Equipment has come along way in the music industry thanks to technology, Deciding which equipment to buy is very important, not only do you want to save money you also want to get the highest quality grade possible. I have listed below different types of DJ setups with price references that can assist you in purchasing the items individually which results in massive savings at the same time presenting alternatives for different types of DJ's, Also note that prices can change without notice and could be different in your area.
Beginner / Intermediate level - HP Pavilion DV6-3250us Laptop + traktor pro duo 2 + S4 Midi controller, LS21 Speakers,...
This is the best budget system that still gives you the opportunity to expend your skills to the advanced level, I recommend formatting the laptop and placing a clean slate of windows 7 configuring to perfection then installing the traktor 2 software that is provided by the Kontrol S4, One installed plug this baby in and let her rip, just like any other decks except compacted on the controller, play around with the different effects and features that the S4 provide, take a while but will be worth it! the speakers are not magnificent this is kept with budget in mind however should do the job.
Beginner / Intermediate level - 2X Technics SL 1200MK5, Pioneer DJM 400, HDJ 1000 and 2x JBL LSR2325P Studio Monitors.
SL1200MK5 ($1075) - SL1200MK5 ($1075) - DJM 400 ($415) - HDJ 1000 ($89) - LSR2325P (199) - LSR2325P (199)
Total = ($3052)
Beginners and Vinyl fans alike this would be the perfect setup for you, Long recognized by the World's DJs as the best club-use turntable, the famous SL-1200 series is without a rival. The turntable uses their original integral roto-platter Direct Drive motor for smooth, non-stop performance and unwavering quartz DD accuracy. This gives DJs the ability to spin records with quick starts, stops, and scratches, for the ultimate mixing experience, embracing the vinyl will be the DJM 400, In-loop sampler will come in handy including digital out, mic and many features and effects. Don’t let the size of the JBL Speakers fool you, these 5" powers speakers pack a punch! Perfect for any studio setup or bedroom setup of course the larger size the more expensive however these are perfect for this setup and price tag you can’t go wrong, including all this is a Pioneer HDJ 1000 which should provide the best quality needed for headphones.
Intermediate level - 2X Pioneer CDJ 400, Pioneer DJM 400, HDJ 1000 and 2x JBL LSR2325P Studio Monitor and road case to fit nicely.
Total = ($2639)
Don’t let this beginner/intermediate setup fool you, for this price tag you are buying some high quality products that can satisfy any intermediate DJ, The pioneers CDJ’s 400 have inbuilt MP3 as well as inbuilt sound card for laptop connections in the future, Includes all the standard beat loops and cue point control as well as a HID LCD with real time information. DJM 400 suites well for this combination with an inbuilt loop sampler, mic in, much effects, digital which makes this a perfect combination. Do not let the JBL speakers size fool you either, these speakers pack a punch, probably not the best for parties however these are high precise studio monitors, quality is just amazing ofcourse the bigger the speakers the more expensive including a pioneer HDJ 1000s with distortion practically non-existent thanks to the 3,500 mW of maximum input with a road case to fit nicely. This setup is perfect for any beginner or intermediate level DJ wanting to further their skills, The availability of connecting a laptop with inloop sampling is a huge factor in deciding this for your setup.
Intermediate / Advanced level - 2X Pioneer CDJ 350, DJM 350, HDJ 1000, Road case, HP DV6 Laptop, Traktor Pro 2, 2x seismic Audio 15" PA Speakers connected via 1000W Pyle Pro Amp.
CDJ 350 ($542) - CDJ350 ($542) - DJM 350 ($430) - HDJ 1000 ($89) - Road Case ($339) - HPDV6 ($699) - Traktor ($280) - SA15" ($259) - Pyle Pro Amp ($90)
Total = ($3270)
Wooooo, Now this is an interesting intermediate > advanced setup, I wanted to increase the quality of the speakers by keeping the same quality CDJ’s, The beauty of this setup is that the CDJ’s can connect to the laptop via Traktor or Ableton or any other DAW you can load even better is that these CDJ’s do not require you to use a timecode. In other words you should be able to use them as midi controllers for the DAW’s decks while using a DJM 350. The laptop is a DV6 entertainment laptop, I would recommend formatting the laptop and sticking a clean version of windows 7, configure and install traktor, the possibilities are endless with this extension not only can you purchase additional midi devices you can add up to 4 decks of play, Perfect for any DJ wishing to perfect their skills, Coming from an IT background that laptop is good quality for that price and should run any DAW without a problem, I decided to add two 15" speakers, If you are intermediate or advanced then most likely you played in front of an audience so after hearing these speakers they are amazing for the price tag, While I would stay away from distorting (Watch that red bar :P) these should play for an party of 100 or so while all this is connected via an 1000W Pyle Pro amp I should mention that I have not included the stands or cables please make sure when browsing through to add those accessories, Other then that this is probably one of the best budgeted near to advanced systems you can get, While you can purchase additional devices like APC40 or RANE MIDI Controllers it’s that open door that you can go through any time without breaking the bank.
Intermediate / Advanced club level - 2X CDJ 1000, DJM 900, HP DV6 Laptop, HDJ 1000 Headphones with traktor pro 2 including road case to fit in nicely
($90)
Total = ($5905)
Ouch! This is one of the more expensive packages, mostly used in clubs or festivals and when connected to another 2 vinyl decks can be a dream! includes 2x top of the line CDJ 900's connected to the new Nexux DJM 900, With this 4 channel mixer you can also add an additional 2 more decks either vinyl or CD, the DJM 900 is USB complaint and is fully compatible with traktor. As I have said before reinstalling windows 7 on this laptop would be recommended and configuring it to your satisfactory, Install traktor and begin to configure your setup, Comes with 2x 15" PA Speakers with a Pyle Pro Amp, perfect for getting started or small parties, While you can customize all these setups by adding or remove particular products these are only basic setups to help you with what you need to obtain for yourself and to let you know that DJ equipment is not cheap :).
