How to choose DJ equipment: a complete buying guide

Choosing DJ equipment can feel complicated. Controllers, all-in-one systems, players, mixers, two or four channels, analogue or digital equipment and several generations of the same product make it easy to compare specifications without knowing what you actually need.

At Sounds Market, we buy, sell, refurbish and repair DJ equipment every day. When someone asks us what to buy, we usually start with something much simpler:

Start by thinking about how you want to DJ before searching for the best DJ equipment.

Do you want to use a computer? Would you rather prepare your USB drives and leave the laptop behind? Do you need a setup that is easy to move, or a layout similar to a club booth? Will you mix two tracks, or do you really need four channels?

Answering these questions matters much more than buying the newest model.

Controller, all-in-one or players and mixer?

This is usually one of the first questions we ask someone looking for their first DJ setup.

If you want to learn and keep the initial investment low, a controller with a computer is usually the most logical entry point.

A Pioneer DDJ-400 or DDJ-FLX4, for example, lets you learn practically all the fundamentals: three-band EQ, faders, cueing, loops, jog wheels, beatmatching and the structure of a mix.

With a budget below €500, you do not need much more to start learning.

The main difference is that the computer forms part of the setup. To DJ, you need it connected and running the appropriate software.

If you prefer to prepare your music, plug in a USB drive and DJ without relying on a laptop, an all-in-one is the next option.

An XDJ-RR, for example, has a built-in screen and lets you play directly from USB.

It also brings the whole setup into one unit, making it much easier to transport.

If you want to DJ at home and also take your equipment to parties, friends' houses or other locations, an all-in-one can be much more practical than carrying two players and a mixer.

The third option separates the setup completely: a player on either side and a mixer in the middle.

This is the physical layout closest to a professional DJ booth.

You do not need to buy CDJ-3000s to get used to this workflow.

Two XDJ-700s with a DJM-250MK2 or DJM-450, for example, can form a modular setup for less than €2,000, depending on the condition and price of the units.

If your goal is eventually to play in clubs and the equipment will stay at home, at Sounds Market we would normally prioritise this layout over an all-in-one.

If you will move the equipment regularly, an all-in-one becomes much more appealing.

→ DJ controller vs all-in-one: which should you buy?

Do you need two or four channels?

More decks and channels do not necessarily make a better setup.

Two decks and two channels are enough to start.

At first, you will be learning to mix one track into another, beatmatch, use EQ properly, cue tracks, understand phrasing and control transitions.

You do not need four channels for that.

A four-channel mixer starts to make sense when you will actually use those extra channels: three or four players, two turntables alongside digital players, a drum machine or other external sources.

Buying four channels just in case can mean spending more on a feature you barely use.

Our recommendation is simple: buy the number of channels your way of mixing actually needs.

→ 2-channel vs 4-channel DJ mixer: which do you need?

What DJ equipment do you need for your level?

We do not recommend the same equipment to someone learning as to a DJ with years of experience.

If you simply want to learn, you do not need a professional booth.

A DDJ-400 or DDJ-FLX4 with a computer can be more than enough to master the basics.

If you know from the start that you do not want to rely on a computer, an XDJ-RR can be a more appealing first step.

If your specific goal is to learn with club DJing in mind, you could go straight to two players and a mixer.

Once you understand the fundamentals, your preferences start to matter much more.

You might want the convenience of an all-in-one such as the XDJ-RX2, or prefer a modular setup with two XDJ-700s and a DJM-450.

You can also start looking at previous generations of professional equipment.

CDJ-2000NXS or CDJ-2000NXS2 players paired with a DJM-900NXS, DJM-900NXS2, Xone:43 or Xone:92 still make extremely capable setups.

This illustrates one of the principles we use most when recommending equipment:

As you progress, your way of mixing should matter more than the product generation.

As your workflow becomes more complex, four channels, more players, better connectivity, more advanced effects or the integration of other equipment may start to make sense.

An XDJ-XZ, or XDJ-1000MK2 or CDJ-2000NXS2 players with a good four-channel mixer, can already deliver a very high-level setup.

Of course, if you want the latest features and your budget allows it, you can move to current generations.

Being an advanced DJ does not automatically mean needing the newest equipment.

Which DJ players should you buy?

If you choose a modular setup, the players will probably account for a substantial part of the budget.

Do not compare them only by release year.

Consider jog wheel size and feel, library browsing, the screen and waveforms, Hot Cues, connectivity, Pro DJ Link and, above all, the workflow you want to learn.

If you aim to play in clubs, getting used to independent players and USB drives can also make sense.

That does not necessarily mean buying the current generation.

A previous-generation professional player may fit your budget much better and give you practically everything you need.

→ DJ player buying guide: which CDJ or player should you buy?

Which DJ mixer should you buy?

The mixer is one of the components that most defines how a setup feels.

Before choosing a particular model, we would mainly consider:

• How many channels you will use.
• Whether you prefer an analogue or digital mixer.
• How much you use effects.
• The type of EQ and filters you prefer.
• Whether you need an audio interface.
• Whether you will connect turntables.
• Whether you need send/return or other external equipment.

