Ummm... Wow... I was a V-Moda skeptic for the past couple of years. I honestly thought they were all hype. I just picked up the XS, and they really are amazing. Extremely comfortable out of the box, more so than the Momentum On-Ears. I'm currently wearing them as I type this, they've been on for about 2 hours. I don't want to take them off! LOL. Sold my Momentum Over-Ears for these, and I don't regret that decision at all. Pretty good slam on these. And perfectly balanced.
Exactly the same story for me. Couldn't be happier with these: great portable design and case, comfortable fit, and balanced, clear sound. I feel like I'm rediscovering my music with the XS; all genres sound fantastic. Perfectly serves as my everyday carry pair of headphones. I also use them at home for gaming and conference calls (with the boom mic). I'm going to sell my momentum on-ears... While comfortable and retro cool, the sound was just too v-shaped for my ears and its lack of portability was evident in my travels. Good pair of headphones, just didn't suit my needs.
It seams like every V-Moda product the produce is just top notch. I'm still saving up for a pair of M100s but if I ever decide to get an on ear I will defiantly look to these.
I've had this headphone for a couple of months now. And as far as comfort goes, it really starts to hurt my ears after an hour if you don't wear it properly. But one fix I found for it, is to take full advantage of their "mind the gap" design. You just need to make sure the clamping pressure is mostly on the top of your head and there are no extra spaces. After that, I can wear it for more the 4 hours and it doesn't make my ears sore anymore. Also one problem I can account for the comfort issues, is the foam they used. They claim it's real memory foam, but really feels more like an ordinary foam to me. That would've help a lot...
Hi Tyll, Mike over at hifiguy528 said to his liking that the new Beats Solo 2 sounded better to his ears than the V-Moda XS. It would be really cool if you would review and sound measure the new Beats Solo 2 for such a comparison. Thank you :)
Odd that the video is unlisted. Anyway don't know about XS but I think M100 is a bit too warm, it could do with 2db less mid-upper bass, some slightly lighter transparent mids for vocals, and a hair more treble between 4-6khz. All of this in maybe slightly larger cup enclosures for some airyness? The gap and all is neat, but I think that headphones are allowed to be larger these days. Much like smartphones went from 3,5" displays to 5". I would be hesitant on XS because said "thickness" is there on this one too apparently. Still a top choice for relaxed leisure mobile use and such. V-MODA also seems to cater somewhat to the DJ crowd so there a relaxed treble makes sense when you turn it up. Also; considering it is on this fashion train, it is good value for money, at the usual suspects from "Milano" you would get half a t-shirt and maybe a keychain.
Own both the momentum on-ear and these, both are absolutely fantastic, I feel like the momentums have a more laid back fun sound than these, and are more comfy, but damn, these are fantastic little headphones. If I had a top 3 portable headphones it'd be the Koss Portapro, Sennheiser Momentums and these (V-Moda XS)
Thanks for the review. Quick question: Have you worn these for an extended period of time (like more than an hour)? Some say the XS can become uncomfortable for longer periods. This would be a deal breaker for me, as I need them for 8+ hours of office work. I already ordered my pair, so I'm hoping for the best. If not, I'll probably go with Senns Momentum instead.
Nice review Tyll! I have a suggestion, do you think you could review the Marshall Monitors with the F.T.F system? You've reviewed the Marshall Major but I think you'll like the Monitors better, they're also over-ear.
I've got the around the ears momentum with the fiio Mont blanc amplifier and personally love them, I would like to listen to these but don't really have an headphone store around here
I have them since 2014 and yet I did not find headphones this portable and sturdy and offering a better sound. Very good bass, good and warm mids, highs maybe could be improved, but still OK. Overall sound is very balanced and they offer quite good openness considering they are on-ear sealed headphones and their driver size. However, comfort could improved, they are comfortable only the first 30-60 minutes max, but later on you want to take them off as the ears start to be uncomfortable and hot. By reducing their clamping force (by stretching the headband) this problem can partially go away, but the sound quality will suffer proportionally to the clamping force reduced. But the problem of these headphones is their headband. It lasts two-three years with occasional use, after that it will get embarrassingly and completely ripped. And the actual issue is that there is no replacement (on purpose?), which makes them not durable at all. I tried contacting their support and they proposed me a fake promotion. So, as a matter of fact, these headphones are actually the least durable 180 dollars headphones I can imagine of, because the headband won't last more than 2 or 3 years and there will is no way to replace it.
Hi, i like your videos. What headphone u like better? Fidelio x1 or this one (v-moda xs), i know that the fidelios is open and the xs is closed, i want it for gaming, metal and deathcore listening. Thanks.
