Best DJ setup for home: what equipment do you really need?

Choosing a home DJ setup can seem straightforward until you start looking at the options.

You can spend a few hundred euros on a controller and have everything you need to DJ for years. You can build a modular booth with two players and a mixer. You can choose an all-in-one system that is easy to move. Or you can put together exactly the same booth you would find in a professional club.

All these options can make sense.

The question that really matters is not what is the best DJ equipment for home, but what do you want to do with it.

At Sounds Market, we meet people with very different needs. Some simply want to DJ at home because they enjoy it. Others want to take their equipment to friends' houses or use it at small parties. Some want to get used to a modular booth because they hope to play in clubs in the future. Others simply want a professional booth at home because DJing is their hobby and they want to enjoy the best equipment possible.

Before buying anything, focus on five things: your budget, how much space you have, whether you need to move the equipment, whether you want to use a computer and the kind of DJing experience you want.

I want a simple setup to start DJing at home

You do not need a professional booth to learn to DJ or enjoy doing it.

If you will mainly use the equipment at home, a DDJ-FLX4 may cover your needs perfectly.

It takes up little space, is relatively affordable and lets you learn practically all the important fundamentals: beatmatching, working with pitch, using CUE, EQing, mixing, using loops and getting to grips with a mixer's layout.

For someone starting out, spending much more money will not necessarily mean learning faster.

The main distinction is that you rely on a computer and the entire control surface is integrated into a single unit.

For other options of this kind, see our guide to the best DJ controllers.

I want a more capable controller for home

There is also a very different type of user: someone who wants to keep using a computer but is looking for a much more comprehensive experience.

A Pioneer DDJ-1000, for example, remains a very interesting option for this kind of DJ.

You get large jog wheels, four channels, a much more comprehensive mixer section and a layout that will feel familiar if you later use professional Pioneer equipment.

It retains many of a controller's advantages: a single unit, fewer cables, less space required and a setup that is relatively easy to transport.

Not everyone needs to move from a controller to separate players.

If you are comfortable working with a computer, a good controller can remain your main setup for many years.

I want to DJ without a computer and move the equipment easily

This is where all-in-one systems come in.

They have a huge advantage for home use: they bring almost the entire booth into a single unit.

A Pioneer XDJ-RX2, for example, can be particularly appealing if you normally DJ at home but occasionally want to take your equipment to a friend's house, a party or another space.

You only need to carry one unit instead of two players, a mixer, several power cables and the connections between the units.

You can also prepare your music beforehand and DJ directly from USB without relying on your laptop.

Of course, it is still considerably larger than a small controller, but the difference compared with transporting a complete modular booth is significant.

That is why we should not automatically treat a modular setup as better than an all-in-one. They are different solutions for different needs.

If you are weighing up these two approaches, see our guide to DJ controllers vs all-in-one systems.

I want to learn and DJ with separate players

This changes the experience quite a bit.

Having a player on each side and a separate mixer in the middle means physically working with a modular layout.

You do not need the latest CDJs to achieve that.

One configuration we particularly like for home is:

2 × Pioneer XDJ-700 + a separate mixer

The XDJ-700 gives you two separate players and a layout much closer to a traditional DJ booth.

From there, your mixer choice can vary completely depending on your budget and the way you like to DJ.

You can put together XDJ-700s + a DJM-450 if you want to stay with the Pioneer approach.

You can pair them with a Xone:23 if you want a simpler, more affordable Allen & Heath mixer.

Or you can use a Xone:43 if you want four channels and more scope to expand.

The appeal of a configuration like this is that you can later change one part of the setup without replacing the whole thing.

You can keep the mixer and replace the players. Or do exactly the opposite.

XDJ-700, XDJ-1000MK2 or CDJ-2000NXS for home

The used and refurbished market opens up some particularly interesting options for a home setup.

The XDJ-700 is compact and generally lets you get into a modular setup on a modest budget.

The Pioneer XDJ-1000MK2 is a significant step up, offering an experience closer to higher-end professional players without reaching the price of a current CDJ.

There are also older generations such as the Pioneer CDJ-2000NXS.

For home use, a player being a few years old does not automatically make it an irrelevant choice.

In fact, this is one of the situations where refurbished DJ equipment is particularly appealing. You can build a very capable modular booth with earlier generations and spend a much smaller share of your budget on the players.

The decision will depend on the price of each unit, the space available and the functions you actually value.

If you are choosing between the two XDJs, we have a dedicated Pioneer XDJ-700 vs XDJ-1000MK2 comparison.

