Best headphones of 2020
2020 was a difficult year, but it also blessed us with some outstanding new DJ equipment releases. As we prepare for 2021, we take a look back at some of the best releases of the last 12 months, picking out our favourites.
Third place: Pioneer HDJ-CUE1
The idea of a budget pair of headphones that bridges the gap between DJ and lifestyle use makes a lot of sense. Pioneer’s CUE1s are explicitly aimed at style-conscious users, but they haven’t sacrificed sound quality to make them stylish. Yes, there are fashion-forward options like customisable cable and earpads for a personalised touch, but the bottom line is that the CUE1s are good headphones that also happen to look great.
Read our full review of the Pioneer HDJ-CUE1 here.
Runner-up: Technics EAH-DJ1200
Technics have been churning out headphones since before most of today’s top DJs were born. Their old RP-DJ1200s, released in 1996, are one of the most successful models of all time, selling more than half a million units over their lifespan. As the successor to the RPs, the new EAH model has a lot to live up to, but it hits the mark. At first glance, the new model looks almost identical to the old one, but almost every element has been redesigned. A new classic? Time will tell.
Read our full review of the Technics EAH DJ1200 here.
Winner: Sennheiser HD 25 Light
Somewhat ironically, our winner this year takes almost exactly the opposite approach to the EAH-DJ1200s. Sennheiser’s HD 25 Light is a pared-back version of one of the most popular DJ headphones around, the standard HD 25 model. What makes the Light different? Not a lot, and that’s the best thing: Sennheiser have kept the same sound and same overall feel while making some minor changes that bring the price down significantly. If you’re on a budget, the HD 25 Light is the first model we’d recommend. Most of the benefits of the hugely popular HD 25 at a very reasonable price.