I am both a sound perfectionist and a headphone addict. I think those things might go hand-in-hand. Every time I walk past a display to try out super-expensive headphones, I’m trying them all on. And I’m getting them all to play the same song so I can hear the differences side-by-side. But I’ve learned a secret through all of this trial and error. The difference between the most expensive and some of the really good, cheap headphones in terms of performance is minimal in a DJ setting. You can save yourself hundreds of dollars on the headphones you take to events, and you won’t have to worry about someone stealing them. Why? Because I’ve found some of the best DJ headphones… for under $20!
The Monoprice Premium Hi-Fi DJ Style Over-the-Ear Pro Headphones are now my go-to DJ headphones for many reasons. Their performance rivals many headphones in the $150 to $200 range. They have excellent sound isolation and are pretty comfortable. They fold and travel easily. They have a detachable cord, so you can swap it if it gets damaged. Most importantly, they cost less than $20, so you never have to worry about losing or damaging them!
Here’s what you have to have in your DJ headphones to make them worth paying for.
#1 – Isolation
First and foremost, you have to be able to hear the music you are cueing over the music you are currently playing. This starts with isolation. There are two primary ways to achieve isolation, in-ear and over-ear.
In-ear monitors have become popular with big-name DJs. But, they have some drawbacks. You typically have to get custom made ear inserts, which can get expensive real quick. It’s also hard to remove and replace them in your ear all night if someone’s trying to talk to you. With headphones, you can just pull them off.
Over-ear headphones are much easier to deal with, and typically much cheaper. They cover your entire ear like earmuffs. This makes them great at keeping outside sound out. Isolation also gives you the ability to keep your headphones levels lower and protect your hearing.
#2 – Sensitivity (aka How Loud They Get)
Hand-in-hand with isolation, you also want headphones that will produce enough sound to hear them in a loud setting. I’ve had some casual headphones that are far too quiet to DJ with. A great example would be the stock earbuds you get with an iPhone. Not only is the isolation poor, but the drivers in the earbuds are so small that they just can’t produce enough sound with a noisy background. I notice this a lot when I’m on a plane with just my earbuds handy. I have to crank the volume almost all the way up, and I can still barely here them over the plane’s engine.
A quick public service announcement here: save your ears! It is critically important to watch your sound levels at all times while you DJ. Again, good isolation in your headphones will allow you to hear your cueing at lower levels. Many professional headphones will produce sound over 100 dB, loud enough to permanently damage your hearing in less than 30 minutes. I heard a great bit of advice on Laidback Luke’s vlog: wherever you feel like you should turn your headphones up, turn them down slightly instead. If you can get into that habit, you’ll save yourself a lot of heartache in the future.
#3 – One Ear Use
Many DJs like to hold one headphone up to their ear while beatmatching to the sound in the room. I personally go back and forth between that and using the master/cue blend on my controller. Either way, you’re gonna want the option if you’re ever in a situation where you can’t mix just in the headphones.
Back in the day, DJs used to have to just bend the headphones to their will. Most DJ headphones now either swivel or flip to give you access to just one ear at a time.
#4 – Comfort
Last but not least, they have to feel good on you. Cause you’re gonna be wearing them a loooong time. Not only comfortable on your ears, but comfortable around your neck as well. You’re gonna be moving them back and forth throughout the night. You want them to work well in both positions.
My Favorites – Monoprice Premium Hi-Fi DJ Style Over-the-Ear Pro Headphones
Taking this all in consideration, I looked at quite a few headphones online when I first got started. And after all of that searching, I decided to experiment with a little company that I’ve had success with before – Monoprice. They had a pretty decent looking pair of DJ headphones for less than $20 plus shipping.
I guess I was predisposed towards cheap headphones from the beginning. Back in high school, we had a radio station when I learned to DJ. We had to have over-the-ear headphones, and being a broke high school kid, I found a pair of Sony MDR series for $20. I loved them so much that I kept buying the same pair when each one wore out, for over 20 years! That’s when I first learned that you don’t have to pay a ton to get great sound. Most of what you pay for is marketing.
Cheap is still Good
Performance-wise, the Monoprice headphones stack up with many of the most popular DJ headphones on the market. I’m not a fan of either Beats and SMS Audio. I find that they make the sound so bass-heavy that I can’t stand to listen to them for long. Which is a shame, cause I really, REALLY wanted a pair of the SMS Audio Star Wars headphones.
When I DJed in college, we had Pioneer or Denon headphones with every setup. These are both high-quality brands. But when you start to compare specs, the Monoprice are very similar.
For example, Pioneer’s entry-level DJ headphones have a sensitivity of 105 dB and an output range of 5Hz to 28kHz. Monoprice’s headphones have a sensitivity of 100 dB and an output range of 20Hz to 20kHz. But, the Pioneer’s start around $100. I’m sure they are better headphones. But, are they five times better? To that I say, “Ha!” And, also “No. No, they are not.”
And, the best part is, I don’t have to worry about my Monoprice headphones. Like, ever. Did I just spill a drink on them? Oops, they were twenty bucks. Did I sit on them and they broke? Probably not, cause I sit on my all the time by mistake. But if you did, they were twenty bucks. Did some drunk decide to steal them? Oh, look, I have twenty bucks in my wallet right here. I love that don’t have to spend all night at an event guarding my precious $100 to $250+ headphones.
Solid Extras
Other things I love about the Monoprice DJ headphones: Removable cable, so I can replace it if needed. Replaceable ear pads, so I got some extra colors when I’m feeling funky. They fold in two ways, so they will lie flat or collapse inward, great for fitting in my bag. They’re made of rubberized plastic, so they’re very flexible and have withstood a lot of abuse. The isolation is almost too good. I regularly get in trouble with my wife because I can’t hear her when I wear them, even if I’m not playing any music. However, I’ve been on many a plane flight where other people will complain about a crying baby, and I’m like, “What baby?” They also make a Bluetooth version for $5 more, so I got those for traveling.
My only complaint: they are not comfortable around my neck. But they are super comfy on my ears. So, I either leave them on or take them off. That also helps me not yank my cord as I walk away from my setup.
In Summary…
With the Monoprice Premium Hi-Fi DJ Style Over-the-Ear Pro Headphones, you are getting a set of headphones that are at least 90% as good as the competition, and a fraction of the price. You can beat them up, or lose them, or have them stolen, and get a new pair for under $20. They are the perfect headphones for a DJ just starting out who wants to save a ton, or working DJ who just wants one less thing to worry about.
So, stop paying for the big guys’ giant marketing budgets, and get something that just works!