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"I want to start DJing. What do I need?" The question sounds simple, but the right answer doesn't start with a product—it starts with a choice: do you mix on a controller connected to a laptop, on an all-in-one console that doesn't need a computer, or on turntables with real vinyl? All three paths lead to the same place. The difference is your budget, the gear you carry, and how quickly you can play your first track.
This guide walks you through each route, with the pros and pitfalls of each, then shows you our recommendations—based on real sales in our shop, not lists copied off the internet.
Path 1: Controller + Laptop
This is how most people start. The controller has two small jog wheels, a mixer in the middle, and effect buttons, while the heavy lifting is done by the software on your laptop: it stores your tracks, shows you waveforms, and helps with syncing. The model most of our customers begin with comes with everything you need on the software side: rekordbox is free in Performance mode, Serato DJ Lite is included, and if you don't have a laptop, you can even connect it to your phone or tablet via the rekordbox or djay apps. And to answer the question we hear most often: no, you can't mix directly from YouTube—the tracks need to be your own files. The numbers say it all: 88 units sold in the past year—by far our best-selling piece of DJ gear.
The full range is in the DJ controllers and consoles category. At the start, the number of buttons matters less than practicing regularly; the basic skills (syncing, EQ, transitions) will serve you well no matter what gear you move on to.
Budget doesn't have to be a barrier: Numark makes honest entry-level controllers with Serato DJ Lite included. The DJ2GO2 Touch is the pocket version (literally: it weighs 340 grams), so you can try mixing before making a serious investment. The Party Mix Live is the one exception to the "speakers are bought separately" rule: it has built-in stereo speakers and an LED light show synced to the music; connect it to your laptop and the party has both sound and lights. And the serious full-size budget controller is recommended below.
Path 2: All-in-One Console, No Laptop
The all-in-one console has its own screen, reads tracks from a USB stick, and doesn't depend on any computer: bring your music, power it up, and mix. It's the choice of many event DJs—no one wants a laptop freezing in the middle of a wedding—and it's the closest to what you'll find in clubs, since current models inherit features straight from club players and mixers. The top of this range, the XDJ-AZ (a step up in price from the console we recommend below), is actually the highest-grossing DJ product in our entire category.
The price is in a different league than a beginner controller, so this path makes sense if you already know you'll be DJing at events or want a full setup from the start. The models are in the digital DJ consoles category, and standalone club-style players are in the DJ players category.
Path 3: Turntables and Mixer
The classic route: two turntables, a mixer in between, and vinyl records. Nothing matches the feel, but it's also the path with the most gear: besides the two turntables and DJ mixer, you pay for every record in your bag; we've written a separate guide on choosing a mixer. For mixing, you need direct-drive turntables, not belt-drive: they start instantly and keep a steady speed when you touch the record. The selection is in the turntables and accessories category.
A common pitfall: automatic belt-drive turntables may look similar and cost less, but they're made for listening, not mixing. If that's actually what you're after (a night with records, not a DJ set), there's no shame in it: our best-selling turntables come from exactly this family, and we have a recommendation for them below.
What Else You Need
Headphones are the only truly essential piece from the start: closed-back, sturdy, with swiveling earcups so you can cue the next track in one ear; open-back studio headphones aren't made for this. The absolute classic for the DJ booth is recommended below, and for a tight budget there are honest options like the Behringer HC-200, also closed-back and foldable; the rest are in the DJ headphones category. The second underrated piece is the stand: your living room table is neither the right height nor stable enough for mixing, and DJ stands and tables solve exactly that, from simple L-stands to foldable booth tables. And from the day you take your gear out of the house, a case becomes essential: for our best-selling controller, for example, there's a UDG hardcase made specifically for it—rigid, fleece-lined, with space for the power supply and cables; the full range is in the DJ equipment cases category. Speakers can wait: for learning, headphones are enough, and for when your first parties come up, we've written a separate guide on speakers and amplification. The rest—accessories—can be added from the DJ accessories category as gigs come up, not before.
Our Recommendations
Seven picks: one for each path, a budget alternative, one for those who realize along the way they wanted something else, plus the two pieces everyone forgets—headphones and a table; prices and stock shown below are up to date. A realistic starting budget means the gear plus headphones; the rest can be added later.
For the controller path, the recommendation is simple—it's also our customers' favorite: the entry-level model from Pioneer DJ, inheriting key features from their pro controller range. It comes with rekordbox free in Performance mode and Serato DJ Lite included (Pro license sold separately), works with your phone, and is powered via USB-C, with the cable in the box. Headphones are not included: make sure to budget for them. One honest warning: it sells out faster than we can restock—if it's not available, the next shipment has already been requested from our supplier.
