Best DJ Headphones 2011
What are the Best DJ Headphones 2011? That’s like saying “What are the best sandwiches for 2011?” It depends on your personal preferences and where you are going to eat! Some club DJ’s need portability, toughness and a trendy design. Studio producers may prefer sound clarity and an even dynamic range, while design may take a secondary role.
No matter what your situation you want some basic qualities–here are things to look for in your search for Best DJ Headphones 2011:
Sound- strong drivers that create clear sound across the entire dynamic spectrum.
Design- trendy or traditional, good design is important especially for club DJ’s.
Portability- good sound and design are no good if they don’t travel well.
Comfort- when you have your headphones on for 5 hours you’ll appreciate comfort.
Isolation- keeping the outside sounds at bay while you create hits.
Construction- durability, ruggedness and build quality to last for years.
Best DJ Headphones 2011 Reviewed
That said, let’s look at several models up close and personal: Skullcandy SK Pro, Sennheiser HD25-1 II, Sony MDR-V700DJ, Allen&Heath Xone: XD-53, Technics RP-DH1200, and the Panasonic RP-DJ1200A. Then you can vote with your dollars on which won is the Best DJ Headphones 2011.
Skullcandy SK Pro DJ
The Skullcandy SK Pro DJ ain’t your Daddy’s headphones! Skullcandy continues to dominate the younger active sports and lifestyle audience and deserve to make our list of the Top DJ Headphones 2011. Innovative styling marks the SK Pro DJ, Shullcandy’s first foray into the DJ monitoring headphone market. Whether it’s the bombastic coloring of the Sparkle or Throwback editions, or the subtle cool of the Carbon model, Skullcandy will not be mistaken for any other me-too brand.
At times in the past Skullcandy has received a bad rap for poor plastic parts and flimsy build quality. That has been addressed in the SK Pro. The earcups are tough, the headband is made of strong, thick rubber and the earcup extensions are literally screwed right to the top headband piece.
The SK Pro has soft leather padding on the earcups and the inside of the top of the headband, protruding down considerably from the headband surface. At first glance this appears to look uncomfortable. All reservations disappear when you put them on your cranium. The softness of the headband padding and the earcups remove any thought of discomfort.
While Skullcandy pays attention to the details in design, at this price point great sound is a must. Since Skullcandy appeals to such a young demo you might expect their headphones to be bass heavy.
Surprisingly, the Skullcandy SK Pro dynamic range is very balanced. The bass is thick but not too “thumpy.” The midrange is clear and the treble nice and crisp.
Perhaps Skullcandy determined they would leave the power bass sounds to their Skullcrusher line, which very definitely evidences a heavier bass end.
Skullcandy has a lot of style, but make no mistake, these are pro headphones. The earcups swivel 90 degrees and lock out of the way like most pro headphones. It’s almost impossible to maneuver around in a DJ station while frantically mixing turntables without this feature.
The 50mm speakers are large and strong, with good articulation and a lush soundstage.
Skullcandy gets huge points around the web for style and fashion. Some reviewers don’t yet see them as a “pro level” product but keep in mind that the SK Pro is Skullcandy’s first foray into the pro DJ ranks. And you can’t argue with Skullcandy’s success. The Skullcandy’s made the cut for one of the Best DJ Headphones 2011 especially for the younger aspiring DJs.
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Sennheiser HD25-1 II
The next candidate for Best DJ Headphones 2011? Let me introduce the Sennheiser HD25-1 II. The Sennheiser HD25-1 is the flagship of their “sealed back” line. This is a lightweight headphone with a rotatable capsule for easy one ear listening. The earcups are closed back design, perfect for DJ use in noisy club situations and able to handle high sound pressure levels.
It has a very solid bass and ultra clear trebles. They do a solid job of filtering unwanted outside noise and are great for all kinds of tunes from Metallica to Glitch One. The small soundstage might seem limiting. But when you are listening to hard (and fast) music the limited soundstage helps to contain the sonic frenzy. However, orchestral music that features many, many instruments needs a wider stage and can end up sounding a little muddied. If you are listening to classical AND speed metal you should see your doctor.
It comes with a dual entry cabling and a split headband for comfort. The earcups are completely removable. Sound leakage is minimal and instrumentation is excellent- vocals stand out clearly and the bass does not run into the mid-frequencies.
Some people feel the grip is too tight on the head. One person called it a “vice-grip pliers.” But keep in mind they are made for active DJ’s and a loose fit just won’t do in the middle of a crazy set. The Sennheiser HD 25 definitely deserve to be on our list of the Best DJ Headphones 2011 despite a few drawbacks.
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Sony MDR-V700DJ DJ-Style Monitor Series Headphones
The Sony MDR-V7000DJ Monitor Headphones have long held status as an industry standard and have been a staple of major studios for years. We could not talk about the Best DJ Headphones 2011 and omit these set of cans. They have reversible swivel earcups for easy single cup monitoring. The supra-aural (pads sit on top of the ears) design has great isolation even if you are on the subway or commuter train.
