Can't hear mix through headphones

[electricsmooth]

I have a pair of HDJ-1000s and although they work perfectly at home, I can't hear my mix properly while at a gig. I do mobile DJ type stuff and as such, don't have a booth nor do I have monitors. My main speakers are usually 2-4 feet in front of me (obviously facing away from me towards the dance floor). It just gets so loud that my headphones, even when cranked to full volume, can't overpower the outside sound. I find this a bit scary because when I turn them up that high at home, they get too loud for comfort. The pads are a bit worn on the headphones so I'm wondering if this may be the problem.

Is this a normal problem or are there other headphones out there that do a better job of noise isolation? Is there somewhere to get replacement pads if this is the likely culprit?

Thanks

[Dixieland DJ]

Let us know if its the same system at home & at gigs. Are you plugging them into your sound card, into the mixer or laptop, etc... how are they hooked up?

[electricsmooth]

Everything is the same except I use studio monitors at home and obviously don't play as loud. My headphones go straight into the mixer. I don't think it is a problem with volume because they get plenty loud. It is just that there is more outside sound coming in when I have my gig speakers pounding.

I'm just wondering if this is common or if I should change the pads.

[DJArmani]

If you had monitors, it might be easier to hear the sound because it's right next to you, and if you have the speakers a little more farther out and lowered the main volume on your mixer a little, and brought up the gains, it might work.

[Dixieland DJ]

I'm just wondering if this is common or if I should change the pads.

I have played live radio, the clubs & mobile gigs & its never been a problem with me. Its either your headphones or the pads. When I say it may be the headphones, it depends on the sound or tones its delivering. We as humans hear some tones better than others.... especially with other loud noises around. So that scenario would explain why you can hear at home where there is virtually no noise, then cant hear once you get at a gig with lots of noise. I think I would try some new, quality headphones before I spent money on new pads.

Hope this helps

[Estacy]

hdj 1000s go more than loud enough for most scenarios, I cant imagine them being too quiet. what mixer do you use?

[electricsmooth]

A rane 68 or a NS6