V-MODA Crossfade 3 Wireless Review (2024)

Tested using Methodology v1.7

Reviewed Mar 13, 2024 at 01:37 pm

Latest change: Test bench update Jul 30, 2024 at 10:06 pm

By Dagobiet Morales Alfaro, Jasper Lastoria, and Yannick Khong

V-MODA Crossfade 3 Wireless Review (1)

6.6

Neutral Sound

6.6

Commute/Travel

7.3

Sports/Fitness

6.6

Office

5.5

Wireless Gaming

7.1

Wired Gaming

6.0

Phone Calls

+ Create your own

overview test results deals 2 comments

Type Over-ear

Enclosure Closed-Back

Wireless Yes

Transducer Dynamic

Noise Cancelling No

Mic Yes

These headphones are V-MODA's third entry in the Crossfade line, the V-MODA Crossfade 3 Wireless. These Bluetooth headphones would look at home on the sets of The Terminator movies. The visually striking headphones come with the V-MODA Crossfade headphones' signature hexagonal-shaped ear cups and updated features. This includes aptX HD compatibility, a longer battery life, and handy conveniences like a companion app and USB-C charging.

Our Verdict

6.6 Neutral Sound

The V-MODA Crossfade 3 are okay for neutral sound. Because their default tuning is quite bass-heavy, you'll have to play with the custom EQ if you want something more versatile. If you DJ, you might prefer the added low-end for synchronizing rhythms. Our unit has audible distortion in the treble range (and this can vary between units). But because they already sound dull in the highs, the bass and low mids need the most taming to even them out if bassy tuning isn't your taste. In addition, they support the aptX HD codec for high-quality audio streaming from your device.

Pros

  • App has an EQ.

  • Good connectivity with aptX HD and analog options.

Cons

  • Distortion in the treble range.

  • Closed-backs create a not very spacious and immersive soundstage.

See our Neutral Sound Recommendations

6.6 Commute/Travel

The V-MODA Crossfade 3 Wireless are adequate for commuting and traveling. Their lack of active noise cancelling puts a damper on the experience, as rumbling engines and airplane cabin noise don't get blocked out very well. However, the headphones do a solid job of blocking high-pitched sounds like screeching trains pulling into a station. In addition, they feel comfortable if you don't wear glasses and their battery life is more than enough for international flights. They collapse into a case for easy storage, but they're not the smallest headphones, even when folded down.

Pros

  • Good connectivity with aptX HD and analog options.

Cons

  • Poor overall noise isolation.

See our Commute/Travel Recommendations

7.3 Sports/Fitness

The V-MODA Crossfade 3 are decent for sports and fitness use. Their stability is good enough for weight training in upright positions. The controls are easily accessible buttons, so even if your hands are sweaty, it's not too difficult to turn up the volume, for example. Meanwhile, their build quality feels robust. While they come in a case and can fold down smaller, they're still not very portable. They're stable enough for controlled movements, but they will come loose if you try taking them on a run.

Pros

  • Robust build quality.

Cons

  • Somewhat bulky.

See our Sports/Fitness Recommendations

6.6 Office

The V-MODA Crossfade 3 are a reasonable pick for office use. They feel comfortable if you don't wear glasses, although, for smaller and medium-sized heads, they can rest too much weight across the crown. The headphones' poor noise isolation means your coworkers' chatter will probably still bother you. Their battery life will last a few shifts without needing a recharge, so you won't get caught without music.

Pros

  • Good connectivity with aptX HD and analog options.

  • Comfortable unless you have glasses.

Cons

  • Mic recording quality and noise handling are just okay.

  • Poor overall noise isolation.

See our Office Recommendations

5.5 Wireless Gaming

The V-MODA Crossfade 3 aren't designed for wireless gaming. They can't connect wirelessly to your Xbox or PlayStation. You can use their Bluetooth connectivity with a PC or phone, but their latency will make the audio out of sync because they don't have any gaming modes or adaptive Bluetooth codecs.

