We asked David Michael of Passionate DJ to put together this guide based on his deep-dive reviews of every controller available. We kept our noses out of it. No salesmanship, just 100% honest, expert advice from one of the best reviewers in the game.
Intro
While I spend a lot of time reviewing individual pieces of DJ hardware, it’s sometimes important to take a step back and examine the bigger picture. So that’s what we’re doing today, in my Ultimate Guide to DJ Controllers!
These controllers are split into 3 different price categories: budget, midrange, and premium. In each category, I have one main recommendation. Then, I’ll recommend some alternative options.
The primary focus is on Rekordbox and Serato, because they are most popular with our audience. Most controllers will also be supported by Virtual DJ and Algoriddim Djay. I tried to not include anything that was discontinued or outright unavailable.
Cutting to the chase with a straight-up default recommendation, I’ll suggest the AlphaTheta DDJ-GRV6. It’s a solid all-around DJ controller which costs around 900 bucks, and does pretty much everything you need.
We’ll learn more about the GRV6 below, in the Premium Controllers section. Or, watch my AlphaTheta DDJ-GRV6 Review here.
Best Budget DJ Controller (under $500)
Pioneer DDJ-FLX4 ($329)
I chose the Pioneer DDJ-FLX4 as my “default” choice for the under $500 category for a few reasons: it’s got a club-standard mixer layout, slick and silent jog wheels, and some interesting helper features that make it easy for brand-new DJs to make cool-sounding transitions.
Another reason is that it supports multiple applications. It’s primarily made for Pioneer’s rekordbox for Mac & Windows, but also comes with Serato DJ Lite (you can do a paid upgrade to the full version).
On top of that, you can use it with the new rekordbox app for iOS/Android, making for an extremely convenient and portable pseudo-all-in-one DJ system for a great price.
As with any Serato or Rekordbox-supported device, the FLX4 brings with it support for several streaming services: TIDAL, Beatport, Beatsource, and Soundcloud. The USB-C connection makes it easy to connect power & data through a single cable.
Alternate Choices
Pioneer DDJ-REV1 ($299)
The Pioneer DDJ-REV1 is an equally great choice for beginners, especially if you prefer Serato, or you eventually want to learn scratching.
This controller is fairly similar to the FLX4, but once you take a closer look, you’ll notice some differences.
Rather than a traditional club mixer layout, you get FX paddles and pads up in the middle (much like a DJM-S mixer would have). You get a battle-style orientation, with pitch faders up top.
The REV1 has a few cheater scratch features. It can automate crossfader cuts, and return to a cue point automatically when you release the platter. These features can help you make cool scratching sounds, while you’re actually learning how to do the real thing.
Reloop Ready ($399)
I’ve always had a special place in my heart for Reloop, and the Reloop Ready makes today’s list because of its functionality for the space.
It has a very compact layout, which is designed to perfectly rest on top of a 13″ laptop keyboard. It’s USB-powered and contains 16 RGB Pads, 9 Performance modes, and 2 FX units.
Compatibility with Algoriddim’s Djay software means this controller works with PC, Mac, and mobile. You can use an iPad (as I prefer) or you could even use an iPhone. This, and the form factor, make the Ready one of the handiest controllers available today.
Numark Mixtrack Platinum FX ($279)
The big, capacitive-touch 6′′ jog wheels on the Numark Mixtrack Platinum FX house lovely digital displays, which give basic BPM and track position feedback. This is the only controller in this price bracket to offer this feature.
It’s great for learning how to beat-match, especially with those long-throw pitch faders. That’s why I feel it’s one of the best values in the controller market.
You also get access to four decks through layering, though there are only two faders to work with (so it’s not a true four-channel controller). It also has paddle FX, if that’s your preference.
If you’re willing to skip the access to decks 3 and 4, and the handy digital jog displays, save a little money by going for the Numark Mixtrack Pro FX instead.
Hercules DJControl Inpulse 500 ($349)
The Hercules DJControl Inpulse 500 supports streaming services, has lovely retractable feet (which protect it from spills), and a light guide to help DJs learn to beatmatch. It’s a straightforward, well-built, traditional DJ controller with little fuss.
What the 500 gives is an enjoyable 2-channel mixing experience with large jog wheels and classic, intuitive controls. The Inpulse line doesn’t focus much on FX, so look elsewhere if that’s super important to you.
