Looking for the best DJ headphones is a tough task.
There are a lot of brands and options around touting a lot of different features but not everything is suited for the DJing environment. And there’s a lot of hype around various brands too (*ahem* beats…).
A good pair of headphones is essential gear for the working or hobbyist DJ. If you can’t actually hear what you’re doing before you play it live you can’t make good decisions. And that could spell disaster on the stage when you’re trying to rock a crowd of hundreds (or thousands).
Here are our top picks on the best DJ headphones for 2016. Choose wisely.
Audio Technica ATH-M50X
Audio Technica is a big player in the pro audio market and their headphones are great for DJs. They’re in the medium price ranger but still pack a big punch in value.
They feature super tight bass and excellent balanced sound which makes it easy to hear your mixes clearly.
The “M” stands for “monitor” making these studio-grade headphones. So they’re especially ideal if you’re at home practicing your DJ sets or just messing around.
As far as design and build the headphones are pretty durable and sport cushiony ear cups. Wearing them for extended periods shouldn’t be an issue.
They come in black, white and blue and also sport a detachable cord. The ear cups also swivel on two axes so you can easily preview your mixes live.
All in all, these are a great pair of headphones to use but they are not specifically designed for DJ use. That being said, they’ll still stand up in certain DJ environments and the sound quality is pretty dope, making them a good buy for any DJ.
Here’s the run down:
Price: $169
- Critically acclaimed sonic performance
- 45 mm large-aperture drivers
- Rare earth magnets and copper-clad aluminum wire voice coils
- Good bass response
- Good sound isolation in loud environments
- 90° swiveling ear cups for and detachable cable
- 15hz – 28,000hz Frequency Response
- 99db Sensitivity, 38 ohm Impedance
Read Our Entire Audio Technica ATH-M50X Review
Sennheiser HD25-1 II
Sennheiser is a well-known brand name in the professional and consumer headphone industries. They make quality products and their fans big them up to the end. And the HD25s are a great choice for any DJ who values the quality of their sound, but doesn’t want to be weighed down by too much weight.
Some high quality headphones can get heavy after hours of use/wear. And DJing while you’re uncomfortable is never a good feeling – it can take the fun out of it.
The Sennheiser HD25-1 II is the light-weight option, coming in at less than 5 ounces (yeah, that’s not a typo), for the DJ who doesn’t want to compromise too much on audio quality. The headphones also feature flexible ear cups so you don’t have to take them off to preview your mixes in one ear.
The robust design and ability to withstand high sound pressure make them great in really noisy environments (like a club or festival stage). The lightweight aluminum voice coils give the headphones a high sensitivity. These babies only come in black, though.
If weight is important to you, these are definitely the best option in terms of balancing quality and comfort for the working DJ.
Here’s the rundown:
Price: $149.95
- Extremely Lightweight (less than 5 ounces without cable)
- Comfortable for extended use
- Tough, detachable cable
- Rotatable ear cups for single ear monitoring
- Less than 0.3% harmonic distortion
- 16hz – 22,000hz Frequency Response
- 70 ohm Impedance, 120db Sensitivity
Read Our Full Sennheiser HD25 DJ Headphones Review
Pioneer Pro DJ HDJ-2000MK2-K
Now these are some great headphones. And they are a pretty big step forward from the lower model 1500s and even the first generation HDJ2000s. Not only are they light weight with excellent sound quality, but they also do a great job with noise cancellation.
There is said to be added audio quality, noise cancellation properties and comfort from the earlier models of these headphones. There are also replacement parts available if your rougher gigs do some damage to these.
The reason for the increased noise cancellation is the low-volume air chambers housed within each ear cup. They provide maximum insulation while blocking out noise from the outside – especially mid to low frequencies (you don’t want that thumping bass to muddy up your mix preview).
The lightweight bindings reduce pressure on your head and the ear cups kind of feels like leather, but with memory foam cushioning – which is super comfortable. The ear cups also rotate, making them ideal for DJs. In fact, as the name suggests, these headphones were made for the DJ, but are even great in the studio.
Here’s the rundown:
Price: $426.99
- Excellent noise cancelling properties
- Comfortable for extended use
- Rotating ear cups w/ detachable cord
- 50mm dome type drivers
- 298g weight (without cord)
- 5hz – 30,000hz Frequency Response
- 107db Sensitivity, 32 ohm Impedance
Read our Full Pioneer HDJ2000-MK2 K DJ Headphones Review
Allen & Heath Xone XD2-53
Allen & Heath are a brand that have a very dedicated following. A lot of DJs love their gear. And the company is very well known for always maintaining a high standard of quality in all of their products. These particular headphones are a bit more bulky than other models, but they have a rugged design that lasts.
