I did a quick comparison to the M-80 (by request of another member). The results of my comparison are below.
V-Moda M-Class Shootout
Big vs Small
A warmer linear sound is really what made Head-Fi fall in love with the V-Moda M-80. To this day, it remains one of the headphones that can still be recommended for by fashion and sound. Many wanted an over-ear version of the M-80. While some were disappointed that the M-100 didn’t live up to this wish, it still remains a great headphone nonetheless. It makes a great contrasting headphone to the M-80. It’s not a complete upgrade, but a good one regardless.
Both headphones can easily be driven by my iPod Touch 5G without the need of an amp. That is the source used for the comparison.
Fit
The first difference between these two is not in their sound; rather, their form factor. The M-100s are an upgrade in terms of comfort between the two headphones in terms of fit for me. Unless, of course you have a tiny head (the M-80 can fit more comfortably on a smaller head). Both, of course, aren’t without their problems. Eventually, both headbands will cause some discomfort due to their weight. The M-80s ear cups are soft, like the M-100s. However, the M-80s may cause a bit of discomfort after a while. The M-100 on the other hand may be a little shallow for most people.
Regardless, I was able to get a good few hours with both headphones without the need to take them off. I did get slight discomfort here and there though (headband).
Sound
The M-80s offer a more linear sound with a bit of mid-bass to keep them interesting. The M-100s are a v-shaped signature that quickens the bass decay a bit to keep it from overwhelming the mids. Both headphones are great, they both compliment each other very well.
Bass
Despite what the graphs show, the M-100’s bass doesn’t seem to be much bigger than the M-80s. Yes, it’s bumped up, but only by a few dB max. The M-100 has a larger emphasis on the lower-sub bass to create much more delicate texturing over the M-80 while having a tighter punch. This does come with a slight loss of impact though. The M-80s have a bigger low-to-mid-bass emphasis so the punches hit harder, and impacts have a bit of slam behind them.
Mids
If the M-100 has a weakness, it’s the midrange. The M-80s really do a much better job focusing on the lower midrange detailing and retrieval besting the M-100 at both of these tasks. The M-100s are able to matchup with the M-80 in the upper-midrange clarity for instrumentals. Same goes for the upper vocals as well as they carry great energy with them. Though the M-80 perform the lower vocals amazingly, the M-100 aren’t too far behind in this area.
Highs
Both of these headphones do a beautiful job rendering the lower treble region. They actually have similar snare snaps that give quite a bit of energy into the upper ranges. The M-100 does have a little better presence and dominance in this area though. Both of these headphones can extend quite a bit into the upper treble as well. The M-80, however, is a little reserved in this area in comparison to the M-100. It also seems to extend a little bit further than the M-80s as well being able to uncover a little more detail.
Final Thoughts
In reality, the choice of headphone will still go down to the signature preference, as well as fit preferences. The M-100 is still audiophile friendly, but diverges from the more accurate line the M-80 creates. Still, you can’t go wrong either direction. The M-100 give you more of a musical sense to the music while the M-80s try to stay more accurate, but also stay in touch with its musical side. The choice is yours.
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