When selecting a pair of cans, it’s important to remember what you intend to use them for.
From what I’ve experienced, different settings and demands of the headphones will radically change what it is that makes a pair of headphones GREAT and what makes them only okay.
For instance, DJ-ing headphones need to be able to cut through the sound pressure that larger speaker systems create at louder volumes.
If you’re looking for a set of headphones that have stood the test of time both in the DJ booth and in the studio, then you’re in the right place.
In this Sennheiser HD 25 review, I’ll teach you the art of selecting the right headphones for your studio environment and DJ-ing style.
Sennheiser HD 25 Review
Specifications:
- 120 dB SPL
- Frequency response of 16 Hz to 20 kHz
- THD of 0.03 percent
- Split headband design
- On-ear design
Pros
- Has a modular design
- One of the lightest on-ear headphones around
- Can be heard in high-pressure settings
- Provides an excellent depth of tone
- Incredibly accurate sound reproduction
- Firm ear pads
Cons
- Is made of plastic
- Good, but not excellent sound quality
- The on-ear design might not be what you’re looking for
When it comes to professional-grade headphones, you need to make sure that the headphones can compete with the atmosphere.
Remember, DJ headsets are not simply headphones that are designed to be used by “DJs.”
They are headphones designed explicitly to be used either on stage during a live performance in competition with complete DJ speakers or in a DJ booth where the sound pressure alone can create issues.
That said, the Sennheiser HD25 has been the go-to, undisputed champion, and king of the professional DJ-ing headphones market.
In fact, these headphones are so well designed that they are often used as the BENCHMARK against which all other headphones are measured.
I’m not suggesting that these Sennheiser on-ear headphones are without fault.
But when it comes to performing the specific tasks and settings of which professional DJ cans are expected, I’d say the Sennheiser HD25 DJ headphones passes with flying colors.
Comfort
I believe one of the often-overlooked aspects of DJ monitors is that they need to be far more comfortable than most other types of headphones.
After all, they’re intended to be worn for longer periods and in environments that themselves are inherently less comfortable.
In regards to this, I think the HD 25 headphones are by far some of the most comfortable on the market, and this has more to do with how incredibly lightweight it is more than anything else.
Admittedly, its design on the on-ear cups might not be comfortable for some people.
Materials
Whereas most other brands are busy bragging about the different metals that they use for their professional headphones, the Sennheiser HD 25 headphones use simple plastic.
However, nothing is truly that simple with the HD 25 DJ headphones as the plastic used is ABS and is incredibly durable while also being lightweight.
For most components, this poses little to no problem, but for a select few, this means that you might otherwise have to worry about planned obsolescence.
Modular
The Sennheiser HD 25 DJ headphones have excellent quality in terms of the audio profile, but I love how they also are designed to be completely moddable.
While technically, this does include vanity accessories designed to customize your pair of HD 25 DJ headphones, it extends to virtually every component of the DJ cans.
As such, I find it quite convenient that this means you don’t need to worry if a component breaks or fails since you can easily replace it yourself.
This feature alone makes these DJ-ing headphones nearly future-proof.
Performance
Of course, the comfort, durability, and longevity of a product do not matter if the product itself cannot perform in the settings and circumstances it is expected to.
Thankfully, the Sennheiser HD 25 headphones are designed explicitly to cut through all of the noise in the booth or on stage and provide a measured sound response, so you can know exactly how your music sounds.
In fact, the sound strength of the Sennheiser HD 25 DJ headphones audio signal can be heard at 120 dB of sound pressure.
Sound Quality
Now that we know that the HD 25 has all of the formal idiosyncrasies related to DJ-ing headphones covered, I should also mention that these DJ-ing headphones also produce a fairly good sound quality.
This is not to suggest that the HD 25’s can compete with any of the high-end studio headphones, because that is not at all its intention.
Instead, the HD 25 headphones use a lightweight aluminum voice coil to produce a range that is surprisingly broad, with special attention paid to the bass and a total harmonic distortion below 0.03 percent.
Alternative DJ’s Headphones to Consider
The Sennheiser HD 25 isn’t the only headphones for DJs on the market. If you want to explore more options, I’ve listed down 3 worthy alternatives you can consider.
1. V-MODA Crossfade M-100
V-Moda has made quite a reputation in short order in large part due to the fact that they use some of the biggest drivers in the business.
That said, they have not necessarily settled on a niche of any sort. Instead, they are generally good at a variety of things without necessarily being the best at any.
In this case, I should tell you that the V-Moda Crossfade 100s are twice as heavy as the HD 25 DJ headphones and do NOT provide nearly the same level of coverage.
In fact, the V-Moda Crossfade 100s are not even designed to be used in settings with incredibly high sound pressure levels.
2. Audio-Technica ATH-M50x
The Audio-Technica ATH-M50xs is another high-end pair of over-ear headphones that are still more affordable — as opposed to thousands of dollars.
That said, these headphones definitely have a specific niche, and they are made for music. On top of that, these headphones sound like they would work exceptionally well as a pair of studio headphones.
Still, I wouldn’t say the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x DJ headphones are designed to be used in the same settings as the Sennheiser HD 25 DJ headphones.
As such, a true comparison is not meaningful since one will work better than the other in their given setting.
3. Pioneer HDJ-2000MK2
Out of all the DJ-ing headphones I’vewe compared in this Sennheiser HD 25 review, I’d say the Pioneers are by far the CLOSEST that can truly compare in terms of setting.
That said, the Pioneer HDJ-2000MK2 DJ headphones are still intended to be more like monitor headphones than they are stage or booth headphones.
Still, the Pioneer HDJ-2000MK2 DJ headset does provide some of the best noise isolation, which allows them to be used in limited contexts within a DJ booth or on a stage setting.
READ MORE:
- Apogee Groove vs Dragonfly Red: The Best Portable Amp
- Studio Gear Guide: The Essential Gear To Become A Produce
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