Stanton DJ Pro 3000

Pro DJs need pro tools. If you've already invested in music, speakers, amps, decks, and a mixer, it doesn't make any sense to skimp on headphones. After all, as a DJ, your ears are vital to your career. If you can't hear, you can't work.

That's why I've always wondered about DJs who show up for gigs with consumer-oriented headphones. Typically, these products don't block out much ambient sound, they distort even at modest volumes, and they're uncomfortable. The only reason DJs buy such headphones is because they seem inexpensive—until you have to replace them every month, or they totally fail during your guest set at the biggest dance club in town.

Don't risk your hearing and your reputation by relying on cheap—as opposed to affordable—products. Quality headphones aren't expensive, and even audiophile-quality models are well within the reach of most professionals. In fact, DJs today have a greater selection of viable and desirable ear gear than ever before. There's simply no excuse for using ugly, uncomfortable, no-low-end-havin' headphones anymore.

The new breed of high-end, purpose-built headphones is perhaps best exemplified by the DJ Pro 3000 from Hollywood, Fla.-based Stanton Magnetics (stantondj.com). Although they carry a list price of $199, I've found them online for around $130. Clearly, you don't have to be a jet-setting superstar to afford these 'phones.

As their name suggests, the DJ Pro 3000 headphones are designed specifically for DJ use. These are professional tools, not "audio-tronic" toys. And, despite their rugged construction, they're definitely not re-badged studio cans, either. Although they'd be fine for recording or remixing, these headphones are really made for cueing, monitoring, and beat-matching the next track of your prime-time, house-rockin' set.

I've been testing these Stantons for months now, and during that time I've grown to love them. I liked the look of the headphones as soon as I opened the shipping box, but pretty is as pretty does. I wasn't ready to fully embrace them just because of the aesthetically-pleasing design, the precise fit of the parts, or the smooth, silver finish. I needed more.

Would these headphones be faithful to me, night after night? Would they protect me, tell me the truth, and caress my neck just right? Or would they go to pieces and give me the silent treatment if things got rough? There was only one way to find out: I threw them in my DJ bag—along with dozens of flyers, a package of foam earplugs, assorted CDs, two RCA cables, a cartridge case, a record brush, a 4-ounce container of vinyl cleaning solution, and a family-size bottle of Excedrin Migraine caplets—and hit the road.

The Stantons quickly proved to be everything I've ever wanted in a pair of headphones. Acoustically, they offer premium performance. The 50mm Neodymium drivers offer a full 16 Hz - 22 kHz frequency response, without the artificial bass boost favored by certain competing products. While it's a matter of individual taste, I much prefer a more natural sound, like that of the DJ Pro 3000 headphones, for long-term monitoring. I find that accurate audio reproduction greatly reduces ear fatigue, especially when spinning records into the early morning hours.

The DJ Pro 3000 headphones are rated for 3000 mW of power, which means they can be driven hard, all night long, without fuzzing out. The lack of distortion, even at high sound pressure levels, can be misleading, however; so be careful with your mixer's headphone volume knob. Your ears will give out long before these 'phones do.

Speaking of potential hearing damage, these Stantons do a decent job of attenuating ambient sound levels, even in the noisiest booths. When spinning in clubs, I only bring up my monitors when I'm mixing in the next track, but some venues are just plain loud, even when you're not standing in the middle of the dancefloor. For those situations, it's a real blessing to have headphones that protect your ears.

Mobile gigs, of course, are usually quite different. I rarely go to the trouble of setting up a dedicated amplifier and speaker for a "booth" mix, so all of my cueing is done via headphones. Although I try to place my main speakers where they'll deliver the best sound, sometimes I have to compromise. I often end up in a corner, with speakers on either side of me. The DJ Pro 3000 headphones are ideal for such scenarios, where you're continuously subjected to relatively loud music.

While I was testing these headphones, I had an opportunity to spin the opening set of a local indie-rock festival. When I arrived at the huge outdoor stage, the sound reinforcement company was just getting everything powered up, so I quickly adjusted the turntables, plugged in my Stantons, set the levels, and started a record so whoever was behind the big console at the "front-of-house" mixing position could get a signal.

Within seconds, the engineer had the track up on the main system, and the entire stage was vibrating from the booming bass cabinets stacked on both sides of the platform. As I started to arrange my vinyl, I noticed that there was no sound at all coming from either the floor monitors or the side fill speakers. I tried to explain the situation to the harried stage manager, but to no avail. Fortunately, I was able to comfortably mix my entire set without monitors, using just the DJ Pro 3000 headphones, despite the difficult sonic circumstances. The Stantons were able to block out enough of the noise so I could beatmatch at a reasonable volume.

Best of all, the DJ Pro 3000 headphones never let me down. I could always rely on them to get me through any gig, and they seem as rugged as anything else on the market. I really liked the detachable cord (which will make any future replacement a snap) and its right-angle 3/4-inch plug. The vast majority of mixers I use have top-mounted headphone jacks, and the Stanton cable keeps cable strain to a minimum.

