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- Titanium high performance drivers
- Cable lock
- Interchangeable ear pads
- Angled stereo plug
- Adjustable cups
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Here's my thoughts on the AIAIAI TMA-1 after using them for a few days:The good:
looks very nice. Aesthetically looks exactly how i'd design headphones. Loving the matte black, and whatever they used, it feels great to the touch. Looks pretty well-built, for the most part. Nice, thick detachable audio cord, which is coiled, but still long enough to be as good as a straight cord.
They are pretty light, second only to a pair of cheap sennheisers i tried.
no sound leakage.
Generally speaking, I've always felt on-ears had sound isolation that was inferior to over ears and iems. These have very good sound isolation.
The sound is very nice. The bass, to me, is PERFECT. It's there in songs with bass, but it doesn't sound overly boomy, artificial, or amplified. Before these I thought the Beats Studios had excellent bass. Now I realize how amplified and artificial it was. Songs with little or no bass, you'll hear just that-little or no bass. Just how it should be. I'd say the mids were there and pretty detailed, but there wasn't too much music i listened to that would be adequate to hear the highs. No "muddiness" at all. All i could say is i didn't notice anything negative to say about them.
It did, however, expose my lower quality music. There were certain songs that sounded like absolute crap, that I mostly didn't notice before, but then it made me realize that's how ALL my music sounded with the stock iPhone earbuds. On some of my older songs, you could hear what sounded like audio equipment noise, popping, etc. I don't know about that stuff so I can't really explain it any more, but I made it a point to listen to most of the same tracks when I demo'd all these headphones, and this was my first time hearing it.
The bad:
Personal preference, but I'd prefer over ear headphones to on-ear headphones.
Now here's the biggie:
They're actually TOO loose. I went to lean back in the car this morning, and the cups rotated about 30 degrees outward. Not because i moved fast or anything, but because when the headband isn't holding the phones in place due to gravity, they're heavy (and loose) enough to move with gravity. The headphones were on my head, but the cups were pointing towards my line of sight (instead of pointing toward my eardrums when they're on correctly). This won't be a problem anytime you are upright, however. They seal well and don't move as long as you don't lay down.
Also, the actual cans themselves have a BUNCH of wiggle room. There's holes on the band that click into place as you adjust them for your head, but other than the holes there's a good 1/2 inch of open wiggle room. i think that's just a design flaw. I think that's also a big part of the reason why the cups fell off when i leaned back.
The headband has NO PADDING whatsoever. I mean that thing is rock hard. I'm gonna get a couple of those carwash polish pad thingies and electrical tape em on the band (doing this has helped somewhat); I mean it really hurts, but I do have a sensitive head.
I'd like some type of ipod controls on the cord, near the headphones. having controls near the ipod is pointless, so i can't use the standard in line adapters sold as they're female-in male-out, they'd be to be the reverse if plugging into the headphone end.
Summary:
1. Sound AWESOME.
2. Look AWESOME.
3. Although I don't have any doubts as to its durability, there's a number of things I'd change as far as design/construction.
Other headphones i've tried:
Beats Studio (bassy, but cheap, painful, and artificial sounding)
Bose QC15 (great noise canceling, terrible sound)
Sennheiser HD428 (lightest i've ever used)
Bowers & Wilkins P5 (painful to wear)
Klipsch Image One (clamping force too great, sounds ok)
Roc Nation Aviator (sound pretty good, won't fit larger heads)
Sony Super Bass (muddy sound)
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After listening to these headphones for a few days (pretty much non-stop) all I have to say is wow. The sound quality is amazing!--Pros ---
AMAZING sound quality once you turn them up a bit. I recommend using an equalizer and playing 320 kbps songs.
Deep, rich, full sound that doesn't sound muddy. Responsive and crisp mids and highs, incredible but not overwhelming bass. (don't take that to mean these don't have a good amount of bass, because they do. I'm just mean it doesn't overpower everything else)
Excellent noise isolation once you start playing anything. I tested this by riding with my brother down the highway at 70 MPH, with the windows down and his radio at full blast (new car so the stereo is decent) I could barely hear anything but my music.
