V-MODA Crossfade LP Over-the-Ear Headphones (Gunmetal Black)

The V-Moda Crossfade LP over-the-ear headphones are the result of an over 4-year effort to provide music enthusiasts with quality sound, unbeatable durability and a style all their own.After spending some time with my new set of "cans," I am now able tell you whether or not they were successful in that endeavor.In the past I have used a variety of headphones and ear-buds that were produced by different manufacturers; including Sony, Skullcandy, Bose and JVC. My current pair of ear-buds are great for working out, travel or as the "utility" pair that I always have handy in my bag for convenience. I also use a pair of basic Bluetooth headphones for when I want to go wireless while walking the dogs or doing things around the house. Beyond that, there is also my pair of Sony monitor headphones that I used to use while doing sound editing for my podcast.As a MASSIVE (pls see: seriously...massive) music fan that listens to a very diverse range of musical genres, I wanted to get a pair of high-end over-the-ear headphones that I could use everyday, that would also be great at noise isolation while traveling and that would deliver high-fidelity performance that would allow me to hear every note of my beloved music.I had been looking at the Bose QuietComfort® 15 headphones due to the fact that I own a number of Bose systems (i.e. Bose Companion 5 & Bose Soundlink speaker) and have never been disappointed. However, I didn't necessarily want to spend $300...not to mention the fact that the QuietComfort is a little lacking in the style department, albeit a great pair of headphones.I purchased my pair of the Crossfade LP headphones through Amazon...which I recommend, as you will get them for a better price than buying directly though the V-Moda website.--Looks Matter--These headphones are stylish as hell. Period.They come in an assortment of colors and customizable metal shields, but I chose to go with the Gunmetal version (pictured). The white ones look too much like Beats by Dre (which I think are overpriced for the quality of sound that you get) and the Chrome was a little too flashy. The Gunmetal was juuuuuust right and better suits my personal style the most.Also, on more than one occasion I have been stopped and asked about them.Beyond that, there is a nice combination of metal and matte finish...coupled with leather, steel and memory foam (cups & headband).--What's in the Box?--Other than arriving in very cool packaging - including a metal lid snap and a faux crocodile handle (a nice touch) - you will also receive:* A stylish / hard exoskeleton storage & carrying case to hold, protect and transport your headphones* Two tangle-resistant Kevlar-braided cables. One is a standard headphone cord (thicker & slightly longer), while the other cable doubles as a headphone & headset cord for Apple devices, including a microphone and remote control.I tested the smartphone cable on my Galaxy Nexus and the remote on the cord did not answer calls (seems to only work on Apple devices). However the mic and headset works fine if you answer calls directly from your phone. Callers said that I sounded perfectly clear and that they could understand me just fine.* A microfiber cloth to wipe away any pesky and unsightly fingerprints that may find their way onto the shiny metal shields* Gold-plated plug tips to help ensure a good connection between your audio source and the headphones* A 1/4 jack adapter, for those who may need or want to plug their headphones into a larger stereo receiver or DJ mixer* A free carabiner. Due to the bulky nature of the carrying case, this can be used to affix your headphones to the outside of a messenger / carry-on / book bag etc.--Durability & Build--According to V-Moda's website, the Crossfade LP's offer "military-grade durability." I have found this statement to be true in the sense that there is nothing about the build quality that screams "cheap" or "fragile." Many headphones will feel light and flimsy (i.e. all plastic), or that a bend in the wrong direction will simply snap them in half. Thanks to the metal that has been incorporated into the design, the Crossfade's have a very nice weight to them, while still feeling light enough in terms of wearability and comfort.Connecting the headband to the ear cups are bands of rigid steel. The headband itself is an ergonomic steelflex material that can be twisted and laid flat a number of times (although, I don't recommend it!) before you could reasonably expect any damage to occur.V-Moda also offers a 2-year warranty, in addition to an "Immortal Life Program" in which they will replace any broken headphones (of the same model) for 50% off the price, or a heavy discount on a newer model. To me this clearly states, "We stand behind our products," which I greatly appreciate.Also, thanks to the fact that the cords are detachable, you will no longer have to worry about buying an entirely new pair of headphones simply because a cord wears out, gets frayed or damaged. I especially like this, as I am not a fan of the "Y" shaped headphone cords that connect to both earpieces. As an added bonus, the cables can double as a AUX cord...for instance, if you want to connect your phone or iPod directly to your car stereo.Another feature design that I really like, is the fact that each cable has a plug - the one that would connect to your source device - that is at a 45-degree angle. Anyone who has ever had their cord ripped out simply by catching it on something, will really appreciate this `feature,' which is intended to prevent accidentally yank outs.Additionally, you can order any part that you may need through V-Moda...including new cords or even the 50mm drivers, should you need / want to replace them for whatever reason.