Aiaiai TMA-2 (S02)
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AIAIAI TMA-2 HD Headphones (Comfort) - Ingenious Design
Oh My, is what I said when I heard the AIAIAI TMA-2 HD Headphones. They are a modular headphone packaged in pieces, they cost about 400 USD, and will be compared to SoundMagic HP1000, Ollo S4X, and Sivga P-II. They will also be paired with Hiby R3 PRO, iBasso DX300, and HIDIZS AP80 PRO. This is the S05 variant, the most detailed one they offer, and other drivers may have a different signature, so please make sure to get the matching driver to the desired sound when ordering them.
Introduction
AIAIAI is the kind of company you see tons of ads from, but which you can't really audition before purchasing anywhere. This being said, they are really nice with their customers, and invest a ton in customer satisfaction and overall support. Their products have a special appeal to them, and fully modular headphones means that you can invest in a headphone now, and you'll be able to upgrade later on using the components they also provide. They are more than ten years old now, and since the release of their TMA-1 headphones in 2010, they've been improving, so today we'll be exploring ten years worth of tech advancement from a company dedicated to music.
It should be noted that I have absolutely no affiliation with AIAIAI, I am not receiving any incentive for this review or to sweeten things out. I'd like to thank AIAIAI for providing the sample for this review. Every opinion expressed is mine and I stand by it, the purpose of this review is to help those interested in AIAIAI TMA-2 HD Headphones find their next music companion.
Packaging
First things first, let's get the packaging out of the way:
I had no idea that the package would be impossible to be put back in place after I unboxed it, but AIAIAI TMA-2 HD is literally impossible to put back once you unbox it.
More like, I couldn't package the components again, but to describe the unboxing experience, it is surely premium. You get a larger cardboard box, with mini packages made of plastic which have the headphone components inside. Everything is packaged individually, and you can order all components individually.
Since they are a bluetooth headphone at their core, this also means that you can upgrade your bluetooth module (which updates the amplifier / DAC), and you can update the drivers / cups separately.
Overall, really nice unboxing experience.
Build Quality/Aesthetics/Fit/Comfort
The build quality is actually really nice. They have a soft touch surface that's really amazing to the touch. It gathers fingerprints a bit, but it is really nice in reality and fairly easy to clean. After a few months, they have no signs of usage, so I think they should survive fairly well to long term usage.
The comfort is actually excellent, but I do have the comfort variant. The cups are fairly soft, large, with ear pads covered in alcantara. They promise ultra-soft over-the-ear cushions and they deliver on this nicely. My ears are a bit taller than the earpads, and I have medium ears, so if you have larger ears, you may have to categorize them as "on-ear" rather than over-the-ear.
Assembling the headphones is really easy, especially when you take into account that it is just placing everything together, and plugin in the cables. I found that if you can assemble lego, you'll have no trouble with AIAIAI TMA-2 HD. The bluetooth headband promises 24-Bit transmission, which I am physically unable to test, but they do come with SBC, AAC, aptX, and aptX HD. I can confirm that aptX HD works nicely, and they sound really nice. They promise 16 hours of play time, which is close to the ~ 12 hours I was able to get when blasting them loud.
The fact that they include recycled materials means that we can have headphones with some responsibility towards our environment. I personally found them to work well, there is some microphonic noise if used the headphones in wired mode, as the cable is somewhat thick and rigid. You can attach the cable to any cup and it will work well, the cable attaches to just one of the cups for wired mode. The bluetooth connection is ok, with an ok range.
The headband is adjustable, and despite it looking edgy and thin, it is good for comfort, as the inside of the headband is soft and padded with a pretty solid sponge. I am having good overall comfort, and you can adjust the headphones in size, and the plastic headband is really flexible and will adjust to your head easily.
Youtube Video
Sound Quality
The sound of AIAIAI TMA-2 HD is better over the wired connection rather than the wireless one. I am having excellent overall experience with good DAPs but even entry-level ones will do a fair job, and they are fairly easy to drive. I am running the S05 variant, the most detailed one, and I am liking the sound.
I would describe the sound as slightly V-Shaped, with a stronger overall bass , and stronger overall upper midrange and treble. There's a bit of bass bleed in the midrange, and there's a good sense of space in music, with a wider soundstage. The treble is energetic, and I tried to found other reviews online about the TMA-2 HD, and I frankly disagree with some of them, and I'll explain why in just a second.
First off, I found the bass to be really nicely extended, thunderous, and deep. It also has zero distortion, and at least when connected to a good source like iBasso DX300, it is deep, detailed and well-controlled. It has some bleed in the midrange, and offers a darker tone to the mids than absolutely neutral, but it is not enough to consider it distorted. The sound is really punchy all over, and also has good dynamics. If you're coming from something that's purely basshead, you'll feel that the bass isn't quite enough, especially if you compare the AIAIAI TMA-2 HD to LCD-2C or Verum One, but comparing them to Soundmagic HP1000, they have a really beautiful and punchy bass. If you need more bass, there's a good 3-5 dB of headroom in the sub-bass you can add with no distortions and no negative effects.
The midrange is extremely clear, and despite being slightly less in amount than the bass and the treble, it has a good clarity. I am amazed by how good they pair with metal, rock, even power metal. I haven't listened to Machinae supremacy and Mindless Self Indulgence in months now, but putting the TMA-2 HD on my head simply revived my passion for those two bands. And it ain't due to their bass, it is the midrange, with the textures, and vocal presentation. The tuning favors both male and female voices, both clean and screams / distorted. The midrange cannot be pushed more forward, and I would actually suggest applying a bit of EQ to bring it back and further bring the bass forward.
The treble is enhanced, and I can see why some people weren't as big fans as I am. The thing here is that the treble is peppy, sparkly, not smooth and boring. This gives the AIAIAI TMA-2 HD excellent detail, and even at this price point, they can hold their ground. I can see someone finding them a bit fatiguing, they are really detailed and forward in their tuning, but the treble has zero distortion in my experience, it is just a clean, crisp treble with excellent expression. In fact, they have one of the best extensions in the treble I heard, and I can totally vouch for AIAIAI TMA-2 HD being an excellent purchase for treble heads too.
The whole headphone can be too forward even for me, and the best experience is not with pop, but with metal, dubstep, rock, aggressive music. Despite their edgy and modern looks, AIAIAI TMA-2 HD sounds their best with aggressive music, even RAP, but not with classical, not with jazz or slow music.
Comparisons
The main competitors have been chosen based on price, and since TMA-2 HD is priced around 400 USD, I picked Sivga P-II, Soundmagic HP1000, and Ollo S4X to compete with the basshead dream of TMA-2 HD.
