V-MODA LP2

This is an elitist headphone. It believes most youtube videos deserve death and suffering. It will turn down videos it does not like and add bass to cover whatever is left of those videos. It does not believe in more cowbell.

My first instinct was "these sound terrible worse than cheap sony headphones," but as I listened I realized it was just picky. It liked certain recordings others it wouldn't even consider.

The bass is overpowering for my tastes and the highs are ridiculously veiled so for most music this will make it sound unspectacular. I find I am missing the sparkle of highs I can usually hear in less bassy headphones.

In general the ATH-M50's are much better headphones but there are things the LP2 beat the M50's at, like soundstage and the overall "thickness" of the sound-the M50's can sound "thin" sometimes.

They are a very snug fit around the ears but not hugely uncomfortable. They are substantial. Solid. Like a soviet era automobile. I feel like everything will last forever and I'll just eventually have to switch out the drivers.

These are not bad headphones but they are pretty far up on the Basshead spectrum.

Edit: Upon revisiting these headphones I've realized I was a little too tough on them. Most of what I said is still true, these are still basshead headphones but they deserve a higher score for what they were designed for -they do very well. They have a combination of big sound and bass rumble that I have yet to find matched in another headphone making these perfect for some of my favorite genre's of music (industrial metal, hip-hop, dubstep). Very high quality recordings especially within these electronic genre's really make these headphones come alive.

These are my go-to set of headphones and I could have them on for 4-5h without fatigue or discomfort. I love the sound signature but understand it's not for everyone.
 
Highs: Clean, detailed, cymbals sound sparkly, but not fatiguing like the ATH-AD300
 
Mids: Well-defined, a bit recessed but fairly well balanced, warm vocals
 
Lows: Great bass (tight, punchy, accurate and do not bleed into the mids), no distortion like the Bose AE2 and QC25, not overly boosted like Beats
 
The only downside is live music sound like recorded music. In terms of spaciousness and wide sound stage, the LP2 is very good being closed-back, but it can't match open-back headphones like the AD series from Audio-Technica.Well, you can't expect a Ferrari to go 4x4 offroading, I guess.. ) So I ended up getting the ATH-AD900x for Live Music and Slow Rock.

First off I want to clarify that I am not an "audiophile", nothing about me is audiophile related, except for the love of music listening and a hobby collecting headphones. So lets get right into the review.
Ok the first topic i want to talk about these headphones is the design, this is my favorite part about this headphone, the entire headphone is mainly constructed out of metal and steel, the headband is made out of memory metal, which means is that you can bend the headphone all you want but the headphone will always go back into its shape. The adjustments on the headphone is made out of a very durable steel, I honestly don't think the adjustments won't break any time soon. the only plastic parts on this headphone would be the housing around the shields on the ear cup, and thats pretty much it. The rest of the headphone is completely constructed out of metal. Now the cables on these headphones are supposedly constructed well, both two cables are kevlar reinforced housed in woven fabric, V-moda claimed that their cables were "Very Durable" but my in line remote cable broke within two months, this was a downfall for me at the time, but luckily V-moda supplies you with a regular auxiliary wire. Overall this headphone is built like the incredible hulk, it won't break down anytime soon, besides the cables.
The comfort on this headphone wasn't the best, the foam on the ear cup was somewhat soft, but for being an "over the ear" headphone, the ear ups weren't big enough to fit over my ear, so there was a little discomfort there. Also the ear cups only adjust vertically, which means that this headphones does not have a perfect fit on your head, due to the lack of adjustment horizontally, for example like the audio technica ath m50; the way the ear cups can move a complete 180 degrees horizontally. So the V-moda lp2 is not very adjustable. To add on, the ear cups are also not very breathable, so your ears will get sweaty and turn red which will cause the ear cups to smell over time, but since you can change out the ear cups that wouldn't really be a problem in the future. So in the long run, the comfort on these headphones are "okay".
So now for the most important part of the review, How Does It Sound? Well the way V-moda constructed their drivers is really interesting, what they did was they created a 50 millimeter "duel diaphragm" driver. Which means is that they combined two drivers creating a 50 millimeter driver, one driver is soft creating deep lows, and one hard driver to execute the midrange and highs. V-moda really pulled it off well because this headphone was a success for them. So before i got this headphone, i heard it was well known for its bass, it really does...... The subwoofer from the driver in this headphone feels like if you were listening to music on high volume in your car, it has a very powerful bass sub woofer. But very surprisingly even though the bass is really emphasized, it works really well with the highs and midrange, its a balanced headphone but the highs do seem to be lacking a little in this headphone. Due to the powerful bass. So does this headphone sound good? yes, but its not for everyone. This Headphone is very good sounding, its much better than other competitors, thats for sure.
So now is the headphone worth your money? I would say yes, because of the accessories you get with it, it comes with a hardshell case for protection, two audio cables, a cleaning cloth, and a 1/4 quarter inch adapter for home equipment. Also the design is definitely worth it, and the sound quality is right where it should be.

