What Headphone Does Martin Garrix Use?

When I worked at Audio46, youngsters would always ask me about the headphones used by popular DJs. The most popular of them all was Martin Garrix.

Like them, I thought many others would have the same question, too. Hence, I’ve created this detailed article to tell you the same thing.

I’ll also give you a mini-review of the headphones, and you decide if they’re right for you.

Martin Garrix uses headphones like the Audio Technica ATH-M50X, V-Moda Crossfade M100, and Sennheiser HD 25. These headphones have rave reviews among professional DJs; most of them use the same headphones during studio recording and live concerts.

My Personal Experience with these Headphones

I’ve used the Audio Technica ATH-M50X for a few years, and I can guarantee it’s one of the best closed-back headphones for the price.

On the other hand, the Sennheiser HD 25 is a staple among professional and aspiring DJs. It has a lightweight design, dual headbands, and is religiously used by DJs like John Summit.

I’ve also tested the V-Moda Crossfade M100 a few times and love the overall comfort. It’s preferred among professional DJs due to its bass-heavy sound signature.

Thus, if you’re an aspiring DJ and want to experience what professional DJs use, you can’t go wrong with either of them.

Audio Technica ATH-M50X: Why do DJs prefer it?

Audio Technica is a popular consumer audio brand that also caters to audio professionals.

The ATH-M50X was a game changer for Audio Technica because it perfectly combined design, functionality, and sound signature.

The M50X’s folding design makes it extremely convenient while traveling. Both earcups swivel 180 degrees, ideal for single-ear monitoring.

The Achilles heel of any wired headphones is the cable, which can break and make the headphones unusable. Luckily, the ATH-M50X has interchangeable cables with 3 cables already in the box.

Apart from this, the Audio Technica ATH-M50X has an extremely durable build quality that I’ve seen in any headphones for the same price. The metal headband is covered with faux leather, while the plastic earcups feel solid than headphones twice its cost.

I’ve used the M50X for 5+ years, and they still look new. Later, I sold them and got the Sony WH-1000XM4, which, in hindsight, wasn’t a good decision.

In the sound department, hardly any headphones come close to it within the same price bracket. Its slight V-shaped sound signature accentuates the bass and trebles yet doesn’t overpower the mids.

Thanks to its close-to-neutral sound, the M50X is popular in recording studios. You can find Martin Garrix using the headphones in the video below, and it’s also used by Charlie Puth, Justin Bieber, and Ryan Tedder (from One Republic).

If you’re convinced of getting the Audio Technica ATH-M50X, wait till you read the cons.

The biggest downside of the M50X is its weight. It’s around 300 grams, making the headphones difficult to use for a longer time. I would always remove these headphones after 30-45 minutes to reduce neck strain.

Another downside is the clamping force. It means the amount of pressure the headphones put against your ears and head. While the clamping force is not as bad as other over-the-ear headphones I’ve used, I found it uncomfortable to use after 1 hour of continuous use.

Overall, the Audio Technica ATH-M50X is a great pick for the price they’re available; hence, it is preferred by Martin Garrix, too. The M50X is ideal if you’re an aspiring DJ and need a versatile headphone for live shows and studio use.

V-Moda Crossfade M-100

I’m not too fond of the V-Moda products, mostly because they’re overpriced for what they offer.

However, V-Moda headphones stand out due to their unique design and target hip audiences.

The Crossfade M-100 are over-ear headphones with a bass-heavy sound, which DJs, rap, and hip-hop artists prefer.

For the price, they have a reliable build quality. The metal headband has ample faux leather padding, which doesn’t hurt my head, and the ear cups feel good with high-density plastic.

Like most V-Moda headphones, the Crossfade M-100 also has interchangeable earcup plates. You can see Martin Garrix using the headphones in the video below, with his custom Martin Garrix logo on the interchangeable plates.

Other than Martin Garrix, a long list of world-famous DJs like Tiesto, Hardwell, Dimitri Vegas, Nicky Romero, Kygo, and others use the V-Moda Crossfade M-100 during their live shows.

Like the Audio Technica ATH-M50X, the Crossfade M-100 also has a collapsible design. At 270 grams, the V-Moda Crossfade M-100 is marginally lighter than the M50X but has a slightly tighter clamping force.

While most DJs prefer M-100, I wouldn’t recommend it to everyone. They’re pricey, and far better headphones are available for the same price or less.

Sennheiser HD 25

The Sennheiser HD 25 weighs half as much as the Audio Technica ATH-M50X and the V-Moda Crossfade M100. The low weight is why most professional DJs love them.

The Sennheiser HD 25 is built from the ground up as a DJ headphone and weighs less than 140 grams.

Its on-ear design and apt clamping force offer excellent noise isolation, which is necessary during live shows.

You can see Martin Garrix using the headphones in this Instagram video. I’ve also written in detail about the Sennheiser HD 25 in this article.

FAQs

Should I buy the V-Moda Crossfade M-100 as an aspiring DJ?

No! The V-Moda Crossfade M-100 is expensive for aspiring DJs. The Audio Technica ATH-M50X or the Sennheiser HD 25 are far better options than the M-100.

Is Sennheiser HD 25 better than Audio Technica ATH-M50X for live performance?

Yes, the Sennheiser HD 25 is better than the ATH-M50X during live performance because of the headphone’s on-ear design and lighter weight. The Audio Technica ATH-M50X is preferred in studio recordings.

Conclusion

So, now you know what headphones Martin Garrix uses during his live shows.

If you’re an aspiring DJ, you can get the Sennheiser HD 25 and the Audio Technica ATH-M50X with your eyes closed. However, I won’t recommend the V-Moda Crossfade M-100 to beginners because of its higher price and limited feature set.

Have any questions? Please don’t hesitate to leave them in the comments section below.