Cutting-Edge Sound - The Best DJ Speakers on the Market
Delivering strong DJ performance depends on a lot of different things. Making some definitive ranking is probably not possible because each performance mandates different requirements. But we can all agree that having a pair of punchy speakers would definitely rank somewhere high on that list.
DJ parties are inherently cluttered, and some venues feature pretty poor acoustics. If you are not able to deliver a stellar sound, your art may end up lost in the shuffle.
If you want to make your net gig to explode, you need to equip yourself with a pair of best DJ speakers that truly count.
Let us lend you a hand then - this is the roundup of some of the best DJ speakers you can currently find in the stores.
In a hurry? After 72 Hours of Research, We Recommend:
Pioneer DJ Studio Monitor
Why it is better?
93/100
our score
RESEARCHED SOURCES
REVIEWS CONSIDERED
hours researching
products compared
Last Updated: October 2023
By Barry Allen: This article has been updated to reflect the most accurate information regarding best DJ speakers available for those who are interested in having the best equipment for their shows. The best 5 available have changed, and information has been added to assist individuals in finding the best DJ speakers currently available on the market. The FAQ has also been updated.
Best DJ Speakers – Comparison Table
Product | Size | Power (RMS/Peak) | Frequency Range | Sensitivity | Our Rating | Current Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15.60 x 10.60 x 13.60 inches | 40 watts | 70 Hz - 30 kHz | ~100dB | 93/100 | |
| 26.00 x 19.00 x 19.00 inches | 2000 watts | 45 Hz – 20 kHz | 132db | 92/100 | |
| 24.00 x 14.00 x 14.00 inches | 1000 watts | 50 Hz – 20 kHz | 126db | 91/100 | |
| 15.12 x 15.94 x 22.92 inches | 700 watts | 55 Hz – 20 kHz | 129db | 89/100 | |
| 12.44 x 14.96 x 26.14 inches | 1000 watts | 48 Hz - 20 kHz | 126db | 87/100 | |
| 38 x | 4000 watts (total wattage) | 40 Hz - 20 kHz | Varies | 86/100 | |
| 29.3 x 19.5 x 15.5 inches | 600 watts | 50 Hz - 20 kHz | ~100db | 86/100 | |
| 5.6 x | 25 watts | 80 Hz - 20 kHz | 100db | 86/100 | |
| 11.10 x 9.40 x 13.10 inches | 109 watts | 62 Hz – 17 kHz | 109db | 83/100 | |
| 31.89 x 28.74 x 14.57 inches | 800 watts | 65 Hz - 20 kHz | 109db | 80/100 |
Best DJ Speakers: Detailed Reviews
And now, let's go to the more detailed breakdown of some of the best DJ speakers you can currently find in the stores. Narrowing down the list of competitors to only ten entries was surprisingly hard. This market corner has become very competitive over the last couple of years, and new offers are rolling out with each passing month.
But, after a lot of thought and spirited arguing, I compiled this roundup of what I see as the best speakers for DJing in 2023. So, let's break them down together.
1. Pioneer DJ Studio Monitor
- Best DJ Studio Monitors Overall -
There is no way any kind of DJing speakers roundup would ever pass without the participation of Pioneer, one of the heavyweights of the audio equipment industry.
I am happy to report that the famous manufacturer stayed to its legacy and delivered probably the best pair of active speakers for DJ craft you can currently buy.
The Design
You wouldn't be able to see that at first glance, however, since this pair of monitors feature pretty by-the-numbers if not bland design more akin to PC units from at least a decade ago.
But, the overall dimensions are not that big, and the combined weight of 10.9 lbs makes one incredibly portable package, so there's that. I would also like to see some kind of grill protecting the woofer and tweeter at each of the units, but the setup works well even as it is.
The rear panel covers the basics and misses some of the essential port types. Still, since the majority of the audio equipment uses RCA and TRS output, you will be able to get around.
The Performance
The area where these powered speakers genuinely excel is the overall sound quality. Sure, the limited size makes the package suitable only for smaller parties and studio sessions, but once you finally start blasting the music, you will be pleasantly surprised.