You can also read our DJ player buying guide for a clearer understanding of what to consider before choosing.

I want a high-end home setup

Not everyone wants to spend as little as possible.

Some DJs spend many hours DJing at home and prefer to invest in a high-end booth, even if they never intend to use it professionally.

That is completely reasonable.

A configuration such as:

2 × XDJ-1000MK2 + Allen & Heath Xone:92

or:

2 × XDJ-1000MK2 + Allen & Heath Xone:96

already gives you a very high-level home booth.

This also brings up another important decision: what type of mixer you want to use.

A Xone:92 or Xone:96 takes a very different approach from a Pioneer mixer. You get four-band EQ, Allen & Heath's distinctive filters and a way of working that many electronic music DJs particularly appreciate.

If you are considering these mixers, read our Allen & Heath Xone:92 vs Xone:96 comparison.

If you prefer Pioneer, there are also plenty of options, from relatively simple mixers to professional models from earlier generations.

We would not choose a mixer solely on which is more expensive or more professional. The mixer has a huge influence on the way you DJ, so it should suit the kind of DJ you are.

Our DJ mixer buying guide explains the differences between the options in more detail.

I want a genuine professional booth at home

Then there is the option of making no compromises.

If you have the budget and space and simply want to enjoy a professional booth at home, you can absolutely put together:

2 × Pioneer CDJ-3000 + DJM-A9

or:

2 × CDJ-3000 + DJM-V10

You can even add a third or fourth player, Technics turntables or other elements if they are part of the way you DJ.

Do you need this equipment to DJ well at home?

No.

Does buying it make sense if you have the budget and it is the equipment you really want to use?

Absolutely.

Sometimes we try to justify every DJ equipment purchase from a professional perspective, when for many people this is simply a hobby.

Someone can spend a lot of money on a bike, a guitar, camera equipment or a hi-fi system without intending to turn professional.

DJ equipment is exactly the same.

If you want to build a booth at this level, you can also read our guide to the best professional DJ setup.

What if I want to prepare for playing in clubs?

This is only one possible reason for having a home DJ setup, but if it is yours, it does slightly change our recommendation.

In that case, it makes sense to get used to a modular layout gradually.

That does not mean you need to buy two CDJ-3000s.

Two XDJ-700s, two XDJ-1000MK2s or even professional players from earlier generations can teach you the fundamental logic of this kind of booth perfectly well.

You will have two separate players, a mixer in the middle, CUE, gain controls, EQ, separate connections and a way of physically moving around the setup that is much closer to a professional booth.

You will also learn something particularly important: how to adapt to different equipment.

Because when you arrive at a club, you will not necessarily find exactly the equipment you practise on at home.

If that is your goal, we recommend reading our guide to the DJ equipment clubs use.

What if I want to take my setup to friends' houses or parties?

Portability is one of the easiest things to overlook when buying DJ equipment for home.

A booth with two players and a mixer can look spectacular as a permanent installation, but transporting it means moving three units, their cables and, if you want to protect them properly, their respective bags or flightcases.

If you know you will move your equipment frequently, a controller or all-in-one can make much more sense.

That is why an XDJ-RX2, for example, can be a better option for some users than a modular booth costing exactly the same.

Not because it is better equipment.

Because it is better suited to the way that person will actually use it.

How much should I spend on a home DJ setup?

There is no single correct amount.

You can start with a relatively affordable controller and have enough equipment for years.

You can invest a little more in an all-in-one.

You can use the used or refurbished market to build a modular booth with earlier-generation players.

Or you can spend several thousand euros on a professional booth.

If you already have a rough idea of how much you want to invest, we have put together complete configurations for different budgets:

Best DJ setup under €2,000

Best DJ setup under €3,000

Best DJ setup under €5,000

You can also read our guide to how much you should spend on DJ equipment if you are still unsure what budget makes sense for you.

Does buying refurbished DJ equipment for home make sense?

We think it can make particularly good sense for a home setup.

Professional installations may have very specific requirements around riders, compatibility or particular models demanded by the professional environment.

At home, you have much more freedom.

An XDJ-700, an XDJ-1000MK2, an earlier-generation CDJ or a good mixer that has been on the market for years can still provide exactly the experience you want.

What matters is knowing the equipment's actual condition.

At Sounds Market, we refurbish and inspect equipment in our own workshop before selling it as Certified, with a one-year warranty included.

Browse our refurbished and Certified DJ equipment.