The overall price/performance ratio of TMA-2 HD is excellent, so it will be interesting to see how a nice closed-back design compares to other cans. None of the competitors don't have bluetooth at this price point, and that's a huge bonus for TMA-2HD.
AIAIAI TMA-2 HD vs Soundmagic HP1000 (400 USD vs 500 USD) - The comfort is slightly better on HP1000, and having a carrying case surely helps. The overall sound is much more natural and balanced on TMA-2 HD. There's a better sense of space, more detail, more clarity and more impact on TMA-2 HD, with more bass and better sub-bass extension. I am especially impressed by TMA-2 HD and how it can have both detail and be good with aggressive music. HP1000 sounds a bit too bright, and can bring a bit too much detail forward, making them ultimately fatiguing for me after a while, where TMA-2HD is aggressive but never truly fatiguing for me personally. I love the TMA-2 HD, but wish they did this sound in the build and form factor of HP1000 sometimes, as I prefer the comfort and build of HP1000.
AIAIAI TMA-2 HD vs Ollo S4X (400 USD vs 400 USD) - I am in love with both here, and they have a somewhat similar fit. I found the clamping force to be more natural for S4X, as it is a bit high on TMA-2 HD for my head. You can get over this by stretching the headphones in a box, but it is something to know you'll have to do. The sound is more mid forward for S4X, it also has more detail. By comparison, AIAIAI TMA-2 HD sounds a bit more natural, more aggressive all around, more forward in the treble, with slightly less bass. Both are snappy, and S4X is a bit quicker, but this also makes them slightly more grainy when placed side by side with TMA-2 HD.
AIAIAI TMA-2 HD vs Sivga P-II (400 USD vs 400 USD) - P-II is the type of headphone that is punchy, and it is more comfy with a better package than TMA2HD. P-II does not have bluetooth though, so some bonus points go to TMA-2 HD as well. The sound is more punchy on P-II but it lacks the treble sparkle and spike from TMA-2 HD. I prefer the overall treble of TMA-2 HD. I also prefer the overall detail on TMA-2 HD. Sivga P-II is considerably smoother and less aggressive, so it works better for most Jazz, Classical and pop, where TMa-2 HD works better for rock, metal, dubstep and aggressive music. In general, I would recommend TMA-2 HD to those who want more treble, a more sparkly sound, and a more V-Shaped sound. I would recommend P-II to someone looking for a thicker, more punchy headphone that's never fatiguing or aggressive.
Recommended Pairings
Pairing TMA-2 HD is actually tricky. You should know that they sound much clearer, more open, more detailed and more punchy from the wired connection, especially if you're using a good source.
I had the best experience pairing them with Lotoo Paw 6000, but that one has to wait a bit, because DX300 also is excellent, and I paired them with more entry-level sources too, like Hiby R3 PRO and HIDIZS AP80 PRO, to see how they sound like from a less expensive source.
AIAIAI TMA-2 HD + iBasso DX300 (400 USD + 1200 USD) - I noticed that the sound is considerably more natural and open, more vivid and detailed when pairing TMA-02 HD with DX300 via the cable, rather than the bluetooth connection. The sound is natural, really wide, open and punchy. I love the treble presentation, which is peppy but smooth, never harsh and never distorted. Also enjoying the overall clarity a lot. The pairing seems like overkill, and it is, but it is a good way to notice that TMA-2 HD can scale with the source, and that it is best when paired with a better source.
AIAIAI TMA-2 HD + HIDIZS AP80 PRO (400 USD + 200 USD) - With AP80 PRO, the sound is still better wired than when using bluetooth. I see bluetooth as a nice feature, but it is best used for emergencies only, since the TMA-2 HD Headphones have a ton of potential and can sound so good using them wired. I love the overall clarity, detail and punchiness of the pairing. There's a good sense of space, in both depth and width. I also enjoy the pairing for usability, and we have access to MSEB, so if you find them a bit too forward, you can turn down the treble a bit. It is also possible to increase the bass a bit since they have a good amount of headroom.
AIAIAI TMA-2 HD + Hiby R3 PRO (400 USD + 200 USD) - Destined to be a good pairing, R3 PRO totally drives the TMA-2 HD nicely. There's a good amount of space, clarity and even detail. I am enjoying the pairing with Machinae supremacy while doing my daily walk, and here it goes without saying that the bluetooth should not be used, since r3pro does not have the strongest bluetooth experience. The dynamics of the pairing are really good especially for an entry-level source powering the TMA-2 HD.
Value and Conclusion
In terms of value, we found excellent value with AIAIAI TMA-2 HD. They sound open, detailed, and are made nicely, with environment protection in mind, and they also offer a nice package. You can upgrade, fix, repair them easily, and they feel nicely, so in terms of value they are a pure 10.
The package is interesting and assembling them is a satisfying experience, pretty similar to building your own computer. They are not HIFIMAN Deva which you purchase and use, they need a bit of work to get going.
The end comfort is good, although even the comfort pads are a bit small for my ears. They offer a good amount of isolation, but not as much as a constructor's hearing protection headphone. More around 10 dB to maximum 15 dB of passive noise isolation. They also leak a bit, so no listening to metal outdoors if you don't want to share the awesome stuff with anyone else.
The sound is detailed, clean, bassy, has excellent impact, and can be described as V-Shaped too. The soundstage is natural leaning towards wide, the instrument separation is excellent, and they are great for drums, rap, metal, rock and not as good for Jazz and quiet listening.
At the end of today's review, AIAIAI TMA-2 HD is a lively headphone, something to be listened loud, something better than any beats model, something offering a novelty concept, and a clean, strong sound with excellent bass and good treble extension too. At the price of 400 USD, it is a realy reocmmneed model.
--- Please remember to stay safe, and always have fun while listening to music!---
Full Playlist used for this review
We listened to more songs than those named in this playlist, but those are excellent for identifying a sonic signature. PRaT, Texturization, Detail, Resolution, Dynamics, Impact, and overall tonality are all revealed by those songs. We recommend trying most of the songs from this playlist, especially if you’re searching for new music!
Youtube Playlist
[embedyt]
Tidal Playlist
https://listen.tidal.com/playlist/64555551-ec3c-4279-ae44-248fdfcf6c4b
Oh My, is what I said when I heard the AIAIAI TMA-2 HD Headphones. They are a modular headphone packaged in pieces, they cost about 400 USD, and will be compared to SoundMagic HP1000, Ollo S4X, and Sivga P-II. They will also be paired with Hiby R3 PRO, iBasso DX300, and HIDIZS AP80 PRO. This is the S05 variant, the most detailed one they offer, and other drivers may have a different signature, so please make sure to get the matching driver to the desired sound when ordering them.
