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Contrary to what you see in ads, there’s more to headphones than which rapper or DJ has signed off on endorsing them. Particularly for the rigorous demands of DJs, headphones have to deliver amazingly clear sound quality, high sound pressure levels, extreme durability, road-worthiness, ideally provide a little bit of unique panache. We pitted five models against each other from the likes of Beats By Dre, Pioneer, Sennheiser, V-Moda, and Wicked Audio to see which cans deserve your cash. Read on for the goods.
THE CONTENDERS
(listed below as pictured above – from left to right)Reviewed: Sennheiser HD 25-1 IIPrice: $249.95 (MSRP), $199-249 (retail price range)Ships with: 1/4-inch screw-on plug adapter, 1 pair of soft ear pads, nylon carrying pouch.Weight: 4.9 ounces (140 g) (not including the cable)Model: Beats By Dre MixrPrice: $249 (MSRP), $249 (retail price)Ships with: 1/4-inch gold plated snap-on plug adapter, cleaning cloth, a detachable 1/8-inch audio cable with an Apple-compatible remote/mic, a second detachable 1/8-inch audio cable with an extended-range coil, and a zippered soft-shell carrying case.Weight: 7.4 ounces (210 g) (not including the cable)Reviewed: V-Moda Crossfade LP2Price: $199 in the DJTT WebstoreShips with: gunmetal shield kit, screwdriver, “Exoskeleton” case, carabiner, detachable 3-button remote/mic cable, detachable extended cable,1/4-inch plug adapter, cleaning cloth.Weight: 9.2 ounces (260 g) (not including the cable)Reviewed: Pioneer HDJ-2000Price: $450 (MSRP), $229-349 (retail price range)Ships with: 1/4-inch gold plated, screw-on plug adapter, cloth carrying pouch.Weight: 10.2 ounces (290 g) (not including the cable)We tested the metallic black Pioneer HDJ-2000-K, which except for the color, is the same as the silver HDJ-2000 and white HDJ-2000-W. We refer to all three models generically as the HDJ-2000Reviewed: Wicked Audio SolusPrice: $99 (MSRP), $59-99 (retail price range – this is this review’s “budget” headphone)Ships with: 6-foot audio extension cable with 1/8-inch jacks, 1/4-inch gold-plated plug adapter, fabric carrying pouch.Weight: 15 ounces (425 g) (including the hard wired cable)Here’s how today’s review works: We’ll take a look at how each model performs in sound quality, build quality, fit/comfort, portability, and value – and choose a winner for each category. We’ll also choose an overall winner – but remember that as with a lot of reviews of headphones, it can be a subjective opinion as to which headphone truly is the “best”.
SOUND QUALITY
Probably the most important criterium, the sound of a set of headphones includes the quality of its bass response, frequency separation, stereo image, loudness, overall sound quality, and also its sound isolating ability (how well the headphones keep out external noise).To evaluate their sound, we tested each pair of headphones with a playlist of popular tracks from the ’80s, ’90s, and 2000′s across multiple DJ-friendly genres. For each headphone set, the signal path and volume level from audio file to software to soundcard was identical.Sennheiser HD 25-1 IIBass response: big and rumbly, similar to the Pioneer.Frequency separation: defined; clear separation between all mids and highs.Stereo image: wide, on par with V-Moda.Loudness: very close to Pioneer and Wicked.Overall: similar to the Pioneer, but a little less harsh.Sound isolation: nowhere near as good as advertised. On-the-ear cup design let more external sound in.Beats By Dre MixrBass response: deep and smooth. Doesn’t muddy up the other frequencies.Frequency separation: all frequency ranges are clearly defined, the high frequencies are not too sharp and piercing.Stereo image: appropriately wide and well-defined.Loudness: the loudest of the bunch.Overall: a “transparent” sound, meaning it doesn’t seem to color music in any particular way; it just has an excellent overall mix.Sound isolation: decent, but in the middle of the pack for this round-up.V-Moda Crossfade LP2Bass response: full and round. Not too hyped or rumbly. Really quite good.Frequency separation: a little muted in the highsStereo image: nice and wide.Loudness: lower than the rest.Overall: smooth and warm, not raw and in your face. The most pleasing and balanced overall sound.Sound isolation: The best by a small amount. Good fit over the ears.Pioneer HDJ-2000Bass response: deep, but not hyped. A little rumbly.Frequency separation: much better than the Wicked set. Bright highs and defined