There’s no sweeter sound on a plane than the sound of pure … silence. Or your favorite tune, perfectly captured without the constant interjection of ambient noise.
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Which is why I never travel without a solid pair of headphones. And now, with the advent of legit wireless audio technology, you needn’t worry about a constant mess of cables in your carry-on. But, until recently, wireless headphones have focused on plenty of convenience but almost none of the sound quality. V-MODA has sought to remedy that problem with the release of their latest Crossfade Wireless over-ear headphones. They were kind enough to send us a sample to review and they are downright awesome.
The Skinny
With this latest product release, V-MODA sought to solve one particular problem with:
… years of precise engineering to design and tune wireless electronics while keeping the iconic V-MODA materials and shapes. V-MODA’s tuning team sets the bar higher by improving the renowned Crossfade M-100 signature sound for virtually identical wired and wireless playback.
The Traveler’s Take
First and foremost, the audio is designed to be seamlessly awesome when switching from wired to wireless. The laundry list of technical features is far above the heads of most non-audiophiles (myself included), with words like Immersive 3D Soundstage, Analog Purist Zero Latency, and Ultimate Codecs. Needless to say, the list sounds pretty impressive. And it should, considering the over-the-top technology present in the CW’s that ensures that they sound just as amazing whether plugged in or not.
For travelers, one of the biggest concern for wireless headphones is battery life. All of this technology sounds fantastic, but it doesn’t help if your cans crap out two hours into a long-haul flight. Thankfully, the Crossfade Wireless are designed with up to 12 hours of battery life which is damn near long enough to tackle even a flight from LAX to Sydney. But, in the event that it’s not, they feature an Auto Analog Switch, so when you plug a cable into the jack, they automatically switch off all battery and electronics. This not only conserves battery life, but also allows for “zero latency” (meaning: ultimate sound quality).
The entire package ships in a padded exoskeleton hard-shell case that’s form-fitted to the Crossfade Wireless. There’s even a little extra room inside for additional cables and a carabiner to clip to your carry-on.
As an added bonus, V-MODA sought to design the Crossfade Wireless to not only sound great, but look great as well. Each pair features a set of custom, jewel-grade, 3D-printed shields in a variety of materials and colors. So the ultimate design is entirely up to you, be it bold and flashy, or luxurious and reserved.
Pricing + Availability
Available now for $300 (USD) directly from V-MODA.