Can You DJ with Bluetooth Headphones?
I'll cover how to attach wireless headphones to a DJ controller, what the drawbacks are, and whether it's possible to DJ while wearing them in this article.
These issues have been extensively debated in the past, and despite technological advancement, wearing Bluetooth headphones was somehow always frowned upon.
Since latency and DJing did not work well together at all, the issue was always latency (the amount of time it takes for the signal to reach your ears or the crowd after you make a change to your DJ controller).
Radio has historically been the only working system that we have ever encountered (as in the same technology as those little FM transmitters you can use to "broadcast" your phone to the vehicle stereo).
However, technology has now advanced just far enough in 2022 for DJs to abandon cables.
Simply said, you can DJ while using wireless headphones. The only additional equipment you need to have is a Bluetooth transmitter with aptX low latency, no audio delay, and an audio wire that connects to your DJ controller (because a Bluetooth connection adds about 150 ms of latency).
My colleague's Avantree Audition Pro and my V-MODA Crossfade 2, coupled with an Avantree Audikast Plus Bluetooth 5.0 Transmitter with aptX low latency, were tested with Rekordbox DJ software on my DDJ-400 and DDJ-800, and all I can say is "amazing!"
I was taken aback by how wonderful, crisp, and clear the sound is. While beatmatching was in fact a little off, it was still usable in a pinch.
How Do Wireless Headphones and DJing Relate to Latency?
Because your decoder—in this case, your wireless headphones—needs time to decode the audio, latency and loss are related. Decoding will take longer the bigger the file is. There is a slight delay as a result of that.
Now, delay is frequently unimportant. You won't notice that a track begins 90 milliseconds after you press "play" if you are merely listening to music. But it may get really grating when you're blending two tunes.
You'll notice that the one song lags if your latency is greater than 50 milliseconds.
Low latency Bluetooth headphones and a transmitter are necessary for DJing.
The maximum delay that AptX Low Latency is intended for is 40 milliseconds. Because the delay is so brief, it is not noticeable.
40 ms is still too much time, according to some, to beatmatch. And I do think it is for professional DJs. Perhaps for this reason, DJ mixer makers do not bother to incorporate Bluetooth transmitters into their products.
But a novice DJ can use these headphones while they are still learning, unlike professional DJs who perform in front of large crowds and need everything to be flawless.
DJing issues with Bluetooth headphones
It's important to remember that wireless headphones have batteries right away. As a result, while DJing, your battery can run out. That, in my opinion, is the first noteworthy characteristic. You don't want to appear foolish in front of others, do you?
However, the biggest issue with wireless headphones is not that. The key issue is latency and how crucial it is to beatmatching.
Assume you are combining two tracks at the tech-house music standard BPM of 125. The first song is playing over the speakers, and the second is playing over your headphones.
BPM stands for beats per minute, or 125. You have 125 beats in 60 seconds, or 60,000 milliseconds. That means there is a beat every 480 milliseconds (=60000/125).
It should go something like this when we beat match two tracks through to the standard headphones:
In this instance, the two songs flow seamlessly. The shift is seamless and aural pleasing as the rhythms arrive all at once. That is what we hear in both the speakers and the headphones while using conventional wired headphones.
Let's say that while track A is playing through the speakers, track B is being monitored through wireless headphones. It feels completely in sync as the above when we beatmatch the music. With the headphones, it appears, at least.
When track B's fader is then moved up, we hear nothing but uncertainty coming from the speakers. The two are totally out of tune! In fact, track B in our headphones now has a 140 ms delay thanks to Bluetooth. The only place this delay occurs is in our headphones, not the controller.
The sound coming from the speakers is as follows:
In fact, the speakers' track A and track B synchronized in our wireless headphones. But a 140 ms delay was applied by our headphones. That proves that track B was actually 140 ms ahead of schedule on the controller!
The diagram I just showed is scaled. You can see what a huge amount 140 ms is! The crowd will undoubtedly object after hearing the twin kicks. That can eventually disrupt the fun, kill the vibe, and damage your standing among promoters.