The woofer pair shoots out incredibly deep and satisfying lower end tones while twitters make sure you are getting crips and precise mids and highs.
Tunning options are limited (no flexibility in adjusting the output), but with sound so clear, I can give this 2 way a pass.
Pros
Cons
2. QSC K12.2 Active 12" Powered 2000 Watt Loudspeaker - Best Single Speaker for Beginners
QSC is a name that is no stranger in the world of music lovers. The company earned quite a rep for rolling out a series of reliable, good looking and high-quality DJ speakers that don't cost a fortune.
QSC K12.2 Active 12-inch speaker falls perfectly into this description.
The Design
Let's start this review by pointing out that K12.2 Active looks really, really pristine. If you're looking for something more streamlined and professional, this design will knock you out of the park.
Also, this clean, angular design gives you plenty of mounting options, and it is good to report that you can use the speaker both as main output and side monitor as well (you will need to pay for two of them, though).
Be that as it may, a bunch of connectivity options you can find at the rear end (the combo jacks support both XLR and TRS) at least make setting up the system as easy as it gets.
The Performance
Moving on to performance. Here, things aren't shabby, either. Coming packed with the 12-inch main speaker and the frequency response range of 45Hz - 20kHz, the speaker is able to pull off all frequencies that can be here by humans with clarity and precision.
The mids and highs are incredibly clear, and with a 75-degree axisymmetric field, you won't have any problem covering small and medium venues.
The only real issue I had in terms of performance is the bass. The speaker punches out a hefty low-end thump, but going out to medium-sized venues will require an additional subwoofer.
Pros
Cons
3. Electro-Voice ZLX12P 12" 2-Way - Single Speaker with Best Tunning Options
Products that feature exception features and sell at some ridiculously modest price usually hide some dark secrets.
Well, Electro Voice ZLX 12P looks like one of these powered speakers. Is there anything wrong with it, or the people from Elecro Voice simply nailed the sound quality.
The Design
Although the design looks like a perfect victim for cutting corners, Electro Voice ZLX 12P feels incredibly sturdy and effective - courtesy of some of the elements we have seen incorporated in the manufacturer's pro-touring range.
Still, this sturdiness doesn't come at the cost of convenience. With the weight of 34.3 lbs, this 2 way speaker is reasonably light for its size (12 inches), carrying handles make transportation even more straightforward, and the case stays firmly in place when laid down in the horizontal stage monitor position.
The only thing to take away from this is that the rear panel misses the accessible RCA ports.
The Performance
When it comes to performance, this affordable powered speaker misses very few marks - a 1000 watt power amplifier guarantees that you will be able to pump out a thunderous and powerful output while mid and high tones are very crisp and precise.
Once again, the main issue we have to deal with are muted bass lines, so make sure to add a decent subwoofer to your speaker system.
However, I have to point out that Electro Voice did pack a bunch of quality tunning options so the bass response can, to a degree, be adjusted.
Pros
Cons
Yamaha is a manufacturer with a wide range of products aimed at customers with different spending power.
This speaker obviously aims at the people with not that much money to spend. Still, the signature brand quality is written all over its body.
The Design
The best way to describe how Yamaha DBR10 looks is efficient. Sure, the speaker won't win any design won't win any awards, but the speaker appears nowhere near bad. The black case is sturdy and streamlined, the weight of 23.2 lbs is more than manageable, and the front-end edges even add a bit of personality to the mix.
The carry handle is very well-placed, and if you turn the unit into the horizontal position, you can even use it as a stage monitor without fear of it rolling down.
In terms of connectivity options, Yamaha got everything covered - RCA, TRS, and XLR ports are all there for your enjoyment.
The Performance
To consider this, we have to keep in mind we are talking about a singular low-end DJ speaker. And truly, with the diameter size of 10 inches and output of 700 watts, you will be able to cover only the smaller parties or use this speaker as an ancillary unit.
