Professional DJs, who spend hours exposed to dangerous levels of full-blasted speaker volumes in clubs and rave parties, require specially made headphones that shelter their ears from the unhealthy loudness and help them concentrate on their work.
Their headphones should also have some features that can help them perform better and make their jobs easier. Here we have created a list of the things to look for when choosing a pair of headphones for DJing, and we have also posted some of the best DJ headphones you can find online.
Things to consider – Shopping for DJ Headphones:
- Closed-back design: One of the most essential features of DJ headphones is a closed-back design that provides sufficient insulation to keep outside noises away from your ears. For this, you need a pair of headphones that fit snuggly on ears without leaving gaps and some sound isolation features for filtering out the noisy surroundings. The Sony MDR 7506 and the Sennheiser HD 300 Pro, are both great options in this regard as they come with large ear pads for shutting out the loudness and they provide good sound isolation.
- Large drivers: When you are out in clubs and big parties surrounded by loud music, you need your headphones to be on the louder side to able to hear them clearly without having to press them up against your ears. Drivers bigger than 40 mm will provide sufficient loudness to counter your surroundings and help you focus on your soundtrack easily.
- Swiveling ear cups: Swivelling ear cups are a very useful feature especially if you have large ear cups. It is hard to let them rest down on your neck if you have large ear cups as they reduce your neck mobility. Swiveling earcups let you hang your headphones flat on your chest and also makes single-ear monitoring easier. If you DJ using single-ear a lot, then It makes sense to invest in headphones with this feature.
- Single-side connection: Some headphones come with double-sided wires that run down from both ear cups. This can be a hassle to work with as it constricts your mobility and may affect your performance. They may also be of poorer quality as thinner cables that are prone to breakage are generally found on such headphones. All the products on our list come with a single-side connection.
- Coiled wires: Headphone wires usually come in two types – Straight and Coiled. The coiled ones are considered standard for DJing as they provide longer length and better mobility while performing and they do not get tangled as easily. Most of the DJ headphones listed here comes from coiled wires only.
- Versatile use: If you are looking for headphones with superior sound reproduction quality and for doing some studio work, then both the Sennheiser Products – The HD 300 Pro and the HD 25 plus are great options. The Sony MDR 7506 is also a good option with superior sound quality and dynamic range.
- Warranty: When you are trying to purchase headphones online, always go through their warranty policy. Good warranty certificates that last 1-2 years or more indicates good build quality and reliability.
Best DJ Headphones Online available online:
1. Sennheiser HD 25 Plus Monitor DJ Headphones
Sennheiser needs no introduction in the headphones department as they are a global leader with many record best-selling products that are loved and lauded by both music producers and audiophiles alike.
Their ‘HD 25 Plus’ is often considered as the “Industry Standard” for DJ headphones and is renowned for providing top-quality audio with durability and comfort.
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2. Sony MDR7506 Professional Large Diaphragm Headphone
Sony is also a top player in the headphones industry, renowned for its superior sound quality and durable build.
The MDR7506 is equipped with neodymium magnets and large 40mm drivers for delivering a powerful, high quality, and detailed sound output. They provide good sound isolation and are suitable for studio use as well.
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3. Audio Technica - ATH-M50XWH
Audio Technica is a popular Japanese brand that designs and manufactures a collection of professional audio equipment. The ATH M50x is very versatile and is apt for mixing, tracking, DJing, and personal listening.
It comes with a unique design that contours around your ears for providing excellent sound isolation in loud environments. They come in 5 color variants that include – Black, Blue, Gun Metal, White, and Purple/Black.
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4. OneOdio Pro-10 - DJ Stereo Headsets
OneOdia is a Hong Kong-based headphones manufacturer whose ideal focus has been delivering DJ quality sound through their affordable and innovative product designs.
The Pro-10 headphones feature a closed-back design that provides ample noise isolation to protect your ears from loud sounds and capable of producing high-volume sounds.
They are very affordable and recommended for beginners.
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5.OneOdio Studio Pro 30 headphones
The Studio Pro 30 from OneOdio is a more premium variant than the previous Pro 10 and comes with attractive protein leather cushions and a sleek metal design.
Their closed-back design is capable of providing good quality noise isolation amidst the loud club environment and they come with a simple travel-friendly drawstring pouch as well.
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6. Numark HF125 Professional DJ Headphones
These headphones from Numark are the most affordable ones on this list and perfect for new upcoming and practicing DJs.
Despite its low price, they feature the large 40mm Mylar speaker drivers that are quite rare in this price range so they still provide quality bass and detailed sound.
They also provide 7 different independently adjustable position settings on the ear cups that will cater to any mixing preference and allows for single-ear monitoring as well.
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7. PIONEER HDJ-X5-K Professional DJ Headphone
The Pioneer brand is also very popular in the headphones market and the HDJ X is considered as standard DJing headphones among the DJ community.
They are known for providing high-quality audio with distortion-free monitoring even at high volumes.
They can be used wireless with its Bluetooth connectivity option as well.
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8. Pioneer HDJ-CUE1 DJ headphones
These headphones from Pioneer are more of an entry-level model than the previous HDJ-X. They come with 40mm dome-type driver units that produce decent quality sounds with sufficient bass, kick drums, and low sound distortion.
They provide the ‘HC-CP08 accessory pack’ (sold separately) that can be used to customize your headphones with a variety of cables and ear pads.
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9. Audio-Technica ATH-M20X
The ATH M20x is a slightly more basic and affordable version of the ATH M50x, with smaller drivers and a heavier build.
They are specially tuned for enhanced low-frequency performance so they can be used for studio tracking and mixing.
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10. Sennheiser Pro Audio HD 300 Pro
The Sennheiser HD 300 pro is great for reproducing every detail and staying precise when it comes to both fine subtleties and maximum sound pressure levels.
They are made with a newly developed acoustic system that enables neutral and delicate sound reproduction.
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Final Take
DJing is both a profession and an art that requires regular practice and creativity to foster growth.
A good DJ should be in complete control of his mix and be pinpoint with his timing and accuracy while performing.
Investing in a good pair of headphones will help them nail the beat timings and accurately sense the required action. A good pair of headphones will have some additional features that can help the DJ perform better and make his job easier.
All the Headphones we have listed here are some of the favorites of professional DJs and they come with some additional features that may be helpful for you during your work.
Please go through the general shopping guide for helping you make a more insightful decision for choosing the right pair for you and ensure the warranty policies before you make the purchase.
Cheers!