To put things in perspective, let's say you play a song at 125 BPM alongside a track at 124 BPM. You are aware of how bad a discrepancy of just 1 BPM may be if the beats are not matched?
The difference between the two tunes is merely 16 ms after 1 bar of playback. The 140 ms delay of Bluetooth is 8.8 times greater! That is really significant in relation, and you are aware of the potential for failure.
You will find this delay to be incredibly annoying in your headphones even without beatmatching. You can hear the track twice by monitoring the speakers (the master), which sounds like an obnoxious echo. That is a serious ache that will irritate you!
How Do I Connect a DJ Controller to Wireless Headphones?
Wireless headphones may be easily connected to a DJ controller and are compatible with nine out of ten DJ controllers, but you must first make sure you have the right Bluetooth headphones and a transmitter.
Make sure you have low latency Bluetooth headphones.
audio latency that is audible? Please verify that your device is aptX Low Latency compatible. You may hear an audio delay if you use popular headphones like the Bose QC35 or Beats Solo3 because they don't support it.
Purchase a Bluetooth device that supports aptX low latency.
I frequently tripped over my headphone cable because I am a DJ. As I've stated, I had my doubts that this would work, but I'm astonished now!
For more than two years, I've owned the Avantree Audikast Plus Bluetooth 5.0 Transmitter (Amazon link), but I've never bothered to try it out for mixing.
The first time I used it, stereo sound was being sent from an Android tablet that I was using as a DJ audio player to a mixing board. I used one of these to broadcast the music to Bluetooth-enabled speakers once it was mixed. I've also connected this to a phone that plays music in my car.
Set the transmitter and headphones to pairing mode.
One button means it is quite foolproof.
Connect your DJ controller to a Bluetooth transmitter.
frustrating static noise Please avoid using its USB charging port and 3.5mm aux connector to connect to the same audio source, as this could easily result in "ground loop noise." Please make use of a different USB charger.
Check your DJ software's settings (in most cases not needed)
Top wireless headphones for DJs
You've probably seen the "DJ"-branded wireless headphones that are available. even among renowned DJ manufacturers. As a result, you can locate the V-MODA Crossfade Wireless or the Pioneer HDJ-X5BT (DJ Brand) (famous among DJs though not a DJ Brand).
DJs have made V-MODA renowned because to its configurable plate. But DJ was never the primary focus of V-initial MODA's goals. It was designed to provide excellent headphones for audiophiles in terms of sound quality and elegance. something lacking in a lot of audiophile headphones.
For V-MODA Crossfade 2, I can vouch.
I shifted from doing a lot of gigs to just doing DJing as a hobby, so I traded my HD-25s for the V-Moda. The audio is excellent. Even if the battery life is absurd, there is an earphone jack to use in case it runs out.
Though they don't have a flat response, they do somewhat tint the sound for more bass, yet it doesn't come out as being overpowering.
As a DJ for ten years, I can attest that this is up to snuff (Beats by Dre are for posers). I can swiftly put one cup behind my ear while still wearing the headphones because they are compact but robust. incredibly impressed
This will save you a ton of money and still provide you professional quality if you are a new DJ or DJ on a tight budget.
The Pioneer HDJ-X5BT headphones are concerned...
Although I don't have them, I know a few others who do. According to the product page, the product is marketed for DJs. The HDJ-X5BT, however, employs the aptX low latency codec, which is becoming increasingly uncommon.
The latency of the AptX low latency codec is 40 ms, which is considerably smaller than that of typical wireless headphones. A 1.2 m coiled cable is also supplied.
According to Pioneer, you can DJ while the wireless capability is activated. At the very least, that is not advised. Additionally, you can utilize the WiFi feature to listen to music in your home or on public transportation.
You must realize that this is a marketing ploy in this case. It is a DJ headphone, and it is wireless, but it isn't truly a wireless DJ headphone. It just suggests doing both, but perhaps not simultaneously.
It is an amazing and superior innovation to install the aptX low latency codec here, but keep in mind that you require a transmitter that supports this codec. If not, the headphones will operate with significantly more latency.
