v-moda : modaphones / vibe : philosophy

 

v-moda vibe product interview with CEO Val Kolton:::

 q: what is v-moda all about?

a: V-MODA is all about the pinnacle experience of music interwoven with supreme style.  V-MODA aims to be associated with music as other brands associate with sport.   We will further the music lines with “modcasts”, DJ mixes/CDs, digital downloads, events, and our music-inspired fashion collection.   We do not plan on being an electronics or accessory company other than iconic headphones  - our soul was sold to rock ‘n roll.

q: how did V-MODA start, and how was Vibe conceived?

A:  v-moda was originally going to be strictly a house music company and music/DJ culture-inspired clothing line, the headphones collection was born while creating and demoing songs for our “musique” CDs over the last three years.   We even contemplated not selling the headphones, but integrating them with our fashion line at one point.   It is notable that a few other high-end companies brag about making headphones for professional studio monitors, but V-MODA is kind of the opposite – DJs (me), rockers (one of our engineers), and musicians designing headphones for our everyday use to experience music on the “go”.   A few of the hundreds of notable musicians who religiously rock and test our products are my next-door neighbors Kelis and Nas, as well as Janet Jackson and Fabulous.

On the plane home listening to DJ sets from a “research” trip to the white isle of Ibiza, I frustratingly came to the sad conclusion that I could not reproduce the experience of the clubs with any headphone I tried.   Extreme withdrawal turned into a panic by not hearing my music as it should be heard.  I feverishly bought every hi-end headphone and a hi-end home system - but I could not find the nirvana of audio at any cost outside of the club or a concert as even my home speakers do not sound optimal because of the room accoustics.   All the high-end headphones looked like medical lab equipment, fit too deep in my ear for optimal comfort, had too flat of sound for my tastes of music, and most importantly would not stay on while at the gym or jogging because the cables were too heavy and they had to be “wound” around my ear which does not work well with my long hair as well as requisite sunglasses (needed often in Los Angeles). 

V-MODA’s goals for Vibe was to create a great sounding product, with a stylish flair that can be readily used for jogging and active lifestyles.  

q: what is a “sculpted sound curve”?

a: We call our frequency response our “sculpted sound curve”, as our engineers have specially crafted the curve for over a year to perfect the final sound.   It is designed to actually mimic the sweet and warm sound signature of my favorite hi-fi stereo speakers costing thousands of dollars a piece.   As one can see, the curve is amazingly straight and there is no bass roll-off which produces extremely detailed basslines.  The slight “smiley face” in the 500hZ to 2kHz range is designed to slightly accentuate the bass and produce the warm soundstage.   The gentle dropoff in the high-range was carefully designed to not sound to “harsh” or “clinical”, and is actually very good for in-ear-monitors.

q:  What is “V-MASQUE” speaker technology on VIBE?

a: V-MASQUE is our name for the combination of speaker technology and fanatical commitment to quality.   We heavily believe in a natural and warm sound signature, and our R&D is focusing on using micro-sized metal alloy housings with dynamic speaker driver s to produce high clarity with a warm, rich sound.    Many of the other high-end companies are using “balanced armature transducers”, which can produce clarity well when put into the ear deep, yet lack warmth and have a “mechanical” sounding midrange and highs that make sound earphones sound “flat” and “cold”.   The sound stage of vibe is very "sweet" or even "juicy" in the lows and mid-range yet produces very precise his.

q: What makes Vibe designed for an active lifestyle and relaxation?

a: Vibe amazingly weighs only 12 grams even though it is made of metal.  It is a third  the weight of many other competing high-end headphones by design.   It is also the only headphone I know of that is flush within the ear so that you can use it while laying down on a pillow.

q:  Why is the cable so important?

a:  Modaphones were created to be used on the go, as I wanted to audition music at the gym and everyday activities.   I tested every cable diameter from 1.8mm to 3.2mm, and every length from 40”-52”.  After jogging 6 miles with every combination, I determined that the main cable diameter of 2.2mm and overall length of 44”-46” work best to prevent “earphone fallout”.    Our cables are rigorously real-life and tested with weights to withstand abuse.  Other details are of course their aesthetics such as metal braiding, “tactile feel”, and the ability to wear it around or straight from the ear.

q: What is BLISS noise isolating technology?

a: BLISS is the acronym for “bass level isolating soft silicon”, which by itself is not unordinary for in-ear headphones, yet extreme attention to detail is critical because of the fittings effect in both comfort and sound.   The exact thickness of the silicon make all the difference in the world.  Many of the “softest” silicon fittings on some brands are too thick in our user test panel.   BLISS also is made to not only be the extremely comfortable, but also the easiest headphone to take on and off quickly.   This way one can rock quickly in a matter of seconds, take an intermission before another encore.

The shape of the fitting is also extremely crucial to prevent them from popping out too easily and provide a proper seal.   One of the interesting things that we found out 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 may try only “larger” fittings thinking it would be tighter when the opposite is true.  This is why we put the small fittings on by default in the packaging and users should try a few sizes for optimal sound and comfort.

BLISS is also an ideology of how far deep the fittings lie in the ear and the level of noise isolation.   In our user test groups, many users found other high-end headphones required a fit too deep and intrusive to get the best sound and comfort.   We feel our BLISS fittings are “just right” for everyday use and the amount of noise isolation they provide. 

q: What else is included with Vibe?

a:  Vibe comes with a lot of sweet extras.  A black designer 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.  A VIP card is included which will provide users with access to our “modcasts” music as well as the latest information and offers on future kit.