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DJs and headphones go together like the acapella and the instrumental track of your latest mash up. Sure, some DJ headphones spend a fair amount of time hanging around your neck. However, as a DJ, you know to hear your tracks, good DJ headphones are a must.
But good isn’t good enough for a DJ, is it? You want the best DJ headphones.
What makes them the best headphones for DJing? A few things, per Digital DJ Tips:
- They can be used on only one ear when you need the other ear free to hear the incoming track.
- They are comfortable on your neck, without chafing or rubbing.
- They have a coiled cable that doesn’t get in your way but gives you some wandering room when you need it.
- They have “colored” sound, meaning you can hear good definition between the elements of the track.
- They go to eleven (for those of you that don’t get that dated reference, that means they are loud).
- They are durable so they can put up with the abuse you, and the people around your set up, are going to dish out to them.
- They fold up well for storing.
Top DJing headphones will do all of this and more. So, without further ado and not in any particular order, let’s take a closer look at the best DJ Headphones thus far in 2019:
Over-Ear Headphone Picks:
- V-MODA M-100: The Crossfade M-100 by V-MODA has numerous features that make them excellent over-ear DJing headphones. The 50mm dual-diaphragm drivers deliver excellent definition, keeping the bass from bleeding into the mids and the highs. They also have excellent ergonomics in the headband and ear foam cushions. Also, they have durable and lightweight metal components, especially when compared to other headphones in this price range. CNET said, “No other headphone can touch the M-100’s combination of features, build quality, and sound for the money.”
- Sennheiser HD 25 II: DJs know the Sennheiser HD 25 as a lightweight, comfortable, and well-constructed over-ear headphone that has a capsule that rotates and provides an excellent one-ear listening functionality. However, they also can handle high sound pressure levels, meaning when it’s loud where you are, they perform well. Some experts describe these as the “industry standard” for DJs, but sound professionals like these headphones, too, because they are ideal for monitoring. They have high sensitivity, also, which Sennheiser attributes to their lightweight aluminum voice coils.
- Pioneer HDJ-X10: These DJ headphones are designed to deliver professional-level monitoring due to their high-resolution sound (ranging from 5 Hz to 40 kHz) with left and right channel separation and a bass reflex chamber in the upper housing. Like the M-100s, they have a 50mm driver. These headphones also have Nano coating on both the headband and over-ear ear pads, making it easy to clean while helping resist deterioration. Also, they have strong enough construction to clear the U.S. Military Standard “shock test.”
In-Ear Headphone picks:
- Shure SE 425 Sound Isolating™ Earphones: The most significant feature of the SE 425 is their dual high-definition drivers, meaning they have a dedicated tweeter and woofer, which delivers accurate sound. Also, as in-ear headphones, they have an over-the-ear design that helps them stay in place and feel comfortable while keeping the cables out of the way. The Sound Isolating feature can cancel up to 37 decibels of environmental noise, too so you can hear what is coming through the feed. Whathifi.com rated them the Best in-ears for 2018 between £100-£200 ($132 to $265) and called them “the finest in-ears we’ve ever heard at this price.”
- Westone UM Pro 20 Dual-Driver Universal-Fit In-Ear Musicians’ Monitors: Westone introduced these universal-fit, balanced framework in-ear headphones two decades ago, but they are still among the top 10 DJing headphones out there. They were designed for musicians as an in-ear monitor and deliver detailed highs and lows through the dual balanced armature driver design. They are ergonomically designed to be worn for hours at a time and have ear tips in five sizes to ensure a comfortable fit. They also can cancel out an average of 25 decibels of outside noise, which makes them an excellent pick for loud venues.
If you haven’t tried them, in-ears would be a good option for you to test. Once I went that way, I never looked back to regular over-ear headphones. They are not only great DJing headphones, but they also serve as earplugs. Also, you need less volume overall, and they have a longer ear life.
There you have it. Five of the best DJ headphones on the market for 2019. Remember good DJ headphones are okay, but you want the best DJ headphones. I am confident with any of these five, you are using one of the top DJing headphones.
Sources:
Morse, Phil. “7 Surprising Features of Good DJ Headphones.” www.digitaldjtips.com. Web. 19 March 2019. < https://www.digitaldjtips.com/2012/01/choosing-dj-headphones/>.
“Shure SE425 review.” www.whathifi.com. 19 March 2019. Web. <https://www.whathifi.com/shure/se425/review>.
