REVIEWED
REVIEWED: AIAIAI TMA-2 DJ Headphones
Founded in Denmark in 2006, AIAIAI (pronounced eye, eye, eye) has slowly but surely been growing its influence amongst professional DJs, producers and radio stations across Europe. To learn more, I had a good look through their website and found that this Danish manufacturer has dedicated itself to producing long lasting, robust products and keeping sustainability and responsibility at the heart of its ethos.
For Pro Mobile’s first ever review of an AIAIAI product, I was sent a set of headphones aimed at gigging DJs and a pair of speakers (all the company’s products have interchangeable parts) designed for the studio – all to help make sure I got the full AIAIAI experience.
No matter how I listen to music – in the car, at the gigs I put on for schools and universities, or through headphones or in-ear-monitors – there is a particular sound I enjoy. So reviewing headphones struck me as an interesting opportunity. For quite some time, I’ve been a dedicated user of in-ear-monitors (which I swear by), so AIAIAI’s headphones needed to be good to satisfy my inner audiophile.
Of course, sound is very personal, and this makes writing a headphone review difficult. But you’ll need to trust me when I say you should look at and listen to these headphones as soon as you can. With a truly modular and interchangeable design, they offer something for everyone. The modular aspect means you get a perfect fit, but it also serves to ensure easy repairs – should they be required – and simple upgrades as the technology evolves.
Before I get carried away with the product itself, I’d like to share some insight into AIAIAI and its designs, as well as that eco-friendly ethos I mentioned.
Since the launch of its first headphones in 2010, AIAIAI has been driven by its motto of making products to last, using carefully sourced sustainable materials such as recycled plastic and Alcantara or vegan leather. The business continuously strives to reduce its carbon footprint, working hard to ensure minimal waste. Indeed, in 2020 AIAIAI reduced its total packaging footprint by 80% – no mean feat given that in 2020 headphones sold in huge quantities due to lockdown restrictions.
I had two options sent to me for review: the TMA-2 DJ headphone package, comprised of AIAIAI’s S02 speaker units (marked as “punchy”), high-isolation PU leather pads, and a nylon-reinforced headband with silicone padding. The company also sent me their S05 speakers (marked as “studio detailed”) and provided some E08 Alcantara pads.
Both sets of drivers are 40mm, with 80hz resonance, 32ohm impedance, a 40mw power rating, made from bio-cellulose, and with high-grade neodymium magnets.
Inside the smart but simple box, I found an inner black sleeve along with some short, clear user instructions. The whole package provides a minimalistic and environmentally friendly experience and inside the sleeve were the neatly packaged modules for the headphones.
After sliding the speaker units onto the headband and plugging them into the internal cable, I connected the main 1.5m coiled silicone cable to one of the speaker modules and selected the pads for the speaker modules. The pads are a brilliant design; instead of the usual annoyingly fiddly 20-minute fight to fit them, the clever design using a ball and socket system means they just snap into place. To put these headphones through their paces, I selected a range of tracks that I would play at an average gig. This included a mix of disco tracks for an all-round sound, jackin’ house for the deep bass responses, and rock for extreme vocals and hard-to-handle guitar riffs.
As mentioned, sound is a personal thing and we all experience it differently. But most DJs I know demand a very high standard of any reproduction. On first listen I was pleasantly surprised that the sound met that high standard, providing plenty of punch and crisp vocals.
The pads were comfortable with a good isolation of outside sound, but I wanted to try the more detailed speaker modules with the over-ear pads. Wow! When they say “detailed” they mean it. The sound was so much more separated in the headphones, almost as if the vocals were being played by a separate driver placed in front of the mid and bass drivers (in fact, I had to check to make sure this was definitely just a single cone unit). I found the Alcantara over-ear pads the most comfortable and I imagine they would last longer than the PU leather. But after playing around with varying configurations, I settled on the S05 detailed speaker modules with the E02 on-ear PU leather pads. Whilst not quite as comfortable as the Alcantra version, the PU leather pads seemed to result in better isolation.
After finding my preferred combination of drivers and pads, the headphones sounded perfect for my taste, and with so many easily interchangeable options, I’m sure anyone could find the precise sound and comfort they’re after. A visit to a show or retailer really is a must if you want to find your perfect combination.
With their sleek matt finish, the headphones look great. They also feel built to last. After bending the headband quite far several times, it felt both comfortable and strong. The cable also seems robust and every connection has locking jack plugs that provide reassurance and solidity.
The package sent for this review did not include a case, though I am told that in future all products will include a soft carry pouch to limit the risk of damage when in transit.