But, for a speaker of this size and price, I have to admit that the audio output is very crisp, loud and doesn't feature any noticeable distortions. Still, much like with any other monitors in this range, the bass ends up on the losing end. You do not lack any of the loudness, but the lower ends feel incredibly shallow.
Pros
Cons
Over the last couple of years, JBL has pushed an incredibly wide range of quality products in all product segments related to the music industry and audio equipment in general. In that time, the American company has spoiled us a bit.
Well, EON612 is an excellent reminder that even the top dogs are prone to slight mistakes.
The Design
It doesn't take more than a passing look to see that JBL EON612 is one handsome and well-designed DJ speaker. The plastic feels reasonably reliable, the weight of 26 lbs is firmly under control, and the carrying handles located at the rear sides of the unit make up for one enjoyable traveling experience.
Also, the speaker has no problem lying in the horizontal position, so if you're looking for a decent stage monitor, here's one for you.
The rear panel features all the connectivity options people may need and even through into the mix a Bluetooth module. However, since the connection is horribly unreliable, I hadn't got much use of this option.
The Performance
How does this powered speaker hold up in terms of performance? We'd say above the average.
The acoustic technology on display here lends the unit with some excellent sound frequency range with little to no distortion. The lower end bass lines inevitably end up lost in the shuffle, and you'll need an additional woofer for smooth performance. But, I am satisfied with what I got.
The main issue here is that for the power the speaker packs (1000 watt), the overall audio output is very silent.
Pros
Cons
Proreck may not be the biggest name in the world of quality DJ speakers, but the company sure knows how to draw attention. So, what do you say about the compile speaker combo set that covers all the essential DJ needs and cost just as much as your regular mid-range monitor?
We sure sound interested.
The Design
Proreck Club 3000 was obviously designed to be an all-in-one starter kit for aspiring DJ performers, so breaking down all the items you can find in this speaker bundle would take too much time. So, I am just going to make a short overview.
The package includes one active subwoofer, one passive subwoofer, two 4x4 speaker arrays (the total number of eight speakers), two speaker stands, necessarily connecting cables, and one speaker remote.
All these components are solidly build, not too heavy on their own, and easy to put together. The speaker poles can even be stretched from 27 to 47 inches for additional versatility.
The standard connectivity options are there, but it's clear that the manufacturer puts the focus on hip wireless features.
The Performance
What this ginormous speaker setup ultimately amounts to?
Well, with two subwoofers, as much as eight speakers and the total number of eight speakers and output that climbs to 4000-watt peak power, one thing's for sure the sound you are going to get is loud and booming—more than enough for smaller and medium outdoor parties.
However, the sound quality does drop at the bot ends of the frequency spectrum. On the highest frequencies, the sound output becomes so thin and distorted to the point where it's no longer worth the effort.
Pros
Cons
In this roundup, we have seen some very affordable packages. However, this speaker for DJ novices sets the bar so low that even the most budget-friendly competitors will have to scratch their heads. You also get a mic and stative thrown into the package for some appealing value proposition.
Still, how the unit stands compared to other quality DJ speakers, I have covered.
The Design
Well, for a start, this DJ speaker is not quite the looker. It's big, clunky, and features any kind of design elements modern speakers pull of with little effort. On the other hand, the big-size woofer does feature neat LED lights effects that can add some spice to outdoor parties.
The weight of whole 41 lbs does make the speaker a bit hard to drag around, but that's the price you pay for a 15-inch woofer at your disposal. Neat carrying handle at the top of the DJ speaker makes this proposition even more bearable.
When it comes to the connectivity option, the speaker doesn't lack any of the major mentions. The manufacturer even included the Bluetooth module that surprisingly works well.
The Performance
As you would probably guess, all the ingredients we have mentioned above create reasonably powerful 600-watt output with satisfying booming bass. The things remain loud and steady on all frequencies, so you won't notice any significant output differences skipping from highs to lows.
The overall sound quality is, unfortunately, all over the place despite reliable bass response. Sure, you are asked to pay very little, but I prefer something way crisper.
