Much has been said about DJ equipment—from the best turntables on the market to the essential DJ equipment. But what about the best headphones?
Headphones are crucial in both mixing in the studio and playing live gigs. They allow you to hear the music properly amid the noise of the crowd and discern the highs, lows, and mid-range tones in the sounds you’re playing. Thus, even with the best DJ equipment available, your choice of headphones can still make or break your set.
This list provides you some of the best DJ headphones that can help you produce and mix music in the best way possible.
What are the Best DJ Headphones?
Sennheiser HD25 Plus,
The Sennheiser HD25 Plus is specifically designed for comfort thanks to its sturdy, padded headband and cushioned ear cups. Known as the “Industry Standard” for DJ headphones due to its optimal design, durable construction, and superlative overall performance, the HD25 Plus is used by professional DJs around the world and is considered one of the most lightweight yet durable options for mixing, mastering, and live gigs.
Its closed-back design enables it to isolate music and block out noise in loud environments, plus it allows for one-ear listening, making it perfect for monitoring during live gigs.
Key Features:
- Closed-Back, Supra-Aural Design
- Rotating Ear Cups
- Frequency Range of 16 To 22,000 Hz
- Padded Headband and Cushioned Ear Cups
- 10-feet Straight and Coiled Cables
- ¼ Inch Adapter
- Ear Cushions and Protective Pouch Included
Sennheiser HD8 DJ,
Built to withstand long hours of live gigging and studio mixing, the Sennheiser HD8 DJ is crafted with sturdy metal parts to endure constant use. The soft, circumaural leatherette ear cushions and padded headband are made to maximize comfort and eliminate outside noise in any environment. It also has metallic pivots that enable the cups to be rotated up to 210 degrees, making it easy to do one-ear monitoring during live performances.
The HD8 DJ takes after the HD25 with its sound reproduction capabilities using the sound proprietary acoustic system of Sennheiser.
Key Features:
- Closed-Back, Circumaural Design
- 210° Swiveling Ear Cups with Three Wearing Positions
- Frequency Range of 8 to 30,000 Hz
- Premium Metal-Crafted Reinforcement Parts
- 9.8 Inch Straight and 4.9 to 9.8 Inch Coiled Cables
- Two Kevlar-Coated Cables (9.8-inch Straight and 4.9 to 9.8-inch Coiled)
- 1/4-inch Adapter
- Interchangeable Ear Pads (Velour or Leatherette)
- Protective Case Included
RCF Iconica Supra-Aural Headphone,
The RCF Iconica Supra-Aural headphones may not be as well-known compared to other headphones on this list, but its affordable price, solid build, and stellar performance make it a great choice for beginners on a budget. It is built to deliver supreme accuracy in frequency response, particularly in the bass tones.
The foldable design makes it highly compact and easy to travel with, while the headband is adjustable to enable it to fit various head sizes. Its ear cups are also cushioned with soft leather for optimal comfort during extended use.
Key Features:
- Closed-back, Supra-Aural Design
- Adjustable Headband with Rotatable Main Joints
- Frequency Range of 20 to 20,000 Hz
- Dual Left-Right Connector and Dual Plug
- 1.5m Cables with Integrated Mic and Volume Control and Extensible Spiral
- ⅛ to ¼-inch Jack Adapter
- Soft Leather Ear Cushions
- Hook and Zipper Carrying Case
Audio-Technica ATH-M50x,
Arguably the most popular among the M-Series line, the ATH-M50x is a favorite among audio engineers and other professionals in the industry thanks to its great sound quality and comfort. Its circumaural design makes the ear cups seal tightly for optimum sound isolation, enabling users to maximize focus in mixing and playing in loud spaces. The padded headband and professional-grade ear pads also make them perfect for long sessions in the studio or during live gigs.
The Audio-Techinca ATH-M50x is equipped with 45mm large aperture drivers, rare earth magnets, and copper-clad aluminum wire coils to provide maximum clarity throughout an extended frequency range, along with a highly accurate bass response.
