It’s growing tough — annoyingly so — to compete with monolithic names like Beats. In a bid to shake things up and draw attention to the underground, AIAIAI has unveiled its TMA-2 Modular Headphone. It’s one thing to boost frequencies with a slider, but another entirely to customize the physical product from which the music emanates. With the TMA-2, the Danish company allows buyers to make independent selections in four categories: headbands, cables, speaker units and ear pads.
You can choose from three different headbands, six cables, four driver units (“all-round, punch, warm and vibrant”) and seven ear pads (made from microfiber, PU leather, leatherette and velour). That’ll give you over 25 different sound profiles, and AIAIAI has provided descriptions of each so you know what to expect. In a world of consolidation and fewer SKUs, the ability to mix and match components has become something of a novelty. AIAIAI ensures that the buying process itself is part of the enjoyment, and you get exactly the audio equipment needed for your aural purpose and pleasure.