I should also mention that these headphones have a few more special features which some of you may really appreciate. Most noticeably, the earcups are equipped with small (but bright) blue LEDs which flash to the beat of the music. I'm sure some people will love this effect, but I'm an old-fashioned guy, so I switched them off. Up-and-coming DJs will probably appreciate the extra attention, though, so follow your bliss.

The other worthy features are the built-in passive low- and high-pass filters. If you want or need to cut out either end of the frequency spectrum, a simple switch on the left earcup will take care of it. Personally, I didn't use this option much, but it's there if you want it. I can imagine conditions where it'd be nice to have such capabilities, but it just didn't come up during my testing.

Overall, the Stanton DJ Pro 3000 headphones are a solid value, even at full list price. They sound great, they're built to last, and they don't rub my ears the wrong way. I recommend them, without any reservations, to any DJ who appreciates truly professional equipment.

Home Theatre: What To Get

With all of the technology that is available for people to be able to make their family or living rooms into their own personal home theatres, many people are deciding that a television, no matter how large it is, is simply not enough to complete their home theatre experience.

A new line of comparatively small and inexpensive digital projectors is now available for anyone looking for the ultimate home theatre experience. People who want to truly experience the atmosphere of the cinema can now do so by creating their own miniature screening room complete with a projector.

A home theatre project isn't just for showing movies at home. While videotapes and DVD's can look amazing when viewed through a home projector, television programs, sporting events and even video games viewed through a projector are incredibly entertaining. The price of home projectors is very attractive when compared to the latest in big screen televisions and plasma TVs. A home projector can provide the larger view of television programming often for thousands of dollars less than large televisions.

There are a number of different home projectors available to choose from to provide the exact viewing experience each individual desires in their home. It is important to keep in mind when deciding to purchase a projector for the home that it will require a relatively darkened room in order for the images to be seen clearly.

Many people can remember seeing the older reel-to-reel projectors that their parents showed home movies on for years. Todays home theater projectors have incorporated digital technology into their design in order to be of a smaller size than traditional projectors and to be able to adjust settings for the perfect image.

Todays projectors project the light that displays images a number of different ways including the use of a liquid crystal display (LCD), mirrors or a combination of both. Home projectors that use a LCD is more likely to be less expensive than other models that use a combination of projection techniques.

The most expensive type of home theatre projector uses something called Liquid Crystal on Silicon to display images that some people believe to offer the sharpest image from a projector. Once a home projector has been chosen, it will require a screen on which to display images or if a person enjoys a challenge, he or she can attempt to construct their own original screen.

Most projectors seem to work best when they are mounted up high or even from the ceiling. Cables coming out of the projector tend to be unsightly and can be hidden inside the ceiling or walls. Hiring a professional to complete this task might be the only way to avoid damage and accidents when attempting to do it alone.

Some people find creative ways to conceal the cords by covering them with neutral colored tape and then painting over the tape with the color that matches the ceiling or walls. Other people cover cords with furniture like paintings or bookshelves.

Once a home theater projector has become a part of a complete home system, most people rarely opt to use their television for their viewing entertainment. Home theater projectors truly allow for anyone to have their own movie theatre right in their own living room.

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Noise Canceling Headphones...If You're Not Into Punk Rock

Here's an interesting fact: people who listen to music in their headphones too loudly can suffer from permanent hearing loss. Well, that's not that interesting and many people would agree with that statement. Here's why it's an interesting fact: The reason people listen to music too loudly is not necessarily because they love loud music. Rather, it's because the background sound is too loud and interferes with the music.

So what's the solution? Music should be enjoyed through headphones (remember, not everyone shares your musical tastes!)...that's a given. But music doesn't have to be enjoyed at a massive volume. After all, the true enjoyment of music does not come from the volume but from the quality of the sound.

And how do you get sound quality? One of the ways is to reduce the outside sound you hear. This is done through noise cancelling headphones.

What are noise canceling headphones? The most common type is the kind that goes over your ear and completely encloses it in a shell. There's soft padding around the sides so it conforms to your head. This type of shape is called circumaural, although you need to know that not all circumaural's are noise cancelling headphones.

Aside from that shape, noise canceling headphones have another piece of technology that allows them to actually eliminate the background sounds: they use special circuitry, padding insulation, and other technology inside the shell of the part that goes over your ear. This special circuitry works to kill noises from the outside as the sound waves are directed toward you.

The result? Put them on and the world goes quiet. That will allow you to listen to great music at a lower volume and enjoy it more, while keeping others from having to listen to your unique musical tastes.

Because of the insulation and circuitry required to deaden background sounds, the head phones will naturally be bigger in size than the small earbuds you use in your ears. So they may not always be appropriate for travel. If you're cycling or riding on the bus, you need to hear the background sounds for safety or to know when your stop is. However, if you're traveling by plane or you want to have a quiet night in a hotel that seems too loud, the noise canceling headphones are just the thing you'll need for absolute privacy.

