AIAIAI has been around since 2010 and aims to do things a little differently than the big players by manufacturing modular headphones. The AIAIAI TMA-2 DJ is essentially an analog-only headphones kit that you assemble yourself, consisting of parts meant to work best for DJing. Most of the work has already been done by the factory, so what arrives simply requires sliding the drivers through the headband, plugging in the cables, and popping on the ear pads. You get the added bonus of possibly modifying them by swapping out components like the headband and drivers at additional costs. So, besides opening up the possibility of future upgrades, let's see how the headphones perform in this standard configuration.
Our Verdict
The AIAIAI TMA-2 DJ are inadequate for sports and fitness. While their relatively firm clamping force and on-ear design can appeal to folks who don't like wearing in-ears, their heavy cable pulls on one side and can catch on equipment. The absence of an IP rating and the lack of foldability in their design make them impractical at the gym. While you may favor the extra boost to the bass and mids to motivate your workout, they're best used for upright isometric exercises like bicep curls, rather than dynamic movements that can dislodge them.
Decent build quality.
- Uncomfortable headband.
- Can't fold down to a smaller size.
The AIAIAI TMA-2 DJ are sub-par for travel. As wired-only passive headphones, they lack active noise canceling or Bluetooth connectivity, which would lend them versatility. They're also not foldable, so they take up space in your bag. If you use them to watch in-flight movies, the sound profile emphasizes bass and low-mids, which can cause dialogue to sound a bit uneven and a little unclear. They're also decently comfortable, but the headband can catch on hair, and they're not amply padded, which can cause fatigue over extended trips.
Decent build quality.
- Doesn't reduce low rumbling noise.
- Uncomfortable headband.
- Can't fold down to a smaller size.
The AIAIAI TMA-2 DJ are poor for office work. As passive isolating headphones, they don't cut out bothersome noises well across the audible frequency spectrum. They also lack a microphone, limiting their usefulness for online meetings and calls. Their headband doesn't feel very comfortable or luxurious to wear because it can catch on hair or feel a bit sticky if you're bald, though they're lightweight. Still, if you like warm and bass-forward sound signatures, you may like their tonal qualities.
Decent build quality.
- Doesn't reduce low rumbling noise.
- Uncomfortable headband.
- No microphone included.
The AIAIAI TMA-2 DJ are a wired-only pair of headphones and can't be used wirelessly.
The AIAIAI TMA-2 DJ are middling for wired gaming. They lack a mic; if that's important, you can purchase a separate cable with an in-line and controls (which we've not tested). These are passive headphones that only connect via analog and don't have a USB wired mode or additional software to tweak. While they feel decently comfortable, they're not amply padded, and the silicone-lined headband can catch on hair. Their sound profile is quite warm and bassy, which can hinder the intelligibility of dialogue, and their sound varies depending on the wearer. The closed-back design doesn't doesn't lend sounds the range of depth of immersion that an angled reference speaker can.
- Modular design allows you to switch out components.
Decent build quality.
- Uncomfortable headband.
- No microphone included.
Very veiled treble range.
The AIAIAI TMA-2 DJ are satisfactory for audio reproduction accuracy. Considering they're meant for DJing, their warm and bass-forward sound signature provides ample oomph, though this sound profile lacks detail in the high frequencies, limiting their versatility. Their drivers are well-matched for the most part. Their low harmonic distortion levels ensure your audio plays back without audible timbral coloration. Still, the PRTF performance, like most on-ear closed-backs, indicates they don't interact with your ears' pinnas like angled reference speakers do. You can swap out parts, which means you can extend the lifespan or change the sound profile with new drivers, which is unique.
The AIAIAI TMA-2 DJ are poor for noise isolation, which is normal for passive headphones. They don't block low pitched noises like construction or ambient din. They dampen the sharpness of high-pitched noises like squealing brakes somewhat, though.
The AIAIAI TMA-2 DJ don't include a microphone. You can buy a separate cable with an in-line mic and controls, but we haven't tested this.
The AIAIAI TMA-2 DJ have unremarkable frequency response consistency. Due in part to the on-ear design, they sit a bit differently on everyone, regardless of their head size, hair length, or glasses. Although those different physical characteristics influence how you perceive the headphones' tuning, there's no winning combination, and they sound a bit different on everyone. That said, most people hear a slightly similar tuning but perceive it at different volumes.
Performance Usages
Changelog
- Updated Apr 20, 2026: This review has been updated to Test Bench 2.2, which removes the Cumulative Spectral Decay (CSD) test, retiring its waterfall plot visualization from our reviews. You can read more about this change in the changelog.
