In this Sennheiser Headphones HD 25 Pro review, I’ll get into the pros and cons of these industry-standard ear cans. So, what is the point of DJ headphones, and who needs them? Do I need these alongside other headsets? Are they good for everyday listening?
I’ll answer all of those questions and more below. Like how long you can wear them without discomfort or are they even worth the upgrade? If you do more than just DJing you may need something more but if you are at any level of your career there’s a good chance you need them for one of your music-making processes.
Are they the best headphones designed for DJing?
If you ask some DJs you’ll get a definitive, “yes!” Many others would agree and call them their go-to coconuts. Some would even say they couldn’t do what they do without them. However, these are not only the industry standard but they produce one of the latest signals so they aren’t really good for mixing after the fact.
They’re good for anything that has to do with beat matching on turntables or in an application and vocal recording. Designed with a punchier low end in mind can truly help you out with your timing. With great passive noise cancellation, they are a perfect choice for DJs who want to pump up the jams Plus, you don’t even need a DAC or Headset amp.
There are probably better all-around headphones available but if you want a pair specialized for your loud sets that last all night, I’d highly recommend them. Especially, if you’re only planning on doing live shows, these will probably be all you’ll ever need.
What sets the HD 25s apart from the rest?
These babies have a flat mid-range focus and a wide frequency range. That allows to hear more clearly for easier transitions between tracks and keeps the bass from overpowering the mix. Granted, the low end isn’t as powerful as your typical studio headset, but you won’t even notice if you give them a little crank.
- Their heavy-duty, lightweight (about 0.3 pounds), and durable high-grade design is perfect for the on-the-go DJ or Vocalist.
- Replaceable parts and an adjustable headband. It’s fairly easy to find the right fit for your head.
- As with any snug-fitting headphone set, there is a period after which your ears, neck, or cranial muscles may become discomforted.
I normally don’t notice or have any issues but I’m constantly bobbing my head and taking them on and off. However, many still complain about soreness around the ears and muscles that connect your neck to your skull. So, not really from the weight itself but how tightly they grip your head.
Without costing an arm and a leg, or needing any extra equipment or software, it keeps them inexpensive and easy to set up. Most studio headphones need a DAC or Headphone amp and those can get a little pricey.
Yeah, but do they sound any good?
Of course, almost too good. Okay, let me explain. Do you ever hear a beat that sounds almost too perfect? Like it has no saturation, distortion, or overlapping patches that have similar frequency ranges. So, you get an unnaturally perfect sound.
Anyway, if you know what I’m talking about or can at least imagine it, you’ll have noticed an almost too clean effect that detracts from the impact of the mix.
So, why am I mentioning that? Well, that’s kind of my point about the HD 25s. The best way I’ve heard it explained is “they sound too clinical.” By that, they mean the mid range is so beautifully balanced it takes your ability to hear each instrument perfectly clear to an entirely new level.
So, if they sound too good, why do you need them? Again, if you need to be able to distinguish between two separate tracks you’ll find that it makes it much easier to beat-match, so you’ll be a more efficient DJ.
Even though they have a range from as low as 16Hz which is lower than an average ear could hear all the way up to 22kHz which leaves a little headroom in the high end,
Who could use these the most besides DJs?
So, I mentioned vocalists earlier, right? That’s because these are great for the singer for hire or rap artist who’s in the studio all the time. How so, as I talked about earlier, the balanced mid-range and slightly softer lows you’ll be more capable of landing on the beat.
With a lot of studio sets or consumer sets, the bass is amplified and can drown out some mid-lows or cause negligible amounts of distortion. Back in the day when I had an entire rap group to record on the daily. There were up to 8 people writing in the studio, listening to the one on the mic repeat take after take, distracting them from being ready when it’s their turn. So, I suggested they each get a set, At that time we could burn them a CD of all the beats they’ll be using or throw them on an iPod or other MP3 player.
All but one of them got either the HD 25s or something similar. He thought he would just focus on his writing and follow his own bet in his head. Well, out of all the rappers, he struggled the most. He was always last to be ready and took twice as long to get all of his takes finished.
I think a major part was not having experience isolating himself to focus on what we were currently working on. He ended up giving up before ever making a name and I really think it was partly from lack of equipment and because of that, lack of focus,
How comfortable are they?
Earlier, I said people have complained because they are overly snug. That’s only true if you have a relatively large noggin. I have a smaller skull. So, I don’t really notice, except my ears get warm after quite a while.
Also, I almost always bob my head along with the beat and keep my monitor slightly above my eye level which keeps me from slouching or looking downward with weight on my head. I notice a lot of people complaining of neck pain only to observe them scrolling on their phones for an hour while looking down at it.
I’m not saying you can’t get sore from these by any means. I’m just saying it depends on how they fit, how you adjust them, and how long you have them on for. If you are taking them off every other take or have them draped around your neck half the session, you probably won’t notice any around the ear pressure or muscle soreness.
Are HD 25s good for anything else?
In short, no. The Sennheiser HD 25s are great for DJing, recording vocals, and dialogue, but other than that, they aren’t the best pick. With a soft low-end frequency range, they aren’t great for mixing or mastering, and with the “clinical sound,” you’ll get out of them. They aren’t any good for daily listening either.
As mentioned before they are a wonderful choice for an amateur studio hopping vocalist or rapper grinding to get signed or your avid DJ, but they are a little too specific to be used for anything outside of that.
What other options are out there?
Another alternative besides the HD 280 Pros there is the Audio-Technica ATH-M50Xs. They’re probably a closer match to the Sennheiser HD 280 Pros (you can learn about those here.) but there’s no alternative even close in this price range. So, if you want to produce your own music for streaming or radio go with something like the Sennheiser HD 280s or the Audio-Technica ATH-M50X. However, if you’re going to be DJing only just go with the HD 25s.
Where can I use them for the best results?
These are best used in louder environments like live events or an open layout studio. They’re probably a good choice when recording instruments too but I can’t say for certain because I’ve never thought to use them during that process.
- Are you recording a real drum set?
- A grand piano? Any loud percussive instruments? These are probably perfect unless it’s something with super deep bass.
When do I need to upgrade to DJ headphones?
- Are you going to perform at a live show?
- Do you scratch on the turntables?
- Do you record vocals in a somewhat professional setting? If you said “yes” to any of those questions, you should definitely look into them some more.
There are many choices out there but if you’re looking for the best all-around industry-standard DJ headset, you can’t really go wrong with these. I’d probably pick them 100% of the time if I only needed a universal DJ and Vocals headset.
If I were going to pick one single pair for a studio producer I’d go with the HD 280 Pros for the beginner or budget limited or the Sennheiser HD 820 S’s for a more serious producer.
How did I get anything done before I had my HD 25s?
I feel like before I had my Sennheiser HD 25s I was missing a part of the equipment I needed most, a powerful set of flat balanced DJ headphones that aren’t crazy expensive. You don’t have to have all the best equipment, you just need the best equipment that helps you get the job done in the best most efficient way.
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Sennheiser HD 25 Monitor Headphones with Headphone Case & Padded Holder Bundle
I have an article that covers the other Sennheiser models I own. You can check it out here.
If you need more info on Sennheiser HD 25 headphones or have a correction for an error I may have made, feel free to comment below or hit me up via e-mail at trx@tshapedmindset.com