Some time ago, I wrote about the V-MODA Forza Metallo Wireless Headphones. With this new offering, V-MODA cut the cord without compromising on sound or battery life. This “Neckband Headphone” design gives you wireless, handsfree music on the go while delivering V-MODA’s amazing sound. I’ve been using them for a few weeks now, and I absolutely love these headphones.
V-MODA CEO Val Kolton has this to say about the headphones:
All other in-ear wireless headphones have a variety of form factors with show stopping compromises, imperfect ergonomics or useless gimmicks. They either look like unsightly massive ‘plastic space ring around the collars’, Frankenstein bolts that will not stay in your ears or separate earbuds that are quickly lost, have reception issues and need a dongle or case. Our first neckband Bluetooth headphone features a minimal design that can hide under a shirt collar, maximum battery life, enhanced antenna and unrivaled all-day ergonomics. With Forza Metallo Wireless we are unleashing audiophiles and professionals with ultimate ergonomics via our unique TrapLock™ titanium cable refined to every nanometer from countless anatomical tests conducted over years.
They have 5.8mm hi-res drivers, a metal housing, noise-canceling microphones, offer 3D printing customization caps, include sport fins to stay in place and have a ‘TrapLock’ titanium neckband. As I noted in my first look post, there are a number of features that stand out. These include:
- 5.8mm Micro Hi-Res Driver: Delivers unique, balanced sound and natural stress-free acoustics with a vivid 3D Soundstage
- Qualcomm aptX Audio Codec: Highest end for CD quality wireless audio playback
- Titanium TrapLock Ergonomics: Unrivaled minimalism forms to your body and the unique form factor eliminates “space ring around the collar”, lost earbuds, dongle cases, bad battery life and reduced reception
- Military-Level Durability: Engineered and tested beyond Military-level quality MIL-STD-810G test standards to withstand every challenge, from commuting to hard-core workouts
- Ready for Your Workout: Futuristic Sweat and Weather Resistant Nanocoating Technology
- BLISS 3.0 Fittings: Four different sizes of BLISS (Bass Level Isolating Soft Silicone) 3.0 fittings ensure outstanding noise-isolation, tightest bass and best fit
- ActiveFlex Sport Fins: Detachable, patent pending ActiveFlex sport fins available in 3 sizes for best fit and stability while running or working out
- Lithium-ion Long-Lasting Battery: Up to 10+ hours of music playback and ultra-fast charging
- Noise-Cancelling Dual Microphones: Crystal-clear calls and voice recognition
- 10m Range and 2-Device Connectivity: Pair your Bluetooth device and enjoy your headphones up to 10 meters (33 feet), multitask and pair with 2 devices at the same time
- iOS Battery Indicator and Widget
All of that information is included on the product page and is in my first-look. What I want to focus on in this post is the experience of using the V-MODA Forza Wireless, and why these are the wireless earbuds I reach for when I want something in-ear.
Sound:
I love V-MODA’s sound signature and the Forza Wireless are no exception. The clarity of the music coming from them is amazing. They offer plenty of bass but not too much. I’ve referred to some headphones with this neckband style design as being appropriate for active times but not suited for use as one’s daily drivers. That’s not the case here. Listening to them is simply a pleasure, and anyone would be quite happy with the Forza Wireless as their main, if not only, pair of headphones. They are that much of a pleasure to use.
Comfort:
Wired earbuds are great, but you end up having to fiddle and fidget with the wire.
The new individual wireless earbuds that are wireless connected to one another and to the audio source solve the issue of cable fidgeting but they usually short battery life. Add in the fact that most of the earbuds with this style have an annoying habit of dropping one channel or the other on occasion and they can, at times, be all but unusable.
Wireless headphones with a neckband design have a huge advantage on a number of levels. First, because of the neckband, headphones with this style tend to have good, if not great, battery life. Second, because they are connected to another, there isn’t the challenge of one channel or the other dropping out. But while I like this approach, I have often found that the neckband isn’t all that comfortable for long listening sessions. They are a good option but not what I would want as my only pair of headphones.
The V-MODA Forza Wireless are in a league of their own. The neckband style means they get good battery life of ten hours or more. The wired connection from one earbud to the other means there’s no annoying signal drop. But V-MODA took a new look at the design of the neckband style headphone and redesigned it in a way that take these headphones to an entirely new level.
Instead of having a neckband that is uniformly thick from one end to the other that made a thick, rigid portion at the rear of the Forza Wireless. This is the area houses the battery but also keeps the headphones in place thanks not only to their neck-shaped curve but because it puts the bulk of the weight in that position.
And there’s more. This back portion also has a vibration motor built into it so you can get vibration notifications when calls come in.
Flexible wires emerge from this back portion of the Forza Wireless. They move with you and, as a result, make them more comfortable than neckband headphones that are thick and rigid all the way around.
These flexible wires become a bit thicker at the end and, on each side, house both controls and microphones. These controls sit comfortably on the front portion of each shoulder. This puts the noise-cancelling dual microphones in close proximity to your mouth and makes it easy to find and activate the controls by feel.
Thin, light wires then extend from the controllers and end with the earbuds. They are light enough that the earbuds almost feel as if they are individual separate earbuds that are not connected to one another.
The result of this design is the most comfortable wireless earbuds I have ever used.
I don’t feel the neckband- it can even sit beneath a shirt collar!- and the earbuds stay in place even when I am running or moving my head from side to side. It is a brilliant design and demonstrates just how smart the V-MODA designers are.
Controls:
As noted, there are control areas on each side of the headphones prior to the thin wires that extend to where the earbuds begin.
The left controller has the on/off button and a noise-cancelling microphone.
The right controller has a three button remote and a second noise-cancelling microphone. The three-button remote is intuitive to use and offers a wide range of functionality in a simple, easy-to-use design.
So why are the V-MODA Forza Wireless among the best wireless earbuds I have ever experienced? Let me run it down.
They are comfortable.
They are easy to control.
They sound great.
They get good battery life.
They are built to endure serious use thanks to their sturdy design and their weather-resistant coating.
They can be paired to two devices at the same time.
They are under $170.
You’ll all but forget you are wearing them.
I love the headphones and, I suspect, you will too. Check them out here.
Source: Manufacturer supplied review sample
What I Like: Comfort, sound, ergonomics and battery life combine to make a great pair of wireless headphones
What Needs Improvement: Not a thing
Hey! Thanks for this review.
Question – did you really test the microphone? I’ve had mine for months, and everyone has trouble hearing me. I’m using a Samsung S7.