Overall, I highly recommend these headphones from AIAIAI. The price reflects the quality accurately, and the style and interchangeable modules mean you don’t need different sets of headphones for personal and work use. On top of that, you’re buying future-proof equipment from a company that’s dedicated to sustainability.
For Pro Mobile’s first ever review of an AIAIAI product, I was sent a set of headphones aimed at gigging DJs and a pair of speakers (all the company’s products have interchangeable parts) designed for the studio – all to help make sure I got the full AIAIAI experience.
No matter how I listen to music – in the car, at the gigs I put on for schools and universities, or through headphones or in-ear-monitors – there is a particular sound I enjoy. So reviewing headphones struck me as an interesting opportunity. For quite some time, I’ve been a dedicated user of in-ear-monitors (which I swear by), so AIAIAI’s headphones needed to be good to satisfy my inner audiophile.
Of course, sound is very personal, and this makes writing a headphone review difficult. But you’ll need to trust me when I say you should look at and listen to these headphones as soon as you can. With a truly modular and interchangeable design, they offer something for everyone. The modular aspect means you get a perfect fit, but it also serves to ensure easy repairs – should they be required – and simple upgrades as the technology evolves.
Before I get carried away with the product itself, I’d like to share some insight into AIAIAI and its designs, as well as that eco-friendly ethos I mentioned.
Since the launch of its first headphones in 2010, AIAIAI has been driven by its motto of making products to last, using carefully sourced sustainable materials such as recycled plastic and Alcantara or vegan leather. The business continuously strives to reduce its carbon footprint, working hard to ensure minimal waste. Indeed, in 2020 AIAIAI reduced its total packaging footprint by 80% – no mean feat given that in 2020 headphones sold in huge quantities due to lockdown restrictions.
The Products
I had two options sent to me for review: the TMA-2 DJ headphone package, comprised of AIAIAI’s S02 speaker units (marked as “punchy”), high-isolation PU leather pads, and a nylon-reinforced headband with silicone padding. The company also sent me their S05 speakers (marked as “studio detailed”) and provided some E08 Alcantara pads.
Both sets of drivers are 40mm, with 80hz resonance, 32ohm impedance, a 40mw power rating, made from bio-cellulose, and with high-grade neodymium magnets.
Inside the smart but simple box, I found an inner black sleeve along with some short, clear user instructions. The whole package provides a minimalistic and environmentally friendly experience and inside the sleeve were the neatly packaged modules for the headphones.
After sliding the speaker units onto the headband and plugging them into the internal cable, I connected the main 1.5m coiled silicone cable to one of the speaker modules and selected the pads for the speaker modules. The pads are a brilliant design; instead of the usual annoyingly fiddly 20-minute fight to fit them, the clever design using a ball and socket system means they just snap into place. To put these headphones through their paces, I selected a range of tracks that I would play at an average gig. This included a mix of disco tracks for an all-round sound, jackin’ house for the deep bass responses, and rock for extreme vocals and hard-to-handle guitar riffs.
As mentioned, sound is a personal thing and we all experience it differently. But most DJs I know demand a very high standard of any reproduction. On first listen I was pleasantly surprised that the sound met that high standard, providing plenty of punch and crisp vocals.
The pads were comfortable with a good isolation of outside sound, but I wanted to try the more detailed speaker modules with the over-ear pads. Wow! When they say “detailed” they mean it. The sound was so much more separated in the headphones, almost as if the vocals were being played by a separate driver placed in front of the mid and bass drivers (in fact, I had to check to make sure this was definitely just a single cone unit). I found the Alcantara over-ear pads the most comfortable and I imagine they would last longer than the PU leather. But after playing around with varying configurations, I settled on the S05 detailed speaker modules with the E02 on-ear PU leather pads. Whilst not quite as comfortable as the Alcantra version, the PU leather pads seemed to result in better isolation.
After finding my preferred combination of drivers and pads, the headphones sounded perfect for my taste, and with so many easily interchangeable options, I’m sure anyone could find the precise sound and comfort they’re after. A visit to a show or retailer really is a must if you want to find your perfect combination.
With their sleek matt finish, the headphones look great. They also feel built to last. After bending the headband quite far several times, it felt both comfortable and strong. The cable also seems robust and every connection has locking jack plugs that provide reassurance and solidity.
The package sent for this review did not include a case, though I am told that in future all products will include a soft carry pouch to limit the risk of damage when in transit.
Overall, I highly recommend these headphones from AIAIAI. The price reflects the quality accurately, and the style and interchangeable modules mean you don’t need different sets of headphones for personal and work use. On top of that, you’re buying future-proof equipment from a company that’s dedicated to sustainability.