For similar money, you might consider the Hercules DJ Essentials Kit or the Hercules DJ Learning Kit. This comes with the controller’s lesser cousin (the Inpulse 300mk2 or 200mk2) along with a pair of monitor speakers and DJ headphones.
Hercules DJ is a company that focuses on beginner DJs, which means that this controller won’t throw any surprises at you.
Best Midrange DJ Controller (under $1000)
AlphaTheta DDJ-GRV6 ($899)
The AlphaTheta DDJ-GRV6 is a four-channel controller for rekordbox or Serato, and the rekordbox mobile app. And as of their latest releases, it’s also supported by Virtual DJ and Algoriddim Djay.
The DDJ-GRV6 is appealing to many DJs because of its broad compatibility, its familiar layout, and the set of features it brings for the price.
It provides that club-standard-style of layout that so many of us desire – meaning, it follows the design language of the CDJ-3000 and DJM-A9, including its placement of hot cue pads above the jog wheels.
When used with rekordbox, there’s an onboard remix function called the Groove Circuit. This allows you to replace the drum tracks on your songs with other ones.
The GRV6 is my default recommendation for DJs, if I don’t know anything else about them. This is because it has broad software support, a club-standard layout, solid build-quality, easy stems access, and four channels with a crossfader.
Alternate Choices
Reloop Mixon 8 Pro ($999)
The Reloop Mixon 8 Pro sets itself apart in a few different ways. For example, it has four FX paddles. While paddle-style FX have become popular lately, this is the first time that I’ve actually seen four of them.
Interestingly, it also has proper 4-knob software controls for the FX — the kind we used to see on controllers all the time. It’s an interesting combination of old and new school FX control.
The next thing you’ll notice is the slot at the top of the controller, dedicated to holding your iPad (up to 12.9” models). If you use the Djay app for iOS, you’re going to love this. As a matter of fact, this is the best Algoriddim Djay controller around.
You can save around a hundred bucks by instead choosing a Mixon 4 – however, you’ll lose the ability to mix external sources.
Best Premium DJ Controller (over $1000)
Pioneer DDJ-FLX10 ($1729)
The Pioneer DDJ-FLX10 is the company’s four-channel flagship DJ controller for both rekordbox and Serato (as well as Virtual DJ and Algoriddim Djay). It features Track Separation technology focusing on three track elements: vocals, drums, and other instruments.
For each Part, you can mute or adjust the volume, apply FX, or send to a new deck from exactly the same point.
This 4-channel flagship controller has external inputs, so you can add CDJs and turntables and make it the center of your entire setup. It has every pro-level port and connection you’ll need.
The jog wheels are wonderfully-stout, and the feedback provided by the crispy in-jog displays is truly useful for keeping your eyes off the laptop – as is the light ring that helps you determine the state of the selected deck.
With onboard DMX and rekordbox lighting, it’s an all-in-one solution for DJs who want to control visuals.
This is one of the best DJ controllers around, and one of the easiest to recommend (provided it fits your budget).
Alternate Choices
RANE Four ($1499)
The RANE Four is a four-channel controller, meant to bring stem separation into the mainstream. There are a few things I expect from RANE gear: sturdiness, scratch-friendliness, tight Serato integration, and a forward-thinking (but uncomplicated) design.
The Four nails every one of these expectations with ease.
Outside of stems, it’s a standard controller for Serato, with paddles that give access to 22 MAIN FX, 4 knob-controlled CHANNEL FX, and Serato DJ software FX.
It has 16 performance pads, topped by 8 beautiful OLED screens which give pad-related feedback. You’ll also find 8.5” high-resolution capacitive static platters with full-color center display.
Regarding design and layout, the RANE Four is perfection. Combined with its tank-like build quality, it would’ve been easy to make this the main recommendation in this category. But to get the most out of it, you must be a Serato user.
Pioneer DDJ-REV5 ($1189)
With full-size jog wheels, a DJM-like mixer section, tight Serato and Rekordbox integration, and easy access to stems, the Pioneer DJ DDJ-REV5 covers all the bases for any DJ willing to mix in two channels.
The jog wheels are large, responsive, reliable, and easy to operate – they feel just like those on classic CDJ units – and each includes a display with play head position. You can also customize the Jog Feel to find your perfect jog wheel “weight”.
(To be clear, the jog wheels don’t move under their own power – we’ll talk about Motorized DJ Controllers below.)
