You’ll never believe how much your favorite DJs make each year

You may love your favorite DJ’s music, but you’re probably totally unaware of just how much cash they pull in. Not only do they make plenty of cash from their live performances and their albums, but they also get money from sponsorships and other deals. Some are even sponsored by headphone companies — which may be why some DJs choose the headphones that they do.

So how much do your favorite DJs make? Here’s a list of some of the world’s highest-paid DJs.

Calvin Harris

Calvin Harris has been one of the highest-paid DJs in the world for some time now. Between releasing hit after hit, collaborating with plenty of famous artists, and even finding enough time to date Taylor Swift for a while, the DJ is seriously raking in the cash. Just how much cash? Well, in 2016 the DJ scored a massive $63 million — though in 2017 he took a slight pay-cut of a still very impressive $48.5 million.

Marshmello

Marshmello may look a little silly, but he has reason to smile — the DJ scored a hefty $21 million in 2017, thanks in large to a busy touring schedule. Marshmello has becoe known for some pretty high-profile collaborations, including one with Selena Gomez and another with Migos.

The Chainsmokers

The Chainsmokers had a pretty stellar year last year too. According to Forbes’ list of world’s highest-paid DJ’s, the duo scored a pretty impressive $38 million — making them among the highest-paid DJs out there. The Chainsmokers are known for a number of high-profile collaborations, and perhaps the best known is their work with Halsey for the song “Closer,” and their collaboration with Coldplay, which resulted in “Something Just Like This.”

Tiësto

Tiësto has had a pretty stellar few years too. The Dutch DJ earned a mammoth $38 million in 2016, then stepping things up to a slightly more $39 million for 2017. That’s not a bad effort. Tiësto is known for some pretty great collaborations, including ones with Diplo, Aloe Blacc, and more.

David Guetta

David Guetta has been known at times in his career as arguably the best DJ in the world, and a big part of that has to do with his work producing songs like “I Gotta Feeling,” “One Love,” and more. In 2017, the French DJ scored a pretty great $25 million, which is no small feat.

Martin Garrix

Martin Garrix is one of the youngest DJs on this list, at a ripe age of 21, but he’s already accomplished a ton. In 2017, Forbes’ highest-paid DJs list noted that the “up-and-comer” had earned a massive $19.5 million. That’s not bad for someone who only just reached legal drinking age in the U.S.

Steve Aoki

Steve Aoki isn’t anywhere as young as Martin Garrix, but he does prove that youth isn’t necessarily the only way to make a ton of money. Aoki is known for collaborations with the likes of will.i.am, Iggy Azalea, Fall Out Boy, and more. Those collaborations, it turns out, have earned him quite a ton of cash — he scored a hefty $23.5 million in 2016.

Skrillex

Skrillex may have dropped off in popularity a little of late, but that doesn’t mean he’s not making any cash. In fact, turns out he is. The DJ earned a massive $20 million in 2016, which isn’t bad at all. Skrillex is perhaps best-known for being one of the fathers of dubstep.

Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike

The only duo on this list, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike are Greek DJs that have been on the up and up for some time now. At this point, the pair are making millions of dollars per month — in fact, they came 10th on Forbes’ list of highest-paid DJs for 2016 with a huge $15.5 million.

Afrojack

Last but not least on this list is Afrojack, who has been DJing since he was 14. Afrojack is dutch, and is best-known for collaborations with the likes of Madonna, as well as with other DJs, like David Guetta. So how much is he making these days? In 2016, Afrojack scored a whopping $15 million.

There are the headphones your favorite DJs use

If you’re looking for a new pair of headphones, it can be helpful to look at a range of different resources. For starters, it’s a good idea to read reviews — but it can also be helpful to look at what those in the music industry use. Like, for example, your favorite DJs.

But what headphones are most used in the DJ world? We’ve put together this guide to help you find what all your favorite DJs prefer to use for their headphones.

V-Moda Crossfade M-100

V-Moda Crossfade M-100

Along with the Sennheiser HD 25 headphones, V-Moda’s Crossfade M-100 pair of headphones seems to be among the most used headphones in the world. Why? Well, there are a few reasons. They’re stylish and relatively comfortable, plus they sound great — and if they’re anything like the V-Moda Crossfade 2 Wireless headphones that we tested, we totally understand why DJs love them.

One of the things we liked most about V-Moda‘s headphones is that they offer a beautifully punchy bass. It’s solid and heavy, without going over the top. The Crossfade 2 Wireless headphones are also customizable — making for a great choice for those that have a career on stage.

So which DJs choose to go for these headphones? Quite a few. DJs that use them include the likes of Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, The Chainsmokers, KSHMR, and Martin Garrix. That’s not an exhaustive list, by the way — dozens more DJs choose V-Moda for their DJ headphone needs, and we expect that to only continue as time goes on.