--Comfort--The earpads on the headphones are surrounded by a very soft leather-wrapped memory foam, as is the interior of the headband. At first I was a little concerned, as they initially felt tight and slightly uncomfortable after about an hour of wear. However, this began to disappear considerably after wearing them for a few days - thanks to the headband being very flexible - and the headphones began to stretch and mold to fit my head better, in addition to the memory foam. Now, they are extremely comfortable and I barely notice that I am wearing them; therefore be sure to allow a few days for them to `adjust' to the shape of your head and I'm confident that you will experience the same improvement in comfort as I did.I also found that the noise isolation was very good, due to the fact that the earpads actually rest against your head and not against your ears. This full coverage contributes greatly to the sound isolating properties of the headphones, not to mention the sound quality of the music that you listen to, as your ears are fully encased and surrounded by the soft memory foam pads.Notice that I say noise "isolating" and not "cancelling." The Crossfade LP's are not a powered device (like the Bose QuietComfort 15), therefore they do not require a battery or emit a noise canceling wave to block out all ambient sounds. I have found that the noise isolation is quite good and does an admirable job of blocking out most surrounding sounds to a dull murmur at best. I have not had a chance to use them on a plane yet (the real test, in my book), but from my experience so far, I am not expecting it to be an issue. So, if you travel by bus, plane or subway, I feel confident in saying that ambient noise should not be an issue at all with these headphones.As I mentioned previously, the use of metal and steel adds a nice weight to these `cans' (they feel like high-end headphones), but I do not think that they affect comfort at all. Again, after wearing them for a few days, they are now very comfortable and I have gone for hours on end without taking them off...ear-sweat notwithstanding. ;)--"Yeah, But How Do They SOUND?"--According to V-Moda, they spent four years working with world-renowned DJ's to develop and engineer the CrossFade LP's. Was the time and money well spent?When I first received the headphones and plugged them in, I was very impressed by the sound on some tracks...and not so much by others. It appears that the headphones (and their impressive 50mm Dual-Diaphragm Drivers) were originally developed for fans of hip-hop, R & B, dance music and techno, due to what appeared to be a very bass heavy sound. Mind you, I like a nice solid bass response in my music, but the mids also sounded a little muddy and the highs had a slight echo...therefore I was not initially blown away.However, there is a process called "burning in" for a new pair of higher-end headphones. The theory behind breaking in a speaker is that they come from the factory a little stiff. The surrounds need to be stretched and exercised. The best way to do this is to burn them in by playing roughly 24 hours worth of music through them at a normal volume. Some speakers require this, while others do not.Since I had heard that others had experienced the same problem, I set to burning in my pair. One Day 1, I listened to roughly 5 hours of music in my office. Later that evening, I plugged them into my laptop, launched Spotify and left it continuously playing through the night into the morning. The difference in sound was nothing short of amazing!After properly burning them in, I could very easily tell the difference between how they sounded out of the box and how they sounded once I had a chance to break them in. The bass was nice and smooth, the mids were very warm and the treble was clean. Also, regardless of musical genre, the headphones sounded wonderful across the board using a flat response (i.e. no EQ).Therefore, if you decide to pick up a pair, I highly recommend (Nay, require) that you properly burn them in before making an judgement on their sound. Once I did, I heard parts of my favorite songs that I didn't even know existed! The sound difference coming through the headphones was just incredible, trust me on this.Primarily I am an `alt rock' guy: Phoenix, Silversun Pickups, Vampire Weekend, The Black Keys, Cold War Kids, Young the Giant etc. But I also listen to a lot of jazz, some hop-hop, classical, hard rock and more. However - thanks to burning in the headphones - it didn't matter if it was Thelonius Monk, The Lumineers, Tool, Bach, Beethoven, Jay-Z or Tribe Called Quest...all of them sounded stellar through these cans.Bottom Line: The Crossfade LP's were absolutely worth the money that I spent and I would recommend them to anyone who is interested in picking up a pair of quality over-the-ear headphones at a decent price. They are great for music, gaming, movies and/or drowning out annoying relatives & co-workers. ;)At launch a couple of years ago they sold for $249. Later they dropped to $199. Currently they can be found online for about $120, due to the fact that a newer version has been released recently. I picked mine up from Amazon for $79, thanks to it being their `Deal of the Day' - an absolute no-brainer at that price - and a 1/4 of what I would have spent for the Bose QuietComfort 15.