The LP2s are one of the best in class cans in the $150-200 price range in my opinion. As V-MODA's slogan suggests, these have absolutely no plastic on them. To fully experience these headphones, I would buy an amp. These headphones sound the best with house and electronic music. They are a very handsome pair of cans, V-MODA has done an amazing job designing these. Although they are a tad bit heavy, they will last you for at least 3 years. There's my 2 cents, I would recommend these to people looking for a pair of headphones used for traveling.

I had a pair of Bose Headphones and they broke so i did some research on headphones and found these. Since i got them i have loved them and am looking to buy the M-100's soon. Would recommend if you're not looking to spend $310.00 on the new ones.

Just got these headphones a couple of hours ago, and I'm writing this while listening to them out-of-the-box and unamped.
 
And since this is my first review, I hope you'll find it useful. And I'm trying to focus on the musical aspect, not really technical, especially because I'm not really familiar with all the terms 
 
First things first: I bought these for their "fun" sound, and this is what I'm focusing on on this "review". These are by no means, the most clear, detailed, balanced sound you can find, specially in this price range. That being said... let's start. I separate this review in:
 
1. Design / Build / Comfort
2. Sound
3. Accessories
4. Value
5. Conclusion
 
1. Design / Build / Comfort
As most of you should know, V-Moda has some very nice designs. Photos really don't do justice to the LP2s.
 
As for the build, you can really feel the quality when holding them. They seem extremely tough, while still looking sleek (unlike the HD 25-1, that feels like a tank and looks like a tank).
 
Comfort-wise, I'd say they're quite comfortable. I use glasses, and most headphones annoy me after 30 minutes / 1 hour. But I've been using the LP2 for almost 2 hours now, and while they don't "disappear" on my head, I feel I can go on using them for a longer time (and I haven't even bent the headband to loose the clamping force a bit).
 
2. Sound
Well, like I said, these are not balanced (they really have strong bass), and they're not very clear and detailed. But for electronic music (drum and bass, dubstep, house...), they're really "musical" and fun!
 
I'll admit I was expecting more from the sound, but once I played a techno set (MP3 320kbps), I got myself "dancing", and I realised for the reason I bought these cans, they're really worth it! The bass is impressive, mids and highs are a bit muffled but they're still quite clear considering the amount of bass.
 
Unfortunately, for other genres, the bass is too strong, and even lowering thru EQ, the mids and highs are not as clear as in other headphones, like the HD 25-1. So, to my ears, the LP2 is really tuned for bass-heavy electronic music (and by tuned, I mean in a fun way, not analytical way).
 
Listening to this track house (http://soundcloud.com/frenchexpress/malinchak-if-u-got-it), the bass and sub-bass are really present, while vocals remain clear and highs a bit crisp (again, considering the bass amount).
 
To sum up, it's a very bass-biased sound, but mids and highs are still there (unlike the Beats Solo). The sound is very fun, and I'd even say it's like a club sound around your ears (considering one goes to a club to have a good time, not really analyze the soundsystem ).
 
