V-Moda
Italian-designed mobile audio brand used by DJs and audiophiles.
V-MODA is a private company that makes mobile audio gear: headphones, earphones, portable amplifiers, protective earplugs, and accessories. It was founded in 2004 and helped kick off the trend of fashion-focused headphones. The brand is used by both DJs and audiophiles.
The company was started by Val Kolton, a professional DJ and producer. Early on, he concentrated on new technology and patents, creating the "Kolton Technology" line of fashion headphones for DJs. The products and brand were designed during frequent research trips to Milan and Venice, Italy. In 2006, the company launched several product lines and became the first maker of high-fidelity fashion headphones, offering 33,000 units in 11 colors. That same year, it changed its name to V-MODA.
In 2007, V-MODA worked with Apple to release the Vibe Duo line, designed specifically for Apple iPhones and iPods. These were the first third-party headphones made for those devices. Development of the M series began in 2010, and the first on-ear model, the M-80, came out in 2011, followed by the over-ear M-100. Around that time, the company opened a Hong Kong office to manage logistics, manufacturing, and sales for Asia Pacific and Europe. In 2013, Val Kolton moved to Milan and Munich to set up V-MODA Milano S.r.l., the design studio that now creates all products and content for V-MODA worldwide.
In 2016, V-MODA began a partnership with Roland Corporation, and in 2019, Roland fully acquired the company.
V-MODA has offices in Hollywood, California, and a design studio in Milan, Italy. Regional offices are in London and Hong Kong. Custom products are assembled in Los Angeles, and factories are located in Japan and Shenzhen, China. The company sells in Italy, France, Germany, the UK, Spain, Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Russia, Hong Kong, China, Thailand, Singapore, Japan, Canada, and the USA.
Quick Facts
- Key People
- Val Kolton, Founder & CEO / Joseph Bucknall, Co-Founder & Chief Designer
- Industry
- Audio electronics
- Products
- Headphone, earphone, amplifier, protection ear plugs and accessories
- Founded
- 2004
- Fate
- Acquired by Roland Corporation
- Hq Location
- Hollywood, California, United States
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
V-MODA was founded in 2004 by professional DJ and producer Val Kolton, who initially focused on technological innovation and patents to develop the 'Kolton Technology' fashion headphone lines for DJs. The products and brand were designed in Italy, in Milan and Venice, on frequent design research trips. In 2006 the firm launched several product lines and became the first high-fidelity fashion headphone manufacturer, with 33,000 units in 11 colors, and changed its name to V-MODA. In 2007, working with Apple, the company released the Vibe Duo product line completely designed for Apple iPhones and iPods, making it the first third-party headphone for the Apple iPhone and iPod. V-MODA began developing the M series in 2010, launching the M-80 on-ear headphones in 2011, soon followed by the M-100 over-ear headphones. Around the same time, the company opened its Hong Kong office to handle logistics, manufacturing and sales for the Asia Pacific and Europe regions. In 2013, Val Kolton moved to Milan and Munich to form V-MODA Milano S.r.l. design studios, which creates and designs all products and content for V-MODA worldwide subsidiaries. In 2016, V-MODA began a partnership with Roland Corporation, and in 2019 it was fully acquired by Roland.
Reader's Guide
V-MODA's significance lies in its role as a pioneer in the fashion headphones industry, merging high-fidelity audio with design aesthetics. The company's early collaboration with Apple in 2007 produced the Vibe Duo, the first third-party headphone for the iPhone and iPod, marking a key moment in mobile audio accessory history. Its M series, beginning with the M-80 and M-100, established a line of on-ear and over-ear headphones used by DJs and audiophiles. The company's Italian design heritage, with studios in Milan and Venice, and its later acquisition by Roland in 2019, underscore its integration into the broader professional audio ecosystem. V-MODA maintains a global presence with offices in Hollywood, Milan, London, and Hong Kong, and assembles custom products in Los Angeles with factories in Japan and Shenzhen, China. Its sales channels span multiple countries across Europe, Asia, and North America, reflecting its international reach in the mobile audio market.
Did You Know?
- The company became the first high-fidelity fashion headphone manufacturer in 2006, with 33,000 units in 11 colors.
- V-MODA was fully acquired by Roland Corporation in 2019.
More in Headphones and Audio Gear, Part 2 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced