To start DJing you need three things: a DJ controller, closed headphones and speakers to hear the mix. Software is free with most controllers, and music comes from your own files or a streaming service that DJ apps support. A good beginner setup costs about $400; a phone-only start costs less.
What each part does
- DJ controller: two jog wheels, a mixer section with faders and EQs, and pads for cues and loops. It controls the DJ software on a laptop, tablet or phone.
- Headphones: closed and loud, to cue the next track while the speakers play the current one.
- Speakers: at home, a pair of small active monitors. For parties, a PA speaker.
Setup 1: Start on a phone or tablet
Reloop Buddy, $245
A compact two-channel controller that works with djay on iOS, Android, Mac and PC, with streaming services built in. #4 of 42 DJ controllers.
Sennheiser HD-25, $133
Light, loud, closed DJ headphones built to last. #2 of 21 DJ headphones.
Setup 2: The classic laptop setup
Hercules DJ Control Inpulse 500, $283
A two-channel Serato controller with touch-sensitive jog wheels, 16 RGB pads and a full 3-band EQ per channel, the layout of club gear at a beginner price. #15 of 42 DJ controllers.
KRK Rokit RP5 G5, $168
Active 5-inch monitors (sold individually) that reach 43 Hz, plenty of low end for a home DJ desk. #6 of 224 active nearfield monitors.
Setup 3: No laptop at all
Numark Mixstream Pro+, $738
A standalone DJ system with built-in speakers and Wi-Fi streaming from services like Tidal, Beatport and SoundCloud. Plug in headphones and play, no computer needed. One of the highest-ranked DJ controllers we track: #2 of 42 DJ controllers.
What to skip at the start
Turntables and vinyl, separate mixers and expensive club players. Learn beatmatching, phrasing and EQ on a controller first; the skills transfer.
Questions
What do I need to start DJing at home?
A DJ controller, headphones and speakers, plus free DJ software. The Reloop Buddy ($245) and Sennheiser HD-25 ($133) cover a phone-based start.
Can I DJ with just a laptop?
Yes, with software alone, but a controller with real jog wheels and faders makes learning much easier.
How much does a beginner DJ setup cost?
About $250 with a phone and the Buddy, about $400 to $650 with a laptop controller and a pair of monitors.
How we picked. Every product comes from an AudioFu ranking, scored on demand, price, specs and brand. Prices are Thomann's, converted from euros at the European Central Bank rate and updated every night, as are the ranks.
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Denis Kataev runs AudioFu. Every night the site records the prices of more than 38,000 instruments and studio tools at Thomann, and he writes about what those numbers show: what got cheaper, what just arrived, and which discounts are real.
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