A DJ mixer is an important part of an equipment setup. It’s how a DJ is able to manipulate sound, creating a danceable sonic atmosphere. We’ve used and abused many DJ mixers over the years, and the following list are our favorites for a couple different price points. No matter what your budget, you should be able to find something that works for you.

BEST DJ MIXER

The Allen & Heath XONE:92 is the best DJ mixer. It presents a unique combination of performance tools for the professional DJ in a stylish and solidly built club format. Above all, it features sound quality second to none. XONE:92 has been designed and constructed using the same rigorous standards applied to large format professional consoles used and respected by top engineers throughout the world. If you want the best of the best, this is it.

A full range of connectors means that you can connect up to 4 turntables, 2 mics, CD players, MD players, drum machines, samplers, and pretty much anything else you might want to bring into the mix. MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) allows featured front panel controls to transmit MIDI data to enable remote control of external effects, samplers, sequencers etc. Tap Tempo related MIDI clocks are also transmitted to provide synchronisation of MIDI sound modules to pre-recorded sources playing through the mixer. 4 BAND EQ controls rather than the usual 3 for greater creativity. Each band has a safe +6dB boost. The HI and LO bands have infinite attenuation (total kill) with a sharp 12dB/oct roll-off and the MID bands have a massive -30dB of cut, enough to shape your sound well beyond normal EQ range, and without overloading your system.

The curve can be swept between dipped response, ideal for seamless beat mixing, and fast-attack, suitable for scratch or cut mixing. Unique to XONE, two stereo state variable Voltage Controlled Filters provide the DJ with a new level of live performance creativity. These are very similar to those found on classic analogue synths but benefit from modern, quiet and stable technology.

ADVANCED DJ MIXER

The Pioneer DJM-800 mixer gives professional DJs the tool they need to expand their musical horizon, with capabilities for mixing records, remixing, producing and performing. Pioneer’s DJ mixers have a reputation for providing high quality audio and reliability. The new DJM-800 incorporates features recommended by many professional DJs and club engineers, raising the bar on sound fidelity and ease of mixer operation. Most important are its high quality 96kHz/24 bit sampling and harmonic mixing capabilities.

The DJM-800 incorporates a highpass / lowpass filter, notch filter and bit crusher effect for all channels. In conjunction with the additional Beat Effects, 50 combinations of effects are possible.

Higher quality effects at 24bits make for a cleaner sounding remix. The effects automatically detect the BPM of the music and sync to the beats. DJM-800 includes some familiar effects, plus some new ones: Echo, Delay, Reverse Delay, Pan, Transform, Filter, Flanger, Phaser, Reverb, Robot, Chorus, Roll and Reverse Roll.

There are also a total of 61 assignable MIDI controls. The MIDI signal can be sent from almost all knobs and switches on the surface of the DJM-800 to external midi equipment. Since the mixer can send out many MIDI signals, it can be used as a flexible interface to music software or hardware such as Ableton Live or EDIROL V-4 Video Mixer.

GOOD DJ MIXER

The Pioneer DJM-909 Professional Mixer offers DJs innovative features including precise cross fader/fade curve control, user-customizable cross fader glide adjustment, and touch screen control of the built-in effects. Pioneer continually strives to meet the wide-ranging needs of the cutting-edge DJ and this music mixer does just that by combining innovative technology with proven Pioneer quality.

Sensitive yet solid EQ knobs, durable transform switches, and precise and accurate crossfader curve control. Most importantly, Pioneer has developed an original “non-contact” cross fader technology with unprecedented durability and reliability.

The DJM-909 has the most precise and customizable crossfader in the industry. It’s highly durable and has double fade control allowing each half of the fader to be adjusted independently! All fader curves can also be seen and adjusted with visual reference on the mixers’ fader curve adjust screen. If that isn’t enough, the crossfader feel can also be adjusted to your preference. Each channel fader curve can be adjusted from a smooth volume change to a dynamic volume ON/OFF at the tip of the channel faders (bottom or top). You will be able to crab-scratch the channel faders from either the top end or bottom end of the fader.

BEGINNER DJ MIXER

The Pioneer DJM-400 is an affordable 2 channel beginner DJ mixer that offers a number of key features for professional DJs. It has the ability to select either of 2 microphone connections or one stereo line connection. A fader start that starts playback by simply sliding the crossfader or channel fader when connected to a Pioneer CDJ product. A peak level meter lets you check audio input levels for each channel or for the master, and a “talk over” feature automatically lowers track volume for the DJ to speak over the track.

An intelligent 24-bit/96kHz sampler automatically detects the tempo of a song during playback, sampling it for a length of 4 beats then loops the sample. Since the sampled sound is in sync with the beat of the tune being played, no matter the tempo, it enables live remixing like never before.

Samples are automatically stretched and compressed to match the beat. The DJM-400 will store five samples onboard for a total of 12 seconds of sample time.