Contrary to what you see in ads, there’s more to headphones than which rapper or DJ has signed off on endorsing them. Particularly for the rigorous demands of DJs, headphones have to deliver amazingly clear sound quality, high sound pressure levels, extreme durability, road-worthiness, ideally provide a little bit of unique panache. We pitted five models against each other from the likes of Beats By Dre, Pioneer, Sennheiser, V-Moda, and Wicked Audio to see which cans deserve your cash. Read on for the goods.
THE CONTENDERS
(listed below as pictured above – from left to right)
Sennheiser HD 25-1 II / $249.95 (MSRP), $199-249 (retail price range)
Ships with: 1/4-inch screw-on plug adapter, 1 pair of soft ear pads, nylon carrying pouch.
Weight: 4.9 ounces (140 g) (not including the cable)
Learn more here
Beats By Dre Mixr / $249 (MSRP), $249 (retail price)
Ships with: 1/4-inch gold plated snap-on plug adapter, cleaning cloth, a detachable 1/8-inch audio cable with an Apple-compatible remote/mic, a second detachable 1/8-inch audio cable with an extended-range coil, and a zippered soft-shell carrying case.
Weight: 7.4 ounces (210 g) (not including the cable)
Learn more here
V-Moda Crossfade LP2 / $230 (MSRP), $199 (Retail Price)
Ships with: gunmetal shield kit, screwdriver, “Exoskeleton” case, carabiner, detachable 3-button remote/mic cable, detachable extended cable,
1/4-inch plug adapter, cleaning cloth.
Weight: 9.2 ounces (260 g) (not including the cable)
Learn more here
Pioneer HDJ-2000 / $450 (MSRP), $229-349 (retail price range)
Ships with: 1/4-inch gold plated, screw-on plug adapter, cloth carrying pouch.
Weight: 10.2 ounces (290 g) (not including the cable)
Learn more here
We tested the metallic black Pioneer HDJ-2000-K, which except for the color, is the same as the silver HDJ-2000 and white HDJ-2000-W. We refer to all three models generically as the HDJ-2000
Wicked Audio Solus / $99 (MSRP), $59-99 (retail price range – this is this review’s “budget” headphone)
Ships with: 6-foot audio extension cable with 1/8-inch jacks, 1/4-inch gold-plated plug adapter, fabric carrying pouch.
Weight: 15 ounces (425 g) (including the hard wired cable)
Learn more here
Here’s how today’s review works: We’ll take a look at how each model performs in sound quality, build quality, fit/comfort, portability, and value – and choose a winner for each category. We’ll also give some overall assessments, but remember that with headphones, it can be a subjective opinion as to which is truly is the “best”.
SOUND QUALITY
Probably the most important criterium, the headphone sound includes the quality of its bass response, frequency separation, stereo image, loudness, overall sound quality, and also its sound isolating ability (how well the headphones keep out external noise).
We tested each pair of headphones with a playlist of popular tracks from the ’80s, ’90s, and 2000’s across multiple DJ-friendly genres. For each headphone set, the signal path and volume level from audio file to software to soundcard was identical.
Bass response: big and rumbly, similar to the Pioneer.
Frequency separation: defined; clear separation between all mids and highs.
Stereo image: wide, on par with V-Moda.
Loudness: very close to Pioneer and Wicked.
Overall: similar to the Pioneer, but a little less harsh.
Sound isolation: nowhere near as good as advertised. On-the-ear cup design let more external sound in.
Bass response: deep and smooth. Doesn’t muddy up the other frequencies.
Frequency separation: all frequency ranges are clearly defined, the high frequencies are not too sharp and piercing.
Stereo image: appropriately wide and well-defined.
Loudness: the loudest of the bunch.
Overall: a “transparent” sound, meaning it doesn’t seem to color music in any particular way; it just has an excellent overall mix.
Sound isolation: decent, but in the middle of the pack for this round-up.
Bass response: full and round. Not too hyped or rumbly. Really quite good.
Frequency separation: a little muted in the highs
Stereo image: nice and wide.
Loudness: lower than the rest.
Overall: smooth and warm, not raw and in your face. The most pleasing and balanced overall sound.
Sound isolation: The best by a small amount. Good fit over the ears.
Pioneer HDJ-2000
Bass response: deep, but not hyped. A little rumbly.
Frequency separation: much better than the Wicked set. Bright highs and defined mids.
Stereo image: not overly wide, but adequate.
Loudness: about the same as Wicked and Sennheiser.
Overall: a little raw, but definitely better than the Solus.
Sound isolation: 3rd after the Solus.
Bass response: big bass- it sounds overly hyped. Clearly a priority for these.
Frequency separation: muddy between the mids and highs. Not as bright and crisp in the high-end, which may be preferred when listening at loud levels.
Stereo image: nice and wide.
Loudness: about same or a little louder than Pioneer.
Overall: a rather muddy mix.
Sound isolation: somewhere just behind the V-Moda.
Sound Quality Winner: Beats By Dre Mixr
Sound Quality Runner-up: V-Moda Crossfade LP2
Really, sound evaluation comes down to personal preference and personal needs. Just listening to music in general felt the best through the LP2 and Mixr headphones. Songs sounded as expected, and the overall smoothness of the sound contributed to prolonged listens without ear fatigue. I’d prefer to mix an original track through the LP2s, but with its louder relative signal, I gave the Mixrs the nod for DJing. If, however, what you want for DJing is a raw, gritty, loud but still accurate sound, it’d be a tie between the HDJ-2000 and HD 25-1 ii. The Solus cans sounded overly hyped in the bass and overly muddy everywhere else.
I tested the sound isolation of the headphones while DJing and while playing drums with a live band. I felt that the LP2s did the best job of actually dampening external noise when there was no audio signal coming through the phones. It was a close call, but the enveloping fit of the LP2’s ear cups did the best at isolating external noise.
BUILD QUALITY
For this category, we’re looking at how strong the models are for bending the headband, pulling the ear cups in and out to adjust the size, any twisting of the ear cups, a strong and replaceable cable, and the robustness of the different materials used.
Sennheiser HD 25-1 II
Different from the rotating swivel of the Pioneer and Wicked Audio headsets, the ear cup of the HD 25-1 II moves backward or forward almost 90 degrees in each direction, for almost 180 degrees of total movement. That being said, this rotation is somewhat stiffer and more cumbersome than the other cups.
The cable of the HD 25-1 II detaches by unscrewing two small Philips-head screws and pulling cables out of the ear cups. It is a non-standard cable that sells for $46 on Sennheiser’s site, but one of the nice things about these Sennheiser cans is that every part of the model is completely user-replaceable, so instead of buying a whole new set of headphones, you can just buy the new part and be back in order!
The lightweight, flexible and easily repairable construction makes it one of the strongest candidates for resiliency over time.
Beats By Dre Mixr
The on-ear cups utilize a single hinge made of a strong metal alloy to offer both rotation and length adjustment. Each cup can rotate back 90 degrees and then forward 180 degrees in order to fold up into a compact ball for carting around in the included zippered case.
Guetta wanted some lightweight headphones, and he got ’em. The Mixr weighs only 7.4 ounces, second lightest after the Sennheisers. Although physically small and light, they’re tough where it counts and should handle the physical tolls of your travels.
V-Moda Crossfade LP2
The LP2 also feels sturdy all around. Besides the steel frame, there are aircraft-grade metal cup shields, which you can replace and customize with different colors and laser logo engravings. The headband and ear cups are lined with leather with memory foam underneath.
The LP2’s detachable cables are standard 1/8-inch connectors — easily replaceable. The included cables are reportedly Kevlar-reinforced and seem ready for battle. With their impressive build quality, these V-Modas should give the HDJ-2000 a run for their money in durability.
Pioneer HDJ-2000
The HDJ-2000 weighs just more than 10 ounces: not too heavy, and yet its moving joints are made of a magnesium alloy that makes them extremely solid. The ear cups rotate 90 degrees to one side for conveniently monitoring your cue mix, and with its metal hinges, and extremely flexible, yet solid headband, you can confidently twist and bend the HDJ-2000s with abandon as you perform.
Rather than an 1/8-inch mini jack, the detachable cord attaches to the headphones with a locking Mini XLR connection. It securely locks in with a button-press release, and the other end is an 1/8-inch audio plug with threads for the screw-in 1/4-inch plug adapter. The cable measures 1.2 meters coiled, and 3 meters when extended fully. This non-standard detachable cable sells for $27-43 online.
Wicked Audio Solus
The ear cups swivel in either direction for 90 degrees, giving them 180 degrees of total mobility. That’s a welcome perk, but the plastic hinges don’t ready for the true rigors of the DJ lifestyle. In fact, while folding them up for storage, one of the screws holding together the two plastic halves of one of the ear cup hinges fell out, and a plastic panel broke off. Later, the 1/4-inch plug adapter fell apart when simply taking it out of the carrying bag! Given that this occurred after only about a few of hours of use (and not abuse), it’d be tough to recommend these to a working DJ, unless maybe as an inexpensive back-up pair.
The round ear cups and headband are generously padded and wrapped in a silicone type of pleather. The Solus’ audio cable is hard-wired to the right ear cup and includes an in-line volume control and mono/stereo switch, both potentially useful features.
Build Quality Winner: Pioneer HDJ-2000
Build Quality Runners-up: V-Moda Crossfade LP2, and Beats By Dre Mixr
With the LP2’s sturdy construction and crazy headband flexibility, and the Mixr’s innovative lightweight design, they come in at a close second-place tie behind the HDJ-2000. Ultimately though, the HDJ-2000’s build strikes me as the Parthenon of DJ headphone construction. The classic swivelling and collapsible cups combined with supreme durability stand the test of time. The locking, detachable cable with threaded connection for a screw-on 1/4-inch adapter seal the deal. The HD 25-1 ii’s unique construction breaks some ground and comes in as the lightest set, but it’s somewhat awkward to manipulate. And, well, two parts of the Solus broke in no time flat, so what else needs to be said?
FIT + COMFORT
Some DJs wear their headphones more than others, but whether you have them on for most of your sets or just check them in one ear every once in a while, a good set of headphones ideally should maintain a tolerable level of comfort on your ears and head after a few hours of mixing or monitoring music. You may or may not use your DJing cans as your phones for making original tracks, as well, but it’s nice to have that option.
Key factors in this category include size adjustability, comfort of the ear cups, and comfort of the headband.
These headphones are very light and put almost no pressure on your head from the headband. On the downside, the on-the-ear cups pinch a fair amount, causing discomfort from about as fast as the larger headphones that affected the head more. After about an hour on the HD 25-1 ii, my ears needed a break.
There’s a really long adjustable range of more than 2 inches to pull out the ear cups, but you also have to be careful that you don’t pull the ear cup entirely off the main unit, which can happen.
Beats By Dre Mixr
The Mixr’s fit in a similar manner to the Sennheiser pair: they put almost no pressure on your head from the headband. Instead, the on-the-ear cups hold them to your melon, and the resulting pinch took a toll on my ears within an hour. They weren’t intolerable until almost two hours, but if I were the type of DJ who wears headphones throughout an entire set, I’d try a different set or look into some in-ear monitors.
There’s plenty of adjustable length range for the ear cups to pull out, again using the cleverly designed single hinge that also allows the cups to rotate widely.
V-Moda Crossfade LP2
V-Moda touts its hexagonal ear-cup shape that comes from four years of R&D, and this time, the marketing claims ring true. I found the LP2s to be the most comfortable fit of all 5 headsets. The hexagonal ear-cups indeed fit very comfortably without pinching much at all, and the light pressure on the head was diffused from the light padding distributed across the entire headband. All headphones will eventually get on your nerves, but I was able to wear the LP2s the longest before feeling annoyed to the point of needing a rest.
For adjusting the length of the headband, the V-Modas had the shortest throw for pulling out the cups at just over 1 inch. However, the headband itself is also a little longer than the others, so I don’t see this as a problem.
These are not the most comfortable headphones I’ve ever worn, but they’re up there as far as DJ-specific headphones are concerned. The round, over-the-ear cups have a soft leather outer lining, and squishy urethane pads on the inside. The top of the headband also sports a leather and urethane pad for your dome. The headphones sit pretty well, with their weight and pinching pressure distributed evenly. Some discomfort appears after about an hour of constant use, but it doesn’t become intolerable until after about three hours.
Of course, not all noggins were created equal. Each side of the HDJ-2000s pulls out about 1.25 inches to adjust for head size, enough to accommodate a larger cranium.
Wicked Audio Solus
Although it has similarly round, over-the-ear cups, the Solus ended up being quite a bit more uncomfortable after an hour than the HDJ-2000s, seemingly due to the ear cup foam not having as much give, and the headphones pinching the head more.
The Solus has a little more than 1.5 inches of pull-out for each side, so it’s enough for just about any case, until Sasquatch decides to learn beat-matching.
Fit + Comfort Winner: V-Moda Crossfade LP2
Fit + Comfort Runners-up: Pioneer HDJ-2000 and Wicked Audio Solus
After wearing all these headphones repeatedly, the winner of best fit has to be the LP2 due to the soothing relief I felt every time when putting them on after one of the other pairs. The hexagonal over-the-ear cups won out clearly over the on-the-ear design of the HD 25-1 ii and Mixr, as well as the round, over-the-ears of the HDJ-2000 and Solus.
PORTABILITY
How well equipped are the headphones to fit into cramped bags and survive the possible smooshing of overhead compartments? Do they collapse and fold up nicely? Is there a protective case?
Sennheiser HD 25-1 II
Not only are these headphones very light at 4.9 ounces, but they are also physically smaller than average due in part to the smaller on-the-ear cups rather than over-the-ear cups. They don’t fold in or collapse to shrink in storage size; you just push the ear cups in and stash them in the included bag. There is no hardshell case available.
The Mixr fits the bill for portability so well that when I first opened up the box and saw the grapefruit-sized case that held the Mixr inside, I thought “what kind of baby headphones are these?” That fear was quickly assuaged, though. You open the case to find a compactly folded set of lightweight headphones clearly designed for the road. Although they are quite light at 7.4 ounces, I wouldn’t sweat it if you accidentally sit on them a few times while trying to get comfortable in coach class.
V-Moda Crossfade LP2
They don’t fold up or collapse, but they come out of the box with a molded “Exoskeleton” hardshell case for excellent protection. The case includes cable organizers and a carabiner for hooking it to a DJ bag. At 9.2 ounces without the case or cable, the LP2s weigh less than the HDJ-2000.
These cans collapse nicely into a folded-up crescent shape when you’re finished, which you can easily stuff into the included fabric carrying pouch along with the detached cable. Because the headphones’ folding parts are constructed with a strong magnesium alloy, you can fold them up and expand them again and again quickly without worrying about damaging them.
While many sets of headphones at this price come with a hardshell carrying case, the HDJ-2000’s companion zippered hardshell Pioneer HDJ-HC01 case sells separately for $39.
Wicked Audio Solus
The Solus folds up pretty well into a crescent shape for storing in its carrying pouch, although it doesn’t collapse with the same sort of care-free ease of the HDJ-2000. No hardshell case is available as an option, so given the proven vulnerability of its plastic parts, you’ll want to avoid stuffing these into a crowded DJ bag without regard to their safety.
At 15 ounces, these are the heaviest cans in this group, but we’re talking about a difference of just a few ounces — not a huge concern.
Portability Winner: Beats By Dre Mixr
Portability Runner-up: Pioneer HDJ-2000
The Mixr was the only pair that hit the sweet spot for portability: very light, foldable, and with a custom-shaped zippered case included. The Sennheisers are the lightest, but don’t fold-up and have no hard case option. The V-Modas come with a hard case but don’t fold up to save space. The Solus folds up but has no hard case. And the HDJ-2000 collapses nicely and has a rock-solid build that you can stuff into odd spaces without too much worry.
BONUS POINTS: EXTRAS
It’s worth checking out briefly what extra features or accessories each model comes with:
Pioneer HDJ-2000 includes a1/4-inch gold plated, screw-in plug adapter and cloth carrying pouch. Only one special feature – the left ear cup has a switch for selecting a Mono or Stereo mix in the headphones.