Sennheiser HD 25

Sennheiser HD 25

As mentioned, the Sennheiser HD 25 headphones are used by a huge selection of DJs around the world. Sennheiser has built a name for itself as one of the most-loved headphone builders in history, so it makes sense that they would be a favorite in music circles.

There are a few things that make the Sennheiser HD 25 headphones great. For starters, they’re relatively light-weight — meaning they won’t get too uncomfortable during a performance. On top of that, they sound awesome — they boast a relatively natural sound, which many musicians and music producers prefer.

There are a boat-load of DJs that opt for the Sennheiser HD 25 headphones. The huge list of users includes the likes of Hardwell, Afrojack, and even the great Calvin Harris.

Audio Technica ATH-M50

Audio Technica has been a staple in pro audio world for some time now, and for good reason. Not only are its headphones and microphones used in studios around the world, but they’re also often used by DJs on stage. That’s particularly true of the Audio Technica ATH-M50 headphones, which are known for their high level of comfort and excellent sound quality.

Perhaps the best-known DJ to make use of the Audio Technica ATH-M50 headphones is Don Diablo, who has been seen multiple times with the headphones.

SOL Republic Tracks

SOL Republic may not be as well-known in the professional world as the likes of Sennheiser and Audio Technica, but that doesn’t mean that its headphones aren’t used by DJs around the world. We think this may be a case of SOL republic paying DJs to use their headphones on stage, but either way, we know of at least a few who opt for the headphones.

Like who? Well the best-known DJ to use the headphones is perhaps Skrillex, but Steve Aoki has also been spotted with Tracks before.

Beats Mixr

Beats is known for its hefty marketing budget, so it makes sense that at least a few well-known DJs would make use of its headphones on stage. Now, Beats headphones get a bad rap in the pro audio world, but they’re not actually all that bad. Sure, they most certainly don’t sound natural — but plenty of people don’t want natural-sounding headphones anyway.

So which DJs use Beats headphones on stage? Well, there’s a few — like, for example, David Guetta. Skrillex has also been spotted with Beats headphones on stage from time to time.

A visual guide to everything you’ll find inside your headphones

We all use headphones regularly, and you’re probably able to spot a pair of headphones when you see them. You might now, however, be able to recognize your headphones from the inside. There are a number of different parts that go into building a pair of headphones, and they’re pretty high-tech — especially a pair of wireless headphones.

If you’re a tinkerer, or are simply interested in what’s inside your headphones, this article is for you — we took apart a pair of perfectly good, if not slightly outdated, AKG K845BT over-ear wireless headphones to see what we could find. Here are the results of that experiment.

The drivers

The first level of tech you’ll find when you take off the ear pads on your headphones are the drivers — which are basically what produces the sound that you hear.

The first step is to remove the ear pads, which shows the outside of the drivers, along with a series of screws basically keeping everything into place. Considering ear pads are generally really easy to take off, its these screws that hold together your headphones.

Inside Headphones Driver

Under the grill, which allows the sound through, you’ll see a membrane, under which can be found a magnet. When copper wiring, which we’ll see a little later, is wrapped around that magnet and electrified, it causes the membrane, or diaphragm, to move up and down — producing the sound.

The next step is to remove the screws you can see in the picture above — and that’s where the wireless headphone tech comes into play.

The chip

After removing the screws that hold the drivers into place, you’ll start t see a few wires — and a chip that basically contains the tech the wireless headphones require. In these particular headphones, the chip contains a Bluetooth transmitter and receiver, drawing power from the battery — which we’ll take a look at a little later.

From this chip, you’ll find wires that lead to the driver on the left, as well as on the right. This chip is also connected to the buttons on the headset. In this case, there are four buttons on this side of the chip, including a power button, volume up button, volume down button, and a play/pause button. If you look closely at the second image below, you’ll see those buttons labelled on the chip.

Inside Headphones Chip 1
Inside Headphones Chip 2


You’ll also find a 3.5mm input jack on the headphones, which bypasses the wireless features on the chip, and feeds the audio signal onto the amplifier directly.

Speaking of the amplifier, it’s also on the chip here — and basically amplifies the signal to a level that’s audible.

The gray wires that come out from the chip, we think, are antennas for the Bluetooth signal. The red and white wires connect to the driver, while the black wire connects to the battery on the other side of the headphones.

The battery

The other side of these headphones perform a slightly different function — the collection and storage of power. Here, the small chip is dedicated to regulating the power that’s drawn into the headphones, and it’s connected to a MicroUSB port that you’ll plug a cable into to charge.