mids.Stereo image: not overly wide, but adequate.Loudness: about the same as Wicked and Sennheiser.Overall: a little raw, but definitely better than the Solus.Sound isolation: 3rd after the Solus.Wicked Audio SolusBass response: big bass- it sounds overly hyped. Clearly a priority for these.Frequency separation: muddy between the mids and highs. Not as bright and crisp in the high-end, which may be preferred when listening at loud levels.Stereo image: nice and wide.Loudness: about same or a little louder than Pioneer.Overall: a rather muddy mix.Sound isolation: somewhere just behind the V-Moda.Sound Quality Winner: Beats By Dre MixrSound Quality Runner-up: V-Moda Crossfade LP2Really, sound evaluation comes down to personal preference and personal needs. I ultimately decided that listening to music in general felt the best through the LP2 and Mixr headphones. Songs sounded like I expected them to, and the overall smoothness of the sound contributed to prolonged listens without ear fatigue. I’d prefer to mix an original track through the LP2s, but with its louder relative signal, I gave the Mixrs the nod for DJing. If, however, what you want for DJing is a raw, gritty, loud but still accurate sound, it’d be a tie between the HDJ-2000 and HD 25-1 ii. The Solus cans sounded overly hyped in the bass and overly muddy everywhere else.I tested the sound isolation of the headphones not only while DJing but also while playing drums with a full live band. I felt that the LP2s did the best job of actually dampening external noise when there was no audio signal coming through the phones. Because the relative loudness of the LP2 was the lowest, it’s tempting to think of the other cans as being better at sound isolation when they’re blasting music in your ear. However, although it was a close call, the enveloping fit of the LP2′s ear cups did the best at isolating external noise.
BUILD QUALITY
The more you practice and play, the more you beat up your headphones. It’s just inevitable. You’re putting them on, taking them off, packing them up, and pulling them out more than the average user. If you’re some kind of superstar, you may be showered with a promotional bounty of the latest pairs of stylish cans, but otherwise, the headphones you buy should be made with durability in mind for abusive demands of a busy DJ.For this category, we’re looking at how strong the models are for bending the headband, pulling the ear cups in and out to adjust the size, any twisting of the ear cups, a strong and replaceable cable, and the robustness of the materials used for the different parts of the headphones.Sennheiser HD 25-1 IIWeight was a priority for Sennheiser on these headphones, so it’s made mostly from lightweight but tough molded plastic. They weigh only 4.9 ounces without the cable, a remarkably low weight. Yet the headband bends all the way flat and then backward if you need it to, so that’s more than sufficient.From the looks of the ear cups, it appears as if they are both supposed to rotate backward and forward. On the set that we tested, however, only the left cup moved, which could be fine in practice. Different from the rotating swivel of the Pioneer and Wicked Audio headsets, the ear cup of the HD 25-1 II moves backward or forward almost 90 degrees in each direction, for almost 180 degrees of total movement. Unfortunately though, this rotating movement is noticeable more stiff and awkward than the other cups that swivel easily, so it can be cumbersome to monitor with a single cup of these headphones.Rather than detaching easily for storage, the cable of the HD 25-1 II detaches by unscrewing two small Philips-head screws and pulling cables out of the ear cups, so you’d really only want to detach it to replace a faulty cable. And like the Pioneer cable, the one for the HD 25-1 ii is a non-standard cable that sells for $46.09 plus shipping from Sennheiser’s site.One other note on the build of these can involves their exposed wires going into the ear cups. I personally don’t prefer exposed wires on DJ headphones, because I’m liable to get them caught on something as I’m removing them throughout a set.Beats By Dre MixrApparently David Guetta dusted off his post-doctoral industrial engineering degree to create these headphones with DJs in mind – but it shouldn’t matter who allegedly designed the Mixr. What matters is that these headphones have achieved something many others have tried but often fall short: They’re extraordinarily stylish, yet they don’t sacrifice durability