DJ E.Rich

Review: AiAiAi TMA-1 Headphones

alright…well since i broke my fibula and managed to completely shred my ankle, I’m on a 6 week forced vacation.  in between watching the west wing (how did i miss this years ago?) and working on music, i decided to do a review on my newest set of headphones. 

Here are the AiAiAi TMA-1 Headphones in all of their glory.

From their website (http://www.aiaiai.dk/all-products/tma-1.html):

The TMA-1 headphone has been tested and tweaked by the world’s most skilled DJs, designed by Danish design firm KiBiSi and further developed in cooperation with Tartelet Records, Mannhandle and Thank You For Clapping.

I’ve been a faithful user of the Sony MDR-V700s for the last 6 years.  Unfortunately, I fell victim to the same problem that countless users of these cans have since they’ve been released.  My hinge broke and the headphones no longer sat on my head properly.  This is the shameful achilles’ heel of an otherwise fantastic set of headphones.  They’re loud, they have above average sound quality, and, in spite of their hinge, are built pretty solid.  But, alas, mine broke and I wasn’t willing to drop another $150 for something with a noticeably faulty design.  Couple that with the fact that I’m a tech nerd and love new toys, I set out to find my newest set of headphones.

Let me start with some background info.  I spin a minimum of 3 nights a week and regularly do 4-5 nights in any given week (well, at least until god smote my ankle and decided it was time for a break…pun intended).  I carry all of my gear in a very large Ogio TY video bag.  My bag consists of a Oddyssey LStand-M, a UDG Serato 12” binder, 15-20 assorted records, 3 sets of cartridges, my Novation Dicers, a microphone, and several adapters, cables, microfiber cloths, and iphone chargers.  Last but not least, my trusty cans are tucked away nicely among that 30-40 lbs of dj tools.

I stored my Sony’s in a UDG headphone bag that kept them nicely protected and compact in transport.  Unfotunately, the TMA-1s do not collapse so it rendered my fancy UDG bag useless.  The TMA-1s come with a simple zippered bag that hold my headphones as well as my cable and right-angle adapter.  After 2 months of being carried in this overpopulated bag, I have seen absolutely no signs of wear or tear to my precious new ear candy.

Here’s a pic of the bag that comes with it as well as the detachable cable.

Speaking of the detachable cable, it’s one of my favorite features of these headphones.  The cable and the pads are both replaceable.  The cable has a standard 1/8” pin on one end and a threaded one on the other to attached the included 1/4” adapter securely.  A straight cable is available as well for approximately $20.  Turntablelab.com routinely has them in stock. 

Here’s where it plugs in to the headphones.

And here’s a pic of the headphone cup removed,

My conclusion:
These headphones are fantastic for the mobile DJ or the stylish cat trying to fly under the radar.  They sound fantastic.  Very strong low end without being needlessly boomy.  Highs are crisp and present without the shrill, ear-fatiguing nuances of the overpriced Beats By Dre line.  They feel kind of flimsy out of the box, but in playing with them frequently, I’m happy to report that they’re actually very sturdy.  They isolate very well; especially given the fact that their cups are a bit smaller than most of the leading brands out there.  The price tag is $199 and might be a bit steep for a lot of folks who are only looking for a set of cans and aren’t discerning users.  Hipsters will scoff at their minimalist matte black appearance and lack of pomp and circumstance.  Music aficionados will rejoice about their light weight and faithful reproduction of sound.

Got any questions about them?  Feel free to hit me up via email.
contact at dje-rich dot com