Beautiful minimalistic aesthetic. Amazingly nice rubberized matte finish. This is just a personal preference, but I love that you cannot see a brand name while someone is wearing them (since it's inside the headband)
Detachable cable.
Long, coiled cable. I love this. I'm 6'1, so usually headphone chords are way too short to be convenient.
Comfortable ear pads (until your ears get sweaty)
VERY rugged and sturdy construction. I can't see these things breaking very easily. *EDIT* they did. Headband is starting to crack. Lets hope it's just a manufacturer defect.
The larger adapter screws on to the cable
They are named after the black alien monolith from 2001: A Space Odyssey. (Tycho Magnetic Anomaly 1)
--Cons ---
The peg-in-hole design makes it difficult to get a "perfect" fit, as you have to use the increments they have pre-determined
Finding the right EQ setting takes some time, (as the soundstage straight out of the box is neutral) but it is completely worth it. If you already tweak your EQ anyways, this really isn't even a con.
There is nothing to stop the headphone itself from being pulled off of the end of the track, leaving cable running from the headband to the speaker the only thing to hold them together. Granted the spring of the cord provides some resistance, and the cable is the same tough material used on the detachable cable, also it does take a good bit force to get it to slide off the end, so i doubt it would break easily.
They are a little awkward to carry if you don't have a bag, but if you wanted something more portable you should be buying earphones and not headphones.
--Conclusion ---
I am absolutely in love with these headphones. They are beautifully designed, and, more importantly, sound absolutely amazing! They do have some flaws, but they more than make up for it! I would recommend these to anyone who wants some insanely good headphones.
*EDIT*
I've had these for four months with no problem until today. The headband is starting to crack. I wasn't even being rough with them. They better have some good customer service.
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I knew the moment I saw these headphones, that I would love them. After blogging about them about six months ago I was instantly interested in the form and function of these highly designed, well-built cans. They are rugged, simple, and built for longevity. I very much like the design inspiration of the Tycho-Magnetic-Anomaly from 2001: A Space Odyssey.The Feel: They are very comfortable, though smaller than the Denon-AhD-2000's I was tempted to buy. They are on-ear cans, but much bigger than the Klipsch Image ONE Headphones (great sound, but so small!). I have ears that pop out a bit so I'm very sensitive to pressure. However, after two hours of listening I haven't had any complaints, except when I put my prescription glasses on. They are light and have a good grip on the top of my head, so I can move around and not worry about sliding. I'm looking forward to commuting with them.
The Build: The tactile quality of the rubberized material is top notch, and makes it a joy to put them on and off. The option to switch out from leather to foam ear pads is genius. I imagine I will be wearing these guys thin from everyday use. I really like the removable cable feature, in case someone steps on the cord, you won't get whiplash. I might buy a straight cord to commute with..the spiral cord works great by the computer and at the home. The bag is also really well made, and functions to protect your already almost indestructible set of phones.
The Sound: Perfect. The bass is rich and deep, w/o taking over the mid and high range. Mids are solid. I don't like an excessive amount of treble in what I listen to, but I like to hear cymbals pop, and the pluck of the guitar string...they do the trick. So far I think these are the best pair of headphones I've owned so far. I had some sony studio monitors a few years back, recently I purchased the Sony-MDRNC60's and turned them back immediately due to the hissing, and misc. sounds when near my iphone....next I got the new Bose AE2 model, amazing feel, comfortable, lightweight, and bose quality, but the bass just wasn't there, and instead sounded flat. I like richness in my sound...and the bass and mids bump on these babies! I read that the sound quality gets better after breaking them in.
Overall: Get them. You will love them the moment you get them in the mail, from unboxing to head banging. Top notch design, build, and sound quality.