or necessary features. The very flexible headband doesn’t twist quite as extremely as the V-Moda’s Steelflex band, but it’s clearly built for the long haul. You can bend it back and forth and twist it around at will.The on-ear cups utilize a single hinge made of a strong metal alloy to offer both rotation and length adjustment. Each cup can rotate back 90 degrees and then forward 180 degrees in order to fold up into a compact ball for carting around in the included zippered case.Guetta wanted some lightweight headphones, and he got ‘em. The Mixr weighs only 7.4 ounces, second lightest after the Sennheisers. Although physically small and light, they’re built with robust metal alloys where it counts and should be able to handle a pretty tough physical toll during your travels.V-Moda Crossfade LP2At first glance I was concerned about using the LP2 for one-ear monitoring, because its ear cups don’t swivel or rotate. However, V-Moda make their headphones with what they call the Steelflex Headband, saying it is “virtually indestructible.” I wouldn’t go quite that far, but it is very clearly built to last and extremely flexible. You can bend it flat and backwards at will, but perhaps more importantly, you can twist the Steelflex Headband liberally and without concern, so that you can quickly monitor with a single cup. I still don’t prefer this method to swivelling cups, but it is nonetheless quite effective.As for the rest of the LP2, it feels sturdy all around. Besides the steel frame, there are aircraft-grade metal cup shields, which you can replace and customize with different colors and laser logo engravings. The headband and ear cups are lined with leather with memory foam underneath.The LP2s also have exposed wires coming out from the cups, but for this model, the detachable cables are standard 1/8-inch connectors, so they could be replaced easily. The included cables are reportedly Kevlar-reinforced on the inside and have stood up to more than 1 million bends in testing. Overall, with its impressive build quality, it’s easy to see these V-Modas giving the HDJ-2000 a run for their money in durability.Pioneer HDJ-2000With the HDJ-2000′s I have the benefit of hindsight, since they’ve been my headphones of choice for DJing for the last 3 years. Although it’s not the only set I’ve been using, the 3-year old HDJ-2000 pair I have still retains the same level of flexibility and movement in all areas, and aside from a few cosmetic scratches and grime ground into the brushed metal of the outer ear cups, they’re none the worse for wear and seem ready for another few years of use at least.The HDJ-2000s weigh just more then 10 ounces: not too heavy, and yet its moving joints are made of a magnesium alloy that makes them extremely solid. The ear cups rotate 90 degrees to one side for conveniently monitoring your cue mix, and with its metal hinges, and extremely flexible yet solid headband, you can confidently twist and bend the HDJ-2000s with abandon as you perform.Pioneer has even infused a ton of quality into the HDJ-2000′s detachable cord. Rather than an 1/8-inch mini jack, the cord attaches to the headphones with a locking Mini XLR connection. It securely locks in with a button-press release, and the other end is an 1/8-inch audio plug that can go with either the included screw-in 1/4-inch plug adapter or any other non-screw-in 1/4-inch adapter. The cable measures 1.2 meters coiled, and 3 meters when extended fully. The drawback to the detachable cord is that it is a non-standard cable that sells for $27-43 online.Wicked Audio SolusWhen you take a look at the comparative prices, it’s no shocker that the Solus phones are the least sturdily made of the bunch. Plastics take the place of metals, and the flexibility of the headband may be a concern. When testing the limits of the headband, I stopped short of bending it backwards out of fear of breaking or at least misshaping it.The ear cups swivel in either direction for 90 degrees, giving them 180 degrees of total mobility. That’s a welcome perk, but the plastic hinges don’t instil the greatest of confidence, especially if you plan on exposing them to the true rigors of the DJ lifestyle. In fact, in the middle of testing these headphones and folding them up for storage, one of the screws holding together the two plastic halves of one of the ear cup hinges fell out, and a plastic panel broke off as a result. Later the 1/4-inch plug adapter fell apart simply by taking it out of the carrying bag! Given that