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Posted by Zombie0729 on Jun-22-2004 04:45:

A fair headphone question

::sigh::
i know, another headphone thread right? Well i have a feeling this question is a little different. I have been Djing for sometime now, and i still cannot figure out for the life of me, why a DJ would not choose these...

or these

forgive me if i'm wrong, but when i spin in large clubs, i hate all that outside noise... for starters these will eliminate outside noise to a far greater degree because they act as ear plugs, but actually as headphones too. Second, these are so much better for your ears, because i'm sure you can keep the volume far lower than normally in ear cup headphones. So why? I am so tempted to buy those ones above, but they are 350$ and the shure's are close to 450$... and i dont want to be wrong... so any info would be of help guys

Posted by Blithe on Jun-22-2004 04:50:

I think generally you would want to hear the monitor feeding you the live mix into the booth (Assuming the club you're playing at has one.)

With those suckers, you're in a void, no one can get to you. Plus, then there's the basic problem of slipping them on and off, wriggling them in and out of your ears and such, it's much easier to just throw your phones on.

Posted by DJ Kibon on Jun-22-2004 08:19:

quote:
Originally posted by Blithe
I think generally you would want to hear the monitor feeding you the live mix into the booth (Assuming the club you're playing at has one.)

That would be my guess too. Plus, it would look pretty odd to see a DJ going all night without appearing to have headphones on. Maybe it's a fashion/style thing?

Posted by djtrinity on Jun-22-2004 10:37:

some New York guys use those......the only way to to know is to try them...u might get lucky u might not......

but u will know then and only then if they work for u

Posted by Freak on Jun-22-2004 10:57:

well yes
im the same, on really loud and large systems i hate having the monitor real loud to overcome the system.
In the louder venues i work at I will always mix using split cue if given the option on the mixer, and generally have the monitor turned down for most of the time- they would be ideal in those situations.

But they would be useless anywhere you had to use phones/monitor, as they dont exactly allow for quick removal from your ear.
As systems (and in particular monitoring and mixers) vary so much, it could be awkward.

There is also the possiblilty of being TOO detached from the sound, and therefore the atmosphere, vibe and ambience of the night. Thats the point that concerns me most

I would love to try them- but currently it would be unpractical.

Posted by Blithe on Jun-22-2004 15:14:

I would also be worried about losing the little buggers.

Posted by Zombie0729 on Jun-22-2004 16:23:

but Freak... you've never done a set where you mixed completly in your headphones(where it's at home or whatever)? what's the difference? It's just a thought because 70% of the time i play out, i am wearing ear plugs anyways...

Posted by Freak on Jun-22-2004 17:00:

yes of course- but not at every club- as i said, some mixers dont support split cueing which craps on the whole use of them.

Even when i do mix in the phones i still take them off between tracks, to listen to the system and tweak if needed, and also to listen to the ambience.

Posted by Rukahs on Jun-23-2004 03:17:

well this is a good topic, i recomend finding a place Anthony where you can actually rent those shure's (there are a few places i know of) for the night or something. If you hate them, of course just go back to whatever ear cup headphone you normally use. pm me if u need some names of places that rent.

and i'd actually be curious about your experience

Posted by Psiweaver on Jul-01-2004 20:49:

There supposed to sound incredible and be incredibly comfy. I would love to have a pair for everday listening as well except when i see that price tag it makes me kinda reconsider though a few of the DJ's i've talked to that use them say them love them and would never go back to big bulky phones.

Posted by Psy-T on Jul-01-2004 22:17:

yep, the 'detached' factor is the downside, and its one major downside.

Posted by hooj1 on Jul-01-2004 22:41:

You should try the shure E-2 first, they are the same as the E-5 but don't sound as good. Of course the upside is you get to try them out without spending too much. I got mine for $80 with isn't too bad, and I like them alot, although I don't DJ with them because I feel too detached. If you buy them and don't like them to DJ with just use them for your ipod ( if you have one ).