Before testing the AIAIAI TMA-2 HD Wireless Headphones, I set my expectation bar fairly low because of the negative online reviews of the product. This is another great example showing headphones reviews are subjective and the best way to buy headphones is trying them yourself.
Unboxing Video
Design & Features
The TMA-2 HD is a very special pair of headphones because of their modular design. This is the first time that I have to put all the parts together before putting the headphones on my head. Specifically, the product comes with ear cups, ear pads, a headband, a USB-C charging cable, and a 3.5mm audio cable with a 6.35mm adapter. All the parts were separated and put into different bags. Fortunately, assembling the headphones is fairly easy; Since these are wireless headphones, basically I just needed to attach the ear cups to the headband and then put on the ear pads.
The USB-C charging port is placed underneath the headband. The position is a little inconvenient to recharge the headphones but it contributes to a cleaner look. Unlike other wireless headphones, the battery is hidden inside the top of the headband instead of inside the ear cups. According to the company, the battery could deliver up to 16-hour playback time.
My only complaint is that they are not ideal as portable headphones because the earcups are not foldable and no carrying case is included; That means they would take a large space in your bag or backpack.
My first impression with the TMA-2 HD was not really good since most parts are made of plastic. However, that quickly changed after wearing the headphones. The ear pads are so soft and comfortable while the whole package is lightweight and doesn’t cause any pain on the top of my head or around my ears. The E08 ear pads are the largest and most comfortable ones with memory foam cushion covered with Alcantara. However, they are not really large as I expected, they still touch or press on my outer ears most of the time. Fortunately, it doesn’t cause any significant discomfort even when I wear the headphones for a few hours.
Another advantage of the headphones is Bluetooth multipoint support. I can pair the headphones with my iPhone, iPad, and laptop at the same time. Therefore, it is very easy to switch among different sound sources because I don’t have to pair and unpair manually.
Audio Quality
The sound quality of the AIAIAI headphones is not bad at all. It has a V-shaped sound with boosted bass and treble. The company has done a good job in tuning the sound to make it more interesting. The bass is adequate while the treble is well extended to reveal details in the high frequency range.
However, the bass it not really punchy while the upper mids and highs are slightly distorted; The highs are a little thin and edgy, so they occasionally cause unwanted harmonics in some tracks. You can see the drawback when playing tracks reaching high notes and cranking up the volume.
The soundstage is quite good in the world of closed-back headphones; I can easily detect locations of different vocals and layers of instruments since everything is well-separated. I don’t have the feeling of all sounds coming from the 2 drivers sitting next to my ears.
I’ve tested numerous headphones in the price range of $300-$400 but very few could deliver the same interesting sound signature. Once you give the TMA-2 HD and your ears enough time to burn in, you will absolutely love it. It is a comfortable sound that would allow you to enjoy high-fidelity music for hours. It doesn’t cause any fatigue for your ears; I’ve listened to a wide variety of music genres with the headphones and I’m quite surprised with their performance.
The TMA-2 HD is equipped with S05 speaker units which provides a natural tonality and more defined high-frequency details. The speaker units are the most expensive options at the moment as they cost $130 if you buy them separately.
Conclusion
Pros
- Modular design allows easy upgrades
- Highly-detailed sound with defined bass and treble
- Lightweight and comfortable
- Consistent Bluetooth connection with multipoint support
- Good battery life
Cons
- Not suitable for portable use
- Dull look
- Expensive
The AIAIAI TMA-2 HD is my first modular headphones and I’m quite impressed with their quality. They deliver great sound when comparing to other headphones in the same price range. We at TechWalls highly recommend the headphones if you plan to use them at home. In case you are looking for headphones to use on the street or crowded space, you should get headphones with active noise cancellation and a more portable design. Besides, I still think the product is overpriced; If it was dropped to the range of $250-$300, it would be an easy recommendation.
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