If you are a DJ or music enthusiast who enjoys mixing and scratching, you might need a DJ turntable.
A high-quality DJ turntable can provide precise control and manipulation of audio tracks, allowing you to create unique and dynamic sounds. A good turntable can also enhance the sound quality of your vinyl records, providing a warm and authentic audio experience.
Finding the best DJ turntable can be challenging due to the abundance of available options. There are various factors to consider, such as build quality, motor performance, tonearm design, and cartridge type.
Different DJs have varying preferences and needs, making it difficult to determine the best turntable that can cater to everyone’s needs.
We have reviewed numerous DJ turntables and can assist you in selecting a turntable that is genuinely suitable for your specific needs. Considering factors such as your budget, skill level, music genre, and performance requirements, we can recommend a turntable that will provide you with the best value and performance. Whether you are a beginner or a professional DJ, we can help you find a suitable turntable to take your DJ skills to the next level.
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The Pioneer DJ PLX-1000 earns its spot among the best DJ turntables due to its remarkable blend of precision engineering and user-friendly design. With a focus on delivering outstanding audio quality, this turntable is a go-to choice for aspiring and professional DJs.
High-Torque Direct Drive Motor: The PLX-1000 boasts a direct-drive motor, ensuring accurate and stable rotation. DJs can achieve seamless beatmatching, and it’s perfect for scratching, offering precise control for creative performances.
Built-in Phono Preamp: One of its notable features is the built-in phono preamp, eliminating the need for an external preamp. This simplifies setup, making it ideal for beginners and those who want a hassle-free experience.
Solid Build and Isolation: The turntable’s heavy-mass, die-cast chassis minimizes vibration and feedback, producing a cleaner sound. It’s built to last, with rugged construction that can withstand the demands of professional use. Official Pioneer DJ PLX-1000
The Pioneer DJ PLX-1000 is a top choice for DJs prioritize audio quality, precision, and durability. It’s well-suited for both beginners and experts in the field. This is a strong recommendation if you’re looking for a dependable turntable for club gigs or studio sessions.
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The Technics SL-1200/SL-1210 Mk7 is a legend in the DJ world, recognized for its iconic design and exceptional performance. It has maintained its status as one of the best DJ turntables for decades, known for its unwavering quality.
High Precision Pitch Control: The Mk7 offers precise pitch control, making beatmatching and mixing effortless. DJs can fine-tune their tracks with precision, ensuring seamless transitions.
Challenging Build and Isolation: Known for its robust build quality, the Mk7 is built to withstand the rigors of professional use. Its isolation design minimizes feedback and vibration, delivering clean sound.
User-Friendly Layout: The turntable’s layout is intuitive, with features like a pitch control slider and a detachable target light, enhancing user experience during performances. Official Technics SL-1200 / SL-1210 Mk7
The Technics SL-1200/SL-1210 Mk7 is perfect for DJs who value heritage, precision, and longevity. Both experienced DJs and collectors favor it. This is a solid choice for a turntable with a storied history and exceptional performance.
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The Reloop 7000 MK2 is a standout choice in the DJ turntable market, known for its blend of performance, affordability, and modern features. It offers an attractive package for DJs of all levels.
High Torque Motor: The MK2 features a high-torque motor for responsive and precise control. This is beneficial for accurate beatmatching and creative scratch performances.
Adjustable Start/Stop Time: DJs can customize the start and stop time, enabling them to adapt the turntable’s behavior to their specific style and preferences.
Digital Pitch Display: The turntable includes a digital pitch display, ensuring DJs can easily maintain pitch accuracy. It is beneficial for blending and matching tracks. Official Reloop 7000 MK2
The Reloop 7000 MK2 is well-suited for DJs looking for a budget-friendly option without compromising performance. Whether you’re a beginner or a budget-conscious professional, this turntable is an excellent choice.
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The Pioneer DJ PLX-CRSS12 earns its place among the best DJ turntables for its exceptional balance of precision and versatility. It is designed for professional DJs who demand uncompromising performance in various settings, from clubs to studios.
Direct Drive Motor with High Torque: The PLX-CRSS12 features a high-torque direct-drive motor, ensuring ultra-precise rotation and stable performance. DJs can precisely execute beatmatching, scratching, and creative techniques, delivering a flawless live experience.
Multi-Mode Compatibility: This turntable offers multi-mode compatibility, making it adaptable to different DJ styles and preferences. Whether a scratch artist or a club DJ, the PLX-CRSS12 caters to your needs, allowing you to explore your creativity.
Built-in USB Interface: The built-in USB interface simplifies digitizing vinyl records, providing an easy way to preserve and share your music collection. This feature is precious for DJs who want to transition to digital formats while maintaining the analog feel. Official Pioneer DJ PLX-CRSS12
The Pioneer DJ PLX-CRSS12 is ideal for professional DJs requiring the highest precision, versatility, and adaptability. It’s a top choice for both club and studio use. This is highly recommended if you’re a serious DJ looking for a versatile turntable that delivers exceptional performance.
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The Reloop RP-8000 MK2 secures its spot among the best DJ turntables through innovation and performance. This turntable combines a traditional vinyl feel with modern features, catering to DJs who value both.
Digital Pitch Display: The RP-8000 MK2 boasts a digital display, ensuring accurate pitch adjustments. DJs can precisely match beats and transition seamlessly, making it an excellent choice for smooth mixing.
Synchronized Sample Pads: Integrated sample pads sync with Serato DJ Pro, allowing DJs to trigger samples and hot cues effortlessly. This enhances creativity and live remixing possibilities.