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I've been extensively using my new AIAIA TMA-1's for the past month, and I'm here to confirm and comment on what is being said about these cans.--The Pros:--
* The sound quality, given some tweaking (more on that in a sec) and break-in time, is simply extraordinary; rich and deep sound, incredible and crisp detail, and powerful-but-not-overpowering balance simply *connect* with any given song in any genre I've thrown at them, producing a sound stage that actually feels like music is coming from all around me, not like it's coming from the headphones. Favorite moments thus far with these cans include the synthesizer swell at the beginning of Love Like a Sunset Part II by Phoenix, Coltrane's incredibly crisp and clear sound in Syeeda's Song Flute (I can't listen to jazz except on these headphones due to pickiness; the acoustics and recording clarity on these have spoiled me), and the supreme surrounding, driving beat of All in Forms by Bonobo.
* The design is, IMO, just phenomenal, from engineering to aesthetics; I like the minimalist matte finish and the overall headphone design so much that I wear them around my neck as a sort of fashion accessory, though I also enjoy being able to disconnect and reconnect the detachable, coiled cable whenever I feel like it. Mostly, I like the curious stares they get as people try to look for a brand and realize they're just beautiful for the sake of being beautiful.
* The coiled cable is long enough to stuff in my pocket with my iPod, but not too long that it swings around annoyingly when walking (I'm 6'1 though, so YMMV). At the same time, when connecting the headphones to my Logitech Z-2300 THX-Certified 2.1 Speaker System with Subwoofer, I am able to comfortably walk around my room with the headphones still plugged in thanks to the coiled design. Couldn't be happier with this design choice in all areas.
*The comfortable ear pads are nice (on a hot day they make my ears sweaty, but that's probably a fault of my physiology more than of design) and the headband is soft enough not to bother. I have worn these while watching a movie for 2 hours straight without any complaints, except for the sweaty ears. Probably couldn't wear these for a full day, but if I was forced to I wouldn't mind.
--The "meh"s:--
* The EQ on whatever devices you use with these headphones ABSOLUTELY MUST be tweaked to fully appreciate the richness of sound. Simply put, they sounded like crap straight out of the box, and I contemplated returning them because of it. However, with patience and EQ tweaking I discovered the true potential of the AIAIA TMA-1's. I believe their sound quality has the potential to sound exactly how you want it to by forcing you to tweak the EQ; put in 5 minutes to balance it (I have my iPod EQ set to Jazz and a simple manual config for iTunes) and poof, crappy headphones turn into some seriously powerful cans. I think the engineers created these headphones to emulate a completely blank, neutral, and balanced canvas, and like a musician or an artist, it is up to the user to decide what to do with it to their liking.
* The headphone height adjustment is based on the classic "pegs snapping into spaced holes" design that doesn't allow for quite as precise a fit as I desire. It's still comfy enough for this not to be a big issue, but it is worth noting.
--The Cons:--
* The pegs-in-spaced-holes design for the headphone height adjustment seems flimsy after a month of use, though I'm not sure if this is by design or not. The headphones themselves are able to rotate side-to-side by a limited amount while not on my head, not enough for them to fall out but enough to raise concerns about longevity. Not sure how long the construction will really last or if this is a real problem, but here's hoping it will take care of itself.
* The coiled cable came packaged awkwardly upon opening, and the cable remains bent in ugly places at ugly angles, such as in the middle of the spiral coil. This ruined the aesthetic of the headphones for a few weeks for me, however I don't think this is enough to dock a point from the overall score since the cable seems to be slowly smoothing out with use (still, I've had these for a month and they still haven't gone away).
* The headphones themselves are beautiful IMO, but they are a little large when actually on my head. Probably me being too nitpicky. Seriously, I have nothing else to complain about here.
--BOTTOM LINE:--
If you have the cash, and the patience, I wholeheartedly recommend springing for these headphones. However, if you want something that immediately sounds good straight from the box, I recommend trying out a pair of Grado or Sennheiser headphones, as both come with their own sort of personalities that don't require EQ tweaking like the AIAIAI TMA-1's do. Personally, I couldn't be happier with the performance of these headphones, and by now, if you've been researching these headphones like I did, you'll know that many other audio reviewers in many different web locations agree.
-UPDATE 9/3/2012 --
One year later and I'm still thankful I bought this product, despite some quibbles...