Sennheiser HD 25-1 II has a 1/4-inch screw-on plug adapter, 1 pair of secondary soft ear pads, nylon carrying pouch. Special Features: headband can split apart from the center and widen out; this is to allow the cable to come out and possibly to help adjust it to your head. The cable terminates with a right-angle audio plug to stick out less from a mixer or controller.
Wicked Audio Solus includes a 6-foot audio extension cable with 1/8-inch jacks, 1/4-inch gold-plated plug adapter, fabric carrying pouch.The headphone cable includes an in-line volume control and a stereo/mono switch.
Winners: V-Moda Crossfade LP2 and Beats By Dre Mixr
This category is the least important, but with the LP2’s two detachable audio cables, hard case, customizable shield plates and other goodies, V-Moda has exceeded expectations. Same goes for the Mixr: you pay a bit more, you get a nice case, two detachable audio cables, and a handy snap-on 1/4-inch adapter — all of them beautifully designed.
TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS
What we have here is a very close competition between several worthy sets of headphones. All of them have their strengths and weakness, and one model might be perfect for one DJ, while not so great for another. Here are our recommendations based on their strengths:
Road Warrior
The Sennheiser HD 25-1 II has been built and tuned to withstand the rigors of stage performance and stood the test of time with DJs around the globe. This is largely due to the very light and flexible construction, with lots of flexibility and strength in key areas. This flexibility allows the HD to withstand getting crushed in DJ bags and bent around in a variety of positions on the DJ’s head. The articulating hinges make one ear’d monitoring easier by allowing the headband to rest behind the head.
Aural Indulgence
When you’re going in for a long listen while working on your own tracks or just listening for extended periods, the V-Moda Crossfade LP2 is hard to beat. It’s even-keeled, unhyped sound is the least fatiguing to the ears over time, and it’s also the most comfortable to wear at length. This may be the best double-duty headset in this group for both DJing and music production. V-Moda is supplying a high-caliber product at a reasonable price and with some fun considerations toward personal styling.
Most Impressive Overall Package
The Beats by Dre Mixr quickly proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that it’s not just hype. It’s covered just about all the bases, giving you loud and accurate sound inside a robust, lightweight, collapsable and attractive design. It’s the loudest pair in this group, yet despite that loudness, it maintains an impeccably transparent sound that lowers the boom in the bass without impinging on the overall mix. The form factor and fit may not be right for everyone, but luckily these are easy to get a hold of in a shop and try before you buy.
Living Legend
With a classic and proven form factor, legendary durability, and a strong sound with just a hint of added bass rumble, the HDJ-2000 just about has it all. The HDJ-2000’s fluid bending and flexing design set a tone for DJing headphones years ago and still holds up now.
Of course, judging headphones is highly subjective, and this is only a minuscule sampling of available headphone models for DJs. What do you think of our results? Let us know if you’d like to see us pit the champion HDJ-2000 against a fresh crop of young hopefuls, and feel free to suggest what other models, existing or upcoming, you’d like to see tested.
Read some of the past headphone reviews on DJTT:
- AIAIAI TMA-1 headphones
- Xone:XD-53 vs. Ultrasone DJ1 Pro vs. Shure SRH750DJ
- Best In-Ear Monitors Roundup
We already showed you Best DJ Headphones. Now it is high time to meet you Best DJ Headphones Under $100 Bucks 2017. Best DJ Headphones Under $100
The Sennheiser HD-25 are NOT great for DJ’ing I personally went to test them out and they sounded like shit even the guy at Guitar Center agreed maybe they are good for production def not DJ’ing. Best DJ Headphone
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If you added the v-moda M100 with XL pads you’d snag the “clarity” from the Mixr and have a winner.
DJ headphones should be the best one’s
thanks for the review. ps. bitchfest!
beats pro
i had them since they come up
nothing broken, no sound is gone
just the padding makes me thinking about it
was the best buy
I think another thing to take into account is the signal source i.e the amplifier. Are these being used with an ideal amplifier? Or are they just being plugged straight into someones phone? I own a pair of HDJ500’s, not high end by any means, but the difference in sound quality when using them on my computers headphone amp and just my phone is phenomenal! Headphones are so personal, the best thing anyone can do is try absolutely everything (yes including Beats *GASP*) in a variety of situations. This article is a good starting point for someone who is thinking about upgrading, downgrading or just swapping cans for something else. Love this site, love the work you guys do, keep it up! 🙂
Everyone has unique requirements for headphones, i think they are useful, thank you! http://bit.ly/1qiXW3b
i decided to get the white beats mixr
Technics RPDJ1210 Headphones win easy and there not even on the list
Sorry to be the dumdass here , but I got not much from this review, except they are all good,weell vippy kia aa. I got senn 280 pro for my e -drums and want something better ,if there is for under $300 that is.dame 4 out of your 5 rock , well I bet to buy them all and review at home ,
Good review, came up because both my roomate and I own two on this list, I own the Pioneers, he has the HD25s, I’ll give it to him that quality wise, the HD’s have it, but for durabilitys sake (and Im ROUGH on headphones) the Pioneers just are where its at for me. I scoffed at the beats by dre, but after hearing them, they actually are pretty decent cans. Never heard the v-Moda’s, but will have to check them out, for now, quite happy with my Pioneers.
I currently have a pair of sennheisers HD201 headphones and for the cheaper alternative they great!.And wonderful enough i busted over 20 pairs of different headphones from wicked audios to beats and Crossfades has always done it.when looking for headphones always go for durability & sound qaulity,i rate the V MODA headphones the most durable headphones on the market.My choice the V MODA trust me i busted quite a few!
You reviewed “loudness”. Retarded much?
ive ordered a pair of hd25s should i rethink??
Been reading dj tech tools for ages, but this article got me puzzled. First of all the choice of headphones is pretty weird to begin with… I’d agree with HD-25 and hdj, but the other ones? Maybe u shud also then add some skullcandy in there, maybe also Nixon headphones? And HD-650s as, just to really make it all much more puzzling.
Then, dismiss HD-25s for overrated isolation? Dude what shape is your head? I own 14 pairs of headphones (I know I need help…) and the only other ones that isolate better than HD-25s are Shure SE series, which are canal inner ears.
Then you make it sound like Beats sound good… Beats sound like a potato. Underwater.
Then you make it sound like HDJs aren’t all that comfortable. Which really now makes me wonder, MAYBE I have a weird shaped head? HDJs are amazing. They sound great too. By far the most balanced DJ headphone out there, a bit harsh in places, but not as harsh as audio technicas etc.
This article is weird dude.
It’s awesome how you have researched these dj headphones. It has many variations and the people can really decide. Really great post!
This list is great. It would really help me figure out what headphones is the best. These top dj headphones will be on my list! Thanks!
Love your post! I actually have Beats By Dre Mixr and it’s just amazing. A lot of them would claim to be the best dj headphones. I love how it fits well and how it delivers the sounds.
I really love Sennheiser HD25-1 II Headphones! I love the sound effects that these perfect audio headphones release when i put it in my ears! This is DJ headphones is perfect!
My Audio-Technica ATH-M50s blow all of these away, for a helluva lot less $!!!
I DJ with pioneer HDJ 2000s now. I owned a pair of Allen Heath XD53s prior, which I thought sounded better. Unfortunately, they busted after 4 years of heavy gigging and travel. Which is why I got the Pioneers, but I wish I would’ve stuck with the AHs.
I am a HD25 user myself for a couple of years now and I love them.
What I dont get is why a big part of your overall recommendation seems to be based on Fit+Comfort, sound isolation and design, which are highly subjective characteristics.
I for instance love the on-the-ear design of the HD25s because im wearing glasses, and most bigger headies have a tendency to press against the temple stems causing some minor headache after an hour or so. Thats not the case with the Sennheisers, maybe due to their extremely soft earpads. Same goes for the headband: The cushion is extremely soft, so there is almost no pressure on my head simply because of the headband (which you thought was one of the comfort advantages of the Beats compared to the HD25s).
The same is true for the isolation part: The soft on-ear pads are perfect for me, because – once again – the stems of the glasses cause a small hole between my skull and the pads of bigger headphones, resulting in subpar sound isolation.
And the design… well. I like the minimalistic looks of the Sennheisers just as much as I like the simple design of my Rane mixer. What i dont like on the other hand is the white plastic look of the Beats. Just saying.