Well I tried the M-100's with both stock and XL pads and they were terrible for ear comfort. I ordered the XS just now and hope they work for me. If not I guess I'm going to have to try the Bose SoundTrue.
My Solo 2s recently failed to produce noise on the right earcup, and I was planning to return it and exchange it for a similar priced headphone. I was deciding between the V-Moda XS, Bose SoundTrue, and Sennheiser Urbanite. Which is the better option? Should I just get another Solo 2? I'm more concerned about sound quality, build quality, and comfortability than anything else. I've actually enjoyed my Solo 2s a lot, but definitely wish there were more clarity behind the tight bass. Thank you!
The Solo 2 sound better than the V-moda XS but of course it isn't as durable. Between all of those, I would definitely go between the Urbanite and the SoundTrue. The Sohndtrue is basically a more bass heavy momentum IMO and they souns better than the Urbanite for some genres of music but the Urbanite is more durable.
Don't know about you but I'm sticking with my M80, it is so fun sounding that it touched me in many different ways. Tyll Hertsens When you talk about the treble, is it because the music you are testing on it are genres like classical music?
I am torn between this and the urbanite, Similar price so it comes down to confort and sound quality. I am a generalist so both models will be fun and adequate. What really burns me is the confort. I heard people that have serious confort issues with those and others that have no issues whatsoever so i am a little sceptical.
I too was comparing both these models and ultimately went with the XS. I preferred the more balanced sound, the sleeker form factor, and the fantastic case and accessories. The urbanite was also excellent, but quite a bit less portable and more bass-leaning. I suggest trying both out if you can; can't go wrong with either.
Forgot to mention comfort; both were surprisingly comfortable but in different ways. I recently came from Sennheiser Momentum On-Ears and both of these were slightly more comfortable. Urbanite's noise isolation is fantastic; the velour suede cups feel great and stay cool, and the squishy rubber head pad feels good. XS are much lighter, cups are protein leather, and the clamping pressure is rather gentle; slightly won my favor.
I also ordered the XS now that they had a sale on Amazon for less than the Urbinite. As you said, i chose the better accesories and design (subjective) as well as the worldwide warranty. I am expecting them sometime within the next week.
I loved your review, got them , and unfortunately they are the most uncomfortable headphones I've ever owned, after ~30 minutes my ears are searing and I need to take them off for about an hour. I do have big ears, but I am utterly disappointed with the comfort, otherwise everything is exactly as you've said, sounds great, just laughable that they cost $200... and now im stuck with them
[Long response warning] I had the M50s when I first started my under $200 search, and they beat out a number of legendary phones that I also auditioned, including all the Sonys and Senns in this price range at the time (the Senn Momentums did not exist yet). I used the M50s a lot for couple weeks with great pleasure, but a few things eventually started to bother me: the big bottom end, which was exciting at first, started to feel overwhelming and too boomy. The top end, which at first seemed extremely detailed & revealing, started seeming harsh and fatiguing. And lastly, I started to notice that the mids were a bit scooped out, with the meat of most vocals sounding somewhat recessed. So I started a new search and very quickly came across the V-Moda M80's (predecessor to the XS) -- I instantly fell in love. They were overall more balanced and natural to my ear, with all my vocals & guitars right back up front where they belong. So I sent the M50's back. Though I loved the M80's and used them for a couple years, there were still a few small issues I had: slight lack of sparkle/air/detail on the very top end, a bump in the upper bass, and lack of extension into the very low end. I was not alone in these observations as these were fairly common criticisms I read online (though people still really loved them overall, as I did). The amazing thing is that V-Moda was listening! All three of these issues were addressed in the design of the XS, as well as a more streamlined form factor and this awesome folding mechanism. It's been couple years now and I still don't feel the slightest itch to look for another set of portables! The only thing I can still complain about (there's always something, right?) is that the the bass extension is still not quite there. But I'm more of a mids guy than a bass head so that's not much of an issue for me. And to be 100% honest I actually use my Senn HD600's more often, but they are not portable and 2x the price, so a different category altogether. But between the two sets, I am completely satisfied (well, for now ;) ).