About 10 months in, my headphones developed a noticeable buzz in the left speaker whenever bass was present. I ignored it at first, but it became more and more irksome as time (and tunes) went on. I emailed AIAIAI and they arranged to have my TMA-1's replaced with new ones for the cost of shipping the broken cans to their facility. The ones I received back are a NEW & UPDATED MODEL of TMA-1, which has a completely different sound quality experience than my previous pair!
Whereas the previous TMA-1's I received were a "blank slate," meant to be played with by an equalizer afficionado, these new cans are NOTICEABLY more bassy. Increased power in the midrange and low-end isolate the listener from his outside world completely, something I never experienced with the previous pair. The treble is not as balanced as it once was, but after a month of listening and breaking in, it has reached a similarly clear level as I raved about in my review 12 months ago. I can pick out trebly details in Jazz tunes just fine, and singers' voices are delivered crisply. The soundspace is phenomenal; I feel like I have my own stage at my disposal with these cans.
These new cans also come with memory foam cushions, rather than faux leather/foam. At first, they made the headphones simply unbearable to use for more than an hour my ears would cramp up, a feeling I never want to repeat but as the material has had time to break in, they have reached a level of comfort I find desirable.
Build quality on the new pair is much stronger than on the previous pair. The headphone jack located on the headphones has a new LOCKING feature, which is incredibly useful in the context of bedroom and outdoor listening. The pegs-in-holes design remains, but everything feels and sounds snappier and more solid in use.
OVERALL, I'd rate this again a 5/5 purchase. Even with updated acoustics that might polarize listeners, you're going to get a comfortable, powerful set of headphones for your money.
PREFACE
This is largely intended to be a review of the AiAiAi TMA-1 with using the Audio Technica ATH-M50 as a point of reference.
A forum member asked for this comparison in the main TMA-1 thread. I ordered the TMA-1 as a possible replacement for my M50 as my "banger 'phone" (i.e. a multipurpose headphone that could come along with my MacBook Pro wherever I go, use to just throw on unamped for a quick listen in the living room or bedroom, and wouldn't necessarily mind if it incurred any damage in its travels) so I figured it would be a good opportunity to put both through their paces to see what came out on top. In addition, whichever headphone I didn't prefer would be gifted to a friend, so I needed to asses their respective performance carefully to determine a conclusive "winner" in respect to my own preferences and needs.
Concerning the M50 it's a stock, straight cable, white box version. I'm the second owner of it, although it was barely used by the original. When I received it it hadn't been broken in yet and still had "boomy" bass. It was broken in with pink noise, frequency sweeps, and periodic low volume listening sessions. I would estimate that they now have in excess of 250 hours on them. The SQ is definitely more balanced and more refined from when I originally received them.
The TMA-1 was purchased new and went straight from the box to my ears. No break in has been performed apart from the head time I've put on them since they've arrived. (12/4/10) I've been using them both in my home and at work to get as much head time a possible. I will update this article should there be a post-break in sound change. All impressions below are based on use with the stock "semi-leather" pads. I have yet to try the foam pads but, based on others' impressions of them and my own experience with the semi-leathers, I don't really see the need to.
I have tried to give equal head time to both for this review, but I'll concede that I definitely gravitated to one more than the other. Also, I tried to take at least a few hours off between switching headphones to let them each shine on their own while taking notes. This was done so I didn't have to adjust to the the SQ discrepancies between the two. I did, however, spend a few hours today switching back and forth on the fly simply to reaffirm what I had written in my notes.
All unamped testing was done on the latest model Macbook Pro. For amped testing, I added an Apogee Duet running in DAC mode connected to a PPAv2 with dedicated STEPS power supply. The PPA also has variable bass boost and a Sigma Acoustics custom cable was used as the DAC-amp interconnect. iTunes was the preferred application with MP3 rips (nothing less than 256kbps and mostly 320kbps) and CDs. FLAC files were ran through Songbird. Audio output was set to 96k/24bit.