this occurred after only about a few of hours of use (and not abuse), it’d be tough to recommend these to a working DJ, unless maybe as an inexpensive back-up pair.The round ear cups and headband are generously padded and wrapped in a silicone type of pleather. The Solus’ audio cable is hard-wired to the right ear cup and includes an in-line volume control and mono/stereo switch, both potentially useful features. The gold-plated 1/8-inch audio plug is not threaded for a screw-on 1/4-inch adapter.Build Quality Winner: Pioneer HDJ-2000Build Quality Runners-up: V-Moda Crossfade LP2, and Beats By Dre MixrWith the LP2′s sturdy construction and crazy headband flexibility, and the Mixr’s innovative lightweight design, they come in at a close second-place tie behind the HDJ-2000. Ultimately though, the HDJ-2000′s build strikes me as the Parthenon of DJ headphone construction. The classic swivelling and collapsible cups combined with supreme durability stand the test of time. The locking, detachable cable with threaded connection for a screw-on 1/4-inch adapter seal the deal. The HD 25-1 ii’s unique construction breaks some ground and comes in as the lightest set, but it’s ultimately rather awkward to manipulate. And, well, two parts of the Solus broke in no time flat, so what else needs to be said?
FIT + COMFORT
Some DJs wear their headphones more than others, but whether you have them on for most of your sets or just check them in one ear every once in a while, a good set of headphones ideally should maintain a tolerable level of comfort on your ears and head after a few hours of mixing or monitoring music. You may or may not use your DJing cans as your phones for making original tracks, as well, but it’s nice to have that option.Key factors in this category include size adjustability, comfort of the ear cups and comfort of the headband.Sennheiser HD 25-1 IIThese headphones are very light and put almost no pressure on your head from the headband. On the downside, the on-the-ear cups pinch a fair amount, so I felt physical discomfort from wearing them about as fast as I did with larger headphones that affected the head more. After about an hour on the HD 25-1 ii, I wanted to give my ears a break.There’s a really long adjustable range of more than 2 inches to pull out the ear cups, but you also have to be careful that you don’t pull the ear cup entirely off the main unit, which can happen.Beats By Dre MixrThe Mixr’s fit in similar manner to the Sennheiser pair: they put almost no pressure on your head from the headband. Instead, the on-the-ear cups hold them to your melon, and the resulting pinch took a toll on my ears within an hour. They weren’t intolerable until almost two hours, but if I were the type of DJ who wears headphones throughout an entire set, I’d try a different set or look into some in-ear monitors.There’s plenty of adjustable length range for the ear cups to pull out, again using the cleverly designed single hinge that also allows the cups to rotate widely.V-Moda Crossfade LP2V-Moda touts its hexagonal ear-cup shape that comes from more than four years of research and development and this time, the marketing claims live up to their billing. I found the LP2s to be the most comfortable fit of all the headsets tested here. The hexagonal ear-cups indeed did fit very inoffensively over my ears; didn’t pinch much at all, and the light pressure on the head from the headband was diffused somewhat from the light padding distributed across the entire headband. All headphones will eventually get on your nerves, but I was able to wear the LP2s the longest before feeling annoyed to the point of needing a rest.For adjusting the length of the headband, the V-Modas had the shortest throw for pulling out the cups at just over 1 inch. However, the headband itself is also a little longer than the others, so I don’t see this as a problem.Pioneer HDJ-2000These are not the most comfortable headphones I’ve ever worn, but they’re up there as far as DJ-specific headphones are concerned. The round, over-the-ear cups have a soft leather outer lining, and squishy urethane pads on the inside. The top of the headband also sports a leather and urethane pad for your dome. The headphones sit pretty well, with their weight and pinching pressure distributed nice and evenly. Some discomfort appears after about an hour of constant use, but it doesn’t become intolerable until after about three hours.Of course, not all noggins were created equal. Each side of the HDJ-2000s