Built-in Phono/Line Switch: The switchable phono/line input enables seamless connection to DJ mixers, amplifiers, and controllers. It’s versatile, accommodating various setups and preferences. Official Reloop RP-8000 MK2
The Reloop RP-8000 MK2 is designed for DJs who appreciate the tactile feel of vinyl but also want modern features for enhanced creativity. It suits DJs who love to remix live and utilize digital aspects of their sets. This turntable is a valuable addition to any DJ’s setup.
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The Audio-Technica AT-LP1240-USB-XP stands out as one of the best DJ turntables, known for its professional-grade features and precision engineering. It offers the ideal blend of performance and affordability.
High-Torque Direct Drive Motor: This turntable has a high-torque direct-drive motor, delivering consistent rotation and exceptional control. DJs can confidently execute beatmatching and scratching with precision.
Selectable Phono Preamp: The AT-LP1240-USB-XP features a selectable phono preamp, allowing easy connection to different audio systems. It’s versatile, adapting to various setups without compromising sound quality.
USB Connectivity for Digitization: DJs can digitize their vinyl records with the built-in USB output. This feature is invaluable for archiving your vinyl collection or creating digital versions of your favorite tracks. Official Audio-Technica AT-LP1240-USB-XP
The Audio-Technica AT-LP1240-USB-XP is an excellent choice for DJs seeking professional-grade features without breaking the bank. It’s suitable for beginners and experienced DJs who want reliable performance and the ability to digitize vinyl.
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When selecting a suitable DJ turntable, several essential factors must be considered. Here are some key points to keep in mind:
Look for a turntable made with high-quality materials that can withstand heavy use and last for years.
Choose a turntable with a strong motor that provides consistent speed and torque, allowing for precise mixing and scratching.
Look for a turntable with an adjustable tonearm that can accommodate different types of cartridges and allow for accurate tracking of the record grooves.
Select a turntable compatible with various cartridges, including moving magnet (MM) and moving coil (MC) options.
Consider a turntable with pitch control features that allow for fine-tuning playback speed, which is critical for beatmatching and mixing.
Choose a turntable with an anti-skating mechanism that counteracts the inward force exerted on the tonearm, ensuring accurate tracking and preventing wear on the record grooves.
Decide whether you prefer a direct drive or belt drive turntable, as each has advantages and disadvantages.
Consider the size and weight of the turntable, especially if you plan to transport it frequently or have limited space.
Determine your budget and look for a turntable that provides the best value for your money.
Research the brand and read reviews to ensure that the turntable has a good reputation for quality and reliability.
No matter how passionate you are about being a DJ, entertaining the crowd may be difficult if you do not understand audio equipment.
All DJs need to know how to connect DJ equipment before taking their first paying or free gig. Connecting DJ equipment is relatively easy with a bit of preparation.
Most DJ equipment will have detachable cords. These need to be marked with the name of the equipment they will be used to connect.
If one USB cord goes to the turntable, a small piece of masking tape can be used to mark that cord with the appropriate machine.
Color coding the cords is another option. Just remember to place a dot of color on both the cord and the bottom of the machine.
After the cords have been sorted – there are five steps to connecting DJ equipment.
Step 1 – Plug it all in. Turn off all DJ machines and plug the equipment into a power strip with a surge protector. The electrical strip must also be powered down before plugging in the kit.
Step 2 – Connect the music to the mixer. The audio outputs and inputs should connect the music source to the mixer. The cord should be plugged into the music output and the mixer input.
Step 3 – Connect the mixer to the amplifier. The mixer will feed the music into the amplifier. The cord must be attached to the mixer output and the amplifier input.
Step 4 – Connect the amplifier to the speakers. The amplifier must be connected to the speakers so the guests can hear the music. The cord should connect the amplifier output and the speaker’s input.
Step 5 – Check the sound. Once all pieces are connected, turn on the power strip and all machines. Once booted, check to ensure the sound quality is correct.
Once all equipment is working correctly, tape down all cords on the carpet with duct tape; colored duct tape can be used to match the carpet color.
The tape keeps the cords safely close to the carpet or flooring so nothing comes unplugged and no one trips on the ropes.
As a DJ or music enthusiast, you may have questions about DJ turntables. Here are some common questions and their answers:
Direct-drive turntables have a motor directly connected to the platter, providing fast start and stop times and stable speed control. Belt drive turntables use a belt to connect the motor to the platter, providing smoother playback and lower noise levels.
Due to its durability and affordability, a moving magnet (MM) cartridge is the most common type used in DJ turntables. Moving coil (MC) cartridges offer higher fidelity but are more expensive and fragile.
Tonearm length affects the cartridge’s tracking ability and should be considered when selecting a turntable. A longer tonearm provides better tracking for more extensive records, while a shorter tonearm is better for more minor records.
Pitch control allows for precise playback speed adjustments and is critical for beatmatching and mixing. It is highly recommended for DJs of all skill levels.
Anti-skating is a mechanism that counteracts the inward force exerted on the tonearm, ensuring accurate tracking and preventing wear on the record grooves. It is essential for maintaining sound quality and prolonging the life of your records.
While most DJ turntables are designed for playing vinyl records, some models have digital connectivity options for playing digital music files.
The cost of a DJ turntable can vary widely, but investing in a high-quality turntable that can withstand heavy use and provide accurate playback is essential. A budget of at least $300-$500 is recommended for a quality DJ turntable.
Yes, most DJ turntables are designed with scratch DJs in mind and provide the necessary features and performance for scratching and other turntablism techniques.
Regular maintenance, such as cleaning the stylus and dust cover and lubricating moving parts, is essential for ensuring optimal performance and prolonging the life of your turntable.
You do not need an external preamp if your turntable has a built-in phono preamp. However, if your turntable has no built-in preamp, you must purchase one separately to amplify the signal properly.
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