The sound quality and durability of Allen & Heath is very present in these headphones and they are great for a variety of DJ applications. You get really clear mids and highs with a very good bass response as well. The ear cups are very durable and comfortable and actually swivel a full 90 degrees.
The headphones come with a carrying bag and detachable cable, but the bag is pretty flimsy considering the headphones themselves are so large and chunky. They do provide excellent sound isolation, though, thanks to the cirumaural design and 53mm drivers. They are designed to excel in high noise environments like DJ booths.
They also fold up so you can carry them easily, but like we mentioned earlier the carrying case is nothing to get overly excited about. The biggest thing these headphones have going for them is the mixture of touring-grade durability, high quality output and excellent noise cancellation.
Here’s the rundown:
Price: $151
- Closed back dynamic headphones
- 53mm driver
- 36 ohm Impedence
- 5hz – 33,000hz Frequency Response
- High powered neodymium magnets
- Metal reinforced headband
Read our Full Allen & Heath Xone XD53 Headphones Review
Numark Red Wave
Numark is another well-known DJ industry brand that has some really great products. And though these aren’t the top-of-the-line ones we’ve been talking about so far, they’re excellent entry level pro headphones. They’re a favorite of DJs because of the quality and affordable price tag – coming in at under $100.
The Red Waves feature foldable large ear cups, and the sound quality is pretty decent for the price range. The large ear cups and design make them pretty good at isolating the sound and cancelling out other noise too. But be careful because at higher volumes you can start to hear a little bit of distortion.
All in all, these are a great pair of headphones for the new or hobbyist DJ. If you’re just starting out, these are probably one of your best choices. Not to mention the fact that the red design makes them look fly as hell too.
Because they come from Numark, these headphones have been specifically designed with DJs in mind. All the features you’d expect – swivel ear cups, breathable protein leather, closed cup design – are here, making them a good choice for any DJ.
Here’s the rundown:
Price: $59.95
- 50mm driver with closed back headphone design
- Designed by DJs
- Detachable headphone cable and swivel ear cups
- 96 db Sensitivity, 24 ohm Impedance
- 15hz – 20,000 hz Frequency Response
- Breathable protein leather padding
Read our Full Numark Red Wave DJ Headphones Review
KRK KNS 8400
Now KRK is not known in the DJ world necessarily, but they are very well known in the pro audio and music production realms. They make a whole host of pro audio gear, and they’ve recently stepped into the headphones market. And believe us – we’re impressed.
We use the KNS 8400s in the studio for music production, but they can also be great for DJing. They are not designed for DJs, but the audio quality is spectacular and the comfort is great too. KRK makes a great range of studio monitors and these headphones are very similar in audio quality.
They do isolate the sound pretty well, but aren’t designed with noise cancellation in mind. They also swivel on an axis and come with a pretty durable carrying case. They sport a black ear cup with yellow accents (similar to their monitors) making them stylish like the Numark Red Wave with a sound quality that is leaps and bounds beyond them.
If audio quality and hearing everything crystal-clear in you mix is a big priority then these headphones will serve you well. They are also not super chunky and bulky, so if you’re into the slimmer designed headphones, the KNS 8400s are your best bet.
Here’s the rundown:
Price:
- Closed back circumaural design
- Leatherette w/ acoustic memory foam on ear cups
- 40mm driver w/ neodymium magnets
- 36 ohm Impedance, 97db Sensitivity
- 5hz – 23,000 hz Frequency Response
- In-cord volume control w/ detachable cord
- Impact-resistance plastic finish
Which of the Best DJ Headphones is Right for You?
What you end up purchasing and what the right choice is for you largely depends on your personal preferences. Do you want something comfortable and light weight? Is noise cancellation and sound isolation most important to you or is audio quality and clarity more important?
You’ll also want to consider where you’ll be using your headphones the most. That will really impact the decision you make. If you’re playing in overly loud venues all of the time, noise cancellation is the biggest priority. If you do a lot of remixing and on-the-spot music production in your mixes, maybe hearing every detail of your sounds is of extreme importance.
Either way, consider your usage and choose the best dj headphones for your particular situation. Hope this article was helpful in determining which headphones are right for you. If you did find it helpful, share it with some friends on Facebook or Twitter. We’d really appreciate it!