pulls out about 1.25 inches to adjust for head size. That’s not as long as some popular Sony studio headphones that pull out 1.75 inches, but it should be plenty enough adjust to accommodate a larger cranium.Wicked Audio SolusAlthough it has similarly round, over-the-ear cups, the Solus ended up being quite a bit more uncomfortable after an hour than the HDJ-2000s, seemingly due to the ear cup foam not having as much give, and the headphones pinching the head more. The Solus was not outright uncomfortable — the headband barely registered any annoyance — but it was noticeably more fatiguing over the same amount of time than the Pioneers.Regarding adjustability, the Solus has a little more than 1.5 inches of pull-out for each side, so once again, enough for just about any case, until Sasquatch decides to learn beat-matching.Fit + Comfort Winner: V-Moda Crossfade LP2Fit + Comfort Runners-up: Pioneer HDJ-2000 and Wicked Audio SolusAfter wearing all these headphones repeatedly, the winner of best fit has to be the LP2 due to the soothing relief I felt every time when putting them on after one of the other pairs. The hexagonal over-the-ear cups won out clearly over the on-the-ear design of the HD 25-1 ii and Mixr, as well as the round, over-the-ears of the HDJ-2000 and Solus.
PORTABILITY
How well equipped are the headphones to fit into cramped bags and survive the possible smooshing of overhead compartments? Do they collapse and fold up nicely? Is there a protective case?Sennheiser HD 25-1 IINot only are these headphones very light at 4.9 ounces, but they are also physically smaller than average due in part to the smaller on-the-ear cups rather than over-the-ear cups. They don’t fold in or collapse to shrink in storage size; you just push the ear cups in and stash them in the included bag. There is no hardshell case, not even as a paid add-on.Beats By Dre MixrThe Mixr fits the bill for portability so well that when I first opened up the box and saw the grapefruit-sized case that held the Mixr inside, I thought “what kind of baby headphones are these?” That fear was quickly assuaged, though. You open the case to find a compactly folded set of lightweight headphones clearly designed for the road. Although they are quite light at 7.4 ounces, I wouldn’t sweat it if you accidentally sit on them a few times while trying to get comfortable in coach class.V-Moda Crossfade LP2You won’t save any room storing the LP2s in a bag since they don’t fold up or collapse. On the other hand though, they come out of the box with a molded “Exoskeleton” hardshell case for excellent protection. Inside the case there are cable organizers, and outside there’s a carabiner for hooking the case to a DJ bag or wherever else you want to hang it. At 9.2 ounces without the case or cable, the LP2s weigh less than the HDJ-2000.Pioneer HDJ-2000These cans collapse nicely into a folded-up crescent shape when you’re finished, which you can easily stuff into the included fabric carrying pouch along with the detached cable. Because the headphones’ folding parts are constructed with a strong magnesium alloy, you can fold them up and expand them again and again quickly without worrying about damaging them.While many sets of headphones now — especially at this price — come with a hardshell carrying case, the HDJ-2000 does not, although the companion zippered hardshell Pioneer HDJ-HC01 case sells separately for $39 and includes a carabiner for hooking onto a DJ bag.Wicked Audio SolusThe Solus folds up pretty well into a crescent shape for storing in its carrying pouch, although it doesn’t collapse with the same sort of care-free ease of the HDJ-2000. No hardshell case is available as an option, so given the proven vulnerability of its plastic parts, you’ll want to avoid stuffing these into a crowded DJ bag without regard to their safety.At 15 ounces, these are the heaviest cans in this group, but we’re talking about a difference of just a few ounces, not enough to be a big concern.Portability Winner: Beats By Dre MixrPortability Runner-up: Pioneer HDJ-2000The Mixr was the only pair that hit the sweet spot for portability: very light, foldable, and with a custom-shaped zippered case included. The Sennheisers are the lightest, but don’t fold-up and have no hard case option. The V-Modas come with a hard case but don’t fold up to save space. The Solus folds up but has no hard case. And the HDJ-2000 collapses nicely and has a rock-solid build that you can stuff into odd spaces without too much worry.
