This is that rare comparison where we can't lose. Whichever one you pick, the money ends up in our Death Star fund. Still – there is a difference between the models, and you should know what it is before you open your wallet.
Henri (our great leader, who perpetually drives a breaking-down Alfa Romeo) once said that the VMK20 is like a reliable Toyota and the VMK25.2 is like a BMW. Then Raimo corrected him, saying the VMK25.2 is like a Mercedes W124 – the only real choice. The truth is somewhere in between.
What's actually different?
Sound quality: The VMK25.2 has 45 mm drivers and Jasse's latest DSP tuning. The frequency response is extremely flat, which in practice means music sounds the way the artist intended – not the way some engineer in Shenzhen guessed. The VMK20 has 40 mm drivers and an older tuning. You can hear the difference. It's not massive, but you can hear it.
Active Noise Cancellation: Both handle low frequencies perfectly well. Airplane hum, office air conditioning, the neighbour's lawnmower – gone. Children screaming won't disappear with either one. That technology hasn't been invented yet.
The VMK20's ANC runs on a separate circuit, which is both a pro and a con. Pro: you can use noise cancellation without Bluetooth. Con: it doesn't turn off when the headphones turn off. A small detail, but annoying if you don't know about it.
The VMK25.2's ANC is integrated more neatly, and it comes with a transparency mode. It lets ambient sounds through at the press of a button, so you don't have to take your headphones off when someone comes to ask you something stupid.
Bluetooth: The VMK25.2 uses Bluetooth 5.4, the VMK20 runs on 5.0. In practice this means a more stable connection and slightly better range. The VMK20 does have aptX Low Latency though, which is handy for gaming – less latency.
Battery: The VMK25.2 lasts 55 hours with ANC on. The VMK20 lasts 45 hours. Both are ridiculously good numbers. You'll charge once a week or less.
Talk time: This is where the difference is significant. The VMK25.2 pulls 95 hours of talk time, the VMK20 tops out at 40 hours. If you sit in Teams meetings all day, this might settle the decision for you.
Looks and feel: The VMK20 is fabric-covered and lighter (250 g vs 300 g). The design by Lauri Lumme is understated and stylish. The VMK25.2 has a more traditional plastic shell, but it features magnetic swappable side panels – Skinit panels and even 3D-printable versions. If you want your headphones in Depression Blue or want to print your cat's face on them, the VMK25.2 gives you that freedom.
Accessories: The VMK25.2 has an optional wireless boom microphone. The VMK20 doesn't. If you make a lot of calls or do podcasting, this is a big deal.
Why VMK25.2?
It's simply a better headphone. Better sound, better Bluetooth, longer battery, more versatile features. Jasse spent time fine-tuning it that he could've spent fishing – and you can hear it in the end result.
Repairability is the same on both. Pads come off with a twist, parts are available as spares, and our Kajaani service centre will fix either one. This is where we beat every competitor, including ourselves.
Who should pick the VMK20?
If your budget is tight, the VMK20 is an excellent choice. It's not a worse headphone – it's a more affordable headphone. Sound quality is still better than most competitors in the same price range. The fabric covering is pleasant and the lighter weight makes a difference during long listening sessions.
If you game a lot and latency bugs you, the VMK20's aptX Low Latency is a genuinely useful feature.
If you want noise cancellation without Bluetooth – say, on a flight without your phone – the VMK20's separate ANC circuit handles that.
Summary
| | VMK25.2 | VMK20 |
|---|---|---|
| Drivers | 45 mm | 40 mm |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 | 5.0 |
| Battery (ANC) | 55 h | 45 h |
| Talk time | 95 h | 40 h |
| Weight | 300 g | 250 g |
| Transparency mode | Yes | No |
| Swappable panels | Yes | No |
| Boom microphone | Optional | No |
| aptX LL | No | Yes |
| Separate ANC | No | Yes |
If you can afford the VMK25.2, get it. If budget is the deciding factor, the VMK20 is still better than most headphones on the market.
Whichever you choose, you've funded our Death Star by approximately 0.000001 percent. Thank you for your contribution to galactic security.