Introduction
AIAIAI is the kind of company you see tons of ads from, but which you can't really audition before purchasing anywhere. This being said, they are really nice with their customers, and invest a ton in customer satisfaction and overall support. Their products have a special appeal to them, and fully modular headphones means that you can invest in a headphone now, and you'll be able to upgrade later on using the components they also provide. They are more than ten years old now, and since the release of their TMA-1 headphones in 2010, they've been improving, so today we'll be exploring ten years worth of tech advancement from a company dedicated to music.
It should be noted that I have absolutely no affiliation with AIAIAI, I am not receiving any incentive for this review or to sweeten things out. I'd like to thank AIAIAI for providing the sample for this review. Every opinion expressed is mine and I stand by it, the purpose of this review is to help those interested in AIAIAI TMA-2 HD Headphones find their next music companion.
Packaging
First things first, let's get the packaging out of the way:
I had no idea that the package would be impossible to be put back in place after I unboxed it, but AIAIAI TMA-2 HD is literally impossible to put back once you unbox it.
More like, I couldn't package the components again, but to describe the unboxing experience, it is surely premium. You get a larger cardboard box, with mini packages made of plastic which have the headphone components inside. Everything is packaged individually, and you can order all components individually.
Since they are a bluetooth headphone at their core, this also means that you can upgrade your bluetooth module (which updates the amplifier / DAC), and you can update the drivers / cups separately.
Overall, really nice unboxing experience.
Build Quality/Aesthetics/Fit/Comfort
The build quality is actually really nice. They have a soft touch surface that's really amazing to the touch. It gathers fingerprints a bit, but it is really nice in reality and fairly easy to clean. After a few months, they have no signs of usage, so I think they should survive fairly well to long term usage.
The comfort is actually excellent, but I do have the comfort variant. The cups are fairly soft, large, with ear pads covered in alcantara. They promise ultra-soft over-the-ear cushions and they deliver on this nicely. My ears are a bit taller than the earpads, and I have medium ears, so if you have larger ears, you may have to categorize them as "on-ear" rather than over-the-ear.
Assembling the headphones is really easy, especially when you take into account that it is just placing everything together, and plugin in the cables. I found that if you can assemble lego, you'll have no trouble with AIAIAI TMA-2 HD. The bluetooth headband promises 24-Bit transmission, which I am physically unable to test, but they do come with SBC, AAC, aptX, and aptX HD. I can confirm that aptX HD works nicely, and they sound really nice. They promise 16 hours of play time, which is close to the ~ 12 hours I was able to get when blasting them loud.
The fact that they include recycled materials means that we can have headphones with some responsibility towards our environment. I personally found them to work well, there is some microphonic noise if used the headphones in wired mode, as the cable is somewhat thick and rigid. You can attach the cable to any cup and it will work well, the cable attaches to just one of the cups for wired mode. The bluetooth connection is ok, with an ok range.
The headband is adjustable, and despite it looking edgy and thin, it is good for comfort, as the inside of the headband is soft and padded with a pretty solid sponge. I am having good overall comfort, and you can adjust the headphones in size, and the plastic headband is really flexible and will adjust to your head easily.
Youtube Video
Sound Quality
The sound of AIAIAI TMA-2 HD is better over the wired connection rather than the wireless one. I am having excellent overall experience with good DAPs but even entry-level ones will do a fair job, and they are fairly easy to drive. I am running the S05 variant, the most detailed one, and I am liking the sound.
I would describe the sound as slightly V-Shaped, with a stronger overall bass , and stronger overall upper midrange and treble. There's a bit of bass bleed in the midrange, and there's a good sense of space in music, with a wider soundstage. The treble is energetic, and I tried to found other reviews online about the TMA-2 HD, and I frankly disagree with some of them, and I'll explain why in just a second.
First off, I found the bass to be really nicely extended, thunderous, and deep. It also has zero distortion, and at least when connected to a good source like iBasso DX300, it is deep, detailed and well-controlled. It has some bleed in the midrange, and offers a darker tone to the mids than absolutely neutral, but it is not enough to consider it distorted. The sound is really punchy all over, and also has good dynamics. If you're coming from something that's purely basshead, you'll feel that the bass isn't quite enough, especially if you compare the AIAIAI TMA-2 HD to LCD-2C or Verum One, but comparing them to Soundmagic HP1000, they have a really beautiful and punchy bass. If you need more bass, there's a good 3-5 dB of headroom in the sub-bass you can add with no distortions and no negative effects.
The midrange is extremely clear, and despite being slightly less in amount than the bass and the treble, it has a good clarity. I am amazed by how good they pair with metal, rock, even power metal. I haven't listened to Machinae supremacy and Mindless Self Indulgence in months now, but putting the TMA-2 HD on my head simply revived my passion for those two bands. And it ain't due to their bass, it is the midrange, with the textures, and vocal presentation. The tuning favors both male and female voices, both clean and screams / distorted. The midrange cannot be pushed more forward, and I would actually suggest applying a bit of EQ to bring it back and further bring the bass forward.
The treble is enhanced, and I can see why some people weren't as big fans as I am. The thing here is that the treble is peppy, sparkly, not smooth and boring. This gives the AIAIAI TMA-2 HD excellent detail, and even at this price point, they can hold their ground. I can see someone finding them a bit fatiguing, they are really detailed and forward in their tuning, but the treble has zero distortion in my experience, it is just a clean, crisp treble with excellent expression. In fact, they have one of the best extensions in the treble I heard, and I can totally vouch for AIAIAI TMA-2 HD being an excellent purchase for treble heads too.
The whole headphone can be too forward even for me, and the best experience is not with pop, but with metal, dubstep, rock, aggressive music. Despite their edgy and modern looks, AIAIAI TMA-2 HD sounds their best with aggressive music, even RAP, but not with classical, not with jazz or slow music.
Comparisons
The main competitors have been chosen based on price, and since TMA-2 HD is priced around 400 USD, I picked Sivga P-II, Soundmagic HP1000, and Ollo S4X to compete with the basshead dream of TMA-2 HD.
The overall price/performance ratio of TMA-2 HD is excellent, so it will be interesting to see how a nice closed-back design compares to other cans. None of the competitors don't have bluetooth at this price point, and that's a huge bonus for TMA-2HD.