Inside Headphones Battery
Inside Headphones USB


Then there’s the actual battery, which is under the black pad you can see. And, the battery is connected to a wire that feeds into the black wire, which runs out the top of the ear cup, inside the head band, to the other side of the headphones.

It struck is how small the battery in these headphones is. Sure, it would add extra weight, but it’s clear there’s a lot of room for manufacturers to play with how big of a battery they want.

Conclusions

Headphones feature a ton of tech, but they’re not overly complicated either. In some form or another, every pair of wireless headphones features the same technology in these ones. Sometimes, it’s miniaturized. Sometimes, on the other hand, it’s as large as it is here.

Want tons of bass? These are the best headphones for bass money can buy

Most people who are looking for a new pair of headphones want something relatively balanced. After all, a good balance of lows, mids, and highs makes for a much better listening experience. Some, however, are much more concerned with the bass of a pair of headphones. After all, great-sounding bass can really help a song sound deeper and tighter.

If that’s you, then thankfully there are quite a few options out there. There are plenty of bass-heavy headphones to choose from, all of which will deliver powerful-sounding music that’s sure to rattle your skull. Here are some of the best bass-focused headphones on offer.

Sennheiser HD 1 Wireless Over-Ear

Sennheiser HD 1 Wireless Main

The Sennheiser HD 1 Wireless headphones are, in our view, some of the best Bluetooth headphones out there. Not only are they relatively stylish and comfortable, but they boast excellent bass-response too.

The Sennheiser HD 1 Wireless headphones offer a deep, powerful bass that’s sure to please the bass fans out there. It’s not all bass though — the mid range and high-end also sounds very good here. High-end is often overlooked in a pair of headphones — but in the Sennheiser HD 1 Wireless headphones, it’s clear, detailed, and sounds great.

Skullcandy Crusher Wireless

Skullcandy Crusher Wireless Folded

Looking to turn the bass up to 11? The Skullcandy Crusher Wireless headphones may be the way to go. Sure, they could be a little more comfortable, and the high-end isn’t as detailed as some other headphones, but the fact is that if it’s bass you want, these headphones have you covered.

In fact, you can actually adjust just how much bass you want to hear, thanks to a slider on the side. That slider lets you turn the bass up (or down) to skull-shattering levels that the vast majority of people would never want to listen to music at. With the slider up all the way, the headphones literally shake.

V-Moda Crossfade 2 Wireless

V-Moda Crossfade 2 Wireless Main

V-Moda has been making some of the best wireless headphones for some time now, and the V-Moda Crossfade 2 Wireless is no exception to that rule. These headphones are awesomely designed, comfortable, and they sound great.

In fact, their sound-quality is by far the best thing about these headphones. Not only do they offer plenty of bass for those that want heavy bass, but they also boast very well-tuned mid range and a detailed, clear high-end that’s sure to help bring out the details of your favorite tune. The headphones are easy to control too, thanks to the buttons and switch on the side.

Sony MDR-XB950

Sony MDR-XB950

Looking to get a little more bass in a portable and relatively stylish package? These headphones from Sony might be the best choice for you. Not only do the headphones feature a stylish and sleek black design, but they’re also built to offer a little extra bass.

Not only do the headphones feature pretty extended bass response, but they even allow you to increase or decrease the bass response to your liking. They do so through a so-called “Bass Effect” button, which, when pressed, seriously raises the bass on offer. The headphones also offer noise cancellation, and are generally pretty comfortable.

Ultrasone Pro 900

Ultrasone Pro 900

Are you an audiophile simply looking to get the tightest bass response you can find? The Ultrasone Pro 900 headphones aren’t just pretty well-designed — they also sound great, and are relatively comfortable.

Of course, these aren’t just tuned to offer excellent bass — they’re also great at offering pretty well-tuned mid-range and clear and detailed high-end. Safe to say, if you’re looking for a great-sounding pair of headphones these should definitely be a consideration. They’re also solidly built and well-designed — so if you plan on taking these out of your home, they’ll look pretty sleek and stylish.

Best sports headphones money can buy (2018)

There are a ton of great headphones out there, but if you’re looking for a pair of headphones you can take running or to the gym, you’ll likely want a pair of dedicated sports headphones. Why? Well, other headphones could easily fall out of your ears or move around during your workout, which is less than ideal if you’re trying to focus on other things.

Thankfully, there are some great options out there for sports headphones, whether you want a pair of in-ear headphones or even on-ear headphones. Here are the best sports headphones money can buy.

Best sports headphones

Jaybird X3 Main

There are a ton of sports headphones out there, but if you want the best of the best, then the Jaybird X3 is probably the pair of headphones for you. Not only does it stay nice and tightly in your ear, but these headphones also sound pretty darn good — which is always nice for a listening device.

