How To Choose A Great Pair Of Headphones For DJing

Choosing a great pair of headphones for DJing will help you build a better mix by letting you hear the mix in a better quality sound and by cutting out interruptions from all the sounds around you.

Using a small pair of headphones you get from Ipods are definitely not what you’ll want to DJ with. In fact, most headphones you’re able to buy at the local stores aren’t all that great.

For DJs, headphones need to be very robust, provide great quality sound and need to be very comfortable, this is why there are headphones made specifically for DJing.

In this post, we’ll look at some of the things you should consider when buying a pair of DJ headphones without burning a hole in your pocket.

A quick overview

DJ headphones are very similar in design to most headphones but they do exhibit a few different features:

  • Much more durable
  • Higher end audio
  • Flexible design
  • Comfortability

These features can generally be found in high end audiophile headphones but you would never want to use these for DJing because of the costs and damage you can cause to them from the extreme amounts of sound you’re pumping through ‘em.

So, let’s take a look at some of these features in depth.

Durability

Durability



Durability, in relation to DJ headphones, doesn’t simply mean how much you could toss them around and step on them, it also means how durable the components of the headphones and connections used with them.

These additional components, such as the headphone speakers and the headphone chord, need to be very durable because you will find yourself pushing your headphones to extreme sound levels.

When you are pumping massive bass through your headphones, keeping them at such a high level during your mix, will eventually start to destroy the speakers. DJ headphones are designed in a way which allows them to take these high levels of audio for an extended period of time without damaging the components.

The headphone chords on DJ headphones are generally much thicker than generic headphones, usually 1/4′ cabling. If you were to run a standard 1/8′ speaker chord to your mixer, one sharp turn could slap your wire.

Finally, the actual structural durability is also very important. From all the traveling you may be doing, you’ll want a pair of headphones which can take the abuse of being tossed around in your DJ bag or getting dropped in a dark room.

High-End Audio

High Quality Audio

Many people listen to music through very cheap sound systems because it’s all they can find at retailers. The loudness war has been going for quite some time; the music industry continues to push the loudness of music, destroying its dynamic range.

Because so many headphones on the market are very cheap and the combination of horrid mixing from music labels, they don’t give you a correct representation of the music. These cheap headphones do not offer the same low and high end as many DJ headphones.

DJ headphones should have a large dynamic range (at least 20hz – 20khz) which will allow you to listen to the deep frequencies of bass and the high sounds of snares and other high pitched instruments.

When headphones have this dynamic range you can hear the music how it actually sounds so you can monitor it correctly to build your mix.

Flexibility

Flexibility



One of the main aspects of DJ headphones which most normal headphones lack is flexibility.

You’ve seen it done by every DJ, half of the headphone on, half of it off. The reason why DJs go half and half is so they can listen to the mixing in one ear while monitoring the mix as it sounds over the system.

Good DJ headphones should be flexible so you can bend them around your head without snapping.

Comfortability

Comfortability

When you are mixing for hours on end, you’ll definitely begin to curse yourself for purchasing a cheap pair of headphones.

Comfortable headphones are a must for DJs.

Comfortable headphones should sit on your ears without placing too much pressure to cause discomfort.

DJ headphones are generally closed ear headphones so they wrap completely around your ears. This form will be very comfortable while wearing but will also allow you to block out a lot of sound so you can concentrate on your mixing.

Bonus: Get what sounds right

With all of the above suggestions aside, you should get DJ headphones which fit your personal style and expectations.

You could purchase $300 headphones that have amazing dynamic range but if you have ear damage, it kind of makes that extra money you’ve invested a bit pointless.

Don’t necessarily aim for the cheapest pair but don’t spend an arm and a leg for a pair that is going to break the bank. Visit shops which allow you to wear a pair before hand to get a feel of how you like them before purchasing them.

Hopefully this post has helped you in deciding which type of DJ headphones to pick up. These 4 suggestions will help you save some extra cash so you don’t waste money on sub par headphones. Headphones should feel like an extension of your body, nothing is quite like being wrapped up in your own world while listening to music.

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  • when i first started djing i got me a pair of the sony which do sound nice but the build on them are really crappy ive gone through several of the cans including my friends, i dont i dont know of anyone whose pair hasnt broken.

    i got a pair of sennheiser 280pro for xmas, but when i cranked up the volume on the cue volume the bass would crack really bad, and i returned and the second pair had the same problem. but since the online store i got them at could only do exchanges i took a chance on some Ultrasones.....

    and man i love em, i got the pro 550 which are the equivalent of the dj 1 pros, just that they are blue and say PRO instead of DJ. they are awesome because they come in really nice hardcase, detachable cables and extra ear pads for speedy switch. they sound really nice, they are a bit hevy and clunky but i dont mind them
  • Muxxex
    They sound like a really great pair.

    The extras that came with it warrant the purchase alone, sucks when you step on your chord and it wrenches the headphones on your head.

    The warranty on headphones is something everyone should check out. You don't want to buy a pair that may have been damaged during production or ones that break after a few weeks. Definitely grab that warranty and make sure you use it, even if it takes a bit of time to get new ones back - save some money!
  • Sennheiser HD 25 C mark 2 all the way for me , been through loads of different makes and models over the years , Sony,Pioneer,Technics all the top of the range DJ models as well , most didn't stand up to the rigorous demand of the DJ or like the Technics , (in my opinion) too heavy for long usage periods, these HD 25's have the head adjust at the top and side , lightweight feel, like your not wearing phones sometimes , punchy bass and clear treble , light fit easy in a DJ record bag, they are a bit on the expensive side , but if you have the money , it's money well spent :)
  • Muxxex
    Nice! They sound like a great pair and the ability to adjust all the sides sound like they'd be really comfortable to wear. I wish a lot more headphone manufacturers would take a note in that type of design.

    The weight is definitely important because you have to factor in the chord as well and when you're bobbing back and forth, just the little bit extra weight will get to you.

    Thanks for the comment!
  • I'm a big fan of the Sennheiser HD202's they're pretty solid, decent sound and won't break the bank (about $50). Perfect for performing with, as if you break them you won't be so let down :P
  • Muxxex
    Nice!

    I really love Sennheiser headphones. I picked up a pair of HD555's a while back and it completely changed up how I listened to music, no lie.

    The only problem is I got a little carried away one night and hooked them up to a phono preamp, cranked it all the way up and now they crack a lot when there's bass :(

    A befitting end to my old favorites.

    How's the overall comfort on the HD202's?
  • The HD202's are pretty comfy, though they're built to be pretty solid at the same time, if you're sitting around at home listening to music, then the HD201's (that my dad bought) are a bit better as they have more "fluff" to make it like you've got a small pillow on either side of your head :P
    The 202's got a little annoying after gaming with them for 12 hours straight right after I bought them, but I seemed to have gotten used to them, as I can wear them non stop now with no issues :)

    Ducky
  • Muxxex
    Excellent!

    I love how, when gaming, you just deal with certain things over time. My keyboard broke once, keys popped off and spacebar barely worked but I kept it for a good 2 years still playing with it.

    The cushions are such a nice addition. A lot of Grados have some really great padding, you can wear them all day and it'll feel like they're not even on.

    If only the less expensive headphones would be able to flex a bit more around the head; they tend to push down on your ears really hard when you're breaking them in. Just like how there are adjustable sides, there should be an adjustable bar across the top.

    Thanks for the comment :)
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