Imagine how cool it might be to custom-build your headphone by choosing the drivers, headband, ear pads, and cable that finest fit your sonic preferences and funds. You can—to an extent—with AIAIAI’s new TMA-2 headphone. And you may swap out or improve these elements down the highway. But modular designs have quirks in addition to advantages.
Build your personal headphone
AIAIAI affords two methods to purchase your headphones: You should buy a pre-selected bundle, otherwise you select precisely which modular elements you need utilizing AIAIAI’s on-line TMA-2 configurator.
And the TMA-2 headphone configurator is cool. It enables you to visually assemble your headphone together with your alternative of speaker models, ear pads, headband, and cable. Photos of the completely different modular elements and easy-to-understand descriptions make the method a breeze—even for the novice headphone client. You’ll see a real-time pricing updates as you make your choices. You also can purchase the elements on Amazon.
This assessment is a part of TechHive’s protection of the best headphones, the place you’ll discover critiques of competing merchandise, plus a purchaser’s information to the options you must think about when buying.
Once you’ve chosen your modular package deal, you may assessment your completed headphone on a abstract web page with a non-technical clarification of the headphone’s sound and options. Scrolling down, you’ll discover detailed specs, together with a frequency response curve of the drivers you’ve chosen.
My TMA-2 headphone bundle got here with the next elements: The H05 headband with Bluetooth and aptX HD; the C15 3.5mm cable; the S05 drivers that sport a bio-cellulose diaphragm; and E08 over-the-ear reminiscence foam ear pads wrapped in Alcantara. Alcantara is a sturdy, artificial microfiber with a suede-like really feel. This bundle retails for $350.
AIAIAI module packets are what you get within the headphone field.
When my TMA-2 headphone arrived, I used to be stunned to seek out that there was no assembled headphone within the field. What I discovered was a sequence of clearly labeled grey pouches. Each pouch contained the elements of my assessment pattern, requiring me to construct the headphone.
Fortunately, meeting was a straight-forward, tool-less endeavor. That’s good, as a result of the tiny, fold-out consumer manuals accompanying every part look as if they had been rapidly thrown collectively utilizing Microsoft Word.
Theo Nicolakis / IDGYou’ll must assemble these elements to construct your headphone, even in case you select a pre-configured setup.
There is a chosen proper ear cup, indicated by a purple enter. The left ear cup has no markings to point a high or backside orientation. But AIAIAI’s design enables you to plug the cable for corded listening into both the left or proper ear cup in line with your desire. Very few consumer-oriented headphones present this flexibility.
The drivers that got here with my assessment pair snapped onto the Alcantara ear pads with ease. I merely aligned the 4 information pegs and pushed. I discovered the reminiscence foam-based ear pads to be considerably comfy, however the headphones by no means really disappeared on my head. The headband created a slight sensation of strain on the high of my head. They created ample house round my ears, although. You’ll doubtless discover that the Alcantara protecting will make your ears sweat on scorching days.
Theo Nicolakis / IDGDetail view of the fitting ear cup driver and channel for the scarf to slip by.
The mannequin H05 headband is AIAIAI’s HD mannequin and consists of SBC, AAC, aptX, and aptX HD codecs. If you’ve got a digital audio participant that helps aptX HD, you may ship high-res music (as much as 24-bit decision and with sampling charges as excessive as 48kHz) to the headphone over Bluetooth. AIAIAI sells different headband fashions that present completely different sorts of padding in addition to wired-only playback that may prevent just a few {dollars}.
You can cost the H05 headband’s battery, rated for round 16 hours of playback, through a USB-C charging port positioned on the left headband arm. The USB-C charging port is awkwardly positioned. I had some problem plugging in a USB-C cable as a result of angle. I’d wish to see AIAIAI give you a greater design.
Headphone controls are additionally built-in into the scarf. The controls aren’t labeled, however observe the standard conference of play/pause within the center flanked by ahead and reverse on the ends. To pair a Bluetooth supply, you press the ahead and reverse buttons concurrently.
Theo Nicolakis / IDGThe Alcantara reminiscence foam ear pads snap into the motive force modules with ease.
The headband’s click-adjustable arms slide right into a channel on every ear cup. I had some problem sliding the left arm by the click-adjustable dimple. The challenge is said to the truth that the fitting arm of the scarf, which has a microphone on its finish, is totally flat (and straightforward to insert) whereas the left arm is concave. Once I utilized sufficient strain, the concave finish of the scarf arm would ultimately went by.
Speaking of the microphone, I didn’t have an amazing expertise utilizing it. People on the opposite finish of my calls couldn’t hear me effectively. What I seen is that you probably have the headphone arms prolonged near their most (as I did), the microphone can turn into hidden contained in the ear cup channel. Someone at AIAIAI ought to look intently at this and both elongate the scarf or present redesign the microphone so this doesn’t.
