V-MODA Crossfade LP Over-Ear Noise-Isolating Metal Headphone (Phantom Chrome)

Product Description

Color: Phantom Chrome
Amazon.com Product Description
Developed over the span of four years in collaboration with some of the world's top musicians, DJs and producers, the Crossfade LP delivers epic sound with a distinct design composed of luxurious fabrics and lightweight metals. Designed to be the ultimate versatile and multi-purpose headphone, Crossfade LP is made for people on the move, at the gym or on the stage.



High-Definition Sound
Featuring patent pending 50mm Dual-Diaphragm High-Definition Drivers, the Crossfade LP delivers the sound of multiple drivers with the efficiency of a single smaller driver. The result is deep vibrant bass, juicy mid-range, and crystal clarity on today's portable devices without the need for any batteries. The driver's diaphragm is constructed of a harder inner ring providing an extended high range and a softer outer ring for deep lows, resulting in an unprecedented sound. Supple memory foam ear cushions isolate noise and immerse you into your own world of sound.
Fashion Forward Design
With the Crossfade LP, music lovers experience a sophisticated headphone with a true fashion-forward look. Created with a unique metal "V" design and available in White Pearl, Phantom Chrome and Gunmetal Black, the Crossfade LP gives music enthusiasts a sophisticated headphone with a fashion-forward look. For people on the move, the Crossfade LP is equipped with a detachable cable featuring a three-button remote control and high-fidelity microphone to easily change volume and answer or end phone calls.
Ultimate Ergonomic Comfort
Your headphones are supposed to be comfortable. With the Crossfade LP, you get an incredibly lightweight headphone that you can wear for hours. Using a revolutionary metal "V" design and supple air-cushion memory foam, the Crossfade LP weighs only 280 grams and offers an ergonomic comfortable fit. Relentless research went into the precise shape and materials of the headband and ear cushions, resulting in a tailored, fashionable fit without unsightly gaps and minimal pressure on the head and ears.
Universal Compatibility
Now, your calls and your music are in stereo. Featuring a three-button remote and discrete high-fidelity microphone, the remote/mic cable gives you complete control of your calls and your music. You can adjust the volume, control the playback of your music and video, or record voice memos and answer calls from your iPhone 3GS and more. Plus, you get a long (69-inch) audio cable with 1/4-inch adapter so you can listen to music from your iPod, iPhone or professional stereo equipment. Want to use the Crossfade LP with your Mac? You can, it's compatible with the latest Mac products, including the iMac, Mac Pro, MacBook or MacBook Pro and can be used for iChat, Skype, VoIP, and other audio recording applications.
Built To Last
V-MODA is passionate about sound and providing you a durable product. Four years of testing the Crossfade LP on tour and in everyday life situations resulted in a tank-like steel frame, flexible memory headband, and detachable Kevlar-reinforced cables to ensure unprecedented durability. That commitment to quality stays with you--each Crossfade LP is backed by an unrivaled one-year premier warranty. If you're rough on your headphones, don't worry. V-MODA designed an incredible replacement program just for you. With the exclusive V-MODA Replay Replacement Program, you get a 50% off lifetime replacement guarantee.
What's In The Box
V-MODA Crossfade LP Headphones (Phantom Chrome), 69-Inch Kevlar-Reinforced Audio-Only cable, 36-Inch Kevlar-Reinforced Remote/Mic Cable, 3.5mm to 1/4-Inch Adapter, Jet Black Exoskeleton Carrying Case with Carabiner
V-MODA Crossfade LP headphones are the result of over four years of research and development collaborating with some of the worlds top artists, products and DJs. The revolutionary metal design, patent pending 50mmm Multimodal HD drives, premium materials and ultimate ergonomic comfort create the most sophisticated headphone on the market. Our award winning sound and signature bass make the Crossfade LP the best headphone for listening to all music genres from the street to the stage.

