Even with auto sync, waveforms, and beatgridding at our fingertips, most DJs still need headphones to preview tracks and beatmix properly.
Sure, beginners can get by with any headphones, but proper DJ headphones share key features: they’re loud, they block outside noise, they’re built tough, and they’re designed for quick on/off action (including one-ear monitoring). We dive deeper into these requirements in an article here.
Note that while many DJs want one set of headphones for everything – DJing, phone calls, casual listening – that unicorn doesn’t exist. While some models here offer Bluetooth and call functionality, we’re focusing purely on DJ performance. If those extras matter to you, do your own digging – as we don’t do affiliate links or shopping schemes, our links go straight to manufacturers so you can research these things further should you wish.
We’ve chosen several models and highlighted what makes each one special to help you decide.
Contents
- Best high-end
- Best for durability
- Best for customisation
- Best wireless
- Best value
- Best for DJ/producers
- Most versatile wireless
✅ Why you can trust Digital DJ Tips
We’re a DJ school, NOT a shopping website. We review DJ products and services simply to help our students (and would-be students) to make wise choices. We do NOT feature affiliate links and are NOT funded by any of these companies. All products and services we review are also featured in our lessons and training. We stand by our recommendations and will always answer questions in the comments to help you.
Best DJ Headphones For 2025
1. Best high-end: Pioneer DJ HDJ-X10
The Pioneer DJ HDJ-X10 is one of the best headphones out there today. The overall comfort and noise isolation provided by the cushy ear pads are second to none, and we love the deep bass and clear highs that the onboard speaker drivers deliver.
Pioneer DJ markets these as “high-definition” headphones capable of playing Hi-Res audio files, but even if you just spin with normal MP3 files you’ll appreciate the clarity and tight sound of these phones. The only downside is that they’re on the chunky, bulky side, so you might skip these if you prefer smaller on-ear cans.
Price: $369
Read our review: Pioneer DJ HDJ-X10
More info: Pioneer DJ website
2. Best for durability: Sennheiser HD 25
Debuting in 1988, the iconic Sennheiser HD 25 is the oldest out of all the headphones on this list, but it’s a model that continues to be favoured by professional DJs the world over. It’s revered for its lightweight build, making it ideal for extended DJ use.
Learn to DJ with us: The Complete DJ Course
Tweaks have been made to its design over the years, and today’s model features a split headband that can be adjusted for comfort without adding significant heft and weight to the headphone. Of course, the sound is still as good as ever, with a tight bass signature that punches above its speaker driver size class. This is the headphone of choice for many travelling techno and house DJs, and one that won’t go out of style anytime soon (or ever).
Price: $150
More info: Sennheiser website
3. Best for customisation: AIAIAI TMA-2
The modular TMA-2 from Danish company AIAIAI continues to improve on the original, adding different speaker driver models and ear cup sizes that you can pick from when building your own headphone pair. The latest innovation includes a Bluetooth headband that gives any TMA-2 headphone model the ability to be used wireless with smartphones and tablets. You can still use them with a cable since each speaker driver has a jack for wired connections. A digital DJ favourite that’s well-loved by music producers and clued-up listeners too.
Price: from $200
Read our review: AIAIAI TMA-2 review
More info: AIAIAI website
4. Best wireless: AlphaTheta HDJ-F10
These innovative wireless headphones deliver practically zero latency – something Bluetooth can’t manage. They come with a small transmitter that plugs into your mixer or controller’s headphone output. But here’s the clever bit: if you own AlphaTheta’s high-end XDJ-AZ system, you don’t need the transmitter at all – the SonicLink technology is built right in.
Many DJs wonder why they’d want wireless headphones. Honestly? It’s optional. But once you try it, it’s surprisingly addictive. If you’re someone who prefers AirPods to wired earbuds, you’ll probably feel the same about wireless DJ headphones. One thing to note: there’s a slight white noise that’s always present. You won’t hear it while DJing, but it might bother you during quiet moments. The build quality matches the HDJ-X10 at the top of this list – these are proper pro headphones.
Price: $389 / £369 / €439
Read our review: AlphaTheta HDJ-F10 review
More info: AlphaTheta website
5. Best value: Pioneer DJ HDJ-CUE1
These are a fun headphone, because Pioneer DJ sells replacement ear pads and cables in a variety of colours – that’s how we created the iconic “Digital DJ Tips” pink and blue headphones that often feature in our livestreams (and that we always get asked about).
The HDJ-CUE1s are more than just an easy-to-customise model, though: These do everything a DJ needs their headphones to do, at a price that means unless you want to, you really don’t have to pay any more for flashier models. They’re available in a Bluetooth version too if you’d like to use them for “general” listening.
Price: $69
Read our review: Pioneer DJ HDJ-CUE1 review
More info: Pioneer DJ website
6. Best for DJ/producers: Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT
The Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT is an update to the original, this time with added Bluetooth wireless connectivity for on-the-go use. While not primarily a pair of headphones for DJing, the ATH-M50x is favoured by DJ/producers because it’s excellent for music production use and critical listening applications.
Read this next: 7 Ways You Can Protect Your Hearing As A DJ
It’s got a tight low-end and an excellent reproduction of the stereo sound stage, making it a great monitoring alternative in a home studio that already has a pair of desktop speakers. The noise isolation is its weakest point though, and you may find yourself turning up the volume in a crowded bar or DJ booth.
Price: $199
More info: Audio-Technica website
7. Most versatile wireless: AIAIAI TMA-2 DJ Wireless
Like the AlphaTheta above, these offer near-zero latency wireless DJing. Same idea – a battery-powered transmitter plugs into your output and beams high-quality audio straight to your ears, cable-free. AIAIAI actually released an earlier wireless version for producers, but it wasn’t loud enough and the latency was too high for DJing. This version fixes both issues.
Your choice between these and the AlphaTheta comes down to style preference. If you like AIAIAI’s modular TMA-2 concept – swappable earpads and customisable components – go with these. If you prefer conventional headphones (or own that XDJ-AZ), grab the AlphaTheta. Both do exactly what they promise: cut the cord without compromise.
Price: $300
Read our review: AIAIAI TMA-2 DJ Wireless Review
More info: AIAIAI website
Finally…
Your choice of DJ headphones boils down to preference and budget. If you’ve been DJing for a while and have outgrown your beginner pair of headphones, our recommendation is to buy the best that you can get for the money that you’re willing to spend. All the headphones on this list are reliable and built to last, so if you’re thinking twice about spending, it’s worth considering that you’re going to be using them for a long time anyway.
Read this next: Don’t Buy DJ Headphones (Before Checking This)
What’s your favourite pair of DJ headphones? Which of these would you like to add to your collection? Let us know in the comments.
Phil Morse
