V-MODA Vibe In-Ear Noise-Isolating Metal Headphone (Gunmetal Black)

by V-Moda

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 1 x 5.5 x 5 inches ; 2.9 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000V5L5MG
• Item model number: v-gunblack2
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (512 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: July 7, 2004

Product Description

Color: Gunmetal Black

From the Manufacturer

The Perfect Integration of Form and Function

V-MODA, the music lifestyle brand that owes its allure to the fusion of fashion and function, introduces its passion for music and style to the world with our innovative line of "modaphones". The pinnacle experience of music is interwoven with supreme style in these premium fashion-phones that sound as amazing as they look. The Vibe series of earphones comprises the signature example of the V-MODA line, combining for the first time a meticulously-crafted sound signature with a conscious eye towards modern design.

V-MODA's "Sculpted Sound Curve"

V-MODA's engineers spent over a year of the design phase crafting the perfect sound signature of the Vibe series of headphones. Designed to mimic the warm, sweet sound of hi-fi stereo speakers costing thousands of dollars apiece, the curve remains amazingly straight with no bass roll-off which delivers a smooth and detailed bass response. A sensitivity dip in the 500hz to 2kHz range accentuates the bass slightly and reproduces a warm soundstage. The gentle dropoff in the high ranges was carefully designed to avoid harsh or "clinical"-sounding highs, making the Vibes suitable as in-ear monitors.

The Power of V-MASQUE and BLISS Technologies

V-MASQUE is the speaker technology designed to reproduce V-MODA's sculpted sound curve. It involves using micro-sized metal alloy housings with dynamic neodymium speaker drivers to produce intense clarity and a warm, rich sound. Many other high-end headphones use balanced armature drivers, which can produce clarity well when inserted deeply--and for many people, uncomfortably--into the ear. Yet even in the best-case scenarios headphones using balanced-armature drivers can often lack warmth, producing a "mechanical"-sounding midrange and highs that feel flat and cold. The sound signature of the Vibe series is specifically designed for juicy lows and a sweet midrange yet maintains very precise highs.

Vibe's amazing hi-definition sound makes every element of your music crystal clear and present on a 3-D soundstage. The unique V-MASQUE dynamic driver and "beat port" airflow system recreates the sensation of a LIVE music experience. The "beat port" airflow system works by allowing the airflow to move throughout the housing naturally thanks to precision-cut holes in the driver and the housing. This airflow creates an organic output that is far different than other high-end in-ear monitors that can sound distant and mechanical. The Vibe simulates an experience of listening to live music thanks to the circulation that takes place inside the headphone.

BLISS is the acronym for "Bass-Level-Isolating Soft Silicon". Passive noise isolation by itself is not unordinary for in-ear headphones, yet extreme attention to detail is critical because of the fitting's effect in both comfort and sound. The exact thickness of the silicon can make all the difference in the world. Many of the "softest" silicon fittings on some brands proved to be too thick in V-MODA's user test panel. BLISS is made to not only be extremely comfortable in the ear canal, but also to be the easiest earphone to put in and take out quickly. This way one can rock quickly in a matter of seconds, then take an intermission before another encore.

The shape of the fitting is also extremely crucial to prevent them from popping out too easily by providing a proper seal. One of the interesting things V-MODA discovered is that the smaller the fitting, the better the fit for some users since the smaller fitting fits slightly deeper to prevent fall-out. However, many people commonly try only "larger" fittings thinking they may be tighter when the opposite is true. This is why V-MODA puts the small fittings on by default in the packaging, but users should try a few different sizes to decide for themselves optimal sound and comfort.

The design behind BLISS is also an ideology of how far deep the fittings should lie in the ear and the level of noise isolation. In V-MODA's user test groups, many users found that other high-end headphones required a fit too deep and too intrusive to get the best sound and comfort. BLISS fittings are "just right" for everyday use and the amount of noise isolation they provide.

What It Means To Be a "Lifestyle" Headphone

Though designed as an audiophile headphone, the Vibe was also specifically designed to be used on the go while moving: at the gym, heading to the venue, or walking down the street. Even though the casing is made of metal, the Vibe amazingly weighs only 12 grams, which is a third of the weight of many other competing high-end headphones. It is also the only headphone designed to lie flush within the ear so that you can use it while laying down on a pillow.

Extra thought and research was also put into the cable. Why is the cable so important? The main cable diameter of 2.2mm and overall cord length of 44"-46" work best to prevent "earphone fallout". V-MODA's cables are rigorously tested with weights to withstand abuse.

In addition to all this, the Vibe comes with a lot of extras. A gold leather pouch provides quick and easy storage, and the Modawrap cable manager can be used to control the length of the cables which is especially great for use with sport armbands. Black and clear fittings are included for extra personalization and two pairs of each size fittings are included. Try all 3 sizes (small, medium, and large) of fittings to create secure fit maximize music listening experience. Gently insert fittings into ear canal deep enough to ensure optimal seal.

What's In The Box

V-MODA Vibe headphones, leather carrying case, fitting instructions, VIP Card providing access to exclusive music offers and events through V-MODA, and a 1-year premier replacement warranty.

