Which Headphones

[norty303 0]

It depends on what you're used to. I'm yet to hear a cheap headphone that cuts it quite like the sennheisers, last i had were Denon AH-D210 which were nearly as good as the HD25 (nicer to listen thru but not for mixing) but they suffered from lack of durability and they were £50

[cj_65 0]

Has anyone used the Beyer DJX headphones?

 

Cheers, Chris.

[chrismk 0]

Found the Denon Headphones *cough* (my bank brain says no) going with the HDs instead

 

http://www.djstore.co.uk/cgi-bin/item.pl?i...tem=dendnhp1000 thats not cheap for Headphones

[C.S 0]

I Use the sony 700s but they tend to fall to bits after a year\18 months.

Edited October 28, 2005 by C.S

[cj_65 0]

PS I'd better confess to using a pair of Numark headphones that

I got free a couple of years ago (cost around £12)

 

They never seem to break even after continual use, multiple accidents etc etc.

 

 

[FDDJ 0]

QUOTE (chrismk @ Oct 28 2005, 01:59 AM)

Found the Denon Headphones *cough* (my bank brain says no) going with the HDs instead http://www.djstore.co.uk/cgi-bin/item.pl?i...tem=dendnhp1000 thats not cheap for Headphones

And £115 is? http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/rolleyes.gif http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/tongue.gif

[brianmole 0]

A lot less than £149 http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/fear.gif

[FDDJ 0]

QUOTE (brianmole @ Oct 28 2005, 03:15 PM)

A lot less than £149 http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/fear.gif

And I suppose the Sennheisers are a tried and tested product.....you win! http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif

[transeurope 0]

If the headphones suit your purpose then fine. Most of the issues surrounding DJ headphones revolve around two issues: Durability and helping you mix, and I mean real beat mixing.

 

Most DJs break headphones. If you do not then all I can say is bully for you. I always have. http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/whistling.gif

 

That's why I got a particularly strong headphone.

 

You are also going to need a strong headphone if you are constantly pulling one ear off your earhole and balancing it on your head, which a lot of DJs, particularly those who mix do.

 

That is one of the reasons I have been so disappointed with all the swivel designs that I have come across so far. They are purposefully aimed at the DJ who mixes a lot, yet they are weak!

 

Secondly if you are mixing it is much easier to look out for key clashes etc if you have a clear and neutral headphone.

 

A third reason, that you may not have considered, indeed few do...headphones can damage your ears. Some headphones are loud because they peak around a certain frequency. If you are focussing in on a particular part of a song, like the bassline, you tend to drive up the volume until you can hear it clearly. If the headphone is already very loud in the vocal range of the spectrum, then there is a very serious risk of damaging your ears.

 

If though the £25 Sonys work for you, then I'd say keep them. Most people who ask about headphones though are focussing in on one or serveral of the durability/flat response/hearing loss aspects.

[Gary 0]

QUOTE (transeurope @ Oct 29 2005, 02:53 AM)

headphones can damage your ears. Some headphones are loud because they peak around a certain frequency. If you are focussing in on a particular part of a song, like the bassline, you tend to drive up the volume until you can hear it clearly.

This is one potential problem which is reduced and made safer by Denons flagship mixer.

 

The DN-X1500 mixer allows the user to adjust the headphone eq, including adjustments including High Boost only, Low/Bass boost only, Hi + lo boost etc. http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/headphone.gif

[superstardeejay 0]

Denon have just changed their spare parts policy, you have to go through a distributor now, (Chas Hyde) and they dont have a clue with spares (yet) and all the prices seem to have gone up. Bear this in mind.

 

Beyer DT100 aren't overly suitable for beatmix DJ'ing because they will not swivel to allow single ear monitoring (using your shoulder to regulate the earcup pressure as required..). they're a recording studio headphone after all.

Also they are VERY heavy if you're into bobbing up and down behind your decks....the sensation is like wearing a crash helmet. On the plus side, they exclude external sounds very well ....which is not necessarily good at a party unless you're hard of hearing when cueing up.