AIAIAI TMA-2 HD vs Soundmagic HP1000 (400 USD vs 500 USD) - The comfort is slightly better on HP1000, and having a carrying case surely helps. The overall sound is much more natural and balanced on TMA-2 HD. There's a better sense of space, more detail, more clarity and more impact on TMA-2 HD, with more bass and better sub-bass extension. I am especially impressed by TMA-2 HD and how it can have both detail and be good with aggressive music. HP1000 sounds a bit too bright, and can bring a bit too much detail forward, making them ultimately fatiguing for me after a while, where TMA-2HD is aggressive but never truly fatiguing for me personally. I love the TMA-2 HD, but wish they did this sound in the build and form factor of HP1000 sometimes, as I prefer the comfort and build of HP1000.
AIAIAI TMA-2 HD vs Ollo S4X (400 USD vs 400 USD) - I am in love with both here, and they have a somewhat similar fit. I found the clamping force to be more natural for S4X, as it is a bit high on TMA-2 HD for my head. You can get over this by stretching the headphones in a box, but it is something to know you'll have to do. The sound is more mid forward for S4X, it also has more detail. By comparison, AIAIAI TMA-2 HD sounds a bit more natural, more aggressive all around, more forward in the treble, with slightly less bass. Both are snappy, and S4X is a bit quicker, but this also makes them slightly more grainy when placed side by side with TMA-2 HD.
AIAIAI TMA-2 HD vs Sivga P-II (400 USD vs 400 USD) - P-II is the type of headphone that is punchy, and it is more comfy with a better package than TMA2HD. P-II does not have bluetooth though, so some bonus points go to TMA-2 HD as well. The sound is more punchy on P-II but it lacks the treble sparkle and spike from TMA-2 HD. I prefer the overall treble of TMA-2 HD. I also prefer the overall detail on TMA-2 HD. Sivga P-II is considerably smoother and less aggressive, so it works better for most Jazz, Classical and pop, where TMa-2 HD works better for rock, metal, dubstep and aggressive music. In general, I would recommend TMA-2 HD to those who want more treble, a more sparkly sound, and a more V-Shaped sound. I would recommend P-II to someone looking for a thicker, more punchy headphone that's never fatiguing or aggressive.
Recommended Pairings
Pairing TMA-2 HD is actually tricky. You should know that they sound much clearer, more open, more detailed and more punchy from the wired connection, especially if you're using a good source.
I had the best experience pairing them with Lotoo Paw 6000, but that one has to wait a bit, because DX300 also is excellent, and I paired them with more entry-level sources too, like Hiby R3 PRO and HIDIZS AP80 PRO, to see how they sound like from a less expensive source.
AIAIAI TMA-2 HD + iBasso DX300 (400 USD + 1200 USD) - I noticed that the sound is considerably more natural and open, more vivid and detailed when pairing TMA-02 HD with DX300 via the cable, rather than the bluetooth connection. The sound is natural, really wide, open and punchy. I love the treble presentation, which is peppy but smooth, never harsh and never distorted. Also enjoying the overall clarity a lot. The pairing seems like overkill, and it is, but it is a good way to notice that TMA-2 HD can scale with the source, and that it is best when paired with a better source.
AIAIAI TMA-2 HD + HIDIZS AP80 PRO (400 USD + 200 USD) - With AP80 PRO, the sound is still better wired than when using bluetooth. I see bluetooth as a nice feature, but it is best used for emergencies only, since the TMA-2 HD Headphones have a ton of potential and can sound so good using them wired. I love the overall clarity, detail and punchiness of the pairing. There's a good sense of space, in both depth and width. I also enjoy the pairing for usability, and we have access to MSEB, so if you find them a bit too forward, you can turn down the treble a bit. It is also possible to increase the bass a bit since they have a good amount of headroom.
AIAIAI TMA-2 HD + Hiby R3 PRO (400 USD + 200 USD) - Destined to be a good pairing, R3 PRO totally drives the TMA-2 HD nicely. There's a good amount of space, clarity and even detail. I am enjoying the pairing with Machinae supremacy while doing my daily walk, and here it goes without saying that the bluetooth should not be used, since r3pro does not have the strongest bluetooth experience. The dynamics of the pairing are really good especially for an entry-level source powering the TMA-2 HD.
Value and Conclusion
In terms of value, we found excellent value with AIAIAI TMA-2 HD. They sound open, detailed, and are made nicely, with environment protection in mind, and they also offer a nice package. You can upgrade, fix, repair them easily, and they feel nicely, so in terms of value they are a pure 10.
The package is interesting and assembling them is a satisfying experience, pretty similar to building your own computer. They are not HIFIMAN Deva which you purchase and use, they need a bit of work to get going.
The end comfort is good, although even the comfort pads are a bit small for my ears. They offer a good amount of isolation, but not as much as a constructor's hearing protection headphone. More around 10 dB to maximum 15 dB of passive noise isolation. They also leak a bit, so no listening to metal outdoors if you don't want to share the awesome stuff with anyone else.
The sound is detailed, clean, bassy, has excellent impact, and can be described as V-Shaped too. The soundstage is natural leaning towards wide, the instrument separation is excellent, and they are great for drums, rap, metal, rock and not as good for Jazz and quiet listening.
At the end of today's review, AIAIAI TMA-2 HD is a lively headphone, something to be listened loud, something better than any beats model, something offering a novelty concept, and a clean, strong sound with excellent bass and good treble extension too. At the price of 400 USD, it is a realy reocmmneed model.
--- Please remember to stay safe, and always have fun while listening to music!---
Full Playlist used for this review
We listened to more songs than those named in this playlist, but those are excellent for identifying a sonic signature. PRaT, Texturization, Detail, Resolution, Dynamics, Impact, and overall tonality are all revealed by those songs. We recommend trying most of the songs from this playlist, especially if you’re searching for new music!
Youtube Playlist
[embedyt]
Tidal Playlist
https://listen.tidal.com/playlist/64555551-ec3c-4279-ae44-248fdfcf6c4b
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Introduction & Design:
Aiaiai isn’t a company often mentioned on Head-fi, and may strike you as one that doesn’t have enough sound to hold its own in the massive competition of the headphone world.
…Not exactly, though. Although there are more companies in the audio world than I can count, Aiaiai actually brings something incredibly new to the table. I’m not talking about a new look, a bass mod, or a new driver technology that would even change the way headphones work forever.
Nah. In my opinion, this is bigger. What they introduced is so genius, so innovative, I’m left wondering why other companies haven’t started going along this new route. But the bigger question is why they haven’t gotten recognition in the headphone world, if only for this idea they produced?
Enough already! What did they create that is blowing my mind? Well, to put it simply, modular headphones.
