If you’re wondering what DJ equipment to buy, the answer depends on your budget, experience level and how you play.
Most new DJs start with a controller and a laptop. It’s the simplest and most affordable way to learn properly. If you’d rather leave the laptop behind, an all-in-one system gives you a self-contained setup with built-in screens and software. And if your goal is to step into club booths and festivals, separate media players and a mixer are still the professional standard.
In this guide, we break down the best DJ controllers, all-in-ones and modular setups for every budget in 2026, so you can choose gear that fits where you’re at and where you want to go next.
Article Guide
- Which Type Of Device Should I Go For?
- Best Beginner Controllers
- Best Intermediate Controllers
- Best Flagship Controllers
- Best Low-Cost All-In-Ones
- Best Mid-Range All-In-Ones
- Best Flagship All-In-Ones
- Turntables and a Battle Mixer
- Media Players and a Club Mixer
- Flagship Club Standard Rig
- Not Sure Which Device is Right for You?
Equipment Overview
We’ve sorted all the kit into three categories that all DJ gear falls into. Controllers, All-in-ones and Standalone/ modular equipment.
In this guide, we review our top picks for each type of device.
We explore options for beginner DJs looking for their first set of decks, to those upgrading to a more intermediate rig, right through to the no-expenses spared premium picks.
We look at a broad selection of equipment that will appeal to most DJs, so it should serve as a solid guide to the best options for any DJ.
Which type of DJ device should I use?
Below is a breakdown of the main features of each type of device and who they are best suited to:
- Controllers – These are the most popular devices for beginners and also the least expensive. They are comprised of two deck sections with a mixer in the middle and must be used with a laptop running DJ software.
- All-In-Ones – These devices cost more than controllers, so are typically suited to intermediate DJs and professionals. They are super convenient and just as easy to transport, but don’t require a laptop. They have built-in screens running performance software, so all you need is music from a USB stick, SD card or streamed in via a subscription service.
- Standalone or Modular Equipment – For DJs wanting flexibility with their set-up, buying the decks and mixer separately means a rig can be personalised. This is ideal for professionals who want to customise their setups to meet specific needs. You’ll find open-format and techno DJs putting their insane set-ups together this way. This is also the most expensive way to build a DJ rig.
Controllers
Controllers continue to be the most popular choice for new DJs, and for good reason! They’re budget-friendly and are by far the most portable bits of kit on the market.
All controllers here are designed to work with either Rekordbox or Serato DJ, as these are the industry’s biggest players. However, most will also work with alternative software like VirtualDJ, Traktor and Algoriddim Djay with a little MIDI-mapping.
Best beginner controllers (under £300)
Pioneer DJ DDJ-FLX4
(£279)
For DJs of any level wanting to get used to Pioneer club gear, this is the one. It features everything you need to pull off insane-sounding mixes and then some! It boasts a slick, lightweight frame with two CDJ-esque decks and a DJM club-style two-channel mixer with effects and handy Smart tools that make mixing super easy. In fact, the FLX4 lends a big helping hand to new DJs, allowing DJs to pull off polished transitions within minutes of first touching the decks!
Although this controller is targeted at beginners, 95% of what DJs can do on professional rigs is achievable with this. However, it may take a little diving into Rekordbox’s settings to tweak things! For more on this, see our article on Getting Started With FLX4.
Watch the video below and learn some impressive DJ techniques for beginners on the FLX4!
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If you want to grow your confidence in DJing with FLX4 and learn to use it to its full potential, check out our dedicated Beginner and Pro courses.
7 hours 41 lessons Beginner
Pioneer DJ DDJ-FLX4 Course
Numark Mixtrack Platinum FX
(£239)
Aimed at Serato and open-format DJs, Numark’s Mixtrack Platinum FX is an ideal choice for DJs interested in scratching.
It features full-sized tempo adjust faders for on-point beat matching, a crucial hip-hop mixing skill! For more on beatmatching for beginners, check out our full guide.