A more expensive mixer is not necessarily a better mixer for you.

One DJ may prefer the mixing approach of a Xone:92 to that of a modern DJM. Another may constantly use a DJM's effects and connectivity and feel much more comfortable with it.

Specifications matter here, but your mixing style matters enormously too.

→ DJ mixer buying guide: which mixer should you buy?

→ Analogue vs digital mixer: which should you choose?

Do you want to DJ with vinyl?

If there is a real possibility that you will add vinyl to your setup, consider it before buying the rest of the equipment.

Two turntables take up space, require phono inputs and can completely change how many channels you need.

For example, a DJ currently using two digital players might be perfectly happy with a two-channel mixer. If they know they will later add two Technics turntables and keep the players, it probably makes more sense to consider four channels from the outset.

This does not mean buying the whole booth on day one.

It simply means avoiding buying something today that you already know you will have to replace tomorrow.

→ Vinyl DJ setup buying guide: choosing turntables and a mixer

Do you really need the latest generation?

In many cases, no.

This is probably one of the things we see most often when working with refurbished DJ equipment.

Each new generation brings improvements: better screens, faster processors, new functions, more Hot Cues, greater connectivity or new performance possibilities.

But what the equipment can do and what you will use are two different questions.

An XDJ-RX2 is still a very capable all-in-one.

CDJ-2000NXS and CDJ-2000NXS2 players still offer a professional workflow.

A DJM-900NXS or DJM-900NXS2 can still be the centre of an excellent setup, just as a Xone:92 remains a professional option decades after its first generation appeared.

Even a relatively simple setup with two XDJ-700s and a DJM-450 can be everything a DJ needs at home.

That is why we do not automatically recommend paying more for the latest generation.

If the new features solve a real need in your workflow, great. If you probably will not use even half of them, investing the same budget in previous-generation professional equipment may make much more sense.

How much should you spend on DJ equipment?

Your budget should reflect what you need and your level, rather than simply how much you can afford to spend.

Our priority would be learning.

A controller with a computer usually makes much more sense than trying to build an overly limited modular setup within this budget.

You can start considering all-in-one systems and, especially on the refurbished market, very capable equipment from previous generations.

This budget can take you well beyond an entry-level controller.

Many possibilities open up here.

You can access higher-level all-in-one systems or start building a compelling modular setup with separate players and a mixer.

For many home DJs, €2,500 spent wisely can create a setup they will not need to change for years.

This is professional-level setup territory.

Previous-generation professional players, high-level four-channel mixers, advanced all-in-one systems or hybrid setups start to fit comfortably within the budget.

At this level, the question should increasingly become what you want from your setup, rather than simply what you can buy.

You can start considering the most recent generations and flagship equipment.

If you want the very latest, that makes sense.

But spending €5,000, €6,000 or more does not necessarily mean the setup will suit you better than a refurbished configuration costing €2,500 or €3,000.

→ How much should you spend on DJ equipment?

Will your equipment stay at home or travel with you?

This question can completely change our recommendation.

Prioritise the workflow you like, the available space and what you will actually use.

You do not need to recreate a festival booth in your bedroom.

Here, prioritising a modular setup can make sense.

Two independent players and a central mixer get you used to a layout similar to many professional booths.

The models do not have to be the same.

You can learn this layout perfectly well with two XDJ-700s and a mixer, without buying current-generation CDJs.

The recommendation changes here.

If you want to take it to parties, friends' houses or different locations, an all-in-one can be much more practical.

Transporting one unit is very different from transporting two players, a mixer, their cables and their flight cases.

When your equipment becomes a work tool, reliability, connectivity, familiarity, maintenance and repairability become even more important.

New, used or refurbished?

Buying new has clear advantages: you are the first owner, you know its origin and can access the current generation.

Buying used directly from a private seller can cost considerably less, but leaves more uncertainty about how the equipment has been used and maintained.

Refurbished equipment aims to fill that gap.

In our workshop, we constantly see one important reality: the age of DJ equipment does not determine its condition on its own.

We have worked with previous-generation professional players, mixers and turntables that still operate perfectly many years later.

We also encounter much newer units that have seen very intensive professional use.

The unit's actual condition, history, testing and maintenance therefore matter much more.

At Sounds Market, we check and refurbish our Certified equipment before putting it on sale and provide a one-year warranty.

→ Used vs refurbished DJ equipment: what is the difference?

There is no single correct progression

There is no progression that every DJ has to follow.

You do not need to start with a controller, move through an all-in-one and finish by buying the most expensive booth on the market.

You can find a setup that suits your mixing style perfectly and use it for many years.

Checklist before buying DJ equipment

Before deciding, try to answer these questions:

• Do I want to DJ with a computer?
• Do I want to play directly from USB?
• Will the equipment stay at home, or do I need to move it?
• Do I want to get used to a club-style booth layout?
• Will I actually use more than two decks?
• Do I want to add vinyl or other equipment in the future?
• Which features will I actually use?
• Do I need the latest generation?
• What is my budget for the whole setup?

With these answers clear, choosing the right equipment becomes much easier.