Read our full Jaybird X3 review here

While the headphones are generally comfortable and well designed, the best thing about them has to be the fact that they sound great. Not only do they sound pretty good out of the box, but the accompanying app also allows you to control the frequency response of them — so you can tweak the sound to perfectly match your preferences. So, if you want some nice pumping bass for your workout, it can easily be achieved — while if you want something slightly more natural you can get that too.

They’re also pretty comfortable, and they come with quite a range of accessories — including memory foam tips. That helps create a much better seal, which is not only good for keeping the headphones in your ears, but also helps create a much better sound quality.

Best on-ear sports headphones

Diskin DH3 Ports

This one was a bit of a surprise winner for us. Not because we think Diskin isn’t a good brand — just because before reviewing the Diskin DH3 headphones, we didn’t really know all that much about them. We’re not going to lie and say that these are the most stylish headphones out there, nor that they offer the best sound — but what they do offer is just about the perfect clamp amount for running and moderate movement at the gym, without falling off.

Read our full Diskin DH3 review here

That’s has a pretty big impact on a workout. Instead of having to adjust the headphones every couple of minutes, these should stay nicely in place. On top of that, they offer decent comfort levels, and while we wish there was a lot more high frequency response, they don’t sound all that bad.

Best wired sports headphones

V-Moda Forza Metallo Design

Many consider wireless headphones the better choice for taking running or to the gym — but if you’re willing to put up with a wire, then you could save a bit of money and get an amazing pair of headphones in the process. V-Moda has been on a roll of late, building not only great over-ear headphones like the Crossfade 2 Wireless, but also great in-ear headphones like the V-Moda Forza Metallo.

Read our full V-Moda Forza Metallo review here

The Forza Metallo is built to sound amazing, but they’re also designed in such a way that they stay in your ear pretty well. That’s largely because of the included sports wings and ear tips, allowing you to find the perfect combination of accessories for your ear shape. They’re also very well-designed, which we always appreciate.

Best fitness-tracking sports headphones

JBL Reflect Fit Main

Sometimes you may want your sports-focused headphones to do a little more than just play back music. Sometimes, for example, you may want them to also track fitness metrics like your heart rate. If that’s you, then a great choice is the JBL Reflect Fit, which not only offer a pretty good design and sound-quality, but also track your heart rate.

Read our full JBL Reflect Fit review here

Another thing that we loved about these headphones is their overall design. While they are built with a neckband style, that neckband isn’t loose enough to move around a lot during your workout, nor is it tight enough to strangle you. The controls are generally pretty easy to use as well, and while there are quite a few of them, you should get used to them relatively quickly.

Best sports headphones under $100

JLab Audio Epic2

All of the headphones on this list are great, but they’re all relatively expensive. If you’re looking for a great pair of sports-focused headphones and don’t want to spend more than $100, then there are still some great options — like the JLab Epic2 headphones.

Read our full JLab Epic2 review here

These headphones are built to offer a great sports experience. They feature a hook design to keep them in your ear, meaning you won’t have to worry too much about adjusting them a lot during your workout. They also sound pretty good — while some extra highs would be helpful, they offer plenty of bass, which is extra helpful during a workout. They also look great and remain relatively comfortable. Best of all, they come in right under the $100 mark.

Best gaming headsets money can buy (2018)

There are a ton of great gaming headsets out there, but they’re not all created equal. From HyperX to SteelSeries to Sennheiser to Astro, every gaming headset has something different to offer — so it can be tough to find the best gaming headset for your situation.

That’s why we’ve put together this guide: to help you get a better idea of which gaming headset you should buy, and which is the best gaming headset for you.

Best gaming headset

Astro A50 Main

Astro is a seasoned professional in the gaming industry. The company is well-known for its wide range of gaming devices and accessories, but the best thing on offer from the company right now has to be the Astro A50 headset. There are plenty of reasons this is a great headset, but among the top reasons are the supreme comfort level and excellent sound-quality.

Read our full Astro A50 review here

Of course, another great reason to go with the Astro A50 over another gaming headset is that it can be used wirelessly and docked when not in use — so it should always be charged up and ready to go. The headphones also feature plenty of on-ear controls, including an EQ switch, volume knob, and more.

The only real downside here is the price. At $300, these certainly aren’t inexpensive headphones — but if you have the money and simply want a great pair of headphones, then the Astro A50 gaming headset is the headset for you.

Best surround sound gaming headset

HyperX Cloud Revolver S Design

Kingston, which has morphed its gaming division into HyperX, is another well-known headset titan in the gaming industry. The company has been making excellent headsets at reasonable prices for years now, and among the best of its new gaming headsets is the Hyper X Cloud Revolver S.

