V-Moda Crossfade M-100 Review

Verdict

Pros

• Clean, bassy sound
• Comfortable memory foam ear cups
• Tough, durable design

Cons

• Expensively priced
• Uncomfortable to wear around neck

What are the V-Moda Crossfade M-100 headphones?

V-Moda has made its name as the choice headphones for high profile DJs the likes of Deadmau5, Avicii and Eric Morillo. The V-Moda Crossfade M-100 are the fourth over the ear headphones in the Crossfade LP range that delivers a bass-heavy sound housed in a stylish, portable design.

The M-100s have been crowdsourced using feedback from DJs, artists, producers and the V-Moda online community to shape the sound and features like the inclusion of dual inputs and the new collapsible earcups.

At £270, the M-100s are not cheap and sit in the same price bracket as the Logitech UE 9000 and the Denon AH-D600. When you put them on and plug in your music, it doesn’t take very long to realise the M100s are worth the money.

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V-Moda Crossfade M-100 – Design and comfort

In its humble beginnings as a company, V-Moda was all about making fashion headphones. Now it’s about delivering the sound that will make audiophiles purr. That’s not to say it has forgotten its fashionista roots with the M-100 headphones.

Available in matte black, grey or white, the M-100s might not shout ‘look at me’ like Beats do, but V-Moda leaves its extravagant mark in a more subtle way.

Like previous models, the diamond shaped metal earcup plates can be customized to leave your own personal touch, but they also look great left plain. The premium materials used mean there is substance to go with the sleek styling.

From the steel frame to the tough plastic ear cups, these can take a knock or two, that’s for sure. That can also be extended to the leather-covered headband that has impressive flexibility. The Kevlar cable is tangle-free and has a 24k gold 3.5mm plug. There’s an exoskeleton carry case to store them in, but we had no qualms tossing these into the bottom of a bag.

The M-100s are also the first headphones in the V-Moda range to feature ear cups that collapse inside of the headband shrinking them to the size of the palm of your hand.

Also inside the box is a 1 button mic cable, a shareplay cable so someone else can listen to your music, a ¼ adaptor and V-Corks. The V-Corks can plug up one of the inputs when you are not trying to share music or if your a DJ, mixing two sources at the same time.

Putting them on for the first time the M100s securely wrap around the head and the ears. The earcup hinges can be extended slightly to adjust but it’s generally a snug fit. At 280g they are lighter than a pair of Beats Studio headphones (340g).

The plush memory foam cups match the Bose noise cancelling range in terms of comfort and soft cushioning. If you are planning to wear them on a long train journey or a late night in the office you’ll get no irritation from the M100s.

These headphones are made to wear on your head. That seems like an obvious thing to say but wrapping these around the neck can be uncomfortable at times. The steel hinges can press just enough on the skin to make it more suitable to put away when not in use. If you want to show them off like a Premier League football in a post-match interview, these are probably not for you.

One of the nice touches is that V-Moda has added the ability to plug the headphone cable into either earcup. It seems like a small thing, but to have the option shows that V-Moda pick up on the little things, like the fact not everyone likes a cable dangling across the middle of their body.

V-Moda Crossfade M-100 – Sound quality

V-Moda headphones have undeniably always been about powerful bass which usually comes at the expense of the midrange and treble performance. Powered by a 50mm dual diaphragm driver and with a frequency response of 5 – 30 kHz, the M-100s once again place the emphasis on bass.

This time though the M100s produce an exceptionally clean and detailed sound compared to previous Crossfade models. Even at high volumes, the bass is powerful but there’s no sign of rattling or distortion. Vocals sound warm and the soundstage for live performances is impressively rich in clarity.

The M-100s are also capable of passive noise isolation so there’s no need for batteries to cut out the commuter crowd. It’s fair to say that these don’t shut out noise anywhere near to the levels of Bose Quiet Comfort 15 or Sony MDR-NC200D headphones. With the volume set to around 75% the M100s are capable of drowning out exterior noise but struggle in louder environments unless turned up loud.

The downside of cranking up the volume is that they do leak sound. If you don’t want to unintentionally share your music you should keep the volume low in public.

Should I buy the V-Moda Crossfade M-100 headphones?

The V-Moda Crossfade headphones, like the rest of the range, are stylishly crafted and built to last. The bass is still heavy but it’s a more pleasurable experience for the ears than it has ever been before.

Price is an issue. At £270 they’re an expensive purchase. The Onkyo ES-HF300  at £180 AKG K550 at £152 are almost half the price and offer a similarly powerful sound.

If you are willing to pay the extra, you’ll not be disappointed with the audio, the elegant yet durable design and the features like dual inputs and customizable plates that make them stand out from a congested headphone crowd.

V-Moda Crossfade M-100 – Verdict

The V Moda Crossfade M-100 headphones are a massive step in the right direction for V-Moda. They sound amazing and have the kind of understated good looks that make them different from anything else out there. It’s the little extras that help make the M-100s some of the best over ear headphones to buy.

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