IMHO the most important thing when it comes to comparing different DJ headphones is the sound quality, the built quality and the price. Everything else is depending on the shape and the size of your head, as well as on your preferred way of wearing your headies (both ears, one ear, around the neck, …) and your definition of style.
Beats by Dre are a scam, recently busted my cable and to my surprise I am unable to purchase replacement parts at this time.
I’m really shocked that nobody talks about the ultrasone DJ headphones. They are a ruggedized version of what I think are the best headphones available. Any of the ultrasone line would likely destroy all but the priciest headphones by any other manufacturer.
As a DJ who has played for 10+ years, had had everything from the sonys that broke all the time, to the tecs, , the v-modas, to a nice pair of in ears, the in ears win every time. I recently started djing with friends more, and the in ears are a pain to constantly take in/out/reseat if someone wants to talk to you. Thats the reason I picked up the V-Modas, and I am incredibly happy with them. I have big ears, and these don’t hurt my ears after an hour like almost all of the on ears do.
I’ve got a pair of LP2’s and they’re easily the best headphones I’ve ever used. They stack up against Rokkit 6″ for sound fidelity, which is something that totally blew my mind. Would definitely suggest to anyone to give them a try out if they’re in the market for news cans.
I have a couple suggestions to compare to the Pioneer’s:
– Audio Technica ATH-PRO500MK2
– Denon AH-D400
– Numark PHX USB
– Numark Red Wave
I can’t believe you guys didn’t review the Sony MDR-V700 DJ Headphones. These things are champs, less expensive than the other ones with excellent quality!
I have had the HDJ 2000’s and then finally tried the beats mixr. I hated the beats mixr and returned them. They are very uncomfortable fitting tight on your head. They are not flexible in the right ways for real world DJ’s and you can forget throwing your shoulder up the hold them to one ear. Jazzy Jeff or Skribble should have been behind the design not guetta
the one thing i notice with all these twist-able earcup headphones so djs can slip the headgear off to the side a bit is that the twist doesnt go far enough
oddly though it goes WELL into the other direction so the solution is to actually wear the headphones backwards
youll notice that PLENTY of people keep breaking the phone sides via a repeated twisting motion and it locking against itself
go ahead you PIO users and turn the cup the other way… youll see you have all the room you need
where are the Allen and Heath Xone XD2-53’s on this list???
Where are the AT’s!? Audio Technica IMO The ATH-M50’s deserve to be on here even though they’re considered studio phones. They certainly beat all of them in price and i’d go so far as to say they have better overall sound then the Mixr’s.
I have a pair of V-modas and they are by far the most comfortable things I have ever put on my head. i have big ears and they still fit all the way around them and the memory foam pads make you forget you have headphones on. It seems like musics just playing in your head not being pressed into it. Also they are by far the most durable. i dropped them 2 stories out a window when i was spraying a bee hive. They landed on pavement and only chipped one face plate. Nothing else was damaged and the sound quality remained superb!
its called ‘business’ yo,-89% of the kats talking smack have never dealt with having their own business….keep on trucking pal…we all gotta eat,and the product you are selling is actually a good one.
this is what happened when people with nothing good to say,or no business experience POST-continue to do you,and continue to sleep like a baby.im sure the negative comment guys dont even have girlfriends or their own company or skills.why hate when you could have Ean inspire you.
Ean-you are on your own path,a path that helps millions.i cant think of another ambassador that could pull this off….you are heaven sent.-seriously,you are a gentleman,and gentleman recognize their own kind.-remember your heart,and let it guide you.
j-kutt
I ordered under this article to hear the V-Moda.
The processing, the fit and the cables are a dream. The sound is extremely dull without luster and transparency it. In comparison, my Sony V-700 sounds fantastic. It is as if a curtain is drawn. He sounds much more transparent and more open. He is unfortunately not an option for me
1- I don’t like the fit of the Senheisers.
2- Beats? EFF that.
3- Technics RP-DH1200 were my favorite headphones, loved the fit of those but they broke after like a year and a half every time. I bought 4 pairs, I turned them into lollipop headphones 😉
4- I have Beyer Dynamics, they would be awesome if they were louder.
5- I’m buying some Pioneers because I’m guessing they’ll be similar to the Technics.
6 Don’t mind the trolls.
thanks for the post. it comes just in time!
to be sincere, it really doubt about V-Moda. but i searched for those on the web and everywhere says that those headphones are great.
i’ll test them…
I am very disappointed with this roundup. This is not even a very good list?
Was the pre-requiste I must buy at RadioShack or BestBuy?
For real,
Where are the Audio-Technica, AKG and BeyerDynamics, and a host of others
The venerable AT M50 is stellar
The omission of the BD-DT1350 is a sin
Where are the new and much better V-moda M100?
Why not include the stellar Koss Pro DJ100, these are awesome at the price?
Where the KRK monitors 6400 and 8400s, they are great values?
Not to mention the awesomeness of Orthodynamics/Planar Magnetics, Mr Speakers Maddogs?
For those with big money, Audeze LCD2s
This is a bad review. Maybe do some work on
http://head-fi.org
And to help here is 260+ IEMs reviewed
266 IEMs compared (Rock-It Sounds R-50 added 11/29/12)
http://www.head-fi.org/t/478568/multi-iem-review-266-iems-compared-rock-it-sounds-r-50-added-11-29-12
And a portable roundup of some 100+
http://www.head-fi.org/t/433318/shootout-107-portable-headphones-reviewed-astrotec-as-100hd-as-200hd-added-12-02-12
Peace out,
l0rdr0ck
The Audeze LCD2 are an open back headphone, so not good for DJing are as many of the top audophile headphones. But I agree this is not a good review. To say that the beats have higher build quility than HD25’s is just wrong without any proof. The Senns have proved themselves over the years. Also I would like to know what source the author had these plugged into when measuring sound quality and loudness, Its well known that loudness is dependent on a number of factors including impedance at different frequencies etc… Also there is a reason why the senns are also used as monitors by sound engineers/producers as well as by DJ’s. Overall a poor review, I cant disagree with the conclusions on style, comfort etc.. as that stuff is subjective, but the overall analysis of sound quality and build quaiity is just weak IMHO.
I agree with this article, but like most Djs it comes down to your preference. You can read all you want about whats the “best headphone” or “best DJ gear” but the true test is to go out and give them a listen.
I did that when i got my HDJ2000 and they were without a doubt my favourites of all the ones i tested. Who knows though, i despise the beats by dre and think they are over priced and a joke and will never buy anything from them. But thats just me, maybe the Mixr version are better? who knows.
Love the articles DJTT, keep dominating the internet of DJing knowledge
If you want great headphones check out Ultrasone. The Ultrasone Pro 900 delivers a much better listening experience – leagues above any headphones listed in this article. They sound better, look better and are more durable than any pair of headphones on the market. It’s hard to find a good price on the Pro 900 but as I’m writing this you can find a pair on Amazon for less than $330 (normally $549)
where is the
AIAIAI TMA-1 headphones?
Whats about the Aiaiai TMA-1? You sold them for quite a while on your store and now you do not even mention them?
aside from everyone’s salty comments i think my only comment on this is simple:
The HD25 has barely changed over a long period of time and there is a reason for that. More importantly the ability to replace every part is invaluable. Lastly, if you want to talk about quality just look at this to make your decisions. Numbers make it much more clear than descriptions. http://www.headphone.com/learning-center/build-a-graph.php
Ean and Markkus — A couple follow questions that weren’t answered by the article.
(1) When researching headphones, I found a number of sources saying that the original Crossfade LPs were virtually identical to the LP2s. Any insight on this? If your review of the LP2s applies equally to the original LPs, which are available on Amazon for only $110, then it seems like the LPs are an incredible value.
(2) Any thoughts on how the V-Moda M100s might have fared? Similar to the the LP2s but now they fold up and have the share play feature, which seems like it could have some interesting applications if DJing with a partner.
I’d love to see the HDJ 2000 pitted again some of its new challengers!
I really like my Nixon Masterblasters. I like them even better because I don’t know anyone else who has them. http://reviews.cnet.com/headphones/nixon-master-blaster-brown/4505-7877_7-33560255.html
TO THE DJTECHTOOLS STAFF…
Do not take negative criticism so serious. There will always be people that do not agree with your point of view. This, as many others, is an article of opinion. Some will love it, some will like it, some will follow it and some will hate it. If lots of people read your posts, be sure you’re bringing quality content to the community.