See our Wireless Gaming Recommendations

7.1 Wired Gaming

The V-MODA Crossfade 3 are decent for wired gaming. Their analog connectivity with an in-line microphone means you can plug them into your PC and consoles. While their tuning doesn't sound especially analytical, the boom of explosions will feel immersive. However, the sound profile's scooped mids and dull treble means that dialogue can sound recessed and comparatively quiet. When plugged in, these headphones are passive, so you can't EQ them to sound differently, either. Your friends will hear you fine, but the in-line mic rolls off the upper frequencies, so you don't sound true-to-life.

Pros

  • Comfortable unless you have glasses.

Cons

  • Mic recording quality and noise handling are just okay.

6.0 Phone Calls

The V-MODA Crossfade 3 are sub-par for phone calls. While they have two options for microphones, the integrated mic system in the ear cups and a mic built into the analog cable, neither sounds natural. Their mics don't filter out environmental noise very effectively, either. The headphones' passive-only isolation means your environment's ambient sound will make it harder to hear the person on the call with you. So, between the unimpressive noise filtering and poor isolation, you'll want to use these for calls in quiet spaces only.

Pros

Cons

  • Mic recording quality and noise handling are just okay.

  • 6.6 Neutral Sound
  • 6.6 Commute/Travel
  • 7.3 Sports/Fitness
  • 6.6 Office
  • 5.5 Wireless Gaming
  • 7.1 Wired Gaming
  • 6.0 Phone Calls

+ Create your own

  1. Updated Jul 30, 2024: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.7, which updates our Noise Isolation test. We've also expanded the scope of this test to include Common Scenarios in addition to Voice Handling and Wind Handling.
  2. Updated Apr 24, 2024: We found an issue which affects the Passive Soundstage and Leakage scores in this review. The microphone used in this test produced a response lower than expected, which artificially boosted the scores. After investigating the issue, we've retested this affected product and updated our review.
  3. Updated Mar 25, 2024: The Sound Profile section was updated to mention their passive sound is broadly comparable to the AIAIAI TMA-2 DJ and to compare the Comfort with the Pioneer DJ HDJ-CUE1BT Wireless.
  4. Updated Mar 13, 2024: Review published.
  5. Updated Mar 05, 2024: Early access published.
  6. Updated Feb 28, 2024: Our testers have started testing this product.
  7. Updated Feb 02, 2024: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  8. Updated Jan 31, 2024: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

The V-MODA Crossfade 3 Wireless come in three colors,'Matte Black,''Gunmetal Black,'and 'Bronze Black.'Through the manufacturer's website, you can customize the ear cups' plateswith laser engravings and prints. You can view the label for our unit in 'Bronze Black' here. If you encounter another variant, please let us know in the forums.

Compared To Other Headphones

The V-MODA Crossfade headphones line has devoted followers with the previous version, the V-MODA Crossfade 2 Wireless, sporting compliance with Military-Level Quality MIL-STD-810G standard, which is determined through a series of stress tests like humidity and shock. Although the latest headphones don't have the MIL-STD-810G standard, they seem similarly durable. They both come with a one-year warranty and an 'Immortal Life Program,' but that simply means you get replacement parts at a discount. Improvements include a much better battery life on the V-MODA Crossfade 3, an upgraded Bluetooth codec selection, and a new companion app. If you own the old model and don't mind the battery life, you might not want to upgrade yet, but if you haven't got either, the new model is better.

Still, if you're in the market for wireless headphones for both casual use and DJing, you can always consider the Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2. These are the optionally wireless version of the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x, a model often found in DJ collections and in the hands of enthusiasts who like a bit of boom. They have a longer battery life than the V-Moda Crossfade 3 and a good amount of bass, but not as much rumble by default. That said, the Audio-Technica cans feel more plasticky, even if they have some metal to reinforce the headband.

For other great picks, check out the best wireless Bluetooth headphones. If you like the bass-heavy sound of these headphones but wonder what else is available, consider the best bass headphones. There are alsothe best DJheadphonesif you're in charge of the music at the party.

