AIAIAI TMA-2 Studio Wireless+ Review: Next Level Wireless

Pros:

• Modular design
• Can be used wirelessly even with sources without Bluetooth capability through the included transmitter
• Balanced sound signature
• Wide soundstage

Cons:

• Bluetooth mode only supports AAC and SBC codec
• Driver sensitivity too low for wireless playback
• Poor noise isolation for a closed back design

Introduction:

AIAIAI Audio is a company from Denmark that was founded in 2006. Back in 2010, they launched the world's first modular headphone, the TMA-2. It is made up of 4 parts or in this case, modules. The headband, drivers, earpads, and the cable. Each module is interchangeable, allowing for hundreds of possible combinations. Up until today, the TMA-2 along with another headphone, the Tracks, are their only products, but they have improved and expanded the modules available over the years. The TMA-2 Studio Wireless+ is the latest iteration of the TMA-2 headphone that, aside from Bluetooth connection, comes with the W+ Link Technology, which is a 2.4 GHz wireless transmitter with a latency of just 16 ms, and can be plugged in any source with a headphone jack. The TMA-2 Studio Wireless+ currently retails for 350 USD, and was provided to me for free by AIAIAI Audio in exchange for this review.

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Specifications:

Driver unit: S05 40 mm dynamic, bio-cellulose diaphragm

Impedance: 32 ohms

Sensitivity: 97 dB

Frequency response range: 20 Hz - 20 kHz

Source:

Poco X3 paired with Cayin RU6, FiiO KA3, Tempotec Sonata E35 and Zishan U1

Test tracks:

Africano - Earth Wind and Fire

Dark Necessities - Red Hot Chili Peppers

Gurenge - Lisa

The Chain - Fleetwood Mac

Monsters - All Time Low

Ours - Taylor Swift

Stay - Mayday Parade

Snuff - Slipknot

Yesterday Once More - Carpenters

So Slow - Freestyle

Aurora Sunrise - Franco

Attention - Pentatonix

Blue Bird - Ikimono-gakari

You're Still The One - Shania Twain

Anyone Who Knows What Love Is(Will Understand) - Irma Thomas

Salamin - Slapshock

AOV - Slipknot

Hey Jude - The Beatles

The Way You Make Me Feel - Michael Jackson

...and a lot more.

Unboxing and Accessories:

The TMA-2 Studio Wireless+ comes in a large that opens to the side. Printed on the inner black box are the instructions on how to assemble the modules. All parts are inside a thick plastic pouch. There are the S05 speaker units, E08 over-ear Alcantara earpads, H10 headband with Bluetooth and W+ Link support, X01 W+ Link transmitter with 3.5 mm plugs on both ends and attached on one end is a 3.5 mm female to 6.35 mm male adapter, C02 cable with the same 6.35 mm adapter, and A01 fabric carrying pouch. Also included are some additional instruction manuals to setup the connection, silical gel packets, QR code for online manuals and warranty registration, and AIAIAI logo stickers in black and yellow.

Build:

The H10 headband is made of plastic with a smooth, matte finish. The top portion is covered in rubber or silicone for cushioning. At the top, there is the AIAIAI branding, and on the right side of it are three buttons for the volume up, multifunction button, and volume down. Below the buttons is a single indicator light that glows white in W+ Link mode, and blue in Bluetooth mode. Each side has a short cable with a 3.5 mm plug that connects to the drivers, one side has a neon yellow green plastic ring to quickly identify the right side. On the right underside of the headband, there is a color coded switch. If it's on white, it is on the W+ Link mode, and blue if it's on Bluetooth mode.

The driver cups are made of the same smooth and matte plastic of the headband. The inner side is metal with four holes where the earpads lock into place. The bottom 3.5 mm jack has a twist to lock mechanism to prevent accidental removal. The E08 Alcantara earpads are sufficiently thick and soft. It also has good depth and prevents my large ears from touching the drivers. However, it can't seem to block outside noise that much compared to leather.

The C02 coiled cable is 1.5 meters in length and can extend up to 3.2 meters. It is insulated with a thermoplastic material. It is also thick, quite stiff, a bit springy and has some weight to it but it's acceptable since this cable is designed for studio use. Both ends have a 3.5 mm gold plated plug, the straight plug that goes to the drivers is made of plastic, and the L-type plug that goes to the source is made of hard rubber.

The W+ Link transmitter looks just like a powerbank. The body is made of the same matte plastic, while the upper portion is coated with rubber. At the top there is a power switch button, four indicator lights to show remaining battery, female USB C for charging, and a 3.5 mm jack to connect to source.

Now let's get to the sound.

Lows:

The lows are full-bodied yet exhibits great control. Subbass has moderate reach with a clean and fast attack. Decay is on the quick side but doesn't feel like it rolls off too early. Midbass is positioned neutrally with an average weight, and has that same tightness as the subbass.

Overall, you will still get that familiar feeling of those vibrations wrapping your head in bass heavy tracks while using headphones, but the lows give a lot of room for the mids and highs to shine.

Mids:

The mids are just a tad forward with very good clarity. Vocals have just the right amount of substance and placed at the center of the stage. Male and female vocals are linear, instruments such as acoustic guitars sound airy and percussions feel immersive and reproduced clearly.

Overall, the S05 should be ideal for studio usage due to the performance of the mids. Vocals are reproduced nicely and the spacious feel of the instruments is definitely an advantage for both monitoring and casual listening alike.

Highs:

The highs are forward and receive the most attention here. Treble reach is excellent alongside an above average amount of decay. Each track is filled with sparkle, but stays within tolerable levels and never feels uncomfortable. Cymbals sound solid and adds an ample amount of energy in each track.

Overall, this is the most dominant section of the S05's sound. Subtleties are appreciated with ease. Having said that, I don't think this may become a concern for treble sensitive people since the highs are still well-controlled.

Soundstage and Imaging:

The S05 drivers offer a moderately sized stage. Height and width outputs equal expansion. That being said, there is a great amount of air in between different instruments that contributes greatly to the overall technical performance. Imaging has great clarity and accuracy, and congestion is next to nothing.

Wireless Playback:

There is a bit of a delay through Bluetooth mode, as expected from AAC codec. But using the W+ transmitter, the 16 ms delay is not perceptible at all. One small problem here is that, the driver sensitivity is too low for the internal amplifier of the headband. If you are a loud listener like me, you will find that even the maximum volume is insufficient. And since the speaker units are not driven to its full potential, dynamics were affected and some details were lost.

Conclusion:

Having launched more than a decade ago, AIAIAI's modular design still works great today. It's a lot of fun to try out different module combinations and to replace or upgrade a single part with ease. There are definitely some key points to improve like the Bluetooth codecs and the driveability of the speaker units but AIAIAI, with the TMA-2 Studio Wireless+, took the wire-free form factor and brought it to another level that you simply do not see regularly, even in headphones from big brands.