AIAIAI TMA-2 DJ  Headphones Review

The AIAIAI TMA-2 DJ are very warm and bass-heavy headphones that don't particularly follow any target curve. DJ headphones usually emphasize bass so you can match rhythms between songs. Compared to popular DJ cans like the Sennheiser HD 25, which also boost bass and low-mids but retain more treble, so you can hear those high-pitched parts. If you like the idea of warm treble but want a flatter mid-range, the Audeze LCD-S20 are worth consideration for a less extreme de-emphasis in the highs, so you can still make out bright transients.

To bring their frequency response more in line with some of the target curves in our Graph Tool, we've created a downloadable folder of EQ parameters you can use to get started.

The AIAIAI TMA-2 DJ have unremarkable frequency response consistency. You'll also want to take care when placing them on your head regardless of whether you have an average or large head or long hair or wear glasses, as it impacts the bass delivery through the mid-range. If you DJ, you might have to take your headphones on and off frequently, and these lack articulating arms or swiveling ear cups, which can otherwise mitigate needing to take your cans on and off repeatedly.

Their bass compliance is excellent. The range tilts to emphasize higher bass frequencies more than sub-bass. In the low-bass region, sounds have a bit of thump, but a touch less than our target. The punchiness and boominess are elevated in the mid- and high-bass. This extra boost adds fullness to basslines, and the thud of kicks come across prominently in the mix in songs like The Things You Said by Depeche Mode.

Their mid-range compliance is middling. The low-mid region carries on as similarly boosted as the high-bass, leading busy mixes to sound cluttered. The low-mid frequencies don't entirely mask the mid-mids, which are more in line with our mid-range target, but the sound is uneven. The high-mids range progressively tapers off in amplitude, resulting in veiled lead instruments at higher registers like keys and guitar.

The AIAIAI TMA-2 DJ have awful treble compliance, as the entire range falls well short of our target. Vocals lack detail and clarity and get pushed low in the mix, and the harmonics of cymbals come across as unnaturally quiet, dull, and lacking airiness. The exaggerated bass and low-mids combine with the strongly de-emphasized treble to create a very warm treble. Typically, this can alleviate ear fatigue during long sessions, but for many, it's an overcorrection, though this can depend on your taste.

The AIAIAI TMA-2 DJ's peaks and dips performance is very good. Their bass and mid-range have small peaks and dips with a stereo mismatch for slightly more fullness and thump on one side than the other, but it's relatively minor. Beginning with the high-mid dip, which makes vocals sound a bit distant, the treble range sees more drastic uneven dips and peaks. Depending on the pitch, the series of peaks and dips across the low- and mid-treble add narrow bands of clarity and sharpness or dullness.

These headphones have very good stereo mismatch performance overall. Their weighted amplitude between the L/R drivers is well-matched. The weighted frequency response mismatch has some deviations between the two drivers, particularly in the bass and treble, which can tilt the stereo image somewhat depending on the pitch. There is a weighted phase mismatch in the mid-range and the upper registers, which may or may not be noticeable depending on the content you listen to.

The AIAIAI TMA-2 DJ have superb group delay performance. This means that bass sounds tight and fast transients like cymbal harmonics playback transparently.

These have a poor PRTRF performance, but that's expected of closed-back on-ear headphones. While they interact with your ears' pinna a bit, the headphones don't offer the same depth of immersiveness you experience with an angled reference speaker.

These headphones exhibit remarkable harmonic distortion performance across the sound frequency ranges. Bass through treble are reproduced cleanly at 94 dB/SPL and 104 dB/SPL.

These headphones don't require additional amplification to playback audio at high listening levels on mobile devices.

These are the settings used to test these headphones. Our results are only valid when used in this configuration.

The AIAIAI TMA-2 DJ have a unique modular design, similar to the Fairphone Fairbuds XL, which is a part of their appeal so that you can mix and match. However, these come as a preset kit with the following components:

• 'S02' drivers
• 'H02' headband
• 'E02' ear pads
• 'C02' cable

You can use other parts in the TMA-2 line, including the headband and drivers, which significantly change the wearing experience and sound profile. You have the option to customize your own modular headphones, or you can buy separate pieces for different uses.

Once assembled, they're sleek, uniformly black in a semi-matte finish, and have subtle branding on the headband. You slide the notched headband through the gap on each driver's housing and connect the cables, giving these a slightly Lego-like experience. It's a matter of preference, but the headband that sticks out the bottom doesn't necessarily make them look very premium. However, it's functional and reminiscent of older DJ headphones, as is the coiled cable. This specific combination only comes in a single color. It's not to be confused with the AIAIAI TMA-2 DJ XE preset kit that uses a different set of drivers, headband, and cable, although they look similar.

