Whether you’re a professional or just getting started with your career, using high quality DJ equipment is extremely important.
So, let’s cut straight to it. You can expect to pay anywhere from $4,000 – $9,000 purchasing new professional DJ equipment.
Here’s what it would look like to purchase professional DJ equipment in the following categories:
DJ Turntables ($700 to $1,200)
CD, MP3 & Media Players ($1,600 to $2,700)
DJ Mixers ($1,600 to $3,300)
DJ Controllers ($300-$1,400)
DJ Interfaces ($200-$400)
In this article, we’ll take a look at a variety of state of the art, affordable and best for price options for the above mentioned DJ equipment.
If you’re looking for DJ equipment rentals for an event or would like to discuss pricing further please give us a call!
A digital turntable is used by DJs to arrange prerecorded music for parties and events. These are CD/MP3 players that have a slip pad disc like a platter on an analog turntable. The slip pad is held and reversed by the DJ, creating scratchy sounds and other special effects that are electronically simulated. They also include several additional features not found on regular CD players, including flash memory storage for many sound tracks, cue point marking, and automatic looping.
So how much do they cost?
The very first Technics SL-1210 was made in 1972. The Technics SL-1210 MK7 is their most popular model of late, featuring a pitch slider opposed to the rotary pitch control from the original model.
Key Specs:
Rotational speed: 33 1/3 rpm, 45 rpm (78 rpm: set with the selector switch)
Rotation number adjustment range (pitch switching): ± 8%, ± 16%
Starting torque: 1.8 kg ・ cm (0.18 N m)
Boot characteristic: 0.7 seconds (At 33 1/3 rpm)
Wow and flutter: 0.025% W.R.M.S.
Tone Arm Type: Universal S-shaped Tone Arm
Static Balanced Type Overhang: 15 mm
Applicable cartridge weight: 12.0 g to 5.6 g 14.3 to 20.7 g (including head shell)
Output terminal: 1 PHONO terminal, 1 PHONO ground terminal
Those looking for a more affordable option will love the Pioneer DJ PLX-1000. Currently priced at $699, the PLX 1000 was clearly designed with the Technics SL model in mind. The similarities make them nearly identical. But, is the Pioneer DJ PLX-1000 as good?
Key Specs:
The high-torque direct drive ensures efficient, reliable performance.
The heavy-mass, die-cast chassis prevents resonance and vibrations
Instantly pick up or slow down the track with milti-tempo control.
Interchangeable power and audio cables are easy to connect and replace, while Pro-grade gold-plated RCA jacks guarantee low impedance and superb sound quality.
This turntable is perfectly designed for personal listening and performing. The superior performance, additional torque, and detachable leads are features that make the PLX 1000 a potentially more attractive option.
Dubbed as the “the most advanced turntable of all time”, the Reloop RP-8000 MK2 is another fantastic option. Reloop has been around since 1996 – right around the time when digital setups began to emerge among DJs. Also, this particular company has vinyl turntables and digital ones so that DJs can pick the right one for them.
Key Specs:
“You’re getting a lot of turntable for your money here, and apart from all the Serato control onboard, you also get the unique Platter Play feature that isn’t seen on any current turntable from anyone else. When paired with the Reloop Elite mixer, they are part of a complete pro scratch set-up to rival anything from the bigger names.”
Key Features:
Wi-Fi Music
Fully compatible with Pioneer DJ’s Rekordbox free music management software.
Advanced connectivity to multiple players, turntables and laptops.
Slip mode allows you to keep tracks playing while muted during a live loop, scratch or reverse.
Perfect quantization with unmatched reliability in performance
LCD display with enhanced track info including beat countdown, phase meter, track key indicator and more.
The CDJ-3000 digital DJ media deck is arguably the best-sounding and best-feeling DJ player ever created. Sound quality and system stability are superior than they’ve ever been due to a cutting-edge micro-processing chip. You now have a total of eight Hot Cue buttons for on-the-fly triggering, as well as hardware keys for Beat Jump and Key Sync features, giving you even more creative performance possibilities. The jog wheel has been redesigned to provide the smoothest possible operation, and touch latency has now been reduced than ever before for a truly seamless feel.
