When I first saw the modular AIAIA TMA-2 range, I wasn’t sure what to think. So, I’m trying the DJ version to see if this new approach has something to offer. In this AIAIAI TMA-2 Review article, I’ll aim to provide a thorough examination.
Product Overview
A modular headphone sounds like a great idea. Choose a headband style, the type of drivers, size of earcups, padding you want for the perfect headphone. You can even pick wired or wireless connections. But with so much choice, where do you start?
AIAIAI have solved this by having a few pre-configured headphones to choose from. One of those is the DJ set, which is what I am trying. This is a wired, lightweight pair of headphones, with 40mm drivers, weighing just 160 grams. First impressions are good, they feel well made, and the combination of light weight and nice padding makes them very comfortable, even after longer sessions. Sound is good too, with impressive bass from the smaller earcup size.
Compact and good sounding headphones, the AIAIAI TMA-2 DJ are a good choice, but their real value is probably in that ability to change out everything if you want.
Key Features
AIAIAI TMA-2: A User Experience Review (The Good)
You can wear these headphones all day if you want, they will still feel comfortable. Light enough to not cause irritation, padded but breathable so you don’t start sweating, AIAIAI have really got the design right with the DJ set.
For a working DJ, its not just about a quality feel, they need to be robust and stand up to the inevitable knocks and accidents. The AIAIAI TMA-2 DJs are really good, they feel very solid and have
Although good as they are, you can match or even do better than this DJ model for the same money from other brands. The key reason to buy these instead is the modular system. You can make them wireless, add bigger drivers to change the sound, swap to a different headband. These headphones can be anything you want, although of course this means buying more modules.
AIAIAI TMA-2: A User Experience Review (The Bad)
While the overall sound is good, they don’t have the high frequency detail that some headphones can give you at this price. You don’t notice if these are all you listen to. But swap to something like the Sennheiser HD25s and listen to the same track and you will hear things that simply were not there on this set.
The AIAIAI TMA-2 DJs come with a 1.5m cable, but it really doesn’t match the quality of the headphones themselves. It never feels secure in a socket, or even in the supplied 6.3mm adaptor, and can cause connectivity issues. If you choose these headphones, get yourself a nice cable from your audio store, it will improve the experience a lot.
Alternatives
The Sennheiser HD 25 offer a more mature package overall for similar money, but the ability to add new features and change every aspect of the headphones means that the TMA-2s really can be anything you want them to be.
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Product Name
Price
Sennheiser HD 25
Verdict
In a market where small changes tend to define new products, an entirely modular system stands out, and I really like what AIAIAI have tried to do with the TMA-2. The DJ variant I have does its job well, but doesn’t stand out against the competition really.
So, is it worth buying into the modular system? If you like the idea of different headbands or drivers, maybe. But these extra modules add to the cost too, and there are some mistakes in the design. The wireless headband has a charging port on the inside for instance. That means you can’t charge and wear them at the same time. There are some good ideas here though, and some may love the technology. But as a set of headphones on their own, the AIAIAI TMA-2 DJs are great sounding, well made and easy to live with.
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