Pros
Cons
Now, reviewing this package was very hard. I am probably talking about the best DJ speakers for your future sessions that sells at one very lucrative price. The problem is that a small DJ speaker setup offers very little value once you leave this controlled environment and start performing in front of a medium sized crowd.
You may even struggle to kick off some wilder house gigs. But, everything in due time.
The Design
Judging by the look, this powered speaker system tells the story of sturdiness and reliability. This time the first impression doesn't deceive. Materials are excellent, build quality even better, and straightforward industrial design is quite eye-catching.
When it comes to portability, the combined way of these two DJ speakers amounts to modest 6.4 lbs. Still, since you won't move the speaker setup anywhere outside the studio, this novelty doesn't carry too much weight (no pun intended).
What is more than worth mentioning is that you do get all the connectivity options (RCA, TRS, etc.) necessary for the best DJ studio experience.
The Performance
The main reason I dig this small DJ speaker setup so much is that the overall response is simply exceptional. High tones are impressive without any sign of thinning at the top end. Mids are more than satisfying. The low end is precise and smooth, but it lacks a lot of depth.
Taking into consideration, we are talking about the DJ speakers that pack only one 3.5-inch woofer per unit that's not bad. Not bad at all.
Pros
Cons
Now, here we have one of the heaviest hitters in the world of quality DJ speakers for music enthusiasts of all backgrounds. Is this versatile multi-position PA system the best pick for your growing sound system collection?
The answer is maybe and no.
The Design
As the name suggests, this compact DJ speaker is your standard portable unit that can be used as a low-profile landscape monitor, on a tripod or tilted back on the stage. Take into the equation the compact dimensions and the modest weight of only 21.05 lbs, and you will see that this speaker pushes the boundaries of versatility to a whole new level.
Speaking about the way the unit looks, we can conclude that Bose checked all the contemporary DJ speakers' standards.
The lines are streamlined, case sturdy and utilitarian, and everything feels reliable and efficient.
In terms of connectivity, the rear panel does not offer the best selection on the market, but the two XLR inputs do their job more than well and offer a lot of versatile tunning options.
The Performance
The same control panel we mentioned above should give you a pretty good idea about the overall performance of this compact DJ speaker. So what do you get out of this three-channel mixer with two identical inputs for line-level of microphone sources?
The answer is the sound quality designed mainly around the needs of singers, songwriters, and guitar players. If you like blasting this type of sound, you will hardly find a better speaker in this range. If you're looking for a better lower end punch, look for some other speaker.
Pros
Cons
Rockville Package PA System may not be the best package on the market. It is not even the best speaker set in this short roundup. But, the bundle does contain all the beginner DJ essentials, and the price is affordable enough to give it a chance.
The Design
So, what the people from Rockville used to lure the people into buying this speaker set. Well, two punchy two way DJ speakers (each woofer packs 10 inches in diameter) with 800-watt peak power, one 4-channel mix board, two decent mics, two telescopic speaker poles, and one useful bur poorly made remote.
More than enough to get us interested.
All these components are decently made, and you won't have any problem putting them into the trunk and driving long scratchless distances.
The Performance
However, once we move to the actual performance, we can see why these speakers are not ranking higher on our list. The output volume is not that loud, and the sound quality is not that great. Neither one them is bad or truly compromised, but narrow frequency range combined with shallow lower ends are not exactly the pristine combination.
Still, at this price point, beginners will find a lot of things to enjoy.
Pros
Cons
Few Things to Consider to Find the Best DJ Speakers the Money can Buy
And now that we had an opportunity to take a good look at the top 10 most popular DJ speakers on the market, let us quickly go through a couple of important factors I used to rank them.
Type of the Speakers
All currently available DJ speakers can be broadly divided into two groups based on the way they are powered.
- Passive speakers require the help of amplifiers since they do not have a power source or are capable of amplifying the sound on their own.
- Active, also known as powered speakers, feature the built-in amplifiers that effectively solve this problem. Which of them is better?
Well, active speakers mean less equipment to carry around. Passive speakers offer much more freedom while building the sound setup. The choice between the two is up to you.