And if you want the serious controller without the serious price, the Numark alternative: two full-size channels, three-band EQ with filter, pads for hot cue, loop, and sampler, plus effects on dedicated paddles you can trigger on the fly. It runs on Serato (Lite included, Pro compatible), is powered via USB, and has two headphone outputs, mini-jack and full-size jack. In the box: the controller and the USB cable.
For the no-laptop route, the Pioneer DJ console with a 10.1-inch touchscreen: two channels, two decks, features straight from club gear, XLR mic input, and compatibility with both rekordbox and Serato DJ Pro. The box includes cables and a software license; just add headphones and speakers for your mix. This isn't a trial purchase—it's gear you'll keep for years.
For the vinyl path, the direct-drive turntable from Audio-Technica: S-shaped tonearm with hydraulic damping, dynamic anti-skate, VM95E cartridge with interchangeable styli (from conical to Shibata), and three speeds, including 78 RPM for old records. The phono preamp is built-in and switchable, and you can digitize your collection to your computer via USB. For a full setup, you'll need two, with a mixer in between; and if beatmatching is your goal, check the product specs for fine pitch adjustment before choosing.
If, while reading this guide, you've realized you just want to listen to vinyl, not mix, go for the version made exactly for that: fully automatic, belt-drive, with built-in preamp, USB output for digitizing, and a dust cover included. Put on a record, press a button, and the tonearm positions itself. It doesn't have speakers: connect it to powered speakers or any system with an AUX input, using the RCA-minijack cable in the box. Not for mixing—just for relaxed listening. We've written a separate guide on choosing a turntable just for listening.
For headphones, our pick is the direct continuation of the HD-25 family—the model you've seen in DJ booths for decades: on-ear, closed-back, single-sided cable, and only 140 grams, built for one-ear monitoring. The Plus version comes with a spare set of earpads, an extra straight cable, and a carrying pouch.
And for the table, the Gravity option: height-adjustable double-X stand with a perforated steel top, 100 by 48 centimeters, supporting up to 60 kg—enough for your controller, laptop, and more. When the night's over, fold it up and carry it yourself: it weighs about 11 kg with the top included.
Next Steps
The full range—from controllers to turntables and accessories—is in the DJ equipment category. And if you want a recommendation for your specific situation (where you'll play, what music, what budget), write to us: we reply with real advice, not just a list of links.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a laptop to start DJing?
Not necessarily. With a controller, yes: the laptop software does the heavy lifting, and the free versions (rekordbox in Performance mode, Serato DJ Lite) come bundled with the recommended starter controller in this guide. Some models can also connect directly to your phone or tablet via the rekordbox or djay apps. All-in-one consoles don't need a computer at all: they have their own screen and read tracks from a USB stick.
Controller or turntables for beginners?
For most people, a controller: lower entry cost, software that helps with syncing, and everything you learn on it will still apply later. Turntables offer the best hands-on feel, but also mean more gear: two turntables, a mixer, and every record bought separately. It's not a wrong choice—just an expensive one to make early. Many people move to vinyl after a year or two on a controller.
What headphones do I need for DJing?
Closed-back and sturdy, to block out the speakers around you, ideally with swiveling earcups for one-ear monitoring while the other ear listens to the room. Open-back studio headphones aren't suitable: they let sound in and out. Dedicated DJ models start at affordable prices, and the difference from regular headphones is clear the moment you try to catch the next track's tempo in a noisy room.
Do I need speakers from the start?
No. For learning at home, headphones are enough—and your neighbors will thank you. Speakers become necessary when you start playing parties or want to feel the mix in the room; what to choose then is covered in our separate guide on speakers and amplification. It's a separate purchase, with its own criteria, and you can safely postpone it until you really need it.
What DJ software should I use as a beginner?
Use the software that comes free with your gear: rekordbox has a free Performance mode for Mac and Windows, and the recommended starter controller includes Serato DJ Lite. Pro versions with advanced features are paid (license or subscription), but you won't miss them in your first months of mixing. Choose your software based on your gear, not the other way around: compatibility is listed for each product.
Can I mix music from Spotify or YouTube?
You can't mix from YouTube: there's no integration with DJ software. Streaming services are tricky: integrations come and go with licensing, usually require a paid subscription and an internet connection, and you don't own the tracks. The rule you can't go wrong with: your own library of files, on your laptop or USB stick. It's the first DJ lesson—the music in your set needs to be yours, not the platform's.
