New studio / DJ headphones - any suggestions?

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New studio / DJ headphones - any suggestions?

Post by alexandrabubbles »

Hey guys,

I'm looking for some new studio headphones (2 pair) and was hoping someone with more experience could help point me in the right direction? I'm also an inexperienced DJ :smirk: so need something that will work great in the studio, but is also hinged so i could fold up one of the earcups if I ever need to while DJing. I've been looking at the Shure SRH750's and the Pioneer HDJ-1500-S's. Anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks for the help! :)
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Re: New studio / DJ headphones - any suggestions?

Post by shufflebeat »

Usual suspect would be Sennheisser hd25. good isolation for tracking and DJing but not really detailed enough for monitoring and mixing tracks. They do, however, last a million years if looked after properly.

And they do the foldy-ear-thing.
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Re: New studio / DJ headphones - any suggestions?

Post by John Willett »

shufflebeat wrote:Usual suspect would be Sennheisser hd25. good isolation for tracking and DJing but not really detailed enough for monitoring and mixing tracks. They do, however, last a million years if looked after properly.

And they do the foldy-ear-thing.

Yes - the perfect cans for DJs and superb for location recording.

But you really need good open headphones for mixing and mastering.

Not sure about a million years though - mine are only 25 years old, though they are still going strong.
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Re: New studio / DJ headphones - any suggestions?

Post by Aled Hughes »

If you're on a budget, I thought the Sennheiser HD215 sounded good when I tried them. Not as hyped as some cheaper/DJ cans, and sounded flatter than some more expensive Sennheisers too (the Momentum range, which admittedly is going for another market. I had thought of buying a pair for my girlfriend as they do look rather nice. Wasn't keen on the sound.)
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Re: New studio / DJ headphones - any suggestions?

Post by Richie Royale »

shufflebeat wrote:Usual suspect would be Sennheisser hd25. good isolation for tracking and DJing but not really detailed enough for monitoring and mixing tracks. They do, however, last a million years if looked after properly.

And they do the foldy-ear-thing.

Yep, had these for years as a DJ and they are great. Ok for closed back recording too, but something more open is needed for mixing.
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Re: New studio / DJ headphones - any suggestions?

Post by vinyl_junkie »

The HD-25 is a decent safe choice I would recommend trying but I personally dislike them.
I find the top end too hard, the headphones too uncomfortable when DJ'ing or for regular use for prolonged periods and the small cups need to be fully on the ear to hear stuff properly.

The Technics RP-DJ1200 is probs my fave choice, they're also good at tracking and what have you in the studio but I'd recommend something else for mixdowns.
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Re: New studio / DJ headphones - any suggestions?

Post by alexandrabubbles »

So it seems that the majority says to go for the Sennheiser HD215's. I've been going off this guide http://www.pricenfees.com/best-dj-headphones.html and it doesn't even seem to have them listed in the top 10, are any of those on there a better choice, or is that list complete bs lol? That's where I originally came up with the ideas of trying the Shure SRH750's and the Pioneer HDJ-1500-S's.

Also, after reading a little bit about the Sennheiser HD215's I found some reviews about them being uncomfortable for those with smaller heads (im a girl 5'1" with a small frame), which also has me a little worried.

I'm going to have to look more into the Technics RP-DJ1200 - i plan on buying two sets anyway so it wouldnt be a problem for me to use one primarily for studio and another for mixing, etc.
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Re: New studio / DJ headphones - any suggestions?

Post by Aled Hughes »

alexandrabubbles wrote:So it seems that the majority says to go for the Sennheiser HD215's.

No, they're saying go for the HD-25 (LIKE THIS) . I mentioned the HD-215 (THESE) which is a cheaper model, though I thought it sounded decent (though I only listened very quickly). The HD-25 is considerably more expensive and used widely.
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Re: New studio / DJ headphones - any suggestions?

Post by The Elf »

The HD215s are very good indeed for the money and easily the best tracking cans I've ever bought. I wouldn't want to mix on them, but that's a completely different set of requirements and not a failing of the phones - what they do they do superbly well.
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Re: New studio / DJ headphones - any suggestions?

Post by Dynamic Mike »

+1 for HD 25's, especially if anyone using them wears glasses. I find them extremely comfortable, but I know not everyone does. They feel quite light & flimsy but they last forever.
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Re: New studio / DJ headphones - any suggestions?

