What are the best dj headphones?
December 9, 2008 by Kenny
Filed under dj equipment reviews, other
If you are in the market for new dj headphones, you’ve come to the right place! I have listed the most popular ones with some user reviews, specs, prices, and pictures. Headphone technology is constantly evolving and things have changed since the last time I shopped for them. Companies are using new materials, new manufactures are born, and new models are created to compete with competitors. The average dj will go through a set of headphones every 12-18 months, hopefully this guide will help you choose the correct headphones for you’re budget and daily needs.
It’s important to note what is good for me, might not be good for you and I would strongly recommend trying them out at your local record store (HMV, Virgin, or electronic store) before purchasing such an important tool.
Technics RP-DJ1210
Rating: 
Retail Price:
$149.95
Lowest Price:
$114.59 – amazon.com
Pros: These headphones are tanks and very well priced. I’ve personally used and abused these headphones for 5 years, and only recently have they started to diminish in the functionality and cosmetic departments. The best feature about this headphone is the pivot lock feature. It allows you to move the headphone in different positions and lock em. This is super handy if you like to dj with the headphones resting on your neck vs wearing the actual headphones. They are loud and sound clear at high levels – perfect for club environments. Available in two colours, black and purple or black and silver.
Cons: Small headphone cups – some people like the larger headphones to cover the entire ear (I still found these headphones blocked outside noises very well). Some people don’t like the purple design.
Sony MDR-V700DJ
Rating: 
Retail Price:
$149.99
Lowest Price:
$89.88 – buy.com
Pros: The cups fully cover your ears. They do a very good job of blocking out external sounds. On a recent plane ride, the headphones successfully defended us from nearby passenger’s and baby cries without forcing us to crank the volume. This is an industry fav.
Cons: Large cups, they might feel too big and might not feel right for every person. They are known as an industry favorite but these headphones are known to break and crack at the swivel joints making it near impossible to wear them (no longer enough support to hold the headphone in place).
Pioneer HDJ-1000
Rating:
Retail Price: $200.00
Lowest Price: $129.99 – amazon.com
Pros: Pioneer is a well established brand with quality dj products such as the CDJ series and DJM mixer series. They look and sound awesome.
Cons: Lots of people have problems with cracked joints and the headband becoming detached from the earpiece after 1 year of use. These headphones are still my fav to mix with, and I would encourage anyone to go for them, but if you do.. you have to accept that if you use them a fair amount they will have a pretty short lifespan.
Pioneer HDJ-2000
Rating:
Retail Price: 299.00 Euros inc VAT
Lowest Price: $290.66 USD – ebay
Pros: Pioneer is a well established brand, these headphones are the predecessor of the popular HDJ-1000s.
Cons: Price, way way way too expensive. Someone needs to tell Pioneer about the current economy struggle the world is facing. New product, limited reviews and overall uncertainty if product can withhold everyday wear and tear of dj abuse. Not too thrilled about the look, pioneer product usually have a sleek wow finish, something that is lacking here.
Sennheiser HD280s
Rating:
Retail Price: $199.95
Lowest Price: $99.90 – buy.com
Pros: The sound quality is stunning and all the parts are replaceable. Good price.
Cons: Ear cups can get a bit warm with extended use amd the headstrap is weak and cracks after a few months of use, its obvious these are likely the best sounding headphones on the market, but they will break very easily especially if you are careless and throw your headphones about.
AKG 181
Rating:
Retail Price: $279.00
Lowest Price: $159.00 – djdeals.com
Pros: Very comfortable and looks sharp. The mono/stereo option, detachable three-pin cable and (maybe) even the cheesy, left & right earcup “large/small club ambiance” [bass boost] switches might prove useful for some.
Cons: Doesn’t live up to the AKG name. Lackluster and pricey given the middling audio detail resolution, muddy bass response and flat soundstage imaging. Check out the much better-priced and better-sounding AKG K-81 (as seen within this review) if seeking a great sealed-design, portable-application headphone with solid audio performance.
AKG K 81 DJ
Rating:
Retail Price: $99.00
Lowest Price: $69.00 – djdeals.com
Pros: Typical AKG top notch sound quality at an amazing price! The K-81DJ’s mid-sized, supra-aural earcups rest on top of the ears with nicely plushy pleather-covered earpads that rotate 180 degrees, perfect for fast-paced DJ mono mixing with one ear or for just keeping your head on a swivel when you need to remain aware of your surroundings.
Cons: Headphone cables and overall quality would suit this as great headphones for the house or in the studio, but might not be the best option for clubland.
Again, the price and quality depends on the individual user and their requirements. Use this guide as an educational and unbiased reference with reviews from myself, friends, and other djs. The headphones I included within this review are the most popular headphones within the industry. If you feel I’m missing a model or would like to contribute your own person review, add your comments and let me know.
when stereo headphones go mono | Digg hot tags on Mon, 29th Dec 2008 6:49 am
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Lead on Sun, 18th Jan 2009 6:59 pm
You should check the HDJ-2000 again. Only 1 star is hardly possible once you’ve listened to the sound quality. You might not find it the best, but certainly it deserves more than 1 star.