PACKAGING AND EXTRAS
Frivolous? Maybe, but something should be said of the TMA-1's packaging. Whereas the M50 supplies the standard windowed cardboard box with plastic insert, AiAiAi obviously hired a team of fashion-forward graphic designers to make the buyer feel an increased sense of value. The exterior of the box contrasts standard gloss black printing with a matte finish that matches the headphones themselves. Custom cut foam holds the headphones in place and, underneath, the cable and foam pads have dedicated compartments and are labeled in the same font that appears in the outer logo. It's all very coordinated and well executed. The mesh-lined fabric zip-up bag that comes with the TMA-1 is also far superior to the pleather draw string one that comes with the M50.
Advantage: TMA-1
DESIGN
Again, I own the straight cable version of the M50, so I'm unsure if there's a difference in quality between it and the coiled version. With that said, while the finish is nothing out of the ordinary on the M50 I still find it to be superior to the TMA-1's. The latter sports a grippy, almost grimy finish. In addition, while the coiled design may be welcome for DJing, it's somewhat of an inconvenience for general listening. I also think the M50's termination is more well designed. Both have a threaded 1/4" adapter, but the way the M50's clicks into place when it's fully fastened is a subtle but welcomed bit of engineering.
The design of the headphones themselves are both top-notch and obviously built durable enough to handle the stresses of professional use. While the M50 is primarily plastic, it in no way feels cheap and has no perceivable point of weakness. The headband has a bit of flexibility and the overall build is a reasonably comfortable circumaural design. It does have slightly more clamping force than ideal for my head and I can always feel that it's there, but I can enjoy it for at least a few hours before any discomfort sets in.
I have to admit, I traditionally don't like the fit of supra-aural headphones. This made picking up the TMA-1 a bit of a gamble before I ever pumped sound into them, but the reports of a "loose fit" intrigued me. I've read reports of AiAiAi changing the headband to one with more tension for the latest production release and, if this holds true, I probably received one of them. They're far from "falling off" as others reported as I can shake my head to an unnatural degree without them budging. However, their clamping force is not excessive at all. Due to the composite material the headband is made from, they have enough tension to stay put without putting any extra stress on the ears or cranium. The semi-leather pads are also extremely plush while the earcups themselves are on a bit of an axis increasing the level of comfort. They don't quite disappear the way my Sennheiser HD600 used to, but I've worn them for up to 4 hours straight without any sort of discomfort. (and have yet to experience any, for that matter) I'm wearing them on the second to smallest setting but would've preferred a setting just between that and the standard. The whole headphone is protected by a thin rubberized coating that feels very smooth and clean in contrast to the finish of the cable. It also seems to be highly protective as I've already bumped it into my coffee table and desk a few times with nary a mark. It does, however, accumulate fingerprints a bit easy, but a quick wipe on the shirt or sleeve restores them to their pristine, monolithic glory. Interestingly the unfatiguing and durable nature of the design carries over into the TMA-1's sonic principles as well...
Advantage: TMA-1
UNAMPED SOUND
Well, here we are. SQ. What everyone wants to know about. Most already know about the M50. It's become somewhat of the people's champion: a highly affordable but competent headphone with all genres that's easily driven and punches well above its weight. By my ears, it presents an overall balanced sound with maybe a slight emphasis on bass. The soundstage is decent for a closed headphone and it's reasonably detailed.
On first listen, the TMA-1 seemed overly dark. I believe that this may be a similar observation to what one vocal critic had to say about the overall presentation being "muffled" in the main thread. The mid range is robust and forward while the bass is emphasized and punchy. The treble, on the other hand, sounded recessed to my ears. While it's plenty detailed across the spectrum and well extended at both ends, there was definitely a sort of ceiling on the volume of the high end. Of course, these are meant to be DJ headphones, so this is obviously by design. Under their intended use, these headphones would be demanded to output at extremely loud levels. Backing off the treble is an effective way to attenuate fatigue. After about ten minutes of skipping around to various tracks, I decided to try some EQing. Now, I usually don't like to use an EQ. In my experience, more often than not putting an EQ at anything but flat creates a sort of artificially enhanced sound that kills whatever magic a headphone may be capable of delivering. I know that's not a great description, but it's sort of an indescribable X-factor. In this case, however, the TMA-1 was extremely responsive to EQing.
