Once you’re sure that your new headphones are durable and comfortable to wear, you need to ensure that they’re going to sound great. If you loved the sound of the previous HDJ-2000MK2s, then you’re in for a treat here.

Pioneer DJ recently debuted three new DJ headphones: the HDJ-X5, HDJ-X7, and HDJ-X10. Dubbed the “HDJ-X” series, these cans replaced the company’s current line of HDJ-2000MK2 / 1500 / 1000 line. The headphones feature a new design, and the HDJ-X10 in particular has Pioneer DJ’s new nano-coated sweat-resistant ear pads for comfort during extended use. It also has Pioneer DJ’s HD speaker drivers, making the HDJ-X10 the first “Hi-Res” DJ headphone that the company has produced (its HRM-7 studio headphones released over a year ago also has HD speaker drivers onboard, though they aren’t meant for gig use). You can use these to listen to any music you choose and explore the soundscape of your tunes in incredible depth. On top of that, you get a comfortable design suitable for all-day wear, and durability that offers complete peace of mind. These are DJ headphones that can withstand regular use, no matter how much time and effort you put into your DJ career.

The headphones feature an entirely new audio design and, thanks to the fresh 50mm HD drivers, are the world’s first pro DJ headphones to recreate high-resolution sound, producing frequencies from 5 Hz all the way to 40 kHz. A Bass Reflex Chamber means these headphones are able to replicate the richest of bass tones as well as pristine mid to high frequencies, even when monitoring at loud volumes. On the plus side, you do get a lot of extra bonuses with these headphones, including Hi-Res certification that you simply can’t find anywhere else. Credit: Pioneer DJ

These DJ headphones are extremely durable and well-made, with special nano-coating on the earpads that make them easy to clean and sweat-resistant. Second, the biggest change in the HDJ-X10, which is quite obvious even for users of other DJ headphones, is the ultra-wide soundstage. The left channel sounds like it was pushed way out left, and ditto for the right channel. I would go so far as to say that the stereo field sounds exagerrated, with the impression that you’re “inside” a piece of music as opposed to listening to it “in front” of you. This is not necessarily a bad thing, nor is it a good thing, but this is the signature characteristic of the HDJ-X10, and something that you will either love or hate. I didn’t like it at first, but it grew on me the longer I used it – humans are great at adapting, for better or worse.

Take the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x from the studio to the house party

In a general sense, the Pioneer HDJ-X10 headphones have a very modern sound. There is a boost around 12kHz that gives the high frequencies a particular crispness. The high frequencies have space and air which I think pushes these headphones into a higher quality of headphone overall. Sound Stage The HDJ-X10 headphones are equipped with our new 50-mm high definition driver, making them the world's first DJ headphones to reproduce high-resolution sound from 5 Hz to 40 kHz. The direct drive structure, with a newly developed diaphragm shape and voice coil, delivers high quality sound without loss of quality due to mechanic loss. I tried it with the CDJ-2000NXS2 / DJM-900NXS2 set-up I had in my studio and, lo and behold, I couldn’t tell the difference – I don’t have “golden ears” or amazing aural sensitivities that can go beyond the threshold of human hearing, but I could not find a significant difference between dance music WAV files and hi-res FLAC files. The HDJ-X10’s do not lose any sound quality because of mechanical loss, this is due to the diaphragm and voice coil working perfectly in harmony, whilst the 4-core twisted-structure headphone cable ensures you are getting flawless left and right channel separation. When using the X10s with a TOUR1 or NXS2 set-up the headphones really come into a league of their own, giving you high-definition 96 kHz/24-bit audio with amazing clarity so you can monitor better than ever before. Try it with a high-level piece of audio equipment, and it’s difficult to tell much of a difference between regular files and the high-Res FLAC files that HDJ-X10 DJ headphones can play.

Headbands are typically where DJ headphones break, and the Pioneer DJ HDJ-X10 has a flexible and resilient headband that won’t snap in two, even if you twist it around or wring it like a sweaty DJ’s towel. It just won’t break! That’s great news, especially for heavy-handed DJs like me who have already broken headphones this way (went through two pairs of Beats headphones at gigs, if you wanted to know). When all has been said, both the X10 and X7 are great DJ headphones, and neither will disappoint. They’ll probably both last forever too. But if you’re already dishing out serious dough, I personally think it’s worth the investment to go for the Pioneer X10. The Pioneer DJ HDJ-X10 are a lot bulkier than their predecessors, but they’re still relatively lightweight, so they don’t rub against the crown of your head too much. These are some of the most comfortable over-ear headphones on the market. The tension on the headband is just enough to feel as though it’s not going to slip without being overbearing. Today, Pioneer DJ fans can access everything from state-of-the-art controllers to turntables and even headphones.Another massive bonus of the HDJ-X10 is that you get incredible noise cancellation and isolation included. Compared to many of the other DJ headsets on the market, the Pioneer DJ HDJ-X10 has some of the best isolation you can find.

Overall, the HDJ-X10 sounds “hyped” thanks to the bump in the lows and the wider soundstage. Isolation The comfortable fit and noise isolation would even make this a good choice as a pair of headphones to use in an office where you don’t want anyone bothering you while you work. Hi-Res audio Hi-Res audio files could make a slight difference in sound quality, but you’re going to need to play on a top notch sound system in a properly tuned room, such as in Ministry Of Sound’s The Box, to fully maximise its aural advantages. The earpads also have polyurethane nano-coating, which makes them easy to wipe and clean. Here are some of the key features you can expect from the HDJ-X10:These headphones are comfortable to use no matter how you wear them. The housing design reduces pressure on your head, while its outside texture enhances grip. To help you find the perfect fit, they also feature a flexible, durable headband and a flexible swivel. The Top to bottom imaging isn’t quite as accurate as left-to-right, but it still comes with plenty of depth to explore. Stay on top of your game with the flagship HDJ-X10 over-ear headphones. Refined with input from professional DJs to serve you at festivals, clubs and everywhere in between, they’ll change the way you experience music. Producing high-resolution sound ranging from 5 Hz to 40 kHz thanks to a new 50mm driver, they’re ideal for DJ monitoring, delivering clear left and right channel separation as well as greater separation of rich bass tones and crisp mid to high frequencies. The Pioneer DJ HDJ-X10 stands out as a professional set of DJ headphones from the moment you open the box.