Have you ever tried entertaining a crowd of people with regular speakers, designed for home use? We’re sure the result wasn’t satisfactory for your audience, even though they were your aunts, uncles, and cousins gathered for a special family dinner in the backyard.
Anyone who has a bit of experience entertaining people using sound knows that the speakers are among the most important equipment elements in a DJ’s toolkit. The best DJ speakers are powerful but also portable and deliver amazing acoustic performance for a wide range of applications.
Now, we know it can be confusing to select a high-end speaker that will be with you on the road and support your efforts to keep people happy. So, before we discuss any product reviews, let’s first see the features that matter when you’re selecting such a speaker.
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Last update on 2023-09-28 // The links above are affiliate // Images from Amazon
How To Choose The Best DJ Speakers
Monitor Speakers vs. PA
While it’s true that we have studio speakers that can deliver a powerful and clear acoustic experience, these are not designed to do a great job outside or maintain loud volumes for long periods of time. PA speakers, on the other hand, are amazing in live events and can play at larger volumes without sustaining any damage.
As a side note, you’ll learn there are Passive and Active speakers. This is all about the power a speaker can support.
For instance, Active speakers come with a built-in amplifier, so they don’t require additional equipment to get loud (Passive speakers need an amplifier). Still, Active speakers are a bit more difficult to adjust.
Power
The power of the speaker is expressed in watts and gives you an idea of the type of venue you can entertain with it. For instance, a 400-watt speaker can be successfully used in an indoor, mid-size setting, but for large venues and outdoor applications, you’ll need at least 1,000 watts of power.
Portability, Durability, Compatibility
If you’re looking for speakers that can be used in various locations, you must look for designs that are easy to move. These usually come with built-in handles and provide support for various mounting systems (scene wedge, rack support, hanging eyelets, and more).
Now, you don’t want your precious speakers to get damaged at the first bump in the road, right? So, make sure to look for compact speakers made for transportation and a bit of rough handling. For instance, you may want to look for ABS or durable plastic cabinets (instead of wood) and steel grilles that are screwed in and not just popped in.
Lastly, you want a system that’s compatible with a wide array of connections. This way, you will be able to move from one venue to another without worrying that your speakers won’t fit.
Best DJ Speakers
Mackie Thump12A
The Best Powered Speakers for DJs
As the name suggests, the Mackie Thump12A Powered Loudspeakers are designed to make you feel that chest-thumping low-end that transposes people right into the music. Each speaker is equipped with a 12″ high-output woofer and one 1.4″ titanium dome compression driver. This results in 1300W of ultra-efficient amplifier design with Dynamic Bass Response technology.
These powered speakers are perfect for a DJ-ing gig due to the built-in Application-Specific Speaker Modes system. This allows the user to select one of the available four-speaker modes and thus speed up setup and get a starting point.
The system has robust and modern protection and thermal limiting, so you don’t have to worry your speakers will get damaged during transport. In addition, the speaker is designed with an internal power supply and Power Factor Correction, which means the sound won’t suffer from variable power. Also, the dual-angle design is perfect for various stage settings.
Lastly, these powered speakers are designed with built-in 2-channel mixers featuring two Vita preamps with Wide-Z technology that handle mic, line and instrument signals. This means you won’t need external mixers when you want to add inputs. You just plug everything in and go on with your gig. In addition, the speakers also support Bluetooth connectivity for streaming.
- Crystal clear voice
- Balanced sound
- Powerful low ends
- Easy to set up and use
- Compact and portable design
- BT only works with the SDC codec
JBL EON612
The Best Portable DJ Speakers
The EON612 houses a 12” woofer and a 1000W Peak Class D Amplifier in a Bass Reflex cabinet. It also features Proprietary Waveguide Technology which means everyone can enjoy a smooth and transparent sound, regardless of their position in the audience.
In addition, the speaker supports multiple setup configurations, has several built-in modes (Main, Monitor, Sub, Speech), and dual combination XLR – 1/4″ inputs. Also, the 5-way user-definable parametric EQ and the Bluetooth v4.0 interface allow you remote control over how the speaker sounds and behaves.
Lastly, this is a compact and portable speaker that, despite its small footprint can blow away an entire party. The cabinet was designed using modern injection molding techniques and mechanical shaping of the enclosures in order to optimize it for ideal acoustic resonance. It also has four handles that make it portable and indexed feet that allow for secure stacking, storage, and transport.
- A compact self-powered speaker
- 12” woofer and 1000W amplifier
- Built-in handles and indexed feet
- Modern cabinet design for optimum sound
- Bluetooth configuration that’s compatible with Android & iOS
- You can’t use the BT connection for streaming
Electro-Voice ZLX-12BT
The Best DJ Speakers for The Money
Due to its size, portability, and high-end Bluetooth connection, the ZLX-12BT is a speaker that can be used to throw amazing parties at home or mix it up in a medium-sized club. Unlike other models, the ZLX’s BT connection can be used for streaming so you can use it for a wide range of entertainment activities.
In addition, the 1000 W Class D power amplifier is powerful enough to deliver 126dB at maximum SPL. The speaker uses proprietary Electro-Voice transducers (Signal Synchronized Transducers) specially designed to support this kind of sound power. The transducers also maintain consistent coverage at minimal distortion and maximum acoustical load.