The battle-style paddle effects are great for heat-of-the-moment FX activations. The device supports 4 deck layers and has super useful mini displays inside the jog wheels to help you see what deck you’re controlling.
At this price point, there’s not much else offering these features, as you’d typically have to spend a lot more to get a four-deck device with paddle effects!
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Best intermediate controllers (under £1,000)
Hercules T7 Premium (£699)
The only device that does spinning platters for well under £1,000! The Hercules T7 is the best choice for DJs wanting the analogue feel of vinyl on a tight budget. Its closest-priced competition is the RANE ONE MKII, which costs almost double at £1,349!
Even though T7 is technically not in the same league as RANE’s ground-breaking device due to its lack of direct-drive motors, this unit is still a dream to cut on. The belt-driven motors, also found on portabilist turntables, are more than powerful enough to scratch on as they only deal with smaller 7” vinyl discs.
Watch us cut it up on the original T7 in our performance video!
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Pioneer DJ DDJ-REV5
(£939)
REV5 is a champion for open-format intermediates and pro DJs, belonging to a family of DJ gear that revolutionised battle controllers forever!
It’s the perfect collaboration between the ultra-premium REV7 and the entry-level REV1, being budget-friendly like 1 but with most of the flagship features from 7.
The only missing key feature is its lack of motorised platters, but this device is great value for DJs wanting to stick to a budget.
REV5 is all a DJ needs to put together some insane routines, with a DJM-S style battle mixer and excellent tactile jogs, which include tension adjustment and cue point displays in their centre for higher accuracy cutting.
It has some unique mixing features, such as the world-exclusive Auto BPM feature, which automates a gradual beat match between two different tempos. With the tempo-adjusting taken care of for you, hands are freed up to get busy scratching and cutting.
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If you’re interested in scratching, DJing battle style or want to level up your open format skills, check out our Hip Hop Mixing DJ Course!
4.75 hours 42 lessons Beginner
Hip Hop Mixing DJ Course
Best Flagship Controllers (under £1,500)
RANE FOUR (£1,399)
This was Serato’s official Stems hardware partner, introducing us to the power of their awesome audio separation feature, which has changed the DJ landscape for good!
RANE FOUR is the ultimate controller for remix DJs working with Stems. It also rivals Pioneer’s famous Beat FX with 22 unique built-in effects. All are fully tweakable with parameter controls and sound super clean!
For lovers of Serato, this is the best four-channel controller, and that also goes for open-format DJs who usually mix with just two channels. Splitting vocals and instrumentals across two channels quickly becomes a second-nature mixing perk on this kit.
Not much can rival the RANE FOUR for remixing on the fly using Serato!
Check out our exclusive RANE FOUR Stems mashup performance mix!
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Pioneer DJ DDJ-FLX10
(£1,499)
For those wanting to emulate a professional CDJ rig, FLX10 is the closest you’ll get with any controller!
It does stems brilliantly, controls DMX lighting, and has most of the club standard DJM sound colour and beat effects.
It also includes RGB jog-wheel lighting to help DJs visually see which stem they have active. Very useful since controlling four decks of stems can get confusing without visual cues!
On-the-fly remixing is levelled up with this ‘does it all’ super controller.
FLX10’s dual integration with Serato is the most seamless Pioneer has ever created.
Its mapping for Serato is 99% on point with regard to the markings on the top plate of the unit.
We highly recommend this capable controller to club DJs who want to be able to use both Rekordbox and Serato.
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All-in-ones
All-in-ones have grown in popularity in recent years, with battery-powered options making them perfect for DJing anywhere.
You don’t need a performance laptop as they have built-in screens that run DJ software. This means the starting cost of these devices is higher than controllers which do require a laptop.
Rigs range from two-channel options with modest features to full-scale club setup replications at a fraction of the cost of a standalone club rig.
Currently, only two operating systems can run on all-in-ones, Rekordbox and EngineDJ.