V-MODA Crossfade 2 Wireless

The V-MODA Crossfade 3 Wireless and V-MODA Crossfade 2 Wireless have more in common than they don't have in common. The Crossfade 3 Wireless supplies more than twice the battery life of the previous generation and charges with an updated USB-C port. Their sound by default is bassier, but their app has an EQ. They upgraded the codec to aptX HD as well. The Crossfade 2 Wireless have a more neutral default sound and use the good quality, but more basic, aptX codec. These also have a MIL-STD-810G certification; the manufacturer doesn't disclose whether the newer model has it. Both feel durable, with replacement parts available.

Compare Side-by-Side

SEE OUR REVIEW

Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 Wireless

The Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 and V-MODA Crossfade 3 Wireless are both over-ear Bluetooth headphones with straightforward controls. The Audio-Technica have a more neutral sound out of the box, which is good for most music. They have an app to adjust or change EQ and use LDAC, which adapts your audio quality based on the connection. Their battery life is more than twice as long as the V-MODA. The V-MODA also have EQ to adjust the default bass-heavy sound (if you want that). They are more portable with a proper case and a more robust build. Their aptX HD codec is great for high-quality audio but doesn't adapt based on connection strength. Which is better depends on your priorities.

Compare Side-by-Side

SEE OUR REVIEW

Sony MDR-7506

The Sony MDR-7506 and V-MODA Crossfade 3 Wireless are pretty different over-ear headphones from each other. The Sony headphones are an industry standard for analytical listening in professional sound settings. Their features are sparse, with adequate padding and a hardwired analog connection. The V-MODA are designed for wireless and wired listening. They sound bassy by default compared to the more neutral tuning of the Sony, but you can EQ their bass-heavy sound profile using the companion app when used wirelessly. Otherwise, they're more portable with a case and controls for calls and playback.

Compare Side-by-Side

SEE OUR REVIEW

Sennheiser HD 25

The Sennheiser HD 25 and V-MODA Crossfade 3 Wireless are bass-heavy headphones. The Sennheiser cans are wired-only and fit on-ear. They're simple and lightweight, and you can replace parts, but they're mainly plastic. The V-MODA headphones are over-ears, and you can listen to them wirelessly or wired. They have an EQ, which the Sennheiser don't have, but it only works when you're listening over Bluetooth. Their build quality is more durable, and they fold up, but you can't articulate the ear cups to listen with one ear out like on the Sennheiser. The V-MODA are better for on-the-go use, but the Sennheiser are more suitable for DJing.

Compare Side-by-Side

SEE OUR REVIEW

AIAIAI TMA-2 DJ

The V-MODA Crossfade 3 Wireless and AIAIAI TMA-2 DJ are both headphones tuned for bassheads. The V-MODA are over-ears withbetter build quality, and you can replace some parts, but they're more complex to fix. They work both wirelessly and with analog. Their passive sound is somewhat similar, but when connected to Bluetooth, they producea brighter sound, even if they're still bass-heavy. You can EQ them with their app when used wirelessly, as well. They're more comfortable and stable, although their sound is negatively impacted by glasses and thick hair. On the other hand, the AIAIAI are rather simple analog-only on-ears. You assemble them yourself, and they're easy to repair. They feel less comfortable, largely due to the headband being lined only with silicone, but they weigh much less. These deliver a lot of boom to bass and their highs are dulled. Unlike the V-MODA, you can swap out virtually every component easily.

Compare Side-by-Side

SEE OUR REVIEW

Pioneer DJ HDJ-CUE1BT Wireless

The V-MODA Crossfade 3 Wireless andPioneer DJ HDJ-CUE1BT Wireless have bass-heavy tunings by default. You can collapse both down into smaller footprints, although the V-MODA come with a case and a more durable build. They can be tricky to fit correctly for over-ear headphones, and some people need to buy larger ear pads. Their tuning is also different depending on whether you listen to them passively or wirelessly, although they have an app with EQ. The Pioneer DJ are more plasticky in build and fold down smaller, but they lack a case. They fit on-ears with a lighter clamping force and weight. You can't alter their sound, but they sound the same plugged in and over Bluetooth.

