Do not underestimate the need for a really good set of headphones. When you're in the middle of a noisy booth, they're your only way of monitoring and making sure the mix goes nice. They're VERY important. So are your ears, if you want some info into your hearing, and ear plugs, check out this site

I could have kept this part in the last section, as it all comes down to money, but this is a really serious issue. Put simply, if you can't clearly, easily hear the records you're cueing up, things have the potential to go really bad.

It doesn't matter as much in the bedroom, as I'll mention, it's in the live arena that it's SOOOO important to have clear, loud, undistorting (hmm, is there such a word?) headphones.

When I started, I bought a pair of £6 Phillips headphones. I didn't know any better, they seemed to be okay when I was just practicing in my bedroom. Then I did a night in a loud pub. Ooof!! I had to crank them up real loud to hear over the sound of the P.A., and all I got was distorted mid range frequencies. I could just about here the speakers in the headphones popping in time to the bass, but it was a nightmare. That night I swore I'd go out the next day and buy some real headphones.

I ended up getting Sennheiser HD 25sp's (left). They do have a bigger brother (The HD 25's, right) but they cost about £150, and I was just a poor student when I got them. As it was, the SP's cost £89. But I got my moneys worth. Even at full volume, these things perform. All the reasons that made these Sennheisers great are exactly what makes all great headphones great.


Things to Look for when Buying Headphones.

Lightweight (So they don't hurt your delicate head after they've been on for a couple of hours)

Closed back (This means that they cut out A LOT of background noise, so all you hear is the tune you're trying to cue up.)

Low impedance (if you don't know anything about impedance, it's okay, just check on the notes/back of the mixer and it will tell you the impedance of the mixer. Try to match the mixer's impedance as close as possible to the impedance of the phones you are buying. A bad miss-match can lead to distortion, or unwanted noise (Both things you don't want at full volume)

Wide frequency response (Means it can handle frequencies as low as sub bass, through to the stuff that only dogs and sound engineers can hear)

High Sound Pressure Level (This is basically how loud they'll go before things start to go wrong) measured in dB.

And that's really it, there are other choices to indulge whatever you desire. The top of the range Technics DJ headphones have swivelling ear pieces, to help single ear monitoring. You may desire single sided cables, so they don't end up twisting around your neck after twenty minutes. Sony's top range Dj headphones are the best thing I've heard since using the Sennheisers. But even skin flints can get away with finding reasonable headphones at affordable prices, check out Soundlab/Denon for those.

I've actually bought the new Sony ones (I think it's the MDRV700dj they call themselves (Pictured left).) Ooooh Mama, these boys are NICE! I thought the Sennheisers were the way to go until I got my first 'shot' using these things. £110 well spent if you ask me!!

(Update) That was about 10 months ago. Now I'm bored with them. Not that I'm saying they're no good or anything, I just felt like a change, and got a REALLY good deal on the new Technics RP1210 headphones. Now, these ARE the Mutts Nuts. Lovely. Not as much bass as the Sony's - but after comparing the two, the bass is more 'real' on the Technics, making it easier to pick it out. Only not have I realised how Mid-Rangey the Sony's actually are!

Just remember to go on comfort and how they sound, anything else is a bonus, and you'll learn to put up with those petty annoyances.

If you're still a bit stuck, and would like some other opionions, try the lot below, click the image. It's a site where people go on, and write their opinions on things, from Dj equipment, to films, to magazines, on and on. It's really worth a read - and joining it so you can have your two-pence worth. It works so it's like a frame inside my site, so you'll never leave my navigation thing at the top. (it's in a table by the way, not a frame)

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