The Best DJ Headphones
As a DJ, you can invest endlessly in upgrades to your equipment and your music collection, but aside from the music, you only need one essential thing for the audience to take you seriously: a legitimate pair of headphones. Sure, we all have at least one pair of earbuds lying around, but those won't cut it on stage. You'll need over-the-ear headphones in order to hear the next song clearly while the current one is blaring from the loudspeakers. Of course, looking the part is just as important. We've rounded up the best options to meet the needs of any DJ.
OneOdio DJ Stereo Headset
All-around sound
On stage, you want headphones with a long, coiled cord that lets you move around the stage, and they should ideally fit into a 1/4″ jack on the mixer. Offstage, you’ll need a much shorter cord with a 3.5 mm plug for a smartphone or other device. OneOdio provides two detachable cords, which allows these headphones to be used in both capacities. Powerful neodymium drivers offer a strong bass response due to their large 50mm size. Thanks to the ample padding, these cans are very comfortable to wear, and the foldable design is helpful when it’s time to pack up.
Pros:
- 9.8-foot coiled cord allows for movement onstage, and 3-foot cord with an inline microphone is useful on the go
- Large 50 mm drivers reproduce bass frequencies especially well
- Thick ear pads for comfort and noise isolation
Cons:
- Longer cable will not work with mixers that only have a 3.5 mm headphone jack
- At 10.6 ounces, they could feel heavy on the head
Sennheiser HD 25 Professional DJ Headphones
Feel the beat, not your headphones
Never underestimate the importance of comfort. After all, DJing is all about feeling the energy of the crowd and being in the moment, so anything that gets between you and that state is an obstruction. It’s hard to focus if you’re preoccupied with a heavy or awkward pair of headphones on your head all evening. The Sennheiser HD 25 headphones weigh only five ounces, and you can make some minor adjustments to optimize the weight distribution. Even though these cans are small, they’re still capable of generating high volume levels when necessary.
Pros:
- Lightweight at only five ounces (not including cord)
- Adjustable headband distributes weight evenly
- Powerful enough for usage in loud environments despite the small size
Cons:
- Each ear cup can be angled forward or backward, but they do not fold up or swivel to the side
- Would require an adapter to use with a 1/4″ jack
Pioneer DJ HDJ-CUE1 Headphones
Go DJ, go DJ
As a top name in the DJ space, Pioneer incorporates extensive real-world experience into designing and manufacturing their products. The HDJ-CUE1 headphones fold into a compact shape for portability, and they’re built to endure heavy use. The detachable cord can be wrapped up separately to avoid tangles and kinks, too. When it comes to sound quality, they’re specifically tuned to meet the demands of professional DJs.
Pros:
- Foldable design and detachable cord for maximum portability
- Durable enough for regular use
- Sound profile is designed specifically for DJs
Cons:
- Although the ear pads are designed to fit over the ears, the openings are small, and some users may find them to be uncomfortable
- Would require an adapter to use with a 1/4″ jack
Sony MDR-7506 DJ Headphones
Cans that can
Although they may not be the most visually stylish, these headphones have earned their place in sound booths and mixer bags around the world. The large ear cups fully surround the ears to block out external sound. The coiled cable can stretch nearly ten feet, and the plug can fit either a 3.5 mm or 1/4″ jack with the included adapter. Most importantly, they are ruggedly constructed, and they should last for many years. These headphones are a perfect match for any DJ who’s more concerned with dependability than visual appearance.
Pros:
- Coiled cable stays tidy and can reach up to 9.8 feet
- Included adapter allows for use with 3.5 mm or 1/4″ jack
- Solid construction
Cons:
- Cord is not detachable
Sony MDR-ZX110NC Noise-Cancelling Headphones
Bring on the noise
Although all DJ headphones are designed to physically isolate sound, ANC (active noise canceling) may be a valuable addition. Because it only filters out consistent low frequencies, it may not noticeably diminish sound from the loudspeakers or a particularly boisterous audience member. On the other hand, it could help tune out the murmur of the crowd, and it will come in very handy if you find yourself performing at an outdoor festival with a generator behind you.
Pros:
- Active noise-canceling lasts for up to 80 hours on a single AAA battery
- Unlike many wireless noise-canceling headphones, this wired design allows for DJ use
- Lightweight design (just over five ounces)
Cons:
- Cord is under 4 feet long
- Would require an adapter to use with a 1/4″ jack
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Bluetooth headphones to DJ?
Bluetooth is not useful for DJs because of its inherent latency. It takes time for a wireless transmitter and receiver to encode and decode the audio signal. In order to precisely match the timing of transitions and tempos, a DJ needs to hear songs in real-time. For this reason, DJ headphones must be hardwired.
What is impedance, and what does it mean for headphones?
Impedance is somewhat similar to electrical resistance, and both are measured in Ohms (Ω). Headphones are rated according to the design of their electrical components. Understanding the full implications will require extensive knowledge of electrical engineering and acoustics, but there are a couple of points for shoppers to keep in mind. First, matching headphones to the output impedance of the audio source will help to preserve audio quality, so we suggest you check your mixer’s manual for the output rating. Second, higher-impedance headphones consume more power, so this is worth keeping in mind if you plan to use your headphones with an MP3 player or another battery-powered device.