Best low-cost all-in-ones (Under £1,100)
Numark Mixstream Pro Go
(£699)
This unit is perfect for any DJ wanting a does-it-all device on a budget. It has everything you need to DJ, including speakers, access to music streaming partners and performance software, all for an unrivalled cost!
As it runs Engine DJ software, this compact, battery-powered all-in-one packs some serious features despite its more minimal design. Hidden within the fluid 7” high-definition multi-touch screen are loads of cool functions, such as an XY pad for touch effects.
Battery power and its built-in speaker means it can be taken on the road and is wire-free, with no need to connect to anything other than music sources for practice sessions, whether they be in a bedroom or outdoors!
See what the Pro Go can do with our quick performance mix!
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Pioneer DJ XDJ-RR
(£1,029)
Pioneer are known for throwing loads of features into their gear, but XDJ-RR is different. It has all you need to put together a great set with some nice transitions, but not much more.
Everything from the jog wheels and tempo adjustment faders to how effects are chosen and assigned to a channel has been streamlined, making the RR a stripped-back Pioneer experience. It’s now a little dated compared to newer bits of kit, but it’s still fully capable. Even though RR’s hardware is minimal to meet a price point, the sound quality is excellent, and the unit’s been around long enough to prove its durability.
We recommend the RR to DJs who want to DJ on Pioneer gear but prefer to keep things simple, doing away with extra bells and whistles. This is also the cheapest option for DJs wanting to play on Rekordbox equipment just with USB sticks!
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Best Mid-Range All-In-Ones (Under £1,800)
Denon DJ SC Live 4
(£1,129)
This device is tailor-made for live-streaming professionals. A four-deck all-in-one at this price point is a big deal! The only gripe is that the 7” high-resolution multi-touch screen might seem small when using all four decks in the mix, but we’ve found it to be perfectly workable.
The built-in speaker has a good punch and works well as a booth monitor in quieter environments. Unlike Denon DJ’s flagship, PRIME 4, SC LIVE 4 imitates the club standard layout of CDJs and a DJM mixer, so is a win-win for those wanting to progress onto standalone club kit later on.
It is also worth noting that EngineDJ software can natively control light shows and integrates seamlessly with SoundSwitch for more professional and intricate displays.
SC LIVE 4 has a LIGHTING button to immediately access the in-depth dedicated lighting software. For the price, this is completely unrivalled! It is feature-rich and looks decent in a live-streaming studio while happily catering to mobile DJs with its plentiful and professional I/O. These include XLR outs and the option to plug in a second mic or auxiliary device like a smartphone. The ultimate value device for mobile DJs!
Watch us put all four decks in the mix with the SC Live 4!
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Our Denon DJ courses cover everything Engine DJ so you can be confident to step behind any Engine device and deliver your DJ sets with confidence!
6.5 hours 36 lessons Beginner
Denon DJ Prime Course
Pioneer DJ XDJ-RX3 (£1,699)
RX3 is perfect for club DJs who want a compact device that travels easily or looks the part in a studio or home environment. This device’s gorgeous 10.1” touchscreen jumps out at you and makes mixing super clear.
With an OS based on Rekordbox 6, the interface looks similar to the current club standard of the CDJ-3000. It beautifully displays three-band EQ waveforms and seamlessly navigates through utility and performance menus.
The mixing hardware is comprehensive, too, with the same beat and colour effects as the DJM-900NXS2. The knobs, buttons and faders are really well-spaced out and feel like mixing on proper professional club gear.
The performance pad modes include Gated Cue and Release FX, so the device is on par with flagship controllers for functionality. The central jog wheel screens are reminiscent of those found in the CDJ-3000s, an excellent choice for DJs used to a 3000 rig.
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Our XDJ course is built from the ground up around mixing on Pioneer’s awesome all-in-one and standalone devices. Learn how to optimise your music collection for use with their super-capable hardware and give your DJ sets the polish Pioneer gear is famous for!
