When comparing AKG K550 vs V-MODA Crossfade M-100, the Slant community recommends AKG K550 for most people. In the question“What are the best over-ear headphones under $200?” AKG K550 is ranked 7th while V-MODA Crossfade M-100 is ranked 9th. The most important reason people chose AKG K550 is:
These headphones have a really flat sound to them. The bass is not overbearing yet does make its presence felt in the music. The mids and highs also share the same character of accuracy and neutrality, with some users reporting that the highs are boosted by just a very tiny bit. This makes the headphones a great option if you want to mix music using a closed back pair of headphones.
Specs
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Pros
Pro Neutral sound signature
These headphones have a really flat sound to them. The bass is not overbearing yet does make its presence felt in the music. The mids and highs also share the same character of accuracy and neutrality, with some users reporting that the highs are boosted by just a very tiny bit. This makes the headphones a great option if you want to mix music using a closed back pair of headphones.
Pro Great build quality
These headphones are built really well. When holding them, you can tell that you have a premium product in your hands. The build features a mix of high quality plastics and metal. These headphones also have a hefty feel to them which certainly reinforces the impression that this is a premium product.
Pro Comfortable
These headphones are very comfortable to wear. The comfort is achieve through the use of high quality synthetic leather on the ear pads and headband which make the headphones' contact points with your body feel nice and smooth. The ear pads also feature memory foam material which provides a lot of cushioning.
Pro They compete with headphones that cost twice or thrice as much
Many people prefer these headphones to giants in the market like the Sehneiser HD 600, HD 650, HD800, Beyerdynamic P70, or even the T1.
Pro Good sound isolation
Being closed back headphones, the AKG K550 are able to effectively keep the sound from leaking out. This makes the headphone great for use in quiet environments.
Pro Spatial representation
They have a spatial representation unheard of before in closed back headphones.
Pro Bass extension
These headphones extend the sound reproduction to frequencies lower than most.
Pro Warm, full, and smooth sound
The M-100's sound signature can work really well with a wide range of music. Bass reproduction has good power and punch. The mids are also full and slightly forward over the other frequencies. This results in extra emphasis on the vocals and on mid-range sounds like guitars and keyboards. The highs are not peaky, which reduces their harshness, sounding smooth instead.
Pro Comes with two cables out of the box
These headphones come with a SpeakEasy Mic cable and a Share Play cable. This gives you an option as to which cable you want to use at a given time. This also means that you will have a spare cable should you damage the other.
Pro Good mix of metal and plastic make these feel solid
These have a solid, high quality feel to them, and you can tell that they will last you a long time. The ear cups are made of high quality plastic, while the headphones' yokes and headband are made of metal. The headband has a generous give yet does not feel flimsy at all. You can even twist it quite a bit yet it still won't feel like it will break.
Pro Collapsible design allows for easy portability
The yokes can be collapsed and folded up into the headband. This reduces the overall size of the headphones, making them much easier to carry around.
Pro Cable is easily removable
You can detach the cable by simply pulling out the 3.5mm connector from the port on the headphones. The connector attaches with a satisfying click so it is less likely to get disconnected when in use.
Pro You can take calls with these on
The SpeakEasy cable has an in-line microphone with great noise cancelling. The cable also comes with an in-line 1 button remote which allows users to answer or end calls, as well as pause and play music tracks.
Pro SharePlay Cable allows music sharing with other headphones
The SharePlay Cable features a 3.5mm pass-through port where a person can connect their own headphones. This means that you and another person can enjoy music from the same source.
Pro Carrying case allows for easy and secure transport
Included is a clam-shell style case made of durable plastic so it should protect your headphones from scratches and minor impacts. Do note that you will have to detach the cable to make it fit inside the case.
Cons
Con Has some ear pad-sealing issues
Some users report that these headphones do not seal well on their ears, which makes the sound come off as lean and lacking in power. This issue can be attributed to the softness or size of the ear pads. It would be best then for you to try these headphones first before buying for you to ascertain if these seal well on your ears.
Con Large and heavy
While the weight can give these headphones a premium quality feel, this also can put a lot of strain to a user's head. If you prefer really light headphones then these may not be the ones for you.
Con Hard wired cable
You cannot detach the cord.
Con Will leak some sound due to semi-open design
The ear cups are not completely closed as there are small ports on the side. People near you may be able to hear you with enough volume. This also means that ambient noise can mix in with the music.
Con Mids can be too forward for some
The mids may come off as a little bit artificial due to the extra emphasis on these frequencies. Vocals and guitars may be too in-your-face for others.