The 5 Best DJ Setups: Top Gear Combos for All DJs and Skill Levels
Inspiring gear from AlphaTheta, Native Instruments, Denon DJ, Numark, and more.
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What’s the best DJ setup? Why, the one that fits you perfectly. Here are five example DJ rigs for everyone from the total beginner to the reigning club king.
The 5 Best DJ Setups
Every DJ is different. There’s the vinyl purist who likes the feel of proper turntables and vinyl. There’s the hybrid DJ who sees DJing more as a live performance than as playing other people’s tracks. There’s the established club DJ, and the complete beginner. And then there’s the mobile DJ, the unsung hero of the DJ world who rolls up to all sorts of unusual venues, ready to rock the party. Each of these types is valid, and each needs its own special combination of DJ gear. So what’s the best DJ setup? The one that matches you.
In this article, I’ll be outlining example DJ rigs for the five different types of DJ mentioned above. If my suggestion matches your needs, excellent. If not, feel free to take it as inspiration, a jumping off point to finding your own perfect rig.
I’ll be focusing on decks, mixers and controllers here. If you need headphones, check out this story on the best headphones for all budgets. Questions about DJ software? Check here. Lastly, battle DJs, you’re in a category all your own, so check this story for your recommendations.
The Best DJ Setup: The Beginner
Not everyone who starts a new hobby sticks with it, and DJing is no exception. Like playing a musical instrument, learning how to DJ takes time, dedication and practice – probably more than you imagine it will. So it makes sense to go with a budget option for your first controller. That way, if you don’t take to it, you’re not out hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
Numark’s DJ2Go2 Touch is my recommendation for the beginner DJ. Compact and portable, DJ2Go2 Touch is small but powerful. Connect it to your computer and you’re DJing. It comes bundled with Serato DJ Lite software and works with the full Serato DJ too.You can also use it with your iPhone and Algoriddim DJay.
Although small, DJ2Go2 Touch’s two capacitive jog wheels are made for scratching. You can also navigate through songs and its multiple pad modes support cueing, looping and sample triggering, making this the best DJ setup for beginners. And check out that price.
- Numark DJ2Go 2 Touch product page
The Best DJ Setup: The Vinyl Purist
Whether you’re old school or just old, many people prefer to DJ with vinyl records. If this sounds like you, you need a classic DJ setup with two turntables and an analog mixer. Although there are plenty of affordable options for both deck and mixer, I say if you’re going to do it, you may as well do it right.
And it can’t get more correct than Technics turntables. The original club turntable, Technics SL-1200s have been the record player of choice for serious DJs since the early 1970s. They’re currently up to MK7, with plenty of technical upgrades that improve playback without fundamentally changing what makes 1200s so classic.
If you’re getting turntables, you’ll need needles too. While there are lots of options, since we’re sticking with a classic theme, it has to be the Ortofon Concorde MKII DJ. They’ll stay in the groove when back cueing and sound sweet to boot.
Lastly, for the mixer, I’d like to suggest Allen & Heath’s Xone:92 MK2, this year’s upgrade of the classic club mixer. It adds a variety of under-the-hood improvements while maintaining the sound quality and warmth it’s known for.
- Technics SL-1200MK7 product page
- Ortofon Concorde MKII DJ product page
- Allen & Heath Xone:92 MK2 product page
The Best DJ Setup: The Mobile DJ
All hail the mobile DJ. While everyone else is practicing their Jesus pose and dreaming of big room glory, the mobile DJ is getting the job done at weddings, bar mitzvahs, and corporate events. The mobile DJ needs gear that’s as mobile as they are, and that’s why I’m recommending Denon DJ Prime Go+ for them.
With its built-in battery, the two-deck Prime Go+ lets you DJ anywhere you need to, from lavish wedding hall to backyard barbecue. If you’re near a router, you can use the onboard Wi-Fi to stream from services like Tidal and Amazon Music. It’s also got a slick touch screen with customizable views and even a Day Mode for outdoor daytime events. It’s definitely the best DJ setup for mobile DJs.
- Denon DJ Prime Go+ product page
The Best DJ Setup: The Club DJ
AlphaTheta/Pioneer DJ gear is the standard at clubs around the world. No matter what controller or CDJ you have at home, you need to know how to work Pioneer DJ gear if you want to have a smooth set at the club.
One way to ensure that your sets go off without a hitch is to practice on an AlphaTheta/Pioneer DJ setup at home. For that, you’re going to need at least two Pioneer DJ CDJ-3000 CDJ units and a DJM-A9 mixer.
If you’d rather have a single, standalone controller, AlphaTheta’s recently released XDJ-AZ uses those two pieces of gear as a reference for its decks and mixer layout.
None of these options are cheap but if you’re serious about DJing the big rooms at the big clubs, this is a solid way to go.
- Pioneer DJ CDJ-3000 product page
- Pioneer DJ DJM-A9 product page
- AlphaTheta XDJ-AZ product page
The Best DJ Setup: The Hybrid DJ
Not every DJ needs jog wheels or platters to manipulate songs. For some, the performance lies in the effects, mashups, or incorporating synthesizers and drum machines. It’s somewhere between a traditional DJ and a live performance. That’s a hybrid DJ.
Native Instruments’ Traktor ecosystem of software and controllers is perfect for the hybrid performer. Like a slimline DJ mixer, Traktor Z1 MK2 is the company’s mixer-style controller. Pair it with the X1 MK3 for deep control over effects and looping.
Of course, you’re not limited to just controllers. With a hybrid setup, you’re free to add instruments and drum machines, like a Roland TR-8S for extra punch and rhythm. To accommodate your additional instruments, you’ll need an analog mixer. I recommend the Model 1.4 from PlayDifferently, which was designed with Richie Hawtin and has the features and sound quality for a serious hybrid setup.
Check out the video below for some hybrid DJ inspiration.
- Native Instruments Traktor X1 MK3 product page
- Native Instruments Z1 MK2 product page
- PlayDifferently Model 1.4 product page
- Roland TR-8S product page
More Information
- All about DJ controllers
- All about turntables
- All about DJ mixers
- All about DJing
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3 responses to “The 5 Best DJ Setups: Top Gear Combos for All DJs and Skill Levels”
It’s great to get updates on the latest equipment thanks
Michael
Not sure I agree with these picks much. The 1210 Mark 7s are disappointing in the build quality, not as solid or weighty as any of the Mark2 to Mark5 1210s – most of the old super OEMs are a better look than the Mk7. The DJ2Go2 Touch is a nice mini tool, but if you are learning to DJ then you will be better served by something with bigger jogs and a full bank of pads, Numark is a good idea and any Mixtrack will do but the Pro FX isn’t exactly expensive and will be a lot of fun to learn with, For mobile guys the Prime Go would be lovely for fictional bookings where your PA setup was battery powered and you could also be guaranteed somehow to have Data to connect to streaming services, but TBF most mobile DJs will have their own hefty library on a laptop and the Roland DJ707m is still about the best equipped controller for mobile applications. If you are a club DJ then you probably need CDJs and a Mixer – but any pioneer controller is okay in a pinch.
or buy an rx3 way cheaper than the 4 channel pioneer mixer and way cheaper than a pair of 3000s and the A9 mixer.
also try pirate studios where they have 2000s./3000s and decent mixers to rent by the hour.