I purchased the V-Moda Crossfade 2 Wireless Codex headphones about a week ago. I was instantly impressed, and the time since then only reinforces that notion. Read on to learn more about the different aspects of my experience, from unboxing to initial setup and finally to use. You will also find a few kinds words for Best Buy, who made this experience fun and enjoyable! Unboxing The unboxing experience was simple and straightforward. Given the sometimes superfluous packaging of modern electronics, it was great to have just a few inserts and a sticker that my daughter loves. The product box is well-made and sturdy, the packaging solid. I thought the snap on the box was cool, not something you see every day. I purchased the rose gold version of this headset, and the glisten as it first came out of the deep dark of the box was simply stellar. Initial Setup The headphones power up quickly with a single slide bar on the bottom of one can. This toggle is also used for attaching via Bluetooth, a simple process that allowed me to connect to my computer, phone and TV within just a few moments. The shoulder buttons reside on the same can as the on/off switch, and are used for playback features and volume control. You will want to take a few minutes to read over instructions, and that only to understand how to use the buttons effectively. This process was effortless, a rare moment of simplicity that only promised good things to come. The Sound I listened to the Crossfade 2 Codex extensively over the past week. I work from home, and these headphones are great for reducing external noise and distraction. While not noise-cancelling, the snug fit of the unit greatly reduces outside interference, leaving you free to enjoy the soundscape contained within. Highs are specific and crystalline, the mid range sumptuous and warm in ways that surprise. Other reviews mentioned a somewhat bass-heavy experience, although I find that largely depends on your musical preferences. What I can say is that there were several moments when a song I have listened to for years sounded brand new and different. The 1995 Jekyll & Hyde musical by Wildhorn and Bricusse is a bombastic and taxing performance that often distorts speaker performance, but the Crossfade 2 took measure and excelled. Wireless connectivity is excellent, although you will expect even better sound when using a wired connection. Best Buy The purchasing experience with Best Buy was uncomplicated, with an earlier than expected delivery. External packaging was robust and kept the headphones safe. The aftercare was also excellent. Perusing the 3-day sales going on this weekend, I noticed the headphones were on sale for $249. I hopped onto the website and asked about the sale and Price Match Guarantee. In less than five minutes, Barbara L. refunded the difference in my purchase price, making this an even better experience! Final Thoughts The purchase initially felt like a risk when compared to more recognized brands like Bose and Sony. What I found with deeper research is that this was an equal if not superior product with a somewhat smaller yet equally devout fan base. There is a shorter battery life for this model when compared to those brands, although that is largely a non-factor for me. I wanted the Magnolia experience offered by Best Buy, to feel like I was extending myself in the pursuit of sonic excellence. My risk was rewarded in this case, and I absolutely feel excited every time I put these headphones on. The V-Moda Crossfade 2 Wireless Codex is a terrific headphone, and I only expect better as I learn how to properly use the device. This unit is accurately valued at $349, and is a steal at $249. If you are in the market, I highly suggest giving these headphones a try! **For those who may have missed it, there is a free Best Buy cross-promotion with V-Moda that allows you to receive a free set of customized side shields upon registering the headphones. Here is the link to instructions: https://www.bestbuy.com/site/clp-tv-home-theater/vmoda-shield-deal/pcmcat1526567866427.c?id=pcmcat1526567866427. I am leaving this review to begin my customization process, having received notification yesterday of my confirmed promotion. **

Very comfortable nice base and great sound quality

