PRO GEAR'S START 2 DJ GUIDE
Whether you have big plans to become the world’s No. 1 in DJ Mag, or you just want to mix a few tracks at home after work,... as a DJ you obviously need gear. And besides your talent and motivation, good gear is essential to bring out your sound and your good vibes.
We’ve been asked more than once what THE perfect start2DJ set is, but unfortunately there’s no such thing as a magic solution. Your choice is personal and depends on your taste, your studio space, your style and of course your budget.
What we can say for sure is that you need 3 things: a DJ controller, headphones & speakers. That’s why we’ve gathered an overview of popular yet very high-quality starter models in each of these three segments on this page.
Good luck in your search for the ideal setup, and don’t hesitate to contact us via our FB chat or by email, we’re happy to go on the adventure with you!
YOUR CONTROLLER
Choosing the perfect controller is of course a personal matter. To make your choice, you need to consider your plans, the space you have available, your budget and obviously the look as well. And if you want to try out the device for real, you can always do so in our Pro Gear Experience Store in Sint-Niklaas!
We’ve already selected the ideal START2DJ controllers for you:
Pioneer DJ DDJ-FLX4
THE starter model from Pioneer DJ! This controller connects very easily to your laptop, so you can get started right away with rekordbox!
The DDJ-FLX4 is also ideal for beginners: budget-wise it stays very affordable at €285 and you get rekordbox for free, so you can dive in immediately!
€ 349,00 €285
AlphaTheta XDJ-AN <NEW>
The missing link between your first controller and a real club booth. The XDJ-AN works fully standalone: no laptop needed!
Everything runs through the touchscreen, which keeps the XDJ-AN clean and easy to read. You get to grips with the club layout without the CDJ budget.
€ 1149,00
Pioneer DJ XDJ-RX3
This all-in-one from Pioneer DJ is used in almost every DJ school, so it’s truly ideal as a first device!
The XDJ-RX3 is a bit more expensive than its colleagues, but in return you get a very complete device, with the look&feel of Pioneer’s real CDJs, which is obviously excellent preparation!
€ 2049,00 €1835
Want a complete overview of all controllers and what they can do? Then check out our full controller comparison chart!
YOUR HEADPHONES
Can you mix with regular headphones? Of course! Except they don't isolate noise ideally, and your mix won't sound exactly the same in your headphones as it does coming out of the speakers. DJ headphones have crystal-clear sound, can handle the nightlife, preferably have a hinge above the ear cup, block out ambient noise and above all are built to last!
We’ve already selected the ideal START2DJ headphones for you:
Pioneer DJ HDJ-CUE1
The CUE1 is best known for the bright, fun colors you can swap the earpads and cable in, but it's also simply a very good-quality pair of headphones!
Pioneer DJ didn't want to sacrifice sound quality despite the price and of course took inspiration from the high-end HDJs, so this HDJ-CUE1 is clearly ideal as a starter headphone!
€69 (various colors)
Pioneer DJ HDJ-X5
The big difference between the CUE1 and the X5 is that the CUE1 rests on your ears, while the X5 fully encloses them. Which is best is mainly a matter of feel, so we recommend you try for yourself which one suits you most.
Other than that, the CUE1 & the HDJ-X5 are nearly identical in sound & sturdiness, so the choice is yours!
€99,00 (various colors)
Sennheiser HD-25 Light
The HD-25 is a legendary DJ headphone, unanimously praised for its sublime sound quality, without boosting certain frequencies but with a perfectly flat response.
The HD-25 Light doesn't have a swiveling ear cup, but it's precisely in all its simplicity that it makes an ideal starter headphone.
€99,00
Pioneer DJ HDJ-CX
The lightest headphone on the market, yet sturdy enough for the nightlife! Thanks to its weight, the CX is ideal for extended wear, and it has a very sleek look on top of that.
The HDJ-CX is part of Pioneer DJ's HDJ series, so very high-quality sound with a wide frequency range, nice fat bass, clear mids and precise highs.
€139,00
YOUR SPEAKERS
You obviously can't play a DJ set without speakers to make your mixes bang! Even if it's in your own bedroom, quality speakers let you hear clearly how you're mixing and whether it's really the sound you want your future audience to hear. The bigger your speakers, the more sound you get, naturally, but that choice also depends on the space you have available for your DJ setup.
We’ve already selected the ideal START2DJ speakers for you:
Pioneer DJ DM-40D
The perfect entry-level speakers, with a clear sound, even at slightly higher volume. But the goal of these speakers remains listening to your mixes with precision, not powering parties with them.
If you want to get into producing, a pair of DM-40Ds is also ideal, since they give you a good idea of how your track will sound in the end.
€149,00 per pair
Alesis Elevate 5 MKII
These tough-looking Elevate 5 MKIIs are not only affordable, they sound crystal clear too! Ideal for practicing at home, polishing your mixes or getting into producing.
The handy headphone jack on the front lets you switch quickly when you want to listen to music on your own.
€159,99 per pair
Pioneer DJ DM-50D
The DM-50D is the big sister of the DM-40D and therefore has a bit more punch in the bass. Ideal when things can get a little louder.
Both the 40D series and the DM-50D also come in a Bluetooth version. Not ideal for mixing (there's a tiny delay), but very handy if you also want to stream your Spotify to them wirelessly.
€249,00 per pair
M-Audio FORTY SIXTY
Without a doubt one of the best choices in terms of value for money!
The FORTY SIXTY offers a wide frequency range, but not too much bass, which makes it ideal for learning to mix at home. You can also adjust the bass settings yourself on the back of the speaker, depending on how your studio is set up (in open space, against a wall,...).
€159,99 each