We aren’t exactly ashamed of it around here: We tend to dig V-Moda headphones. We love the simplistic design of their products, as well as the effortlessly chic construction. Not to mention the sound quality, which typically knocks our socks off: That doesn’t include you, V-Moda Vibrato. All around, we suppose it wouldn’t be totally out of line to call us “fanboys.”
V-Moda Faders
As such, we’re pretty stoked to see a new model of V-Moda Faders rolling out in the next few weeks. If you’re not familiar with the faders, we can hardly blame you. They’re not exactly headphones, as instead of in-ear buds, they’re in-ear plugs. Yes, you heard us right: These little bad boys don’t produce sound, so much as cut it out. That being said, they do bear a lot of similarities to our favorite V-Moda in-ear headphones, and if you’re looking for an incredibly vogue set of earplugs, there’s really no better option. Still with us? Great! Let’s dive into the sweet, sweet sound-canceling details.
First and foremost, the V-Moda Faders are nearly indistinguishable from a normal pair of headphones. This has been fashioned by design, that way you can wear the earplugs while out-and-about without feeling self-conscious. The only noticeable difference between the Faders and a stock set of in-ears is the cable, which only runs from bud to bud. On the flip side, this design means you’ll never lose one of the buds without losing the other simultaneously. Sure, it’s the lesser of two evils, but half an evil is better than all of it! Furthermore, every other detail of the Faders is accurate to a V-Moda set of in-ears, from the silicon ear cap construction down to the replaceable ear canal tips.
As far as noise-cancellation, the Faders do one better than a stock set of earplugs you might buy at the hardware store. They block out unnecessarily loud low-end noise up to 12dB, but they also leave the mids and highs untouched. This means you can clearly hear what your mates are shouting at you during the concert, but won’t blow out your ears every time Ted Nugent’s bassist hits a particularly thundering note. It’s smooth, solid, and will certainly save your ears some shame.
And really, at the heart of all this, saving your ear drums is the moral of the story. We talk a lot about volume, sound quality and performance, but what we don’t often mention is the risk headphones pose to your ears. Taking care of your hearing will save you a lot of headaches later in life. As such, the V-Moda faders are an absolute bargain. No word on pricing yet, but they’re promised to arrive somewhere around the original pair’s $15 retail price.
