How to Choose the Perfect DJ Headphones

For a DJ headphones are one of the most important pieces of equipment that they could ever purchase. In a crowded club, and in the face of a booming sound system it is crucial for a DJ to be able to hear the music that they are cueing up with the best possible accuracy.

At the same time, in a loud reception hall with hundreds of guests chatting, laughing and dancing -- some of them even trying to keep up a conversation with the DJ while he or she is working -- the ability of a set of headphones to cut through all of the noise is equally important.

So which type of headphones should a DJ be using? When it comes to performance, standard ear buds like those that come with a portable MP3 player or an iPod just don't cut it. For one, their frequency response is fairly limited -- most of the highs are quite compressed and the low frequencies are almost non existent, which leaves the DJ stuck trying work with the mid-range. This is not all that helpful when trying to beat match the kick drums of two different tracks.

On top of that, ear buds by and large leave the ear exposed, causing it to pick up all of the surrounding noise and music, which means it will probably be impossible to hear anything at all in a loud enough environment.

The proper DJ headphones are those which provide a closed cup over the ear. These types of headphones not only help to seal off the ears from most of the surrounding sounds, but they also create an air gap between the ear and the headphone driver. The extra size of these larger headphones lets them use a bigger driver that can push a healthy amount of bass through that gap.

Most DJ headphones are designed for DJing and therefore they accentuate the so-called "guilty pleasure" frequencies. These are the highs and lows that define a track through the cymbals and bass drums, and which help a DJ keep tabs on the rhythm even if the melody is drowned out by other sounds.

An example of the type of headphone preferred by DJs is the V- line manufactured by Sony. In particular, the Sony V500 and Sony V700 DJ headphones have long served as reliable choices which make for a good compromise between affordability and performance. These headphones also have the advantage of being rugged enough to take some abuse from gig to gig, something which many audiophile-type headphones can't claim.

Some DJs may be tempted to go for headphones which claim to completely seal off all external sound, such as those popular with airplane travelers. These should be avoided, because when worn this feature makes it difficult to stay in touch with the house sound system.

While cueing is obviously the best way to mix two tracks, it's also important to know how your sound is being heard by those on the dance floor. Too much isolation can suck the vibe right out of your set and leave partiers without anything fun to dance to.

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