The AIAIAI TMA-2 DJ feel satisfactorily comfortable. The faux leather ear pads have a decent amount of give and cushion, but on-ear headphones don't tend to feel comfortable for long stretches. They exert enough clamping force that your ears can ache afterward. The nylon headband is flexible but lacks substantial padding and instead has a silicone inner lining where it meets the top of your head. This feels uncomfortable if you're bald because there's not much to cushion the headband on your skin, and the silicone also catches on long, curly hair. While the headphones are light, their coiled cable's heft is noticeable, and it tends to pull down the headphones on whichever side's ear cup you plug it into.

It's worth noting that part of the appeal of these headphones is the customization at an additional cost. For instance, some of the brand's other swappable headbands appear to have more plush cushions, such as the H03 and H04 which are labeled 'high comfort.' The company also makes straight cables, possibly weighing the headphones down less than the coiled cable.

These are middling for portability. They don't fold down into a smaller footprint, and the ear cups can't rotate to lay flat. As on-ear headphones without much padding, they aren't necessarily big but take up considerable space. You can only make them smaller if you fully disassemble them. Some bulkier over-ear headphones, like the Sennheiser HD 280 Pro 2016, can collapse to a similar size, so if you're considering on-ears because they seem relatively portable, these aren't that different.

The AIAIAI TMA-2 DJ come with a middling case. The drawstring pouch has a mesh lining. It doesn't protect from much besides dust or surface scratches, preventing the cable from getting tangled with your belongings in the same bag. Drops and liquid spills will still reach the headphones inside.

The AIAIAI TMA-2 DJ have decent build quality. You must assemble the parts yourself, but that's certainly easier than building Ikea furniture. The ear cups are well-made in semi-matte plastic with faux leather pads. Each ear cup has a port for the audio cable whether you're a righty or a lefty, or if the headphone output from a device is in an odd spot, this helps you reach it. Their TRS jacks are integrated into the headband to send the signal to the L/R drivers are fine, and so is the coiled cable.

The main issue is that the nylon headband is thin and lacks padding besides a layer of silicone that catches on curly and long hair. In addition, with heavy use, the notches in the headband that adjust sizing and connect to the ear cups can wear out over time. You can replace it, but all the headbands in this modular series use the same notch system. There's also the company's trade-in program, which lets you get a small credit return on your investment if you dislike a component.

These are decently stable. They stay on if you're walking around, tilting your head, or doing a subtle nod along to your music. If you start making more dramatic moves, they can come off. Plus, the weight from the cable pulls at whichever side it's connected to. If you move around a lot, your hair may get yanked by the headband, even if the headphones stay on.

• AIAIAI TMA-2 DJ headphones
• 'S02' drivers
• 'H02' headband
• 'E02' ear pads
• 'C02' TRS audio cable (x1)
• 1/8" to 1/4" adapter
• 'A01' drawstring pouch
• QR code for information webpage

The AIAIAI TMA-2 DJ have a poor full-range noise isolation performance, as to be expected from on-ear headphones without active noise cancelling. They only use their closed-back housings, ear pads, and clamping force to seal your ears. As a result, the passive isolation doesn't reduce how much low, rumbly environmental noise reaches your ears, so if you're on the bus, the rumbling engine comes through, and similarly, in a club, the bassy parts of music playing in the room gets through too (this can account for exaggerating the bass in the sound profile to combat the room). The higher frequency din of ambient sounds like chatter gets reduced, but not significantly. Meanwhile, a solid amount of bright, trebly noise like glass clinking is also blocked. They isolate out highs superbly, but not low-frequency noise.

These headphones perform poorly when it comes to isolating you against common scenarios. They struggle to block out the bass-range roar of an airplane's engine or more mid-range-focused sounds, like passing cars zipping by. They fare slightly better in office environments where their passively isolating fit offers some attenuation against chattering co-workers.

These have very good leakage performance. The sound leaked is acceptably quiet in most spaces, such as homes and offices. What does escape is an uneven and dull version of what you're listening to, with not much low-end. If vocals are mixed high in the audio, they'll remain fairly understandable in very quiet spaces. Still, how much leaks depends greatly on your listening volume.

These don't come with a microphone, but you can buy a separate cable from the manufacturer with an in-line mic and remote. The part is called 'C01 - Cable'.

The AIAIAI TMA-2 DJ have outstanding wired connectivity. They come with a single 1/8" coiled TRS cable that plugs into either driver. It twists to lock it into place. The 1/8" jack is slightly bent to keep it out of the way while still being able to fit into tight spaces. You also get a 1/4" adapter that screws on if you need it. The company sells replacement cables if you need one as well.

You can plug the headphones into your PC to listen to audio. They don't have a mic, so you'll need to buy a replacement cable from the manufacturer with in-line controls and a mic, or use an outboard mic.

You can connect the headphones to your PlayStation controller for audio support. They lack a microphone, so if you want to talk with friends during a game, you'll need to buy a separate cable from the manufacturer with a mic and in-line controls.

The AIAIAI TMA-2 DJ can connect to your Xbox controller for audio support. However, they're audio-only, so you'll need to buy a cable from the manufacturer with in-line controls and a mic if you want to chat with your team.