V-Moda Review These are some incredible headphones. These are another that have been added to my diverse collection of various brands and types. These are probably at the top in terms of quality. I hadn’t heard of V-Moda or experienced their headphones prior. If you can check out a pair at your local Best Buy, do yourself a favor and check these out. What I love about these is the evenness of sound. There’s no app and no eq to manage on your device so you’re getting a sound that’s already been tuned and tuned incredibly well. I’ve used them wired and wireless and couldn’t find a difference in the sound at all. This is something very difficult to manage as Bluetooth and Wireless connections aren’t the most reliable nor do they deliver the same quality in most cases as a Wired connection. In my time testing these out I’ve been incredibly pleased. They are very comfortable and very flexible. The fit well and they definitely feel like they stay in place. I’m quite pleased with the quality of the construction of the headphones. They are very well built and are very solid. The leather they use is incredible too! There’s even this same quality leather on the box they come in. The earcups have memory foam and super comfy and super soft on your ears. They can get a bit warm but i never found them to get sweaty at all. Music wise I tested several types of genres. I listened to some Hip-Hop and Rap like Run-DMC and Macklemore and the bass in the tracks was very natural and smooth and not overpowering to the rest of the tracks. Listening to classical or big band music all the instruments had an evening of sound, not one instrument was overpowering another. Even with listening to Rock and Metal this same characteristic carried over as well. Having an evenness of sound is really something you want in a pair of headphones. Having too much bass or too much treble can lead to too bright a sound or too muddled of a low end and these thankfully don’t experience this. These also come with a hard shell carrying case that feels very durable. They have a carabiner clip on them so you can attach them to a loop on pants or on a backpack. The case has some room as well for a pair of V-Moda earbuds. There’s also some spots for the Charging cable and the 3.5mm cable. I do like the charging cable as it’s a flat USB cable and seems to have a nice quality to them. The 3.5mm cable is also very nice as it’s braided and has a nice quality feel. There’s also an in-line Mic on the cable so you use it for calls. I didn’t test this however. Battery life seems quite good. I used them for hours at a time and never really saw much of a decrease in charge. They are rated for I believe 14 hours at low volume. I was using them at about half volume and their included materials state they will get about 1.5 hours at higher volumes. I fell asleep with them on a couple times and they had been on for a couple hours at that point but the battery meter barely budged. One thing I didn’t realize, they have ANC (Active Noise Cancelling). Now it’s not going to block out everything like an airplane, but they will definitely keep out various distractions. There’s nearly no noise bleed. You can test that by resting the earcups against each other and then separating them. Since they rest on your ears and not over, I was quite impressed with how well the sound was retained. One nice thing you can do with the headphones is purchase some covers for the outer sides of the headphones. These range in price and quality. They have precious metals, engravings and patterns. You can get 14k gold, plated gold, platinum, brass and even textures. Most of them are a fair investment and can wind up costing as much $30,000 if you want Platinum. Expensive, but it gives you options for customizing your headphones to make them your own and one of a kind. If you’re looking for a very nice, high quality pair of wired headphones, these are sure to please as their quality is amazing.

I am very excited to write this review on the Crossfade II Wireless Codex edition head phones! I own several pair of expensive headphones, so I pulled them out to make a real-time comparison. Although other brands feature noise-cancelling technologies, these V-moda headphones were clear winners in producing a full, bass rich sounds experience! There are some great features to these headphones that include: - A very solid and stable design - they just feel like high-quality - The Bliss Memory foam feels wonderful on my ears - Steelflex headband is very comfortable, but might mess up your hair-do - Personalize your set with Custom, Laser printed Shields for $25 - Way cool, Click to Fold (Cliqfold) hinge design for easy storage - Included 1/8 in cable and 1/4 in adapter jack for wired connectivity - like on a airplane or to your guitar - Nice clam-shell case with an Exoskeleton design and integrated cable pockets - Easy bluetooth pairing - literally took me 5 seconds. - Claim 14 hour battery life - I have been able to test that yet and I'll update this review if they don't last that long. Overall - very impressed. Excellent look, feel and sound. My only wish is that they had noise cancelling features - maybe the next version.

