AIAIAI best-selling TMA-2 range of professional modular studio headphones offers decent audio and enhanced comfort, and is touted as "Trusted by artists all over the world." And these headphones are available in wired and wireless, around-the-ear, and over-ear models, with more or less isolation, and with multiple choices of earpads, headbands and cables. Now, the company founded in 2006 in Denmark, decided to go even further and decided to offer a completely modular order option, build-your-own TMA-2 headphones.
The foundation for the modular approach is based on the TMA-2 Studio headphones, perfected by the company based on years of feedback from music producers, composers, DJs and creators, and its loyal user and distributor communities. The AIAIAI TMA-2 model currently comes in over 1000 combinations with 9 cables, 4 headbands, 7 earpads and 5 different driver units. And to better illustrate the concept of the TMA-2 Modular, the Danish company even hired the services of reputed Danish design house Kontrapunkt to create a custom-typeface named Modular. Everything in AIAIAI product design seems to be well planned and executed, even when it is outsourced.
AIAIAI is described as "an audio design company dedicated to developing premium audio gear," and the company is a premium example of dedication and well-tuned marketing, brilliant in every aspect, from the packaging of the accessories to the choice of materials, and the simplicity how every part fits together and works. They might not be the best headphones in the world for frequency-response obsessed users, and they are certainly not the cheapest, but for all product designers in the segment the AIAIAI TMA-2 Modular are a reference in design, comfort, and adaptability. A great example of "doing only one thing well".
AIAIAI boasts a world-renowned network of professional music makers as part of its highly collaborative development process and its products have been extensively tested in every creative environment, from studio to the stage, and are used daily by demanding users who always carry their headphones wherever they go. Driven by a responsible design philosophy, and with a heritage in Scandinavian design, AIAIAI products are mainly designed to last. The modularity was always present in the fact that users could easily replace cables or earpads on all its headphones launched since 2010.
Even when Apple ditched the 3.5mm audio jack, AIAIAI users with a pair of modular TMA-2 headphones, which were specifically designed with removable cables, could quickly switch for a Lightning cable. And sure enough, just a few months later, AIAIAI announced a replacement headband with wireless Bluetooth audio support, which they have continuously updated. Likewise, the TMA-2 design allows to replace any lost or damaged connector, or even a blown out driver, without forcing a complete replacement.
And by minimizing the risk of products becoming obsolete, and carefully selecting materials, the company effectively reduces its environmental impact. As an example, AIAIAI is using Alcantara or vegan leather ear-cushions, its packaging is made from recycled materials, and they are not afraid of bragging about it. In a recent announcement, AIAIAI teamed up with Ninja Tune (an independent record label based in London), to develop a custom TMA-2 Headphone made from recycled vinyl, a concept that clearly appeals to their DJ user-base.
With the introduction of the TMA-2 modular headphone system, the company continues to gain valuable information about preferences from the market itself, which in turns allows launching new standard models. As an example, already after the customizable TMA-2 headphones were available, AIAIAI launched the new TMA-2 Studio, as a standard choice, and the new TMA-2 Studio XE, a professional lightweight studio model (only 190g), with highly detailed audio and high isolation.
All those standard, or configured-to-order headphones, are based on the existing and evolving line of component choices, including a specific signature bio-diaphragm driver that was selected for its highly detailed audio, and extremely lightweight materials that allow using the headphones for extended sessions, with enhanced comfort from soft and resilient ear cushions helping to prevent fatigue and offer more or less isolation.
The TMA-2s can be easily customized in configurations ranging from sub-$150 headphones, all the way to $250+ monitors aimed at creative use. Keeping the same coherent aesthetics and general design language, the TMA-2 headphones can be configured to order or modified with a polycarbonate headband with soft foam padding, or selecting between high grade nylon, high comfort PU leather or microfiber headband options, all with different features and benefits. Same goes for on-ear cushions, which can use microfiber, PU leather or Alcantara, for both on-ear and over-ear choices. And, of course, there are choices of small and large hard cases and bags.
In terms of cables and connectivity, the TMA-2 headphones can be ordered with 1.2 or 1.5 meter cables, straight or coiled, with or without remote control with mic, using triad cable for durability and reduced interference, with Lightning and USB-C connectors, or in exclusive blue, black and white, pink neon, and neon yellow versions. For those who prefer no cable, there's the H06 headband option supporting Bluetooth 5.0 wireless with SBC and AAC codecs, already offering USB-C charging.
Paying attention to sound quality, users are able to choose between a 40mm lightweight PET diaphragm with neodymium magnet driver that delivers a neutral sound, go for a same-sized titanium coated diaphragm that has less distortion and offers a clear and punchy middle bass, or select a speaker diaphragm made from stiff bio-cellulose for more defined high-frequency details and better dynamics.
“When we released the TMA-1 we got a lot of feedback,” says AIAIAI CEO Fredrik Jørgensen. “We were given lots of new ideas, as well as requests for small adjustments from our network and users. But with a conventional design, it’s very complex to do a mark 2, let alone a large portfolio of different product versions. That’s why we turned to the modular approach.”
By being able to adapt its current, on-the-market product without resetting the manufacturing process, AIAIAI was able to weather major market disruptions that left other headphone manufacturers struggling. “Modularity gives us agility, and helps us avoid ending up with a lot of obsolete inventory when the market changes,” says Jørgensen.
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