-
Updated Apr 15, 2026:
This review has been updated to Test Bench 2.1, which removes the Group Delay test and rebalances scoring for the Harmonic Distortion test and Audio Reproduction Accuracy performance usage. For more details, consult our full changelog.
- Updated Apr 09, 2026: We've converted this review to Test Bench 2.1, which features minor updates to our sound tests.
-
Updated Aug 22, 2025:
The Sound Profile was updated to compare the Audeze LCD-S20.
Check Price
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The AIAIAI TMA-2 DJ arrive as a preset combination of modular parts in a kit that you assemble from the box. There's just one color: Black. For reference, the components for this set include 'S02' drivers, an 'H02' headband, 'E01' ear pads, and a 'C02' coiled cable. You can see the label for our unit here.
If you encounter another variant of this headset, please let us know in the comments, and we'll update our review.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
The first difference between the AIAIAI TMA-2 DJ and most headphones is their modular design. You can change the part most responsible for the sound profile, the drivers, which is very unusual. With that said, the AIAIAI TMA-2 DJ are bass-dominant. Another of the company's cans, the TMA-2 DJ XE, use interchangeable parts, too, with drivers meant to sound more analytical. The AIAIAI TMA-2 aren't billed as specifically environmentally friendly, but their swappable parts inherently extend the lifespan of these headphones to everyone regardless of technical skill, similar to eco-friendly models such as the Fairphone Fairbuds XL. When set against the Sennheiser HD 25, another pair of wired on-ears with a notable amount of boom, the AIAIAI have more bass on tap and much less high-end.
Look at our best DJ headphones picks for more gear choices. The best bass headphones are worth a gander if you count yourself as a bass head. Lastly, if you're early in your hunt for headphones but need help figuring out where to start, check out the best headphones.
The AIAIAI TMA-2 DJ and the Sennheiser HD 25 headphones are designed for DJs or fans of on-ear designs and swappable cables. The AIAIAI sound more bass-heavy and warm with very de-emphasized mids and treble. Their design is modular, and you can swap out and replace nearly every component of the AIAIAI with other parts, but as is, they're less comfortable, and you can't pivot the ear cups at all. The Sennheiser cans offer a bump in the high-bass with a clearer mid-range and brighter treble, which is more versatile, but it can depend on your tastes. The unique splitting headband allows them to fit with better stability and comfort. The Sennheiser are the better pick for most DJs. Still, if you're a bass head, the AIAIAI are the better choice.
The Audio-Technica ATH-M50x and the AIAIAI TMA-2 DJ are passive headphones aimed at audio professionals. The Audio-Technica headphones have a more balanced profile with some bass emphasis, but not a lot, making them versatile in studios and DJ booths. They fit over-ears, with ample padding, and can fold down smaller. The design is fairly bulky, and they feel a bit plasticky. The AIAIAI are on-ear headphones, but they're not more portable because they don't fold. They sound quite warm and bassy, which you may prefer for beat-matching. You can change virtually every component, including the drivers, but as they are out of the box, their sound appeals more to EDM and hip-hop fans.
The V-MODA Crossfade 3 and the AIAIAI TMA-2 DJ are both headphones tuned for bass heads. The V-MODA are over-ears with better build quality, and you can replace some parts, but they're more complex to fix. They work both wirelessly and with analog. You can EQ them with their app when used wirelessly. They're more comfortable and stable. On the other hand, the AIAIAI are rather simple analog-only on-ears. You assemble them yourself, and they're easy to repair. They feel less comfortable, largely due to the headband being lined only with silicone, but they weigh much less. Unlike the V-MODA, you can swap out virtually every component easily, but you can't customize their warm sound with any apps, or fold them down like the V-MODA.
The Pioneer DJ HDJ CUE1BT and the AIAIAI TMA-2 DJ are both on-ear headphones that passively isolate environmental noises. The Pioneer DJ are more versatile with both Bluetooth and analog wired connectivity. Their sound offers more treble than the AIAIAI, which you may prefer depending on tastes. The AIAIAI are more straightforward with an analog-only connection and a warm, bassy voicing. You can swap out parts, which can extend the lifespan of the headphones.
Our How We Test Headphones article takes you behind the scenes in our lab. You'll learn how we choose and purchase products and dive into the details of our review philosophy, from testing and scoring to writing and editing.
You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.
Test Results
for pictures & test results
for pictures & test results
for pictures & test results
for pictures & test results