 

I use Sennheiser HD25S's, they're the lightweight version of the twin-headband HD25. They're about 75 quid and you can order plug-in cables and earcups from your usual people like CPC and RS. They are around 70ohm so even small mixers will drive them easily. (headphone amps in mixers generally prefer higher impedances due to their low current output capability) If you trip over the lead the earcups detach from the headband and they just flirt away safely. They also swivel 360 deg each for one-ear beatmixing.

 

I think headphones invoke much opinionating amongs the DJ world! They're such a well-used tool and DJs get attached to favourite styles and brands. The best thing to do is try a few and make up your own mind 'cos everyone's hearing is different and everyone plays different music in different contexts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[transeurope 0]

I am not arguing that the swivel design is a good idea. Since this thread started however, three people have told me that their HD25s got busted also. One person told me that their PHX got busted and we all know that the Pioneers and Sonys break far too easily. This would certainly leave the Sennheisers in the most reliable league, given the amount of people that use them, but still not quite the most durable.

 

I don't know anyone that uses the Denon or Behringer swivel design, but I would be very wary of swivel designs at the moment, until I come across more people that have used them.

 

I agree some things are a matter of opinion, but I think when it comes to headphones the reasons why people make their choices are pretty rational. They are all down to how much fidelity they need in the sound and whether they are prone to moving them off the ear or not.

 

If you are reading this thread from the perspective of someone starting out or someone who keeps breaking their headphones, I think it is most useful if a rational approach to choices is taken.

[norty303 0]

QUOTE

three people have told me that their HD25s got busted also

 

Be interested to hear what went - I'd assume cables as i can't see what else there is to go wrong.

[transeurope 0]

1= driver dead within a month

1= headband stress mark, which didn't actually break

1= headband break

 

All warranty honoured by Sennheiser. They are made, not in Germany btw, but not too far from me, or so I believe!

 

They seem to be relatively good headphones, but I still prefer the Beyer Dynamic.

 

This afternoon, I was doing a bit of work helping a band and used my DT100s, there is absolutely no way I could accept a description of their being a crash helmet, they are very comfortable.

 

As a reality check I borrowed a friend's PHX, cos I could and they are similar in design to many of the other headphones. Now that I have got used to doing mixes with DT100s, I couldn't say that I found the swivel design that useful. Obviously different if you started off on such a design and had used it a lot.

 

One thing I did notice though, without the flat response, it is difficult to get a sweet sounding mix. As Gary pointed out bass, mid, and treble on your headphone output will help your ears.

 

I still believe though that being able to tweak the bass mid and treb ON THE CHANNEL ITSELF using a flat freq response headphone leaves you with much less "surprises" when you push open the fader to the PA system. Several times I was scrambling to back off the bass tonight. Everything sounded bassy on the PHX and it was difficult to assess when a recording was itself bass heavy.

 

 

[chrismk 0]

Got 'em, boy oh boy, how did I ever mix before these turned up defies logic, these arnt just DJing headphones they are superior to anything else I've heard before, amillion out of a million, these are a must have headphones for anyone DJing, kid you not

[norty303 0]

What did you get in the end? Can't tell as the previous posts refer to about 4 different brands at least!!

[chrismk 0]

QUOTE (norty303 @ Nov 1 2005, 07:04 PM)

What did you get in the end? Can't tell as the previous posts refer to about 4 different brands at least!!

Opps, sorry, I got the Sennheiser HD 25

[norty303 0]

Thought they might have been from the way you were raving..... ;)

[chrismk 0]

QUOTE (norty303 @ Nov 1 2005, 10:45 PM)

Thought they might have been from the way you were raving..... ;)

And if I may ask do you have the same, these honestly should be law that all DJ's use them, stuff law, you should be born with them, not only that but if you buy a pair we'll be helping our close neighbours, the Irish as thats where they are made.

 

http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/notworthy.gif no, Im not Irish, Im alsorts, like 99,9999999% of us all are

[Gary 0]

I'm glad that you're pleased with the Senny's.