Compare Side-by-Side

SEE OUR REVIEW

+ Show more

Test Results

V-MODA Crossfade 3 Wireless Review (2)

Design

Design

Style

Type Over-ear

Enclosure Closed-Back

Wireless Yes

Transducer Dynamic

Looking quite a bit like the previous V-MODA Crossfade 2 Wireless, the newer V-MODA Crossfade 3 continues on the brand's sleek, foldable, and geometric design. A combination of metal, plastic, and exposed wiring lends the headphones a somewhat aggressive style, which looks like the opposite of Apple AirPods Max Wireless' rounded, cheerful minimalism. They come in three base colors, 'Matte Black,' 'Gunmetal Black,' and 'Bronze Black.' You can also further customize your set by getting custom printing or laser engraving plates on the earcups.

7.5

Design

Comfort

Weight 0.68 lbs

Clamping Force

1.1 lbs

These headphones feel good to wear. Their ear pads are plush and soft, and the faux leather feels nice. The standard ear pads can fit too tightly if your ears are larger. Fortunately, you can buy XL ear pads from the manufacturer at an extra cost if the included ear pads don't fit around your ears comfortably. On small to medium-sized heads, the weight distribution feels top-heavy along your crown. If you wear glasses, the arms can get in the way and feel less comfortable. In that case, you might want to consider headphones that don't break the seal with glasses, like the Pioneer DJ HDJ-CUE1BT Wireless, which are comfortable for on-ears, have similar connectivity, and have bass-heavy tuning.

LEARN ABOUT COMFORT

6.8

Design

Controls

OS Compatibility

Not OS specific

Ease Of Use Good

Feedback Good

Call/Music Control Yes

Volume Control Yes

Microphone Control No

Channel Mixing

No

Noise Cancelling Control No

Talk-Through

No

Additional Controls Multi function

The V-MODA Crossfade 3's controls are alright. Towards the top of the outer-facing side of the right ear cup's housing, you'll find two buttons for volume (up and down) and a multi-function button. At the bottom, there's a switch to handle power and pairing. The buttons click when you press and chime when you turn the headphones on or set them to pair, giving you good overall feedback. Despite the embossing on the controls, differentiating the three top-row buttons is difficult, as the symbols don't stick out very much.

Power switch:

  • Push switch to center: Power on.
  • Push to the right and hold for three seconds: Enter pairing mode.
  • Push switch left: Power off.

Multi-function button:

  • One press: Play/pause, or answer/end call.
  • Double press: Skips to the next track.
  • Triple press: Skips to the previous track.
  • Press and hold for three seconds: Activate voice assistant.

LEARN ABOUT CONTROLS

6.2

Design

Portability

L 5.6" (14.3 cm)

W 4.5" (11.5 cm)

H 3.3" (8.4 cm)

Volume 84.30 in³ (1,381.38 cm³)

Transmitter Required No

The V-MODA Crossfade 3 are passably portable. Their hinges make it easier to quickly stow the headphones away. They still have the yokes sticking out, adding to the needed space. Otherwise, the headphones collapse, but the ear cups don't rotate to lay flat, which means they can get in the way if you wear them around your neck.

LEARN ABOUT PORTABILITY

8.5

Design

Case

Type Hard case

L 5.9" (14.9 cm)

W 5.6" (14.1 cm)

H 3.7" (9.5 cm)

Volume 122.79 in³ (2,012.21 cm³)

Their hardshell case is excellent. It's sturdy and reasonably sized compared to the headphones. The folded-up headphones fit snugly inside the fabric-lined case, and it zips shut. You can fit all of the accessories with straps to hold them in. On the top of the case, a carabiner clip is attached so you can clip the case to your backpack, for example.

LEARN ABOUT CASE

8.0

Design

Build Quality

The build quality of the headphones is impressive. They're lightweight and feel robust with metal used for the yokes and outer ear cup plates. The headband has a good amount of padding that's covered in faux leather and appears durable. You can remove the memory foam ear pads and replace them. The hinges are sturdy, and the exposed wiring does not get in the way. The included audio cable seems pretty average compared to the over-engineered frame of the headphones.