The big 50mm drivers have great dynamic range (the bass goes all the way down to 5 Hz). You’ll get plenty of power for professional situations and day-to-day use. On really bass heavy tracks you might think there is an earthquake going on because the earcups start to vibrate. A lot.
The detachable 10-foot, single sided cord is made of oxygen free copper for greater conductivity throughput. It extends out a full 10 feet giving you tremendous range in the DJ booth or home studio.
Sound quality is excellent with clarity throughout and an exceptional soundstage. This is particularly clear when listening to jazz or classical as the instrument separation is enhanced.
Your headphones should last many years. But be aware—the MDR-V7000DJ tends to wear quicker than normal at the pivot point of the ear cups. For that reason, don’t put them on your head by grabbing the earcups—try to hold the headband right above the cups and open them with that leverage.
Also, there are a lot of reports of cheap, illegal knock-offs for this brand on Ebay and other sites. If the price is too good to be true, it probably is. Be aware of that as you shop.
And stay off Ebay anyway.
The Sony MDRV700 are available on Amazon at a discount through this exclusive link
Allen & Heath XONE:XD-53
The Allen & HeathXONE:XD-53 are excellent monitoring headphones for professional DJ’s. Made to perfectly match the Xone DJ mixer range, they have closed back circumaural earcups which create strong isolation so important in loud DJ environments. At the same time, the quality and clarity make them perfect for studio monitoring.
The sound is tremendous—the 53 mm drivers are slightly bigger than normal in this class. Some smaller mp3 players may have difficulty driving all that capacity and may seem quiet. On the other hand, they can handle a lot of juice from an amp or DJ console.
The drivers are not the only large feature–the headphones themselves seem ginormous compared to the others in this review. If you have had problems in the past with headphones pinching your head, you’re going to love these.
Allen & Heath are well known for sound quality and don’t disappoint with the Xone:XD-53. Clarity is excellent and no particular sound range dominates the soundscape. Bass is superb and the midrange and treble shine.
The fit and finish are also excellent, giving you confidence in the durability. The headband has an aluminum core built for the heavy use handed out by DJ crews.
Overall, Allen & Heath has a well earned reputation from their humble beginnings building mixers for Pink Floyd to modern units like the Xone mixer used by artists like Richie Hawtin. The XD-53 headphones continue that tradition–build quality and sound are excellent. The fit is a tad looser than competitors which makes it a great option if you often feel regular head phones are too tight. Or maybe you just have a big head!
Allen & Heath DJ Headphones are available on Amazon at the best prices
Technics RP-DH1200
The Technics RP-DH1200 headphones are growing in popularity as you see more and more club DJ’s using them. There are good reasons- they are extremely versatile. From the softest sound volume to the loudest, the RP-DH1200 is clear and crisp. It seems like the more you throw at these headphones, the better they like it. Their durability alone ranks them high enough to be considered for the Best DJ Headphones 2011.
Some people feel the sound is a little flat. On the other hand, that can be an advantage. Many producers like a little flatter sound—it’s easier to pick out edit points and create better mixdowns. You be the judge.
Likewise, not everyone is a fan of the hinges protruding out from the headband. You definitely can’t be shy if you are going to use these on the slopes or walking down the boardwalk. And the super glossy earcup covers take a little getting used to. They are like mini fun house mirrors–hey look, I lost 20 pounds in this mirror.
Still, the design is unique and trendy which sets it apart from so many cookie cutter headphones. But Technics backs up the looks with amazing build quality. The ear cups have a rubber coating to take the bumps and bruises. The solid headband is covered in soft leather, not the flimsy fabric so often used in lesser products.
That said, some reviewers feel they are not very comfortable. For a few people it doesn’t take long before the firm grip creates earaches or general soreness.
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PANASONIC RP-DJ1200A
The Panasonic RP-DJ1200A is a good candidate for Best DJ Headphones 2011. Priced at the lower end of the spectrum of DJ monitoring headphones, the RP-DJ1200 offers a lot of value for the price.
Isolation is among the best for a model that does not surround the ear completely—you can hear your music clearly in the loudest city environments, whether you are on noisy diesel bus or the clattering down the subway tracks. The overall sound is open and balanced with neither a heavy bottom nor “trebly” high end.
The headband joints are double reinforced and the swing arms folds up tight for low profile portability. The earcups swivel for single ear or double ear usage.
At first the RP DJ1200A’s seem small with a fit that’s a little too snug. Over time they become very comfortable and seem to mold to your head like a baseball glove does to your hand.
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The winner of Best DJ Headphones 2011????????????????
The winner is the one that best fits your perfect blend of sound, design, portability, comfort, isolation and construction is the winner.
It’s up to you to put the candidates to the test and make your final choice for the Best DJ Headphones 2011.
