Best DJ headphones 2021: step into the booth with confidence

 

If there’s one thing a DJ relies on it’s their headphones. You can have the best vinyl collection this side of Endtroducing, but if you    Click Here  can’t hear what you’re lining up to play next then you’re heading for disaster. Thankfully, we’re here to help. In this guide we’ll highlight some of the best DJ headphones on the market today, with options for all styles and budgets.

From premium noise-cancelling models to cheaper, portable options, we’ve rounded up a selection of top-quality headphones which will suit any DJ of any level.

BEST DJ HEADPHONES: MUSICRADAR’S CHOICE

Everybody will have their own requirements from a set of DJ headphones, be that sound quality, durability or price. In this product guide we’ve covered a few different options, but as an all-rounder we’re still drawn to the venerable Sennheiser HD 25. There’s a reason these are so well-loved by the professionals, as they hit the sweet spot between price and performance so effortlessly, and have rightly earned their place at the top table.

Special shout to the Campfire Audio Cascade which can be used for live performance but are better suited to the studio, where their extra quality and sweet sound rewards the user immensely. They’re expensive, sure, but they sound darn-near perfect to us. Take a look at Campfire Audio.

BEST DJ HEADPHONES: PRODUCT GUIDE & REVIEWS

1. Sennheiser HD 25

A classic of the genre

SPECIFICATIONS

Price: $149/£129/€128Type: On-earFrequency response: 16Hz -22kHzConnection: Wired

REASONS TO BUY

+Reliable

+Designed specifically for DJ use 

REASONS TO AVOID

-Genuinely not much 

While everyone will have their own personal preferences and tastes, the Sennheiser HD 25 is as close as you’ll find to a universally well-loved set of cans. The HD 25s are designed specifically for monitoring, providing high levels of attenuation over external noise and the ability to cope with extreme volumes with ease.

They feature a rotatable capsule for single-ear listening, and while the leatherette pads aren’t the most comfortable in the world, they certainly perform better than others in the same price bracket.

2. Campfire Audio Cascade

Premium headphones for studio and live use

SPECIFICATIONS

Price: $799/£699Type: Over-earFrequency response: 5Hz – 33kHzConnection: Wired

REASONS TO BUY

+Top-tier sound

+Stunning design  

REASONS TO AVOID

-Quality like this costs! 

At the top end of the selection today, at least price-wise, sits the Campfire Audio Cascade headphones. While their cost and appearance would indicate you’d want to wrap them in cotton wool, they are extremely well made and deliver outstanding audio results. The Cascades are classed as monitor headphones, so are arguably better suited to studio use where their wide frequency range will ensure mixing and mastering are accurate.

On a design level, the Campfire Audio range are all among the best in class too. Attention to detail is high throughout the range, as evidenced in the sheepskin earpads on the Cascade range and in the custom drivers which deliver the sound. They are expensive, sure, but you certainly get what you pay for here. 

3. Technics RPDJ1210 

Rugged and reliable DJ cans

SPECIFICATIONS

Price: $205/£139Type: On-earFrequency response: 5Hz -30kHzConnection: Wired

REASONS TO BUY

+Tough as they come

+Sweat proof!

+Coiled cable 

REASONS TO AVOID

-Look a bit dated 

While they might look like something from the last century, the Technics RPDJ1210 favour robust design and strong build quality over fancy aesthetic touches. And it’s in the trenches where they excel, with a number of features designed specifically for professional DJ use, as you’d expect from one of the biggest brands in the DJ world.

We like the coiled cable, which means you have more room to roam around the booth, while making them resistant to perspiration – or, sweat proof – means they’re ideal for work in hot, busy venues.