The previous V-MODA Crossfade 2 Wireless were certified to meet Military-Level Quality MIL-STD-810G Test Standards. Although this updated model doesn't appear to have that, they don't come across as less sturdy. You get a one-year warranty and an 'Immortal Life Program,' which basically means you get discounts on replacement parts through the manufacturer.

LEARN ABOUT BUILD QUALITY

7.5

Design

Stability

They have good stability. You can easily walk around, and the headphones will stay on for light movements. If you try more intense movements like headbanging or taking the headphones to the gym and performing dynamic exercises, they will fall off or at least come loose.

LEARN ABOUT STABILITY

Design

Headshots 1

Design

Headshots 2

Design

Top

Design

In The Box

  • V-MODA Crossfade 3 headphones
  • Hard shell case
  • 1/4" Adapter
  • 1/8" TRRS to 1/8" TRS audio cable (with in-line mic)
  • USB-A to USB-C charging cable
  • Sticker
  • Quick start guide
  • Warranty and safety papers

Sound

Sound

Sound Profile

Bass Amount

2.44 dB

Treble Amount

-4.34 dB

The V-MODA Crossfade 3 sound bass-heavy by default. They exaggerate bass frequencies throughout the range, but especially the mid and high-bass. This adds a lot of boominess, which works for hip-hop and EDM. The high-bass exaggeration carries into the low-mids, making busy songs sound muddy. The mid-mids are scooped, imparting vocals and lead instruments with a thin or hollow character. In the high mids, a peak adds slight presence while the low treble is fairly even, so high notes of guitars and synths sound audible if pushed back in the mix because of the bass response. A significant de-emphasis in the mid-treble dulls the details of the harmonic content of cymbals and sibilants like S and T, contributing to the bassy voicing overall. The treble peaks back up to add some airiness to the top end.

In the app, you can adjust the EQ presets, but they're very alike, as you can see. The Jazz preset perhaps gets you a slightly more neutral sound, if that's your preference, but the five-band custom EQ will really help you shape their sound far more than the presets.

The headphones sound different when you plug in their 1/8" audio cable and work passively only. You can compare the Bluetooth and analog sound profiles. When used passively, their high-mid and treble sound profile is even warmer and duller, which leaves vocals and bright instruments pushed further down in the mix. In passive mode, they sound broadly similar to the analog-only AIAIAI TMA-2 DJ if you really just want simple bassy headphones without Bluetooth.

LEARN ABOUT SOUND PROFILE

6.8

Sound

Frequency Response Consistency

Avg. Std. Deviation

0.66 dB

The V-MODA Crossfade 3 have an okay frequency response consistency. Due to their unusually shaped ear cups and padding, the bass frequencies are impacted if you wear glasses. The arm of the glasses frame breaks the over-ear seal at the top of the ear cushion, leading to a significant drop in the bass volume. At the same time, if you don't wear glasses, you'll experience a more consistent bass and midrange, and glasses impact treble, but so do head shape and size.

LEARN ABOUT FREQUENCY RESPONSE CONSISTENCY

Sound

Raw Frequency Response

LEARN ABOUT RAW FREQUENCY RESPONSE

7.1

Sound

Bass Accuracy

Std. Err.

4.49 dB

Low-Frequency Extension

13.54 Hz

Low-Bass

2.01 dB

Mid-Bass

4.67 dB

High-Bass

6.6 dB

The overall bass accuracy is decent. Through the vast majority of the range, the response exaggerates the bass, particularly in the high-bass. This adds ample boom and punch but can make your music sound bloated when a kick drum and bassline buries a slick mid-range synth part.

LEARN ABOUT BASS ACCURACY

7.5

Sound

Mid Accuracy

Std. Err.

3.4 dB

Low-Mid

1.36 dB

Mid-Mid

-3.04 dB

High-Mid

1.68 dB

These headphones' mid-accuracy is good overall. Their curve produces present-sounding high vocal parts in the high-mids. Unfortunately, their low mids give unnatural and muddy exaggeration to toms in a track like There There by Radiohead. Meanwhile, the scoop in the center of the midrange means that rhythm guitars sound less punchy.