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 9.4 x 4.4 inches ; 1.8 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B003BYRGLI
• Item model number: XFLPR-PHCHROME
  

Price : $102.59
You Save : $97.40 (49%)

List Price : $199.99

Technical Details

• 50mm dual-diaphragm drivers provide deep vibrant bass, organic mid-range, and high-end clarity
• Memory foam ear cushions reduce ambient noise and enable a low bass response
• Lightweight metal construction lets you listen to your favorite music comfortably for hours
• Steel frame, flexible memory headband, and detachable Kevlar-reinforced cables for serious durability
• Includes hard exoskeleton carry case, 69-inch Kevlar-reinforced audio cable, remote/mic cable for compatible devices

Customer Reviews

I haven't removed these headphones since they arrived three days ago. These are the most comfortable best sounding headphones I have ever put over or in my ears. Who would know that V-Moda would package Jimi Hendrix in the box and he would visit my house.
Looks can be deceiving; these are advertised as 'lifestyle' headphones. Oh by lifestyle, cool DJ's should wear these and super models will magically appear, or if you are female wearing them, super models will appear all handsome and unshaven. No normal person should ever put them on, and they will likely sound like garbage because all the money was put in the fancy marketing. Looks couldn't be more wrong.
These headphones are butter. They have a wonderful clear solid bass without ever being thumpy or over stressed pushing the low frequencies. The midrange is blended beautifully, voices are clear and precise. The only complaint is a slight closing up of the highs. Instead of that perfect high frequency edge, they sound slightly stressed at too much high frequency. That is not to say these are low rider car thumping bass heavy headphones, no quite the opposite, they are very well balance with a solid warm bass where lyrics are easy to understand.
The imaging in these headphones is exactly like listening to incredibly high end stereo floor standing speakers. I could very precisely hear the location of instruments whenever the recordings had that information. The piano was over here to the left, the drums centered in the back of my head, the guitar over here, and the vocals from this location...it was all there. Sometimes a soundstage that is too precise can be uncomfortable, my eyes dart all over looking for the instruments. That didn't happen with these headphones, they were just that good.
My frame of reference is Shure E3c's (in ear monitorsShure E3c Sound Isolating Earphones), Bowers and Wilkins P5 (over ear headphones Bowers ; Wilkins P5 Mobile HiFi Stereo Headphones), and a just shy of audiophile home theater. There is no reason in the world to compare these to lesser ear buds. The Shure E3c's are very bright, I've had them for four or five years now. But they lack bass in a major way. The B;W P5's are very accurate, almost to a fault. The ear cup is not as comfortable as these V-Moda's. The bass doesn't dig nearly as deep in the P5, but they have a better high end. In a way, the B;W's are like BMW's versus V-Moda's that are like Mercedes. BMW is all about precise handling and making the driver happy; Mercedes is about the comfort of everyone in the car with maybe a little less precision in the handling department. Guess what, they are both outstanding cars and incredible to drive, they just have slightly different personalities.
I did an odd little test for DJ's looking at these headphones. My son plays guitar, so I pulled out the sound meter and did a little audio test - how well would I be able to hear the music in the headphones over his playing. At 90db (that's pretty darn loud) I could hear the music in the headphones very well. It was clear there was music going on around me, and I couldn't hear all the nuances of the music, but the music in the headphones was clear. At 100db (that's very loud) I had to turn up my music a bit more, and could still make out the songs, and hear the lyrics. We stopped at 100db. Airplane noise will not be a problem.
These are efficient headphones. They can play very loud. A setting of loud volume with iPod buds, or the P5's or the Shures is almost ear shattering with the V-Moda's. A trick some listeners use is to crank up the volume and wear them around your neck, the sound is outstanding like that. Almost every headphone starts to interfere with itself at high volumes, not the V-Moda's. Bass remains clear and clean. Low volume is amazing with these. Headphones tend to work well loud and not quite or vice versa, these break the mould.
I had to break these headphones in. Out of the box they were horribly dull. Actually they sounded pretty bad that first day. So overnight I ran iTunes through these at full volume. The next morning they had loosened up and were just wonderful. I might guess that those rolled off highs might just clear up over time.
You might also imagine that these headphones are specialized for electronic house music. Well that would also be a mistake. I've pushed them around with folk, jazz, blues, and rock with great results. I haven't really tried much classical music. Somehow I don't think the classical music lover will be drawn to these headphones - they will be looking more in the Grado and high end Sennheiser territory . Movies, these headphones are good. In ear monitors might just work a bit better for video, watching a small screen the sound is probably better focused on a smaller soundstage. On the other hand, these headphones are so comfortable; I will probably end up enjoying watching films with them.
The construction is really solid. These are big headphones, and they take up a lot of space (the P5's fold up very nicely). I tried them on in bed, and surprise, I could roll over on a pillow with an ear facing down hard on the pillow with no bad sound effect at all. You could sleep with these on, go figure how that works. The metal side pieces are really rugged.
I have a big head and wear glasses. These fit very nicely. They do not press against your glasses and cause temple pain. I've worn them for around three hours straight, and they are still comfortable. Initially they do get a little warm around my ears, but that goes away after a while.
Now the coolest part of these headphones, the accessories and the packaging. The box clues you in immediately that these are special, a red ribbon serves as the tamper evident device. The box has a really cool faux leather handle and snap closure. Inside you are greeted by a black case, lined in red velvet that will protect these headphones forever. The case is a bit funky, it either looks like a reptile or a mouth and tongue (I think it looks a lot like the Rolling Stones logo). Insed that case, there are two different wires for connecting the headphones. These are the best wires, bar none, I have ever seen for headphones. They are cloth woven covers with Kevlar fibers inside - I defy anyone to actually rip those wires, it is never going to happen. The business end of the connection is brilliant; the outlet of the wire is at a forty five degree angle. That angle means you'll almost never accidently pull the jack out of your player. It really works well. One wire is fairly long and is just a plain wire. The other is a combo volume control microphone. I've tried a lot of these combos and most don't work very well. This set up is extremely good; the microphone is sensitive and picks up my voice just dangling from the ear cup (no need to pull it in front of your mouth to speak). There is an instruction manual, a lifestyle card, a little microfiber cloth to shine the metal sides of the headphones, and a small credit card to join the V-Moda VIP club (the web address on the card didn't work, but there was a VIP area on the website). OK, a mention about the website, you'd never guess they sell audio gear over there. It is all about the super models and the handsome guys and the clothing. There are beautiful people over there.
I love these headphones. It's hard to not gush about them too much. My only disappointment, no super model has tried to talk to me while I'm wearing these. My family has laughed at me many times. I just can't stop wearing them. My music has taken on a whole new world.
The two teenage boys in the house weighed in on these. The guitarist, fourteen years old, loves them. He wants them in the worst way. I would also predict that these will be great recording headphones; we will have fun with them. The nineteen year old college student loves them. He still thinks the highs are not clear enough. But he's also like to take them back to school with him. Sorry boys, Dad got them first, they are his.
July 25, 2010 update - I just couldn't stop myself, I wanted to see what is behind those cool metal plates. Aw was I disappointed, the body of these headphones is cast plastic. There is absolutely nothing but plastic behind the metal plate. I could not get in to see those lovely drivers. I've also posted a bunch of pictures of the coolness that arrives in the box.