Read our full HyperX Cloud Revolver S review here

While the Astro A50 does offer surround sound, it’s a very expensive headset — and that’s why, when it comes to value for money, we think the best 7.1 surround sound gaming headset on the market is the HyperX Cloud Revolver S. These don’t just have great surround sound though — they’re also extremely comfortable, look pretty cool, and offer a decent microphone. In general, the HyperX Cloud Revolver S is the full package, and at half the price of the Astro A50 headset too.

Best gaming headset for audiophiles

Audio Technica ATH ADG1X Main

There are plenty of gaming headsets out there that sound great, but if you’re looking for a headset that doubles as a great pair of cans for audiophiles, then the Audio Technica ATH-ADG1X headset is probably the right choice for you. Not only does the headset offer a top level of comfort and a pretty good microphone, but the headphones themselves sound great too.

Read our full Audio Technica ATH-ADG1X review here

We also really liked the design of this headset. It’s not as angular or different than the likes of the Astro A50, but the grill-style ear cups and split head band sets the headset apart from the rest. When it comes to sound quality, the headset offers a natural yet deep bass, well-tuned mid-range, and a crisp, clear high-end.

Best gaming headset under $100

SteelSeries Arctis 5 Main

SteelSeries is perhaps a little more versatile than other brands on this list, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t build excellent products in each category. In fact, it does — and we think it builds the best gaming headset under $100 — the SteelSeries Arctis 5.

Read our full SteelSeries Arctis 5 review here

The SteelSeries Arctis 5 sounds great and is excellently comfortable, but the best thing about the headset has to be its comfort-level. Not only are these headphones among the best comfortable gaming headsets out there, but they’re among the most comfortable headphones we’ve ever tested. That’s an important consideration to make for those that game for more than an hour or so at a time.

Best gaming headset under $50

HyperX Cloud Stinger Design 2

This is the second HyperX headset on this list, but there’s good reason for that — the company builds awesome products at great prices. Specifically, if you’re looking for a good option on a tight budget, then we thing the HyperX Cloud Stinger is the best choice for you.

Read our full HyperX Cloud Stinger review here

Sure, the headset doesn’t offer all the bells and whistles the likes of the Astro A50 has, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth buying. The headset offers a decent design and sound-quality, but again the best thing about the headset is its top-tier comfort-level.

These are the headphones your favorite celebrities wear

Headphones can be more than just a way to listen to your favorite tunes. Sometimes, they can be a fashion statement too — after all, if you’re out and about, you’re likely either wearing your headphones on your ears, or wearing them around your neck — and you want them to look good.

So what headphones do your favorite celebrities wear? We did some digging, and found out what the trendiest headphones out there are.

Beats by Dre

Beats Studio 3 Wireless Folded

No surprises here — dozens of celebrities swear by Beats by Dre. Now, it’s important to consider the fact that celebrities are often paid to wear a product for marketing purposes — and it’s highly likely that many of those who wear Beats headphones are being paid. Still, that doesn’t take away from the fact that they do wear them.

So which celebs go for Beats headphones? Well, we know of at least a few. Plenty of singers and performers wear Beats, including Lady Gaga, Nicki Minaj, Katy Perry, and Eminem, but sports stars can be spotted in Beats headphones too. The likes of Serena Williams and LeBron James have both been seen wearing Beats headphones, proving that the most popular headphones in the world aren’t only for musicians.

Our opinion? Beats offers great headphones, but they’re very specifically consumer-focused. That’s to say, the headphones are bass-heavy and not overly natural — but they still sound pretty good if that’s what you’re into.

Urbanears

Urbanears have been growing in popularity as a fashion statement too. Urbanears offers a few different models, though it seems like the Urbanears Plattan 2 Bluetooth headphones pop up more than others.

A number of celebrities have been spotted wearing the headphones, including the likes of Katie Holmes and Emma Roberts. Even Matthew McConaughey’s family has been seen with Urbanears headphones.

It makes sense that the headphones would be worn by those who want to look good — after all, they’re pretty stylish.

Marshall

Guitar amplifier company Marshall also has its own line of headphones, and they seem to have a lot to offer. They’re stylish, sound pretty good, and are reasonably comfortable too. Plus, it seems like Marshall has a pretty big marketing budget for its headphone line — plenty of celebs have been spotted wearing their headphones.

Like who? Well, for starters, Cara Delevingne, model and star of moves like Suicide Squad, has been seen in Marshall headphones.

SkullCandy

Skullcandy Crusher Wireless Comfort

SkullCandy is another company that seems to have a pretty big marketing budget. Their headphones sound pretty good, plus they’re decently well-designed and offer plenty of features. There are dozens of SkullCandy headphones out there, and they each offer something a little different.

So which celebrities have been spotted wearing them? Plenty of actors have been seen wearing the headphones, like Reese Witherspoon and Charlize Theron. Zac Efron, Kate Upton, and Anne Hathaway have also been spotted in them. But the headphones aren’t just limited to actors — musicians like Snoop Dogg have even been seen wearing SkullCandy headphones.

It’s not all that surprising — SkullCandy headphones, in our experience, are pretty nice. Like Beats, they’re not overly natural-sounding headphones — but they offer some pretty cool features, like the bass boost slider on the SkullCandy Crusher Wireless.

Pryma

Last but not least is Pryma, a growing company that seems to also have a growing marketing budget. The company has been seen as the headphone brand as choice for a number of high-profile celebrities.

Pryma seems to be targeting musicians for its headphone line. Perhaps the most high-profile of those musicians is Beyonce, but we’ve also seen Lionel Richie enjoy a pair of Pryma headphones.

In general, Pryma headphones seem to have gotten pretty good reviews. Reportedly, they sound pretty good, look pretty good, and feel pretty good too.

SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless vs. Astro A50: Which gaming headset reigns supreme?

The gaming headset market is heating up. Gone are the days when you were limited to one or two decent options — these days, there are dozens of great gaming headsets. Some of them, however, stand above the rest. The Astro A50 has long been considered one of the best gaming headsets out there. It sounds great, is wireless, and is super comfortable. Now, however, there’s another serious option out there for those that want a decent wireless gaming headset — the SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless.

But which of the two headsets is better? Or rather, which one is better for your particular situation? We put the two headsets head to head to find out whether one of them was a better option than the other.

Before you read our comparison, you may want to take a look at the full reviews of the headphones:

  • SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless review
  • Astro A50 review

Design

The Astro A50 and SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless are designed a little differently — and the differences may be important to you.

For starters, the SteelSeries Arstic Pro Wireless is perhaps the sleekest of the two headsets. The headset features SteelSeries’ typical elastic headband, which is adjustable, along with matte black plastic on the ear cups. The headphones feel very solid — like they won’t break unless under a lot of stress. The microphone on this headset, like SteelSeries’ other offerings, is retractable — which is very nice.

Along with the headset, you’ve also got a wireless station, which you’ll plug in to your computer. The station features a few different ports on the back, along with a volume wheel on the front, which is easy to access. It also has a battery charger — and the headset comes with two batteries. That means you can use the headset until it runs out of batteries, then trade the battery for a charged up one.

SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless vs Astro A50 Ports

The Astro A50 is a little more extravagant in its design. It’s still black, but with blue highlights, and controls on the side of the ear cup instead of the bottom. It’s not really as sleek as the SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless, nor as simplistic, but some might prefer the extra pizazz. The microphone, instead of being retractable, folds up. The headset does have a design advantage though, and that comes in the form of the base station — which also acts as a charging station. That means that when you’re not gaming you can simply place the headset on the base station, and it should be ready to go the next time you want to play.

It’s hard to award a winner in the design section. We definitely prefer the look of the SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless, but it’s hard to beat the convenience of the charging station the Astro A50 has to offer — even with a replaceable battery and battery charging slot in the base station, as the Arctis Pro Wireless offers. In the end, it’s a tie.

Winner: Tie

Comfort

The comfort department is also a close contest — and once again the two headsets have a slightly different feel to offer.

The Astro A50 is a very comfortable headset, thanks largely to the soft material covering the foam in both the ear cups and the headband. It is a relatively heavy headset, but thanks to the comfort it doesn’t feel overly so.

The SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless is also very comfortable. The material is a little less soft, but the trade-off is that it remains a lot cooler — and we think it’s a trade-off that’s well worth it. On top of that, the headband is elastic and adjustable, which helps ensure that the top of your head doesn’t get uncomfortable during long playing sessions.

SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless vs Astro A50 Comfort

In the end, we think the Arctis Pro Wireless is the slightly more comfortable headset. It stays cooler and is able to deal with the headset’s weight a little easier.

Winner: SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless

Sound

Perhaps the most important thing to consider here is how the two headsets sound — and thankfully, they both sound great — but once again, not totally the same.

The SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless offers a full range of excellently-tuned audio. There’s plenty of bass, which is perfect for kick drums and bass guitars in music, and explosions and gunshots in games. The mid-range is well-tuned too — there’s a solid amount of warmth, plus the high-mids are loud enough to help your team-mates’ voices cut through the mix. The high-end is detailed and clear.