LEARN ABOUT MID ACCURACY

5.5

Sound

Treble Accuracy

Std. Err.

6.37 dB

Low-Treble

-2.39 dB

Mid-Treble

-6.47 dB

High-Treble

-11.03 dB

Their treble accuracy is sub-par. Through most of the low-treble, the headphones sound fairly even but under-emphasized. The dip that bottoms out in the mid-treble dulls the details of cymbals and diminishes the harmonic content in vocals. The peak towards the high end of the mid-treble adds some airiness to the headphones' tuning, but it's a not very balanced-sounding treble overall.

LEARN ABOUT TREBLE ACCURACY

6.4

Sound

Peaks/Dips

Peaks

2.17 dB

Dips

2.5 dB

These headphones have mediocre peaks and dips performance and control over their sound profile. The low bass is fairly even, but the rest of the sound profile's output has notable peaks and dips. In the mid-bass through low mids, a sizeable peak adds a boomy and muddy sound. Following the peak, a large dip in the mids thins out vocals and lead instruments. A steep peak in the high mids that tapers off in the low treble adds an exaggerated presence to higher registers. Another dip in the mid-treble dulls sibilants like S and T, while another peak towards the uppermost frequencies adds some airiness to the harmonic content of trebly instruments.

LEARN ABOUT PEAKS/DIPS

7.1

Sound

Imaging

Weighted Group Delay

0.23

Weighted Phase Mismatch

4.04

Weighted Amplitude Mismatch

3.67

Weighted Frequency Mismatch

2.42

The imaging performance is decent overall. Their group delay stays below the audibility threshold for reasonably tight bass through clear treble. While on the whole, they're fairly well-matched in phase, they aren't well-matched in amplitude, and you can hear the midrange mismatch push vocals (for instance) to sound shifted over to the right ear cup. This varies from unit to unit, but compared to our other models by the manufacturer we've tested, our unit is an outlier because the brand's quality control and ergonomics are usually very good.

LEARN ABOUT IMAGING

4.7

Sound

Passive Soundstage

PRTF Accuracy (Std. Dev.)

2.78 dB

PRTF Size (Avg.)

2.78 dB

PRTF Distance

4.88 dB

Openness

5.2

Acoustic Space Excitation

3.8

These are closed-back headphones, so their passive soundstage is poor. They don't interact with your environment the way open-backs do to create an immersive sound, as if you're in the room with tiny speakers. They do have a slightly open sound (for closed-backs), but audio still sounds like it's coming from inside your head. Because of their over-ear fit, they interact a bit with your outer ear to locate somewhat where an instrument resides in the soundstage. Overall, though, these aren't the ones you want if a big soundstage is your aim.

LEARN ABOUT PASSIVE SOUNDSTAGE

0

Sound

Virtual Soundstage

Head Modeling

No

Speaker Modeling

No

Room Ambience

No

Head Tracking

No

Virtual Surround

No

LEARN ABOUT VIRTUAL SOUNDSTAGE

6.8

Sound

Weighted Harmonic Distortion

WHD @ 90

0.748

WHD @ 100

0.250

Their weighted harmonic distortion levels are fair. You can hear the distortion in the treble, which is more obvious when listening to podcasts that don't have complicated mixes to partly mask the distortion. Since the sound profile emphasizes the high bass and low mids, which muddy your music, the bloat better veils the distortion in the trebly regions. Still, the distortion doesn't pose an issue in the midrange.

LEARN ABOUT WEIGHTED HARMONIC DISTORTION

Sound

Test Settings

Firmware

1.2

Power

On

Connection

Bluetooth 5.1

Codec

aptX HD, 24-bit, 48kHz

EQ

Off

ANC

No ANC

Tip/Pad

Default

Microphone

Integrated

These are the settings used to test these headphones. Our results are only valid when used in this way.

