DJ-style headphones don’t often win over audiophiles, but such has not been the case with V-Moda’s M-series headphones. The new M-100 over-ear headphone is a larger version of the M-80, with 50mm drivers. V-Moda CEO Val Kolton described the sound as “a little bit more to the DJ style,” meaning it’s a little bass-heavy. My brief listening session confirmed his description, but IMHO they’re not crazily bassy, just satisfyingly bassy, and the soundstage was pretty colossal. Expect the M-100 to sell for about $300 when it launches in one to two months. When I asked Kolton why he didn’t court celebrity endorsees, he replied, “We don’t play that game — but we reserve the right to pay someone not to wear our headphones.”
Kolton also showed me a prototype of the company’s upcoming flagship model, the Revolver. True to its name, the earpieces revolve on beefy metal pivots. You can choose your own side plates from eight different woodgrains, CNC billet metal, or carbon fiber. Expect an April introduction. They’re also prepping a headphone amp that snaps onto the back of an iPhone, and that includes a rechargeable battery that powers the amp and the phone.