When one has it’s own business, he has to be ready for all types of criticism. The silent treatment is the best answer to such negativity.
So many people happy with the VCI100 by techtools, the midi fighter, the fighter pro, the techtools vci400 edition, the knobs, the faders, etc… where would that gear be if you had given up on the first criticism! Let the dogs bark and please, do not take it seriously! Keep up the good work.
Good run of comments here. We rather expected this to be a somewhat contentious article, as it is a highly subjective topic, but the thoughtful comments do help us in crafting the format of future comparative reviews. We were working on this article all the way up to the last minute, and actually made some format changes that early readers did not see.
I’m not a DJ Tech Tools employee. My deal is that I’m a journalist who sometimes gets paid to DJ. I’ve been a music gear geek for far too many years and I know the the most popular items aren’t always my favorite. The most popular items aren’t always the best, either.
If you want to know why professional, high-demand DJs don’t write lengthy comparative reviews on the Internet, I’ve got a simple answer: They’ve got better things to do. So if I try out a piece of gear that’s popular with pros, give it a fair shake, and don’t particularly love it, the best thing I can give the readers is the same honesty that I would give them if did love the gear. No amount of disagreement would be worth trading in my honesty.
These articles are meant first and foremost to be an informative service. We do declare personal judgments, but I’d consider your own judgment the most important for you.
It does seem that some people are eager to write off the Beats Mixr because they didn’t like other Beats models. I’ve heard the other Beats headphones too, but the Mixr definitely has its own sound different than the others. Even if you still don’t like it, you’ll definitely hear the difference if you try them.
Thanks again to everyone for their feedback. Visceral reactions never cease to enlighten.
I’m not sure what the point of this post is. At first I thought it was an apology but it ended up being a “well, I wrote this article and I stand by it” kinda’ game of confidence that’s supposed to quell critics. The readers of DJ Techtools have come to expect more from the website than an arbitrary choice of candidates for gear and a wishy-washy conclusion rating 5 headphones against each other without giving the readers the courtesy of telling them how these headphones were chosen. I don’t fault the writer for rating these headphones (he did a pretty good subjective job of it) as much as I do the leadership that signed off on this article as being “DJ Techtools reader-ready” without checking to see if the final article could in someway damage the company image. Perhaps that’s the lesson being learned here. I could have excused the author of the article having images slipped in after it was submitted, but since the author basically dug in his heels we have no choice but to presume he stood behind everything in the article and that’s where the problem lies.
This article was doomed from the start because its title is “DJ Headphones Battle Royale – 5 Headphones Reviewed” and then you see a “Top DJ Headphones” Championship cup at the bottom of the article… can we not see how the epic fail happened here?
Had this been a real showdown to figure out which headphones were “The Best”, it would have started with every known set of Headphones used for the purpose of DJing (over-ear, on-ear and in-ear), been scientifically tested by (more than one) neutral professionals (and their names) with equipment to measure and produce results for everything measurable and feedback (in numeric form) from (both Professional and Amateur) DJs for ergonomics plus a few extras like; durability, functionality (in the club) and replacement part cost and ease to do so and if they’re still made, etc., that was just a quick list I made from my head.
I get that you’re hurt that people flamed your article (again, it was pretty well written for what you had to work with) but don’t turn this into a crusade it won’t end well for you.
Why did you select the Wicked Audio and Beats? I really don’t understand…
Toss in the AIAIAI TMA-1s + Bayerdynamics or something. You guys even sell the TMA-1s on your website!
Also your guys’ “review” of the TMA-1s was very lacking
It’s great to see the hated Beats headphones to be considered in a review and actually comes out shining. Never knew about the Mixr headphones, as always biased Dr. Dre’s stuff as High Price, Low Quality Sound.
Good Review. As for the haters, yes the Beats Studio & Solo suck, but doesn’t mean their new lineup does too. The company isn’t stupid, their employees read forums, and its great how they took constructive criticism seriously. Kudos to them.
Although I would never rock a Beats headphone, its great to know they came out with something great at a reasonable price.
While I applaud the intent of this article, the execution is simply poor. To do a proper comparison, use a weighted average method so that certain characteristics are more valued than others. For example, Sound Quality gets 20%; Value, 20%; Isolation gets 20%; Build quality, 15%; Comfort, 15%; and Extras, 10%.
Then rank each of the headphones in each category. To acknowledge the best in each category, first place gets 5 points. Second gets 3 points. Everything else gets 1 point. For each headphone, multiply the points per category by the weight of the category. Voila. Winner.
One more thing, all tests should be performed using AT LEAST 5 DJs WHILE PERFORMING in a LOUD ENVIRONMENT… because everything is different when performing live.
Hopefully there will be a version 2 of this article.
You said everything I was going to include in my response to the author above.
didnt even read it yet – hd25 mk2 – no contest
I bet Markkus was thinking “You know what would be cool? Headphone reviews!”
Well good job community. Join the ranks of other nagging communities.
Why does the top picture have the HD-25s and the one underneath have the HD-25 ?
beats suck. lol. that is all i have to say.
All I can really say is that even though some of you say the only reason the Crossfades won anything is because DJTT has them in their stores, you apparently have not tried a pair (and I mean owned a pair and used for a while, not “I went to the store and tried them”). I don’t have the LP2 model, but I’ve had the original for a little more than a year now. I’ve dropped it enough times to not know how many times I’ve dropped them, I’ve even drop kicked them….(you know, you drop them, try to catch them with your foot, and instead they go flying and your foot hurts…). Their quality is fantastic (and yet the LP2s have better quality), and as a + they look awesome (stop saying that they’re only getting any amount of hype just because they look good…)
What I’m trying to say is, they don’t suck. They’re not the best, but JUST because they’re in the DJTT store and they look good doesn’t mean they’re being over hyped and actually suck. They’re the best sounding, most comfortable, and most durable headphones I’VE experienced. I didn’t get them because a famous DJ used them (I knew that Tiesto used them for a bit, but after I got them I noticed a LOT of people using them, that’s probably also because I started DJing around the time I got these, and paid more attention to other DJs. I also didn’t get them SPECIFICALLY for DJing, though I do use them for it.), plus they come with a badass warranty for when/if they do break.
I got my LPs for $100, LP2s you can get for $180 (these prices are based off of Amazon).
Was there a reason the Ultrasone Signature DJ headphones weren’t on the list? Sure, they’re $1000, but we’re looking for the best DJ headphones ever, right? The step-down model the Ultrasone DJ1 Pro (which can be found for $143.00) are also AWESOME. I think this review needs a lot more research than just picking a few top-level brands of headphones and then picking the best of those (IMHO).
Headphones are something that you wear on your body like clothes when
you’re out at house parties and club venues, so does anybody take into
consideration of at least looking good with your headphones on when
selecting overall good headphones? who would wanna look like they’re
wearing a head brace on when there’s a lot of fine lookin’ ladies to
impress? btw, i give props to any dj that has hooked up while djing.
why no TMA-1’s?
here come the haters on this article, saw this coming a million miles away. or “wheres *your current headphones* in this review?!
pioneer phones do the job, but only for a while… after going through 3 pairs in 6 months -always the same side dies) I switched to Technics and after 3 years still no problems, have the same two pairs and havent looked back. Very sturdy, comfortable and very loud/clean sounding.
Would’ve liked to seen the TMA-1s in there. They always seem to get forgotten but I believe they’re some of the best headphones you can buy today
You mean DJTT has a FREE website with tons of helpful articles, videos, and mappings and people are mad that they try to sell you QUALITY gear, nay, the tools of your trade at decent prices? C’mon people, don’t be hateful, be grateful.
I don’t think much of the ladies modeling the units.
Oh snap!
I have been using a pair of Sony MDRV700 for well over 7 years, they still look brand new and sound amazing.
Loved the in-depth review but I feel as though headphones are a personal choice, all the facts and figures mean nothing if you can’t stand to wear them after 30 minutes when they’re supposed to ideally go unnoticed when DJ’ing for hours on end.