Ashneel Neo thank you! both a great headphones that caters to different audiences! fun slamming club-like feel for the m100s, smooth relaxing listening with the xs
players02 that use to be true but the clique-fold hinges on the the m100s make them really portable as well, plus their rather low profile on the head so its not obnoxious looking like many over ears. plus the bass on the m100s help with droning noises like subway wheels screeching or air conditioning fans in the office
Did he say its a dandy a little headphone...is is a headphone daddy whitch is a daddy in headphone space? Lol I like them just 200 bucks for on ears is not budget friendly there are plenty of over ear headphones that are just as good at that price or lower
Oh, Tyll, Tyll. I normally agree with him, but boy this review soundwise is very misleading compared to my experience. Build quality is top notch but the sound is a slight upside down u shape and there is no bass. I am not a basshead but just to reiterate....zero bass. I had a few friends try them in comparison to another portable the Senn px200. 3 of 3 chose the px200. Look, I understand no one wants to hear bad things about a product when they're amping themselves up to like something new. If you read Tyll's review, he briefly alludes to exactly my impressions. I can only warn that sometimes the best built headphone + a seemingly very cool owner of Vmoda can lead to an exagerated review.
You must have a defective pair. I don't hear an upside down u-shaped signature at all. And I love my Momentum On-Ears, but the XS is topping them right now.
For an audio guy, you really do have the WORST audio recording white-noise ever. No offence, I love the information in your reviews but please buy a new mic or whatever is causing the white-noise. :/
Ummm... Wow... I was a V-Moda skeptic for the past couple of years. I honestly thought they were all hype. I just picked up the XS, and they really are amazing. Extremely comfortable out of the box, more so than the Momentum On-Ears. I'm currently wearing them as I type this, they've been on for about 2 hours. I don't want to take them off! LOL. Sold my Momentum Over-Ears for these, and I don't regret that decision at all. Pretty good slam on these. And perfectly balanced.
Exactly the same story for me. Couldn't be happier with these: great portable design and case, comfortable fit, and balanced, clear sound. I feel like I'm rediscovering my music with the XS; all genres sound fantastic. Perfectly serves as my everyday carry pair of headphones. I also use them at home for gaming and conference calls (with the boom mic).
I'm going to sell my momentum on-ears... While comfortable and retro cool, the sound was just too v-shaped for my ears and its lack of portability was evident in my travels. Good pair of headphones, just didn't suit my needs.
It seams like every V-Moda product the produce is just top notch. I'm still saving up for a pair of M100s but if I ever decide to get an on ear I will defiantly look to these.
Absolutely love your review, you really know your stuff! and you totally made me wanna pair.
Glad there are people like you out there
I've had this headphone for a couple of months now. And as far as comfort goes, it really starts to hurt my ears after an hour if you don't wear it properly. But one fix I found for it, is to take full advantage of their "mind the gap" design. You just need to make sure the clamping pressure is mostly on the top of your head and there are no extra spaces. After that, I can wear it for more the 4 hours and it doesn't make my ears sore anymore.
Also one problem I can account for the comfort issues, is the foam they used. They claim it's real memory foam, but really feels more like an ordinary foam to me. That would've help a lot...
YES! Omg I've been waiting for this review.
i have a review on the xs on my channel as well! plus the m100s too! be sure to check it out
Hi Tyll, Mike over at hifiguy528 said to his liking that the new Beats Solo 2 sounded better to his ears than the V-Moda XS. It would be really cool if you would review and sound measure the new Beats Solo 2 for such a comparison. Thank you :)
you're the man, thank you very much for the reviews!
Odd that the video is unlisted.
Anyway don't know about XS but I think M100 is a bit too warm, it could do with 2db less mid-upper bass, some slightly lighter transparent mids for vocals, and a hair more treble between 4-6khz. All of this in maybe slightly larger cup enclosures for some airyness?
The gap and all is neat, but I think that headphones are allowed to be larger these days. Much like smartphones went from 3,5" displays to 5".
I would be hesitant on XS because said "thickness" is there on this one too apparently.
Still a top choice for relaxed leisure mobile use and such. V-MODA also seems to cater somewhat to the DJ crowd so there a relaxed treble makes sense when you turn it up.
Also; considering it is on this fashion train, it is good value for money, at the usual suspects from "Milano" you would get half a t-shirt and maybe a keychain.
Own both the momentum on-ear and these, both are absolutely fantastic, I feel like the momentums have a more laid back fun sound than these, and are more comfy, but damn, these are fantastic little headphones. If I had a top 3 portable headphones it'd be the Koss Portapro, Sennheiser Momentums and these (V-Moda XS)
Thanks for the review. Quick question: Have you worn these for an extended period of time (like more than an hour)? Some say the XS can become uncomfortable for longer periods. This would be a deal breaker for me, as I need them for 8+ hours of office work. I already ordered my pair, so I'm hoping for the best. If not, I'll probably go with Senns Momentum instead.
Please try the Beyerdynamic T51p for this category, I would love to hear your opinion on those, I have them and I love them. Great videos!
Nice review Tyll!
