Headphone review: V-MODA Crossfade M-80

by Bill Palmer

Having found success with earbuds, it was a matter of time before DJ Val Kolton’s V-MODA expanded into the headphone realm. With the company’s Crossfade M-80 comes expectations: trendsetting styling, lightweight design, and more importantly, high quality audio. Fortunately for Kolton, his M-80 scores well across the board.

Mostly consisting of shiny black metal, the M-80 consists mostly of shiny black metal with red highlights thrown in. In an unusual design choice, the headphones are designed around an elongated hexagon motif, with both the outer metal backing and the headphone pads themselves taking on a six sided (taller than wide) shape. As far as headphone cup size goes, these are on the moderately petite side, which had me wondering just what kind of audio they could produce.

Fortunately, the Crossfade M-80 produces some of the clearest audio I’ve ever heard in this price range, superior to physically larger headphones in the $200 range. In the end the M-80 only gets four and a half stars because at $229, it should at least be able to hold a candle to three hundred dollar headphones. But in this instance I’d have to recommend that if you have the extra seventy bucks you should invest it. That said, if $229 represents the outer limits of your budget, the M-80 is your clear winner – particularly if the petite form factor and sleek metal staying is to your liking.

Rating: 4.5 stars out of five • Price: $229 • V-MODA.com

About Bill Palmer

Bill Palmer is Editor in Chief of Beatweek Magazine. His editorial contributions include interviews with musicians and iPhone industry coverage.