All products featured are independently chosen by us. However, SoundGuys may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links. See our ethics statement.
AIAIAI turns to Kickstarter to make the TMA-2 wireless
AIAIAI is an audio company based in Denmark that specializes in modular headphones. Everything from the audio cable to the speaker units can be swapped out for other parts sold by AIAIAI. Their most recent pair of headphones were the TMA-2. Though plenty of people enjoyed them you were out of luck if you wanted to go wireless. Now the company has turned to Kickstarter to fund the H05 headband. It’s a smart headband that would allow new and existing customers to leave the cables behind.
Since the TMA-2s can be taken apart and swapped out, AIAIAI had to come up with a new way to go wireless. It’s hard to follow in the footsteps of every other audio company and put Bluetooth components in the ear cups. That would force every existing owner of the TMA-2 headphones to toss their old speaker units and purchase new ones just to go wireless. The H05 headband has everything you need to go wireless right inside. Existing customers can keep the speaker units they already have and simply swap out the headband. That said, new customers also benefit because the headband is completely compatible with all of AIAIAI other headphone components. If this is going to be your first pair of AIAIAI headphones, you won’t be missing out on anything.
Simply swap out the headband to go wireless
The H05 headband is just a minimal as everything else the company sells. Built into it is a Bluetooth 4.2 module with aptX for high quality streaming. There’s also a battery that AIAIAI claims will give you about 16 hours of constant playback. They charge via USB Type-C and charging time is spec’d at roughly 2 hours. The headband also has an onmnidirectional microphone so you can still answer phone calls. Unfortunately, you won’t find any playback controls here so if you want to adjust the volume or change the song you’ll still have to reach for your source device.
You can choose between a few different perks that include just the headband or an entire headphone configuration built to your preferences. AIAIAI plans on getting the H05 out to backers by May of 2017 so if you’re interested make sure to go back the campaign.