As 2022 draws to a close and we look ahead to 2023, we’re bringing you our picks of the best new gear this year, from drum machines to turntables.
Pioneer’s expertise spans the full range of DJ equipment, from CDJs and turntables all the way through mixers into PA systems. One area of the brand’s output which sometimes flies under the radar is the headphone range. If you’re not keeping up, you’re missing out, with recent releases like the HDJ-CUE1s, Pioneer tend to deliver excellent quality and great value for money.
The HDJ-CXs, released earlier this year, filled a gap in the range for a minimalist pair of headphones based on a different design philosophy to the other models in the brand’s catalogue. There’s an obvious similarity to the classic Sennheiser HD25s here, with a no-nonsense design and lightweight build combined with on-ear cups and punchy sound. There are no gimmicks here, just the kind of simplicity, focus on sound and durability which most people want from a pair of headphones.
The CXs certainly aren’t just a copycat version of HD25s. They’ve got their own sound profile for a start, with a more pronounced bass delivery, but they also have a few nice features which set them apart from Sennheiser’s offerings: both ear pieces rotate, for instance, allowing you to monitor comfortably with either ear, while the cable routing is also neater than that of the HD25s. Trying the two pairs of headphones side by side, they feel and perform quite differently. Headphone choice is always a matter of personal taste – arguably more so than for any other piece of audio gear – but the CXs offer even more choice for anyone who prefers minimalist design like the HD25s or AIAIAI TMA-2s.
Quality and value for money are taken as a given when it comes to Pioneer’s output; it’s very rare for the brand’s products to disappoint. The HDJ-CXs nail it, offering an interesting alternative to the Sennheiser HD25s, which come in at just about the same price. Time will tell whether they go on to be such an enduring success.
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