Today V-Moda is announcing a brand new top-of-line headphones, the Crossfade 2 wireless model. They combine the portability and sonic quality of the M-100s with the wireless Bluetooth capability of the Crossfade Wireless model. Keep reading to learn more about this new generation of cans, designed for DJing and casual use.
- Product: Crossfade 2
- Manufacturer: V-Moda
- Price: (starting at) $330/€330/£300
- Availability: Now! Get yours at the DJTT Store
At DJ Techtools, we’ve loved the V-Moda lineup of headphones since their early models. The cans that the company produces are robust, have amazing stereo separation, and are built for the physical stresses of a performing DJ life.
This new Crossfade 2 models seems to marry two concepts – the popularity of wireless Bluetooth headphones (great for casual listening, but have too much of a delay for real-time DJing) and the sound quality of the high-end M-100 models. On this new generation, there’s new dual-diaphragm drivers, a wider frequency response when they’re in wired mode, and bigger earpads to make it comfortable to wear the cans for a long time. Here’s the full list of “what’s new” on this model:
- New dual-diaphragm 50mm drivers using a hi-resolution CCAW coil
- Frequency Response Wired: 5 – 40,000 Hz vs. 5 – 30,000 Hz
- Weight: 309g (with standard aluminum shields) vs. 292g (with standard aluminum shields); weight difference is due to bigger battery 15% bigger
- Battery Capacity: 430mAh (up to 14+ hours music playback) vs. 380mAh (12 hours typical usage) [on original Crossfade wireless]
- The Rose Gold model features Qualcomm aptX audio codec for near CD-quality sound over Bluetooth which allows for the best wireless listening experience available
- Using larger, deeper cushions with an adjustable Steelflex™ headband that naturally contours to fit your head, Crossfade 2 Wireless keeps the bad noise out and the good noise in
Our Initial Impressions
V-Moda sent us a pre-release pair of the Crossfade 2 headphones prior to launch, and they’re quickly making a case to replace my two sets of headphones – M-100s behind the DJ booth and Crossfade Wireless when traveling.
It’s a “best of both worlds” scenario – having Bluetooth headphones is great when on the go, but the previous model wasn’t able to fold up into the smaller case size. With the new drivers and increased frequency response, the Crossfade 2 sound just as capable when plugging into a DJ mixer – while the previous generation fell flat in comparison to V-Moda’s M-100 model.
We’re still putting the new model through the paces, but my first impressions are that V-Moda succeeded in aiming to take the best elements of their high-end models and put them into one package.
Crossfade 2 Tech Specs
- Drivers: 50mm Dual-Diaphragm (patent pending)
- Frequency Response Wired: 5 – 40,000 Hz
- Headphone Sensitivity: 100 dB @ 1kHz 1mW
- Speaker Sensitivity: 107 dB @ 1kHz 1mW
- Microphone Sensitivity: -42 dB @ 1kHz
- Impedance: 30 ohm
- Weight: 309g (with standard aluminum shields)
- Battery Capacity: 430mAh (up to 14+ hours music playback)
- Cable: 1-Button Reinforced SpeakEasy Microphone 3.5mm cable
The new model of Crossfade 2 Wireless will come initially in three colors – the favorite Matte Black, as well as Matte White and Rose Gold. They also continue to be tested for strict durability requirements, as the company notes:
Crossfade 2 Wireless retains the luxurious combination of steel and metal materials along with improved vegan leather that lives up to the military-standard MIL-STD-810G testing guidelines. The cables are tested and reinforced to bend over 1 million times, up to 100 times the industry standard.
Want us to match up these headphones against any others? Let us know in the comments.
could anyone explain why they still make headphones with those wires hanging outside the cups?
it really seems such a design flaw, easy to snap, ( few other headphones have it as well, sony, beyerdynamic)
AIAIAI has them but they seem much more rigid, thicker cloth material, and curled
with these they could have easily integrated the cup wires inside the metal framing
it just looks so flimsy( the wire, im sure the headphone construction in general is good)
I had a Gaming headset where they did what you advice here, the result was a broken cable in one of the hinges resulting in a piece of garbage more… . So either you compromise size and portability to fit the cable in there in a way so it doesn’t break or you simply put it outside of the frame and safe some gramms plus material and have a evenly durrable product.
strength. more flex.if they decide to hide it, they would probably use plastic, or any hollow object that significantly reduces flex strain strength. after having broken earpieces, i’d stay away from those. (i’m using a gaming headset that has the same).
Can you confirm with V-MODA that these support the AAC bluetooth standard used in iOS devices? Even if it is only the Rose Gold color this would be good to know.
I just don’t think I’d be able to trust bluetooth during a DJ set.
These are both wireless and wired.
And I’ve used these to DJ over bluetooth at their booth in miami a few weeks ago…seems to stand up. plus, like you said, it does have a cord worst case scenario
Seems akin to the AIAIAI TMA-2 Bluetooth headband that they recently had on Kickstarter.
Small detail, but how exactly do I plug these into my Pioneer mixer for monitoring?
With the included headphone cable?
Would be cool if they included a bluetooth-enabled 1/4inch adapter.
Too much latency with bluetooth to DJ. All the professional wireless headphones/IEMs out there currently transmit on open frequency bands unlike bluetooth which is encrypted.
they do include it
Why does only one color – the ugliest one at that, come with the best codec?
“The Rose Gold model features Qualcomm aptX audio codec for near CD-quality sound over Bluetooth which allows for the best wireless listening experience available.”
Great question – I’ll ask V-Moda and see what they say.
Update: here’s what V-Moda says:
“Because not all source devices support it so it’s not needed except for extreme techies. It costs us more per unit yet many people cannot utilize or appreciate it as he normal codecs sound amazing as well if implemented right. Lots of consumers do not know APTX. iPhone doesn’t support it, Mac OS and some Samsung’s do. And audiophiles like it. If consumers want it enough and demand is there we will evaluate.”
I think the issue still stands – why do “extreme techies” get Rose Gold and nothing else?
Thank you for following up!
First off, why is CD quality sound for extreme techies? I want that as a minimum before I leave wired headphones.
And the color thing is really stupid. Think rose is the last color that most people want buy.
they are confusing techies with hipsters. People who like rose gold do not even know what aptX is. “extreme techies” usually do not like things like rose gold. i am a computer engineer, i like technology, and i sure as hell do not like bling. like, come on. that response is stupid.
Were you able to use these headphones with the coiled cable? I’m not a fan of the included cable.
Attention, don’t buy this product!!!
Good sound quality, comfortable and very good looking.
But once they stop working, garbage. Roland don’t provide spare parts.
Unless the customizable shields will do the work.
I have the M 100, and i love them, it makes me angry not to be able to use them again.
It would be really helpful if you could include part of that support ticket (unless you called) so other people can see that as well. Not saying your statement isn’t true but it might be a M-100 specific deal.
It makes sense for those since there were designed pre-merge (although I agree they should extend support) but these were fully made under the new leadership. I highly doubt Roland will shoot themselves in the foot that way.
they have a lifetime warranty. have you not tried to get yours replaced?
It’s not a lifetime warranty, it’s a 2 year warranty, and then it is 50% off provided you return your current pair. Which is what I have to do right now, because my cans got blown by a guest dj a few weeks ago :'(
Damn damn