What do DJs and hardcore gaming enthusiasts have in common? They both need good headphones. Being able to experience the highest sound quality is their top priority.
V Moda have built a reputation for being one of the best headphone companies around over the past few years. They deliver high-end headphones primarily marketed for music but are also very useful for gaming.
If you’re a professional DJ, then you expect to have the best quality headphones on the market. Price, sound, functionality, and style are some of the factors to take into account when looking at studio headphones. But with so many options available, choosing the perfect pair for you can be difficult.
So, what makes the V Moda headphones a top choice? Let’s find out in this V Moda crossfade M-100 Master review…
Contents
Top Features
- Excellent build quality.
- Superior sound.
- Customizable.
- Lightweight.
- Durable.
- Compact yet solid carry case.
- Quality accessories.
First Impressions
V Moda has always been known as one of the top Headphone brands out there. Therefore, considering the M-100’s are available in the mid-priced bracket makes them a great buy. They come in a box with an orange and black finish, and just looking at the packaging got us excited.
Inside, you find the carry case, a sleek black exoskeleton style that is tough yet light. As well as the headphones themselves, which are a cool hexagonal shape with a matte black finish and feel light in your hand. We then have the usual warranty and instruction pamphlets, along with a nice sticker.
It also comes with a few more accessories, a carabiner clip, a microphone cable, and an audio cable. They all fit neatly in the compact carry case. More on the accessories later.
Who Are These For?
The V Moda Crossfade studio headphones have always been known as one of the best and well-liked pairs of DJ headphones around. Therefore, sound quality and price of the M-100’s means that they may be better suited to music lovers or for use in a professional setting such as music production. But that said, they are still an excellent choice for DJ’s on a budget.
That being said, they are not exclusively for use for music or in the studio. Many gamers have been using these and have given them great reviews. There are some downsides if you will be using them for gaming, but we will touch on that later. If you need something cheap to listen to Spotify on the bus, these may not be for you.
Price
As mentioned, the M-100 Masters are in the mid-price range, which is understandable considering the quality and cool features. The previous version is available at around $50 less, to give you some perspective. The included accessories are basically the same, so if you want to save yourself some money, then the older version may be the way to go.
Compared to cheaper, lower quality headphones and earbuds, these are definitely more of an investment. But in our opinion, when it comes to sound quality, you get what you pay for.
Design
Just like their predecessors, these headphones are designed with the comfort of the wearer in mind. At 290 grams, these won’t weigh you down. You can easily take a walk with them, but vigorous exercise might require something less bulky, but they were not designed for the gym, so that’s understandable.
With a steel flex headband, you are able to adjust them smoothly. You can also pull back the cans without hassle if needed. Each can is padded with memory foam and covered in vegan leather. This combo gives the user great comfort around the ear as well as isolating the sound.
Each can has an audio input jack, allowing you to connect to either side of headphones and also giving you the option to daisy chain them. This is a great feature for DJs looking to play back to back. They also come with plugs to close up the empty jack to stop dust from getting in.
Customization
One of the best features of these headphones is that you can really make them your own. V Moda has given the option of swapping out the shields for either laser-etched, color, or 3D printed shields. You are even able to get 24-carat gold or platinum shields, but unsurprisingly, that gets very expensive.
The company website has an awesome 3D design studio for you to personalize your own shields. Whether you want your logo or an image, the choice is yours.
Accessories
V Moda has always been known as a company that delivers full and useful packages. With the exoskeleton case that comes with a carabiner clip, it makes transporting the headphones safe and easy. Being a DJ means you most probably are always on the move, so a protective casing is important.
Within the exoskeleton case, you will get two quality cables. The first is the SpeakEasy cable, which features a microphone and a button for play and pause when using the headphones on a mobile device or music player. This microphone might not be great for professional gamers but should do the job well enough.
The second is the black and red SharePlay cable. It gives you the option of connecting another pair of headphones. Awesome to use when listening to music with a friend.
Besides these two cables, V Moda has a wide range of other cables available depending on your preference.
Sound
The sound quality of these headphones is definitely something that makes them worth buying. They do sound good, and we were more than impressed by their performance.
They feature some excellent upgrades from the previous version. Not only are the cans great for isolating sound, but each of them now has a 50mm dual-diaphragm driver with a Japanese CCAW coil. The frequency range has also been extended to 5Hz – 40,000 kHz, as certified by the Japanese audio society. This gives the M-100 Master 10,000 kHz more in the top end than its predecessor.
They deliver punchy lows, great mids, and crystal clear highs. So whether you’re DJing, listening to music, or gaming, you’re assured of experiencing every sonic detail.
Speaker sensitivity is 105db @ 1kHz 1mW with a microphone sensitivity of -42db @ 1kHz. They feature an impedance of 32 ohms, which allows them to be driven by almost any device.
Downsides
Although we think these are great headphones, for gamers, there might be a problem with the microphone. The Speakeasy cable does come with a built-in microphone, but it isn’t a solid wrap around mic.
Gamers tend to move around quite a bit and might need something sturdier to keep up with them. But V Moda has the BoomPro Microphone for sale at 29$ so they could buy that separately if need be.
Some have said that the audio cords are too short, but that is more of a personal choice, we had no issues with the length. Another problem is that the cushions might be too small around larger than average ears, so also bear that in mind.
V Moda Crossfade M-100 Master Pros & Cons
Pros
- Great solid build, with a quality flexible headband.
- Superior detailed sound.
- Easily transportable with an excellent case.
- Customizable.
- Useful accessories.
Cons
- Cables may not be long enough for some users.
- Not the best fit for larger ears.
Even More Quality Headphones Choices
The Crossfade M-100 are an excellent choice, but you may also enjoy our reviews of the Best Headphones with Microphone, the Best Waterproof Bluetooth Headphones, the Best Headphones for Rock Metal Music, the Best Clip On Headphones, the Best Headphones and Earbuds for Sleeping, the Best Waterproof Headphones, or the Best Headphones under 100 dollars currently available.
The Verdict
V Moda have always delivered world-class, quality products, and we think that the Crossfade M-100 Masters are just that. With studio-quality sound and an amazing design, these impress on several different levels.
Another great feature is the customization that V Moda offers. Being able to add your own personalized touch is something that we really like. The accessories are another good feature, some gamers might have problems with the cables, but V Moda offers a wide variety of cables and microphones that you could easily order from the website.
We liked them; we are sure you will as well!
Happy listening!