V-Moda’s pro-grade M-200 headphones have long been a favorite among studio professionals and discerning music fans. Suffice to say, people who care about sound reproduction love them. The V-Moda M-200 ANC takes those same headphones and injects them with two elements people favor heavily today in Bluetooth connectivity and active noise cancellation.
The outfit’s first wireless headphones with ANC baked in, the cans pair those modern conveniences with the sound quality the Roland-owned outfit is best known to deliver, giving discerning listeners a pro-grade studio headphones option that can eliminate wires and block noise with equal aplomb. Basically, if you like V-Moda’s headphones, but haven’t quite pulled the trigger because you want cans that can drown out engine noise when you’re flying, it might be time to reconsider.
The V-Moda M-200 ANC is equipped with 40mm neodymium drivers that deliver a wide frequency response of 10 Hz to 40 kHz and a tuning that’s been optimized for everyday listening. It comes with a companion app that allows you to tweak the audio to your ideal sound signature, complete with the option for six presets, so you can quickly go from one audio configuration to another, depending on the playlist you have on hand. While we don’t know whether it sounds the same as the acclaimed M-200, we imagine, they took pains to make sure it’s on the same level.
It comes with Bluetooth for wireless music playback, so you don’t have to be tethered to your phone or any other audio source, although it also includes a cable for those who want a Hi-Res Certified audio experience. The big feature, of course, is active noise cancellation, which allows you to drown out other ambient noises, so you hear nothing but the sound of the music playing. It’s also adjustable using the companion app, with 10 different levels, so you can opt to be totally aurally isolated or choose to let in the louder noises, in case it’s something you need to pay attention towards. There’s also a “voice in” feature that lowers the volume and pauses the ANC when you cover the left earcup, making it easy to talk to someone without having to remove the headphones.
The V-Moda M-200 ANC has an integrated battery powering both the Bluetooth connection and the noise cancellation, which can last for up to 20 hours of playback between charges with both those features engaged. It also has a quick-charge option that puts in 1.5 hours’ worth of playback after just 10 minutes of plugging in for those times you lose battery unexpectedly. There’s also a mic, of course, so you can use it to talk to your voice assistant of choice.
It’s got all the design touches you’ll expect from V-Moda, such as the leather padding and the metal accents. For this model, though, they’re making those metal plates on the outside of the ear cups interchangeable, with options for custom engravings and personalize artwork. Oh yeah, it’s also hinged, so you can fold it into a more compact size for taking during travel.
The V-Moda M-200 ANC comes out in late February, priced at $499.