Besides these two groups, we can also divide the speakers based on their purpose. For instance:
- Studio monitors, as the name suggests, are primarily designed for controlled environments and professional audio recording. They are known for stellar sound quality and the minimal level of distortion.
- PA speakers are what you want to bring with you if you are going to perform in large venues in front of the large crowds since they a good job of accentuating the volume of the original sound.
Keep in mind, both these types come in the active or the passive variety.
Power Rating
By power rating, I refer to the power used by the speakers' amplifiers. So you can look at the whole matter this way - the higher the watts count, the louder your speakers can go.
And just to set some milestones for studio recordings and smaller house parties can be pulled off with the speakers between 100 and 200 watts. Open spaces, and auditoriums on the scale of, let's say, school gym will require a 1000 watt setup.
Bu, some more experienced DJs use this math to come up with numbers - 5 watts per person in indoor performance and 10 watts per person for an outdoor gig.
Woofer and Subwoofer
A good party can't be imagined without a good bass. This is where woofer comes into play to shake up the crowd and punch up the music you are playing. However, continually pumping loud bass through your speakers will inevitably put a lot of stress on them and cut their lifespan.
So, I suggest that you upgrade your setup with a subwoofer that will blast the deepest bass lines. See if the package you are buying comes bundled with one.
Portability
Life of a DJ is life on the road - you go where there is a gig, not the other way around. The speakers you are going to use on your gigs need to be compact, easy to carry around, and be able to fit your go-to transport option.
But, if you have already made a name for yourself and pay in just one location, you can allow yourself to invest in something more substantial.
Price
For this one, but you really need to assess where you are on your road to DJ stardom. If you still look at this profession as a hobby, there is no reason to pour too much money into it.
Pushing to the big league, on the other hand, requires professional equipment, so be ready to open up your wallet for a big grand. I'm talking about the speaker systems that pack 2000 watt output or more.
Best DJ Speakers - FAQ
What are the best DJ speakers to buy?
That depends on your personal needs. If you want the best possible sound consistency, you should go with Pioneer DJ Studio Monitor. QSC K12.2 Active will offer far louder output but also slightly more distorted sound at the ends of the spectrum. And if you're looking to build your DJ speaker system set from the ground up, PRORECK Club 3000 12-Inch is probably the best pick for you.
What kind of speakers do DJs use?
Usually, the speakers that pack enough punch for at least a house party. So, the bookshelf speakers and low end PC units are absolutely out of the question unless you are an absolute beginner and still practicing.
Ideally, your booth should be surrounded by two high quality studio monitors that will eliminate sound delay and distortion and give you the most precise feedback on what you're blasting.
Larger gigs can use support from a couple of PA speakers spread around the venue.
What are the best DJ monitor speakers?
Different people will give you a different answer to this question, but In my opinion, the best monitor DJ speakers just have to be Pioneer DJ Studio Monitor speaker set. The sound is as crisp and precise as it gets, and the pump out a very punchy output for their size. The price is not that shabby, either.
How many speakers do DJs need?
This really depends on the crowd and the auditorium. For instance, home parties can be pulled off with a basic 2.1 setup (two satellite speakers plus one subwoofer). Larger dance halls, naturally, require more units to cover the space.
But, speaking strictly in terms of your ability to efficiently mix the sound without any delays or echo, you should never rely on the main system. Instead, put your booth in the middle of two DH monitors, and you'll be just fine.
Do you need an amplifier for DJ speakers?
Active speakers are powered which means DJs need not worry about having an amplifier. The volume is controlled on each speaker and each speaker connects directly into the mixer.
After it's all said and done, we recommend:
After all the tests and comparison, this sub is, hands-down the best choice for DJ's.
Pioneer DJ Studio Monitor
Why it is better?
88/100
our score
Conclusion
This time I'm going to put the precision ahead of the output power. In my honest opinion, the clear winner in this regard has to be Pioneer DJ Studio Monitor.
The speakers are well made, reasonably affordable, and offer by far the best sound consistency on the list. Definitely good for smaller venues and house parties.