Key takeaways

• TheOneOdio Studio Max 1 headphones are available now on the official site for$169.99
• These headphones offer wired and wireless options for connecting to a traditional source and produce a well-blended sound
• If you're looking for headphones to use with your phone, look elsewhere.

View now at Oneodio

My best friend has been a DJ for over 30 years. I've seen and worked with the equipment he uses, and I've watched other DJs do their thing in many environments. One thing that never fails to intrigue me is the idea of DJ-specific headphones.

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You know what I'm talking about. A DJ stands behind turntables (or a digital deck) with a single headphone cup precariously held between the head and shoulder. It's an iconic look. They do that to preview what's coming up while also being aware of the music that's currently playing.

But what about those headphones? Are they wired? Wireless? What gives?

The OneOdio Studio Max 1 headphones offer a choice.

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OneOdio Studio Max 1 Headphones

These headphones make it possible to connect to a traditional music source (such as an amp) via wired or wireless connections and produce a well-blended sound.

details

View at Oneodio

OneOdio believes there's a middle ground that offers a similar low latency level but with the convenience of wireless. This new hybrid headphone is the Studio Max 1. With these headphones, you can plug directly into your sound device for a wired connection or connect a special transmitter to your sound device via the included 3.5mm cable, which then connects wirelessly to the headphones.

Studio Max 1 was developed as a collaboration between OneOdio and one of Italy's top-five DJs, Arianna Bianchi.

My interest was piqued, so I tested the headphones in wired and wireless modes. I came away impressed.

My experience

My first test was in wired mode. I connected the headphones to my Outlaw Audio amp and cranked up some Beethoven (Symphony No. 3 in E flat major Op. 55 - Eroica, to be exact). The sound that greeted my ears was nice, delivering a good blend of lows and highs. More importantly, the sound was clear and clean, making it easier to hear when queuing tracks.

Next, I connected the headphones to the wireless transmitter. (Press the button on the transmitter until the white lights blink, and then press the multi-mode button on the headphones for 2 seconds until they power on.) The headphones immediately connected to the transmitter, and I then used the 3.5 mm cable to plug the transmitter into my amp. 

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I did an unscientific test to check the latency. First, I returned to the wired connection and dropped the needle on Beethoven to see how quickly the sound spilled from the headphones. 

Immediate.

Then, I reconnected the transmitter for the wireless mode and dropped the needle.

Immediate.

According to the OneOdio site, the Rapid Will + Ultra Low-Latency 2.0 tech archives a 20ms connection speed, so we are talking milliseconds. Think about it this way: The fastest standard Bluetooth connection (AptXLL) achieves a 40ms latency, so the OneOdio halves that.

The latency is so low that it's undetectable to the naked eye or ear. That means the wireless option is just as viable as the wired one for DJs.

How do they sound?

The Max 1 Studio headphones sound great. They aren't studio/reference quality, nor do they achieve the glorious sound produced by the Dali IO-8 (which has become my new baseline for high-quality sound). But these headphones offer a beautifully neutral sound, so you're not getting an added coloration to the music. You hear a nice and level EQ that produces depth without unnaturally punching things up. The lows are just right, and the highs won't wear out your ears.

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That said, you won't buy DJ headphones specifically for an audiophile experience. You want these to serve your needs and make your job easier.

But what if you're not a DJ? Why wouldn't you want to use a pair of headphones wirelessly or wired? 

If you have a sound device with a headphone jack and want to use your headphones wired or wirelessly, these are a brilliant option. However, these headphones are not intended to connect to your phone via Bluetooth. If you want to connect these headphones to your Android or iOS device, you'll need an adapter to convert from 3.5mm to USB C. 

In my opinion, the Max 1 Studio headphones aren't made for those who just want a pair of Bluetooth headphones to connect to a phone. They are more purpose-built for DJs or those who want to enjoy music from their traditional stereo setup without being tethered by a wire.

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I connected the transmitter to my amp, dropped some Rush onto the turntable, and walked out of my office. I could traverse the entirety of our 3,000-square-foot home, and the connection never once dropped. I can't do that with a phone and traditional Bluetooth headphones. On top of that, Rush's "Roll The Bones" album sounded fantastic. The sound was beautifully balanced and blended.

And did I mention that these headphones can get very loud without the slightest distortion? 

Yet again, I was impressed.

's buying advice

If you're a DJ looking to replace a pair of headphones and would like more flexibility in your system, a pair ofOneOdio Studio Max 1 headphones are a great choice. Although most DJs prefer a wired connection (because if you lose connectivity, the gig could go south), you've got options with these. If you're a lover of music with a traditional audio system and would like to be able to wander the house while listening, these headphones will be a good addition to your stable of devices, and at only$169.99, these won't break the bank.

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If you listen to music with your phone, I'd suggest skipping these and going with a more traditional pair of Bluetooth headphones.

The specs

• 50mm large composite diaphragm drivers
• Frequency response: 20Hz -40kHz
• Sensitivity: -42