--A Quick Note About Power--When it comes to headphones like this, a lot of people do not realize that they were not necessarily intended to be used with under-powered devices such as cell phones and iPods...there is just not enough juice in these devices to push high-end headphones to their full potential. Therefore, please note that the source device you use - whether a laptop, desktop, receiver or smartphone - is going to be the most important factor in how your headphones perform.For instance, my $3000 laptop (apparently) has a crappy sound card, because my other $500 laptop plays music so loudly and well through these headphones that I practically blow my face off. My Galaxy Nexus plays music just fine, but the use of an equalizer makes a BIG difference in the sound...same goes for the difference between the quality of streaming music (i.e. Spotify, Pandora) versus that of higher quality music files that might be saved directly on my phone.An easy remedy to ensure that you are getting the best out of your headphones, is the use of a portable headphone amplifier. There are ones that you can pick up for over $100, but I recommend the much cheaper Fiio E6 or E11Now, for simply listening at work, going for a walk or hitting the gym, you don't really need to use a portable amp. But if you are going to be in a noisy environment, on a plane or perhaps you just want to provide cleaner and more powerful audio to your headphones so that you can take better advantage of what they are capable of, then I recommend picking one up. The E6 (pictured) and the E11 are rechargeable and you will definitely notice a difference in sound.My CrossFade LP's are plenty loud for most everyday situations and portable devices; but I when I am traveling I prefer to completely block out airplane noise...and other passengers for that matter. Since an amp is an extra device that you are attaching to your smartphone / iPod, it's a little easier to manage when you are going to be sitting for a bit. However, they do come with a clip and there are a variety of accessories that you can use to attach it to your device to make using one while on-the-go a lot less cumbersome.

Any time I'm on my Mac, I'm listening to music or watching youtube videos or a movie. I'm not trying for a career in music. I just love listening to music. For a while now, and lately (partially after watching "Pitch Perfect" and trying to be like Anna Kendrick's character with her pro headphones) I've been wanting a good pair of headphones that:- are on the ear or over the ear (circumaural)- comfortable to wear for more than 1.5 hours (the average length of one movie)- aesthetically pleasing (monitor/vintage pro looking)- durable (not cheap plastic), matte finish- have a detachable cord- with an in-line mic and play/pause buttons- mesh headband (that feel like the padded straps of a jansport school backpack)- either foldable or with travel case- sound amazing on all across the board (film scores, pop/rock, dubstep/hip-hop/rap, classical music, mozart/beethoven, electronic dance music, country)- semi or full noise-canceling (would use eventually for air travel)- doesn't leak sound to the people around me- price range: $60 - $200Yes, I'm picky. Lol. And after weeks and countless hours of researching the "best" headphones, I came across the V-Moda Crossfade LPs and it just so happened to have ALL i'm looking for in a headphone!! Plus it doesn't have the one cord with the play/pause/volume controls, it comes with two!! One for audio only and one with the controls! AND the "3D sound stage," noise-isolating feature is a new thing i've come to love! I cannot believe that to this day how amazing and sexy these headphones are. Even the box is sexy. Haha! I love the fitted hard case; i KNOW my headphones will be safe in it. It's been about a month since I've had them and they're always on my ears. Super comfortable. Amazing sound (except on pirated music or music ripped from youtube videos using sketchy programs). You hear people bashing how the bass is too loud and how guitar-oriented music doesn't sound too great, but really it's all in your preference. To me, every legitly purchased music on iTunes or Spotify sounds pretty amazing. Let me just say that back In high-school, every day is a new stress or embarrassment (all teens can relate) and music was my one outlet to take me anywhere but here. The Crossfades brought back that feeling. They're not made to be noise canceling, but inadvertently it does cancel out most of the outside noise and I'm once again, "anywhere, but here." I guess that's why I love them so much.That's pretty the end of my "i love these headphones so much it hurts" part of the review so you can stop reading here if you want, cuz now I'm gonna talk about what has happened since I opened the box on Dec 23, 2012.So right out the box, everyone says the sound is crappy. But after a burn-in sesh, it'll sound SO much better. Some say burn in is 24 hours, some say 100 hours.. i don't really know. This is my first time hearing that I need to "burn-in" a pair of headphones. I guess once you break the $100 range in headphones, you need to take special care. The first three nights I played music all thru the night using my Spotify