That’s not to say the Astro A50 doesn’t offer these things. In fact, it does. Perhaps the biggest difference between these headsets lies in the high-end. While the SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless offers quite a natural sound, the Astro A50 pushes the high end a little. That creates a sound that offers plenty of detail, to be sure, but it can make high frequencies sound a little shrill — and take away a little from the natural sound.

SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless vs Astro A50 Stations

There’s another major difference in sound quality here, and that’s that the Astro A50 offers 7.1 surround sound — which may be important to some. If that’s you, then you can skip right to the links to buy the headset below.

So which one’s better? If you’re looking for a super natural sound, then the SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless is a slightly better-sounding headset. That said, if you want a high-end boost or surround sound, then the Astro A50 may be the choice for you.

Winner: SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless.

Performance

The SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless is slightly ahead in two categories — but what about performance? There are a few things to consider here — wireless performance, and battery life.

Both headsets performed extremely well when it comes to wireless performance — and we never experienced any skips or jumps during gameplay.

What that means is that this category is down to battery performance. The SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless gets 10 hours of use on a single charge, but as mentioned you get a second battery with the headset, which effectively doubles that — if you don’t mind swapping out the battery when it’s done. The Astro A50, however, gets 15 hours on a single charge — and it’ll be rare that you run out if you remember to keep it on its charging station when it’s not being used.

The ability to swap out the battery is nice, but in terms of raw battery life the Astro A50 is the winner here — so it wins the category.

Winner: Astro A50

Microphone

The microphone on a gaming headset is never all that special, but both of the microphones on these headsets will do just fine for gaming. We recommend looking for a dedicated microphone if you want to record podcasts or Let’s Play videos, but again, for in-game chat it won’t matter as much.

SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless vs Astro A50 Microphones

In general, we found that the Astro A50’s microphone sounded a little better than the microphone on the SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless. It simply had a bit more body to it and sounded more natural.

Winner: Astro A50

Conclusions

This is a very close competition, and in the end both headsets are excellent options. Not only that, but we haven’t even talked about price yet — the SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless is currently around $100 more expensive than the Astro A50.

So which one should you go for? Well, it depends. If you want a premium headset that’s super comfortable and sounds great, then the SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless is the headset to go for. If, however, you want a 7.1 surround sound gaming headset with a slightly better microphone, then go for the Astro A50.

These are both excellent gaming headsets, and they’re tailored to a slightly different market. If you still can’t decide, we think the SteelSeries Arctis Prr Wireless is the headset to go for.

 

You can buy both of the headsets for yourself using the links below.

  • SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless
  • Astro A50
Store Price
Amazon
 $329.99
Best Buy
 $329.99
SteelSeries $329.99

Store Price
Amazon
 $200+
Best Buy
 $239.99
Astro $239.99

Review: Technics EAH-T700 – Double Driver

Disclaimer: The Technics EAH-T700 was sent to us by the local Technics branch. The unit in the meantime has been returned to Technics as it was a three week loaner.

 

Technics

Everyone knows Technics and everyone heard or has heard of the iconic and legendary SL-1200 turntable. But Technics headphones? Not that famous if you think about it. Technics seemed to agree and they decided the build the EAH-T700 statement headphone which they launched at the same time as they announced the revival of their awesome turntable.

Of course everyone has been talking about the SL1200. And the EAH-T700 headphone, well, it’s been out there for quite a while now. Today it’s featured on Headfonia though, but is it really a high end headphone? Keep reading and find out.

EAH-T700

The closed back Technics EAH-T700 has a central dynamic 50mm driver and a small 14mm super tweeter.

The New Statement from Technics Headphones. Superlative Musical Experience, Right in Your Ears.

The tweeter in the Technics EAH-T700 headphone pushes the frequency range all the way to 100kHz, which is way above what the ear can hear, unless you’re a dolphin or a wale as one of my friends put it. So is that really needed or useful? I wonder.

Uncompromised Sound Technology for Discerning Audiophiles

Technics clearly is aiming for the audiophile and they’re not afraid to show it in their marketing communication. To further show us they’re serious they’ve implemented an angled driver system that delivers natural sound, added the extra super on top of the dynamic driver and all that in a floating driver system, an anti-vibration frame and rigid aluminum housing for the elimination of unnecessary resonance and vibrations

Design, Price, Comfort & Build Quality

The Technics EAH-T700 I received has clearly been used before by many before me and the box was even missing. Inside the delivery box was a simple carrying bag with a short and a long cable. I’m sure/I hope you get plenty of other accessories at this price point but I couldn’t possibly tell.