I strongly urge anyone considering these headphones to go see them in person first.(like at the apple store)
I got these headphones in August after a coworker recommended them. He got his off Amazon and I got mine from the Apple store.
The speaker drivers themselves are great. Good balance of bass and treble across a wide range of music. The Crossfades seem well constructed and light. I use them only at work for about 4hrs a day and was happy for about a month. They stay on my desk when not in use and have never left the office
Unfortunately after a month I noticed the the inner plastic band where the metal adjustment bar that connects the phones to the padding the goes over your head had completely cracked on both sides of the headphones. If you look at the pictures Amazon provides, look at the 6th picture(for the gunmetal version - [...]). The cracks appeared right above the crossfade logo where the 2 screws secure the plastic housing on both sides of headphones(tops of the V). The plastic wasn't just cracked on one screw on each side, it was crack on all 4 screws. This leads me to believe that they had some over-tightening problem when putting in the screws during manufacturing. A day after I discovered the crack, one of the plastic cracked fragments actually fell off the headphones, making it impossible for the headphones to keep tension on the metal adjustment bar.
I was sad to see this issue, given I had just dropped $250 on these headphones a month earlier. So I went and had a look at my co-workers set. SAME exact problem, cracks along the plastic on both sides of the headphones in the same 4 places where the screw look to have been over-tightened. The plastic had not fallen off on his yet, but he was equally pissed off at the quality of manufacturing.
Seriously, the rest of the headphone is well constructed of metal and solid plastic.... but the one location that would get the most stress has the cheapest made component!?!? I don't have a particularly wide head, and I've DJ'd for years and know how to take care of expensive headphones. What a shame that an otherwise great sounding set of headphones could be wrecked by a defective 50cent plastic part.
Thankfully the Apple store allowed me to return the headphones beyond the 14day regular policy. We went over to the iPod demo section in the store where they had 4 crossfades out for display to use with the iPod/iphones, and guess what! 3 of the 4 had the same exact issue.
I think these headphones are so new that this problem will start to become more prevalent in the next few months for folks who bought them early on. I don't think this is a hard issue to fix with a redesign of that particular part (using metal). However it's probably going to require folks to send them back to the manufacturer.