BONUS POINTS: EXTRAS
It’s worth checking out briefly what extra features or accessories each model comes with – below we’ve noted the coolest stuff only!Beats By Dre Mixr includes a detachable 1/8-inch audio cable with an Apple-compatible remote/mic, a second detachable 1/8-inch audio cable with an extended-range coil, and a zippered soft-shell carrying case. Special features include a dual input: each ear cup has an 1/8-inch audio connection, so you can share the music or simply pick which side to plug into.Pioneer HDJ-2000 includes a1/4-inch gold plated, screw-in plug adapter and cloth carrying pouch. Only one special feature – the left ear cup has a switch for selecting a Mono or Stereo mix in the headphones.Sennheiser HD 25-1 II has a 1/4-inch screw-on plug adapter, 1 pair of secondary soft ear pads, nylon carrying pouch. Special Features: headband can split apart from the center and widen out; this is to allow the cable to come out and possibly to help adjust it to your head. The cable terminates with a right-angle audio plug to stick out less from a mixer or controller.V-Moda Crossfade LP2 has some secondary gunmetal shield kit (screaming to be painted/laser etched/customized), strong hardshell ”Exoskeleton” case, carabiner, detachable 3-button remote/mic cable, detachable extended cable, 1/4-inch plug adapter, cleaning cloth.Wicked Audio Solus includes a 6-foot audio extension cable with 1/8-inch jacks, 1/4-inch gold-plated plug adapter, fabric carrying pouch.The headphone cable includes an in-line volume control and a stereo/mono switch.Winners: V-Moda Crossfade LP2 and Beats By Dre MixrThis category is the least important, but with the LP2′s two detachable audio cables, hard case, customizable shield plates and other goodies, V-Moda has exceeded expectations. Same goes for the Mixr. Although you pay a bit more, you get a nice case, two detachable audio cables, and a handy snap-on 1/4-inch adapter — all of them beautifully designed.
VALUE
How does the overall package look against the price?Winner: V-Moda Crossfade LP2Seeing as how this overall contest is a statistical dead heat between the V-Moda and the Pioneer until you look at the extras and the price, the LP2 wins the value race, as well. Take the value consideration with a grain of salt, however. Pro DJs or aspiring pros should probably concern themselves more with overall quality than price considerations. You need what will best suit your own needs first.
GRAND CHAMPION OF THE MULTIVERSE
What we have here is a very close three-way competition between the Mixr, HDJ-2000, and Crossfade LP2. V-Moda surprised me with the LP2. I’d used a lower-tier V-Moda product before and was not overly impressed, so to see the LP2 hang with the perennial favorite HDJ-2000 and the zillionaire-backed Mixr opened my eyes to this company. It’s supplying a high-caliber product at a reasonable price and with some fun considerations toward personal styling.The Mixr quickly proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that it’s not just hype behind the Beats by Dre brand. It’s covered just about all the bases, giving you loud and accurate sound inside a robust, lightweight, collapsable and attractive design.Still though, if a DJ comes to me personally and asks which of these I recommend for DJing and if price is not a factor, I’m pointing them to the HDJ-2000. The LP2′s sound and comfort might make it the better pick for all-purpose use, but for DJing in particular, the HDJ-2000 has the higher sound levels, classic and proven form factor, with legendary durability to boot. When it comes to comparing the HDJ-2000 and the Mixr, the Mixr almost has it all. However, ultimately I wouldn’t switch to the Mixr for DJing because of its pinching on-ear fit, and because I still prefer the HDJ-2000′s fluid bending and flexing design for DJing over the Mixr’s smart, but less fluid scheme for bending the ear cups and collapsing the headphones for travel.