And before you start googling the word “modular,” let me explain. What I’m talking about is a system where each individual part is chosen from a selection of choices. Say you like the sound, but want a more comfortable headband? No problem, there’s 3 different headbands you can choose from, for your very own headphone. 5 different earpads. 4 different drivers. And even 6 different cables, for crying out loud (I’m not just talking about color here). What this achieves is a way to satisfy everyone, by letting you choose exactly what you want for your headphone, and switching parts when needed, or when you want to try something new.
As all we K701 and T50rp owners know, pads go a long way in changing the sound. So taking in the math, there are really 20 different sound profiles to choose from. And to save you the time of buying all of them and trying out the combinations yourself to guess which blend you like best, they did it for you.
Not only that, they also included a detailed sound graph, specifications, a concise sound profile for those fearful of graphs (like me), genre recommendations, and an overall summary including the isolation and soundstage of each one.
And when I say each one, I mean every combination of drivers and pads they have. So… what can clearly be seen here is a huge effort to cater to everyone’s sound profiles and to give a plethora of details, even the grumpiest sound engineer should be happy with.
But people not so knee-deep into details should also have a smooth time. Besides for the non-fearful looking sound profile and genre recommendations I mentioned earlier, there is another section of the website where you can choose the configuration you want from presets the sound engineers arranged themselves (i.e. studio preset, DJ preset, all-around preset, etc.).
There are, as well, choices based on artist configurations, functions, and music genres. So if you aren’t as technical as some of the other head-fi’ers out there, all you have to do is pick the genre you like and a headphone pops up that was built for the type of music you listen to.
Their design of the TMA-2 is a massive bonus in my book, and I have to compliment the marketing team for the obvious success this has yielded. Making 20 different sound graphs for the sound combinations alone is a feat I haven’t seen anywhere else before, but to then offer all the other options as well is just amazing.
So, in short, there are a few things I am really impressed with already:
1. The interchangeable parts on the TMA-2, as well as the wide variety of options for each part of the headphone. This makes it super easy and very cost-effective to change parts if one breaks, or if you want a new combination without breaking the bank.
2. The detail given to each component, as well as the many different ways Aiaiai caters to your preferences, each path thought out well, informative, and thorough, so you can gleam the best to get the headphone you want.
3. The way each part is priced differently, so that staying within your budget becomes a cinch. This may not seem like much, but as a college student, I can identify with a headphone being just out of my budget. With a modular system, that will only rarely happen.
Packaging, Assembly, & Build Quality:
The TMA-2’s box looks well made, and is a fitting option for the TMA-2 to come with. It has a stealthy black look, and doesn’t shower you with needless information that some manufacturers choose to opt for. On the side is some information about your preset, as well as some “tech specs” and a bit of the parts’ features. The back has a short summary of the usefulness of a modular headphone, and also has a simple, no-frills look. How the front of box looks will differ whether you chose a preset, or built the configuration yourself. If you chose a preset, the front of the box will show you a picture of the headphone on a black background; if not, there’s just a plain black cover. Either way though, it instantly gives an air of authority before you even open the box. The no-frills design is definitely a plus in my book.
When you take off the cover, you are greeted by a letter in a black envelope from Aiaiai that provides information on your preset, or a summary of the TMA-2’s goals, depending on the route you chose. It really has an official look to it, and is a really nice touch to the overall opening of the TMA-2.
On the other side of the letter, there is a set of illustrated instructions on how to assemble the TMA-2. Even if you miss this part though, assembly is very user-friendly, and if you didn’t see the instructions it’s easy to assemble as well. Many people missed this in their reviews (including me at first), and just proceeded to assemble the headphone with little to no difficulty, so the instructions were not even needed in most cases. They are there for your benefit though, so I’m glad Aiaiai included the instruction for a just-in-case scenario.
Each of the 4 parts are sealed within sturdy packaging of their own, which says the type of part as well as the model type on the outside. Putting the parts together is extremely intuitive and takes less than a minute. It also doesn’t matter which part you put together before the next, as it’s a simple process, and there’s no set order. The earcups slide into place with the headband, the earpads pop right onto the cups with little effort, and the cables snap into place easily, as well as lock when turned. I was expecting the pads to be harder to assemble, but I was surprised to see how easy it is to snap them on and off.
I just want to note that the earpads have cut-outs to make room for the cable plugs, so make sure you don’t block the connectors. In other words, line up the pads' indentations with the cable connectors and you’ll be fine. Other than that, there isn’t much to keep in mind while assembling the TMA-2.
Even though assembly is a cinch, there’s no issue of loose parts (at least in my configurations), and build quality is impressive for parts as interchangeable as these. While the earcups do move around a bit, this is intended as it helps provide a better fit later on, and is in no way an indication of shoddy workmanship. Since these are my primary portable over-ear I use, I carry them around a lot, and there doesn’t seem to be any wear or tear yet.
Overall, I’m happy with the build quality, assembly, and packaging – while Aiaiai is taking a risk by providing the parts separately instead of sending an assembled headphone, the process is easy to do and quite fun. However, some customers may find issue with the DIY process, and for the price might want a more official, assembled headphone. So if I would have any suggestions to Aiaiai, it would be perhaps to provide an “assembled” option on the website – although it would take away from the emphasis of a modular headphone, I think giving the option does little harm. However, they’ve done a great job already in my opinion, and this is a minor suggestion. I’m generally a bit picky with these sections, and they’ve satisfied me well here.
The Parts:
I’ll discuss the parts now for a little bit, just to give an overall idea of each of the 4 types, as well as an overall impression of each one. Each part comes in black, which is a fine choice of color in my opinion - picky customers are usually satisfied with black, lol. Each part is priced differently as well, so you can adjust the parts to your budget pretty easily.
Headband: There’s 3 types to choose from. I got the 2nd and 3rd choice, and both are holding up quite well. The H03 type (H03 = 3rd choice) has a pretty thick padding that seems to have an emphasis on sturdiness and longevity rather than the memory-foam comfort I’m used to, but it’s quite comfortable regardless, and has lasted through quite a bit while I’ve had it without really any wear.
The H02 model (just a reminder: H02 = 2nd choice) has a skinnier headband, and is easier to wear for me. Also sturdily built, I have no complaints about either headband. The H02 is slightly more portable, although I would have no problem wearing either one in the street.
I would just like to throw out that the H03 model is a thick headband, so it leaves less room for someone with a bigger head to adjust the earcups to. So I would recommend people with medium to large heads to be careful when choosing the H03 model, because you’ll be losing a lot of the adjustment to the headband.
The two short cable-ends come out of the cushions on both sides, and snap into place with the earcups. The cables and connectors are color-coded (red into red for one side, and black cable into black connector for the other), so there’s no concern over mixing up which side up the headband each earcup goes into. There are also large L/R marking on each side of the cushioning, which is a welcome sight, especially after the last few experiences with new headphones where the L/R markings weren’t so prominent. This saves a lot of headache, and I’m glad it’s there.