2 years ago, I bought the V-MODA Crossfade M-100. While I enjoyed it, I wasn’t enamored with it, and ultimately came to the conclusion that the compromises in sound quality were not worth it. All of that changes with the Crossfade 2 Wireless Codex Edition. UNBOXING: V-MODA delivered an excellent unboxing experience on the M-100, and that’s no exception for the Crossfade 2. Upon snipping the ribbon outside of the box and pulling the button strap off the top, you’ll be met with some protective foam, a warranty card, a 3.5mm to ¼” adapter, as well as the headphones in their case—for your pleasure of opening. The case is very durable and rigid, as to protect the Crossfade 2 from any potential drops. Inside the case, you are met with the headphones, a micro-USB charging cable, and a 3.5mm cable if you so choose to use the headphones wired. The headphones also have instructions attached to the outer ear cup to explain the wireless functionality and controls. BUILD QUALITY: The M-100 was no exception to build quality, they kept the theme with the Crossfade 2 Wireless. These things have a steel frame that passes military testing, a headband that can withstand a lot of stress, a fiber-reinforced cable with a 45-degree plug that can bend over 1 million times. On top of that, they passed environmental tests for more extreme temperatures, humidity, salt and UV. They feel very durable while still delivering a ~11oz lightweight construction and an elegant design. COMFORT: So how do they deliver on comfort? Well, I’m really happy to report that the Crossfade 2 weighs only slightly more than the M-100 and has addressed the issues I had with the M-100. Firstly, the ear pads are substantially better than the M-100, using a memory foam cushion material, rather than a stiffer, springy material. The end result is a better seal over your ears for improved noise isolation while also relieving pressure around your ears. I don’t think the headband has changed since the M-100 whose headband caused me discomfort at the apex of my head after long listening sessions. If you’re like me, I’d expect to experience at least a little discomfort over a couple hours, and would always recommend taking a break, anyway. PORTABILITY: The Crossfade 2 Wireless uses the Cliqfold hinge, making it very portable and easy to stow away in its case. This is one of the most portable hybrid wireless over-ear headphones that exist in the market that also delivers impressive audiophile-grade performance for the price. SOUND: How do the Crossfade 2 Wireless sound? These actually caught me off guard; I was actually expecting to be unimpressed. However, unlike the M-100, these don’t sacrifice midrange and treble clarity. I can tell that V-MODA focused on improving bass quality (not just quantity) while also not alienating listeners like me who also listen to very vocal music as well as music where instrumentation takes the stage. If you listen to a lot of bass-heavy music, you will love the Crossfade 2 Wireless’ presentation of bass. You get that sub-bass rumble, while also maintaining clarity in the midrange and treble. As a result, vocals stay properly balanced in the mix, while instruments like synthesizers, keys, percussion, guitars and so on are distinguishable and with excellent clarity. Much of this can probably be attributed to the new drivers engineered and made in Japan, probably thanks to the newfound partnership with Roland Corporation, V-MODA’s parent company as of 2016. Sound stage is impressive, especially for such a small, portable headphone, and playing on my Roland V-Drum electronic drum kit (with acoustic drum samples) yielded impressive sound with the kick being the only part that was emphatic in a way I felt a bit unnatural. Of course, this is due to the bass emphasis in the Crossfade 2, but considering the M-100 sounded entirely unnatural on the same kit, V-MODA has colored me impressed. At this point, I should mention that the reason this is the “Codex Edition” is due to the added support for AptX and AAC wireless codecs, delivering higher bitrates that allow you to hear your music without loss of quality. If you’re using a modern Android device, you’ll likely have AptX support, and if not, probably AAC. If you’re using iOS, you’ll be using AAC. Both are sufficient solutions, but I would have liked to see LDAC support. V-MODA claims that the sound is virtually identical in wireless and wired mode. Using a very reliable desktop DAC & Amplifier that I normally use for my high-end headphones, I decided to test this claim. From my findings, I found that while the Wireless mode sounded great and quite balanced, my desktop amplifier leans on the warm side of things, and as a result, adds a slight warmth to accentuate the bass, but delivered superb clarity that made using it wired an absolute joy. Ultimately, this is great for audiophiles, as they Crossfade 2 delivers exceptional wireless audio performance while also delivering an even more impressive Hi-Res audio experience when paired with a quality amplifier. When in wired mode, the Crossfade 2 does not apply any post-processing, giving you unadulterated sound directly from your source. BATTERY LIFE: Using the headphone in wireless mode at reasonable volumes, you can expect 14+ hours of playback. This is largely unimpressive when other well-known headphone brands are often able to deliver 20+ hours of playback. The drivers are quite sensitive, so driving them wirelessly should not consume much more power than other brands. My guess is that this is a compromise V-MODA had to make to fit all this technology in such a small package. CONCLUSION: The V-MODA Crossfade 2 Wireless Codex Edition delivers on its promises of being a very portable over-ear headphone with high resolution audio, regardless of its use as a wireless or wired headphone. It addresses the compromises of its eldest predecessor, the M-100, while maintaining and expanding on the aspects that were adored by the audiophile community. Being an audiophile-grade portable hybrid wireless over-ear headphone is no easy feat, and V-MODA’s execution is noteworthy.