The MAGVEL FADER is slick, robust, and ready to translate every tiny movement you make so you can scratch with precision. But while the REV5 is meant to be scratch-friendly, it’s truly a great all-arounder.
That said, there’s little reason to recommend this over the cheaper (four-channel) DDJ-GRV6 unless you need that Magvel crossfader.
Best Motorized DJ Controller
RANE One MKII ($1699)
The RANE One MKII is sturdy as a brick, which inspires a lot of confidence. Overall it takes the high-performance features, reliability, and exceptional quality we’ve come to expect, and combines them into a complete Motorized DJ Controller solution.
This white mk2 model arrived with two new major features: the ability to mix external sources (like turntables), and the addition of 22 onboard FX.
Using its 6 radio-style FX buttons, you can instantly activate any combination of FX, fine-tune them with depth and beat parameter controls, and activate them with the aluminum die-cast paddle controls — which give a satisfying “ka-chunk” when you use them.
It also features RANE’s lightest and smoothest crossfader ever, the MAG FOUR, to help stand up to the rigors of cutting and scratching.
Alternate Choices
Pioneer DDJ-REV7 ($2159)
While I thought it felt less sturdy for scratching than the RANE One, the Pioneer DDJ-REV7 has some truly innovative and fun features.
The screens right in the middle of the platters, for instance. The Pioneer eliminates the use of spindles entirely, due to its use of high-resolution displays in the jog wheels.
They’ve included their Magvel Pro crossfader for buttery-smooth cuts, and you can adjust both the tension and the curve using dials on the front of the unit.
With “Instant Scratch”, you can instantly jump into scratch samples while keeping the active deck loaded with its current track. It’s like another virtual “layer” or “deck” for scratching, without actually tying one up.
Pioneer DJ also claims that this is the best sound quality to ever be included in their DJ controller line.
RANE Performer ($1,999)
The RANE Performer brings together the best of their existing lineup, and perfectly mashes it together into a new flagship. You could think of it as a RANE One with four channels; or probably more accurately, a RANE Four with motorized platters.
It has a similar approach as the DDJ-REV7, with screens in the middle of the jog wheels. However, I personally prefer the magnet-based design of the platters. They stay perfectly locked in while scratching.
You get the same high-quality, scratch-ready Mag Four crossfader that you find on the RANE One, and the same suite of paddle FX included on the RANE Seventy A-Trak Signature edition.
Standalone DJ Systems
Many of the higher-end “DJ controllers” these days are actually standalone DJ hardware, meaning it doesn’t require the use of a laptop like everything else on this list. And in this category, my main recommendation is the Denon DJ PRIME 4+.
The PRIME 4+ is a refined and enhanced version of the original. It received classy new aesthetic updates, access to Amazon Music, and real-time stems.
It’s got tons of music source options: 4 USB inputs, an SD card slot, a 2.5” SATA hard drive bay on the bottom, or you can stream directly from Beatport/Beatsource, SoundCloud GO+, Amazon Music, and TIDAL… or from your own Dropbox account.
These standalone DJ systems also work as DJ controllers, meaning you can use them with your laptop to control software such as Serato DJ.
Alternate Choices
If you don’t need the ability to connect external hardware like turntables, the SC Live 4 is a terrific alternative on a budget. While you lose a few inches of screen space, you gain onboard speakers (which can be great for use at home, or during set prep).
Excellent Pioneer/AlphaTheta alternatives are the XDJ-AZ or the XDJ-RX3, depending on your budget and need for four channels.
Both of these devices are beloved, but also notably more expensive than their Engine OS counterparts. They’re also as close as you’ll get to using a modern CDJ/DJM setup.
Motorized Standalones
Thanks to the introduction of the RANE System One, I’ve created a new category. This is the device that does almost everything – standalone mixing without a laptop, software mixing with a laptop, all while using motorized platters.
Of course, there are two little catches in that almost – no mixing external sources, and two-channel mixing only.
That said, the System One is an incredible standalone device that currently stands alone in its class.
Portable Standalones
Finally, there are the Portables. These are compact, and meant to be easily moved from place to place, while still having full standalone functionality.
The best of these are the Denon DJ PRIME Go+ (with onboard battery), the Numark Mixstream Pro+ (with onboard speakers), and the Numark Mixstream Pro GO (with both).
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