Earcups / Speaker Units: The earcups itself are solidly built, and has a smooth finish to it. It feels like it’s made from some type of hard rubber/plastic, although it actually feels nicer than both. The earcups slide onto the headband on either side - the way to adjust the TMA-2 is through a slider system.
Like I’ve said, the short cable plugs on the headband snap into the earcups, and the regular cable can go into either over-ear cup. This is really great not only for DJ’s, but is a useful feature for regular consumers too. In terms of portability, it helps for keeping the cable on the same side of the pocket your player/phone is in – I was looking for this feature for a while on my headphones, and am really glad that the TMA-2 utilizes it.
There are four different types of speaker units, and are geared towards different crowds, so more on that in the sound section.
Ear Pads: There’s 5 different earpads to choose from; 3 on-ear types, and 2 over-ear types. The 2 earpads I have are the 2 over-ear designs (E04 and E05), so I can’t comment on the on-ear ones, but the models I have are both very comfortable, well built, and nicely designed. Since the TMA-2 is a portable headphone (for the most part anyway), I was paying special attention to the earpads to see whether they’d be too large, or look funky. However, they both look fine, and are great for portable use. The ones I have are made from memory-foam, and you can feel that right away. While my ears do touch the sides of the pads, and it isn’t as comfortable as the huge over-ear types (where it leaves you with enough room for your ears to be completely free), it provides a great example of portability while staying over-ear at the same time.
Cable: 6 types of cable to choose from, geared for different types of use. The long, coiled cables are for studio use, where people often need more than the conventional 4-foot cable length. The braided types are great for DJ use, or even for regular day to day use – the braid ensures it doesn’t get cut, and gives extra protection to the cable. There’s also a cable with a one button inline microphone, which functions for a dual use – you can both control calls and control your music with this cable; there’s another cable for Apple devices. This has been thought out really well, and I’m really impressed they went the extra mile to give so many different options – it really helps when you don’t have to worry about replacing the cable because – well, it just doesn’t fit the situation you need it for. Well done, Aiaiai.
The cables are SOLID. I would have thought that with a mainstream-type headphone the cable quality would be neglected, but oh boy I was mistaken. I only have two of the 6 models of cables, but the two I have are built to a “T”; sturdy, but not stiff, and look like they can last at least a good couple of years. One of them are coiled – the coil was done well, and is perfect for studio use. The braided one I received was done well too – snags won’t tear this cable anytime in the future. Overall I’m extremely happy with the cable quality, and applaud the team at Aiaiai who thought this out – there’s certainly results.
Warranty:
This doesn’t usually catch my eye, but I took a look at the warranty and almost did a double take – in a good way. Aiaiai provides a 3-year warranty on all the parts! I’m always afraid my lower-end headphones will break after a year or two, and with a modular headphone that each part is separate, I was afraid even more. Fear not! If you aren’t sold on the idea, this should give you enough confidence to buy it. I really don’t know any headphones under $200 that have this long of a warranty. This just shows how much Aiaiai takes pride in their build quality and workmanship; if you’re worried about it breaking, which you shouldn’t, the 3-year warranty should have you relax.
Sound:
The sound section is a bit tricky on this one, because of the 20 different sound profiles, so I can’t really provide my normal sound section. What I will say though is that since these are geared to a more mainstream-music crowd, many of the configurations are quite bass heavy. I personally avoid the bassy stuff, as it’s not what I enjoy in music.
One of the configurations I received was the Studio preset. While I was on the fence because the description stated that it does have a large bass response, I ended up getting it. When I started listening to it, I realized that it isn’t “studio” in the conventional sense, i.e. flat sounding and neutral. These are for the hip-hop studios and such. So those looking for a more neutral sound should probably either choose drivers S01 or S02. I actually enjoy the S01 speaker over the S03, primarily because the S01 is more balanced in general, but then again I am biased against bass-heavy headphones, so just keep that in mind.
The TMA-2 absolutely NEEDS burn-in, and lots of it. It doesn’t amaze me out of the box, but after a good 40-50 hours of uninterrupted burn-in, it sounds much better. The sound works for me as a portable headphone, although you have to be careful on which type of sound you choose. The bass really shapes up after burn-in in the more bassy configurations, and the TMA-2 is easy to get into sound-wise.
I did get different results with different pads on the same driver, and it was really fun trying out the different sound profiles and options without dropping a huge amount of money. All of them sound quite fun, and is better-sounding than the average “mainstream” headphone, in my opinion.
Isolation and soundstage are earpad dependent – luckily they give you these on each configuration online, and you can choose which one is the best for your situation. I found the information to be very accurate in terms of soundstage and isolation, on my configurations, and would definitely rely on them.
Overall, you can get the exact sound you want if you spend a bit of time on the configurator. Isolation and soundstage, too, are different with each arrangement, and can be tweaked around too. If you don’t blunder by getting a bassy TMA-2 when you’re a more of a balanced guy, and don’t expect open-back sound from a portable headphone like this, the sound should live up to its expectations.
Value & Conclusion:
Aiaiai has brought us a truly unique method, one I hope will continue for a while. The system of interchangeable parts is nothing short of genius, and the detail invested into helping each customer make the right choice is unparalleled. I had an immense amount of fun choosing the configuration that would be the best for me, and the way Aiaiai designed everything is really fantastic. While a bit on the pricey side for its parts, looking at the 3 year warranty and the unique system I realize that it is well worth the price. I know head-fi’ers that spend hundreds or even thousands on equipment – this is an absolute must for your collection, if only for the design and the inherent “modular” quality of this headphone. For people who only need one headphone, this will fit your bill as well – and is incredibly easy to upgrade later if you want. I haven’t seen a more brilliant result of headphone marketing, and I’m glad to have experienced this ride. The TMA-2 is definitely a yes from me.
If there was one thing I would recommend to add to this excellent work, it would be to have an “audiophile” preset, and to perhaps cater a tiny bit more to those who are into the headphone world. Besides for that, I am genuinely impressed with what Aiaiai has done with the TMA-2. Enjoy!
Introduction & Design:
Aiaiai isn’t a company often mentioned on Head-fi, and may strike you as one that doesn’t have enough sound to hold its own in the massive competition of the headphone world.
…Not exactly, though. Although there are more companies in the audio world than I can count, Aiaiai actually brings something incredibly new to the table. I’m not talking about a new look, a bass mod, or a new driver technology that would even change the way headphones work forever.
