AIAIAI TMA-2 (DJ Preset) Professional Headphones - modular headphone system with fully customisable, upgradeable and replaceable parts , Black

Product Information

When cutting my teeth as an audio journo several years ago, Sennheiser's cheap HD 25 on-ears were handed to me so I might at least lookclued up in the audio game. I wore them everywhere. I managed to nab myself the 75th anniversary pairin 2020, while working for TechRadar's sister publication, What Hi-Fi? The assembly process is VERY easy, as everything is well made and snaps together firmly. The headband slides through slots in the driver cups, while the ear pads clip on with 4 small pegs. Plug the headband cable into each driver cup and you are ready to go. Open up the bags and see what’s inside. In the box Another perk produced by the W+ Link tech is that you can transform devices that only have an analog audio output into wireless media sources. Whether this be instruments, amplifiers or other hi-fi and AV kit, these headphones can bring them into the modern age. Provided with the transmitter is a neon green coiled audio cable and a 3.5mm-to-6.35mm adapter. This arrived very tightly bound and is permanently warped as a result. This warping, in combination with the stiff cable and light weight of the transmitter, negates the function of the coiled cable as the transmitter will sit wherever the cable wants it to rather than allowing the user to place it in varying positions and distances from the audio source.

I have still given them a 2, because the headphones still work through wired connection but even that is a bit too much of a rating because they have been frequently going out of one ear. The TMA-2 modular concept is great, and although it’s not possible to get a true sense of which components will best suit you, the product descriptions for the two review configurations are pretty accurate. Overall, they are great for recording, DJing and general listening, though there are more suitable studio headphones for mixing and mastering.While the suppressed highs and lows make for a less exciting listen than something like Sony’s WH-1000XM4, the overall balance feels more neutral and makes for a more clinical profile with decent (but not exceptional) separation. The sound clarity won’t match audiophile-grade cans or dedicated studio monitors, but it’s a step above much of the wireless headphone competition.

The H10 headband is bulkier than other TMA-2 offerings, likely due to it housing the wireless tech and the larger battery needed to power it. We also found it rather stiff around our (admittedly large) head which, combined with its size, made for a clamping sensation that was fatiguing after a short while. Things stay clear and natural sounding, although edges may be slightly blunted and rounded off. There’s good presence, but I wouldn’t describe the MOVE Wireless as crisp sounding. Enjoyable rather than critical listening. Treble The Wireless + headband does not connect to the X-01 transmitter. So they are not wireless. At all.

Sustainability

Overall, we’re impressed with the TMA-2’s when configured correctly. They stand unique in the market, and we can fully understand why more and more DJs are switching. We’re a big fan of the concept, not only for the benefits brought to the customer but also for the environment. Rather than telling you what you need, AIAIAI allows the DJ to make their custom headphone with minimal fuss. A great situation in which everyone wins. The flagship feature of these headphones is its ability to switch between a Bluetooth connection and a wireless 2.4GHz connection (dubbed W+ Link), the latter promising almost no latency (16ms) and the ability to stream uncompressed audio up to 1500kbps. For reference, FLAC files encoded from CD audio (44.1kHz/16-bit) have a bitrate of 1411kbps. While the battery life is an impressive 80 hours in Bluetooth mode, this drops to 16 hours in W+ Link mode. Additionally, the X01 transmitter must be recharged every 30 hours.

Although, admittedly, as an iPhone user, I would only use AAC (as it’s the default Apple codec). And, of course, the Bluetooth connection is secondary to AIAIAI’s W+ Link tech, which supports “uncompressed and stable 16bit connection from larger bandwidth and dual antennas”.The speaker unit contains a bio-cellulose diaphragm made from bacterial cellulose, an organic compound grown using certain types of bacteria. The precision-grown diaphragm from bio-cellulose is stiffer, lighter, and stronger than regular PET speaker units, allowing the sound-producing diaphragm to vibrate without the levels of distortion found in other speakers.” – AIAIAI The S05MKII bio-cellulose driver is visible through the grill. Bluetooth and W+ Link If memory serves me, the first time I came across AIAIAI gear was circa 2010 when I spotted Ross "HudMo" Birchard sporting some of the earliest generation TMAs. Instantly, I thought to myself, "R.I.P. HD25 mk2...".

Even with the basic AAC Bluetooth connection, the sound quality is very good. Frequency response graph of the AIAIAI TMA-2 MOVE Wireless vs the Studio Wireless+ as measured on a miniDSP EARS measurement fixture. Bass

Product manuals

I attempted to measure the frequency response of both pad types, but the smaller, on-ear nature of the E10 pads and the stiff silicone ears on the EARS device likely skew the measurements. It all works far better with over-ear pads which make a superior seal. However, the dissimilar sound signature lines are indicative of the real-life sound difference between the two pad types. Comparison of the frequency response graph between the E04 and E10 ear pads as measured on a miniDSP EARS measurement fixture. Bass Note that there is no environmental or active noise cancellation (ENC or ANC) and the Alcantara pads allow a certain amount of external sound to penetrate, so the Studio Wireless+ aren’t trying to compete in the travel or commuting wireless headphone category.