TMA-2 Studio & Studio XE

£200 & £160

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Gear Closed back modular headphones

Danish manufacturer AIAIAI’s TMA-2 concept allows you to build your own headphones from modular parts. You get four types of speaker unit (one wireless), five types of over- or on-ear pads, four headbands and more to make up your custom purchases. To make it easier, there are also pre-made versions, of which the Studio and Studio XE are specifically tailored for music production.

Despite being modular – so you can still upgrade them – these both feel well built. The more expensive Studio phones feature more comfortable earpads but are slightly heavier; the XE’s might be better for longer listening sessions. Both are closed back so good for isolation and mixing.

However it’s the sound that will define your phones and for that you need accuracy, as you do with studio monitors. Here you pay that bit more for it as we think the more expensive Studios deliver better results, with the XEs having an enhanced low end which will be better for listening and enjoying rather than mixing. Decent, then, and we love the modular concept.

n8/ 10n