LEARN ABOUT TEST SETTINGS

Isolation

4.6

Isolation

Noise Isolation - Full Range

Noise Cancelling No

Overall Attenuation

-11.17 dB

Bass

1.47 dB

Mid

-7.59 dB

Treble

-30.45 dB

Overall, the noise isolation performance is poor. In fairness to the headphones, they only have passive isolation, so you can't expect them to filter out the low rumble of bus engines because they don't have active noise cancelling. They also don't meaningfully block mid-range environmental noise like ambient chatter particularly well, either. Like most passive isolating headphones, these do best at blocking high-pitched noises like screeching brakes on a subway.

LEARN ABOUT NOISE ISOLATION - FULL RANGE

4.0

Isolation

Noise Isolation - Common Scenarios

Airplane Noise Attenuation

-7.93 dB

Airplane Noise Isolation Audio

Office Noise Attenuation

-9.11 dB

Office Noise Isolation Audio

Street Noise Attenuation

-9.11 dB

Street Noise Isolation Audio

Isolation

Noise Isolation - Voice Handling

Female Voice 1

Male Voice 1

Female Voice 2

Male Voice 2

Isolation

ANC Wind Handling

ANC Wind Noise

N/A

6.7

Isolation

Leakage

Leakage Audio

Overall Leakage @ 1ft

41.07 dB

These have adequate leakage performance. Assuming you've got a good seal, most bass content that escapes won't be very audible unless you're in a very serene and quiet location. However, a fairly midrange-y and trebly version of your music is audible if you're listening to music at home, and in notably quiet offices, your coworkers could possibly hear your audio too. It really depends on how high you set your volume because if you listen at a low volume, the sound that leaks will also be quieter.

LEARN ABOUT LEAKAGE

Microphone

Microphone

Microphone Style

Integrated

Yes

In-Line

Yes

Boom

No

Detachable Boom

No

Mic Yes

The headphones have two mic systems. The mic system is integrated into the ear cups, and a second mic is placed in the audio cable when using them wired.

LEARN ABOUT MICROPHONE STYLE

5.8

Microphone

Recording Quality

Recorded Speech

LFE

164.69 Hz

FR Std. Dev.

3.02 dB

HFE

1,140.35 Hz

Weighted THD

0.186

Gain

18.48 dB

The headphones' ear cups have integrated mics, which sound sub-par. Voices have a slightly nasal tone, and sibilants like S come across as exaggerated. Low-end frequencies sound comparatively quiet as well. You can listen to how the in-line microphone performs too, which sounds worse with the higher frequencies rolled off.

LEARN ABOUT RECORDING QUALITY

6.0

Microphone

Noise Handling

SpNR

11.96 dB

Noise Gate

Always On

Speech + Pink Noise Handling

6.0

Speech + Pink Noise Audio Sample

Speech + Subway Noise Handling

6.0

Speech + Subway Noise Audio Sample

The integrated microphone system's noise handling is unremarkable. Although your speech will still be understandable, the microphone doesn't cut out much background noise. Background voices aren't filtered out, and sudden loud sounds can obscure your speech altogether. You can hear how the in-line mic performs with pink noise and subway noise under the same test conditions, which isn't any better because the initial sound quality is already worse than the mics in the ear cups.

LEARN ABOUT NOISE HANDLING

Active Features

8.6

Active Features

Battery

Battery Type

Rechargable

Continuous Battery Life

25.5 hrs

Additional Charges

0.0

Total Battery Life

25.5 hrs

Charge Time

2.4 hrs

Power-Saving Feature

Auto-Off Timer

Audio While Charging

No

Passive Playback

Yes

Charging Port USB-C

The V-MODA Crossfade 3's battery life is great. The 25.5 hours you get is more than double that of the previous model. It's certainly enough for traveling and working for a few days or more. However, if battery life is your priority, you can find many other products with longer-lasting batteries, some of which have the battery hog, active noise cancellation (ANC). For example, the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless are budget-oriented headphones with nearly twice the battery life plus ANC.

When their battery is drained, they use an updated USB-C port to charge. You can't listen over Bluetooth while they charge (or over USB-C at all). However, in a pinch, you can technically use them passively with their audio cable while they charge if your audio source has a headphone jack.

