Product description

VMK25.2 – Because inflation is a choice and we had a screw-up to fix

Can you improve on excellent? At Valco, we say yes. The VMK25 was a hit, but we had an embarrassing workplace accident: the cheaper VMK15 turned out to be technically a bit too advanced. Order had to be restored.

We overhauled the internals completely. The price stayed the same, because we concluded in the autumn that inflation is more of a state of mind than a law of nature. We didn't touch the looks, because new injection moulds cost a fortune. The money we saved went into components.

New on the inside, old on the outside

The VMK25.2 runs on the new Qualcomm Snapdragon S3 chipset. Better sound quality, more stable and versatile Bluetooth, more efficient power management. The battery lasts up to 55 hours on a single charge, so you'll forget what a charging cable looks like. USB-C tops it back up fast, and the thick memory foam cushions keep your ears happy even while you sleep.

ANC, transparency mode, and a zero-blinking-LED policy

Active noise cancellation shuts the world out so effectively you can listen to your own inner silence. Transparency mode is in there for the people who asked, even though we still don't understand why. We don't believe in flashing disco LEDs, so the indicator lights are tucked away inside the cups.

The magnetic covers are sticking around

Our swappable covers attach with magnets. Switch the colour to match your mood, your vibe, or your need to annoy the neighbours.

PS. You can trade in your old Valcos for a discount. Read more here.

More info
What
Wireless noise cancelling headphones with microphone
Bluetooth
5.4 AAC, SBC, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless, aptX Lite and LC3
BT chipset
Qualcomm Snapdragon S3 (QCC30XX), freshly tuned by Jassen
Noise cancelling
Active hybrid ANC
App
Compatible with the upcoming Valco app (which, to be honest, is of no real use)
Wireless
Wireless or not, the headphones also work with the included 3.5mm AUX cable
Drivers
45 mm drivers, 32 Ohm
Weight
approx. 300 grams
Battery
1050 mAh
Charging time
2-3h, USB-C charging port
Playtime
Up to 55 hours with ANC on
Talk time on handsfree
Up to 95 hours on a single charge
Amplifier
Class AB
Microphones
CVC8, optional boom mic available
Other
Extremely flat frequency response from 20-20000Hz and very low distortion figures
Includes
The box contains all the cables and bits and pieces you'll need
Watch the product video
Load video:

55-hour battery life

55 hours is long enough to fly from Helsinki to Hong Kong, change planes, fly to Australia, hang out with dingos with the headphones on, fly back, and still have battery left for the train home. The battery lasts almost as long as one Chinese factory worker's shift. If you get stranded in the wilderness with your Valcos, you'll die of thirst before your headphones run out of juice. We haven't tested this, but we think it's likely.

Don't take our word for it. Take theirs.

We could tell you how great we are, but that would be a bit suspicious. So we'll let our customers do the talking instead. Reviews are real. Not every product has enough reviews yet, but the ones that do show up first. Photos are taken by customers themselves, and unfortunately it shows.

The best noise cancelling headphones you can afford!

The best noise cancelling headphones you can afford!

Sound tuned by an actual genius

Jasse "Jazmanaut" Kesti, who has spent decades mastering records, has tuned the 45 mm drivers to play music exactly the way it was meant to sound in the studio. If the source material is any good, the VMK25.2 reveals nuances you never knew existed, right down to the bass player's garlic breath. The detail is at a level that makes the competition embarrassed to exist.

A future app, whenever it's done

One Christian is building the Valco app on the side of his day job, paid in beer. The app is not required to use the headphones, because we're not idiots. When it's eventually done, you'll be able to tweak the EQ and listen to soothing sounds like "Helsinki Market Square seagulls" and "Daycare kids on a sugar high".

Throwaway culture is bullshit

We don't make trash. If you manage to sit on your headphones, Hannes and Toni up in Kajaani will still fix them years from now for a nominal fee. You're buying a partnership, not hazardous waste.

Finnish applied art

The exterior design is the work of Lauri Lumme. There's enough adjustment to fit the CEO's oversized head, and normal ones too. If your head is unusually small or you're roughly child-sized, try the VMK15.

Magnetic covers and supporting creative lunacy

The covers swap as easily as a politician changes sides. We share the 3D files for free, so you can print your own, completely unique pair. Beautiful handmade wooden covers are available from Raccoon Nest Industries, or in a more Viking flavour from Puustikki.

For businesses

The cure for your corporate-gift headache: headphones with covers branded with your company logo. The perfect, tax-deductible bribe for employees or clients.

Print your own swappable covers here.

  • Free shipping on everything
  • 30-day returns
  • 2-year warranty
  • Repair service
  • Finnish company
  • Secure payment
  • Actual customer service
Load video: Jasse Kesti esittelee aktiivista vastamelua

What on earth is a noise cancelling headphone?

In the video below, Jasse "Jazmanaut" Kesti spells out what's actually going on when we talk about noise cancellation.

Note! The video tests the older VMK25 headphones, which have slightly weaker noise cancellation than the new VMK25.2 model.

What do these actually cost?

The price isn't what you pay at the checkout. It's what you pay over the years.

How long will you use them?

Valco

VMK25.2 Noise Cancelling Headphones

50 €/year

199 € + 1× pad swaps + service

Total 303 €

Fix them, don't bin them.

Competitor

Big-name brand

93 €/year

279 € × 2

Total 558 €

They break, you buy new ones, repeat.

You save 255 € — 6 over the years.
The competitor's headphones ended up in the bin. We just fix ours when something breaks.

Rough estimate. Assumes the headphones last the whole period when you swap the earpads and fix any faults.

tuotteet_ilman_painolastia - VALCO

Great products without the dead weight*

Did you know that almost all the electronics inside headphones come from a handful of giants?

Everything else is just smoke and sales talk.

A small maker like Valco can use the exact same top-tier components as the famous mega-corporations stick in their pricier models.

We just don't have a thousand employees to feed, a Manhattan skyscraper to pay for, or a CEO with a private jet (yet).

Which is why we can give you the best bang-for-buck on the market.

And what happens after you've bought? Our customer service and Valco's in-house repair team make sure our products last. And if you fancy a change, you can trade your old Valcos back in to us. Try doing that anywhere else.

At the end of the day, the point of all this is simple. We sell headphones to fund our own Death Star, so we can rule the galaxy.

*except for the founders' beer guts

FAQ

More answers to all sorts of questions over here.

Is there a built-in microphone?

Yes. The VMK25.2 has a built-in hands-free mic for calls and meetings. If you're talking in a noisy environment, we recommend a wired or wireless mic accessory.

What's the difference between the VMK25.2 and the VMK25?

The VMK25.2 has the newer Qualcomm Snapdragon S3 chipset, Bluetooth 5.4, better codecs (aptX Lossless, LC3) and 55 hours of battery life with ANC on. The VMK25 had BT 5.1 and a 50h battery. The design is the same.

Are these any good for gaming?

Bluetooth headphones aren't ideal for gaming because of latency. But grab a wired mic accessory and you get a lag-free connection plus a great pair of gaming headphones. These do support a low-latency mode, so with the right dongle, gaming works fine too.

Is there a warranty?

Two-year full warranty. And even after that, we'll repair your headphones at a reasonable price at our own service centre in Kajaani, Finland. Try getting that anywhere else.

Can I swap the covers?

Yes! The VMK25.2 covers are magnetic and pop off. A new colour snaps on in a second, no tools needed.

Something on your mind?

Don't hesitate to get in touch!