8.5 hours 47 lessons Beginner
Pioneer XDJ DJ Course
Best Flagship all-in-ones (Under £3,000)
Denon DJ PRIME 4+
(£1,979)
The PRIME 4+ is pretty much the ultimate tool for mobile DJs, offering more useful features than just about any other all-in-one on the market! This was the world’s first all-in-one to offer four-deck mixing and remained so for years.
It’s still ahead of its time, but that hasn’t stopped Denon DJ from giving it a refresh to bring its look in line with newer gear. The 4+ is a nice revision, bringing the PRIME 4 up to date with a paint respray and performance enhancements such as better jogs and the ability to connect to Amazon Music.
Plus, it offers the world-exclusive ability to work with stems, along with loads of options for music playback and audio routing. There are no real alternatives for DJs wanting comprehensive audio setups with control over different music zones and many music source options.
We love the under-unit SATA bay for permanently storing up to 4TB of local music files so your core music collection is always on hand. This was also the first device to have a Zone output to play an alternative playlist into a second room whilst the main room gets the live DJ set!
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AlphaTheta XDJ-AZ (£2,799)
For the ultimate all-in-one, AlphaTheta went all out when speccing the XDJ-AZ. It’s basically their flagship club CDJs and mixer setup, all combined into one more-affordable and portable setup.
It’s the sequel to Pioneer’s super-popular flagship four-channel all-in-one, XDJ-XZ, updated with all the new features, connectivity and effects. Unlike all the previous Pioneer all-in-ones, this is crucially a 4-channel unit so there’s no compromise.
Everything feels as premium as you’d expect for their high end gear and the jog wheels, knobs and faders all clearly are lifted from the pro club equipment.
Performance-wise, you’ve got all the tools you’d need, including a range of Beat FX, performance pads and a lovely 10.1 inch touch screen that makes browsing tracks really clear. The only thing majorly lacking is not having any options for stems unlike other units at this price point.
Check out our full video review of the XDJ-AZ below!
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Standalone/ Modular Equipment
This takes us back to the old-school way of DJing, as the only way to build a rig back in the day was to buy the decks and mixer separately.
Putting equipment together yourself is still rewarding for DJs today and allows a DJ’s rig to evolve to suit their needs over time. But the cost can wrack up fast!
We’ve put together three proven rig configurations, popular amongst DJs of varying budgets and needs.
Turntables and a battle mixer (from £1,409)
Reloop RP 7000MK2 turntable (£475 x2) / Numark Scratch battle mixer (£459), totalling £1,409
Spinning on the wheels of steel can be addictive! Most DJs who have done it stick to it in some form, enjoying the benefits of the digital era with Serato DJ Pro rather than analogue vinyl.
This rig is perfect for DJs who want to mix and cut with turntables and a mixer ready for battle. It consists of two, high-torque turntables with an insane amount of pitch to adjust the tempo of tracks (+/- 50%). Perfect for those looking to scratch, beat-juggle, put together routines with crazy BPM jumps or perform tone play tricks.
Whilst the mixer is basic, it unlocks Serato DJ Pro and caters to scratch DJs with a mini innoFADER built in. The performance pads are limited to four per channel, but with no complaints at this price point.
Its I/O is comprehensive, easily plugging into professional speakers via XLR or a domestic or studio environment via RCA.
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The beauty of this setup is that any part of it can be upgraded. Our top picks for switching out the Reloops are the Technics 1200 MK7 turntable (£895 x 2) or the Pioneer DJ PLX-CRSS12 hybrid turntable (£1,199 x 2).
To swap out the Numark battle mixer, we recommend the Pioneer DJ DJM-S5 battle mixer (£749), or RANE SEVENTY (£1,199).
