V-Moda Crossfade M-100 Review
V-Moda is a relatively new entrant into the headphone space. Founded in 2004 on a very low budget, the company has risen quickly and their products have even been endorsed by some famous DJs like Eric Morillo and Avicii. The company has always taken fashion seriously and was the first headphone manufacturer to offer cables in multiple colors. The unique stylings of their products have attracted major companies like Virgin and Apple which has contributed to the firm’s growth.
The V-Moda Crossfade M-100 is the company’s new flagship model and the fourth over-ears to come out in the Crossfade LP range. The M-100 has attracted attention not only for its look, but also for its style. After all, the company claims that the Crossfade M-100 built after taking feedback from artists, DJs, producers, and members of the online community.
The M-100 is certainly not cheap. It sits in the same price bracket as the Beyerdynamic T51i and the Monster Octagon. But, does it live up to the hype? Let’s find out.
From the time it started, V-Moda has been known for creating well-designed headphones. The M-100 has diamond-shaped ear cups and sharp angles, which manages to give it a dynamic appearance that is both rugged and elegant. The Steelflex headband is durable and has subtle ‘V’ shaped stylings which form diagonal lines at the ends. The ear cups swivel along the horizontal axis and also collapse inward, making transportation easier. The headband has a plush leather cover with mesh pad.
Like in all previous models, the ear cup plates on the M-100 can be customized to give it a personal touch. The headphones are available in three colors – grey, white and matte black.
While it may look a bit uncomfortable initially, the M-100 is a delight to wear. They are relatively light and securely wraps around the head and the ears. The over-ear pads and cushy and don’t apply any overbearing pressure on the ears, allowing them to be worn comfortably for long durations. The fit is also tight enough to create a bit of noise isolation.
The V-Moda Crossfade M-100 is one of the best built headphones we’ve come across. It has a steel frame and has tough plastic ear cups. The ear cup frames are made using metal, which adds an extra layer of durability. Metallic arms connect the ear cups to the headband, and the connections feel sturdy. Even the cables that come with the headphone have a Kevlar coating which helps improve life. It ships with two cables and both of them have a gold-plated 3.5mm jack. One cable can be used with your mobile devices while the other is a share-play cable which can be to share your music with someone else.
We tested the performance of the M-100 using a wide catalog of music titles. Over the years, V-Moda headphones have been about powerful bass, and the M-100 is no different. It has powerful bass – powered by a 50mm dual-diaphragm driver which has a frequency response of 5-30 kHz – which usually comes at the expense of treble and mid-range performance.
Having said that, the M-100 manages to produce exceptionally detailed and clear sound, especially when compared to other Crossfade models. There is no distortion even at high volumes. Vocals are warm and the soundstage is wide with impressive clarity.
The snug fit of the ear cups helps improve passive noise cancellation. While they don’t shut out noise like the Bose QuietComfort 25, which has an active cancellation system, the M-100 does manage to drown out most sounds you may otherwise hear in your daily commute.
In the box, you will find a one-button mic cable which can be used with your smartphone. There is also an additional share-play cable which allows you to connect a secondary audio input to the headphone. This is great for professional DJs, and people who are just looking to have some fun by listening to two songs at the same time. The cable can also be used to share your music with another person.
The M-100 comes with V-corks which can be used to plug up one of the inputs and protect it from dust and dirt. A ¼ adaptor is a part of the package as well.
Extremely comfortable ear cups
Durable and tough design
Excellent sound quality
Multiple inputs
Good looking design
Occasionally overpowering bass
The V-Moda Crossfade M-100 is a stylish pair of headphones which have exemplary sound quality. Additional features like customizable ear cup plates and dual inputs help it stand out in what is otherwise a crowded headphone segment.
M-100 combines V-MODA’s top-ranked M-Class modern audiophile sound signature with a comfortable over-ear form factor.
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