I have a suggestion, do you think you could review the Marshall Monitors with the F.T.F system? You've reviewed the Marshall Major but I think you'll like the Monitors better, they're also over-ear.
I've got the around the ears momentum with the fiio Mont blanc amplifier and personally love them, I would like to listen to these but don't really have an headphone store around here
I love my XS! Question, how do you think these headphones would fare out with movies and video games?
I have them since 2014 and yet I did not find headphones this portable and sturdy and offering a better sound. Very good bass, good and warm mids, highs maybe could be improved, but still OK. Overall sound is very balanced and they offer quite good openness considering they are on-ear sealed headphones and their driver size. However, comfort could improved, they are comfortable only the first 30-60 minutes max, but later on you want to take them off as the ears start to be uncomfortable and hot. By reducing their clamping force (by stretching the headband) this problem can partially go away, but the sound quality will suffer proportionally to the clamping force reduced. But the problem of these headphones is their headband. It lasts two-three years with occasional use, after that it will get embarrassingly and completely ripped. And the actual issue is that there is no replacement (on purpose?), which makes them not durable at all. I tried contacting their support and they proposed me a fake promotion. So, as a matter of fact, these headphones are actually the least durable 180 dollars headphones I can imagine of, because the headband won't last more than 2 or 3 years and there will is no way to replace it.
Hi, i like your videos. What headphone u like better? Fidelio x1 or this one (v-moda xs), i know that the fidelios is open and the xs is closed, i want it for gaming, metal and deathcore listening. Thanks.
Well I tried the M-100's with both stock and XL pads and they were terrible for ear comfort. I ordered the XS just now and hope they work for me. If not I guess I'm going to have to try the Bose SoundTrue.
any thoughts of an update video on the wall of fame?
My Solo 2s recently failed to produce noise on the right earcup, and I was planning to return it and exchange it for a similar priced headphone.
I was deciding between the V-Moda XS, Bose SoundTrue, and Sennheiser Urbanite. Which is the better option? Should I just get another Solo 2? I'm more concerned about sound quality, build quality, and comfortability than anything else. I've actually enjoyed my Solo 2s a lot, but definitely wish there were more clarity behind the tight bass.
Thank you!
The Solo 2 sound better than the V-moda XS but of course it isn't as durable. Between all of those, I would definitely go between the Urbanite and the SoundTrue. The Sohndtrue is basically a more bass heavy momentum IMO and they souns better than the Urbanite for some genres of music but the Urbanite is more durable.
"I'm more concerned about sound quality, build quality, and comfortability than anything else." Just wondering... what is that anything else? :D
I have the M80's, is it worth upgrading to these? I like the portability aspect of them.
Sennheiser PXC 450 or Audio Technica ATH ANC 9? Take into account comfort and sound quality please :)
Hey Tyl, how would these hold up to the m100?
Nice review. I already own the V-Moda M80, do you think the improvements are in the XS are enough for me to think about getting a pair?
Don't know about you but I'm sticking with my M80, it is so fun sounding that it touched me in many different ways.
Tyll Hertsens When you talk about the treble, is it because the music you are testing on it are genres like classical music?
How do these compare with the ATH M50x in terms of sound?
All your shirts should be in wall of whatever.
I am torn between this and the urbanite, Similar price so it comes down to confort and sound quality. I am a generalist so both models will be fun and adequate. What really burns me is the confort. I heard people that have serious confort issues with those and others that have no issues whatsoever so i am a little sceptical.
I too was comparing both these models and ultimately went with the XS. I preferred the more balanced sound, the sleeker form factor, and the fantastic case and accessories. The urbanite was also excellent, but quite a bit less portable and more bass-leaning. I suggest trying both out if you can; can't go wrong with either.
Forgot to mention comfort; both were surprisingly comfortable but in different ways. I recently came from Sennheiser Momentum On-Ears and both of these were slightly more comfortable. Urbanite's noise isolation is fantastic; the velour suede cups feel great and stay cool, and the squishy rubber head pad feels good. XS are much lighter, cups are protein leather, and the clamping pressure is rather gentle; slightly won my favor.
I also ordered the XS now that they had a sale on Amazon for less than the Urbinite. As you said, i chose the better accesories and design (subjective) as well as the worldwide warranty. I am expecting them sometime within the next week.
How's the isolation? M80 was a big disappointment for me as a my on-the-go headphone because of it's lack of isolation.
from reports from m80 and xs owners better but not by much. i own the xs as well i have a review on my channel
How do the xs compare to the beats solo2?
Good review !! :-)
These or the Audio Technica m50x? Which is better in your opinion?
