DJ Headphones: Juno Plus Ultimate Buyer's Guide

Feeling much like the Allen & Heath Xone 40, these are the perfect solution for those needing some compact headphones that won't let you down in a jam.

The bold, stiff design may not be to everyone's taste, but the isolating earphones allow full appreciation of the strong bass response, while the ambidextrous audio input cable will find favour with left-handed DJs.

Despite the light, matt plastic finish, the 6400s feel sturdy, and are extremely comfortable to wear and the detachable cord is a plus. The mid-range response is excellent, although the bass may lack punch for those who need it.

Whilst the bass from the HDJ-500s is undeniably beefy, the lack of earcup swivel may put off those wanting to DJ with them - however the microphone attachment makes them much more versatile than your average DJ headphones.

A hefty, plastic design which isn't as ergonomic or comfortable as other models in this price range. Retains a good overall frequency response and effective isolation.

Great sound for this price, combined with comfort and effective isolation. The replaceable parts (which include straight and coiled cables, two sets of earpads and a carry bag) make these headphones a good mid-range choice.

Solid design with an extremely robust aluminium bar for durability, excellent isolation, detailed sound (although a little bright and lacking in the low end), replaceable parts (including spare ear pads and carry case), and a rubberised paint finish. Nice.

Good sound quality and isolation, with nice big cups for on-the-shoulder monitoring.

Shure can be relied on for good sound quality and these don't disappoint; replaceable parts will also ensure these accompany you to gigs for years to come, and the locking cable is a nice touch.

These lack low end punch, but in general a well spec'd headphone, which is comfortable and fit for purpose. Well worth considering.

Respectable sound reproduction from the 50mm drivers, and flexible ear cups allow for easy positioning. However, the jack adaptors are clearly an afterthought, opting for a curiously awkward 6.3-3.5mm adaptor, rather than the standard configuration.

A classic design with wide frequency response, excellent isolation and comfort. The quirky features (including HP/LP filters, "Cool Blue LEDs" on the ear cups, and the annoying 6.35mm to 3.5mm jack) don't really add anything of merit to their feature set.

Nice and original design, though the ear cups don't swivel for on-shoulder monitoring and the sound is quite "boxy" - lacking low end punch and high end detail.

With their shiny, plasticky finish with faux velour earpads, you might feel like you're in a tacky 70s disco club, but there's no denying their comfort or their strong bass response - though the highs and mids can sound sludgy.

The concept of the mono stick is not going to be for everyone, but if you want to make a statement, this is the way to go. Its rubber grip will certainly not fail you in the usability stakes, but the high range frequencies and loss of stereo imaging simply don't feel sharp enough to justify buying this over a good pair of normal headphones.

These promise to fulfil the role of headphones and portable speakers, but frankly fail in both applications. They are very heavy and uncomfortable, and the sound leaves a lot to be desired. Avoid.

Although lacking in high frequency response, the low end presence is fine, but overall these sound quite woody. The budget materials affect the build quality and comfort, but for the price, you could do worse.

Like the HP550s, the low end presence is OK, but again the sound is woody. These represent decent for money, and the spare parts mean they'll last much longer.

Like its bigger brother, the ATHT200 offer a comfortable, well designed package for the minimum of cash - however those looking for a fuller listening experience may be better off spending a bit more money.

On looking at these headphones you'd be forgiven for thinking they're much more expensive than they are. Although the head support offers a comfortable listening experiences, the bass may be lacking for some. Overall, value for money.

While certainly not suited to extended periods of home listening, the swivel cups lend themselves to those who need a budget pair of DJ headphones - though the mids can occasionally get lost in the swampy bass frequencies.

Although they pack a bigger bass punch than their younger sibling the HP350 Pro, and are certainly more comfortable to wear, the slightly muted mids and slightly stiff swivel cup aren't ideal for DJing.

The comfort and lightweight feel of these headphones impress, followed by warm and rich sound reproduction. For the price, they're great value for money and include a spare cable and carry case.

A little uncomfortable, but overall have a fairly well balanced sound and the rotating ear cups allow for a combination of monitoring styles.

Although these are not suitable for very loud club environments, they are a good choice for the bedroom DJ on a tight budget. Can't argue with the price either.

Headphones with this design are few and far between. If this particular style attracts you, then at this price these are probably one of the very few that you'll find on the market. They have reasonable sound quality and volume, with an XLR to 6.35mm Jack and carry case.

Despite the unique shape of the ear cups, these cans offer effective isolation and comfort. The sound is well balanced, with deep bass and defined mid and high frequencies, all at an affordable price.

The Numark HF125s offer amazing value for money; closed back to offer good isolation, rotating earpieces for easy one-ear monitoring, and lightweight for comfort.

Although these chunky, bright headphones don't have the most mature of designs, they're certainly solid with nicely cushioned earpads. However, the bass, although strong might lack a little definition for some, though you won't have trouble picking out hi-hats in a mix. A good all-round performer for the price.

Good solid design, housing hefty 50mm drivers which deliver respectable sound quality and isolation for this price.

More of a fashion-orientated design, the RPDJS400 deliver solid bass for this price and the swivelling ear cups allow for on-shoulder monitoring.

Although these headphones do a decent enough job for the money, you get the sense that their not particularly snug fit is letting their isolation down, while the mid range frequencies sound somewhat tinny, although the volume control is a nice touch.

Although these are certainly the ugly sibling of Reloop's otherwise classy design range, for under 10 you're unlikely to find a more comfy pair of headphones, although the higher ends of the spectrum can be slightly muffled - though for 10 they are a steal.

These small but perfectly formed headphones are surprisingly punchy in the sound department, and although they certainly don't stand up to the big boys, for portability and all round sound reproduction you can't go far wrong.

As ever with Sennheiser, these headphones feel solid - and despite the swivel ear cup perhaps too solid for those DJing who might want a little more flexibility, but the sound isolation and response is as good as you'll get for the price.

Although the name suggests these should be a pro set of DJ headphones, the lack of any kind of flexibility makes them impractical for one ear monitoring. Having said that, the sound is clear, and would make a decent home monitoring headphone on a budget.

Although DJ headphones with one earphone are in theory a good idea, they do really need to be designed with either ear in mind, which these are not - though the higher frequencies are decent enough which is what's required of this kind of monitoring headphone.

Unless you're really strapped for cash, these headphones should be avoided - they feel plasticky and stiff, and overall sound response feels somewhat muddy.

These space-age headphones are about as compact as DJ wear gets, and the low end response is excellent.

Although the combination of blue and yellow is not to everyone's tastes, these headphones are light, portable, and supremely flexible - though the default size may not be snug enough for some, the sound is big for the price.

Despite being billed as DJ headphones, they feel far too insubstantial for such a task, and though their size makes them more suited to portable listening, their still nature makes them likely to be uncomfortable for extended listening, though the black with gold trim will be attractive to many.

These are more suited to portable listening than DJing, and the camouflage patterned version will not appeal to everyone.

The stark white design is sure to stand out. Not suitable for DJing, acceptable for use on the run but will become uncomfortable after extended periods of listening.

Let's get the elephant in room out of the way first - the pink diamonte stylings will get you laughed out the venue if you turn up to a gig wearing these - regardless of gender, but the DJ Mayumi designed phones are supremely comfortable, and sound good.

While these run of the mill headphones are neutral and compact enough, they felt a bit tight for our liking, and the sound, while concise enough in the bass department, was less distinct in the higher frequencies.