I basically set it to "Treble Booster" and backed it down from there until I found what my ears consider to be a (the?) "sweet spot." WOW! What a difference! Just this relatively slight EQ adjustment really made a big impact on overall tonal balance! Not only did this expose great attack in the highs that never become brittle or harsh, but it seems like the entire spectrum received in increase in overall clarity and punch with smooth mids and tight, textured, varied bass. The overall presentation is extremely robust with insanely clear details and ZERO distortion across the board... even at much higher than comfortable listening levels. It all adds up to one of the most dynamic and exciting experiences I've ever heard while being, BAR NONE, the least fatiguing headphone I've ever used! (seriously, I've gained a whole new perspective on Merzbow's catalog) With the M50, (and most other headphones I've used for that matter) it has its ways of letting you know that you're going too loud. Whether it be distortion, sibilance, or nasty peaks in the sonic spectrum, you know when to back it down. The TMA-1 challenges you to go louder. Without these obvious indicators it could be a gateway to rapid hearing loss, but after a bit of time you realize where your limits are.
Soundstage and imaging are surprising. While not at all akin to an open back can, the TMA-1 definitely has an above average soundstage for a closed-back headphone with plenty of spaciousness in terms of instrument separation. Highs, mids, and lows are all relegated to their respective homes without any noticeable blending or bleed. Instrument placement, again, is some of the best I've ever heard and, in contrary to it being non-fatiguing, the presentation is very forward. Albums like the Dodos Visiter places the vocals directly in front of you while instruments are clearly placed to either side. Porcupine Tree's Coma Devine puts you right on stage with the rest of the band. In contrast, there seems to be quite a distance to the stage through the M50... and that stage seems a lot smaller... with much cheaper amps.
Switching back and forth between both headphones reveals that the M50 sounds more bright, (in actuality maybe closer to neutral given the TMA-1's slightly warm post-EQ signature) thin, and muddy. Complex rock and metal like Caspian's Some are White Light sound brick-walled with harsh, sibilant treble and no real body to speak of. The TMA-1, however, sorts through the clutter and, despite the lack of low end, maintains its clarity and reveals the subtle nuances in the ambiance. The increased dynamics of the TMA-1 allows the dimensionality of songs with a black background like Black Milk's Bounce and edIT's Crunk de Gaulle to sound incredibly 3D and completely outclass the M50. The tightness and extremely fast decay of the TMA-1's transients allow it to nimbly cut through tracks like HECQ's Steeltoungued and Clark's Kin Griff with ease while the M50 sounds a step behind the music by comparison. Speaking of Kin Griff, it's produced louder than the average track. I accidentally clicked it while listening to a softer recording (forgot exactly what it was) and, to my surprise, despite being excessively loud I didn't jump off the couch and reach for the volume the way I had with other 'phones during similar experiences in the past. Chalk up another plus for the non-fatiguing sound!
The TMA-1 also holds up better under the challenge of having to produce results on both ends of the spectrum. The National's Conversation 16, for example, maintains its bassline throughout the duration of the chorus whereas the M50 chooses to reproduce the upper mids and highs while the bass goes through a disappearing act; sparsely presented under particular conditions. The lows on Bomb the Bass' Burn the Bunker and Mistabishi's Lean are nicely textured, varied, and extended while the M50 comes off as one-note by comparison. On the TMA-1, Blixa Bargeld's distinct vocals are produced in all their guttural glory on Einstürzende Neubauten's Zampano and the punctuations of percussive bombast are as impactful as they are listenable. The M50 adds a glossy sheen over Panda Bear's Take Pills while the TMA-1 comes off as strikingly musical and liquid. This sense of musicality carried over into the various Steve Reich compositions I demoed and, while the M50 still sounded good with it, one headphone presented the instruments as they were being played live with a lively strings and a stirring brass section. Guess which was which.
