The V-Moda Crossfade 2 Wireless improve on their previous wireless model, with a more comfortable and portable design. They're stable enough to run with, and they have a durable build that can handle a lot of physical stress. Unfortunately, they don't block enough ambient noise for loud environments, and they sound a bit dark, which might not be ideal for all listeners.
Our Verdict
Above-average for mixed usage. The V-Moda Crossfade 2 are a decent everyday casual pair of headphones that sound good enough for most listeners and have a sturdy and durable build quality. Unfortunately, they won't be ideal for all situations as they don't block that much noise and they lack a bit in active features, especially, for their price range.
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Great build quality.
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Comfortable and stable fit.
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Above-average sound quality.
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Poor isolation.
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Mediocre battery life.
Better-than-average for neutral listening. They have a good mid-range that's not get drowned by the slightly elevated bass. Unfortunately, they tend to sound a bit dark and lack detail because of the poor treble range. They won't be the ideal headphones for more neutral listeners but their sound quality should be good enough for most.
Decent for Commuting, although they may not isolate enough for the loud environments involved in commuting. They have a tough, durable a build, a decent control scheme and they fold into a more compact format that you can easily carry in your bag. Also, their included carrying case is one the better cases we've tested so far.
Suitable for sports. They have a stable and comfortable wireless design and a decent control scheme that's efficient once you get used to it. They also don't get too hot despite the closed-back design. Unfortunately, they're still a bit too bulky for intense workouts.
Above-average for office use. They're decently comfortable to wear for long periods of time and they don't leak much. However, they do not block a lot of noise so they won't be ideal for very noisy office environments.
- 6.7 Mixed Usage
- 6.9 Neutral Sound
- 6.6 Commute/Travel
- 7.2 Sports/Fitness
- 6.6 Office
- 5.3 Wireless Gaming
- 6.9 Wired Gaming
- 6.0 Phone Call
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
- Updated Feb 16, 2018: Converted to Test Bench 1.2.
- Updated Sep 28, 2017: The microphone has been tested with our new methodology, as explained here
- Updated Aug 10, 2017: Converted to Test Bench 1.1.
- Updated Jun 08, 2017: Review published.
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Test Results
V-Moda has a unique and sleek headphone design that permeates through their entire lineup. All their headphones look pretty much the same with slight changes that won't be noticeable at first glance. For the Crossfade II wireless, they bring back the foldable frame of the Crossfade M-100 and also have thicker pads around the ear cups that make them look and feel a bit more premium. They come in a couple of different color schemes, and you can also customize the back plates of the ear cups through the V-Moda website. These headphones will stand out in a crowd even if you choose the less flashy matte black color scheme.
The padding on the Crossfade 2 is a lot better than on the previous iterations. This makes them slightly more comfortable and although they are as tight as the M-100 the pressure is more evenly distributed thanks to the thicker pads. However, the size of the ear cups might not be ideal for all listeners as the thicker padding also creates a narrower opening than on previous models.
The control scheme for the Crossfade II provides all the essential functions; call/music, track-skipping, and volume controls. The buttons also deliver above-average tactile feedback when pressed. Unfortunately, the layout of the control scheme is not the best. The buttons are on the top of the right ear cup which takes a bit of getting used to and doesn't feel as ergonomic as some of the other wireless headphones we've tested.
Unlike the original Crossfade wireless, the 2nd iteration brings back the CliqFold hinges that were on the M-100. This makes the headphones decently portable as they fold into a more compact format that may fit in some larger jacket pockets. However, they are still fairly large over-ear headphones so you will most likely have to carry them in your bag rather than on your person, despite the foldable design.
Comes with a similar hard case as that of the crossfade m-100. It's a tough hard case that protects the headphones against drops, impacts, water damage, scratches, and scuffs. It also doesn't add too much bulk since the case is designed for the more compact CliqFold frame of the V-Moda Crossfade 2 Wireless, unlike the previous wireless model.
The build quality of the V-moda lineup is great, and the Crossfade II Wireless are no exception. The materials used feel premium, especially for the improved padding on the ear cups. They have strong and flexible metal frame that reinforces the headband and the ear cups themselves are dense and won't get easily damaged by an accidental drop. However, the return of the folding mechanism adds a bit more weak points like the M-100 and the exposed wire could get caught in the hinges and may also wear and tear over time.
The Crossfade II Wireless are a bit less stable than the M-100, but they have a wireless design that will prevent the headphones from getting yanked off your head because the audio cable got hooked on something. However, since the ear cups are thicker and stick out more than on the M-100s, they sway a little when running or exercising. They won't fall easily, but they may slide off your ears under high-intensity activities or workout routines.
- V-MODA Crossfade 2 Wireless Headphones
- Carrying case
- 1/4" to 1/8" Adapter
- Audio cable
- USB cable
- Manual
Average Consistency performance. The Bass Range of the V-Moda is prone to inconsistencies depending on the head shape/size, and positioning preferences of the user. Our measurements shows a maximum variance of 6dB in the Bass Range which is significant and noticeable. They, however, perform more consistently in the Treble Range and show about 3dB of variance up to 10KHz, which is good.
Decent Bass Range performance. The overall response is relatively flat, however, it is consistently overemphasized by about 4dB. This makes the sound of these headphones noticeably bass-heavy.
Excellent Mid Range performance. The response is consistent, flat and virtually flawless in the Mid Range.
Poor Treble Range performance. Low-treble is flat and consistent up to 4KHz. The dip in treble, surrounding 6KHz has a noticeable negative effect on the detail and articulation of vocals and lead instruments. At 10KHz, the right channel shows a 10dB peak which could make these headphones sibilant and sharp, but since it is happening only in one ear, it may not be intended and could be the result of driver mismatch.
Poor Isolation. The V-Moda don't have active noise cancelling, and their passive isolation doesn't isolate below 500Hz. In the Mid Range, they achieve about 7dB of reduction which is below average and in the Treble Range, they achieve about 27dB of reduction which is decent.
Decent Leakage performance. The significant portion of the leakage sits between 400Hz and 10KHz which is a broad range. However, the overall level of the leakage is quite low. Therefore, the sound leaking out of these headphones will be relatively full-sounding and mid-rangy, but quiet.
The Crossfade II have a somewhat average battery life of 11.2 hours. It feels relatively short when compared to other wireless over-ear headphones, especially since they don't even have noise canceling, but it should be enough to get you through the day. Unfortunately, they don't have an auto-off timer, and you can't use them while they are charging, but on the upside, they charge relatively fast and have complete passive playback with no major sound differences in their sound quality.
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