Nah. In my opinion, this is bigger. What they introduced is so genius, so innovative, I’m left wondering why other companies haven’t started going along this new route. But the bigger question is why they haven’t gotten recognition in the headphone world, if only for this idea they produced?
Enough already! What did they create that is blowing my mind? Well, to put it simply, modular headphones.
And before you start googling the word “modular,” let me explain. What I’m talking about is a system where each individual part is chosen from a selection of choices. Say you like the sound, but want a more comfortable headband? No problem, there’s 3 different headbands you can choose from, for your very own headphone. 5 different earpads. 4 different drivers. And even 6 different cables, for crying out loud (I’m not just talking about color here). What this achieves is a way to satisfy everyone, by letting you choose exactly what you want for your headphone, and switching parts when needed, or when you want to try something new.
As all we K701 and T50rp owners know, pads go a long way in changing the sound. So taking in the math, there are really 20 different sound profiles to choose from. And to save you the time of buying all of them and trying out the combinations yourself to guess which blend you like best, they did it for you.
Not only that, they also included a detailed sound graph, specifications, a concise sound profile for those fearful of graphs (like me), genre recommendations, and an overall summary including the isolation and soundstage of each one.
And when I say each one, I mean every combination of drivers and pads they have. So… what can clearly be seen here is a huge effort to cater to everyone’s sound profiles and to give a plethora of details, even the grumpiest sound engineer should be happy with.
But people not so knee-deep into details should also have a smooth time. Besides for the non-fearful looking sound profile and genre recommendations I mentioned earlier, there is another section of the website where you can choose the configuration you want from presets the sound engineers arranged themselves (i.e. studio preset, DJ preset, all-around preset, etc.).
There are, as well, choices based on artist configurations, functions, and music genres. So if you aren’t as technical as some of the other head-fi’ers out there, all you have to do is pick the genre you like and a headphone pops up that was built for the type of music you listen to.
Their design of the TMA-2 is a massive bonus in my book, and I have to compliment the marketing team for the obvious success this has yielded. Making 20 different sound graphs for the sound combinations alone is a feat I haven’t seen anywhere else before, but to then offer all the other options as well is just amazing.
So, in short, there are a few things I am really impressed with already:
1. The interchangeable parts on the TMA-2, as well as the wide variety of options for each part of the headphone. This makes it super easy and very cost-effective to change parts if one breaks, or if you want a new combination without breaking the bank.
2. The detail given to each component, as well as the many different ways Aiaiai caters to your preferences, each path thought out well, informative, and thorough, so you can gleam the best to get the headphone you want.
3. The way each part is priced differently, so that staying within your budget becomes a cinch. This may not seem like much, but as a college student, I can identify with a headphone being just out of my budget. With a modular system, that will only rarely happen.
Packaging, Assembly, & Build Quality:
The TMA-2’s box looks well made, and is a fitting option for the TMA-2 to come with. It has a stealthy black look, and doesn’t shower you with needless information that some manufacturers choose to opt for. On the side is some information about your preset, as well as some “tech specs” and a bit of the parts’ features. The back has a short summary of the usefulness of a modular headphone, and also has a simple, no-frills look. How the front of box looks will differ whether you chose a preset, or built the configuration yourself. If you chose a preset, the front of the box will show you a picture of the headphone on a black background; if not, there’s just a plain black cover. Either way though, it instantly gives an air of authority before you even open the box. The no-frills design is definitely a plus in my book.
When you take off the cover, you are greeted by a letter in a black envelope from Aiaiai that provides information on your preset, or a summary of the TMA-2’s goals, depending on the route you chose. It really has an official look to it, and is a really nice touch to the overall opening of the TMA-2.
On the other side of the letter, there is a set of illustrated instructions on how to assemble the TMA-2. Even if you miss this part though, assembly is very user-friendly, and if you didn’t see the instructions it’s easy to assemble as well. Many people missed this in their reviews (including me at first), and just proceeded to assemble the headphone with little to no difficulty, so the instructions were not even needed in most cases. They are there for your benefit though, so I’m glad Aiaiai included the instruction for a just-in-case scenario.
Each of the 4 parts are sealed within sturdy packaging of their own, which says the type of part as well as the model type on the outside. Putting the parts together is extremely intuitive and takes less than a minute. It also doesn’t matter which part you put together before the next, as it’s a simple process, and there’s no set order. The earcups slide into place with the headband, the earpads pop right onto the cups with little effort, and the cables snap into place easily, as well as lock when turned. I was expecting the pads to be harder to assemble, but I was surprised to see how easy it is to snap them on and off.
I just want to note that the earpads have cut-outs to make room for the cable plugs, so make sure you don’t block the connectors. In other words, line up the pads' indentations with the cable connectors and you’ll be fine. Other than that, there isn’t much to keep in mind while assembling the TMA-2.
Even though assembly is a cinch, there’s no issue of loose parts (at least in my configurations), and build quality is impressive for parts as interchangeable as these. While the earcups do move around a bit, this is intended as it helps provide a better fit later on, and is in no way an indication of shoddy workmanship. Since these are my primary portable over-ear I use, I carry them around a lot, and there doesn’t seem to be any wear or tear yet.
Overall, I’m happy with the build quality, assembly, and packaging – while Aiaiai is taking a risk by providing the parts separately instead of sending an assembled headphone, the process is easy to do and quite fun. However, some customers may find issue with the DIY process, and for the price might want a more official, assembled headphone. So if I would have any suggestions to Aiaiai, it would be perhaps to provide an “assembled” option on the website – although it would take away from the emphasis of a modular headphone, I think giving the option does little harm. However, they’ve done a great job already in my opinion, and this is a minor suggestion. I’m generally a bit picky with these sections, and they’ve satisfied me well here.
The Parts:
I’ll discuss the parts now for a little bit, just to give an overall idea of each of the 4 types, as well as an overall impression of each one. Each part comes in black, which is a fine choice of color in my opinion - picky customers are usually satisfied with black, lol. Each part is priced differently as well, so you can adjust the parts to your budget pretty easily.Headband: There’s 3 types to choose from. I got the 2nd and 3rd choice, and both are holding up quite well. The H03 type (H03 = 3rd choice) has a pretty thick padding that seems to have an emphasis on sturdiness and longevity rather than the memory-foam comfort I’m used to, but it’s quite comfortable regardless, and has lasted through quite a bit while I’ve had it without really any wear.
The H02 model (just a reminder: H02 = 2nd choice) has a skinnier headband, and is easier to wear for me. Also sturdily built, I have no complaints about either headband. The H02 is slightly more portable, although I would have no problem wearing either one in the street.
I would just like to throw out that the H03 model is a thick headband, so it leaves less room for someone with a bigger head to adjust the earcups to. So I would recommend people with medium to large heads to be careful when choosing the H03 model, because you’ll be losing a lot of the adjustment to the headband.
The two short cable-ends come out of the cushions on both sides, and snap into place with the earcups. The cables and connectors are color-coded (red into red for one side, and black cable into black connector for the other), so there’s no concern over mixing up which side up the headband each earcup goes into. There are also large L/R marking on each side of the cushioning, which is a welcome sight, especially after the last few experiences with new headphones where the L/R markings weren’t so prominent. This saves a lot of headache, and I’m glad it’s there.
Earcups / Speaker Units: The earcups itself are solidly built, and has a smooth finish to it. It feels like it’s made from some type of hard rubber/plastic, although it actually feels nicer than both. The earcups slide onto the headband on either side - the way to adjust the TMA-2 is through a slider system.
Like I’ve said, the short cable plugs on the headband snap into the earcups, and the regular cable can go into either over-ear cup. This is really great not only for DJ’s, but is a useful feature for regular consumers too. In terms of portability, it helps for keeping the cable on the same side of the pocket your player/phone is in – I was looking for this feature for a while on my headphones, and am really glad that the TMA-2 utilizes it.
There are four different types of speaker units, and are geared towards different crowds, so more on that in the sound section.
Ear Pads: There’s 5 different earpads to choose from; 3 on-ear types, and 2 over-ear types. The 2 earpads I have are the 2 over-ear designs (E04 and E05), so I can’t comment on the on-ear ones, but the models I have are both very comfortable, well built, and nicely designed. Since the TMA-2 is a portable headphone (for the most part anyway), I was paying special attention to the earpads to see whether they’d be too large, or look funky. However, they both look fine, and are great for portable use. The ones I have are made from memory-foam, and you can feel that right away. While my ears do touch the sides of the pads, and it isn’t as comfortable as the huge over-ear types (where it leaves you with enough room for your ears to be completely free), it provides a great example of portability while staying over-ear at the same time.
Cable: 6 types of cable to choose from, geared for different types of use. The long, coiled cables are for studio use, where people often need more than the conventional 4-foot cable length. The braided types are great for DJ use, or even for regular day to day use – the braid ensures it doesn’t get cut, and gives extra protection to the cable. There’s also a cable with a one button inline microphone, which functions for a dual use – you can both control calls and control your music with this cable; there’s another cable for Apple devices. This has been thought out really well, and I’m really impressed they went the extra mile to give so many different options – it really helps when you don’t have to worry about replacing the cable because – well, it just doesn’t fit the situation you need it for. Well done, Aiaiai.
The cables are SOLID. I would have thought that with a mainstream-type headphone the cable quality would be neglected, but oh boy I was mistaken. I only have two of the 6 models of cables, but the two I have are built to a “T”; sturdy, but not stiff, and look like they can last at least a good couple of years. One of them are coiled – the coil was done well, and is perfect for studio use. The braided one I received was done well too – snags won’t tear this cable anytime in the future. Overall I’m extremely happy with the cable quality, and applaud the team at Aiaiai who thought this out – there’s certainly results.
Warranty:
This doesn’t usually catch my eye, but I took a look at the warranty and almost did a double take – in a good way. Aiaiai provides a 3-year warranty on all the parts! I’m always afraid my lower-end headphones will break after a year or two, and with a modular headphone that each part is separate, I was afraid even more. Fear not! If you aren’t sold on the idea, this should give you enough confidence to buy it. I really don’t know any headphones under $200 that have this long of a warranty. This just shows how much Aiaiai takes pride in their build quality and workmanship; if you’re worried about it breaking, which you shouldn’t, the 3-year warranty should have you relax.
Sound:
The sound section is a bit tricky on this one, because of the 20 different sound profiles, so I can’t really provide my normal sound section. What I will say though is that since these are geared to a more mainstream-music crowd, many of the configurations are quite bass heavy. I personally avoid the bassy stuff, as it’s not what I enjoy in music.
One of the configurations I received was the Studio preset. While I was on the fence because the description stated that it does have a large bass response, I ended up getting it. When I started listening to it, I realized that it isn’t “studio” in the conventional sense, i.e. flat sounding and neutral. These are for the hip-hop studios and such. So those looking for a more neutral sound should probably either choose drivers S01 or S02. I actually enjoy the S01 speaker over the S03, primarily because the S01 is more balanced in general, but then again I am biased against bass-heavy headphones, so just keep that in mind.
The TMA-2 absolutely NEEDS burn-in, and lots of it. It doesn’t amaze me out of the box, but after a good 40-50 hours of uninterrupted burn-in, it sounds much better. The sound works for me as a portable headphone, although you have to be careful on which type of sound you choose. The bass really shapes up after burn-in in the more bassy configurations, and the TMA-2 is easy to get into sound-wise.
I did get different results with different pads on the same driver, and it was really fun trying out the different sound profiles and options without dropping a huge amount of money. All of them sound quite fun, and is better-sounding than the average “mainstream” headphone, in my opinion.
Isolation and soundstage are earpad dependent – luckily they give you these on each configuration online, and you can choose which one is the best for your situation. I found the information to be very accurate in terms of soundstage and isolation, on my configurations, and would definitely rely on them.
Overall, you can get the exact sound you want if you spend a bit of time on the configurator. Isolation and soundstage, too, are different with each arrangement, and can be tweaked around too. If you don’t blunder by getting a bassy TMA-2 when you’re a more of a balanced guy, and don’t expect open-back sound from a portable headphone like this, the sound should live up to its expectations.
Value & Conclusion:
Aiaiai has brought us a truly unique method, one I hope will continue for a while. The system of interchangeable parts is nothing short of genius, and the detail invested into helping each customer make the right choice is unparalleled. I had an immense amount of fun choosing the configuration that would be the best for me, and the way Aiaiai designed everything is really fantastic. While a bit on the pricey side for its parts, looking at the 3 year warranty and the unique system I realize that it is well worth the price. I know head-fi’ers that spend hundreds or even thousands on equipment – this is an absolute must for your collection, if only for the design and the inherent “modular” quality of this headphone. For people who only need one headphone, this will fit your bill as well – and is incredibly easy to upgrade later if you want. I haven’t seen a more brilliant result of headphone marketing, and I’m glad to have experienced this ride. The TMA-2 is definitely a yes from me.
If there was one thing I would recommend to add to this excellent work, it would be to have an “audiophile” preset, and to perhaps cater a tiny bit more to those who are into the headphone world. Besides for that, I am genuinely impressed with what Aiaiai has done with the TMA-2. Enjoy!
Music818
It's really good.
