I never had a pair of V-Moda headphones, but their design always intrigued me. i was finally given a pair of V-Moda XS on-ear headphones to test. When you look at the V-Moda XS on the packaging, you’ll get curious right away.
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V-Moda XS Design / Style
They look like something from stainless steel machine. I don’t know how to put it into words exactly, but they look like from the modern technological era, while looking classic at the same time.You know the drill, lets just dive right into this review.
Once you unbox them, you notice that they are indeed compact. But that doesn’t mean that V-Moda skimped on the design. The minimalist design is nothing short of pretty and pleasing to the eye. But not everyone will like that futuristic yet minimalist look though.
The SteelFlex headband is will bend to nearly a straight line, so you it can handle some tough twists and turns. Its coated in a light leather material, on the outside of the headband. On the inner part of the headband you have a mesh padding. It’s not a thick layer, but thin enough to keep the headphones lightweight.
The V-Moda XS headphones have hinges that allow you to fold the ear cups in and out for storage and use. You hear the ear-cups click in and out when you fold / unfold them. The hinges come from within the headband and are hooked to the outside of the earcup. And for sound, the ear-cups are attached to each other with a cable (you see the cable go directly from the ear-cup and inside the headband).
They’re not the lightest headphones I’ve held, but they’re not heavy either. Can’t get over the tiny packaging they come in though. The ear-cups have a comfy and squishy memory foam material that land on your ears to create a great amount of noise isolation.
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Experience With the V-Moda XS
Setup
There really is no setup. Once you unbox the headphones, you put the cable in the left ear-cup (the straight jack goes into the ear-cup), the somewhat slanted T-shaped jack goes into your phone / music device (on either side). The slanted T jack is a the best smallest detail ever! Why? Because if you have a case that leaves little room around the audio jack, some L-shaped jacks won’t fit. With the slanted “T shape” there’s a better chance that the V-Moda’s will fit.
Comfort
The XS’s come with what V-Modal calls the “Mind the Gap” comfort. The SteelFlex headband has an oval shape that sits right on your head. For those who have heads that contradict this oval shape, the V-Moda XS’s will be a little uncomfortable or they might feel discomfort quicker than others. It should be able to stretch comfortably around your head though.
The swivel hinges on the side of the ear-cups let the ear-cups swing out counter-clockwise. When you push them clockwise they just tilt out, hoping to fit all types of temples (whether you have a round or oval shaped head). When I wear the XS’s I don’t have to tilt the ear-cups much but I do have to extend the headband a little.
Listening Experience
When looking at the small box, then the small case, and finally the small headphones, I didn’t think they could be too powerful. The XS’s have 40mm drivers in them, so I knew they were gonna have some sound power. But boy was I wrong. They have this punch. And it’s not just a gargled sound. It’s a clear, crisp PUNCH! The V-Moda XS’s go very loud. And even when at very loud volumes, it barely loses it’s clarity. They do bleed a little since they are on-ear.
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V-Moda XS – Small Giant?
If you didn’t get the hint from the review, the size isn’t a factor on these. Ladies, these headphones are easy to carry around due to their small size and exoskeleton case. The metal accents can match other metallic accessories and not intrude too much on your outfit. They have a look that fits great on anyone and let’s not forget they are designed to be comfortable.
Pricing and Options
You can have the metal plates on the V-Moda’s customized. You can get a matte black or white / silver base and choose from their pre-made designs. The base price for the XS’s is $212. You can find out more information about the V-Moda XS headphones on their website HERE.