I like the M50X to be honest but I would say it depends on your music tastes to be honest and if the lack of a coiled cable will be a issue for you!
Haha your shirts are excellent man
I loved your review, got them , and unfortunately they are the most uncomfortable headphones I've ever owned, after ~30 minutes my ears are searing and I need to take them off for about an hour. I do have big ears, but I am utterly disappointed with the comfort, otherwise everything is exactly as you've said, sounds great, just laughable that they cost $200... and now im stuck with them
Tyll! Oppo pm-1 and ha-1 pls ;)
you actually had the m80 on the wall ?
No, he has the xs in the wall but not the m80
PS: sorry for my bad english.
How does V-Moda XS performs in comparison with Audio Technica ATH M50x ?
[Long response warning]
I had the M50s when I first started my under $200 search, and they beat out a number of legendary phones that I also auditioned, including all the Sonys and Senns in this price range at the time (the Senn Momentums did not exist yet). I used the M50s a lot for couple weeks with great pleasure, but a few things eventually started to bother me: the big bottom end, which was exciting at first, started to feel overwhelming and too boomy. The top end, which at first seemed extremely detailed & revealing, started seeming harsh and fatiguing. And lastly, I started to notice that the mids were a bit scooped out, with the meat of most vocals sounding somewhat recessed. So I started a new search and very quickly came across the V-Moda M80's (predecessor to the XS) -- I instantly fell in love. They were overall more balanced and natural to my ear, with all my vocals & guitars right back up front where they belong. So I sent the M50's back. Though I loved the M80's and used them for a couple years, there were still a few small issues I had: slight lack of sparkle/air/detail on the very top end, a bump in the upper bass, and lack of extension into the very low end. I was not alone in these observations as these were fairly common criticisms I read online (though people still really loved them overall, as I did). The amazing thing is that V-Moda was listening! All three of these issues were addressed in the design of the XS, as well as a more streamlined form factor and this awesome folding mechanism. It's been couple years now and I still don't feel the slightest itch to look for another set of portables! The only thing I can still complain about (there's always something, right?) is that the the bass extension is still not quite there. But I'm more of a mids guy than a bass head so that's not much of an issue for me. And to be 100% honest I actually use my Senn HD600's more often, but they are not portable and 2x the price, so a different category altogether. But between the two sets, I am completely satisfied (well, for now ;) ).
Awesome ! Yeah it was long response waiting ! Thank you for helping me choose!
So what did you decide? Do you already have the M50 or just considering them?
i have the m-80, should i upgrade?
+Tazzwar Azam I have both and it depends if you like the collapsing feature. They both so sound very similar but the XS does sound a bit cleaner.
on/over the ear aside, what do you prefer between the XS and M100?
i have review of both headphones as well as 2 comparison videos between the xs and the m100s! be sure to check it out
On A studentbudget
thanks..nice lil comparison
Depends, I think on ears are great for portable usage. Over ears for indoor use.
Ashneel Neo thank you! both a great headphones that caters to different audiences! fun slamming club-like feel for the m100s, smooth relaxing listening with the xs
players02 that use to be true but the clique-fold hinges on the the m100s make them really portable as well, plus their rather low profile on the head so its not obnoxious looking like many over ears. plus the bass on the m100s help with droning noises like subway wheels screeching or air conditioning fans in the office
Tell you need a new camera / mic.... The sound in this video had heaps of static noise :/
Are these or solo 2 better?
Beats have nothing on these!
Did he say its a dandy a little headphone...is is a headphone daddy whitch is a daddy in headphone space? Lol I like them just 200 bucks for on ears is not budget friendly there are plenty of over ear headphones that are just as good at that price or lower
These are disgustingly small on the ear, I guess I just don't like on-ears.
w h y a r e y o u s o s w e a t y
Oh, Tyll, Tyll. I normally agree with him, but boy this review soundwise is very misleading compared to my experience. Build quality is top notch but the sound is a slight upside down u shape and there is no bass. I am not a basshead but just to reiterate....zero bass. I had a few friends try them in comparison to another portable the Senn px200. 3 of 3 chose the px200. Look, I understand no one wants to hear bad things about a product when they're amping themselves up to like something new. If you read Tyll's review, he briefly alludes to exactly my impressions. I can only warn that sometimes the best built headphone + a seemingly very cool owner of Vmoda can lead to an exagerated review.
You must have a defective pair. I don't hear an upside down u-shaped signature at all. And I love my Momentum On-Ears, but the XS is topping them right now.
For an audio guy, you really do have the WORST audio recording white-noise ever. No offence, I love the information in your reviews but please buy a new mic or whatever is causing the white-noise. :/
iron yo shirts