Pioneer announced three additions to its suite of HDJ over-ear headphones, meant for professional gigging DJs. The new HDJ-X line has three different models — the X10, X7, and X5 — with the X10 named as Pioneer’s new flagship.
While the entire HDJ-X line sports impressive specs, it’s the X10 that’s most noteworthy. With a 50mm driver that can produce sound from 5 Hz up to 40 kHz, the X10 has a wider range than most DJ headphones (which usually top out around 30 kHz). Pioneer also says the headphones are capable of 96 kHz / 24-bit high-resolution audio reproduction when connected with its TOUR1 or NXS2 setups (the latter being more of a standard find at events). While all of that might be useful in a studio setting, it’s doubtful most DJs using the X10s at an insanely loud club or festival (as Pioneer intends) would need or notice this type of fidelity or additional high-end frequencies.
What’s more intriguing from a performance perspective is that the entire HDJ-X line cleared a series of demanding endurance tests, and are built to be knocked around and opened and closed up to 20,000 times. Similar to how SOL Republic marketed its bendable headband, Pioneer’s HDJ-X line seems to be able to withstand the same treatment. (Not that you’d actually twist it around like this, but headphone durability is important for a touring DJ.)
Also interesting to note: the X10 model has nano coating on the leather ear pads and headband cushion, making them resistant to “deterioration” (i.e., nasty ass gig sweat). Pioneer says they’re the first headphones in the world to have this. Unfortunately, the nano coating isn’t available across the HDJ-X fleet, but it’s a fantastic little feature, so it should be. The X10 also has a detachable mini-XLR connector, comes with a flat carrying case, and has two detachable cables: a 1.2-meter coiled cable, and a 1.6-meter straight cable that both have L-type mini jack connections.
Outside of the X10, the mid-tier X7 is designed to provide the same experience as Pioneer’s HDJ-2000MK2 headphones and has a newly developed 50mm driver with a frequency range of 5 Hz to 30 kHz. The budget X5 has 40mm drivers and mimics the look and feel of the other HDJ-X models, also topping out at 30 kHz. All the HDJ-X headphones will be available in black and silver, feature swivel mechanisms, detachable cables, and to some degree, replaceable parts.
Pioneer’s new HDJ-X line will be available in mid-September with the HDJ-X10 priced at $349, the HDJ-X7 at $199, and the HDJ-X5 at $99.