If these types of cans are too expensive, you may want to consider circumaural headphones that are not noise cancelling. They'll still dampen the noise. Or, if you find that they are too big and bulky, you may want to bypass earbuds and instead purchase canalbuds. Earbuds fit right at the end of your ear canal while canalbuds actually go into your ear. They do a better job of deadening external sounds. These are often referred to as noise isolating or passive types of head phones.

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Satellite Radio: The Waves Of The Future?

Satellite Radio Its here! Satellite radio is a new service being offered by two companies, XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio. Both companies are offering over 100 channels of streaming music and entertainment. High quality sound is achieved through the use of satellites orbiting high above. Satellite radio is commercial free and free from regulations by federal committees. The impossible, is now possible, hearing the same radio station across North America and from coast to coast. All made possible by XM satellite radio and Sirius satellite radio.

Normal radio has been around for decades and is part of many people's lifestyle. This is changing. Regular radio is monitored and regulated by the Federal Communications Commission, whom has fined several radio stations and media companies within the last 3-4 years. The FCC has only fined radio stations a maximum of $27,500 per show no matter how man profanities were aired. Recently the FCC has been upping the ante and in conjunction with Congress has decided to raise the fine up to $500,000 per incident per station (Potter). A slap on the wrist has turned into a business-changing event. Sexually explicit comments by Bubba the Love Sponge and Howard Stern could get a station in trouble no doubt about it.

Clear Channel Radio dropped both shock jocks this year after being hit with record fines. (Potter) Recently Howard Stern has made a move to Sirius Satellite wireless in an effort to preserve his career and free speech. Consumers are reaching towards satellite radio as a way to hear unregulated news and content. Recently XM Satellite wireless has claimed to have over 3 million subscribers paying $9.99 per month and Sirius claims to have over 1.3 million customers paying $12.95 per month. Many of those customers pay an additional $2.99 per month for premium content such as the upcoming Howard Stern Show.

Several normal wireless stations and media outlets are realizing the potential to get their message across in a broad fashion. XM has launched a morning show, which is hosted by Bob Edwards, whom was fired earlier this year by National Public Radio. "The Bob Edwards Show" will air on a public satellite wireless channel that also features news and programs from Public wireless International, among others. Sirius has its own public wireless channel carrying NPR programs. Consumers and companies are demanding free speech and it seems that satellite wireless is the vehicle.

XM Satellite wireless and Sirius Satellite wireless have designed satellite broadcast systems that differ but they achieve the same high quality of satellite wireless. A milestone of this success is the fact that satellite wireless signals that are available across the United States and into Mexico and Canada. Rock and Roll No it's not a genre any more! XM Satellite wireless has two satellites named Rock and Roll, which remain in parallel geostationary orbit to provide wireless coverage throughout the United States. Sirius Satellite wireless has chose to use three satellites in an inclined elliptical orbit. This configuration provides 16 hours per satellite of signal, which gives a great redundancy if any satellite were to fail. Playing it smart, Sirius and XM both have spare satellites, which can be called on in a moments notice if needed.

XM satellite wireless and Sirius satellite wireless have Earth based broadcast stations that are used to send up information to the satellites, which is then dispersed through out the globe. Sirius and XM both have disk jockeys that manage, create and program music which is then sent up to the satellites. The information is then taken in by the satellites and sent through a rebroadcast of the streams to earth.

The Major advantage of this is that, unlike earth-based wireless stations whose signals reach listeners 150 miles away, satellite wireless signals have a huge reach, and are receivable anywhere within the continental United States and hundreds of miles in each direction of the borders. Satellite wireless is growing to become a worldwide network and offerings are growing throughout the world. XM satellite radio and Sirius satellite radio are making it happen.

Unregulated Satellite Radio is the answer for free speech in a government regulated airwaves arena. Not only can listeners hear unbiased information but also they can listen to it anywhere in the United States. Media giants are jumping to get the piece of the pie regarding satellite radio, as the new wave of the future is satellite radio.

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What are the best options for headphones?

Who hasn't let out a sigh of disappointment when they rip open a new CD or digital audio player only to discover the cheap set of headphones which accompanies it? For those looking to upgrade, there are several options you should consider which will set the bar (and the price) of what you are looking for. When shopping for the ideal set of headphones, consider the following:

Fit and Sound How exactly does the ideal headphones fit on your head? Do you like the standard ear bud design, which usually rests comfortably in the ear canal but produces a not so hot sound? The higher end (i.e. price) option is closed-ended, where the headphones are usually padded and the enclosed environment produces a better, richer sound because of the built-in dynamic transducer. Do you like a headset which is tight on your head, or one that wraps behind so you can look like a DJ?

Noise Cancellation At 35,000 feet, it's common to hear hissing in your standard airplane headphones, which can quickly ruin the in-flight movie. To remedy this, consider a noise-cancellation option (usually available on closed-ended models only) which, with the flip of a small switch, reduces the low frequency background sounds so you are left with cleaner dialogue.
 
Wireless Driving your spouse insane with video game noises? Want to listen to your music from across the room with out wires? Wireless headphones are the way to go. The range can be somewhat limited though if you get a line of sight model, so consider one, which broadcasts like a small range radio station so you have more freedom to wander.