Ultimate Unbiased V Moda Crossfade LP2 Review

Are you looking for an exciting pair of headphones that are also as durable as a tank and produce good sound quality? Our review of the v-moda Crossfade headphones will provide you will all the information that you would need to make the perfect decision. Do you prefer an extended bass response with crisp detail? If you only prefer extremely flat and neutral cans, you might as well leave now! (No hard feelings, but these are the exact opposite of flat or analytical.)

Throughout this review, we’ll do our best to help you understand the best and worst features these cans have to offer, as well as hopefully answering any questions you have! Our second goal is to point out where they perform at their best (and for what type of listener)!  

If you’re anything like us, you probably agree with the importance of having all the facts before you make your decision! Keep reading our review of the V-Moda Crossfade LP2 to see if they have everything you’re looking for!

V Moda Crossfade LP2 Review – Most Exciting Cans Under $200?

Basic Features & Technical Specs:

• Circumaural (over-ear) wearing design
• Includes: 1/4″ adapter, carabiner + exoskeleton hard shell carrying case
• Also Includes: SpeakEasy cable (w/in-line controls & mic cable) + extended 3.5 mm mic cable
• Driver Type: Dual-diaphragm
• Driver Size: 50 mm
• Frequency Response: 5 Hz – 30,000 Hz
• Impedance: 32 Ohms
• Sensitivity: 105 dB @ 1 kHz 1 mW
• Dimensions: 7.1 x 4.4 x 9.4 inches
• Weight: 9.17 ounces

Before you move on, take a quick look at the links below that you can use to navigate our review. Each section will provide an in-depth analysis of each individual performance aspect.

Here are the 5 most important features you’ll want to consider before making your decision:

1. Build Design & Military-Level Durability
2. Comfort – Long Lasting or Short Lived?
3. Sonic Performance – Are They Easy To Drive?
4. What Is The Immortal Life Program?
5. Who Are These Ideal For?

Now that you’ve taken a quick look at the technical specs, let’s start by examining two of the most important features – their build design and military-level durability!

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Build Design & Military-Level Durability

These v-moda crossfade LP2 headphones cans feature an all-metal build with a matte black finish that doubles as a fashion statement and an extremely durable frame. Underneath the headband, is a proprietary SteelFlex metal. It’s been tested for durability and you can twist it, bend it, and even fold it completely flat. It will snap right back into shape (within certain limits of course). 

You can bend the headband completely flat up to 10 times before you start to cause any damage. These headphones themselves can also survive up to 60 drops from around 5 feet in the air onto concrete! (If you have another pair of over-ears that can survive that kind of punishment, let us know in the comments below.) 

Watch the quick video below demonstrating the military-level durability and a few other features:

While neither of the ear cups rotate or twist, they are sitting on a hinge mechanism that allows them to slightly swivel back and forth. Keep in mind that only the ear cups can swivel, not the metal holding them in place. 

Along with the v-moda crossfade LP2 headphones, you’ll also receive a removable headphone cable with a built-in microphone with a strong mic cable. The microphone has above-average clarity and works well for taking phone calls or using Skype with your friends or family. 

The second cable is an extended Kevlar-reinforced 3.5 mm cable without an in-line remote. If you want to pair these with a desktop amp or use them with your PC at home – the 1/4″ adapter and extended cable will definitely come in handy. 

The exoskeleton hard shell carrying case is as durable as the name suggests. For example, the case will easily protect your ‘phones if you have it tucked away in your bag and you accidentally sit on it.

Although we don’t recommend running it over with your car, it provides more than enough protection from everyday wear and tear… as well as most other potential impacts (like the example above). The bottom line is that (when you keep them in their case) you definitely don’t have to worry about keeping them safe. 

It has a zipper enclosure plus a soft cloth inside and several elastic holders where you can keep the extra cable. As you can see in the picture below, there’s plenty of room inside for your cans and any other accessories you want to bring along. 

Customized Shield Kits

If you want to ‘stand out from the crowd’, you can customize the metal covering on the outside of both ear cups. Each shield can be unscrewed and replaced with a custom faceplate. 

You can have a completely custom 3D printed or laser-engraved shield designed. For example, if you’re a sports fan, you can have the team logo laser engraved on each shield. You could even have the logo on one side, and the team name on the other. 

If you’d rather add some extra texture to your ‘phones, the 3D printing option is a great bonus feature. (Keep in mind that this feature isn’t included with your purchase free of charge.) You can click the image below to learn more.) 

Although you might prefer a more low-key design, the customized shield kits can be a fun way to change the color scheme or express your inner artist! Now that you know what to expect in this area, you’re probably wondering how comfortable they are!

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Comfort – Long Lasting or Short Lived?

As you can see in the picture below, it looks like these have somewhat minimal padding. Minimal padding isn’t always a bad thing, but it will affect how long you can comfortably wear them! Since they are fairly lightweight compared to other similar models, it seems like they’d have long-lasting comfort. Read our detailed take below to see if the comfort is long-lasting… or short-lived!

Memory Foam Ear Cushions & Passive Noise Isolation

Both ear cups have memory foam ear cushions that are fully-replaceable if you’re not completely satisfied for any reason. They are fairly breathable and don’t cause any noticeable over-heating or excessive ear fatigue. One slight downside to the stock cushions is that they are slimmer than some. 

How does this affect your wearing comfort? Well, their shallower design can cause your ears to touch the inside of the ear cup. However, they aren’t so shallow that your ears will be completely pressed against the inside of the ear cups. However minor it may seem, we think it’s worth mentioning. 

