4 of the Best CDJs for DJs
Hot DJ media players from Pioneer DJ and Denon DJ.
Break away from the all-in-one controller with a set of digital DJ decks. These are the best CDJs on the market today.
Best CDJs for DJs
The humble CDJ turned 30 last year, with Pioneer DJ celebrating the three-decade anniversary of the release of its CDJ-500. Originally designed as a way to play CDs alongside records, CDJs have now evolved into media players, with many not even supporting actual CDs anymore.
Despite the rise in popularity of DJ controllers, the appeal of the CDJ endures. They’re the industry standard for clubs and still a handy way to expand on a vinyl system. They’re also necessary if you prefer to use a standalone mixer as well. While there aren’t as many on the market now as there used to be, they’re still an indispensable part of the DJ technological landscape.
Here are four of the best CDJs on the market today.
Best CDJs for DJs: Pioneer DJ CDJ-3000
The industry standard, Pioneer DJ’s CDJ-3000 is the DJ media player that you’ll find in clubs all over the world. If you play in those clubs – or plan to – you’ll want to know how they work.
Although the name has ‘CD’ in it, the CDJ-3000 no longer plays actual CDs. Instead, it can do everything a standalone controller can, including stream from rekordbox CloudDirectPlay and Beatport, get track analysis information wirelessly with Cloud Analysis, and even connect to an iPhone for rekordbox for iOS.
Physically, it’s got a great jog wheel, a nine-inch LCD touchscreen, dedicated Key Sync and Beat Sync buttons, plus all of the modern technology you expect from Pioneer DJ/AlphaTheta. It’s made to work with rekordbox, of course, but it’s also compatible with Serato DJ Pro, djay Pro AI for Mac, and Traktor Pro. This makes it one of the best CDJs available today – and maybe even the best.
- Pioneer DJ CDJ-3000 product page
Best CDJs for DJs: Pioneer DJ XDJ-1000MK2
The CDJ-3000 (above) may be the industry standard, but it’s also very expensive. If you’re after the Pioneer DJ experience without the experience of being broke, check out the XDJ-1000MK2.
Part of the more affordable XDJ line, the XDJ-1000MK2 cuts a few corners in terms of bells and whistles but still offers a lot of bang for the buck. You get a decent jog wheel, seven-inch touchscreen, and support for a variety of file formats including ALAC and FLAC played off USB.
- Pioneer DJ XDJ-1000MK2 product page
Best CDJs for DJs: Denon DJ SC6000 Prime
Pioneer DJ is not the only game in town. Denon DJ has been steadily working to create a viable alternative that is every bit as good, often ground-breaking, and quite a bit more affordable.
Case in point is the SC6000 Prime, one of the best CDJs out now. Its chief selling point is the dual layer playback. Yes, it’s two decks in one, complete with a double waveform view in the display and separate outputs. Fantastic.
Other drool-worthy points include the 10.1-inch touchscreen, Wi-Fi for streaming of all major platforms, an 8.5-inch jog wheel, musical key shift and instant match, plus multiple USB ports for seamless DJ handoffs. It even has an internal HDD bay for large music collections.
Note that there’s also the SC6000M Prime, which features a motorized platter – something to look into if you’re a scratch DJ.
- Denon DJ SC6000 Prime product page
Best CDJs for DJs: Denon DJ LC6000 Prime
OK, I realize that I’m playing fast and loose with the term ‘CDJ’ here as Denon DJ’s LC6000 Prime is not a true media player in and of itself. It’s actually a controller that you can use in a variety of ways, but it works especially well when paired with the SC6000 Prime (above) or other supported Denon DJ deck.
Remember when I told you that the SC6000 Prime has two layers? Since there’s only one jog wheel, there’s only so much you can do. But with the LC6000 Prime hooked up, you now have essentially two decks. (The ‘LC‘ stands for Layer Control.) And with build quality and layout similar to the SC6000, it’s a very affordable way to have two decks for half the price.
- Denon DJ LC6000 Prime product page
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