The speakers’ modern design is also solidly built and rugged, which makes it easy to integrate them in any settings. They also support several wired connections: 2 x XLR/TRS combo jack, 1 x 3.5mm input, and 1 x XLR link output. Lastly, their portability is enhanced by three handles optimally placed for transportation.
- Modern & compact design
- Good BT connectivity that can be used for streaming
- A frequency range between 50Hz and 20kHz
- Powerful low-end and rich notes
- Great for at-home and on-stage use
- Great value for the money
- BT range isn’t very good
Pioneer Pro DJ Studio Monitor DM40
The Best DJ Speakers for Home Use
Equipped with a front-loaded 2-way bass reflex system and convex diffusers for a wider reach and sweet spot, the DM40 from Pioneer are great as studio monitors and DJ speakers. They are compact and lightweight and feature a modern design created to support optimum audio quality.
For instance, the grooves on the ducts are there to reduce air friction and allow the bass system to be as punchy and strong as possible. This way, the monitors deliver the same audio quality even when they’re against a wall. In addition, the ¾-inch soft dome tweeters are designed to cover all directions, thus creating a wide sweet spot and 3D stereo sound.
Lastly, the tweeter and woofer are placed to avoid crossover and provide a balanced response across frequencies. Also, the sound has low-distortion due to the built-in amplifiers. Overall, the DM40 speakers are a nice acquisition if you want audiophile sound quality or if you’re just starting your career as a DJ.
- Compact, lightweight & modern design
- Impressive built for audio quality
- Punchy bass
- Large coverage and low distortion
- 3D stereo sound
- No Bluetooth connectivity
- The sound is according to their size
Yamaha DBR10 Speaker
The Best Powered Speakers for an Astounding Performance
When you’re always on the road, you need gear that’s durable and portable. This is why many professional DJs and musicians love to ride with speakers from the Yamaha DBR series!
The DBR10 is a bi-amped 10” powered speaker with a lightweight and compact ABS cabinet that can be easily moved around or mounted in a wide array of positions for various applications. Also, the front steel grille is ideal for protecting the sensitive mechanisms inside while it also allows the sound to escape unhindered.
Capable of reaching 129db at peak SPL, the DBR10 speaker features FIR-X tuning and supports a frequency range between 55Hz and 20kHz. These are powerful speakers that manage to deliver amazing sound clarity with all its characteristics. This is possible due to the high-performance Class-D amplifier, high power output woofers, and the 1″ precision compression driver.
All the DBR Series speakers have two input channels; one channel accepts a Combo XLR and TRS connection, while the second one has two input options (XLR/TRS and RCA). This means you can use them with CD players or other stereo line-level sources. Lastly, the speakers have an onboard mixer that allows the DJ to mix the signals from the two channels.
- Compact design & easy to move around
- Can be mounted in a wide array of applications
- Impressive power and sound quality
- Custom-designed transducers
- Onboard 2-channel mixer
- Can be used with external sources
- Can reach about 129dB
- The fan-based air-cooling system is not great in dusty environments
Pyle PPHP849KT
The Best Bluetooth DJ Speakers
This is an entire audio system for entry-level DJs and home entertainment systems. These high-powered loudspeakers have an output of 700 watts (350 watts RMS), 8-inch subwoofers, 1” tweeters and high-performance compression drivers with titanium diaphragms. As a result, the bass response is quite impressive while the sound quality is rich and consistent.
On the back, you’ll find the controls to fine-tune the experience (the EQ configuration panel), an LCD screen, slots for a USB flash drive, and an SD card reader that supports MP3 audio files. There’s also a 3.5mm AUX input for external sources or a pair of high-quality headphones, a 1/4″ SpeakOn Input, and an XLR microphone input (in case you want to do some karaoke).
Lastly, these speakers support Bluetooth connectivity for audio streaming from smartphones and other BT-enabled devices. They are also delivered with two stands and remote control.
- The perfect system for home entertainment and small parties
- Impressive audio quality
- BT connectivity for streaming from other devices
- They are powerful and deliver clear sound
- Support USB and SD card reader
- Can be used in a wide range of applications
- Not for big parties
- The mic is a bit low-quality
Rockville RPG225K
Two Powerful DJ Speakers with Remote Control & Microphone
If you want to throw the party of the century, these two speakers can help you set up a starter pack. While not designed for large concerts and big stages, the Rockville Dual RPG225K speakers manage to deliver incredibly powerful sound (2000 Watts Peak/ 1000 watts Program/ 500 Watts RMS).
They also come with a built-in AB amplifier, a dual 15-inch long-throw woofer with 2-inch KSV voice coils, and 51 oz. magnets, non-pressed paper cones, and 0.75-inch compression horn drivers (for clear highs). In addition, the back panel accepts a wide range of connections such as two XLR, one ¼-inch combo jack mic input (mic included in the package), USB/SD port (for a flash drive or an MP3 music player), built-in FM radio, and more.
Lastly, each speaker is fitted with wheels and a trolley handle to make it easier to move them around.
- 2000 Watts peak power & 500 Watts RMS
- Built-in amplifier
- Wide range of connectivity options
- Wireless remote control
- FM Radio Built-in with manual tuning
- They require a bit of adjustment for perfect sound
- A bit bulky and heavy, so they are difficult to maneuver
Summary
In today’s day and age, it may not be as difficult to find high-quality DJ speakers that fit a wide array of applications. However, you need to keep in mind that the final experience is dependent on other elements as well. As such, you need to pay attention to the racks, positioning on the scene, and other elements that play a role in the experience.