Key Features:
- Closed-back, Circumaural Design
- Contoured Earcups with 90° Swiveling Capability
- Frequency Range of 15 to 28,000 Hz
- 45mm Neodymium Drivers
- Copper-Clad Voice Coils and Rare Earth Magnets
- Detachable Cables (3.9 to 9.8-feet Coiled, 9.8-feet and 3.9-feet Straight)
- ¼-inch Screw Adapter
- Collapsible Design
- Carrying Pouch Included
Sony MDR-7506,
Great for home studio and outdoor use, the Sony MDR-7506 is a light but sturdy pair of headphones that’s built for even the most rugged situations. It has a closed-ear design that offers comfortable wear while effectively eliminating noise interference or “headphone bleed” during critical audio applications.
The Sony MDR-7506 also features 40mm drivers that allow it to deliver superior sound reproduction with deeper bass tones, reduced distortion, and a greater dynamic range.
Key Features:
- Closed-Back, Circumaural Design
- Ear Cups with Swiveling Capability
- Frequency Range of 10 to 20,000 Hz
- 40mm Neodymium Drivers
- 9.8-feet OFC Cord
- ¼-inch and ⅛-inch Gold-Plated Stereo Unimatch Plug
- Compact and Foldable
- Soft Case Included
Sennheiser HD 600,
Sennheiser is considered one of the best brands for headphones, and it’s not hard to see why. The exceptional build and amazing sound quality that people have come to expect from the brand is evident in the robust and lightweight HD 600. These headphones deliver crisp and clear audio due to its advanced “Duofol” two-layer diaphragm design, which is able to cancel out standing waves and ensure little to no distortion. Additionally, its powerful Neodymium-ferrous magnet system is perfectly optimized to control diaphragm motion for deeper, well-defined lows.
In addition to its highly accurate sound reproduction, the HD 600 also delivers long-lasting comfort thanks to its thickly padded headband and ear cups.
Key Features:
- Open-Back, Circumaural Design
- High-Quality Open Metal Mesh Earpiece Covers
- Frequency Range of 12 to 39,000 Hz
- Neodymium-Ferrous Magnet Systems
- Advanced Duofol Diaphragm Design
- 10-feet Detachable Kevlar-Reinforced OFC Copper Cable
- ¼ to ⅛-inch TRS Phono Adapter and ⅛ Stereo Mini-Jack
- Ergonomic BioNetic Design
Samson Professional SR950,
The Samson Professional SR950 be the cheapest headphone option on the list, but it can certainly give you great bang for your buck. The closed-ear design delivers superior noise reduction and sound isolation, while the 50mm drivers give you wider dynamic range and stellar sound reproduction. These headphones are specifically built for the studio, but they would definitely come in handy for live performances as well. Its ultra-precise monitoring performance gives DJs and sound engineers the clear audio they need for mixing and mastering.
Comfortable velour ear cups offer maximum comfort, while a self-adjusting headband allows for a snug fit regardless of head size.
Key Features:
- Closed-Back, Circumaural design
- Velour Ear Cups and Self-Adjusting Headband
- Frequency Range of 10 to 25,000 Hz
- 50mm Drivers
- Neodymium Magnet System
- 8.25-inch Cable
- ¼-inch to ⅛-inch Gold Plated Adapters
Things to Consider When Buying DJ Headphones
Comfort
Whether you’re playing a live set or recording in the studio, the headphones need to be comfortable to wear. The headband fit should be adjustable, with padded ear pads to make it easy on the ears, neck, and head. Try to choose headphones that have ear pads that can be replaced, as this is a always a plus.
Sound
20 to 20,000 Hz is said to be the standard audible frequency range for headphones. But for live performances, what’s important is that you can hear the music despite loud sounds from the surrounding environment. A wider range of sound frequency can help you hear tone, timbre, and texture, but the most important factor for DJs is to hear the bass, snare, and hi-hats when mixing.
Aside from the frequency range, make sure to look for headphones with drivers that are 40mm or larger for louder, more enhanced lows.
Build
Badly designed headphones can break in just one night. Quality headphones should be able to withstand constant adjustment such as pivoting, rotating, jerking, and the like. Pay attention to the strength and quality of the materials used for both the headphones and cables, as this not only dictates its durability, but its comfort levels and overall performance as well.
Though not really a necessity, a foldable design is perfect for traveling DJs since they’re designed to be portable.
Price
Turntables, laptops, and mixers are already pricey, so budget is always an important factor in completing your rig. Though most DJ headphones are understandably expensive, not all of them are. Keep some of the headphones mentioned above in mind and review the specs carefully to see which pair can serve your music efficiently at a price within your reach.