 

Did you get to actaully try out a pair of Denon DN-HP1000's prior to making your selection.

 

Incidently if anyones interested in getting the slightly lower spec'd Senny HD25 SP's at a crazy price...heres a hint, British Airways used to give away (in 1st class) their own logo'd and branded headphones on Concorde - and guess what headphones they are really, under the BA logo's....normally available on Ebay for less than £40.

[norty303 0]

Not quite as good specs though, or as durable. I for one couldn't live with the 'twisted wire' syndrome that sets in very quickly as a result of the cups being able to rotate on the headpiece.

 

yes, i do own a pair of HD25's and i wish i had just splashed out the money 13 years ago rather than spending quite considerable amounts over the time on cheaper and worse products whilst trying to avoid spending the (very worthwhile imo) £99 that i got them for in the end

[brianmole 0]

I'm still a little shocked at the street prices of the Denon cans, I thought they would be more competitively priced. I sold my spare pair of MDRV-700 on e-wotsit in readiness to replace them with the DN-HP1000, but not at that price. http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/533.gif

[Gary 0]

QUOTE (brianmole @ Nov 3 2005, 08:12 PM)

I'm still a little shocked at the street prices of the Denon cans, I thought they would be more competitively priced.

Its like everything though Brian...When the items are new, and supply is only trickling through initially - as no retailer has any idea about popularity and at what "depth" they should be stocking them - eg "Should I order 1 pair, or will I sell 30 pairs, which means I'll be able to haggle my wholesaler for a discount, so's I can knock a bit of the RRP.", you know the osrt of thing.

 

There are of course cheaper places, and more expensive places too though, even when a product has built a reputation and demand. There are places selling the Senny HD25s for £189 today. http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/scared.gif

 

Once the DN-HP1000's have been out a while retailers will no doubt be offering lower prices, maybe very similar to Sennys & Sony's etc. Even though the specs on the Denons are better.

 

For example: 53mm diameter driver, frequency response rated as a deep deep 5hz right up to 33,000hz for great top end.

 

The Senny HD_25s by comparison have a spec'd frequency range of 16hz to 22,000 hz. Anyone would be quite rightfully happy with either.

[chrismk 0]

For example: 53mm diameter driver, frequency response rated as a deep deep 5hz right up to 33,000hz for great top end.

The Senny HD_25s by comparison have a spec'd frequency range of 16hz to 22,000 hz. Anyone would be quite rightfully happy with either.

WE cant even hear or even feel levels that low or high, guess thats why the Sennys got it right and they're made in the EU and not some far far away in some Pacific rim country....

QUOTE (Gary @ Nov 3 2005, 08:13 PM)

[brianmole 0]

QUOTE (Gary @ Nov 3 2005, 09:13 PM)

QUOTE (brianmole @ Nov 3 2005, 08:12 PM) I'm still a little shocked at the street prices of the Denon cans, I thought they would be more competitively priced. Its like everything though Brian...When the items are new, and supply is only trickling through initially - as no retailer has any idea about popularity and at what "depth" they should be stocking them - eg "Should I order 1 pair, or will I sell 30 pairs, which means I'll be able to haggle my wholesaler for a discount, so's I can knock a bit of the RRP.", you know the osrt of thing.   There are of course cheaper places, and more expensive places too though, even when a product has built a reputation and demand. There are places selling the Senny HD25s for £189 today. http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/scared.gif   Once the DN-HP1000's have been out a while retailers will no doubt be offering lower prices, maybe very similar to Sennys & Sony's etc. Even though the specs on the Denons are better.   For example: 53mm diameter driver, frequency response rated as a deep deep 5hz right up to 33,000hz for great top end.   The Senny HD_25s by comparison have a spec'd frequency range of 16hz to 22,000 hz. Anyone would be quite rightfully happy with either. Fair point, but if the price was a little nearer the £100 mark, I for one would have bought a pair straight away without further question to try out. Not at £135 though.   Looks like I will wait then......