If you want open-back reference headphones for focused listening on an airplane, choose beyerdynamic DT 1990; if you need a complete beginner DJ setup to learn and mix at home, choose Hercules DJ Learning Kit.
These are built for different jobs: one is a wired pair of studio headphones, while the other is a two-deck controller kit with headphones and speakers. For airplane use, the DT 1990 is the relevant headphone choice, but its open-back design has an important limitation: it does not isolate outside sound.
• beyerdynamic DT 1990: Its open-back design, 45 mm Tesla drivers, and two distinct ear-pad options suit reference listening and studio work; its 250-ohm wired design and lack of noise control are significant travel trade-offs.
• Hercules DJ Learning Kit: The two-deck controller, monitoring headphones, speakers, and PC/Mac software create a beginner-friendly mixing setup; the full kit is aimed at learning and playing at home, not portable airplane listening.
• Choose DT 1990 if your priority is a dedicated wired headphone for mixing, mastering, or detailed listening and you understand that open-back headphones let outside sound through.
• Choose Hercules if you want the equipment and software to start practicing DJ skills, cue tracks in headphones, and play mixes through speakers.
The DT 1990 is an over-ear, wired, open studio headphone designed for mixing and mastering. Its 45 mm dynamic Tesla neodymium drivers and stated frequency response of 5 Hz to 40 kHz describe a headphone built for listening across a broad range of sound, not a general-purpose DJ system. There is no controller, speaker set, or music-mixing software included. Its job is headphone listening.
The open-back design is central to the choice. It is intended to produce a spacious, natural stereo presentation, which can be useful when you want to assess placement and detail in a mix. It also means outside sound is not blocked by a closed earcup. On an airplane, cabin noise may compete with what you are listening to, and your audio may be more audible to people nearby than it would be with closed-back headphones. The listed noise control is none, so buyers seeking isolation or a transparency mode should not assume either is provided.
The 250-ohm impedance is another practical consideration. The sheet specifies wired connectivity but does not describe a powered travel setup or explain how the headphones behave with a particular phone, laptop, or airplane audio system. Check that your intended source can drive a 250-ohm headphone suitably. The cable is single-sided and detachable, with mini-XLR connectors; two cables are included, one straight and one coiled. That gives you a choice of cable style for different listening or studio arrangements, but it remains a wired headphone.
Two pairs of replaceable ear pads are supplied, with different sound characteristics described as analytical and well-balanced. That makes the package appealing to someone who wants to compare listening presentations rather than rely on a single fixed pad setup. Soft, replaceable pads and a replaceable headband also suit longer studio sessions, while the included hard case gives the headphones a dedicated way to be stored and carried.
How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-18 · 10 min read · Independent comparison
Who should skip it: Skip the DT 1990 if your airplane priority is blocking cabin noise, wireless convenience, or a listed transparency mode. The product information describes none of those features, and the 250-ohm specification deserves consideration before choosing a playback source.
The Hercules DJ Learning Kit is not simply a pair of headphones. It combines a two-deck DJControl Inpulse 200 controller with a built-in audio interface, HDP DJ45 monitoring headphones, and DJMonitor 32 speakers. The package also includes the full DJUCED software version for PC or Mac. In other words, it is organized around learning to mix, cueing tracks, and playing a mix through speakers—not around portable listening.
Its learning features are especially relevant to a beginner. The controller uses light guides to help make mixing and scratching more approachable, while DJUCED includes the Hercules DJ Academy with video tutorials. The software’s Beatmatch Guide can help a learner practice bringing tracks together, and tempo LED arrows indicate adjustments to make to track tempo. The stated design also lets a user turn off the beatmatching assistance after learning the technique. That progression—from guided practice toward working without prompts—is a concrete reason to consider this kit for someone starting from scratch.
The headphones have a clear role within the system: monitoring an upcoming track before playing it through the speakers. The two DJMonitor 32 active speakers are listed at 15 watts RMS each and are intended for listening to mixes at home or with friends. The headphones are described as sound-isolating, which is relevant when cueing tracks in a DJ setup. The sheet does not provide details that would justify treating them as airplane earbuds or as a standalone travel noise solution.
The trade-off is focus. This package gives a beginner several pieces needed for a practice setup, but it is not a dedicated reference headphone package like the DT 1990. The kit connects through USB, includes equipment intended for a PC or Mac software setup, and weighs 13.5 pounds as a kit. That makes it a less natural choice for someone who only wants something to wear during a flight. Streaming-service access through the software is described as requiring subscriptions, so included software should not be confused with included subscriptions.
Who should buy it: I’d look at Hercules if the real goal is to learn DJing with a two-deck controller, monitor tracks through headphones, and hear mixes from speakers. Its combination of hardware, software, guided tutorials, and beatmatching aids gives a beginner more of a learning setup than a headphone-only purchase.
