Forza Metallo Wireless review: The same V-MODA sound for wireless in-ear headphones

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TA-ratings-94We recently reviewed the Forza Metallo wired earbuds and now the Forza Metallo Wireless version are finally available. As such, our V-MODA Forza Metallo Wireless review takes a look at the third offering in the V-MODA Forza earbud line to see how they compare to their wired counterparts.

Specifications

The Forza Metallo Wireless have the following features and specifications:

  • 5.8mm Featherweight Micro Driver: Balanced vibrant bass, vivid mids and vivacious stress-free highs surrounded by a vast 3D soundstage
  • CNC Forged Aircraft-grade Metal Housing
  • Qualcomm Chipset + aptX: High-end aptX™ Audio Codec for near-CD Quality Wireless Audio Playback
  • Futuristic Sweat and Weather Resistant NanoCoating Technology
  • Long-Lasting Battery: Up to 10+ hours of music playback and ultra-fast charging
  • 15-minute FastCharge: 15 minutes for 2+ hours playback
  • Noise-Canceling Dual Mics + 3-Button Remote: Special algorithms and mic array for crystal-clear speech calls, accurate voice assistant recognition, call, assistant and volume controls
  • Speaker Driver: 5.8mm neodymium dynamic micro driver
  • Frequency Response: 10Hz – 22,000 Hz
  • Battery: Up to 10+ hours and full quick charge in less than 1.5 hours
  • Bluetooth Range: 10m (33 feet)
  • Dual-Pairing: Available with 2 devices at the same time
  • iOS Battery Indicator and Widget
  • Weight: 22.5g

What’s in the box

  • Forza Metallo Wireless
  • 8 pairs of BLISS™ 3.0 fittings in XS, pre-installed S, M and L sizes
  • 3 pairs of ActiveFlex™ sport fins
  • 2 pairs of RemixRings
  • Designed in Italy carrying pouch
  • Six-Star Service
  • 1-Year Premier Warranty
  • 50% Immortal Life Program Replacement
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What’s included…

Design

Being wireless, the V-MODA Forza Metallo Wireless differ slightly in design from its wired counterparts. It also varies in design from most of the wireless earbuds I’ve reviewed here at Techaeris in the past. The first thing you’ll notice is a fairly large neckband, which V-MODA dubs the Titanium TrapLock Ergonomic Neckband. Slightly curved in shape, the neckband is roughly ¾” wide, 4″ long, and ¼” thick. On the underside is a flap which protects the Micro-USB charging port. The V-MODA wordmark is stamped in white across the back. It’s an interesting design and the neckband sits lower on your neck and hides nicely under a collared shirt. During physical activity, like cycling or jogging, it seems to stay in place pretty well, holding the straps There is also a vibration feature in the neckband which vibrates when you turn the headphones on or off as well as when a call is incoming.

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The Titanium TrapLock Ergonomic Neckband rests on your neck and stays in place quite well.

On either end of the neckband are two rigid cables which both end with a remote control unit. Each control unit is capped with a metal piece which adds to the design. The left control until houses the power button, LED indicator light, and a noise-cancelling microphone. The right control unit is where you’ll find a second noise-cancelling microphone along with the 3-button volume, phone, and music track control.

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Dual control units mean dual noise-cancelling microphones.

The earbuds are connected to the control units with a thinner wire, which coincidentally is different than the wires used in both the Forza and Forza Metallo wired earbuds. It’s interesting that V-MODA would use different wiring for each of the three units, but at any rate, the ones used in the Forza Metallo Wireless are nice and thin and don’t tangle. At the end of each wire is the same metal earbud that is used with the Forza Metallo in-ear headphones.

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The familiar Forza Metallo earbud.

The Forza Metallo Wireless also include the various BLISS 3.0 fittings, ActiveFlex sport fins, and RemixRings that the other models do and are also compatible with the optional custom 3D printed caps available in a number of different materials. The included carry pouch is made from a soft black fabric with the V-MODA logo on the front of the bag and a drawstring enclosure at the top. At first, it may feel like you’re bending the headphones too much to get them into the bag, but they are really flexible and after repeated use and storage in the bag are showing no signs of bending or loosening.

Ease of Use

The first time you turn on the Forza Metallo Wireless, they’ll enter pairing mode which is indicated by the LED flashing white twice every second. Pairing was as easy as expected, and once you have one device paired you can press and hold the power button for about 3 seconds to re-initiate the pairing mode and pair them with a second device. Once paired and listening to music, you can adjust the volume with the + and – buttons on the right control unit, and press the middle button once to play/pause the track, twice to skip to the next track, three times to go back to the previous track, or hold it for 3 seconds to launch Siri or OK Google.

To answer an incoming call, press the middle button on the right remote control unit, hold it for about two seconds to ignore or hang up a call, or press once during a call to put it on hold and/or connect to a second call.

Sound

Considering the Forza Metallo Wireless use the same drivers as the other in-ear headphones in the Forza series and the aptX™ Audio Codec, there’s no surprise that these produce fantastic sound as well. As with other V-MODA products, sound is clear and crisp at any volume, and the range between highs and lows is well balanced making any genre of music enjoyable to listen to.

Reception/Call Quality

The range on wireless speakers and headphones can be hit or miss, the range on the Forza Metallo Wireless is pretty decent. V-MODA indicates a 10m/30′ range and that holds mostly true if you have line of sight to your device. Once you start going around corners or to different floors in the house, it can be hit and miss.

Call quality on these in-ear headphones is about as best as I’ve experienced on a wireless headset. As is usually the case, incoming audio was clear and crisp but the outgoing audio was clear and crisp as well due to the dual noise-cancelling microphones, one in each control unit on either side of your mouth.

Battery Life

V-MODA claims the Forza Metallo Wireless should last about 10 hours between charges. During our testing, and at volumes between 50-75%, we were able to get just over that each time, clocking in on average about 10 ½ hours between charges. While they exceed V-MODA’s specifications, given the size of the Titanium TrapLock Ergonomic neckband I would have thought they would have been able to squeeze a bigger battery inside, especially considering that other wireless earbuds with no neckband and a single remote control unit also hit around 10 hours of playback time.

Charging is pretty quick, and a 15-minute charge will get you another couple hours of listening while a complete recharge from empty took about an hour and 15 minutes during our testing.

Price/Value

With an MSRP of $170USD (before adding on caps), the V-MODA Forza Metallo Wireless aren’t the cheapest wireless in-ear headphones on the market. However, the sound quality, design, and build quality are worth the price for these headphones.

Wrap-up

V-MODA has successfully brought their wireless experience to the V-MODA Forza Metallo Wireless in-ear headphones which offer great sound, quality design, and decent battery life. Like their wired counterpart, the Forza Metallo Wireless are worthy of a Top Pick of 2017 here at Techaeris.

*We were sent a sample of the V-MODA Forza Metallo Wireless for the purposes of this review.
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