I like that these headphones came with a bag..not a case. When I DJ, I need things to be compact (so that they fit in my bag). The only thing that shows signs of wear is the coils on the headphones (from wrapping them around the earcups at the end of the night). Any tips on reconditioning the “relaxed coils”?
I had hd 25s but the adapter and the standard plug both fit terribly always. had audio cuts and eventually started shorting out from moving them around. Beats have features I like although I would not buy a pair.
For the simple reason that people would always be wanting to try them. on and listen. At the moment I have Koss great sound But horrible fit.
I will most likely try the hd 25s agqin and hope the plug is better this time around.
I’ve owned my HD25 headphones since 2001. I have gone countless gigs all around Europe, they still look new and sound amazing. Also used in Broadcast. This article was written my a moron. Dr Dre’s are shit…. but man do they look good.
Unreal…the Sennheiser’s actually were my favorite, and I own the HD 25’s. Superior for all around use to the others you mentioned.
However, I guess the Beats ones actually allow you to Jesus Pose much easier.
So what you’re saying is what we already know!? If your a pro DJ and are gigging a lot.. HD 25-1 II’s are still the best?
Couldn’t agree with this article’s comments on the Beats By Dre Mixr’s. I got them for free from a Beats company rep, so I have no “loyalty for the brand” (not sponsored or anything) and couldn’t be happier. Great sound, awesome build quality, nice aesthetics (got them in white).
I originally thought I would never put much money into headphones (because they do break, etc), but after using the Beat’s, I don’t think I’ll use another brand. I will admit that prior to owning them, I thought they were just “Hip Hop Hype” (because of the artist placement, etc), but after having them for a few months, I really do like them. I normally used in-ear monitors (Shure single-driver), but often would have to take one out to hear the sound or talk to whoever might try to get my attention while spinning (promoters, managers, etc)…
My only complain is that they are too tight on my head (maybe cuz I have big head lol) and they really crunch my ears… so it requires me to constantly switch between on and off my head, but since I was doing that anyway with in-ears, I don’t really see it as an inconvenience
It is impossible to be unbiased against comparing other similar things when you own one of the pieces being compared.
Thats not true at all. My ownership does not dictate my opinion, if I did or didn’t like it comes from my experience with the product. Ownership only implies my length with the product or its status, but in this case that length would only be about a month or so.
I would also add, that I owned (at one point or another) all the headphones listed (except for the Wicked), so with all that taken into account, I restate my previous opinion that this review is pretty spot on.
It seems like the writer didn’t understand his audience and wrote this with a bias toward listening instead of mixing. I thought we’d get some good info in this article about how headphones that I don’t own perform in a club environment. Think McFly Think!
Reloop RHP-20. You can get them for around $150-ish. Sound great. Solid, not-hyped bass, well balanced mids, good, non harsh highs. SUPER DURABLE. I have a huge melon, and these have stood up to regular gigs and practice with nary a hiccup or ding. I have broken several pairs of Sony DJ and Technics DJ phones due to the plastic hinges. The Reloops have all metal hinges, and swivel as well. The headband is very flexible, and still snaps back use after use. The cups are over ear, and offer good isolation, while not fatiguing you at all. I have used these for marathon gigs, and they never hurt my ears. These are the only phones I have tried that were this comfy over longer sessions…Highly recommended.
I kinda think this was a weird article, there was no stats or testing based on any tech specs?
Opinion is a dangerous thing as proven in the comments.
My personal choice would be HD25s, I’ve had a pair of V Modas but i believe they were an old version to the one reviewed. They had a weird mid range and bass was so overpowering and in accurate. I’ve tried beat by dre this model and was impressed to be honest they were more comfortable and had nice mid and top ranges but bass was a little bit too much in the 100hz range when it could have been stronger at 30-40 hz instead.
You’re not going to get a studio headphone here and i know over ears can only approximate accuracy based on their design and in ear is the best way to go for total isolate and accurancy for mixing a track.
To me the HD25s are most durable with the plastic design replaceable parts however the connections to the headphones themselves are dodgy and would love to see them upgrade these parts.
HD25 1st,
Beats 2nd
V-moda not even in the top 100 for me.
First picture has a HD25 “SP”
After using in-ears I don’t think I could ever use over the ear headphones again… The volume has to be turned up twice as loud and still don’t block out as much sound.
I knew this review was a joke from the line:
Sennheiser HD 25-1 IIBass response: big and rumbly, similar to the Pioneer.
Sennheiser sound is flat, and nowhere close to “big and rumbly”. Is this guy deaf?
The fact that you even reviewed the Beats just show that you guys are trying to aim more and more towards the consumer and hobby DJ oppose to the Professional DJ market. No self respecting DJ would ever buy the beats.
No self respecting dj would rock beats by dre and not one audiophile would suggest they dont muddy up the sound. this review is a blow to DJTT’s credibility
I think DJ headphones — in real life use — have a life expectancy of about two years. Some are lucky and could get more mileage out from their headphones if they are super-careful and could avoid accidents of all kinds. That means that I rather invest in a set of headphones that are not so expensive and if bad things happens it’s not a big deal to exchange them. I.e I like the A&H XONE series, prices are not that bad and you get good enough headphones for DJ:ing. For studio work I rather use clean reference headphones, anyway.
How come AIAIAI headphones were not in the analysis?
because they are the best and put the rest to shame obviously
I don’t agree that they are the best. I love my pair of TMA1but I’ve used others that are just as good, I have a Techniques set of cans that I think is just as good sounding. And I’ve managed to break the TMA1. They replaced it free of charge but I did break it. So they are not indestructible.
A huge factor that will affect the sound quality is how much time a headphone has been used (some call it burn-in time). There is in fact a difference between my two year old HD25-1 II and my friends brand new one day used HD25-1 II. His sound like the speakers are blown and the sound is extremely muddy while my two year old HD25s sound exceptionally better. Just another thing to take into account.
No love to the audio-technica ath-m150s? i love my pair and they have incredible build quality. Lightweight coiled cord, screw-on adapter, collapsable build, and most importantly, extremely good sound quality for a $160 pair of headphones. I’d be interested to hear what others thought…
A.) Because there is no such thing as an ATH-M150.
B.) Maybe you mean the M50’s? If so it is because those are studio cans, not deejay headphones. Yes, you can use them for deejaying, like we did with Sony MDR-v600’s and MDR7506’s years ago, but that is not their main purpose.
Yep, meant 50s, sorry for the typo. Good call though. I use them for both but forgot their main purpose was studio monitoring. For what it’s worth I like them for both purposes. Thanks for the reply
wicked audio solus? TMA-1 would have been a better use of time. Or new Tiesto headphone.
Every DJ should have backup headphones anyway, so just buy an HDJ 2000 and either TMA-1 or V Moda
this review has to be the most ridiculous article iv read in a long time and obviously the reviewer hasn’t a clue about good sound! even comparing the HD 25’s against dr.dre beats has me rolling about the ground in fits of laughter! hahaha pick another job m8 as u definitely not good at reviewing headphones lol
This review is a joke right?
DJTT….read Likeable Social Media, msg me if you want details
I think a lot of people would agree that the Sennheiser HD 25-1 II has been not been reviewed properly. Personally I would recommend them to any DJ as they are not only highly reliable but they offer excellent quality and comfort. I’ve used a pair of these for almost 4 years now, I’ve yet to replace anything on it and they still work perfectly.
I’ve tried using Beats by Dr Dre as well as the Pioneer HDJ 2000’s. I wouldn’t say they are bad headphones but once you use a pair of Sennheiser HD 25’s, you would be hard pressed to change to anything else.
For me the hdj-2000 are the better ones. The hd-25 are very good for dj, but not so good for listening because of the spikes on the treble. All of the headphones reviewed are more than proper for dj´ing but i really like the sound signature of the pioneers, i feel that the hd-25 is overrated and for good reason, many dj´s i know still using them after many years without using another headphone because they are nearly indestructible and sound good, so they did not try another set because is always working.
When i bought the pioneers 5 years ago, never imagine that i just received the new earpads because the original ones are completely broken. I expected to break in a year or two but not, they are solid as hell and i have travel and more than 100 gigs with them.
I stopped reading the article when i saw that dr. dre headphones won in sound quality! Where are the sony headphones?