Post by shufflebeat »

Dynamic Mike wrote:They feel quite light & flimsy but they last forever.

JW pulled me up for suggesting a million years, you"ll never get away with forever. Maybe we'll just have to stick around and prove him wrong.
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Re: New studio / DJ headphones - any suggestions?

Post by alexandrabubbles »

Ramirez wrote:
alexandrabubbles wrote:So it seems that the majority says to go for the Sennheiser HD215's.

No, they're saying go for the HD-25 (LIKE THIS) . I mentioned the HD-215 (THESE) which is a cheaper model, though I thought it sounded decent (though I only listened very quickly). The HD-25 is considerably more expensive and used widely.

Ohhh okay, my bad.

So, the plan is to buy the HD-25's and the Technics RP-DJ1200 - both will play different roles.
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Re: New studio / DJ headphones - any suggestions?

Post by John Willett »

shufflebeat wrote:
Dynamic Mike wrote:They feel quite light & flimsy but they last forever.

JW pulled me up for suggesting a million years, you"ll never get away with forever. Maybe we'll just have to stick around and prove him wrong.

:bouncy:

The HD 25 are extremely rugged, though.

There was the occasion where there was a fire and the disco was burned down.

Picking through the ashes, the DJ found his HD 25 headphones and THEY STILL WORKED !

Sennheiser UK took them off him for their "black museum" and replaced them with a brand new pair (lucky chap) :D
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Re: New studio / DJ headphones - any suggestions?

Post by Dynamic Mike »

shufflebeat wrote:
Dynamic Mike wrote:They feel quite light & flimsy but they last forever.

JW pulled me up for suggesting a million years, you"ll never get away with forever. Maybe we'll just have to stick around and prove him wrong.

Ship of Theseus. Given you can get all the replacement parts, they should last as long as Trigger's brush.
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Re: New studio / DJ headphones - any suggestions?

Post by shopthedownpop »

Do the hd25s have foldable cups?
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Re: New studio / DJ headphones - any suggestions?

Post by elan vital »

alexandrabubbles wrote:Hey guys,

I'm looking for some new studio headphones (2 pair) and was hoping someone with more experience could help point me in the right direction? I'm also an inexperienced DJ :smirk: so need something that will work great in the studio, but is also hinged so i could fold up one of the earcups if I ever need to while DJing. I've been looking at the Shure SRH750's and the Pioneer HDJ-1500-S's. Anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks for the help! :)

Try searching here (adjust your budget)
http://www.acqurate.com/55ba6ad4b91ebcb03a40feba
i added good soundstage and neutral sound to set of DJ attributes - system will return DJ headphones but with good soundstage and neutral sound (two characteristics necessary for mixing). It's true that open design headphones will have better soundstage, but if hybridity is needed, some closed DJ headphones can be surprisingly linear and have decent soundstage. Site allows to save the search settings (attributes and selections), thus i named this search "cans for bubbles" because of the specificity of the search. More general search sets "prosets" can be found on the bottom of the page.
P.S. you can play with the attributes yourself to further define exactly the features you want to have.
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Re: New studio / DJ headphones - any suggestions?

Post by paulschoff »

Shure SRH750 for sure. I absolutely love the fidelity these headphones offer.
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Re: New studio / DJ headphones - any suggestions?

Post by Andy McBain »

Ramirez wrote:If you're on a budget, I thought the Sennheiser HD215 sounded good when I tried them. Not as hyped as some cheaper/DJ cans, and sounded flatter than some more expensive Sennheisers too (the Momentum range, which admittedly is going for another market. I had thought of buying a pair for my girlfriend as they do look rather nice. Wasn't keen on the sound.)

I upgraded from HD215 to the HD25. The HD215 are flatter than the HD25 to my ears but the isolation on the HD25 is significantly better and made the whole noisy booth situation much easier to handle :)

I had a go on my friend's top end Pioneer DJ headphones (can't remember the model number but they were silver...) and thought they were very special indeed!!!
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Re: New studio / DJ headphones - any suggestions?

Post by resistorman »

I'll be the contrarian and put in a plug (sorry) for the Audio Technica ATH MX50. Great sounding, folds up, changeable cables, and a low 38 ohms so loud if needed.
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Re: New studio / DJ headphones - any suggestions?

Post by johnny h »

HD25s for DJing, always.
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