Media players and a club mixer (from £3,969)
Denon DJ SC6000 PRIME (£1,285 x 2) / Allen & Heath XONE 96 (£1,969), totalling £4,539
This setup is ideal for digital DJs with high standards for sound quality. Media players and a club mixer offer a decent alternative for modular DJs not wanting to mix open-format style with turntables and a battle mixer.
The Denon SC6000 media players have an insane trick up their sleeve as they are dual-layered, so one device can control two tracks simultaneously, allowing four-deck mixing with just two players!
They also feature the powerful ENGINE DJ OS running on a generous 10” high-definition multi-touch display. The decks can fully analyse songs without needing a computer and can even apply effects to playing tracks with built-in Touch FX.
Allen & Heath’s XONE 96 mixer is revered in club land for its sound quality and second-to-none send and return options. DJs can insert external effects like studio-grade reverbs and delays built for musical instruments. The XONE 96 is especially enjoyed on the techno and house scenes as its long faders and four-band EQ make light work of super long blends.
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The players can easily be switched out for turntables or other media players, but we would recommend adding the Denon DJLC6000 slave players (£599 x 2) that plug into the SC6000 PRIMEs to give instant physical control to the second of their dual audio layers.
The mixer can be changed to the Denon DJ X1850 (£1,399) for a slightly lower total cost of £3,969 instead of £4,539!
Flagship Club Standard Rig (From £7,267 for two decks or £12,065 for four)
Pioneer DJ CDJ-3000X (£2,399 x 4) Pioneer DJ DJM-A9 (£2,469), totalling £11,145
To play on what all the household names and big club DJs play on is a serious investment! That’s why this sort of gear is pretty much only found in professional clubs and would be massive overkill to have at home.
Despite some fantastic competition in recent years, Pioneer continues to set the gold standard in clubland. The latest generation, the CDJ-3000X, brings in a larger screen, more connection options and more processing power. It’s also the first CDJ to bear the name AlphaTheta rather than Pioneer DJ.
DJM-A9 sets the new club standard for mixers, finally giving DJM-900NXS2 a chance to retire after almost a decade. It’s got everything you’d want in a mixer, all laid out in a familiar way, with fantastic effects and connection options.
For an extra £500, Pioneer’s ultimate 6-channel flagship mixer of choice for Techno DJs, the DJM-V10, for example. Just don’t forget to add two more CDJ-3000s!
Check out our full review of the new CDJs below:
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If you want to learn your way around gear like this, you’ve got to check out our CDJ Masterclass and learn to deliver amazing DJ sets in the booth!
10 hours 31 lessons Intermediate
Pioneer CDJ Masterclass
Not sure which device is right for you?
At the end of the day, the right setup is the one that fits where you’re at right now.
You don’t need club-standard flagship gear to become a good DJ. Most people start out on simple controllers and then step up to more advanced gear when their skills evolve, or they start getting further in their DJ career.
If your goal is to feel confident behind the decks, start there. Learn the fundamentals properly, and you’ll be able to step onto almost any system and figure it out.
And if you don’t have any gear yet, that’s not a problem. When you join Crossfader, you get a personalised learning path based on your goals, plus three free courses, including how to DJ with just a laptop and even how to DJ with your phone. That means you can get started mixing straight away, no matter what gear you’ve got or not.
What set up would you recommend to a person with no residual vision meaning no sight at all, everything these days is touch screen. Surely the technology is there for text to speech to be heard in the headphones so a totally blind person would know what track he is loading into the player. This is so frustrating as i have to go for the cheap rubbish Gemini CDM4000 which is easy to use but has no keylock or microphone EQ so you get what your given. so frustrating hence giving it all up. I can rock up to a vinyl gig but that means dragging a trolley around.
I’ve never heard of any technology that would allow you to route the TTS just through the controller’s headphones not the master output as the computer recognises it just as one audio device generally.
Where does the XDJ-AZ fit into this list?
It’s a flagship all-in-one that’s incredibly similar to the Opus Quad in many ways but overall and about the same price, I’d probably take the AZ over it.