in appeal with their stylish Porsche design. They are bassier (borderline boomy) and have a fuller body than the V-Moda M-200, are slightly veiled, and they lack in resolution.
Note: none of these comparison models comes with a balanced cable.
CONCLUDING REMARKS
The V-Moda M-200 are rugged, well-built, stylish headphones that incorporate quality materials and much love to detail. They sit firmly on the head, are relatively small, and they have a neutralish tuning. All this makes them very useful for DJ-ing. Where they fall short at is staging: the image is right into one’s face, pardon ears, everything is intimate and close, which makes the V-Moda V-200 not the best choice for listeners sitting in their armchairs at home. Cool factor: yes! Analytical listening: maybe! But symphony: no!
Drivers Model Of Strategic Planning
Until next time…keep on listening!
DISCLAIMER
This loaner unit of the V-Moda M-200 was provided for three weeks from V-Moda as part of their Head-Fi review program I thank them particularly for having included ready return shipping labels.
You find an INDEX of our most relevant technical articles HERE.
FIGURES
Drivers Model Strategic Planning Pdf
