Used vs refurbished DJ equipment: what's the difference?

When looking for DJ equipment at a lower price than buying new, we often come across two terms: used and refurbished.

Although they are sometimes treated as interchangeable, there is an important difference between them.

Used equipment is sold after having one or more previous owners. Refurbished equipment has also been used before, but has undergone professional inspection and testing before being offered for sale again.

For us, this distinction is particularly important when it comes to DJ equipment.

Players, mixers and turntables are electronic devices made up of many components that can wear out or develop faults. That is why, when the price difference is not very large, we prefer to buy inspected equipment with a warranty rather than a unit sold directly by a private seller without that backing.

What is used DJ equipment?

Used DJ equipment is simply a product that has already had a previous life.

It may come from a private owner, a studio, a club, a rental company or any other setting.

Its condition depends on the life that particular unit has had. Two identical products of the same age can be in completely different condition depending on how they have been used and maintained.

When buying directly from another user, whether through a specialist marketplace, a general marketplace or a direct sale, it is usually up to us to assess the product's condition.

That does not mean buying used is a bad option. There is plenty of very well-kept second-hand equipment.

But there is more uncertainty if we do not know how to test it properly or have no support after the purchase.

Our guide to buying used DJ equipment explains what we recommend checking before buying.

What is refurbished DJ equipment?

Refurbished DJ equipment is also used equipment, but has been professionally inspected and tested before being sold again.

If that process reveals a problem, the equipment may need a repair or a replacement component.

But there is an important distinction:

Refurbished does not necessarily mean repaired.

Equipment can arrive in excellent condition and need no repairs. In that case, refurbishment means properly checking its operation and making sure it is fit to be sold again.

If a problem is found, then work will be needed.

We explain the process in much more detail in our guide to what refurbished DJ equipment means.

Used vs refurbished DJ equipment: the main differences

	Used equipment	Refurbished equipment
Has been used before	Yes	Yes
Professional inspection before sale	Not necessarily	Yes
Repair if a problem is found	Depends on the seller	Part of the process when needed
May show signs of use	Yes	Yes
Warranty	Depends on where you buy it	May be included
Uncertainty about condition	Generally higher	Generally lower
Price	May be lower	May be slightly higher

For us, the fundamental difference is the inspection before sale and the backing behind the product.

Why do we think a warranty is especially important for DJ equipment?

We are not buying a second-hand item of clothing.

We are buying hardware that can be worth hundreds or thousands of euros and contains many different components.

Faders, buttons, encoders, screens, jog wheels, power supplies, connections, circuit boards, inputs and outputs are just a few examples.

Many problems are not visible in a photograph, nor do they appear simply by switching the equipment on for a few minutes.

That is why we think a warranty is especially valuable when buying this kind of product.

At Sounds Market, for example, our Certified equipment includes a one-year warranty.

If a covered problem arises during that period, there is someone behind the sale who takes responsibility for the product.

That backing is generally not available in a private sale.

Is refurbished equipment always much more expensive?

Not necessarily.

This is precisely one of the points we think is worth comparing before buying.

On the second-hand market, private sellers sometimes price certain products relatively close to refurbished units.

When the difference is small, we think it is worth asking whether the saving justifies giving up a professional inspection and a warranty.

If a private seller's unit costs €1,300 and a refurbished unit with a warranty costs €1,400, we do not think the €100 difference should be the only consideration.

You need to consider what you are getting in return for that difference.

Of course, if you find a used unit in very good condition at a considerably lower price and know how to check it properly, the decision may be different.

That is why we always recommend comparing the price, but also the condition, who is selling the product and what support you will have after buying it.

Refurbished does not mean new

Refurbished equipment is still equipment that has had a previous life.

It may have scratches, marks or signs of use and still work perfectly.

That is why it is important to distinguish between:

Cosmetic condition: how the equipment looks.

Working condition: how it functions.

A unit with a few marks may be in excellent working condition. A unit that looks almost new on the outside may have a problem you cannot detect simply by looking at photographs.

A good inspection should focus particularly on how the equipment functions.

So is it better to buy used or refurbished?

If the two units are comparable and the price difference is reasonable, we prefer refurbished equipment.

There are three main reasons: it has undergone a professional inspection, there is less uncertainty about its working condition and the purchase may be backed by a warranty.

That does not mean we would never buy used equipment directly.

If we know the product well, can test it properly and the price difference is large enough, buying from a private seller can make a lot of sense.

But the higher the equipment's value and the smaller the price difference, the more we value an inspection and a warranty.

If you are considering buying directly from another user, we explore the risks and precautions in our guide: Is it safe to buy used DJ equipment?

What about refurbished versus new?

That is a different decision.

Buying new has clear advantages, but it also usually means a higher price. Refurbished equipment can give you access to higher-end models or save you a substantial amount compared with buying new.

We explore this separately in our guide to new vs refurbished DJ equipment.

How do we refurbish equipment at Sounds Market?

At Sounds Market, we refurbish Certified equipment ourselves in our own workshop.

We do not send products to an external refurbisher.

We inspect and test every unit and, when we find a problem, carry out the necessary work before putting it back on sale.

Our Certified equipment is then sold with a one-year warranty.

We will not go through the entire process here, because we explain it step by step, with real examples from our workshop, in our guide to what refurbished DJ equipment means.

You can also browse our Certified refurbished DJ equipment directly.