Best DJ Headphones For All Budgets
7 of the top cans for all DJs from Sennheiser, Numark, Sony, V-Moda and more.
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Best Headphones For DJs · Source: imageBROKER.com GmbH & Co. KG / Alamy Stock Foto/Audio Technica
Attention DJs! It’s time to update your headphones with one of these. From beginner spinner to chief party rocker, there’s something here for you.
Best DJ Headphones
Every DJ needs a good pair of headphones. Whether you’re constantly in the mix, occasionally cueing or just need to plug them into the mic jack to tell the people in front to stop bumping your table, headphones are indispensable for a DJ. You may not always play on your own decks but headphones? They’re personal.
The best DJ headphones are a different breed from studio or consumer-grade ones. They’re loud enough to be heard in the booth, they’ll give you the frequency response that you need to ensure a solid mix and they sit comfortably, whether you’re wearing them on your head or over just one ear.
Here are my picks for the best DJ headphones available now – and for every budget.
Numark HF175
Everyone has to start somewhere. There’s no shame in being a newbie or even a hobbyist DJ. If you need a set of cans to test the water or just to mess around on the weekend, look no further than Numark’s HF175.
An upgrade to the classic HF125, the HF175 offers improved bass response down to 15Hz, with a punchy sound that is sure to cut through in a noisy club. And, with highs up to 22kHz, you’ll hear those hats in all their crispy glory. Some may be turned off by the red accents but I find that the price more than makes up for it.
Best DJ headphones for: Beginners, budget-conscious DJs.
Sony MDR-7506
Before DJing became the industry that it is today, jocks had to make do with what was available. The go-to headphones for old-school DJs were Sony’s MDR-7506 – and they still hold their own remarkably well.
Designed for studio use and favoured by musicians when tracking, the Sony MDR-7506 have a remarkably neutral sound for the price. Note that they’re not bass-heavy but this can be a good thing, as it will give you a more accurate depiction of what the punters are hearing. With a frequency response of 10Hz to 20kHz, they make solid studio cans too. They’re also extremely comfortable.
Best DJ headphones for: DJs who are also producers, old-school vinyl purists.
Sennheiser HD 25
Few headphones scream “classic” like the Sennheiser HD 25. Used and loved by DJs the world over, these purpose-built DJ cans are like strapping two speakers to the side of your head. You think I’m joking but these have a maximum SPL of 120dB. You may eventually go deaf but you’ll never complain of not being able to hear the cue.
The Sennheiser HD 25 offers more than just sheer brute force. With a range of 16Hz to 22kHz, your frequencies are covered from bottom to top. Comfortable on the head, they even have a rotatable right cup for single-ear use. David Guetta reportedly loves them.
Best DJ headphones for: Anyone serious about DJing.
Audio Technica ATH-M50X
Another highly rated set of cans is Audio Technica’s ATH-M50X. Sleek and black, with a padded strap and dual swivelling cups, they’re designed to look and feel good on the head of a working DJ.
They also sound incredible. Well-balanced with enough of a bump in the bass to let you know what’s going on, their 15Hz to 28kHz range won’t let you down. And with an SPL of 99dB, they have plenty of power too.
Although I wouldn’t recommend non-studio headphones for use in the lab, many users report that they record and mix with Audio Technica ATH-M50X and with no ear fatigue either.
Best DJ headphones for: Working DJs with discerning ears.
Technics EAH-DJ1200
I’ve been focussing a lot on frequency response and sound pressure levels in this roundup and while important, they’re not everything when it comes to headphones. Comfort is another, as is cup size. Before buying any headphones, it’s a good idea to try them out to see not only how they sound but how they feel on your head and ears.
Case in point: Technics’ EAH-DJ1200 headphones are very highly rated, with a ridiculous frequency response of 5Hz to 30kHz. They also have Technics’ 270-degree swivel mechanism, making them perfect for single-ear monitoring. However, the cups are on the small side, and this could result in issues of comfort and sound leakage for some users.
Best DJ headphones for: DJs who prefer headphones with a smaller cup size.
AIAIAI TMA-2 DJ
Danish manufacturer AIAIAI is a relative newcomer to the DJ headphone world but since 2006 it has been releasing forward-thinking and well-received products. Its TMA-2 DJ is, as the name suggests, designed specifically for DJs and features modular construction: should any part fail, you can get a replacement (or even swap it out for something different).
AIAIAI TMA-2 DJ boasts a serviceable 20Hz to 20kHz frequency response and an impressive SPL of 117dB. While the sound itself is polarizing for some users, AIAIAI tuned it for the clubs, and can count Richie Hawtin, Charlotte De Witte and Bonobo as fans. They’re at the pricey end of the spectrum but they have a lot to recommend them. Give them a listen and see if they light your fire.
Best DJ headphones for: Techno and electronic music DJs.
V-Moda Crossfade 3
Let’s face it: headphone cords are a pain. Even when long and removable, they still get twisted around limbs (yours or on punters rushing the booth who think they’re on Boiler Room). Thankfully V-Moda is here to save the day with its Crossfade 3 Bluetooth headphones.
V-Moda is another company like AIAIAI that has a good reputation with top-flight DJs. Good-looking (love those removable ear cup shields), they also sound good, and the Crossfade 3 is no exception. Rated at 5Hz to 40kHz (when wired), they sound excellent for wireless cans. They also have the SPL power to pump out sound at 107dB. And, with 30 hours of charge, they’ll make it through even an all-night DJ set. Just don’t forget to top off the power before heading out the door.
They are on the pricey side but if you can afford them (and long for a life without cables), give them a try.
Best DJ headphones for: DJs who hate wires and/or are style-conscious.
More Information
- Numark’s home page
- Sony’s home page
- Sennheiser’s home page
- Audio Technica’s home page
- Technics’ home page
- AIAIAI’s home page
- V-Moda’s home page
- All about headphones
- All about DJing
- Numark HF175: Numark
- Sony MDR-7506: Sony
- Sennheiser HD 25: Sennheiser
- Audio Technica ATH-M50X: Audio Technica
- Technics EAH-DJ1200: Technics
- AIAIAI TMA-2 DJ: AIAIAI
- V-Moda Crossfade 3: V-Moda
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