Since the memory foam cushions form to the contour of your head (more than usual) they’re able to block some outside noise. Although they don’t eliminate as much noise like a pair of dedicated noise-cancelling over-ear headphones, they do isolate pretty well. Now, let’s take a look at how comfortable the headband padding is after an hour or more!

Headband Padding

Our only complaint in this area has to do with the headband padding. After wearing them for longer than an hour, you may start to notice some slight discomfort on the top of your head. Since they aren’t very heavy, we think the headband could use some extra padding. (Granted, this does depend on how they fit your specific head shape.) 

Aside from the minor discomfort caused by the headband, they are still pretty comfy. They have a decent amount of clamp which makes them stay very securely in place if you like to walk around and listen to music. Once again, since they don’t have a folding design – it would be nice to have just a little bit more padding. 

Now that you know what to expect in terms of comfort, keep reading to see what they actually sound like!

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Sonic Performance – Most Exciting Sound Quality Under $200?!

One thing you’ll never hear anyone say is that the V-moda crossfade LP2 headphones sound quality is boring. Do they have an absolutely perfect sonic performance in every way? Not necessarily, but that also depends on what type of sound signature you prefer. As we mentioned at the very beginning – these are the exact opposite of neutral. 

Does that mean you can’t enjoy listening to a wide variety of music? Not at all, in fact, they are quite versatile across a wide range of genres! Their impedance of 32 Ohms also makes them extremely easy to drive. That means you don’t have to pair them with a powerful DAC or portable amp to experience everything mentioned in our detailed breakdown below!

Bass Response – Extended or Condensed?

When you’re listening to songs like “Paralyse” by Slumberjack, you’ll immediately notice how far the low end extends. It has a nice rumble that’s amplified even more when you pair it with a portable headphone amp like the FiiO A3. Despite the extremely deep and wide tonal build quality, the bass rarely interferes (or bleeds) into the mid-range.

Listen to the full audio for “Paralyse” below to see what we mean:

That being said, on certain tracks (and at higher volumes), the low end can slightly overshadow lower-pitched vocals. For the most part, the bass manages to avoid becoming distorted or muddy (which is exactly what we’re looking for). 

Mid Range – Subdued or Overshadowed?

Although we wouldn’t necessarily call these v-shaped, there is a somewhat subdued build quality to the mid-range. When you’re listening to especially chaotic and multi-layered rock, metal, or alternative music – much of the crisp vocal detail gets pushed to the back of the mix.

Other styles of music such as electronic, EDM, hip-hop, and pop sound quality that is much clearer and more evenly-balanced. Since the bass is extended and the mid-range is more laid-back, does that mean the treble sounds extra sharp or piercing?

Treble – Tinny or Bright?

These cans tend to favor the sub and mid bass frequencies (but that doesn’t mean they neglect the treble). In fact, the treble is noticeably aggressive and bright. Keep in mind, you can still turn the volume up much louder than usual before the highs become uncomfortable to listen to.  

On tracks like “Gold” by 888, the higher-pitched electronic elements easily stay within comfortable limits. Listen to the full audio for “Gold” below to see what we mean:

Soundstage & Detail Separation

Before we move onto the next section, it’s important to note that your music will sound very crisp, forward, and detailed – no matter what genre you prefer. These cans also have an impressively-wide soundstage for a pair of closed back over-ear headphones. 

The emphasized low end and bright treble both extend in a way that makes for a completely immersive listening experience. They also do a pretty good job at clearly separating each element present on any given recording.

All things considered, the extremely engaging and forward response is the only possible downside to their sonic performance. Once again, these aren’t ideal for critical listening or for use as an accurate reference can. What they do excel at is producing one of the most exciting sound quality signatures at this price point! 

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What Is The Immortal Life Program?

One of the many perks this company has to offer is their Immortal Life Program. What is it? In a nutshell, it’s  a company-specific upgrade program. 

Here’s how it works:

• You purchase a pair of V Moda headphones
• After using them for a while, you decide you want an upgrade
• You choose an eligible upgrade to replace your current pair
• You send in your current pair
• You receive a 50% OFF coupon for the upgrade
• They send you your discounted upgrade

Keep in mind that you won’t be able to upgrade to any pair you want. It basically allows you to choose a different model in the same category (but at a 50% discount). For example, if you decide to grab a pair of these, you can trade them in for a different over-ear model. 

This is the only headphone company (as far as we know) that offers a trade-in program of this caliber. All in all, it’s a great bonus feature that allows you to try more than one model with no strings attached. Now that you understand how the 50% trade-in program works, take a look at our final recap below!

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Who Are These Ideal For?

These would be a great fit for you if you’re tired of dealing with cheaply-built pair of headphones that break after a month or two. Since they also sound great (on top of their military-level durability) – there’s only one reason they wouldn’t be a perfect match.

Without trying to sound like a broken record, their engaging sound signature is usually best for casual listening. Although you could use them for recording at home – they won’t give you the most accurate reference mix. Aside from their possibly too-aggressive playback, these can be enjoyed by listeners of all types!

If you’re still on the fence and aren’t quite sure whether or not these are the absolutely ideal choice for you – we suggest you take a look at the review table below. There, you will see the main pros/cons as well as how we calculated their final rating out of 10.

Now that you’ve read our entire V-Moda Crossfade LP2 review, what do you think? Should you add these to your collection? Are they really the most exciting headphones under $200?!? 

If you’d like to see more information before you decide, click the link below!

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Let us know what you think by leaving a question or comment below! We always do our best to respond as quickly as we can! Thanks for stopping by to take a look at our review, we look forward to hearing from you!

Sonic Elevation: Ride The Waves.