Who should skip it: Skip Hercules if you only need headphones for an airplane or for studio reference listening. The controller and speakers are central to the kit, and the available information does not describe the headphones as a standalone travel-focused product.
• Best for open-back studio listening → beyerdynamic DT 1990. Its stated purpose is reference work such as mixing and mastering, with an open-back design and two pad options.
• Best for learning to DJ → Hercules DJ Learning Kit. It includes a two-deck controller, guided learning tools, DJUCED software, monitoring headphones, and speakers.
• Best for airplane use when you want a dedicated headphone → beyerdynamic DT 1990, with a caveat. It is the headphone-focused option, but its open-back design does not isolate cabin noise.
• Best for cueing a track before playing a mix aloud → Hercules DJ Learning Kit. Its HDP DJ45 headphones are included for monitoring upcoming tracks within the DJ setup.
• Best if you want to adjust the sound presentation with supplied ear pads → beyerdynamic DT 1990. The package includes analytical and well-balanced pad options.
• Best if you want to practice with visible guidance → Hercules DJ Learning Kit. Light guides on the controller and tempo LED arrows support the learning process.
• Best for listening through included speakers → Hercules DJ Learning Kit. Its two DJMonitor 32 active speakers are specified at 15 watts RMS each.
• Best for a detachable headphone cable and a carrying case → beyerdynamic DT 1990. It includes a detachable mini-XLR cable connection, two cable styles, and a hard case.
These products do not compete on the same terms. The DT 1990 is a specialized headphone choice; Hercules is a multi-part DJ learning package. If you already own a controller and speakers, the DT 1990’s dedicated headphone design may be more relevant. If you do not own DJ equipment and want to begin practicing, Hercules supplies the broader set of tools.
For airplane shopping, it helps to be precise about the need. Search phrases such as “transparency mode kids headphones for airplane,” “earbuds for airplane,” and “clip on earbuds for airplane” point toward travel listening and isolation questions. Neither product is described as a kids’ headphone, an earbud, a clip-on design, or a transparency-mode headphone. The DT 1990 is the closer match only because it is a standalone headphone; its open-back construction is a poor fit for anyone who needs outside-noise isolation. Hercules is not a direct substitute for travel earbuds because it is a DJ controller-and-speaker kit.
Before choosing the DT 1990 for a flight, consider the combination of open-back construction, wired connectivity, and 250-ohm impedance. The open back leaves the listening experience exposed to the surrounding environment, while the wired connection means your source and cable arrangement matter. The supplied cables are a 3-meter straight cable and a coiled cable, both intended for a headphone setup rather than wireless travel. The included hard case helps with storage, but it does not change the headphone’s acoustic design or make it noise-isolating.
For the Hercules kit, think about where and how you plan to use the equipment. Its central feature is the controller, with the headphones used for monitoring and the speakers for playing mixes. DJUCED is included for PC or Mac, while access to named streaming services requires subscriptions. The kit also includes learning aids that may be useful early on, but someone who wants a simple listening device would be carrying capabilities they do not need.
A buyer comparing only the included headphones should also account for the different roles they serve. DT 1990 is presented as an open studio reference headphone with replaceable pads and broad frequency response. Hercules’ HDP DJ45 is part of a DJ package and is described as sound-isolating and useful for monitoring a track. The sheets do not give matching technical specifications for the two headphone models, so a direct conclusion about measured sound quality, durability, or noise reduction would go beyond the available facts.
If your decision hinges on cost, check the current price on Amazon using the page’s button. The more useful first question, though, is whether you need a headphone for reference listening or a complete setup for learning to mix. Those are different purchases, and the included components—not just the headphone names—make the distinction clear.
My Verdict
For an airplane, it is the more relevant of these two products, but I would not choose it to block cabin noise. If I wanted to learn DJing at home, I’d choose the Hercules kit instead because it includes the controller, monitoring headphones, speakers, and guided software.
It is a wired headphone, but its open-back design does not provide noise control. It may suit someone who specifically wants open-back listening in flight, but it is not the choice here for isolating cabin noise.
It includes a two-deck controller, monitoring headphones, two active speakers, and DJUCED software for PC or Mac. The software includes learning tutorials and guided beatmatching features; access to listed streaming services requires subscriptions.
The DT 1990 is listed with no noise control and uses an open-back design. The Hercules headphones are described as sound-isolating for DJ monitoring, though the provided information does not give a comparable isolation measurement.
No. The DT 1990 is an over-ear wired headphone, and the Hercules kit is a DJ package with monitoring headphones, controller, and speakers. Neither is described as earbuds, clip-on earbuds, or headphones with a transparency mode.
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