In terms of revealing recording quality, I decided to test a number of records in J.G. Thirlwell's discography for a number of reasons: it covers recording tech from 1981 to 2010, he's always been ahead of his time in terms of production quality, and I just enjoy his records a hell of a lot. So, starting with the OKFM/Spite Your Face single and Deaf I went to Nail, then Thaw, then Flow, then Love, and finally Hide. (not the entire albums but skipping through tracks of each) The less articulate sound of the M50 helped it to be the easier 'phone to listen to on the earlier recordings, but then was bested by the TMA-1 about the Thaw mark and then finally outclassed on Love and Hide. But the TMA-1 has another trick up its sleeve...
Advantage: TMA-1
AMPED SOUND
For my A-B session, I let the M50 make the first impression. As I've always experienced with them, amping gains a bit of clarity and allows them to better maintain details while strengthening the bass presence a tad. A nice improvement, but nothing that would make me get off my comfortable couch to sit on the pedestrian computer chair in my office. But then I plugged in the TMA-1. My thought process: where did my musicality go? Why do these sound so dark compared to unamped? Oh... I forgot to turn the EQ on... OH MY... WOW!!!
As good as the TMA-1 is unamped, adding my fairly modest Duet-PPAv2 setup takes them into the stratosphere! For a low impedance headphone, these scale EXTREMELY well. It's not as pronounced a difference as, say, adding an amp to an HD600, but those already great dynamics and textures are definitively kicked up a notch. Those old recordings now sound definitively cleaned up and, what was once merely listenable, is now respectable. A marked increase in soundstage leads to an increased sense of scale. All of a sudden, instead of being on stage with Steven Wilson I'm sitting front row-center. Switching to Mistabishi's White Collar Grime, (a bass test staple for me) reveals an exhilarating low end presentation with insane extension at my usual just-past-halfway variable bass setting on my PPAv2. Putting it further to the right with the M50 did very little but create distortion as the drivers hit their bass-output peak at just past that point. However, with the TMA-1 plugged in the knob just kept going... and going... and going until the cups were literally vibrating away from my ears! More impressively, THEY MAINTAINED THEIR CLARITY WITH ZERO DISTORTION! I, of course, backed it back down to my usual position, but holy cow are these drivers quality! Remember how I stated the durability of the TMA-1's physical build quality carried over into other facets of the headphone? Well, I was referring to the drivers.
The TMA-1 outputs more volume at undistorted levels and more bass than I think one could ever hope for. If Jeremy Clarkson were writing this review, I believe this would be about the point that he would exclaim "MORE POWERRRRRR!!!" :)
HUGE Advantage: TMA-1
CONCLUSION
I more or less purchased the TMA-1 on an intrigue-fueled whim. Being that I've never actually heard one of their headphones, I always expected AiAiAi to be a aesthetics-first manufacturer with questionable dedication to quality engineering. What I ended up with is the most exciting headphone I've heard since obtaining my first high quality headphone with my first amp ever. (namely a Headroom Portable Desktop powering an HD600... see why I referenced it twice in this article now?) It was a reminiscent feeling from the time I modified the EQ. I'm rediscovering records I've already heard countless times and am excited to seek something new.
In addition, make no mistake about the M50. It's an amazing headphone in its own right and is still, in my opinion, one of the best bangs for the buck out there. (I purchased mine for $80 all in) I would, for most purposes, recommend it over the TMA-1 to someone who does not have access to an EQ for whatever reason. The TMA-1 cost me nearly twice as much, so it should have comparably better performance. Still, for the level of enjoyment I've received thus far from the TMA-1 I would unreservedly say that I would pay much, much more than its MSRP. If AiAiAi made a consumer version of it that balances the tonality a bit and marketed it to the Beats-centric mainstream, we'd have a lot more people listening to good headphones, they would be a much richer manufacturer, and I would own another pair of cans... just because.
I was expecting to replace my recently sold Headphile ((( V4 ))) with another "main" can. After realizing how surprisingly well the TMA-1 scales to better equipment, I'm starting to think reallocating the funds to purchase a better computer chair is a better decision. Either that, or maybe I can talk the fiancee into letting me take over one of the end tables in the living room with my headphone equipment. In any case, there's probably an argument with my significant other in my future.
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