Key Features:
DJ Media Player with 9″ Multicol Touchscreen
Complete rekordbox music management Integration
Extensive Media Format Support
8 Hot Cue Buttons
Platter Controls
The CDJ-2000NXS2 is a top-of-the-line digital media deck from Pioneer DJ that delivers impressive track manipulation and file format support. A big 7″ multicolor touchscreen on the CDJ-2000NXS2 displays important data, including Wave Zoom, Needle Countdown, and Phase Meter, as well as other tools. Total rekordbox integration allows you to quickly establish beat-perfect cueing and looping, while eight hot cue points make using the CDJ-2000NXS2 a blast.
Key Features:
Every DJ needs a DJ mixer for their setup, but there are many to choose from. Here are some of our favorites along with their associated cost.
Key features:
Customizable touch screen allows you to browse tracks, check waveforms and dynamically change the texture of your music.
Directly control DJ software from the mixer
Expanded effects section for more unique sets
Larger and improved performance pads
Extremely clear sound quality thanks to the studio-quality 64-bit mixing and dithering processing.
USB hub
MIDI controller
The first two-channel battle mixer from Pioneer DJ for Serato Pro. With a fully customizable Magvel Pro crossfader and FX buttons and pads that you can personalize, the mixer allows you to express your own style as a DJ. The DJM-S9 is designed to resist the most strenuous scratch routines and has high-quality audio circuitry derived from Pioneer DJ’s flagship 4-channel digital mixer, the DJM-2000NXS (below).
Key features:
Magvel Fader Pro delivers a smooth response
Multi-colour performance pads to trigger Hot Cue, Roll, Slice and Loop.
Customizable FX buttons
Filter FX including Dub Echo, Noise, Pitch and more.
Style levers all you to quickly turn effects off and on
USB sound cards (built-in)
The DJM-900NXS2 has the first ever 64-bit mixing processor in a full mixer to create a warmer, more nuanced tone. Pioneer has fine-tuned the EQ and fader curves, as well as added extra creative options with the FX switches. The adaptable DJM-900NXS2 also features an individual Send/Return, 4 phono inputs, and 2 USB connections – allowing you to customize it any way you like.
Key features:
Professional sound design (96 kHz/64-bit digital signal)
6 studio-quality sound FX – Sweep, Filter, Crush, Dub Echo, Noise and Space
Large X-Pad to engage 14 different types of Beat FX
FX Frequency
USB Sound Card
and more!
The DJM-900SRT four-channel mixer has native control of the widely used Serato DJ Pro software. The six high-quality Sound Colour FX, 13 Beat FX, and easy X-PAD control of the DJM-900NXS are all present in this model.
Key Features:
Easy USB connect for Serato DJ Pro
Simple controls for FX
32-bit A/D converter and signal processor for professional sound quality
Robust faders ensure smooth control long-term
Advanced connectivity to multiple players, turntables or laptops
The Pioneer DJ DJM-V10 priced at $3,299 was designed to allow the most creative DJs an opportunity to craft original sounds. As you’d expect with such a hefty price tag, this mixer is a significant upgrade from the DJM-900.
Key features:
Elite studio-quality sound
A wide range of inputs across 6 channels
4-Band EQ and compressor
FX for more creative expression (built-in or external)
3-band master isolator
Dual headphones output and booth EQ
and more!
The Rane Sixty-Two Performance Mixer with Serato Scratch Live Software has two USB 2.0 connections for easy integration with Serato Scratch Live DJ Software and seamless transitions between Serato DJs without interrupting sets. The Rane Sixty-One offers fewer features than the more streamlined Rane Sixty-One.