LEARN ABOUT BATTERY

7.0

Active Features

App Support

App Name V-MODA

iOS Yes

Android Yes

macOS No

Windows No

Equalizer

Graphic + Presets

ANC Control

No

Mic Control No

Room Effects

No

Playback Control

No

Button Mapping No

Surround Support

No

The V-MODA Crossfade 3's app is satisfactory. The features include a five-band EQ and EQ presets, although the presets sound quite similar to each other. You can adjust the auto-off timer function, monitor the battery levels, check which Bluetooth codec you're connected with, and get firmware updates. Here's a quick tour. If you choose to multi-pair, the EQ settings will only change if you're playing music from the device the app is open on, as shown here.

LEARN ABOUT APP SUPPORT

Connectivity

9.9

Connectivity

Wired Connection

Analog Audio

Yes

USB Audio

No

Detachable

Yes

Length

4.49 ft (1.37 m)

Connector

1/8" TRRS

Latency - Analog

0.2 ms

Latency - USB

N/A

Recorded Latency

Recorded Latency Connection Analog

These have outstanding wired connectivity. For analog connections, you can use the detachable 1/8" TRRS to 1/8" TRS cable with an in-line mic. They also include a 1/4" adapter. The USB-A to USB-C cable is for charging only.

LEARN ABOUT WIRED CONNECTION

8.0

Connectivity

Bluetooth Connection

Bluetooth Version

5.1

Multi-Device Pairing

2 Devices

Quick Pair (Android)

No

Quick Pair (iOS)

No

Line Of Sight Range

297.90 ft (90.80 m)

Latency - SBC

269 ms

Latency - aptX

N/A

Latency - aptX Adaptive (High Quality)

N/A

Latency - aptX Adaptive (Low Latency)

N/A

Latency - LDAC

N/A

Recorded Latency

Recorded Latency Codec SBC

AAC Support

Yes

These have great Bluetooth connectivity. You can pair with two devices simultaneously using their multi-pair function. Your Bluetooth codec options span aptX HD, AAC, and SBC. With aptX HD, you gain an upgrade over the previous model's standard aptX codec, which is great for high-quality audio. If you want to game wirelessly with these, they don't have any adaptive or gaming modes to reduce latency. However, some video streaming apps can compensate for latency, and your results can vary depending on your device.

LEARN ABOUT BLUETOOTH CONNECTION

0

Connectivity

Wireless Connection (Dongle)

Line Of Sight Range

N/A

Latency - Dongle

N/A

Recorded Latency

N/A

LEARN ABOUT WIRELESS CONNECTION (DONGLE)

Connectivity

PC Compatibility

Analog

Audio + Microphone

Wired USB

No

Non-BT Wireless

No

You can connect these to your PC using either a Bluetooth connection or their analog cable for full audio and microphone support.

Connectivity

PlayStation Compatibility

PS4 Analog

Audio + Microphone

PS4 Wired USB

No

PS4 Non-BT Wireless

No

PS5 Analog

Audio + Microphone

PS5 Wired USB

No

PS5 Non-BT Wireless

No

You can connect the analog cable from the headphones to your PlayStation controller's headphone jack. This allows you full microphone and audio support.

LEARN ABOUT PLAYSTATION COMPATIBILITY

Connectivity

Xbox Compatibility

Xbox One Analog

Audio + Microphone

Xbox One Wired USB

No

Xbox One Non-BT Wireless

No

Xbox Series X|S Analog

Audio + Microphone

Xbox Series X|S Wired USB

No

Xbox Series X|S Non-BT Wireless

No

You can connect your Xbox controller for microphone and audio support using the included analog cable.

LEARN ABOUT XBOX COMPATIBILITY

0

Connectivity

Base/Dock

Type

No Base/Dock

USB Input

No

Line In

No

Line Out

No

Optical Input

No

RCA Input

No

Dock Charging

No

Power Supply

No Base/Dock

LEARN ABOUT BASE/DOCK

V-MODA Crossfade 3 Wireless Review (2024)
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