The HDJ-2000 has an crispy sound and covers the full spectrum. There are clearly difined bass-sounds and the high has lots of definition and sparkles.
Mechanically it’s very solid and completely made of metal (magnesium) that should garnatee long life span.
Kenny on Sun, 18th Jan 2009 9:09 pm
Hi Lead, the one star rating is strictly for the extreme cost factor. I don’t understand the pricing model, would love to hear a statement from pioneer and justification for the 300 $ price tag.
Poom Kiatkawsin on Wed, 21st Jan 2009 3:04 pm
I think the list excluded the best dj headphones in the world. The list only has mainstream brands, they half of the time forgot to produce good headphones but instead concentrated how to market their products, ignored the fact that the point of the company is making quality headphones. Please spend sometimes looking at Ultrasone headphones, then we can share proper opinions.
Jayson on Wed, 21st Jan 2009 6:51 pm
I love the Sony MDR-V700DJ headphones for DJ-ing. Although, they did break at the swivel joint, as mentioned, after about two years of solid use in the studio and DJ-ing.
Recently, I have purchased two different models of SkullCandy headphones and they are awesome – great sound, very cool colors and style. But … both pairs of SkullCandy headphones broke after about 6 months of use. They are not solid enough to be used for DJ-ing. I attribute the cause of the break-age to cheap plastic that is too weak to withstand switching from both ears to one ear to on the shoulder, etc. as DJs tend to do.
I might check out the Technics RP-DJ1210 for my next DJ headphones. If I don’t choose those, I will definitely go back to my old standard MDR-V700DJ headphones.
Alex Lau on Tue, 3rd Mar 2009 8:26 pm
how’s HDJ 2000 isn’t that bad?
Frank Stjerne on Mon, 27th Apr 2009 10:51 pm
Is the Sennheiser HD25-1 II not sold in your part of the world? In Europe it is the most common headphone among DJ’s and voted best can year after year by DJs at DJ Magazine.
Just wondering why it is not mentioned here. They sound amazing.
Egbert on Tue, 1st Sep 2009 8:40 pm
I’m from Suriname… Here in my country they don’t sell these kind of headphones… so I was thinking if maybe you could help me??? I want to buy that RP-DJ1210 . What can I do???
Kenny on Wed, 2nd Sep 2009 3:08 am
If its an option, I would definitely recommend buying online. If not, go try the 1210s, see if you like them
buy headphones on Sun, 27th Sep 2009 1:02 pm
No matter headphone that you want to buy, you can find at Amazon.
Marc on Tue, 29th Sep 2009 2:52 am
The sennheiser hd-25 arent in most ”best headphone list”. I saw a lot of djs using them.
118TEK on Wed, 21st Oct 2009 12:31 am
Im surprised the Sennheiser HD 25 II aren’t listed on most DJ Headphone reviews. I Purchased my first pari approx 7 years ago for large club gigs (HD 25), and recently Purchased 2 pairs of the HD 25 II (1 spare).
I swear by these headphones, reliable, comfortable, VERY LONG lasting and the sound is AMAZING. I recommend the to ANYONE in Club, studio, stations. I have never had any complaints, only “thank you’s” =)
Do yourself a favour and check them out.
In my time as a DJ i have used a few types eg. Pioneer HDJ-1000, Technics RP-DJ1210. I always go back to my HD 25 II’s.
In Terms of quality for your buck, the technics go a LONG way
118tek.com
marcus jones on Tue, 3rd Aug 2010 9:19 pm
I have a pair of the sony 700s and yes they have broken but i’ve been told they have sorted that problem now.
they did take about 5 years to break however and i’d recomend them to anybody serious about djing. sound is awesome and for £80 they have been great value
I’m just gonna buy a new pair now having tried alot of others and none match up i’m afraid
great little website tho
cheers
PAUL on Wed, 3rd Nov 2010 11:37 am
Ive been thinking about picking some Sennheiser HD 25 II UP after reading some great reviews not listed here though
Selectar Roy on Thu, 1st Sep 2011 11:07 pm
I must agree with Poom Kiatkawsin. Ultrasone makes the best DJ headphones. Second to none. I have the Sony 700′s, AH XD 53s, Sennheiser HD 280′s (these are not dj headphones), and the Ultrasone DJ 1′s. Originally there were three keys to a good pair of dj headphones. Durability, Comfort, and Sound. Ultrasone has created a forth. Safety. Ultrasone is the only company to address the safety issue. The 700′s breaks easily, the 53′s are toooooooo loud and causes ear fatigue . My ears don’t ring after jamming for hours with the DJ 1′s. The DJ 1′s have better isolation than both the 700′s and 53′s, and they sound AMAZ! Before you write your next column on DJ headphones, check out the DJ 1′s by Ultrasone. (Not the Ultrasone Pro DJ 1′s)