AIAIAI TMA-2 Series headphones

T
MA-2 is a headphone
range from Danish
manufacturer AIAIAI.
It offers an innovative
confi guration process
that allows you to
build your own
headphones from a selection of
modular parts, and comes in both
wired and wireless versions.
The online confi gurator currently
offers a choice from three speaker
units each with its own frequency
profi le, six headbands, four earpads
(both over ear and on ear), 12 cables
and two hard cases. Component
prices vary, but the cheapest
confi guration I managed was £162
and the most expensive £290, and
that was for a pair with Bluetooth
5.0 connectivity. There are a number
of further signature designs on offer,
including ones from the likes of
Ninja Tunes and KNTXT.
To keep things simple there are
also six pre-confi gured models and
it’s two of these, the TMA-2 Studio
and TMA-2 Studio XE, that I have on
review. These are modular, much like
the individually confi gured pairs, and
if you did want to upgrade them
later, all the individual parts are
available from the webshop. As I
found when I started playing around
with them, they are also very easy to
take apart and reassemble, with the
headband plugging into each
speaker unit and the earpads simply
pushing in. Despite the fact that you
can take them apart, they feel
suitably robust and the overall build
quality is good.
So, how do these two models
compare? The TMA-2 has their
fl agship super comfortable memory
foam earpads covered in Alcantara
fabric and a microfi bre headband
and these make for a pretty
comfortable fi t. The XE meanwhile
has more modest PU-covered
memory foam earpads and a slimline
lightweight PU and polycarbonate
headband. This is slightly less
comfortable, but mostly down to the
thinner padding on the headband.
Both ear pad designs are over-ear
and closed back. They successfully
reduce ambient noise and escaped
sound, making them great for studio
recording and DJ booth use. They are
also both pretty light, so well suited
to extended periods of listening.
The speaker units on both of
these pairs are the same 40mm
bio-cellulose diaphragm drivers with
review confi gurations are pretty
accurate. Overall, they are great for
recording, DJing and general
listening, though I think there are
more suitable headphones for mixing
and mastering.
neodymium magnets. You’d think
these would sound pretty similar, but
there’s a clear difference and this is
highlighted as part of the product
description. Most obviously, the low
end for the XE is more pronounced
and overall the sound is more
scooped in the mid range. Neither
pair is particularly hyped in the high
frequencies, which is great if you like
to listen loud but less helpful for
critical mixing and mastering. That
said, I quite like their overall tonality.
To my ears, the TMA-2 provides a
much better overall balance than the
XE and better suits a broader range
of tasks.
I really like the TMA-2 modular
concept, and although it’s not
possible to get a true sense of which
components will best suit you, the
product descriptions for the two
THE PROS & CONS
+
Closed back, over-ear
design suitable for
recording and DJing
Lightweight,
comfortable and
good for long periods
of listening
Good value
Flexible modular
design
Good choice of
alternative
components
-
Not ideal for
critical listening
FM VERDICT
8.0
F lexible modular design at
a price that won’t break the
bank – and they’re great for
recording, DJing and general
listening purposes
AIAIAI TMA-2 Series headphones | Reviews
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