Product Description

Fashion-conscious style and audio enthusiast sound unite to form the most sophisticated electronics accessory in the world. Vibe’s metal craftsmanship delivers the perfect balance of rich bass, superior audio clarity, and luxurious design. Unlike other uncomfortable and obtrusive in-ear headphones, Vibe presents essential active lifestyle comfort, security, and noise isolation for the discerning music enthusiast. Includes stylish black leather carrying pouch.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

94 of 94 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Nice sound, bad durability, May 5, 2008

By 

David Moore (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: V-MODA Vibe In-Ear Noise-Isolating Metal Headphone (Gunmetal Black) (Electronics)

Overall I like these earbuds a lot. They do have a very strong bass bias, so if that is what you are looking for great, if that bothers you then you should definitely look elsewhere. Any of the preset equalizers with heavy bass on my MP3 player are basically unusable with these earbuds because it will drown out the other ranges. But a flat or treble-biased equalizer sounds great because the bass is still available, along with rich mids and clear treble. The range on these earbuds is also noticeably larger, especially on the low end, than other headphones I've used.

These are great earbuds if you want to listen to music in a loud environment, such as a crowded office, bus, or even airplane, without having to crank up the volume. Because of the seal these make in your ear canal they block out most environment background noise so all you hear is the music. These work so well that I actually play tracks at about half the volume as I did with regular earbuds, and as a result I've even noticed improvement in the battery life of my MP3 player.

The only fault I've had with these is that about 8-9 months after purchasing these the sound in the left earbud started to cut out. The problem was the wire connecting to that earbud seemed to be slipping loose and cutting off the sound. Luckily I was within the 1-year warranty and they shipped me another pair, but I was distressed that such an expensive pair of headphones would go out after several months. The problem is likely in the design: since the metalic earbuds fit within your ears there is natural tendency to pull them out by the base of the wires when removing them from the ear. This probably loosened the mount over several months and resulting in it wearing out. So if you get these definitely pull them out by the bud itself, not the wire.

Pros:
* good rich sound if you don't mind the bass
* stylish, catchy colors (I have the metalic red), goes well with ipods if you are sick of white wires
* wires are less prone to tangling
* great blocking of environmental noise, especially in noisy environments. benefits of noise canceling headphones with the batteries or the bulk.

Cons:
* Several reviews note having to return them to fix problems with the wires.

108 of 114 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding!!!, December 18, 2007

By 

GNR - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: V-MODA Vibe In-Ear Noise-Isolating Metal Headphone (Gunmetal Black) (Electronics)

I've been using the v-moda vibe for about a week now with my iPod Nano and I absolutely love this baby. Although I have a huge music collection as well as three iPods, I never considered buying high end earbuds until about two weeks ago. Since I'll be heading on a 16 hour flight in a couple of days, I thought - why not invest in some great noise isolating earbuds instead of putting up with the terrible earphones that the airlines usually hand out.

After reading the reviews on Amazon, I first went to my local retailer and bought a Shure E2C. While the audio quality on the Shure E2C was great, it takes a lot of maintenance..... and as other reviewers point out, the bass response is terrible unless you get the silicone insert perfectly right. If thats not enough of a headache, the bass response can differ widely every time you use the earphones, depending on whether the earbuds "seal" correctly. It took so much work everytime I used it, it made more sense for me to get a pet instead!!!

So I returned the E2C's and got myself the Creative Aurvana's. Great packaging and slick presentation, but the earbuds suck!!! The bass response was terrible and my music sounded flat! I returned those within 48 hours of use. Seriously, dont even bother with the Creative Aurvana. Its a total waste of time and money.

Finally, with my trip looming large, I decided to get the v-moda vibe once again after reading the stellar reviews on Amazon. I mean, a product with 4 stars after 312 reviews has got to be good, right? I got the earbuds and decided to try them on (skeptically). I was completely blown away! So much so, that I decided to write my first review ever on Amazon. So here are the pros and cons of these earbuds.

Pros:
1. Phenomenal bass response. It doesnt have the "please make me deaf" kind of "super bass", but has a rich uniform bass - much better than the Shure and Creative buds.
2. Mid range and highs are also great and crisp
3. The fit and maintenance are both super easy. No clogging, not 'ear wax cleaning tools' etc
4. The "seal" is also great - and importantly, consistent. Also, the seal pretty much isolates most sound. So you definitely want to be careful when wearing these. (For example - I couldnt hear the tap running when I was in my kitchen. I couldnt even hear my phone ringing right in front of me)
5. Fits right, no slipping even when you are walking or running

Cons:
None really. The packaging, presentation etc could be better. The "leather" bag it comes with looks kinda cheap, etc. But all of this, in my opinion is purely incidental and immaterial. I mean, do you buy earbuds for the sound or for the way its packaged/accessories?

Another suggestion:
When using the iPod, I found the "Rock" EQ setting gave me the best response on the buds. Try listening to "Stairway to Heaven" and you can hear Jimmy Page's (I think) fingers brush against the strings of the lead guitar as he plucks away. Beat that Shure! Creative, just roll over! :)

104 of 112 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Bait and Switch Con Job! You've been warned., May 21, 2008

By 

Loki - See all my reviews

This review is from: V-MODA Vibe In-Ear Noise-Isolating Metal Headphone (Gunmetal Black) (Electronics)

There are two generations of The V-Moda Vibe... the first generation, manufactured in China by a company called OTC, and a 2nd generation, with a different sound, different components, different manufacture, and way less build quality and sound quality.

This is confusing and unfair... many reviews refer to the original version.. especially reviews on enthusiast boards, and that quality and sound is long gone... the modern professional and enthusiast reviews are nearly always negative, and the product is not recommended.

I suggest you stay away from the Vibes... better and cheaper options abound.

To be fair, customer service at V-moda is excellent.. you'll probably need it.

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