You’ll want to concentrate to the way you insert the scarf cables otherwise you received’t get sound from the ear cups—or worse, you’ll get sound however one ear cup might be louder than the opposite. You’ll must insert and rotate the cable till it clicks and sits fully flush with the enter. If you look at the cable rigorously, you’ll word that there are two flat sides on the 3.5mm cable’s neck that have to be aligned with the enter. The little twist supplies a minor locking motion that forestalls the cable from pulling out.
During my testing, I related/disconnected the cables a number of instances to see what points a client would possibly encounter. I discovered the locking cables to be a bit quirky. For instance, throughout one in all my plug/unplug checks, I used to be darn certain that the fitting ear cup was correctly related, however whie taking part in Daft Punk’s Random Access Memories, I heard vocals from the left ear cup however not the fitting. I checked the plug and it gave the impression to be seated correctly. Giving it one remaining twist and push did the trick and voila! Vocals began taking part in from the fitting ear cup. I’d warning potential patrons that if the headphones don’t sound correct, it’s doubtless a cable connection challenge.
The different factor that occurred to me was that one of many headband cables received caught. I couldn’t twist it out to unplug it. I lastly had to make use of needle nostril pliers to twist and pull the cable out.
Theo Nicolakis / IDGThe base of the left headband has a USB-C charging port.
The 3.5mm audio cable that got here with my assessment pair sports activities a stupendous design and has a tangle-resistant coating that stored the cable kink- and tangle-free throughout my testing.
Modular designs professionals and cons
AIAIAI’s modular design is definitely a double-edged sword with numerous benefits, but additionally some disadvantages. Among the various pluses, you may customise the headphones to fit your style and funds. Should a component put on out or break, you may substitute simply that one half. Moreover, ought to AIAIAI come out with new drivers or applied sciences, you may improve your cans for a fraction of the price of a brand new pair of headphones. For instance, ought to AIAIAI come out with help for a brand new hi-res streaming codec, you’d solely want to exchange the scarf. Buy AIAIAI’s entry-level headband with foam padding in the present day, and may improve to the HD Bluetooth headband with aptX HD for simply $125 down the highway.
On the draw back, the AIAIAI elements are largely plastic. The TMA-2 lacks the design aptitude and high-quality steel and leather-based accents you’ll discover in additional typical wi-fi headphones—Bowers & Wilkins’ PX, for instance—on this value rane.
Theo Nicolakis / IDGThe tip of the left headband arm has a microphone.
Listening checks
I examined the TMA-2 with an Astell&Kern A&Norma SR15 hi-res DAP, which helps the aptX HD wi-fi codec. Source materials included high-res music and Tidal streaming sources.
Generally talking, the TMA-2 sounded superb. While its construct high quality, design, and supplies had been a disappointment, the TMA-2’s sound when performed wired was a very completely different beast. Highs had been crisp and ethereal and the midrange was usually clear. Instrument separation was superb. Bass response was correct, managed, and detailed.
Like most headphones, the TMA-2 sounded very completely different wired than it did whereas working wirelessly. In my testing, I sometimes most well-liked the wired mode. Most prevalent was when used as a passive headphone (plugged in), vocals had been extra relaxed and the music had extra element and top-end air. When performed wirelessly, the stability of the devices and vocals modified. Vocals are barely hotter however muddier. Midbass had a hair extra oomph—one thing I’ve persistently discovered with headphones adopting the aptX HD codec. The air round particular person devices and performers, nonetheless, beacame extra veiled.
These variations had been accentuated on some songs and tracks greater than others. For instance, taking part in the high-res model of The Beatles “Oh! Darling” from Abbey Road, the electrical guitar had extra snap, realism, and element when performed wired. The similar was true of “Come Together” which was extra radio-sounding when performed wirelessly. When I plugged within the TMA-2, the music appeared like a veil had been lifted from the music. Conversely, I famous extra delicate variations on the high-res model of Bach’s Cello Suites performed by Janos Starker, or Sarah McLachlan’s “Push” from Afterglow Live. The most prevalent distinction on these tracks remained a extra veiled musical presentation and barely elevated midbass when performed wirelessly.
R&B, jazz, classical, or pop—the music didnt’ matter. All in all, the TMA-2 was a maestro of any musical style with timbral stability from high to backside and a stable soundstage.
Conclusion
AIAIAI’s TMA-2 modular headphone will enchantment to those that need a good-sounding pair of headphones that they will simply customise, improve, and get substitute elements for over time, and are keen to tolerate a pedestrian design and plastic supplies. The tradeoff is that you simply received’t get anyplace near the premium supplies and a spotlight to design you’ll discover in lots of competitor’s conventionally manufactured and equally priced headphones.
While the TMA-2 headphone displays some quirks—parcicularly its locking cable design—I discovered it to be total performer and a good-sounding headphone in each wired and Bluetooth wi-fi modes (the latter due to its help of aptX HD).
Whether or not these headphones are for you will depend upon a number of components: If you just like the notion of a good-sounding, build-it-yourself headphone with the potential for future upgrades and easy-to-replace elements, give the AIAIAI a severe look. If, however, you’re in search of an opulent headphone on the $350 value level whose design, construct high quality, and elements match its sonic items, you must look elsewhere.