account. I had every genre in the playlist. And honestly, I can't tell the difference. To me, it sounded great right out the box and it still sounds great hereafter. I guess switching from earbuds to over-the-ear headphones will do that to you. And after testing the different genres of music, I wanted to know if I can sit through an entire movie (at about 1.5 hours), not have my ears hurting, and be blown away by the sound all at the same time. And success! My ears didn't hurt after watching "The Amazing Spider Man." Also with the movie trailers for Man of Steel, Star Trek Into the Darkness, Twilight Breaking Dawn Pt 2, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt 2, the action scenes shook my ears. This is where the bass shined. All the explosions made me feel like I was in the theater! Yeah, that sounds a bit exaggerated but i don't care how it sounds, that's what I felt. (again it may be due to the transition from earbuds to over the ear headphones).Like I said, these headphones aren't noise-canceling, but when I sat in the car with my fam, I could still hear them yelling. Well, then again it didn't help that they were sitting right next to me. When I studied at Panera Bread, during the lunch rush, I forgot people were there. The sound drowned out the noise. And I love that they drown out noise because I'm currently studying for my state boards and the house can get kind of loud when every one is home. But when I put on my music, nothing is heard outside the room. I love these headphones (; there i said it!When it comes to music, these headphones were made for dustup, EDMs, and club music. I think they were "Made by DJs for DJs," but I found that all genre sounds great to me. Again, if the music was legit (bought from iTunes or imported from CDs). Don't judge my taste in music, but with Demi Lovato's album Unbroken, um her music is amazing to begin with, but I had to boost the treble with almost all her songs from that album to sound better. Which I don't mind at all. Another song I wanted to test were my "rock out" songs. Specifically, "Tears Don't Fall" by Bullet For My Valentine and "Welcome Home" by Coheed and Cambria. Listening to the acoustic version of "Titanium" by Boyce Avenue, it sounds okay to me. But I noticed in "Welcome Home," the guitars are drowned out by the bass at about 0:16 into the song. Then there's "Tears Don't Fall" sounding so bang-worthy. Which brings me to another point, head-banging and dancing crazy doesn't knock the headphones off my head. Any club remix sounds amazing; i mean cuz that's what these were made for. Currently I love listening to the "Good Time" remix by Carly Rae-Jepsen and Owl City; "Scream" remix by Usher; and "Til The World Ends" by Britney Spears, Nicki Minaj, and Ke$ha. When it comes to film scores, it just like what I hear from watching movies. The bass really shines. "The Battle" from the Chronicles of Narnia soundtrack gave me goosebumps. The last place I got goosebumps from that film score was in my new 2012 Camry, but that's another review lol.The only thing that scares me, worries me, or what i don't like are the soft pads. They're super soft but too soft to where it made me think what if they're firm now and over time, will they become worn? I guess only time will tell. Plus i think the pads are replaceable. Another issue was that maybe it was because I couldn't wait to get these on my head, I had the Crossfades on my head every second I was awake since I got them. This was on the 5th day of having the Crossfades that I got a headache and had to stop wearing them for a bit. I think it was equivalent to wearing them 2 days straight as to why i got a headache. But now I've learned my lesson to have breaks after 3 hours lol.An irritating, yet minor issue is that when sitting on the left side of an SUV or van, the seatbelt rubs against the cord which echoes throughout the left earpiece. So basically I just have to sit on the right side of the from now on.Another comfort issue is I wear glasses but I don't like to wear them with my headphones. It's a comfort preference. Plus i was scared that the things from my glasses would leave a crease in the ear pads. I don't really know that for sure, but it's probably just me. I'll wear my contacts just to listen to my headphones. Oh, and i can't wear earrings with these headphones. It really does go "over-my-ear" and rests on my head. By the way, I'm a smallish person (4' 11"), so having small ears isn't a problem. But with bigger ears, I hear that it hurts after about 2 hours of use. Sorry....When I wore these while eating, I found that eating small foods is fine, but full-on chewing a heavy meal, my jaw started to hurt.I've already pulled the cord out of the headphones twice. it scared me to death but it didn't affect the sound, thankfully!I also found that my ears do get hot. I didn't notice it at first but now that it's winter, my ears were nice and warm; a little moist at one point when i turned on the space heater, but not like dripping with sweat. To fix this problem, I just took them off for a while and got right back into listening to more music.Despite the minor issues, there are more good things to love about these headphones! However I can't say compare it to Beats (because my Beats are knock-offs Haha), I will say that it's a big difference from earbuds. You won't be disappointed!

These used to be half as much. For the current price, there are so many other better options.