The build quality of the Japanese Technics EAH-T700 is very good. Sure you like or hate the design but the materials used (aluminum & pleather) are really nice. The finish? As good as it gets. I have to say the design team did an excellent job on displaying the driver configuration, the driver and super tweeter in the angled position look gorgeous. Comfort wise I find the 470g Technics EAH-T700 on the heavier side but the headband fits great and the 3D pads are very comfortable. The pads are removable (click system) so they can be replaced when needed.

Horizontal Slide [HS] adjustment and ergonomic 3D ear pads will fit your perfect listening style to immerse into the music.

 

After a few hours of continuous use, I have to say the headband does start to hurt a little on top of your head, but it’s not that bad that you have to take it off. The 3-D pads perfectly sit around your ears and deliver a perfect seal.  The pressure of the “ear cups” on your head is higher than with most headphones but if you’re used to listening to the Audeze LCD2.1, you most likely won’t even notice this. Not only can you adjust the height of the headband and the angle of the cups, but you also move the ear cups back and forth. That way the Technics EAH-T700 is guaranteed to fit any head.

Technics opted to deliver the EAH-T700 with a double set of cables, a short one and a longer one. The EAH-T700 uses double 3.5mm connectors so you can run this headphone in balanced mode. The stock cables use a screw on system to keep the cables from getting pulled out, this might be an issue for aftermarket cables but I think it would be ok for most of them.

I mentioned before that Technics is aiming for the audiophile with this headphone and that reflects in the price. Yes, Technics does use nothing but quality materials and a double driver but the price at the moment still is a little over €/$1000 and that puts it in Audeze, Sennheiser, Beyerdynamic and Hifiman territory. Brands known for having excellent sounding “audiophile” headphones. Can Technics compete with them sound-wise? You’re about to find out.

The review with the part on Sound and comparisons, continues on Page 2 after the click HERE or the jump below

Specifications

Headphone Type : Closed

Driver & Diaphragm: 2″ (50 mm) + Super Tweeter (Advanced MLF + Aluminum)

Frequency Response: 3 Hz – 100 kHz (Target)

Headphone Adjustment: Horizontal Slider / Swivel & Headband Slider / Housing Tilt

Cord: 4′ (1.2 m) 4N-OFC/9’10” (3.0 m) 4N-OFC and 1 1/2″ (3.5 mm) -> 2 1/2″ (6.3 mm) adapter. Balanced Connection Compatible

Frequency Response: 3 Hz – 100 kHz

Sensitivity: 102 dB / mW

Impedance: 28 Ω

Power Handling (IEC): 1500 mW (IEC)

Weight: Approx. 470 g (without cord)  & Approx. 515 g (with 1.2 m cord)

Features and Technology

Natural Sound-field with Angled-Driver [AD] System

100 kHz High Resolution Sound with Super Tweeter

High Linearity 50 mm Dynamic Driver

Floating Dynamic Driver & Anti-vibration Driver’s Frame for Unnecessary Resonance and Vibration Elimination

Anti-reverberation Structure with Speaker Plate and Ear Pads

3D Ergonomic Ear Pads

The review with the part on Sound and comparisons, continues on Page 2 after the click HERE or the jump below

Picture Sunday: Hifiman Shangri La

This week’s picture Sunday features the Hifiman Shangri-La reference DAC/AMP/Headphone system. To check out all previous Picture Sunday Posts click HERE.

 

I’ve  been so lucky to have listened to the Shangri-La for a few times now. The first time I heard it was back in 2016 and back then it really didn’t look yet how it does now. It was the first model after the prototype model and there still were some mistakes in the design. I remember as I couldn’t take pictures of certain parts of the headphone(s) as well but what I also remember is how incredible good it sounded.

Back then the price was still estimated at around $30K but now it’s been priced to compete with Sennheiser’s HE-1 setup which had been finalized at that stage already. Fast forward to 2017. The Hifiman Shangri-La is finished and it’s available to order. Its looks have radically changed and it now looks extremely modern and I very much like its design.

Sound wise I personally really liked how the prototype sounded back in 2016 but it unfortunately never will be possible to hear that model again. My session with the Shangri-La this year in Munich was loudly interrupted by a group of Russian journalists(?) and I didn’t get as much time as I wanted to have with the production model. In that regard, the new one hasn’t convinced me yet like the prototype did back in 2016. Luckily there still are a few Canjam shows coming up where the Shangri-La will be available to listen to, so I really look forward to those.

Doesn’t that unit just scream luxury? It’s gorgeous! Now what also would be extremely interesting, is to hear both the Sennheiser HE-1 and the Hifiman Shangri-La side by side. I know several show show organizers have been trying to get that done but from what I understand both brands aren’t really interested in doing this. I’m sure they have their reasons but wouldn’t it be awesome to be in a room with two of the best and most expensive headphone setups in the world?

Who knows, one day…