The Simon Cowell Sony headphones X-10s are overpriced (probably because they’re supported by a celebrity). I think a lot of people are starting to move toward in-ear headphones because they sound better, they look better (or rather, you don’t look like you’re wearing them), they don’t take up as much room in your bag, and they’re more comfortable… this article may be a little out of touch.
Yup. Can’t believe they’ve included the Beats here and even gave them a positive review on the sound quality. The site really has gone down hill…
No respectable DJ would ever pick the Beats, the Sennheisers have been the industry standards for years…
I dunno, man. Personally, whenever I’ve tested out Beats at a store, they’ve had great sound quality, the only reason I never picked up a set would be because, in my opinion, they are immediately uncomfortable. Choosing something simply because it is the “Industry standard” is, honestly, a stupid decision. You may be missing out on something greater than your industry standard, because you are more concerned with looking like a professional, than choosing something on its merits alone.
By no means am I saying that the Beats are better, I don’t know about the Mixr sets, they don’t carry those in my immediate area, I’d have to drive out about an hour and a half to get to a store with them. All I’m saying is that, if the basis for your argument is “but this is the industry standard”, you really have no argument at all.
As a side note, I’ve seen more Pioneers and Beats on DJs lately than Sennheisers. Hell, I’ve seen more Technics than Sennheisers. I’d always thought Sennheisers were better as production headphones instead of DJ headphones.
Why not just run this as an ad? I can’t be the only one that knows v-moda are in a rush to hype their products all over the place.
Seriously, your claims in this article (albeit some naturally being subjective), point to severe lack of knowledge of the products, and their intended use.
For shame!
This thought just struck me:
I don’t believe I’ve ever seen any website manage to sully their own brand so spectacularly with a single article. The only way I can imagine you’d do worse, would be to now take it down.
I treat my HD 25 like if they were Beats br Dr. Dre (yeah, like sh*t) since Dec 2006 and they’re still working perfectly, i tried the Beats and I felt insulted, if any “young” reader or starter wants to verify the quality of the HD 25 please go to a sennheiser store or borrow them for a while from a friend like a test drive or something and make up your mind, if you choose them you will regret one thing and thing only… not buying them earlier
NIce advert for the V-Moda phones from your webstore – lol
HD25s for the win – what a ridiculous article!
I was reading this article and it surprises me that the HD25-1 II is barely getting any positive feedback from the author. Then looking at the comments and I see I’m not the only one that seems to be surprised. Beats = Overrated/Over expensive , HD25-1 II = Best there is, best there was, best there ever will be… Got mine for 6 years and still going strong !
Why weren’t the TMA’s included in this test? I am considering getting a pair of the Fools Gold edition to compliment my HD-25’s. Anybody had experience with the TMA-1 Fool’s Gold?
TMA fools gold are great sounding, loud without loosing fidelity, and considering they are over-the-ear they isolate well. My only gripe is that they fit tight, so ear fatigue will come about after a couple of hours. also own the pioneer hd2000 (review is right on point, will add they are studio quality, so if you also produce they easily blow they other headphones away. best headphones i’ve ever owned – they do compliment each other.
they are tons of review on the tma’s around the web.
the fools gold are the same as the other TMA-1s.. they have yellow wires, which do not result in better sound quality….
Yup. Marketing ploy. $50 extra for an impressed logo and yellow cables.
Lmao what a troll ^^^^^^
Hi! I want to buy either of these headphones, which recommend? I think the hd 25’s are better, but not sure
How can you compare fashion accessories against real headphones? HD25s since ’94 and played more gigs than most people can dream about with them. Guess what? They still haven’t broken not like the fashion accessories you guys are raving about which won’t last 1 year with a serious gigging DJ. You lost me at Beats by Dre…..seriously.
I’ve never seen anyone DJ with V-moda!
HD25 have the best built quality, everything is replaceable and they simply refuse to break.
I’m also surprised that you didn’t check the TMA by Aiaiai since you have them on your store as well. HD25 and TMA are the best in my opinion. Just don’t buy the HD25 with the coiled cable because it is extremely heavy!
the TMA and HD25 are almost the same, both of them amazing and both refuse to break
never seen anyone? I would keep looking around. I know a couple DJs who use them
Deadmau5: http://bit.ly/TFRVPc
Avicii: http://bit.ly/VwX6CY
Morgan Page: http://bit.ly/YPhFeT
LMGTFY
To add to this list:
Sander van Doorn
Norman Doray
NERVO
Manufactured Superstars
Erick Morillo
Val Kolton (yes the guy who founded V-MODA is also a DJ)
Funkagenda
Kaskade
Sharam
Paul Harris from Dirty Vegas
Audrey Napoleon
Sidney Samson
I also use them as I have a pair of the Crossfade LPs, LP2s, Vibratos, and use their Faders when I go clubbing to reduce hearing damage chances.
Technics RPDJ1210 Headphones
Thanks for the list (and Eric Rose as well). They are not my style and I haven’t seen them perform. Only Sharam and Morillo but those were a few years ago. Genres/styles clearly seem to guide the choice of headphones! No hiphop, deep house or techno djs.
I know a few regional DJs who use the V-Modas exclusively. And they’re veterans, they’ve been in the scene for decades. I’ve never heard or tested the V-Modas myself so I’m not espousing their merits, but I’m just saying I’ve definitely seen them used.
I was surprised they didn’t pit the AIAIAIs against these 5, but they have already done a review of them.
The HD-25s has been around for ages, so you might know how reliable they are. They are really hard to break, and every single part on them are user replaceable.
Been using mine for 8 years, and they are still performing really well.
damn right! Got a pair from 1997 that’s still going strong.
I would recommend the Tma aiaiai’s great headphones, also the sen’s are wicked I know so many people who swear by them, very light hard to say which I prefer. I can’t take Beats By Dre seriously. Maybe I am being a snob.
my opinion is, that the hd-25 is the best headphone on the market…i use it since 5 years without breaking them or replacing any parts. The sound quality is superiour to other products because they do what a dj/studio headphone should do: the are linear, loud and there isnt any distortion. How much did beats by dr.dre pay u for that review?
It’s amazing how you managed to disguise what seems to be an advertisement for the only pair of the headphones you sell in your store as an unbiased test… 😉
You could at least have provided the MSRP and retail price range for the V-Moda as well instead of just quoting your price and linking directly to your webshop…
Apart from that: the test seems to be highly subjective and I’m not sure you’re actually judging the right things…
Just a few examples:
When it comes to sound quality, I couldn’t care less about the stereo image in my DJ headphones. I (and about every DJ I know) only use my headphones with just one cup on my ear as I’m listening to the monitors with the other ear.
Also, when playing in a loud environment, my basic requirement to my headphones is that the sound be piercing through so I can hear what’s going on. All that is needed for this is high volume without distortion. If the headphones emphasize the frequencies of important elements in the tracks (e.g. kick drum, snares..) – even better. By no means is a “flat” or “transparent” frequency response an important feature for DJ headphones
It’s nice you tested the built quality by bending the headband, but what built quality really comes down to imo is durability over time. The Pioneer and the HD 25 have proven to stand this test over many years. As for the rest – we don’t know.
One more important thing that is missing: if you decide to mention that the cable for the HD 25 is $46 (+shipping!!1!) you should also mention that every single part of the HD25 can be replaced by the user himself, meaning that in case something breaks, you’re much cheaper off with the Sennheiser than with the other headphones, as you basically would have to buy a new pair of any of the others…
Thanks for the constructive feedback, TCMuc!
I reviewed the article and can totally see how it might be perceived as a promo piece even though the writer was 100% independent and incorporated objective tests. Everyone has unique requirements for headphones, and the comments are a great place for discussion and disagreement. Personally, I agree that the HD-25’s are great for serious djing.
We have taken your feedback and the valuable points made by other commenters and updated the article to include as much info as possible. Thanks to everyone for making Dj TT a better place. We don’t always get it 100% right, but our editorial team is always striving to serve you better and improve our articles.