3. Accessories
Wow! Accessories! A nice case, 2 cables, an extra pair of shields, small cloth for cleaning the shields, 1/4" adapter... after getting the DT-660 and finding only a pair of headphones and a 1/4" adapter inside the box, opening the LP2 box felt like Christmas when I was child!
 
4. Value
This is the most subjective part of the review... I wanted a pair of around-ear headphones, but not so big (like the Pro 900) so I could still use them as my portable cans. Also, I wanted a very fun, club-like sound (I listen to a lot of electronic music).
 
For this reason, and considering the build quality and all the accessories, I think the price is quite fair. They're not cheap, but I wouldn't say they're expensive either (I got them new for 164 EUR at Amazon).
 
Are there better-sounding cans in this price range? Sure... I have the HD 25-1 II, and while I admit their sound is much better (sonically) than the LP2, for me, they're not as fun and engaging as the LP2 can be.
 
5. Conclusion
I'm really happy with my purchase. I was quite worried due to the high amount of bad reviews, but decided to pull the trigger and I was not disappointed!
 
If you're searching for a pair of good-looking, portable, around-ears headphones, with a fun, bass-heavy sound to listen to electronic music, you should consider the LP2. And then, forget about technicalities and just enjoy the music 

 
Just got my V-Moda LP2's less than half an hour ago, writing this as I'm testing them.
 
NOTE:
Some things to keep in mind while reading the review:

1. These are my first set of closed over ear cans
2. This might be a bit unfair, but I'm A/Bing these with a set of Grado sr80i's with more than 100 hours on them. They're the only other thing I own that aren't IEM's
3. These have no burn in, but I will add onto this later once they're burned in.
4. I bought these knowing they're full sized cans, with the intent of portable use. They are light and small enough to be reasonably portable.

 
 
Right off, I have to say that the build quality of everything from the box to the case to the cans themselves feels remarkably solid and well done. The matte finish is really enjoyable to touch and everything is very smooth. Even the box is fun to touch...
 
CONTENTS:
The LP2's come with two V-Moda stickers, one clear with the logo and one black with the logo. They also include two male-male cables, one with a three button in-line remote and one longer, plain cable. They're the same cables that come with the m80's, which are made of Kevlar and terminate in a straight plug and 45 degree plug. They also came with a set of gunmetal-chrome side plates which are interchangeable with the matte black stock plates (V-Moda also offers the option to customize plates for a fee.) Also comes with a cleaning cloth with the V-Moda logo on it.
 
PHOTOS:
 
 
 
 
V-Moda says on the product page for the LP2 that these are minimally branded, and true to their claim, there is almost no branding on these. I noticed only three instances of branding.

1. There's the word V-Moda in red on the insides of the headband, above the L/R signs
2. A barely visible V-Moda on the top of the headband, which blends in really well
3. And lastly the -V- logo on the metal connectors holding the ear cups. 

 
Aside from that, you can't tell who made these, and to anyone who doesn't know the V-Moda logo, they probably won't notice anything.
 
The cushions are amazingly soft and conform to your head. They're really comfortable and I can see these being able to almost disappear with time. There are a ton of size possibilities on these, so unless your head is gargantuan, you should be fine. The cushions use V-Moda's BLISS technology with memory foam. Not quite sure how cushions have technology in them, but it works.
 
SOUND:
I'm going to go ahead and say right now that these sound pretty good out of the box.
 
These are said to have extended bass, and that is true to every letter of the word extended. When the track calls for bass, it gets BASS. Not like a punch to the side of the face bass, but like a long almost rumble bass that's not quite low enough to rumble. This could be a good or a bad thing, but I happen to like it. The bass feels controlled and doesn't bleed at all. Remember that I am using grado's as the a/b, which lack a good quantity of bass. So far, even without burn in, I feel like these cans have a good quantity of bass without losing quality.
 