Key Features
USB 2.0 Serato Scratch Live Interface
Two USB 2.0 Ports for Laptop Changes
Comes with the Serato Scratch Live Software
Up to 24-Bit / 48kHz Audio Resolution
Internal Effects Engine
Sample, Cue & Loop Trigger Controls
Beat Joystick & Tap Tempo
Aux Session Input & Record Out via USB
Magnetic Crossfader & Channel Faders
Balanced XLR Main Outputs
A DJ controller is a single piece of equipment that combines all of the components of traditional decks and mixers into one unit. DJ Controllers are frequently used in conjunction with a laptop to provide the DJ all of the controls and functions they are accustomed to, as well as many more that would not be possible with a stand-alone setup. We have a few options and their associated costs down below.
The Pioneer DJ DDJ-1000 SRT gives DJs a four-channel experience to have more control and deeper integration with their sets. This DJ controller is better for a Serato DJ because it does have a similar format and layout that can be found on the DJM-900 NX2.
There are also many customization options as well. You can set the display only the information you want.
Key Features:
The 4-channel DDJ-SX2 controller is yet another evolutionary step forward for the popular DDJ-SX, and it includes two must-have elements from the top-of-the-line DDJ-SZ: multi-colored cue point LEDs and an on-jog cue countdown.
The DDJ-SX2 is compatible with Serato Flip, a free Serato DJ Pro Expansion Pack that gives you the ability to record and repeat hot cue sequences on the fly.
Key Features:
The Roland DJ-202 is a forward-thinking Serato DJ Lite controller with all of the features and layout of a high-end professional controller in a robust and portable design.The DJ-202 is the latest addition to Akai’s flagship DJ-808 series, and it retains the concept of its predecessors, the compact DJ-205 and streamlined DJ-505. It allows for unrivaled flexibility as a disc jockey, remixer, and producer on the fly while performing live or creating in the studio. The DJ-202 has the most features of any controller in its class, thanks to its huge, low-latency platters, dedicated pad and transport controls, onboard sequencer, and mic input with professional vocal FX.
Key Features:
A DJ interface adds a second output for headphone previewing to DJs who are mixing simply on their computer (without a DJ controller or other equipment). This is an important feature for DJ mixing.
The Rane SL4’s advanced Serato DJ Pro features give you more creativity while traveling with your entire digital music collection. The SL4 USB interface connects up to four vinyl or CD turntables to your computer using a single USB cable with audio connections for line inputs on your DJ mixer of choice.
Key Features:
The Focusrite is an excellent and affordable option best suited for beginners. The company has been creating amazing interfaces for years. The Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 3rd Gen is less than $300 and comes with some impressive functionality for music production.
Key Features:
The Sennheiser HD25 can be bought for less than $150, and they are still considered an industry standard. You will have a solid sound quality that can also cut through the loudest of clubs. Also, they are lightweight, which is perfect for those who need to wear them for an extended period. Lastly, many of the components are replaceable; precisely what you need when you want to think about saving money.
Another option is the Pioneer DJ HDJ Cue1, which is even cheaper than the Sennheiser. You can buy the Pioneer for under $100. They come with an excellent frequency response, which you need if you’re starting with your DJ journey. However, they are not as comfortable to wear for long periods, so you might not be DJing with them for an extended period.
If you want a more premium option, then the Campfire Audio Cascade might be for you. priced at over $800, the audio delivery of these headphones is impeccable.
When it comes to DJ speakers, you want to make sure that you pick the best ones for you and your DJ set. Speakers can make or break any performance; that is why people always wonder how high their DJ speakers’ cost will be.
If you want a DJ speaker that won’t break the bank, the Alto TS308 is an excellent option for those who want an easily portable PA with 2000 watts of power. It is perfect for those who are on the road. Also, you’ll only need to spend a little over $200.
However, if an expensive one is what you’re looking for, then the RCF ART 945-A is great. If you get two of these, you will have powered speakers that will pack a punch in any setting. It also happens to be some of the most powerful ones you can find, but you will need to spend over $1,000 for them.
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