by The first time you ever use AIAIAI modular headphones, you need to start by opening six separate bags. Inside each bag is a different component that you have to connect to the others, before plugging them in or turning on the Bluetooth. But this unconventional assembly process, which takes about five minutes, is a minor inconvenience for a potentially seismic shift in the way we approach electronics and sustainability.
Danish audio firm AIAIAI – nicknamed ‘I, I, I’ – designed its latest TMA-2 Studio Wireless+ headphones to be completely modular, separating the headband, speaker units, ear cushions, wireless transmitter, and cables. Therefore each of these components can be replaced if they break, if they are upgraded to a newer or better part, or if they are assembled in a different configuration for different uses.
“Our goal was not to create the flavor of the month, but something that would be relevant for many years to come,” says AIAIAI founder Frederik Jørgensen The Independent.
“Modularity provides a much more efficient way to replace and upgrade a product and create less waste during the product’s lifetime. This is important in all industries, but even more so in technology where technology often evolves rapidly resulting in short product life cycles. This calls for much more responsive and intelligently designed products.”
This is not the first attempt at modularity for consumer electronics. Google introduced the concept to smartphones with its Project Ara, but the effort failed before reaching customers.
Dutch firm Fairphone has made a more successful effort with its modular phones that allow users to swap out everything from the battery to the camera component. The company has also launched its own detachable over-ear headphones, but reviewers have complained of poor sound quality compared to their £200 premium price.
What makes AIAIAI’s similar headphones different is that they’re made by a company whose main focus has been on sound for nearly two decades. These are designed specifically for music creators, meaning there are no shortcuts when it comes to sound quality.
The sound is truly exceptional. I’m not an audiophile, but I’ve tried or reviewed most off-the-shelf brands – from Bose to Beats – and it’s on par with the best of them. In terms of comfort, only the Bose-like pillow felt better in my head, and wearing them for six hours in a row didn’t leave marks or discomfort.
People who understand things like frequency response and total harmonic distortion are also sure of their credentials. Used by the likes of Bonobo and Annie Mac, one expert audio critic described them as “excellent and exactly what you’d expect from a premium pair of headphones”.
It’s no wonder then that the first thing you see when you visit the company’s website is a bold statement that the AIAIAI is “committed to empowering the future of music creation”. But the latest headphones represent not only the future of music, but the future of consumer electronics.
“Sustainability is the future of electronics,” says Philipp Pratt, innovation expert at Geonode The Independent. It cites a growing trend “towards a future where electronics are innovative, efficient and kind to our planet”.
Pratt points to the 54 million tons of electronic waste generated by the electronic industry each year, according to a 2023 report published by the World Economic Forum. A separate United Nations report last month found that the world’s generation of e-waste is rising five times faster than e-waste recycling. The problem will only get worse if different solutions are not implemented.
“Simply put: Business as usual cannot continue,” said Krees Baldé, lead author of the UN report, who called for “more investment in infrastructure development, more promotion of repair and reuse, capacity building , and measures to stop illegal e. – waste shipments”.
One of these ways is for manufacturers to rethink how they produce their products. AIAIAI uses recycled plastics for its headphones, while also donating to the right repair movement. It provides detailed instructions on its website on how to fix any individual part that may break. And if repairing them yourself is not an option, each individual part can be ordered as a replacement.
For those whose headphones have become obsolete, there is also a trade-in incentive scheme called Remixed, which means that AIAIAI fits all three principles of sustainability: Reduce, reuse, recycle.
They may be one of the first, having introduced recycled materials and repairs more than a decade ago, but the trend seems to be catching on.
“Until recently we were one of a small number of companies that focused on sustainability. Now, it is very encouraging to see more companies in our industry adopting sustainable materials and practices,” Tom Fletcher, AIAIAI Product Manager tells The Independent.
Founder Frederik Jørgensen says: “More companies are also starting to use recycled materials, we can see more manufacturers offering this, which is great for the industry as a whole. That’s very motivating for us, that we can be part of pushing some boundaries and creating an impact on the industry.”
For some, the main attraction of these headphones will be the promise of a lag-free wireless connection via an external transmitter, allowing them to play live music or edit videos without the significant lag that comes with a connection Bluetooth.
For others, the main selling point may be the amazing battery life. I have been using them daily for a month using Bluetooth and they are still at 80 percent. Still others may be attracted by the minimalist, matte black aesthetic that suits their utilitarian design.
But more than a great pair of headphones, they are quietly offering a model of how electronics can be produced sustainably and successfully.
“It’s very motivating and exciting for us as a smaller company to be able to raise awareness of the urgency of improvements and support others to learn how to do this,” says Jørgensen.
“We all need to keep improving – it’s an ongoing process where even small steps are important.”