These handled Pendulum's song Crush without any problems. Enough bass without overpowering the vocals or other instruments. I do have to say that when driving these from my Acer Aspire 5552 laptop, the electronic instruments sounded like they were broken and all I heard in place of them were weak sounding 'clicks'. I decided to play the same track through my iPod classic, and everything went fine. No clicks, the electronic instruments were back and everything sounded perfect. I wiped the sweat from my brow and decided that my laptop simply cannot drive these properly. 
 
EDIT: I swapped from the remote cable to the standard audio cable and plugged that into my laptop. Lo and behold, they work fine. No sound problems, all the music sounds as it did when played from the iPod. Must be some sort of remote incompatability with my computer.
 
Heading to Chiodos's song Caves, I was immediately impressed at the opening. My grado plays the opening bass as if someone was hitting a soup can with a teaspoon. Now I can actually hear the screams of a drum being beaten. Entering into the middle of the song, vocals are nicely handled, even the screams. I do feel like the bass mixes with the vocals on the bottom end a bit, hoping that'll fix up with a little burn in. The highs in this track are quite high for a male voice, but the LP2 handles them without a problem. No sibilance, no screeching pain, just lots of smiles.
 
Moving to A Skylit Drive's cover of the 1983 single Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) by Journey. The electronically synthed sounds came off perfectly, resulting in another opening that left me smiling. However, that smile vanished as the vocals began to play and I again felt like the bass messed with the bottom end of the vocals a bit. It isn't a huge problem that renders anything unlistenable, but it's not how the track sounded on my Grado. I will bring up the EQ later on my iPod and see if any settings fix this, or if it is going to be a problem.
 
Going to a genre I'm sure a few of you were waiting for; dubstep. Beginning with Skrillex's All I Ask Of You, the bass is plentiful and has a thumpy but controlled impact. In this song, everything went in perfect harmony. The bass didn't mess with the vocals or electronic sounds, and they didn't struggle in the least to keep up with the song. I have nothing but love for these cans when it comes to dubstep.
 
Moving to the final song I'll test these on; Lights and her song Ice. As previous, the opening just made me smile. I've got to admit that these sound really good. As with the dubstep, the bass didn't interfere with the vocals or other instruments. When it came time for that speedy section of the song, I smiled broadly. It's my favorite portion of the song, and these handled it like a racing car handling the curves of a racetrack. 
 
I also watched a movie, Black Hawk Down (2002) with these on. I've watched that movie at least a dozen times, and none of them were like this one. When those bullets whizzed by, you almost felt them. When those RPG's hit the buildings or a grenade exploded, the bass hit you. It was like being there in the raid with those soldiers. If I had any doubts about keeping these cans before I watched that movie, they're gone now.
 
EDIT: After a few hours of constant use, I feel like the bass doesn't interfere with the lower end of the vocals as much. Whether its due to burn in or I'm simply not hearing it anymore is a mystery, but I just wanted to put that out there.
 
SOUNDSTAGE:
The LP2 doesn't have a cavernous feel at all, but at the same time, doesn't provide that trapped in your head feeling you'd receive from other closed cans. I'd say that these (obviously) lack the open and airy sound if a Grado. It's hard to describe since I've heard very few over ear closed cans, but the stage feels wide enough to have everything fit together nicely. I don't feel any sort of cramping at all. These are big and somewhat boomy, but in a controlled way. Sound is very subjective and in my opinion, they do the job nicely.
 
SUMMATION:
 
Even without burn in, they're amazing headphones. While I do have a bit of complaint that the bass interferes with the vocals in some of the post hardcore and heavy rock, I love them already. They do dubstep, electronic and other synthesized sounds wonderfully. I haven't noticed a preference in male or female vocals, as they do both quite capably.
These are very comfortable, but it did take me a little while to adjust to the weight of these as compared to my Grado (which weigh almost nothing). 
I'd say that even as a broke college student, these are well worth their price. I love these already and I simply don't want to take them off. 
 
I've got to admit, I bought these cans skeptical that I'd like them seeing how there were literally no reviews and they'd be my first pair of this kind. But they sure do everything in their power to make me happy.