Ean, your damage control makes me laugh out loud every time
Terrible site terrible article you would be better of in a company forum
Can you list any sites that are better than DJTT? Just out of interest. I can only think of Digital DJ tips as another similar site, although they don’t develop hardware or do interviews nor do they supply Midimaps or free sound packs. What exactly is terrible about DJTT? What parts of the website are terrible? If you are going to criticize you should at least be constructive. The amount of pies DJTT has their fingers in is ridiculous considering how few people actually work there. The standard of content on DJTT is usually top quality especially when you consider its Free. If you can tell me of a better service then by all means do sir.
http://www.youtube.com/user/InnerFidelity http://www.innerfidelity.com/
Nice channel bube, headphones galore and an awesome taste in bad shirts. I also like how the 4th video down is for the V-Moda Crossfade after people bitching about them being included
Extra content like Midimaps aside, DJWorx’s (formerly Skratchworx) reviews are better than DJTT’s. So yes there are better and more subjective sites (for reviews at least)
Ean. Don’t listen to this shitbag. 😉
Why come here if you hate the site and articles?
because thats how trolling works lol
mrfingerdrums, You’re A Fucking Idiot! That Is All 🙂
I’ve noticed in the forum and blog world, that some sorry souls love to take advantage of honesty. If you are too honest and admit to even the slightest of mistakes and even if you pledge to improve, some people just take it as a chance to show how pitiful their lives are and bring down the rest of us with their negativity. Pathetic.
Ean, I think you guys all do a great job, despite any minor fallacies. Mistakes are normal for us humans. Many forget that. I certainly enjoy your fresh bouts of honesty and showing of devotion. Many more “bosses” in this world could learn a lesson or two from you.
And getting back on track. My HDJ-2000s are rock solid and I would recommend them to anyone.
scamo
” My HDJ-2000s are rock solid ” headphones are to be wear but throw your 2000 against a wall to see what happen like the video of the v- modas
I freakin’ love how indestructible the Vmoda’s are, wish this article had harped on that a bit more! 😀
If the article had included no products sold through DJTT it would have been a bitch fest. yes you are supposed to review and stand by what you sell, yes you are supposed to make us aware that you are selling some of the products reviewed…its called business! there is no such thing as not making people aware of your are selling, that’s one of the reasons we come to this and other sites like it, for information.
damn straight
Also wasn’t there supposed to be a ‘how i play’ with Madeon?
The Sennheiser HD-25 are NOT great for DJ’ing I personally went to test them out and they sounded like shit even the guy at Guitar Center agreed maybe they are good for production def not DJ’ing. They sounded distorted when you cranked the volume very bad for Dj’ing HIGHLY NOT RECOMMENDED
Thanks for your comments. We rather expected this to be a somewhat contentious article, as it is a highly subjective topic, but thoughtful comments like yours and others here do help us in crafting the format of future comparative reviews like this one. We were working on these article all the way up to the last minute, and actually made some format changes that early readers did not see.
Also, even if you’re only half-joking about this being a commercial for the store, I might as well just point out that I’m not a DJ Tech Tools employee and don’t know the particulars of their store inventory. From an editorial standpoint, I don’t care one bit which headphones you ultimately decide are best for you. These articles are meant first and foremost to be an informative service. We do declare our personal judgments, but I’d consider your own judgment the most important for you. I do understand your concerns though because it’s a tricky scenario. Thanks again.
the Djworx/skratchworx headphones review is a lot better!!! I like this site except all the articles about audio quality.
You make some excellent points, and I agree with you on most of them, however if you get the chance to use a set of V Moda’s, I would strongly recommend it. The article didn’t really touch on how damn indestructible they are, because hot damn, let me tell you they are almost *unbreakable* which to me is a big enough plus to sacrifice some loudness, and such.
V-Moda just released a new pair of headphones, the M-100, you should have reviewed those instead of the LP2
I have the Tma’s aiaiaia, HDJ 2000, and the sen HD 25 1-11…… the sens are my favourite, especially for longer sets, they are so light….. love them, i also found that the frequencys tend to clash less when mixing twoo tracks in ear…. its generally clearer.
LOL. One of the most popular and established headphones in the DJ, music and broadcasting industry, and the Sennheiser HD 25-1 II’s barely get even a nod towards recommendation. Great review *rolls eyes*.
+1. I’ve owned my HD25 headphones since ’94 and I’ve done more gigs with them in more places on this planet than most people could even dream of. Guess what? They still haven’t broken…..I can’t imagine the fashion accessories you have put against the HD25s would go last even 1/4 of that time. Beats by Dre…..please!!!
I can’t agree more on that subject. Not-withstand the HD 25 has been the industry-standard for over the last 20+ (?) years. I can even recall a HD 25 my dad used to own dating back from the eighties. Either way, the have received far too little credits in this review.
I got mine 7+ years ago. I have dropped them, stand on them, sat on them, kicked them, played very loud (by mistake left them on) and they still sound perfect and did not broke. I only replaced ear pads after few years (for 16 Euro).
The only big disadvantage is its coiled cord, it doesn’t really sit well on the HD 25. Al though you get used to, it just isn’t pleasant. In retrospect I wish I had chosen the version with the straight cord.
True, I bought my HD25 II many years ago and it is still working perfectly. The only thing I replaced were the pads, after a couple of years they were completely worn down (hot sweaty clubs can do that). I have the version with the straight cord and it’s so much better than a coiled cord. It’s not so much the way it sits, it’s the weight of the coiled cord that’s unpleasant for me. The headphones are extremely light, but the coiled cord just ruines it, the straight cord sits a lot better.
I wouldn’t trade in my HD25 II for any other pair of headphones, light weight, sturdy, the option to replace any part, superb sound quality and the fact that they’ve been around since 1987 says enough.
I got LP2s and they are insanely good in my opinion. Reckon I hear a good 1/3 more in my music, even in loud environments. Thank you v-moda!
+1
most comfortable pair i’ve ever owned…
I don’t really know how about the Mixr headphones, but the studio version of the Beats by Dre really sounded like shit in my opinion. The bass was really overpowering the rest of the frequency’s. Unless you’re a diehard hip-hop listener/dj, i would always recommend the Sennheiser hd-25 over the Beats…
i prefer tma-1’s or hd-25 II’s. Beats are crap. they are too muddy!
No self respecting dj would rock beats by dre and not one audiophile would suggest they dont muddy up the sound. this review is a blow to DJTT’s credibility
I agree with “this review is a blow to DJTT’s credibility”
The beats studio and the beats solo suck, but the beats pro are awesome and so are the beats mixr.
I actually wish that they werent Beats heaphones becuase they are really good and people assume they are crap beacuase the other beats are.
The beats pro is REDICULOUSLY overpriced, but I got a pair almost free and they are my favorite headphones Ive owned over 14 years of DJing.
Thankfully I have the black ones without the bright red “b” on the side etc, so they dont look quite as twatty.
beats are crap is only a sponserd headphone for the mass
… beats by Dre. haven’t been around for 14 years… have they?
I disagree, there a ton of DJ’s (especially in the hip hop community), who really like beats mixr and the beats pros.
I own the mixr’s and do like them a lot… I would guess from your ignorant comment you have probably never owned the mixr’s or pros.
I wouldn’t knock’em til you try em.
I’ve owned all the headphones listed, except the Wicked, at one point in my career, and think this is fairly accurate review. *I’m not sponsored by Beats, but I was given the Mixr’s for free by a company rep*
beats are crap it’s only a sposor headphone for the mass
tested them out on Black Friday in store – the Mixrs actually sounds way less bass-hyped than the Studios, so I’m not actually surpised it did well.
I *am* surprised that David Guetta helped build something that wasn’t total shite
I agree, I got the Mixr’s for free from a Beats Rep (which is probably the only way I would have owned them lol), and I like them a lot. I’ve owned all but the Wicked at some point in my career, and for the most part I agree with the review.
Crazy to me how people can be so sure something is “shite” without ever owning.
Headphones… to each his own.
try Technics RPDJ1210 Headphones beats are crap
I agree with you on the studios. But I tried out the Mixrs and was shocked; they actually sounded really even, crisp and clear, and the bass wasn’t overemphasized. I wanted so badly to hate them, but I really, really didn’t. Quite well built as well. Not as well as my TMA-1s or the HD-25s (or the Pioneers), but I could see them standing up to a good deal of abuse.
I understand where you’re coming from about the Studio version, but the Mixr has a different sound.