Quick review: The Monoprice 8323 is quite a feat… a rugged full-size DJ set whose sound quality competes with headphones 3x the price. Is this real life? Surprisingly yes.
Monoprice is known for sourcing extremely cheap (but quality) parts and selling their products at very reasonable prices compared to their competition. They also have an in-ear headphone that is an excellent deal – the 8320 aka MEP-933.
The sound of the 8323 is very much on the dark side (it was recently Star Wars Day, please excuse the pun). The bass is strong and the treble is recessed as to not cause any listening fatigue. The mid-range is forward, smooth, thick, and engaging. The soundstage is rather narrow so the 8323 is not especially good for gaming (or at least first person shooters). Overall the 8323 packs a fun sound with impressive definition.
All in all, the 8323 is a top contender for best bang for the buck under $50. The price to performance ratio is just crazy. Comfort may be an issue for some, so the Beyerdynamic Velour Earpad replacements are recommended if you buy the 8323 and happen to like everything except the comfort. Some have reported that it is a significant improvement and causes less sweat build up as well.
Another great budget option is the similar-sounding Panasonic RP-HTF600-S, although it is not a DJ-style headphone. The HTF600 is more neutral (therefore less bassy), has better instrument layering and less clamping force, but lacks folding features.
It’s funny… the earpad replacements for the 8323 and HTF600 cost almost as much as the headphones themselves!